How to choose the best microphone for your electric guitar amp By Huw Price published 27 April 23 Because a great amp sound deserves the right mic for the job...
11 ways to improve your tube amp tone By Guitarist editors published 25 April 23 Under-the-hood improvements and careful speaker selection can secure that sound you’ve been searching for
NAMM 2023: Ashdown teams 30W British tube tone with Two Notes cab modeling on the remarkably fully featured MF 484 2.N By Michael Astley-Brown published 14 April 23 The stealthily tricked-out amp head seeks to combine the best of analog and digital worlds with a wealth of smart features – and it can even charge your phone
NAMM 2023: Fender Audio unveils the RIFF – a portable Bluetooth speaker and practice amp with a maple wood touch control panel By Matt Parker published 13 April 23 The stylish new hybrid speaker and amp aims to corner the music listening market among guitar players
Fender Mustang LT40S review By Rob Laing published 11 April 23 The Big F's desktop amp presents guitar players with an affordable and inspiring tool for practice. But how does it measure up in an increasingly crowded field?
NAMM 2023: Engl celebrates 40 years of hellish high-gain tones with (extremely) limited-run red racing stripe Fireball amps By Matt Parker published 11 April 23 These great ’Balls of Fire are coming direct from the German builder’s custom shop. But be quick – they’re limited to just 40 units
Magnatone unveils reptilian-inspired Croc Collection, which uses hand-applied colors for a fearsome (and shiny) amp finish By Matt Parker published 6 April 23 The firm’s new limited-edition crocodile-like covering offers bling and bite in equal measure
Fender CEO Andy Mooney: “I think the guitar today is in a better place than it’s ever been. I’m hugely optimistic about the future” By Matt Owen published 6 April 23 From a souped-up signature guitar strategy and the expansion of the Acoustasonic range to a digital amp development that will “blow peoples’ minds”, Mooney looks ahead to what could be a pivotal year for Fender
Fender ’48 Dual Professional JB Edition review By Chris Gill published 6 April 23 Joe Bonamassa’s signature recreation of this ultra-rare Fender tweed combo has been three years in the making – was it worth the wait?
EVH expands its value-for-money 5150 Iconic Series with new 15W 1x10 and 60W 2x12 combos – hear them in action By Michael Astley-Brown published 5 April 23 The fresh launches bring the Iconic Series’ impressive flexibility to new affordable formats that run the gamut of clean and high-gain tones
NAMM 2023: Vox pledges to make Brian May’s legendary tone “accessible to all” with two signature mini amps By Matt Owen published 5 April 23 amPlug Brian May promises stadium-sized tones from a headphone amp, while the Nutube-equipped MV50 is so convincing the Queen icon is considering taking it out on tour
Joe Bonamassa’s high-end signature amp, the Fender ’48 Dual Professional JB Edition, has finally arrived By Matt Parker published 4 April 23 The blues-rocker’s new (old) combo is based on one of the rarest amps from the Big F’s back catalog
NAMM 2023: Laney unveils the Ironheart Loudpedal, a surprisingly affordable, two-channel 60W amp in a stompbox By Michael Astley-Brown published 24 March 23 Could this be the new pedal amp du jour?
NAMM 2023: Positive Grid unveils the Spark Go, a 5-watt modeling amp that fits in your pocket By Matt Parker published 22 March 23 The “ultra-portable”, battery-powered Bluetooth guitar amp offers access to Spark’s full ToneCloud library and practice features
NAMM 2023: Blackstar unveils its most powerful entry-level amp yet, the Debut 50R By Matt Owen published 21 March 23 The $249 combo seeks to cover all practice and gigging needs
Best modeling amps: recreate iconic guitar tones with these top amplifier picks By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 16 March 23 Our pick of the best modeling amps from Boss, Fender, Line 6, Blackstar and more
Boss Katana-50 MkII EX review By Nick Guppy published 8 March 23 The next evolution of Boss’s best-selling amp has arrived – and, somehow, it’s even better
Mesa/Boogie unveils the “nine amps in one” Mark VII – the first new-generation Mark Series amps in over a decade By Matt Parker published 7 March 23 Mesa says the new Mark Series models are such a leap that the company skipped the Mark VI
Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb review By Nick Guppy published 7 March 23 Fender’s student amp returns in digital guise as part of the brand’s exciting and thought-provoking Tone Master series. But can it match the real thing?
In praise of the 1984-85 Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+, the high-gain boutique amp behind rock and metal’s holy grail tones By Chris Gill published 2 March 23 It's the amp of James Hetfield's rhythm tone and Steve Lukather's leads, and as it ascends into the digital afterlife as a Neural DSP plugin, we revisit the legendary design to unpack its magic