https://www.artistguitars.com.au/buy/artist-at53-black-relic-electric-guitar-w-hand-mad/18089

This is a no-chat, jam demo, that puts the AT53 in front of a few different amp and effects types - Fender, Marshall and Dumble - all models from the Axe-FX III. A full chatty demo can be seen at https://youtu.be/Kpbd8POyDOM

When it comes to affordable guitars, few companies produce as many bargains as Sydney's Artist Guitars. But they've really knocked it out of the park with the AT53. The appointment list is remarkable for a guitar that lists at AUD$449.00. Start with a lightweight Paulownia body with a black relic finish; quarter-sawn roasted maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard and medium-jumbo stainless steel frets. The fingerboard shoulders have been rounded for a played-in feel while locking machineheads and a bone nut finish the incredibly comfortable neck appointments. The pickups are 'handwound' Alnico 5's with plenty of bite and a cool, throaty sound from the neck pickup. The bridge sports traditional style, brass, compensated saddles for ease of setup and accurate intonation.

Everything about this guitar reeks of an instrument usually priced three to four times more, at least. I was so floored with the out-of-the-box setup that I asked Artist Guitars if they had a professional go over it before it shipped to me. Nope, that's just how they ship. I'm going to take this one on the road. I'll put myself out on a limb here and say that due to the features and appointments, the AT53 is probably the best value solid-body guitar on the market today, at least in Australia. Well done, Artist Guitars.


Today's tools:

Guitar: 2025 Artist Guitar AT53 Black Relic.
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 28.00 beta 4. Deluxe Reverb, Marshall and Dumble models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball Slinky 10-46 (factory shipped)
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0
Backing track courtesy of Elevated Jam Tracks

https://www.artistguitars.com.au/buy/artist-at53-black-relic-electric-guitar-w-hand-mad/18089
When it comes to affordable guitars, few companies produce as many bargains as Sydney's Artist Guitars. But they've really knocked it out of the park with the AT53. The appointment list is remarkable for a guitar that lists at AUD$449.00. Start with a lightweight Paulownia body with a black relic finish; quarter-sawn roasted maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard and medium-jumbo stainless steel frets. The fingerboard shoulders have been rounded for a played-in feel while locking machineheads and a bone nut finish the incredibly comfortable neck appointments. The pickups are 'handwound' Alnico 5's with plenty of bite and a cool, throaty sound from the neck pickup. The bridge sports traditional style, brass, compensated saddles for ease of setup and accurate intonation.

Everything about this guitar reeks of an instrument usually priced three to four times more, at least. I was so floored with the out-of-the-box setup that I asked Artist Guitars if they had a professional go over it before it shipped to me. Nope, that's just how they ship. I'm going to take this one on the road. I'll put myself out on a limb here and say that due to the features and appointments, the AT53 is probably the best value solid-body guitar on the market today, at least in Australia. Well done, Artist Guitars.

There's a no-chat jam demo that puts the AT53 in front of several different amp types if you're interested. Go to: https://youtu.be/c51_CGUuemQ

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2025 Artist Guitar AT53 Black Relic.
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 28.00 beta 4. Deluxe Reverb, Marshall and Dumble models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball Slinky 10-46 (factory shipped)
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.fender.com/en-AU/electric-guitars/stratocaster/standard-stratocaster-hss/0266440571.html
2025 sees the introduction of the latest Fender Standard Series. These guitars, I feel, are very reasonably priced and offer a great looking and great playing experience for beginners through to pros who aren't looking for anything too fancy. This specimen, a Candy Cola HSS Strat (apologies as I incorrectly call it Candy Apple Red in the video) was pretty great straight out of the box although I did spend a half hour or so tweaking it to my own preferences. The pickups sound great, the neck is straight and true, the medium jumbo frets on the 9.5" radius fingerboard make bends and general playing very easy and the bridge does what it should - stay in tune after some whammy action. My only gripe is the weight which, on this specimen at least, is 4kg or 8.8lbs which is getting up there where Fender guitar weights are concerned. The HSS Standard is good fun and I'd be happy to use it at a gig, such is its build quality and tones. Rock on and thanks for watching.

If you own an Axe-FX III or FM9 and wish to try out my demo patch, you can download it for free from https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11500. You'll need to be running current beta firmware or later for both machines.

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2025 Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS Candy Cola.
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 public beta 1. Marshall, Fender and Vox models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Factory 9-42
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.instagram.com/adagaudiopedal

Adag Audio's Seagull Overdrive is a simple four-knob affair with controls for Gain, Volume, Bass and Treble. It's been around for a couple of years now and most describe it as a 'transparent' overdrive - low to medium gain. The whole 'transparent' thing is a bit odd to me however this pedal does indeed maintain the guitar's fundamental tone characteristics while adding as much grit or dirt as you care to dial in. The Seagull's build quality is as good as the best and having tested it with four favourite amp types (see video), I have to say that it's a very versatile bird. Adag Audio are currently taking forward orders through their Instagram page so hit them up there if you'd like to take flight (sorry for the pun 😬).

One thing I should mention that's not demonstrated in this video is the 'saturation' trim pot on the side of the Seagull which is recessed and accessed by a small screwdriver. I felt that the factory settings were perfect so didn't go there this time - but it's there if you would like to.

