Know Your Gear Podcast: Worst and Best Guitars of 2025 – Bonus Podcast

Host: Phillip McKnight
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This bonus "year in review" episode sees Phillip McKnight recount his experiences with the most interesting, best, and worst guitars he reviewed in 2025. Phillip shares updates, changing opinions, behind-the-scenes insights, and market stats for each instrument, highlighting trends, surprises, and personal favorites from the past year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fender Standard Telecaster & Stratocaster (00:45)

• Made in Cortek factory, chambered bodies.
• Rounded fretboard edges and decent shielding.
• High sales: Telecaster (#2), Stratocaster (#6) on Reverb 2025.
• Phillip’s take: Good but not innovative; Fender missed an opportunity for something great.
  • "There was so much opportunity here and they didn't seize any of it." (03:06)
• Affiliate data matches enthusiasm—Telecasters sold roughly double what Stratocasters did via his links.

Yamaha PAC 012 DLX Pacifica (04:48)

• Rough-feeling neck, cheap tuners, very dry fretboard.
• Sound: Buzzy, "absolutely horrible."
• Disappointing for a Yamaha—a brand Phillip normally loves.
• No follow-up from Yamaha on his negative review, which is unusual.

Ibanez Standard (New for 2025) (06:22)

• Roasted maple neck, 24 stainless steel jumbo frets, locking tuners.
• Critique: Uses six-screw bridge instead of two-point trem.
• Color and aesthetic praised.
• Best guitar under $600, in Phillip’s opinion.

Bromo Acoustic (07:53)

• Indonesian-made, volcano-themed inlays.
• Phillip’s father-in-law loves it—very playable, great sound.

Epiphone Les Paul Special (08:32)

• The highest-rated Epiphone on Sweetwater.
• Clean nut, no fret or buzzing issues.
• Output jack is weak point.
• Overall: 3.5–4 out of 5 stars.

"Ikea Caster" Franken-Guitar (09:11)

• PV neck on a Hagstrom body, various improvised construction hacks.
• Bought for $100—unmatched "vibe."
  • "If vibe was tangible in price, that guitar would be a thousand dollars. But it’s not … It's what the parts are. And the parts are worth 100 bucks." (10:28)
• Viewers loved the video (450,000+ views), and so does Phillip.

D’Angelico Premier Mini DC (10:58)

• $899, Indonesian-built.
• Excellent quality, playability, and component mounting.
• Cons: Poor resale value and frequent sales.
  • "I recommend D’Angelico guitars. I think you’ll be truly happy … but I think try to wait for a sale or find them used." (11:52)

Eastman Fullertone DC62 (12:32)

• Competes with high-end boutique brands at a lower price.
• Some setup quirks; nice finishes and construction.
• Not particularly exciting but solid—just "kind of flat."

Taylor Studio 414 CE (13:37)

• Phillip praises Taylor's employee ownership and environmental responsibility regarding ebony sourcing.
• Soundbite on sustainable ebony:
  • Guest (Bob Taylor excerpt, 13:39): "I can’t in all good conscience know that we cut down 10 trees to get one black one and let that happen over and over… so that we as guitar players can have ebony that’s pure black. It’s just wrong."
• Studio series: Great, but he sticks to his current Taylor.
• Also recommends Taylor's Mexico-made models.

Fender Professional II Limited Edition Telecaster (15:12)

• Sandblasted, chambered ash, roasted flame maple, dual humbuckers.
• No coil split (missed opportunity), but otherwise "one of the coolest Fenders" recently.

BC Rich Gunslinger (16:05)

• $950, Floyd Rose 1000, Seymour Duncan.
• Major fret issues out of the box; paint job good.
• BC Rich responded and wants to improve, making Phillip "hopeful".

Firefly Guitars (16:51)

• Sub-$300, loaded w/features (mirror pickguard, locking tuners, SS frets).
• Consistent out-of-the-box playability, though as budget guitars, QC can vary.
• "Firefly guitars, very fun, definitely for now, seem to be really good value for the dollar. I mean, they’re the price point of some guitar pedals." (18:50)
• Gave them “Best Variety of Affordable Guitars for 2025.”

Kiesel Kyber Headless (19:22)

• Thin, light (approx. 6.25 lbs), balanced, comfy—headless option.
• Liked so much he ordered a headless 7-string.
• "I think ultimately if I would have got the one with the headstock, I'd been just as fine... Just fantastic." (20:08)
• Awarded "Best Obtainable USA Made Guitars” for hitting $1,600 price point.

PRS Core Herman Li and SE Models (21:01)

• Both models are distinct—SE is not just “cheaper core.”
• Phillip prefers SE for comfort; core has more contours but SE feels more streamlined.

PRS SE NF53 (21:56)

• Deep dive with factory visit.
• Phillip: Can't fall in love with it, likely due to the pickups or neck chunkiness.
• 3rd best-selling guitar of the year (Reverb stats).
• "It's just really thick… I love the dog hair finish. I love the vibe… I just have not fallen in love with those pickups."

Oterra Guitars (23:01)

• New brand: Collab between Cortek and Samurai Guitarist.
• Only 100 made—sold out quickly.
• Excellent quality, personal touches—hopes for more runs in the future.

Orangewood Clementine (23:42)

• New semi-solid electric, not traditional; more akin to high-end PRS or Collings shapes.
• Made at Cortek’s Dalian, China facility.

G&L 24-Fret Rampage (24:10)

• One of the last guitars from the California factory.
• Emotional discussion about sitting in Leo Fender's chair, observing signs of decline.
• "The future of G&L is still an open book. But… I don’t think it will ever be what it was."

Ibanez Power Series 540P3 (25:24)

• Japan-made, Genesis series—throws back to late '80s/early '90s.
• Unique shape felt too small, uncomfortable to play for Phillip.
• Easier to find deals on them.

Warmoth Kit Build ("Moon Pie" Guitar) (26:41)

• Assembled and finished in about four hours—excellent fit and finish.
• Family in-joke name; Moon Pie story adds levity.

Jet Guitars (27:55)

• Two affordable models tested (301 and 501).
• Stand-out neck feel—comparable to $3,000+ guitars.
• Exceptional value for the price.

Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club 1 (28:40)

• $189, three color options—Phillip’s favorite sub-$200 guitar of the year.
• Plays incredibly well for the price.
• Critiques manufacturer for calling the wood “mahogany" without specifying it is “Philippine mahogany.”
  • "When companies say mahogany—but don’t state which kind—it makes higher-end builders seem like they’re overcharging when they're giving you real value."

Rabia Massad Sterling (Music Man) (29:50)

• Not an alder body as claimed but "naito" (mid-tier mahogany).
• 5-way switch, push-push pot (instead of push-pull)—works well so far.

Cort KX700TT ($3,000) (30:41)

• True temperament frets, limited run: only 20 made.
• Surprising to see Cort producing a high-end guitar at this price point.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On affordable "vibe" guitars:
  "If Vibe was tangible in price, that guitar would be a thousand dollars. But it's not... It's what the parts are. And the parts are worth 100 bucks."
  —Phillip (10:28)

• On Taylor’s ethical sourcing:
  "I can’t in all good conscience know that we cut down 10 trees to get one black one and let that happen over and over … so that we as guitar players can have ebony that’s pure black. It’s just wrong."
  —Bob Taylor excerpt (13:39)

• On D'Angelico value:
  "I like D’Angelico. I recommend D’Angelico guitars… but I think try to wait for a sale or find them used."
  —Phillip (11:52)

• On Cort making a $3,000 guitar:
  "A couple years ago, would I have predicted Cort would come out with a $3,000 street price guitar? No… but the market is all over the place and everybody’s just trying new things."

Market & Industry Notes

• Data from Reverb sales and affiliate links supplement Phillip’s observations.
• Increasing overlap in OEM manufacturing—many big names use the same few factories.
• Rise of hyper-affordable “copy” brands, high-end runs from unlikely companies (e.g., Cort).
• Musicians' increasing focus on value and playability over brand status is apparent.

Behind the Scenes: Channel Updates (32:40)

• “Stuff” (pedals/amps) reviews split off onto secondary channel for production efficiency.
• "This year, 27 things that we reported to you in our videos different than what the manufacturers had stated. … almost 80% of the manufacturers either apologized or corrected it." (33:54)
• Research takes the most time, more than filming or editing; building multi-cam workflow for deeper reviews.

Conclusion

This episode offered in-depth updates and honest, sometimes tough, verdicts on a wide variety of 2025’s standout guitars, from $189 beginner models to limited-run, ultra-premium imports. Phillip’s style keeps it fun, relatable, and grounded in both player perspective and industry trends.

Quick Reference – Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:45 – Fender Standard Tele/Strat
• 04:48 – Yamaha Pacifica
• 06:22 – Ibanez Standard
• 07:53 – Bromo Acoustic
• 08:32 – Epiphone Les Paul Special
• 09:11 – "Ikea Caster"
• 10:58 – D'Angelico Premier Mini DC
• 12:32 – Eastman Fullertone DC62
• 13:37 – Taylor Studio 414 CE (with Bob Taylor, 13:39)
• 15:12 – Fender Professional II Telecaster (Limited)
• 16:05 – BC Rich Gunslinger
• 16:51 – Firefly Guitars
• 19:22 – Kiesel Kyber (Headless)
• 21:01 – PRS Core Herman Li & SE
• 21:56 – PRS SE NF53
• 23:01 – Oterra Guitars
• 23:42 – Orangewood Clementine
• 24:10 – G&L 24-Fret Rampage
• 25:24 – Ibanez Power Series
• 26:41 – Warmoth Kit ("Moon Pie")
• 27:55 – Jet Guitars
• 28:40 – Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club 1
• 29:50 – Rabia Massad Sterling/MM
• 30:41 – Cort KX700TT
• 32:40 – Channel updates / industry corrections

Quote to leave you with:
“Ultimately, all I really care about is: Do I pick it up and play it? And if I do, then it needs to stay.” —Phillip McKnight (11:20)