Martin Smith

Leo Fender’s favorite amp, recreated? Fender ’62 Super Amp review

By Martin Smith published 26 January 26

The original, ’62-era Super was said to be Leo Fender's favorite amp. Let’s see if this exacting recreation captures the original magic

“All the grin-inducing firepower of the full-flight 5150”: EVH 5150 Iconic Series 15W EL34 Head

By Martin Smith published 4 January 26

The bombastic benchmark of the ‘brown’ sound has been channelled through a single-ended EL34 power section and hybrid preamp, with significant volume and price savings

"I doubt Orange could have made this unit any simpler or more reliable": Orange Valve Tester MKII review

By Martin Smith published 22 December 25

Orange improves its foolproof valve tester with enhanced compatibility and upgraded quality

“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review

By Martin Smith published 6 December 25

Remixed and refreshed by the late, great amp-guru Mark Sampson, this Black Cat has two more tubes, 10 more watts and a whole new voice

“The standard-bearer against which to judge all small combo amps”: Fender Blues Junior IV 30th Anniversary review

By Martin Smith published 27 October 25

Decked out in tooled western-style livery with a saddle bag’s worth of speaker and circuit upgrades, this anniversary edition stands strong in the lineage of the classic benchmark combo

“A new benchmark for heavy guitar sounds at a relatively accessible price point”: Blackstar DA100 Ruby review

By Martin Smith published 25 September 25

Blackstar created this fire-breathing signature head for guitar icon Doug Aldrich. But does it rock our world?

“This Swiss Army knife for amp connectivity is simply the best in its class”: Two Notes Torpedo Reload II review

By Martin Smith published 17 August 25

A reactive loadbox with dual-mono 215 watts (per channel), stereo effects loop and expanded connectivity from a market-leading brand? It's gotta be good, right?

“Will surely have you grinning, ear to ear”: Vox AC30X, AC15X and AC4 Hand-Wired review

By Martin Smith published 21 July 25

Vox aims to take us back to the sound of its illustrious golden-era with this re-engineered family of Hand-Wired amplifiers. We listen in for that elusive and very classic AC30 tone

“Comprehensively delivers on all fronts”: Bad Cat Era 30 review

By Martin Smith published 26 June 25

Legendary amp designer Mark Sampson’s final opus for Bad Cat is the culmination of a lifetime of design excellence and could be his finest creation

“Brings the sound of the gods to us mere mortals”: Marshall 1959 Modified & JCM800 Modified review

By Martin Smith published 23 June 25

The gatekeepers at Marshall have finally unlocked beast mode, releasing two brand-new Modified high‑gain amps. Time to plug in!

“Could be a contender for the loudest, smallest amp”: Orange O Tone 40 review

By Martin Smith published 11 March 25

What’s loud, light and orange? The latest solid-state and affordable combo from Orange

“Far more versatile than its tube counterpart”: Fender Tone Master ’59 Bassman review

By Martin Smith published 5 February 25

Fender attempts the incredible feat of replicating the historic Bassman with a digital heart in its latest addition to the Tone Master series

"The tone these amps produce is classic Orange": Orange Baby 100 Series review

By Martin Smith published 22 January 25

Orange's Tour Baby, Gain Baby and Dual Baby squeeze its tonal flavour into a portable, lightweight 100-watt head

“The amp easily turned in a convincing Van Halen ‘brown’ sound”: Laney LFSUPER60-112 Combo review

By Martin Smith published 21 November 24

Can this Lionheart Foundry combo from Laney win the solid-state wars?

“Exceptional tones… All the mids-forward guts one might expect”: PRS DGT 15 Head review

By Martin Smith published 20 September 24

PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag