I gave a current AI model a straightforward brief: design five complete, working-musician guitar rigs for blues, classic rock, metal, indie/alt, and modern versatile use. Stick to models that actually trade used, keep totals realistic, and include guitar plus amp or modeler. The replies were the pairings most players already know. I then ran every model through sold-price research and recent Reverb and eBay closings instead of relying on the AI’s estimates or current asking prices.
The exercise was not about whether AI “knows gear.” It was about whether its shopping lists survive contact with real transaction data — the ranges, spreads, and extra costs that determine if a rig is actually buildable this week.
To compare I used the AI Rig Designer on SearchMusicGear to see what kinds of rigs it built and how it compared to any regular AI available online.
The five rigs
ChatGPT
The blues suggestion was a Fender Player Stratocaster into a Fender Blues Junior IV. Reverb’s used estimate for the Mexican Player Strat sits $394–$601 for good-to-mint examples, with many recent solds clustering $450–$550. The Blues Junior IV shows $435–$626, typically closing $500–$550. Combined used total lands around $1,000–$1,100. That is 35–40 percent below typical new street for the same pair. The pairing itself works: single-coil snap into EL84 grind covers small rooms and tracking without drama. AI picked a liquid, proven combo. It simply did not quote the actual sold band.
AI Rig Designer Result (See it here with live listings)
Pretty close to the same results except with an overall rig geared towards playing live, actually mentioned a pedal that pairs well with the amp and a pedalboard. I would say that the AI Rig designer did a better job of creating an original rig with more versatility.
- Gretsch G2622 Streamliner Center Block Double-Cut with V-Stoptail, Laurel Fingerboard, Broad’Tron BT-3S Pickups, Fireburst — $540
- Fender Fender Blues Junior IV 1x12-inch 15-watt Tube Combo Amp - Lacquered Tweed Sweetwater Exclusive with Eminence Red White and Blues Speaker 2026 — $750
- Keeley Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer with Baked Mod 2010s - Green — $175
- MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay Pedal — $246
- Pedaltrain Nano Plus - 2nd Hand (169172) — $76
- Truetone 1 SPOT Power Supply Combo Pack — $50
Grok
Classic rock came back as a Gibson Les Paul Studio into a Marshall DSL40CR. Used Les Paul Studios commonly trade $900–$1,325, with an aftermarket average near $1,025 and roughly 36 percent off the $1,599 retail. The DSL40CR used estimate is $421–$502, though recent excellent examples close closer to $510–$550. Total used is roughly $1,530–$1,600. Both pieces move steadily; the Studio in particular has enough supply that buyers can wait for a clean example instead of paying asking. Again the musical match is obvious. The dollar figures needed live comps.
AI Rig Designer Result (See it here with live listings)
This one is quite different, but still adds more depth for the genre, an overdriven Orange sound, with a wah and another tube screamer, which is always nice to kick on for solos or an extra boost. One thing AI Rig Designer does well is give an overall useable rig with everything you need plus ready for live performances.
- PRS PRS SE Custom 24 Limited Orange Tiger Smokeburst - Orange Tiger Smokeburst — $563
- ORANGE - ROCKERVERB 50 MK3 + HOUSSE — $1,965
- Cabinet Orange PPC212 Black — $542
- Dunlop GCB95 GCB-95 Cry Baby crybaby Wah Pedal - Rev I Circuit — $69
- Keeley Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer with Baked Mod 2010s - Green — $175
- Pedaltrain Metro 16 with Deluxe MX Soft Case — $100
- VOODOO LAB Pedal Power 2 Plus Alimentatore per Pedali — $232
Google Gemini
For metal the AI chose an Ibanez RG550 Genesis Collection plus a Peavey 6505 head. The Genesis RG550 used range is $605–$887, with solds often $700–$800. The 6505 head sits $695–$994, typically $750–$900. What the suggestion omitted was the cabinet. A matching or similar 4x12 currently trades $450–$600 used. Add that and the rig total reaches $1,950–$2,150 before shipping a 40-pound head and a heavy cab. Liquidity is fine; the extra cost and logistics are not in the original list.
AI Rig Designer Result (See it here with live listings)
One thing that I should have done is specify the subgenre of metal because there are so many, but it was a worthy experiment anyway. Results from Gemini were solid though and gave a great guitar and head geared towards any genre of metal. It still lacks depth and not a total useable rig out of the gate. AI Rig Designer still gave an overal useable rig with everything you need, plus pedals and a pedalboard which is nice. This one also provided a noise suppressor which you totally need for high gain and a delay pedal for adding to shredding some leads.
