Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight

Episode 440: "Reverb Is Hiding Some Listings From You"
December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Phillip McKnight dives deep into a controversial new change in Reverb’s listing policy that he argues negatively impacts both dealers and buyers, especially when purchasing new gear. Phil breaks down how Reverb is concealing some new-item listings unless sellers pay extra fees (known as "bumps"). He recounts his experiences, research, and direct communication with Reverb, explains implications for the guitar community, then shifts to answering listeners' questions on technical guitar topics, shopping strategies, and gear recommendations.

Phil maintains his signature mix of thorough research, candid opinions, and humor throughout the discussion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reverb’s New Listing Policy: Hiding Listings Unless Dealers “Bump” [00:48–22:14]

• Phil’s Discovery

  • Phil demonstrates searching for a Friedman Smallbox 50 on Reverb—while the site claims there are 11 new listings, he only sees 6.
  • He notes this issue doesn’t appear with used gear, mainly only new gear, especially in categories like amps and guitars, but rarely pedals.

• Bump System Explained

  • Policy Summary: Only one non-bumped listing for new items is shown in search results, while bumped listings (sellers paying extra fees) dominate visibility.
  • If multiple listings of the same new product exist, only the highest-paying “bumped” dealers and one random non-bump listing may show up, filtering out the rest.
  • Sellers have to “bid” on their own listings for visibility—higher payouts to Reverb mean higher placement and fewer competitors visible to buyers.

“The more you give to Reverb, the more you win the bump... Not only the top bump, you may be...one of the only bumps...and we’re also going to remove your competitors...So customers won’t have as many choices.”
— Phil [05:30]

• Phil’s Critiques & Concerns
  • Reduces buyer choice and transparency.
  • May artificially limit perceived supply, potentially inducing fear-of-missing-out buys.
  • Disadvantages small, independent, or “mom-and-pop” shops with limited margins who can’t afford large bump fees.
  • Dealers may not know their listings are hidden — they only realize when they can’t find their own products in search.
  • Workarounds: Slight title or price variations help listings “sneak through” Reverb’s filter, but this is inconsistent.

“I had to do so much research on this all week...It was so nefarious sounding at first...It’s almost creepy.”
— Phil [05:18]

• Public Service Announcement to Dealers

  • Dealers should make sure their listings differ in title or price from other sellers; otherwise, their listings might be hidden.

• Real-Life Examples

  • Phil gets an offer on a Charvel Satchel Signature model that didn’t appear in his search—proving listings exist but are hidden unless directly linked or favorited.
  • Phil decides to purchase direct from a dealer instead of through Reverb in protest.

“I just don’t think this is right. A bunch of dealers let me know...They had no idea that no one was seeing them until...they tried to find one of their own listings and they were unable to find the listing without an exact link.”
— Phil [18:40]

• Call for Discussion & Action
  • Phil encourages listeners to comment, and would welcome Reverb reps to the podcast to explain the policy.

2. Q&A: Guitar Cases and Technical Advice [23:07–31:23]

• Finding a Hard Case for a Gretsch Billy Bo Copy [23:07]

  • The Billy Bo’s odd shape makes it hard to find cases. No “certified fit” options from Sweetwater or Gretsch; Phil asks the community for solutions.

• Coil-Splitting Humbuckers with Resistor vs. Ground [25:20]

  • Explains the difference:
    • Direct to ground: “True” coil split; one coil is defeated.
    • Via resistor (as PRS does): The off coil isn’t fully muted but reduced, creating a blend that sounds more like a single-coil but is never completely so.
  • The specific resistor value may vary with pickup output.

“If it sounds good, it’s good. If it doesn’t, you can clip it out. It’s like treble bleeds to me. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don’t.”
— Phil [29:12]

3. On Supporting Local Shops vs. Big Chains [32:14–38:15]

• Local Stores’ Plight
  • Many listeners lament the lack of local (“mom and pop”) music stores and the dominance of Guitar Center or online retail.
  • Phil shares a story of positive engagement with a dealer (Axe Palace), emphasizing the value of good business regardless of size.
  • He discusses how store responsiveness (e.g., knowing the weight of a guitar) now makes the difference and can win/lose sales.

4. Gear of the Week & New Products [39:21–54:35]

• Gear Highlights

  • Firefly George Lynch-inspired guitars: Good value for the price, easy upgrades.
  • Line 6 Stadium XL: New, high-priced, digital processor — not as interested personally.
  • Soldano Astro 20: $300 off for Black Friday; Phil will review if the episode gets 500 likes.
  • PV solid-state amps: Surprised at $1500 price point, unsure of US/overseas manufacturing, excited to see classic brands return.
  • Fender Hello Kitty “Luke” guitar: Actual child-sized, on sale for Black Friday, reminiscences about Hello Kitty series.
  • Synergy Send 20 head + Marshall module: Good deal, strong flexibility for home players.

