“Pro-level board control in a user-friendly package”: Fender’s Switchboard Effects Operator brings RJM’s sought-after switching magic to the masses By Matt Parker published 18 January 24 Want a pro-grade switching unit but can’t stretch to a GigRig or MasterMind? Fender has the answer
NAMM 2024: Ernie Ball Music Man just introduced the final instalment in the Joe Dart Artist Series… and it sold out in seconds By Nick Wells published 18 January 24 Ernie Ball’s collaboration with Vulfpeck’s Joe Dart continues with this fresh take on Dart’s go-to short-scale P-Bass
NAMM 2024: A Tamagotchi guitar pedal that levels up with your playing? And it plays Snake and Space Invaders? Ground Control just dropped 2024’s wackiest stompbox By Phil Weller published 18 January 24 The UwU is a signal-boosting buffer pedal that brings gaming to guitar pedals like never before, housing a cat-like creature that reacts to your playing in real time
NAMM 2024: “Not just an upgrade but a complete reinvention”: Vox debuts the amPlug3 travel amp in 7 classic guitar and bass amp-channeling forms By Phil Weller published 18 January 24 From boutique amps to modern high gains and a faithful Vox AC30 replica, Vox is looking to add more dynamism to solo practices without upsetting your neighbours
NAMM 2024: “A luxurious color that evokes the beginnings of heavy metal”: Orange Amps team up with Glenn Hughes for its first signature O Bass – and it's a dazzling purple By Phil Weller published 17 January 24 The Deep Purple icon has been an Orange endorsee for over a decade, with the bass making for a striking pairing with his signature purple Crush combo amp
“Thundering his way into the Epiphone core lineup”: Rex Brown’s newest signature Thunderbird bass is here – and it’s the Pantera legend’s first-ever Epiphone model By Matt Owen published 17 January 24 Cosmetically near-identical to his flagship Gibson, the new model looks to bring the same flair to a more accessible price point, thanks to some choice functional tweaks
“Alex Winter and I would have two-bass jams when we made Bill & Ted – I won’t say there wasn’t any weed involved…” Keanu Reeves recalls his Wyld bass duels with his excellent co-star By Michael Astley-Brown published 11 January 24 Bill & Ted may have been guitar shredders, but Reeves and Winter are bassists in real life. And their off-set jams sounded like a lot of fun…
NAMM 2024: Ibanez introduces 2 handy new pedalboard problem-solvers – and a limited-edition celebratory Tube Screamer By Matt Owen published 10 January 24 A suave TS808 – as well as new additions to the Pentatone pedal series – have been introduced
NAMM 2024: “It should be in every musician’s gigbag” – Featuring a rechargeable battery and a rubber sound shield, has Snark just revolutionized the clip-on tuner? By Phil Weller published 10 January 24 Snark has made two key adjustments with the ST-8 Titanium tuner, offering “months” of tuning with one charge, without pesky external noises limiting its accuracy
“An all-analog tone-shaping machine”: Source Audio and Shoe Pedals team up for the Zio, a preamp and DI pedal designed specifically for bass By Phil Weller published 10 January 24 With four EQ controls and toggles for scoop and grit, the mid-priced two-in-one pedal aspires to offer greater clarity and articulation for low-end grooves
Del Palmer, Kate Bush’s bassist, engineer and former partner, dies aged 71 By Matt Parker published 8 January 24 The songwriter’s studio linchpin played and engineered everything from Hounds of Love to sessions with Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton
“I don’t want to string people or myself along any further”: Rage Against the Machine are finished, according to drummer Brad Wilk By Phil Weller published 5 January 24 The drummer has said the band will not be rescheduling RATM’s cancelled shows, ending hopes of the rap-rock legends hitting the stage again
NAMM 2024: “All the headroom you could ever desire” – EarthQuaker Devices’ Blumes brings chunked-up Plumes tones to the bass world, with the firm’s first ever bass overdrive pedal By Matt Parker published 4 January 24 With bipolar power and twice the gain, EQD’s first bass OD does not do things by halves – indeed, it doubles them, but keeps the same $99 price tag
NAMM 2024: “An important moment in the evolution of the Quad Cortex”: After years of waiting, Neural DSP has finally launched a free dedicated desktop controller for its Quad Cortex multi-effects pedal By Matt Owen published 4 January 24 One of the chief innovators of the floorboard multi-effects processor levels the playing field against Fender and Line 6 once again, with the Cortex Control giving Neural DSP players deeper control over their rig
Budweiser bodies and a new kind of competition stripe? Feast your eyes on Fender Japan’s early Christmas present: the Wasted Youth Telecaster and Mustang Bass collection By Matt Owen published 22 December 23 Renowned graphic designer and Budweiser creative director Verdy has lent his keen eye for eye-catching aesthetics to FJ's 2023 end-of-year releases
“The arena-grade touring rig that fits in every guitar bag”: Kemper’s new Profiler Player might just be the ultimate compact all-in-one rig – and it doesn't even need a screen By Matt Owen published 20 December 23 It's only the size of two standard stompboxes put together, but the deceivingly compact rig looks to be just as powerful as its larger siblings
“A pedal no-one else has and a tribute to my dad”: Red Witch releases 60 one-of-a-kind pedals as the company’s founder pays tribute to his late father By Phil Weller published 19 December 23 Each of the all-analog stompboxes from the New Zealand boutique pedal builder features a different photo of Ben Fulton’s dad and a unique chorus circuit
“Some of the most-heard guitars in the history of popular music”: Gibson’s latest Certified Vintage drop raids the vault to offer some of the cleanest vintage Epiphones you’ll ever see By Matt Parker published 15 December 23 The vintage haul celebrates Epiphone’s 150th Anniversary with a host of rare, all-original finds – several of which come from Gibson’s own archive
The world’s biggest amp brands are not who you think they are: these are Reverb’s best-selling guitar amps of 2023 By Matt Parker published 13 December 23 The used and new retailer's shared its top-selling amps this year – and it asks some serious questions of legacy names
“A groundbreaking digitally controlled analog booster”: Is the OPFXS Twin Boost the future of boost pedals? By Phil Weller published 13 December 23 With stereo outputs, programmable controls and MIDI control, the Italian pedal maker has served up a modern take on boost pedals