New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (February 2012)
31st Jan 2012 | 12:58
Ibanez RG3250MZ (£1789)
Every month MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the world's best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.
This is a collection of electric and acoustic guitars, amps and effects - all of which have been tested meticulously by either Guitarist or Total Guitar in recent months and published on MusicRadar throughout January 2012.
Flick through this month's picks and follow the links to read each product's full review. First up, something eye-catching from Ibanez.
Verdict:
"A true slice of eighties rock - this is a wonderful and fun guitar with which to escape these miserable times."
BUY Ibanez RG3250MZ currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Gear4Music
USA: American Musical
Guild F-150R (£1054)
Verdict:
"Has the potential to be another fine Guild jumbo."
BUY Guild F-150R currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann
USA: American Musical
Pigtronix Class A Boost (£99)
Verdict:
"One louder when you need it, classily delivered."
BUY Pigtronix Class A Boost currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical
Ibanez RGD2120Z (£1399)
Verdict:
"As an alternative to a baritone, this is a great option for truly crushing metal tones. It plays nicely and looks great too."
BUY Ibanez RGD2120Z currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
USA: American Musical
Pigtronix Echolution (£395)
Verdict:
"It sounds great, but could you justify spending the best part of 400 quid on a box that has no memories to store your sounds?"
BUY Pigtronix Echolution currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical
Taylor Doyle Deluxe (£1119)
Verdict:
"Hugely versatile with strong visual attitude, the DDX is a great all-rounder for the performing, recording or serious practising musician… even if you've never heard of Doyle Dykes!"
Read theTaylor Doyle Deluxe review
BUY Taylor Doyle Deluxe currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music
USA: American Musical
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone (£129)
Verdict:
"Compression and distortion in one pedal? We'll certainly have some of that. A versatile addition to any pedalboard."
BUY Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann| Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical
ESP LTD M-330R (£625)
Verdict:
"As a metal guitar it's disappointing, but clean tones are decent."
BUY ESP LTD M-330R currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: American Musical
Guild F-130CE (£850)
Verdict:
"Desirable mid-size all-rounder electro sure to attract many takers."
BUY Guild F-130CE currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Absolute Music
USA: American Musical
Ibanez RG870Z (£739)
Verdict:
"A genuinely impressive modern rock guitar, with a feel and tone that belies the rather attractive pricetag."
BUY Ibanez RG870Z currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann| Sounds Great Music | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater
Pigtronix EP-2 Envelope Phaser (£195)
Verdict:
"Conventional phasing meets off-the-wall funky weirdness in one box. Excellent."
BUY Pigtronix EP-2 Envelope Phaser currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann| Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical
Guild D-125-12 (£634)
Verdict:
"Delightful, janglesome 12 that's bang on the money."
BUY Guild D-125-12 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music
USA: American Musical
Strymon TimeLine (£399)
Verdict:
"A do-it-all delay pedal, superb for studio and stage."
BUY Strymon TimeLine currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann| Sounds Great Music
Harmonic Design Super Chrome ($100)
Verdict:
"If you want a bigger sound from a Tele's neck pickup without getting the tools out, try this. We're glad we did."
Boss BC-2 Combo Drive (£99)
Verdict:
"For some better than skin-deep retro action, this is well worth a gander."
Read the Boss BC-2 Combo Drive review
BUY Boss BC-2 Combo Drive currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Sounds Great Music | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster (£430)
Verdict:
"An appealingly leftfield addition to the Squier stable."
Read the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster review
BUY Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | American Musical
Randall Diavlo RD50H (£420)
Verdict:
"A very decent amp that'll belt out solid clean and crunchy sounds."
Way Huge Ringworm (£179)
Verdict:
"A solid competitor to the Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing."
Read the Way Huge Ringworm review
BUY Way Huge Ringworm currently available from:
UK/Europe: Sounds Great Music | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Line 6 Mobile In Mobile POD
Verdict:
"A promising package dragged down by its various flaws."
BUY Line 6 Mobile In Mobile POD currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass
SKB FootNote Amplified Pedalboard (£179)
Verdict:
"A hybrid that doesn't quite come off."
BUY SKB FootNote Amplified Pedalboard currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
USA: Full Compass | American Musical
Carl Martin HeadRoom (£249)
Verdict:
"The smart way to get real spring reverb without buying a whole amp."
BUY Carl Martin HeadRoom currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
ESP LTD EC-330 (£559)
Verdict:
"The EC is fine for cleans, but the metal tones let it down."
BUY ESP LTD EC-330 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co.| Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: American Musical
Bogner Goldfinger 45 (£1999)
Verdict:
"The Goldfinger is one seriously versatile head - take it for a spin…"
BUY Bogner Goldfinger 45 currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater
Hagstrom Viking Rex-Tone (£515)
Verdict:
"It looks the business and Elvis played one of its ancestors. What's not to love?"
BUY Hagstrom Viking Rex-Tone currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
Bogner Barcelona (£1449)
Verdict:
"The Barcelona is a great example of a perfect niche-market amp - audition it."
BUY Bogner Barcelona currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater
Tanglewood TW15H-E (£859)
Verdict:
"A picker-friendly dread with winning sounds and looks to match."
Neo Instruments Ventilator (£379)
Verdict:
"One of the most realistic rotary speaker emulations we've seen - the next best thing to a real Leslie."
BUY Neo Instruments Ventilator currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater
Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T (£870)
Verdict:
"Plainish looks but a versatile powerhouse when fired up."
BUYSimon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann
Read the Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T (£870) review
ESP LTD H-330NT (£529)
Verdict:
"Probably the best sounding guitar in the LTD 330 Series."
BUY ESP LTD H-330NT currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: American Musical
Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Lead With Delay (£17.95)
Verdict:
"For rock rhythm and solos alike, this is a great sounding unit - the best in the Plug 'N' Play range."
Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Lead With Delay review
Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Metal review
Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay (£249)
Verdict:
"A fine piece of kit for occasional, old-school delayists."
BUY Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater
Coopersonic Germaniac Vintage Fuzz (£99)
Verdict:
"A fuzzbox that goes beyond the normal into sonic mania."
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3.7 & Custom Shop add-ons
Verdict:
"At 20 credits each (from €9, depending on how you buy credits) this has something to appeal to a variety of players for the price of a few pints."
BUY IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3.7 & Custom Shop add-ons currently available from:
USA: Full Compass
Read the IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3.7 & Custom Shop add-ons review
Fret-King Black Label Eclat DBC (£599)
Verdict:
"Anyone need a raw rock machine? This is it."
BUY Fret-King Black Label Eclat DBC currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
