“Extremely well-made guitars… bags of character”: Auden 632 Series Chester 000 and Bowman OM review By David Mead published 29 August 24 A new series of short-scale acoustics joins the ranks at Auden – complete with a very smart soundhole preamp
“Full-fat P90 roar”: Gibson Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior and Epiphone USA Collection Coronet review By Dave Burrluck published 28 August 24 Introduced in 1954 and always overshadowed by ‘proper’ Les Pauls, the 70-year-old Junior is now rather senior. With two just released, it’s time to celebrate the Junior style
“The pinnacle of that most utilitarian of accessories”: Peterson Stroboclip HDC review By Matt McCracken published 27 August 24 We get our hands on an $80 clip-on tuner. Worth it? Read on to find out
"Delivers on all fronts heavy and looks phenomenal whilst doing so": Jackson X Series Rhoads RRX24 review By Matt McCracken published 22 August 24 A purebred shred machine with a Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncans, all for less than a grand
“The special sauce is the Enhance facility, which mimics the input stage of tube amps”: Blackstar Polar 2 review By Trevor Curwen published 22 August 24 Blackstar presents a USB audio interface that it proudly proclaims has been “designed by guitarists for guitarists”
“Any clean tone would benefit from some Airchild tonal enrichment”: J Rockett Airchild 660 review By Trevor Curwen published 20 August 24 J Rockett’s latest offering for your ’board takes its inspiration from a legendary compressor from the ’50s
“Lots of thought has gone into this”: Boss Katana Artist Gen 3 review By Richard Barrett published 16 August 24 The flagship amp from Boss’s latest iteration of the Katana series boasts some impressive-sounding features, for use from sofa to stage
“Both these guitars tick practically all the boxes”: Furch Vintage Pure & Violet Deluxe SM review By David Mead published 12 August 24 This pair of finely crafted acoustics from the lower end of the Czech Republic maker’s price band may look simple and stripped back, but they’re fully loaded with tone
“You’ll have some serious fun here”: Vintage REVO Series Custom Supreme & Trio review By Dave Burrluck published 9 August 24 Vintage already offers a huge number of affordable and tidily made electrics, but for 2024 we get a whole new retro-inspired range – and 15 new models. Where to start?
“An open-tuned five-string guitar is unique… you just can’t help bashing out those classic Keith Richards riffs”: Newman 5 String review By Dave Burrluck published 7 August 24 A story that starts on a Rolling Stones USA tour in the early ’70s, Ted Newman’s distinctly shaped design is now being made here in the UK. But the first model is missing a string!
“Fender-ize your amp with real spring reverb and tremolo”: Crazy Tube Circuits White Whale V2 review By Trevor Curwen published 5 August 24 Want to Fender-ize your amp? Here’s a pedal that will add real spring reverb and all the flavors of vintage tremolo to your tone
“Delivers a stunning sound with bags of sustain and a complex tonal profile”: Sheeran by Lowden W05 review By Matt McCracken published 1 August 24 Ed Sheeran's collaboration with Lowden brings us a comfortable acoustic guitar made in Northern Ireland
“Can genuinely hold its own in any genre”: Mesa/Boogie Mark VII 1x12 Combo review By Richard Barrett published 29 July 24 How can Mesa/Boogie possibly have improved on the Mark V so much that it skipped the Mark VI? Join us as we plug in and find out
“A hard-rocking Superstrat”: Charvel Pro-Mod Relic San Dimas Style 1 Relic HH FR PF review By Stuart Williams published 24 July 24 With a super-charged Strat vibe and a contrasting relic finish, Charvel’s San Dimas Style 1 is swapping Spandex for slippers as the 80s blueprint reaches middle age
“An astoundingly great fuzz”: Dophix Medici More Fuzz review By Paul Riario published 23 July 24 A brilliant but pricey dirt box from Italy – with two layers of fuzz
“It is more evolution than revolution, but Positive Grid have delivered everything guitarists have been asking for and more”: Positive Grid Spark 2 review By Matt McCracken published 23 July 24 PG’s groundbreaking desktop amp finally gets an update, and we got our hands on it pre-launch
“An exceptional platform for novices, intermediates and advanced guitarists alike”: Guitar Tricks review 2024 By Chris Schwarten last updated 19 July 24 A behemoth of a guitar tutorial site that’s evolved over decades into one of the very best online learning experiences around
“An accessible, contemporary tuition platform that screams quality”: Fender Play review 2024 By Chris Schwarten last updated 19 July 24 A beautifully executed, modern take on traditional guitar, bass and ukulele tuition
“The build quality and voice of a fully fledged professional instrument”: McNally S-32 review By David Mead published 12 July 24 Despite its membership in McNally’s entry-level range, this small-bodied guitar’s spec sheet reads more like an instrument from the major league. Is it as good as it sounds? Let’s find out…
“You may just want to leave it on all the time”: ThorpyFX Electric Lightning review By Trevor Curwen published 5 July 24 Thorpy creates a tube-powered drive and boost pedal for Welsh powerhouse Chris Buck
