Dipped In Tone

On today's episode, Rhett, Zach, and Addison tackle a hot take that gets genuinely spicy: do all guitars actually sound the same? Then Rhett opens up about having his channel ripped off by an AI slop account (and what that's revealed about how broken YouTube's copyright system is), before the three of them dig into the state of the guitar store industry — why local shops are struggling, how Fender's direct-to-consumer push is undercutting its own dealers, the disappearing amp-repair trade, and what shop owners can actually do about it. Plus, an update on our live show at Fretboard Summit in Chicago, and we rate a viewer's rig — Gibson Flying V, Les Paul Jr., Dr. Z amps and all — to one of the highest scores we've ever given.

JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone
MERCH: https://www.dippedintone.com/merch
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/dippedintone

DIPPED IN TONE IS:
Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com
Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.com & https://highvoltageguitars.com
Produced & Edited by Addison! https://www.instagram.com/addisonsauvan

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:24 Zach’s Update
00:04:46 Addison’s Update
00:06:23 Rhett’s Update
00:11:00 HOT TAKE
00:22:42 How to hear the details better
00:30:23 Thanks Patrons!
00:30:38 Come join us LIVE at Fretboard Summit
00:32:52 Main Topic
00:44:11 Repair tech? Maybe it’s your new job!
01:02:10 Our unsolicited advice to local guitar stores
01:08:20 Rig Dip

BUY COOL GEAR (Affiliate Links):
Universal Audio Enigmatic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/o42Mve
Fender Triple Caster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzRMvq
Suhr Classic S Antique - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEomG
Benson Delay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeEb4b
Boss Roland DM-101 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0Nj5A
TC 2290 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1oz26
Universal Audio Volt 876 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeko9M
Boss Katana 50 Gen3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEom5
Shure 545 (new production) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ravMyj
Echo Fix EFX3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/APzZMK
Helix Stadium - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKVnJa

On today's episode, Rhett, Zach, and Addison dig into a stack of Patreon questions: how to properly gainstage your drive pedals into an amp without going harsh and farty, whether the Jazzmaster's bridge design cost it the throne from the Stratocaster, and the non-gear skills every guitar player should be building (learn to solder, learn to play bass, record yourself). Plus, an update on our live show at Fretboard Summit in Chicago, and we rate a viewer's rig — and it does not go well./

JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone
MERCH: https://www.dippedintone.com/merch
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/dippedintone

DIPPED IN TONE IS:
Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com
Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.com & https://highvoltageguitars.com
Produced & Edited by Addison! https://www.instagram.com/addisonsauvan

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:35 Directionally challenged
00:05:30 E-Bikes
00:06:25 Addison Update
00:07:47 Zach Update
00:10:10 Rhett Update
00:11:48 We’re going to be at Fretboard Summit!
00:15:16 Thanks so much Patrons!
00:16:23 HOT TAKE
00:24:20 Gain Staging Overdrives
00:30:24 Being careful with wet effects
00:36:23 In a recording situation
00:37:04 When things get harsh
00:39:56 Learning your gear
00:40:50 Overlooked skills guitar players should work on
00:43:30 Troubleshooting
00:44:10 Learning to setup your instrument
00:45:25 Listen to your bandmates
00:46:16 Learn how to solder
00:48:09 Get a bass!
00:49:45 Rig Dip
01:00:52 Zach’s Shill
01:01:51 Rhett’s Shill
01:04:16 Addison’s Shill
01:06:51 Join us on Patreon

BUY COOL GEAR (Affiliate Links):
Universal Audio Enigmatic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/o42Mve
Fender Triple Caster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzRMvq
Suhr Classic S Antique - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEomG
Benson Delay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeEb4b
Boss Roland DM-101 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0Nj5A
TC 2290 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1oz26
Universal Audio Volt 876 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeko9M
Boss Katana 50 Gen3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEom5
Shure 545 (new production) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ravMyj
Echo Fix EFX3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/APzZMK
Helix Stadium - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKVnJa

On Today's episode, Rhett & Zach address one of the biggest questions in tone: does one really need an always on pedal in their rig? 

Big thanks to the sponsor of today's episode, Sweetwater! Make sure to check out all the gear we use here and more: https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/dipped-in-tone/

JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone
MERCH: https://www.dippedintone.com/merch
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/dippedintone

DIPPED IN TONE IS:
Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com
Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.com & https://highvoltageguitars.com
Produced & Edited by Addison! https://www.instagram.com/addisonsauvan

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:13 Artificial Intelligence (a real human wrote these timestamps, I promise)
00:07:37 Thanks Patrons!!
00:08:04 Thanks to today’s sponsor, Sweetwater!
00:10:18 Life is hard
00:09:22 Rhett’s Update
00:12:02 Zach’s Update
00:17:08 Hot Take
00:21:40 MAIN TOPIC: Always On Pedals
00:33:36 Let’s rant about amp modelers
00:38:50 BBE Sonic Maximizer
00:40:36 Always on EQ pedals
00:43:15 Always on compressors
00:46:19 Somebody make this man a Distressor in a pedal!
00:49:28 Always on overdrives
00:54:00 Learn the fundamentals of gear!
00:56:51 Who wants to see a High Voltage “Amp Day”?
00:57:48 Rig Dip
01:07:30 Zach’s Shill
01:09:41 Thanks again Patrons
01:09:48 And thanks again to Sweetwater for sponsoring today’s episode

BUY COOL GEAR (Affiliate Links):
Universal Audio Enigmatic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/o42Mve
Fender Triple Caster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzRMvq
Suhr Classic S Antique - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEomG
Benson Delay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeEb4b
Boss Roland DM-101 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0Nj5A
TC 2290 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1oz26
Universal Audio Volt 876 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeko9M
Boss Katana 50 Gen3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEom5
Shure 545 (new production) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ravMyj
Echo Fix EFX3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/APzZMK
Helix Stadium - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKVnJa

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave us a comment!