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2015 Charvel HS with JJ's Sovereign '59 and '65 pickups. 'Eggs' partscaster with Chef's Special Pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com).
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 puplic beta 1. Fender and Marshall models
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.heptode.com/virtuoso.php
The Heptode Virtuoso Phase Shifter is around 11 years old now. Older still if you count its inspiration, the late-60s Maestro PS-1A invented by one Mr Tom Oberheim. The original had three rocker switches for slow, medium and fast LFO speeds. The Heptode version stays true to that idea by providing us with three footswitches controlling the same - slow, medium and fast LFO's. The Heptode version is about a third of the size of the original with rear-mounted jacks so that's all a big plus too. And the sound? Sublime. This jam demo aims to show it off in context with a couple of different signal paths. The video will tell the story. I hope you like it as much as I like the Virtuoso Phase Shifter.

This is a no-chat jam video. A chatty version can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/EJBVO8glEt0

Specifications:
6-stage analog phaser pedal
3 phase speeds (Slow, Medium, Fast)
Relay-based true bypass

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2023 Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster with JJ's '63 Set pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com).
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 puplic beta 1. Deluxe Reverb and Marshall 1959 models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.heptode.com/virtuoso.php
The Heptode Virtuoso Phase Shifter is around 11 years old now. Older still if you count its inspiration, the late-60s Maestro PS-1A invented by one Mr Tom Oberheim. The original had three rocker switches for slow, medium and fast LFO speeds. The Heptode version stays true to that idea by providing us with three footswitches controlling the same - slow, medium and fast LFO's. The Heptode version is about a third of the size of the original with rear-mounted jacks so that's all a big plus too. And the sound? Sublime.

This is my chatty video. A no-chat jam version can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/6zmAm693jS0

Specifications:
6-stage analog phaser pedal
3 phase speeds (Slow, Medium, Fast)
Relay-based true bypass

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2023 Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster with JJ's '63 Set pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com). 2024 Charvel Prashant Aswani PA28 Signature (https://www.charvel.com/gear/shape/so-cal/style-1/prashant-aswani-signature-pro-mod-so-cal-pa28/2966011521)
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 puplic beta 1. Deluxe Reverb and Marshall 1959 models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/tonexpedal/?pkey=tonex-pedal
I've had the ToneX Pedal in my possession since it was released a year or so ago. Unfortunately touring commitments and general over-commitments otherwise put it in the too-hard pile and I never got around to making a comprehensive demo for it (apologies to Tiia and the gang at IK). However, this has kind of worked in my favour because by now anyone interested in the ToneX Pedal will already know all about it thanks to Youtube and may even have already bought it. Yesterday I unearthed mine and decided that the best way to test it was to put it to work, write or modify some sounds and throw it into the ring in context with a backing track to see how it sounds. And I think it sounds pretty great! I did have a little trouble navigating my way around the ToneX App which seems a little busy or convoluted, but I think I'm cool with it now. Life for ToneX Pedal owners is likely to be even better once IK release the Editor (February if all goes to plan).

I wrote three basic sounds for this jam: Clean based around a SLO model; dirty based around a 1959SLP model through a Deluxe cab(!); and gain-saturated based around a Bogner Shiva model with an 808 in front. I added sync'ed ping-pong delay (onboard) and some plate reverb (also onboard) and went for it. If I can work out how upload my presets* I'll gladly give them to anyone interested in trying them. When the Editor is released, I'll make another ToneX Pedal video. Cheers.

*I've popped them into a Google Drive folder for now. Hopefully you can access them from there. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1P8LwpawZ-k3sla8TIcuncgoi0sQ29P_x?usp=sharing

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2024 Charvel Prashant Aswani PA28 Signature. Stock.
Amp: IK Multimedia ToneX Pedal running latest firmware and software as at 30 Jan 2025.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0
Backing track "Sneaky Ext Backing" courtesy jtc_guitar from the Just Jam: Big Grooves collection

With improved vibe and fuzz blocks in FW: V27.04, I thought it only fitting that I revisit and tweak my original ElectricLadyLunch patch. This one adds a Megatap Delay block for some floaty, reverse reverb effects. This patch will also run happily on an FM9 as long as it's running FW: 8.02 Public Beta 4 or later. You can download it for free from AxeChange.
Axe-FX III: https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11482
FM9: https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11483

Today's tools:

Guitar: MJT/Musikraft Partscaster with JJ's '65 Set pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com/strat.htm).
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 public beta 1. xxx model.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0

https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com/limited-editions.htm
If you're looking for a Tele pickup that's a little hotter, warmer, rounder but still retaining the classic twang, then the XL-T Set by JJ's might be for you. ¼" Alnico 5 magnets offer a bolder frequency range with a little more punch and a very even tonal spread. Ben at JJ's recommends a 500K pot for these guys and that's what I'm using here. Rock on.

Today's tools:

Guitars: 2022 Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster, stock. Kinman Vintage Series with JJ's XL-T Set pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com).
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 public beta 1. Fender '65 'blackface' Deluxe Reverb model.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB

https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com/strat.htm
JJ's Guitar Pickups have updated their '54 Set. Here they are with a couple of different amp types and a Fender American Original '50s Strat. Chimey goodness!

Today's tools:

Guitar: 2021 Fender American Original '50s Stratocaster with JJ's '54 Set pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com).
Amp: Axe-FX III Turbo running Cygnus X-3 FW. 27.04 public beta 1. Fender, Marshall and Dumble models.
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball Paradigm 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA A231 - https://audixusa.com/products/a231/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26x32
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A150 - https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands - https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0