Amp Reviews

Latest Amp Reviews

Laney LFR-110
“It may not have the same EQ options as other FRFRs, but the Laney LFR-110 amplifies your digital tone in a way that will easily get you heard on stage”: Laney LFR-110 review

By Pete Emery Published

Laney introduces its most compact FRFR guitar cabinet yet, in what could be the perfect on-stage companion to your carefully curated modeling tone

Speaker Cabinets
JBL BandBox Solo
“In a world where streaming is king and few people own the music they listen to, the BandBox Solo’s ability to conduct stem separation from a Bluetooth source is incredibly useful”: JBL BandBox Solo review

By Pete Emery Published

With the ability to separate stems from a streamed audio source over Bluetooth and a host of useful tools, the JBL BandBox Solo could be a game-changer for home practice

Combo Amps
PRS DGT 15 Combo: The combination of blonde Tolex – nodding to the Fender brown-panel years – with a Marshall-style salt-and-pepper basket-weave speaker grille cloth evoke the classic designs of 60s US amps as much as the amp does tonally
“A match for boutique offerings from smaller high-end manufacturers”: PRS DGT 15 Combo review

By Martin Smith Published

The latest in the DGT family is this handsome 15-watt combo. And its sounds match its good looks…

Combo Amps
A JBL BandBox Trio guitar amp on a rug
“Delivers surprisingly good amp models and one of the best AI practice tools I’ve ever used”: JBL BandBox Trio review

By Matt McCracken Published

The first foray into guitar amps from JBL combines room-shaking volume with the ability to dismantle your favorite tracks in real-time

Combo Amps
The Fender '62 Super: The brown-panel period introduced a player-friendly, front-facing control panel for the first time on a Fender amp. The distinctive colouring was used for the range with the warmest, brownest tones
Leo Fender’s favorite amp, recreated? Fender ’62 Super Amp review

By Martin Smith Published

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

Guitar Amps
Line 6 Powercab CL 112
“Making digital modeling a more viable option for those who miss the sound and feel of a real amp”: Line 6 Powercab CL 112 review

By Pete Emery Published

Missing on-stage sound? Find FRFR cabs unnatural? Line 6's latest Powercab offers a traditional speaker, primed for digital modelers

Speaker Cabinets
EVH 5150 Iconic Series 15-watt head: the black amp with gold control panel is photographed in close-up
“All the grin-inducing firepower of the full-flight 5150”: EVH 5150 Iconic Series 15W EL34 Head

By Martin Smith Published

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

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

By Martin Smith Published

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

Guitar Amps
A Blackstar Beam Solo headphone amp for guitar plugged into a Stratocaster with a pair of headphones
“One of the best-sounding headphone amps for guitar I’ve had my hands on”: Blackstar Beam Solo review

By Matt McCracken Published

Blackstar enters a very busy market with their take on the ubiquitous headphone amp for guitar

Headphone Amps
Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat Combo: the new boutique tube amp is photographed in closeup
“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review

By Martin Smith Published

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

Combo Amps
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