The three of us finally get into something that's been on the calendar for a while: what actually makes a good Les Paul. Zach brings out all his Les Pauls, Rhett has his R9, and Addison shows off the 2007 Studio Faded he's had since he was 15. We talk about what to listen and feel for when you're shopping — weight, acoustic resonance, how the D and G strings behave, and why the nut is almost always the reason your Les Paul won't stay in tune. Plus PAF pickup obsession, the case for unpotted pickups, top wrapping, tone woods, and why the inconsistency of Gibsons is a feature, not a bug.
Hot take this week from Nicholas: flame tops and figured maple are ugly, and matching headstocks make a guitar look cheap. We're split.

Rig dip goes to Matt, who spent his life working in music stores and trading his way up to a rig that might be the most expensive we've ever seen. 1964 SG, 1957 Strat, 1964 ES-335, 1952 Telecaster, two Two-Rocks, a Friedman, and a pedal board with too much gain?

Thanks so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Sweetwater! Make sure to check out all the gear we use here and more: https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/dipped-in-tone/

Check out our website & merch: https://www.dippedintone.com
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone

Dipped In Tone is:
Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com
Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.com & https://highvoltageguitars.com
Produced & Edited by Addison! https://www.instagram.com/addisonsauvan

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:49 Addison’s Update
00:01:23 Check out Nick Loux and the High Life
00:02:32 Zach’s Update
00:06:00 3D Print Talk
00:07:36 Rhett’s Update
00:09:23 Graham’s First Guitar lessons
00:12:02 Thanks to today’s sponsor, Sweetwater!
00:13:30 Thanks to all our Patrons!
00:13:53 Hot Take 
00:20:07Main Topic - Les Pauls 
00:23:12 The wand finds the wizard 
00:24:13 Addison’s first guitar 
00:28:13 What Rhett looks for in a Les Paul 
00:30:20 What Zach looks for in a Les Paul 
00:32:54 RE Tuning Stability (a proper nut slot and setup) 
00:36:30 Pickups 
00:38:50 WOOD AFFECTS TONE DOG 
00:43:17 Anything with P90s 
00:47:50 The differences add up 
00:50:23 Top Wrapping 
00:52:02 What to look for in your first Les Paul 
00:57:02 Rig Dip 
01:08:05 Thanks again Sweetwater 
01:08:20 And a big thanks to our Patrons!

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave us a comment!

All three of us are back. Rhett's finally home after five weeks on the road with The Midnight, Addison has moved back to Kansas City (into the exact same house), and Zach is mid-kitchen renovation with no internet. It's fine. Everything's fine.

Hot take this week: why is basically every guitar pick the same teardrop shape? We get into pick materials, shapes, Blue Chips, the Carol Kaye felt pick thing, and the Tom Bukovac acoustic strumming trick you probably haven't tried.

Then things get serious. Fender has issued cease and desist letters to boutique S-style guitar builders across the EU, demanding they stop manufacturing, recall sold instruments, and destroy infringing inventory — all by Memorial Day. We dig into what's actually happening legally, why this almost certainly won't hold up, what it says about who's really running Fender now, and why LSL has launched a GoFundMe to fight back.

We also talk through the vintage guitar market losing its mind — including a 1959 ES-335 at Carter Vintage listed at $107,000 — and dip a rig from Cody in Portland, who built his own SG during COVID and put Gibson on the headstock.

Thanks so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Sweetwater! Make sure to check out all the gear we use here and more: https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/dipped-in-tone/

Check out our website & merch: https://www.dippedintone.com
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone

Dipped In Tone is:
Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com
Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.com & https://highvoltageguitars.com
Produced & Edited by Addison! https://www.instagram.com/addisonsauvan

00:00:00 Intro
00:05:14 Rhett’s Update
00:07:02 Addison’s Update
00:0832 Zach’s Update
00:10:21 Thanks Patrons!
00:10:42 Big thanks to today’s sponsor - Sweetwater
00:12:04 Hot Take
00:22:15 What is Fender thinking?
00:48:39 The Vintage Market is insane
00:59:13 Rig Dip
01:06:32 Thanks again Sweetwater!
01:06:58 Join us on Patreon

Some of our favorite gear (Affiliate Links):
Universal Audio Enigmatic - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/o42Mve
Fender Triple Caster - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzRMvq
Suhr Classic S Antique - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEomG
Benson Delay - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeEb4b
Boss Roland DM-101 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/K0Nj5A
TC 2290 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e1oz26
Universal Audio Volt 876 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jeko9M
Boss Katana 50 Gen3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DyEom5
Shure 545 (new production) - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ravMyj
Echo Fix EFX3 - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/APzZMK
Helix Stadium - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKVnJa