I don’t think good gear is necessary, but as
@DanTravis62 said, it can serve as a multiplier of your ability. Until late 2020 I only had a fender mustang 3, and don’t feel it held me back per say, but when I jumped to axe fx my playing got better for sure, and when I got my first tube amp in late 2022, the jump was even more pronounced. This is a combination of things, but I think the slight latency and lack of dynamics in modeling amps holds you back in potential for sure.
More importantly, the added motivation is honestly even more important- when you play something into a really special amp, and there’s that little bit extra that the amp adds, it makes you want to play more, and can even assist you in terms of writing- even at namm, playing lower gain amps like two rock and tone king had me playing genres I hadn’t played in a decade. I don’t think you need good gear to be an incredible player, but I do think shitty gear can hold you back from your maximum potential.
Something I would say however, is that good gear is not a matter of how much money you pay. Something killer stuff like 70s Marshall’s can be found super cheap and smoke the 4k “boutique” amps that people get excited by.
In summary, find the gear that inspires you within your means and buy the stuff I have for sale
