Hello, and welcome to Guitar World’s gear round-up, your one-stop-shop for keeping up to date with what’s been happening in the big wide world of guitar gear over the past seven days.
From new electric guitars to amp modeler updates, the guitar industry is never short of fresh releases, and it can sometimes be hard to stay abreast of every new launch that may be of interest to you.
To make things a little easier, we’ve put together an essential must-read guide that will cover the major releases, the boutique drops, and everything in between.
Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini and Academy 22e
Last year, Jacob Collier kickstarted a five-string revolution. The revolution is now entering its second phase with the arrival of two new Taylor signatures, which help make the Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalists expansive new guitar language more accessible than ever before.
The first Collier Taylor from last year weighed in at $2,799. This new Academy 22e is $999. Its companion GS Mini is just $699. If you’ve ever been intrigued to dive into the waters of five-string guitars, there has never been a better time than now.
It’s got the ergonomics of a six-string, so there’s plenty of room to move about in, but only five strings tuned to DAEAD. It’s an accessible entry point to easy open chord shapes and expansive soundscapes, and encourages a whole new way of playing. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience. The five-string isn’t going anywhere. And we love it.
For more: Taylor Guitars
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar
Johnny Marr’s guitar collection certainly isn’t short in variety, but there’s one model above all else that the Smiths legend is intrinsically linked to: the Fender Jaguar. It’s been by his side for much of his career, prompting Fender to release a highly acclaimed signature version that many believe to be the finest modern Jag of all time.
Well, that’s now got competition, because Marr has reinvented the Jag once again for his newest signature. It is an absolute corker of a guitar. That finish is stunning. The addition of those lipstick pickups? Utter genius. Of course, it sounds as good as it looks, and it also has a new not-so-secret switch to flick between wiring modes. Marr himself said he wanted to make a model that “pushes players to explore new tones and possibilities”. This does exactly that.
We also saw a prototype floating around on IG with a maple neck. It would be nice if Fender had plan to release that one as well…
For more: Fender
Marshall Spinal Tap Infinity amp
When Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel revealed that he had asked Marshall to build an amp that went to Infinity for the band’s recent sequel, we began wondering whether the British amp brand had any plans in motion to make those available to the wider public.
After a few weeks of whispers and speculation, Marshall this week launched a special-edition JVM410H, which brings a 40-year collaboration in the making full circle. It’s been called ‘the loudest amp ever made’, and while that may not be strictly true in terms of output, it certainly is loud in style.
Two channels have been named after St. Hubbins and Tufnel. The bass knobs have been renamed ‘Smalls’. Each control goes to 11, a nod to that infamous scene from the first film. The Master Volume goes to Infinity. It is about as Spinal Tap as you could have hoped for.
“I think it's amazing that something so off-the-cuff has become an integral part of our company's history,” Marshall’s Steph Carter told Guitar World. “That one line has cemented itself as kind of a tagline for the company.”
For more: Marshall
Universal Audio UAFX 2.0
Universal Audio’s UAFX pedals have become a firm favorite among casual players and pros alike. The Edge ditched his tube amps for a UAFX amp modeler at The Sphere. John Mayer recommends them to all beginner guitar players. Guitar World has dished out plenty of rave reviews over the years.
They’ve not been without fault, though, with the V1 pedals all lacking MIDI compatibility, suffering from less-than-ideal app integration, and offering a limiting one-additional-preset function. That’s all been rectified with UAFX 2.0, though – a free-to-download software that addresses all those shortcomings.
As far as updates go, this is pretty major, and it spans across all dual switch effects pedals and amp modelers, so each and every UAFX stompbox is about to hit a new level.
For more: Universal Audio
Gibson Les Paul Junior / Special Double Cut
Gibson may have first developed its Les Paul Junior and Special guitars as entry level student models, but it didn’t take long before pros were harnessing their full potential and they both became rock ‘n’ roll staples beloved by everyone from Leslie West to Billie Joe Armstrong.
Fortunately, the double-cut versions – which, I’d argue, are infinitely cooler – are now back. They closely channel the spirit of those vintage models, and come complete with the P-90 pickups that made them such standout models. That LP Jr. DC in Cherry Red is calling my name. Woof.
For more: Gibson
Third Man Hardware x JHS Pedals Troika
Jack White’s Third Man Hardware effects company has announced its latest collaborative release – the Troika, a ‘horse-powered’ delay pedal made in partnership with JHS Pedals. It’s a spin-off of a rare Honda Sound Works Fab Delay pedal from Japan that White brought into early development discussions.
Funnily enough, JHS founder Josh Scott had apparently never come across it before (that’s how you know it must be rare). The Troika has been kitted out with three slider controls, and a bunch of I/Os to make it work with vocals and guitar. In fact, White used a prototype Troika all over his latest record, No Name, and now relies on it as an indispensable part of his live rig.
If you’re wondering about the ‘horse-powered’ bit, peep those horses on the front. Troika is, after all, the name for a Russian sleigh that gets pulled by three horses. Duh.
