JHS - NotaDumble | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 25

We hopped on the hype train and put together two JHS NotaDumbles to see what this IKEA-style DIY overdrive is really all about. Spoiler: It sounds surprisingly good—and it’s one of the easiest kits we’ve ever assembled.

In this episode, Derek and Joey dive deep into the NotaDumble, compare it to real Dumble amps they've played, and talk about what it gets right, what it doesn't quite capture, and why the clean boost might be the real star here. We also talk about the brilliance of the NotaKlon, JHS’s marketing magic, and the eternal tone quest for the perfect feel—not just sound.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a $120 pedal kit can hang with the big dogs, this one’s for you.

Let us know in the comments—did you grab a NotaDumble? What did you think?

Chicago Iron Octavian | Ep. 24 - Golden Age of Gear

This week on Golden Age of Gear, Derek and Joey dive deep into one of Joey's most prized pedals: the Chicago Iron Octavian. It’s not just a killer sounding fuzz—this was the first expensive pedal Joey ever bought, and it's been with him ever since.

The Octavian is a faithful clone of the legendary Tycobrahe Octavia, the same fuzz that helped shape iconic tones from Hendrix, SRV, and Michael Landau. But as Joey explains, this isn’t a plug-and-play fuzz. From dialing in the right pickup settings to understanding how your playing dynamics affect the tone, the Octavian is a wild and rewarding ride—especially when paired with other fuzzes, drives, or a neck pickup and a 12th fret solo.

Along the way, Joey gets hands-on with the pedal, and talks about his favorite fuzzes, pairing tricks, and alternatives like the Mythos Argo, Kingtone Octaland, and Scott McKeon’s builds. Some of the other gear featured in this episode includes the Kingsley Juggler and Peasant, the El Capistan delay, the DanDrive Bonk Machine, and a few other fuzz and drive pairings that bring out the best in this iconic octave fuzz sound.

If you’ve ever struggled with fuzz pedals, this episode will help you fall in love—or at least understand what the hype is all about.

💬 Got a favorite Octavia-style fuzz? Drop it in the comments!

🔔 Like & Subscribe for more episodes of Golden Age of Gear

James Tyler Studio Elite with Dann Huff | Ep. 23 - Golden Age of Gear

This week on The Golden Age of Gear, we’re thrilled to welcome a truly legendary guest — guitarist, producer, and friend, Dann Huff. With a career that spans decades and includes work on some of the biggest records in the world, Dann’s influence on modern music is impossible to overstate.

In this episode, we dive into some serious guitar talk, starting with Derek’s brand new James Tyler “White Shmear” and Dann’s beautifully crafted ’64 Strat replica built by Tyler. Dann shows us what makes the Tyler preamp so unique, and shares how James Tyler modded his original 1964 Strat during his days as an LA session player.

We also catch up with Dann about a major milestone in his own career — the release of his very first solo instrumental album, When Words Aren’t Enough, out now on Baked Alaska Records. It’s a powerful, expressive guitar record that you are going to love.
Join us for an episode full of amazing stories, deep gear knowledge, and the kind of wisdom only a true legend can offer.

Pickup a copy of Dann's Album "When Words Aren't Enough" at https://bakedalaskarecords.com/

Schecter Nick Johnston - USA Custom | Ep. 22 - Golden Age of Gear

In this episode of Golden Age of Gear, Derek and Joey sit down for a deep dive into one of Derek’s most treasured guitars: his Schecter Nick Johnston USA Custom Shop. From its stunning wenge neck to the killer tone and rock-solid stability, this isn’t the Schecter you think you know. The guys chat about the backstory behind the guitar, how it compares to the import Diamond Series version, and why Derek refuses to fly overseas with it.

Plus, they get real about their Instagram doomscrolling habits, guitar neck finishes, pickup preferences, and what it really means when a guitar becomes your #1.

Whether you’re a diehard Schecter fan or just love hearing players gush about their favorite gear, this one’s full of laughs, honest takes, and killer tones.

👇 Let us know in the comments: What’s your #1 guitar?

#SchecterGuitars #NickJohnston #GoldenAgeOfGear #GuitarReview #CustomShopGuitars #StratStyle #GuitarTone

Giudis Pedals | Ep. 21 - Golden Age of Gear

This week on The Golden Age of Gear, Derek and Joey take a first look at one of the most unique pedals to ever grace the show—a wild Italian fuzz unit from Giudis Pedals, built into a repurposed military control box.
Sent to Joey by Giulio from Italy, this one-of-a-kind stompbox delivers gritty octave fuzz tones, a starve switch for voltage freakouts, and a vintage enclosure that might’ve once launched missiles (or at least operated a walkie talkie).
We plug it in for the very first time on camera—and yeah, it rips. Think Bosstone meets DIY art project meets Cold War relic.