Here are the results I got with AI Rig Designer:
- Schecter SCH.184 C-6 Hellraiser Black Cherry — $1,559
- EVH - 5150 III 3-Channel 50w Tube Guitar Amplifier Head Ivory w/Cover - USED — $1,400
- Mesa Boogie 4x12 Rectifier Traditional Slant Cabinet - Black Bronco — $1,499
- Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor Pedal — $121
- MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay Pedal — $246
- Pedaltrain Nano MAX with Soft Case — $104
- Truetone 1 SPOT Power Supply Combo Pack — $50
ChatGPT
Indie/alt was a Fender Player Telecaster into a Vox AC15C1. Player Teles sell $417–$616 used, many at $450–$550. The AC15C1 estimate is $392–$609, with typical closings $450–$550. Combined used is about $1,000–$1,100, again well below new. Chime and grind in a manageable 15-watt package — another pairing that already exists in thousands of bedrooms and small stages. Price reality was tighter than the AI’s round numbers.
AI Rig Designer Result (See it here with live listings)
Again AI Rig Designer even still in beta gives a better overall rig that is complete with delays, reverb's and a pedal board, making it way more versatile for home and live use. Another cool thing is AI Rig Designer finds live prices from Reverb an includes it when built, so you could buy this entire rig right now if you wanted.
Here are the results I got with AI Rig Designer:
- Ibanez AZES40 Electric Guitar - Black — $370
- Blackstar HT-20R MKII 2-Channel 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Combo with Reverb 2019 - 2020 Black — $761
- BOSS DD-8 Digital Delay — $180
- Strymon blueSky Reverberator V2 — $379
- MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay Pedal — $246
- Pedaltrain Metro 16 with Deluxe MX Soft Case — $100
- Truetone 1 SPOT Pro CS6 Isolated Power Supply — $170
Claude (Anthropic)
The modern/versatile rig was a PRS SE Custom 24 plus a Line 6 Helix Floor. SE Custom 24s trade $402–$607, frequently $450–$550. Helix Floors show $688–$932, with recent solds $750–$850. Total used around $1,200–$1,400 for a guitar and a complete amp-and-effects platform. No extra cab, far less weight, and the Helix can cover most of the other four rigs in one box. This was the suggestion that most clearly understood current player habits.
AI Rig Designer Result (See it here with live listings)
So AI Rig Designer went a little wild (in a good way) when giving it more vague instructions. Also AI Rig Designer is a wizard that asks way more questions before buildling the rig, so budget wise I chose $5,000+ and it didn't disappoint with the results. One thing it took literally was "digital/modern" as it definitely made this a digital rig with the addition of an audio interface and directbox, making it a versatile rig for recording at home as well.
Here are the results I got with AI Rig Designer:
- ESP E-II Horizon-III FM Electric Guitar - Reindeer Blue (EIIHOR3FMRDB) — $2,349
- Fractal Audio FM9 Amp Modeler / FX Processor 2021 - 2023 - Black — $1,400
- HEADRUSH - FRFR-112 Powered Guitar Speaker Cabinet — $427
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen — $236
- Radial - ProDI Passive Direct Box — $116
Positives: The Combos Were Already Proven
Every pairing the AI returned is high-liquidity on Reverb and eBay. All of the rigs suggested are readily available, selling all the time.. They also sit in the part of the used market where the discount versus new is large enough to matter — 30–40 percent on the Strat/Junior and Tele/AC15, similar on the SE/Helix. That is the spread that changes a budget. AI Rig designer gave more versatile rig pairings and sometimes requireed a higher budget, but I would personally like a more overall result. This definitely helps a beginner or any musician that just gets tired of gear overload online for what genre you play.
What the Experiment Actually Changes
Use online AI to generate traditional starting pairings. One drawback is you have to go find live listings yourself to buy online. After using a traditional AI you would need to run the exact models through SearchMusicGear sold price research and then find live listings. AI Rig Designer gives you live listings right then which saves you a ton of time. Another cool feature is how you can export the rig in a text file or save the rig in your dashboard for later access. You can also watch the price on the items as well. The five rigs built by the other AI's above are all buildable this week at the used totals listed; the AI just could not tell you the real numbers, the extra costs or give you more versatile total rig suggestions.