For more: Third Man Hardware
Sterling by Music Man Mike Herrera
Who even needs control knobs anyway? Well, I recently went on a spiritual journey of six-string self-discovery, so, I very much do. MxPx punk pioneer Mike Herrera certainly doesn’t, though – and his new Sterling by Music Man signature very much makes that clear.
It’s a stripped down version of his OG StingRay and an ode to both his DIY spirit and modded bass, with two dummy knobs that channel his frills-free playing philosophy. Oh, and it looks cool as hell, too.
For more: Sterling by Music Man
EHX Pico Atomic Cluster
EHX flipped the mini-pedal market on its head back in 2023 when it announced its “most ambitious pedal release” since Mike Matthews first opened up shop. The range's original aim was to downsize the firm's classic stompbox. It has since evolved, serving as a platform of experimentation. The Pico Atomic Cluster is a prime example of that. In EHX’s own words, it’s “unlike any effect Electro-Harmonix has made before”.
It’s a weird, lo-fi, synth, glitch-y, auto-arpeggio pint-sized package of sonic chaos that just sounds and behaves differently. It really needs to be heard to be believed; words don’t do it justice. It’s a mini pedal, so I’m sure I’ll be able to squeeze one into my ‘board somehow…
For more: EHX
TWA Source Code
No, this isn’t just another Tube Screamer. It might in fact be the Tube Screamer of all the Tube Screamers. One Tube Screamer to rule them all. See, the TWA Source Code isn’t a clone – it’s the ultimate evolution of the iconic overdrive pedal, designed by the original creator of the TS808 himself, Susumu Tamura.
It is a culmination of Tamura’s five decades of experience in overdrive design packaged into a single chassis. The next-gen TS has increased headroom, and multi-transistor input buffer for signal preservation, and ‘Magic IC’ op amp for improved amp-like feel, a new ‘Bite’ control, and +6dB of boost for increased output.
And it has a really, really cool ‘’ logo that lights up when the Source Code is switched on. And there I was thinking I don’t need another overdrive pedal…
For more: MaxonFX
Benson Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Let’s go over it again: over the last few years, the guitar world has witnessed something of a tone revolution thanks in part to Mk.gee – a maverick emerging guitar hero who shunned amps for a guitar rig that relied heavily on multi-track Tascam Portastudio for its preamp. It was everything modern players had been encouraged to avoid, but it’s back – and now blown-out, bit-crushy analog DI tones are all the rave.
JHS Pedals got in on the hype with the 424 Gain Stage, and now Benson – which has been developing its own solution to the Tascam pedal conundrum for some time – has also thrown its hat into the ring.
This limited release actually goes one step further though, expanding the versatility of the original circuit by adding a bypassable buffer that drastically alters the tone and character. In other words, it’s more of a pedal’s pedal, and will play nicely with the rest of your rig. Unfortunately, it’s already out of stock…
For more: Benson
Heather Brown Darlene
The pedal to level up your compressor game? Heather Brown Electronicals’ Darlene is an ultra-quite analog compressor designed with one goal in mind: to let players’ dynamics breathe and keep their sound pure.
It’s meant to solve some common compressor qualms, those being flattened tones, choked dynamics and unwanted noise. The Darlene has a low noise floor to combat the latter, the choice of either true or bypassed buffer, and three knobs (Sustain, Blend and Volume) to dial in the required compression.
It’s also said to be something of a Swiss army stompbox, capable of being an always-on polish, a transparent clean boost, and a thickener for drives.
For more: Heather Brown Electronicals
Fulltone Ultimate Octave
One of Fulltone’s most celebrated designs – and, indeed, one of the most well-known octave pedals full stop – is back on the market, with the effects firm announcing the return of the Ultimate Octave.
A firm favorite of Joe Satriani and something of a pedal cult classic, the pedal returns with a smaller footprint to make it more pedalboard friendly, but keeps the same capacity for tone-tweaking. Two footswitches; knobs for Volume, Fuzz and Tone; and a Bright/Fat switch is all you need to harness what Fulltone is calling “one of the most intense upper-octave circuits ever made”.
For more: Fulltone
Schecter John Browne Zenith
I’ll be the first to admit that “metal” guitars in their truest form aren’t my personal favorite, but while I was scoping out the show floor at Guitar Summit 2025 a few months back, I did do a double-take while strolling past the Schecter stand.
Why? Well, because it had its new John Browne Zenith signature on display, of course. That finish – dubbed Fracture White – is gnarly as hell. I love the matching headstock. The single pickup and hardtail bridge is up my street. Not quite enough to convert me, but I admire it for what it is: a ruddy cool metal guitar.
For more: Schecter
Vox Micro Superbeetle
Vox has aimed to reimagine portable amplification with the Micro Superbeetle – an authentic Vox amp capable of delivering the company’s singular sound in an, erm, micro-sized package. What’s neat is it’s a stack format – the head can be used as a standalone portable five watt amp. It offers three Vox tones – Clean, Drive and High Gain – plus Bluetooth connectivity for music streaming.
For more: Vox
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