“If detuned modern rock and metal is your thing, it’s definitely one to check out”: Victory VX The Kraken MKII Lunch Box Head review By Nick Guppy published 18 March 24 Victory’s compact high-gain monster is back, revamped and improved, and with a new Clean mode
“For the electric player who fancies some nylon sound, with a pick, it’s a simple drive and very fit for purpose”: Godin G-Tour review By Dave Burrluck published 15 March 24 As Canada’s foremost manufacturer of steel- and nylon-string acoustics and electros, not to mention an increasingly broad line of electrics, Godin has combined its past into the G-Tour
“This slant on the Bluesbreaker offers real flexibility at a manageable price point”: Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose review By Trevor Curwen published 14 March 24 We have a gander as Electro-Harmonix debuts its enhanced take on Marshall’s Bluesbreaker overdrive sounds
“While many contemporary offsets simply borrow the outline, there’s a lot more to these original recipes”: Fender Vintera II ’50s Jazzmaster, ’70s Jaguar and ’70s Competition Mustang review By Dave Burrluck published 13 March 24 Can’t afford a vintage Fender? Neither can we. So until we win the lottery, the Vintera range aims to satisfy our lust. Let’s jump on the offset train and go back in time…
“On playability alone it feels like we’re playing a much more expensive guitar”: PJD Guitars St John Standard Plus review By Dave Burrluck published 11 March 24 Back in 2023, revitalised Brit-maker PJD rejigged its range to start with the new solidbody hardtail Standards. Need an offset with a vibrato? No problem: here comes the Standard Plus
“A very endearing, characterful instrument… a guitar that looks and feels old, played-in and used but is perfectly fit for purpose”: Vintage Proshop V72 Custom Build review By Dave Burrluck published 10 March 24 With guitars seemingly getting more expensive by the day, is a bespoke build now just a thing for the very well-off? We go in search of a more affordable route from the UK…
“Quite simply one of the best ‘entry level’ acoustic guitars we’ve experienced”: JWJ Guitars “The Hog” review By David Mead published 7 March 24 Last year, we were mightily impressed when we looked at UK builder Rich Jones’ Parlour and Orchestra acoustics. This time it’s the turn of his entry-level, all-mahogany dreadnought
“It’s not just immaculate craft on show – it’s a real-world player’s guitar and would be a crime to keep cosseted in a case”: Nik Huber Krautster III review By Dave Burrluck published 6 March 24 We take advantage of the rare chance to get our hands on a Nik Huber guitar and celebrate 15 years of the stripped-down Krautster. Does guitar making get any better?
“Much more versatility than you’d expect in a fuzz pedal of this lineage”: Flattley DG Fuzz review By Trevor Curwen published 1 March 24 The UK pedal builder releases an upgraded 1960s-style silicon fuzz with a buffer and extended tonal options
“A powerful tool for recording guitars, and there’s plenty to grow into”: Universal Audio Apollo Twin X review By Matt McCracken published 29 February 24 This premium audio interface is packed full of pro-level features, but is it overkill for recording guitar at home?
“The HSS super-S has always been a journeyman guitar and the Polaris certainly keeps that flag flying”: Cream T Polaris Custom review By Dave Burrluck published 21 February 24 Having relaunched its Aurora model in 2023, co-designed by Billy F Gibbons, the British luthier’s latest addition is the entirely new ‘super-S’ style Polaris Custom. But where’s the rockstar and the pickup swapping?
“Let’s be clear: this is not a bedroom amp. It’s designed to fill huge halls and stadiums with ferocious rock riffage”: PRS Mark Tremonti MT 100 review By Nick Guppy published 20 February 24 Bucking the recent trend for compact heads, PRS goes large with its latest signature amp for the Alter Bridge guitarist
“This is a great utility pedal to have on your ’board, something that could really increase your sound’s scope”: Beetronics Nectar Tone Sweetener review By Trevor Curwen published 19 February 24 Beetronics’ latest will expand your pedalboard dirt options with drive and fuzz in one small pedal
“The realism of the virtual environments is stunning, creating in seconds what used to take many hours of studio time”: Two Notes Captor X SE review By Nick Guppy published 15 February 24 A special edition of the popular load box celebrates 15 years of Two Notes digital innovation, presenting players with a suite of contemporary features and vintage-inspired DynIR cabs
“A very natural sound that works well with both clean and driven amps”: Mad Professor Silver Spring Reverb review By Trevor Curwen published 8 February 24 A compact reverb to put a spring in your step
“Everything the modern musician needs to record great sounding guitars”: Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen audio interfaces review By Matt McCracken published 8 February 24 We deep dive with the 2i2 and 4i4 4th Gen models to find out if Focusrite’s latest audio interfaces are a good fit for guitarists
“The SE range is leading the charge in terms of new PRS model additions”: PRS SE CE 24, SE Swamp Ash Special and SE Custom 24 Quilt review By Dave Burrluck published 6 February 24 With no signature artists involved, the first wave of new PRS SE guitars for 2024 includes a couple of old favorites and a posh makeover for the classic Custom 24
“If you're looking for a no-fuss delay pedal for everyday repeats, this is the one to beat”: Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay review By Trevor Curwen published 1 February 24 It's compact, high-quality, with an easy-to-use control setup that makes it a no-brainer for your 'board
“This is the sort of pedal you may wish to keep on all the time”: Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review By Trevor Curwen published 18 January 24 A low-gain drive from the Finnish pedal specialist that makes all your strings sound good, not just the B(ee)
“There’s more grunge and garage attitude here. Things can get quite nasty – in a very good way”: Guild Surfliner Deluxe review By Dave Burrluck published 17 January 24 This new Deluxe version of Guild’s uber-cool offset format has been a long time coming. Worth the wait or has it gone off the boil? Let’s take a look…