“It barks, it roars and it bites”: EarthQuaker Devices Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder review By Paul Riario published 25 April 24 EQD's latest dirt pedal offers amp-like drive and heaps of tone-shaping capabilities, but is above all a love letter to dynamics
“Plenty of great functionality to make your life easier and assuage any fears of signal or battery loss”: Boss WL-50 review By Matt McCracken published 25 April 24 We put Boss’ pedalboard-friendly wireless guitar system to the test, seeing how it holds up to some stiff competition
“You might not be fooled into thinking it’s a tube amp, but it’s close enough for silent practice”: Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY review By Richard Blenkinsop published 24 April 24 An affordable silent practice tool with three channels and three effects that covers ground for all guitarists
“Damn close to Lifeson’s late ‘70s/early ‘80s sounds”: Lerxst CHI head and cab review By Chris Gill published 23 April 24 A lower-powered version of Alex Lifeson’s superlative Omega tube amp, the CHI could facilitate your guitar’s passage to Bangkok
David Gilmour tones from a boost-drive twofer? Crazy Tube Circuits Hi Power review By Trevor Curwen published 20 April 24 CTC's latest twofer seeks to harness David Gilmour's Wish You Were Here tones in a pedal that pairs a boost with a Hiwatt-inspired drive
“Beyond any guitar in its class”: Yamaha Pacifica Professional P12M review By Paul Riario published 19 April 24 Forget everything you know about Pacifica: Yamaha’s new Japan-built flagship is a stunning, pro-spec electric guitar that has to be played and heard to be believed
“If you’re a rock or metal guitarist looking to up your game, then JTC Guitar is an incredible resource”: JTC Guitar review By Richard Blenkinsop published 19 April 24 Some of the best video content out there to help rock and metal players hone their craft
“Very much at home with syncopated djent chugs, fast thrashy power chord riffing, and blazingly quick lead work”: Jackson JS22-7 DKA Dinky HT review By Matt McCracken published 17 April 24 Should a beginner choose a 7-string as their first instrument? This extended-range guitar from Jackson looks to make its case
“An excellent fuzz for your ’board”: Beetronics Abelha Tropical Fuzz review By Trevor Curwen published 17 April 24 It’s designed for Brazilian tropicália music, but this fuzzbox from Beetronics could create a buzz in any musical genre
Boss BP-1W Booster/Preamp review By Trevor Curwen published 15 April 24 The BP-1W presents classic Boss preamp circuits in a compact pedal format – and it might just be the secret tone weapon your rig has been waiting for
"Packed full of great sounds and options yet easy to navigate": NUX MG-300 By Matt McCracken published 11 April 24 Could this budget-friendly multi-effects pedal be the perfect match for the beginner guitar player who wants loads of tones on tap?
Jackson Pro Plus Dinky MDK HT7 MS review By Chris Gill published 11 April 24 Multi-scale madness in a go-faster hot orange colorway, this weaponized 7-string is not for gentle turnarounds and fingerstyle folk. But for metal and shred players? holy moly...
“For many wah enthusiasts, Clyde McCoy wahs are considered the ‘Holy Grail’, and Xotic has replicated its tonal recipe”: Xotic XW-2 Wah – Red Limited review By Paul Riario published 10 April 24 Xotic is only making 1,000 of these, which is a shame, because it is maybe the most beautiful wah pedal you will ever see. But how does it sound?
“Ideal first amps, loaded with features for hours of fun and inspiration”: Blackstar ID:Core V4 Stereo 10, Stereo 20 and Stereo 40 review By Nick Guppy published 8 April 24 Blackstar has introduced a timely update to its award-winning programmable guitar amp range, but how do these combos stack up?
“Pristine with warmth and definition… and the output level was more than loud enough for club stages”: Seymour Duncan PowerStage 100 Stereo review By Chris Gill published 5 April 24 Meet the pedalboard power amp with ample power for gigs, an excellent EQ, and everything you need to live your stereo wet/dry/wet live rig dreams
“The amount of functionality Boss has packed into a Compact series pedal is just staggering”: Boss IR-2 Amp & Cabinet review By Trevor Curwen published 4 April 24 What if you could have your full rig in the size of a Boss Compact Series pedal… and it sounds amazing?
“Completely shatters the expectations for a guitar geared toward modern metal”: PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN review By Matt McCracken published 4 April 24 The Periphery guitarist’s signature model gives lovers of the low-end great specs and playability at a lower cost. We find out if it’s more than just a djent machine.
“If you can handle the fanned frets, this is a bass you’ll cherish for decades”: Dingwall John Taylor Signature review By Joel McIver published 4 April 24 After playing a custom Dingwall live with Duran Duran, John Taylor has launched his production model, loaded with a new bridge design, a Rupert Neve Design preamp to die for and a monster tonal range
“The Firebird V is closing in on Gibson’s own price points… however, there’s nothing we don’t love about these guitars”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson 1963 Firebird I & V review By Neville Marten published 3 April 24 Two of Gibson’s most controversial designs, reimagined and rebranded with Epiphone’s moniker. Do they promise the ‘Cream’ of the crop or a ‘Winter’ of discontent?
“A guitar we really can’t fault. Try one of these before someone realizes they’ve made a mistake with the price”: PRS SE CE 24 Standard Satin review By Dave Burrluck published 2 April 24 This new satin Standard version of the classic CE 24 ditches the bling and drops the price to just $499