• Poll Results [49:56]

  • Listeners vote for which new gear Phil should purchase and review:
    • Soldano Astro 20: 34% (winner)
    • Line 6 Stadium XL: 26%
    • Hello Kitty Luke: 20%
    • Synergy Marshall module: 20%
  • Phil will buy and review the Soldano Astro 20, possibly comparing it to the SLO 30 and Synergy setup.

5. Technical Tips & Deep Dives [55:35–54:35+]

• Neck-Through Guitars & Neck Joints [55:35]

  • Explains neck-through vs. bolt-on/set-neck in terms of playability, heel thickness, builds.
  • Praises the Parker Fly for thin neck joints due to carbon fiber construction.

• Hand-Wound vs. Machine-Wound Pickups [59:39]

  • Phil’s philosophical take: The “recipe” (guitar, amp, strings, technique) matters more than whether a pickup is hand- or machine-wound.

“Your rig is a beautiful recipe...I look at players’ rigs the way I would go to a chili cookoff.”
— Phil [61:28]

• Cables: Are Premium Brands Worth It? [65:40–69:53]

  • Megami and other boutique cables are great, but most important is durability and reliability, not extreme audio claims.
  • Phil doesn't buy many cables due to industry samples, but recommends D’Addario American Stage for value/longevity.
  • Premium features like directional cables and models for specific instruments were “hype” in his experience.

• USB and Audio Cables for Studio Use [73:37]

  • For high-speed, long-distance studio use (like 4K cameras), quality matters far more than casual use.
  • Warns against cheap cables for mission-critical data transfer.

• Tool Advice: Calipers & Fretting [88:08]

  • Diagnosing and modifying guitars is far easier with even an affordable digital caliper; “diagnostic tools pay a dividend.”
  • On frets, he recommends Dremel polishing wheels and shares why some lutherie/repair content stays Patreon-only (to avoid criticism over “how I do things”).

• Locking Nuts & String Retainers [92:19]

  • If tightening a locking nut alters string pitch, it’s likely due to a missing or ill-set string retainer changing break angle and down-pressure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reverb hiding listings:

  “What I learned on this is even though their policy is correct, you’re only seeing the bumped listings. If you put a variation in your title, then your listing gets in there. So...it’s really a mess.”
  — [07:16]

• On information transparency:

  “I don’t think anyone should be...blocking any information from me as a consumer for any reason, no matter what the logic is.”
  — [11:42]

• On business practices:

  “I don’t like the idea of middlemen making all the money. It doesn’t make anything better for a customer or the dealer.”
  — [96:51]

• Community feeling about missing local shops:

  “I really miss mom and pop stores...It’s tough, man. I get it.”
  — [34:30]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Reverb Listing Demo Begins: [00:48]
• Official Policy Reading: [05:01]
• Bump System & Flaws: [06:27]
• Variation Workarounds: [07:22]
• Phil’s Personal Example (Charvel offer): [08:38]
• Why Phil Dislikes the Policy: [10:33]
• Dealer Feedback on Hidden Listings: [18:40]
• Q&A: Firefly Solstice Case: [23:07]
• Coil Split with Resistor Explanation: [25:20]
• Local Store Discussion & Dealer Story: [32:14]
• Gear of the Week Segment: [39:21]
• Poll Results for Review Gear: [49:56]
• More Listener Q&A (Neck Joints, Pickups, Cables): [55:35]
• Fret Polishing Tool Talk: [79:32]
• Locking Nut String Retainer Troubleshooting: [92:19]

Flow & Tone

Phil blends thorough, researched critique with personal anecdotes and a dash of humor. The episode is robustly informative but interactive, encouraging listener feedback and community discussion. His approach is candid and sometimes ranty (“This is absolutely the strangest thing I’ve ever seen...It was so nefarious sounding”), but grounded in experience as a dealer, tech, and guitarist. The Q&A sections lighten the heavy business talk with practical hands-on advice.

Summary Takeaways

• Reverb’s “bump” policy for new gear listings drastically limits the choices buyers see, favoring larger or higher-spending dealers and reducing transparency and competition.
• Both buyers and small dealers should be aware of these changes and communicate or vote with their dollars as appropriate.
• Phil encourages supporting local shops whenever possible but recognizes availability is a big challenge.
• Throughout, practical advice and technical questions are answered with Phil's signature clarity and humor.

Listener Action

• Dealers: Make your new item listings distinct in title or price to avoid Reverb’s filters.
• Buyers: Be aware you may not see all available new inventory on Reverb—consider searching with variations, or contacting dealers directly, especially for high-dollar purchases.
• Everyone: Join Phil’s conversation in the comments; he’s eager to hear what the community thinks about Reverb’s hidden listings policy and gear recommendations.

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