We also dive into our love for other weird pedals with custom enclosures, talk about fuzz tones that still manage to retain stringiness and surprising dynamics, and reminisce about some of the wildest gear we’ve seen—like pedals built into literal toolboxes and guitars made from vintage Micro Machines playsets.

Got a bizarre or beautiful DIY pedal you think we should check out? Drop a comment—we want to see the weirdest stuff you’ve got.

👉 Subscribe, ring the bell, and join us every week for more gear madness.

Check out Giudis pedals over at: https://giudispedals.jimdofree.com/

0:00 - Intro
0:56 - What Is it?
5:07 - Let’s Hear It!
10:15 - Slide Tones
11:37 - Check Out This Trick!
12:25 - Some Thoughts
17:10 - What Is The Box?
18:20 - Fun Stories
20:50 - Joey Plays Us Out

Harmony Stratotone | Ep. 20 - Golden Age of Gear

In this episode of Golden Age of Gear, Joey shares the story behind one of the most meaningful guitars in his collection — a vintage Harmony Stratotone once owned by his hero, the legendary Kevin Breit.

From slide inspiration and gear trades to late-night Orbit Room gigs, this guitar’s journey is anything but ordinary. Joey and Derek dig into what makes this Stratotone so special — from its tone and mid-forward punch to its quirky old-school features (including stacked pots and a mystery set of pickups). They also reflect on how certain instruments hold sentimental value through the artists we admire — and how that connection can inspire an entirely different kind of playing.

You’ll hear how this guitar made its way from Kevin to JJ to Joey, get some tones through the D25JL and the Nordvang 83 Drive, and maybe even learn an E7 chord along the way.

What guitar has that kind of emotional pull for you? Drop it in the comments!

• Harmony Stratotone (late ’56 / early ’57)
• REVV D25 JL amp
• Henrik Nordvang 83 Drive
• Analogman ARDX20

📺 Don’t miss our other episodes on the 83 Drive and ARDX20 for deeper dives!

Revv G2 V2 | Ep. 19 - Golden Age of Gear

In this episode, Derek and Joey take a deep dive into the brand-new REVV G2 V2—an updated version of one of REVV’s most versatile pedals. While it might be green, it’s definitely not a Tube Screamer. The guys walk through what’s changed between the original G2 and the new version, from the feel and tone to the quieter noise floor and smoother top end. With updated voicing, refined drive modes, and an amp-like response that plays beautifully with your volume knob, the G2 V2 is designed to be more dynamic and usable than ever.
They also talk about the history of the G-Series pedals, how they relate to the Generator amp line, and why the G2—despite being the third in the original lineup—might be the most practical and flexible of the bunch. It’s a pedal that shines for edge-of-breakup tones, stacks well, and holds its own as a standalone crunch machine. Between laughs, Marshall flashbacks, and a few tone epiphanies, they compare V1 and V2 directly and dig into the details that really set the new version apart.
Whether you're a long-time REVV fan or just discovering the G-Series, this episode is packed with real-world tone talk and unfiltered impressions. And yes—Joey does play us out.
👉 Subscribe to the channel for more episodes like this every week.

Crazy Tube Circuits - Unobtanium | Ep. 18 - Golden Age of Gear

This week, Joey and Derek dig into one of the most talked-about dual overdrives out there: the Unobtainium by Crazy Tube Circuits. On one side, you get a Klon-style circuit. On the other? A Dumble-inspired drive with a switch to toggle between Steel String Singer and Overdrive Special tones.

We compare the standard version to the RAW edition (complete with OG germanium diodes), talk about how they differ in tone and feel, and explore whether stacking both sides creates something magical—or just melts your amp.

Along the way, we dig into how close the Dumble side gets to the real thing, whether the Klon comparisons hold up, and why gear needs to sound great with all the knobs set at noon. Joey also shares a bit about his first experience with Crazy Tube Circuits at the Duesenberg HQ in Germany.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried anything from Crazy Tube Circuits—or if there’s a local builder from your part of the world we need to check out!

👉 Subscribe for more gear deep dives every week.