Amplifier modelrs have been wildly popular in the past decade or so. Companies like Neural DSP, Line 6, Fractal Audio Systems, and more have rolled out some truly incredible pieces of gear that musicians heavily rely on both live and in the studio. Though if you ask guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull, things will eventually swing back to players using real amplifiers.
In an interview with the Dipped In Tone podcast, Shull reacted to Reverb’s best-selling gear of 2024 list not including a single tube amp.
“I’m not gonna lie, this does break my heart,” said Shull. “I’m a dyed-in-the-wool tube amp guy, and I’m gonna die on this hill. I don’t care if all of the guitar internet hates me for this: I cannot wait for this pendulum to swing back towards tube amps, which it will. Mark my words, viewer – it will.”
Shull added: “Something will happen, 15 or 20 years from now. People I think will eventually go back to some kind of tube amp.” Shull later made a good point that eventually, all guitarists are going to sounds too similar as they’re all relying on the same gear.
“I do like modelers, I’m half joking. I’ve used them, I’ve toured with them. They’re great tools. They have a place. But, come on, guys. When you’re all using the same piece of gear – I know people’s presets are different and you’re using different captures – you kind of do all sound the same.”
Which is certainly a fair point, though I’m not sure modelers will ever go away in a live setting – they’re entirely too easy to take around, as opposed to lugging a whole ass amplifier. Check out the full interview below.
