Golden Age of Gear - hosted by Joey Landreth & Derek from Revv Amps

Revv D20MK2 & D20JL | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 40

It’s new amp day! Derek and Joey plug straight into the brand-new Revv D20 MK2 and the D20 Joey Landreth Edition — no pedals, no frills, just pure amp tone.

Both amps take everything players loved about the original D20 and make it even better:
- More headroom thanks to larger transformers
- Bright switch for extra sparkle
- Onboard reverb for club gigs and grab-and-go sessions
- Footswitchable boost for live flexibility
- A new tolex headshell look that feels like a “real” amp on stage

The D20 JL takes it a step further with tight low end, forward mids, and extra grind dialed in by Joey himself for the studio and the road.

👉 In this video we compare the MKII vs JL side-by-side, talk about cabs and custom speakers, and answer the question: Would you actually buy an amp at a band’s merch table?

🎸 Tell us in the comments: Which one would you take home — the D20 MK2 or the D20 JL?

👍 Like this video if you want more amp shootouts, and don’t forget to subscribe for the next episode of Golden Age of Gear.

Mutron 3 Plus | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 39

What happens when Joey plugs into a real Mutron 3 Plus? You get legendary envelope filter tones that shaped Jerry Garcia, John Mayer & beyond—plus plenty of unexpected laughs along the way.

From funky low-pass sweeps to high-pass half-cocked wah tones, the Mutron 3+ proves why it’s one of the most iconic pedals ever made. But this episode isn’t just about sounds—we dig into the bigger gear conversation too:

Warm Audio’s clones & controversies ⚡
Klon shootouts & why some pedals nail it while others don’t 🎯
Vox lawsuits, Novo guitars, & the “clone culture” paradox 🔄
Tolex horror stories, Three Monkeys amps, and even Super Mario sound effects 🕹️

👉 Don’t miss it: hear the Mutron, laugh with us, and join the debate.

🔥 If you love gear deep dives, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & ring the bell 🔔 to catch every new Golden Age of Gear episode.

👇 Tell us in the comments:
Are clones saving classics or stealing ideas?

#GoldenAgeOfGear #Mutron #GuitarPedals #GuitarGear

Collings I-35 LC | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 38

Welcome back to The Golden Age of Gear! 🎸 This week Joey and Derek take a deep dive into one of Joey’s most played and most beloved guitars—the Collings I-35 LC.

From its stunning figured top and unique finish checking, to its upgraded Ron Ellis pickups (the same set Bill Frisell uses 👀), this guitar has serious mojo. Joey shares the story of how he first got connected with Collings through That Pedal Show, picking up his I-35 alongside Ariel Posen, and even gigging it at MerleFest.

Along the way, we talk about:

Why the Collings I-35 is a “forever guitar” and how it compares to Gibson 335-style instruments
Touring stories, dings, dents, and why wear & tear can add character
Pickup swaps, tones through a Fuzz Face & Strymon El Capistan
The Collings shop legacy and why their instruments hold value

👉 If you’ve ever wondered whether a boutique semi-hollow is worth the price, this episode is for you.

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment: would you fly with your #1 guitar, or leave it safe at home?

Boost Shootout | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 37

Looking for the best clean boost pedal? We lined up some of the most talked-about boosts — Mythos Luxury Drive, Keeley Katana, Revv Tilt Boost, Heuristic Tilt EQ, Non-Human Audio Roughcast, XTS GE-7 Mod, and NRG Pumper — and put them through a good old-fashioned shootout.

Some are transparent and loud, some add a little extra grit, and others shape your EQ in surprising ways. Spoiler: they all sound good… but which one actually makes the board?

🎸 Featured Pedals:

Mythos Pedals – Luxury Drive
Keeley Electronics – Katana
Revv – Tilt Boost
Heuristic Industries – Tilt EQ
Non-Human Audio – Roughcast
XTS – GE-7 Mod
NRG Effects – Pumper

Whether you’re trying to wake up low-output pickups, hit your amp harder, or just find the right solo boost, this is a speed dating round for clean boosts — with quick demos, honest reactions, and plenty of laughs along the way.

💬 Drop a comment: What’s your go-to boost? Did we miss one you swear by? (And no, a compressor doesn’t count 😅)

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join us next week on the Golden Age of Gear!

This week on Golden Age of Gear, Joey and Derek check out some of the most creative and unusual pedals we’ve ever come across — all hand-built by Pete’s Pedals.

What looks like vintage gear pulled from a basement? Actually brilliant pedal designs. We’re talking:
 📞 A rotary phone turned dual overdrive & boost (with a real preamp tube!)
👽 A theremin fuzz that delivers sci-fi chaos and wild textures
⏱️ A multi-head tape delay housed in a vintage telephone — lush, vibey, and unlike anything else on your board

Unconventional enclosures aside, these pedals truly deliver. The overdrives are versatile and musical, the delay is gorgeous, and the theremin fuzz opens up an entirely new world of sounds.

Along the way we cover:
 🎸 The magic of pedals built into non-traditional enclosures (phones, tuna cans, toy cars, and more)
 🎸 Why Flipside Music in Denver might be the best shop in America for finding hidden gems
 🎸 Which of Pete’s creations we’d actually gig with or record with
 🎸 And why unique gear like this inspires us to play differently

👉 Let us know in the comments: Which one would you take home — the overdrive, the theremin fuzz, or the delay?

McNeil B100 Amplifier | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 35

This week on Golden Age of Gear, Joey and Derek dive into something truly unique from Joey’s collection — a hand-built McNeil B100 amplifier from Boston-based builder Brian McNeil.

What starts as a story about two new dads bonding over amps quickly turns into tales of blown fuses, near-electrocutions, and figuring out why you should never poke around a live amp chassis. (Spoiler: 300 volts to the hand is no joke.)

The McNeil B100 is a Tweed-inspired monster, tricked out with Brian’s custom mods:
 ⚡ Gain & EQ boosts
 ⚡ Switchable tube/solid-state rectifier
 ⚡ Multi-tap output transformer (2Ω & 8Ω)
 ⚡ KT66 power tubes & classy Harris Tweed wrap

Joey and Derek put it through its paces — raw into a Revv 4x12 with WGS ET90s & Veteran 30s, mic’d with a Telefunken + AEA ribbon combo. From vintage bloom to modern punch, this thing is LOUD, vibey, and dripping with old-school character.

Along the way, the guys get into:
 🎸 Why Tweed amps feel so alive under your fingers
 🎸 Custom Tolex rabbit holes (pink amps, zebra print experiments, and Marshall’s Sex Pistols rig)
 🎸 Why you should never cheap out on amp safety
 🎸 And why the YouTube comments section is both a blessing and a curse

This isn’t just another amp demo — it’s a deep dive into boutique amp building, vintage tone philosophy, and the weird world of custom amp aesthetics.

👇 Let us know in the comments: Would you rock a Harris Tweed-covered amp, or are you holding out for neon pink zebra print?

PRS DGT Core Model VS PRS DGT SE | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 34

It’s the most goldenest day on Golden Age of Gear — we’re putting the legendary PRS DGT Core Gold Top up against its budget-friendly sibling, the PRS DGT SE Gold Top. Both look stunning, both play great… but one costs five times more than the other.

We dive into every detail — neck feel, pickups, build quality, hardware, and that elusive “vibe” factor that can make or break a guitar. Does the Core deliver a $5K tone and feel, or is the SE the ultimate bang-for-your-buck PRS? You might be surprised at what we find.

Along the way, we share PRS stories, talk about why some “imperfect” guitars inspire more than flawless ones, and put both guitars through the Golden Revv D25 JL Edition to see how they really compare in a real playing situation.

🎸 Guitars Featured:
* PRS DGT Core Gold Top
* PRS DGT SE Gold Top
🎛 Amp:
* Revv D25 JL Edition

💬 Tell us in the comments — if you had to pick one, which PRS are you taking home?

Memory Man | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 33

This week on The Golden Age of Gear, Joey dives headfirst into analog delay heaven with the vintage Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man — modded by none other than Analog Man. Sent over by Evan of Pedals to Metal, this iconic delay quickly goes from “loaner” to “might never leave the studio” status.

We explore the rich modulation, generation loss, and vibey imperfections that have made the Memory Man a must-have for artists from Radiohead to Albert Lee. From swirling ambience to slapback swagger, this pedal does it all — hiss, giant power supply, and all. Joey and Derek talk vintage vs. modern, boutique prices, cork-sniffing vs. practicality, and why sometimes gear just needs to inspire you, even if it’s noisy and overpriced.

Is a $1,000 delay pedal worth it? Would you buy one? Let us know in the comments.

Badcat Era 30 | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 32

This week on Golden Age of Gear, we’re diving into something truly special — the Bad Cat Era 30. Designed by the legendary Mark Sampson (Matchless, Badcat), this EL84-powered amp is his final masterpiece before his passing, and it absolutely rips.

Derek and Joey put the Era 30 through its paces, blending the EF86 and 12AX7 channels, exploring its touch sensitivity, dynamic response, and its surprisingly massive punch through a Revv 4x12 cab. From studio-worthy cleans to gritty vintage breakup, this amp delivers tones that are anything but ordinary.

In this video, they’re running the Bad Cat Era 30 into a Revv 4x12 cabinet loaded with a pair of WGS ET90s and Veteran 30s, mic’d up with a Telefunken M81 and an AEA N22, with only an Avalanche Run in the effects loop for added space.

Whether you're a fan of EL84 tones or just curious what the last amp from a true legend sounds like — this is one you don’t want to miss.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Have you played a Bad Cat? Got a favorite EL84 amp we should check out?

This week, Derek and Joey take a deep dive into Joey’s newest Lumiere Tele-style guitar, handcrafted in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From its minimalist blackguard-inspired look to its incredibly resonant yellow pine body, this guitar has a vibe all its own — even if the headstock sparks some strong opinions.

Along the way, they chat about everything from slide playing to the horrors of Winnipeg humidity, boutique headstock design, and the dream of custom glitter Tolex. It's half gear nerdery, half therapy session, and all good times.

Whether you’re here for the tone talk, the hot takes on guitar design, or the La Croix pronunciation debate, this episode has something for every guitar-obsessed soul.

🎸 Guitars discussed: Lumiere, McMull, James Tyler, PRS, Casa Dosa
 🏔️ Winnipeg weather complaints: included
 🔥 Playing? Yep. Joey rips.
 😂 Jokes? Plenty.
 🧢 Toque height updates? You bet.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments —
What’s the ugliest (or best) headstock design in the game?