Vox AC4TV: A Compact Tube “Mini” Amp
In search of little monsters that deliver the ultimate warmth of tubes, we came across the AC4TV, which was introduced at NAMM 2009 (if memory serves). It's a cute, warm-sounding…
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Gear Tests.
Matchless Nighthawk: Brutal on Clean and Moderate Tones
Boutique amplifiers are hugely popular these days, and the number of brands focusing on this segment keeps growing. One of them has been working in this direction for quite some…
Brian May Signature Guitar: Not Just for Queen Fans
Let he who has never tried to play a “Queen” tune on six strings cast the first stone. The man who built his own guitar on a budget of 8 pounds sterling, and who helped create…
Ibanez Prestige SV5470A: Versatility Takes the Lead
It had been a while since I'd gone up against a top-of-the-line Ibanez. This time, and for a limited time, a true jewel of the Prestige series, the product of the Team J. Craft's…
Koch Twintone and Studiotone: High-End Tube Amps
If I have to decide what personally appeals to me most in a guitarist's entire signal chain, I'd have to say it's the amplifier. Guitars are extremely important, and pedals help…
Gibson Dusk Tiger: To Infinity and Beyond!
To be honest, the guitar in front of me is anything but ordinary. Whichever way you look at it, it has loads of features to talk about, even though at first glance it simply looks…
Riley Raw Custom: New Instruments Making a Strong Entrance
A brand rarely seen in these parts. Its designer is a musician who has worked with the main guitar factories in Europe, Korea and China. That experience gave him very clear…
Godin Velocity: Quality at a Competitive Price
This is one of those occasions when I regret having done this review. It is torture; a temptation. I set out to put this Godin through the usual tests, coffee in hand and on…
Ibanez AF105SM Artcore: Beauty and Balance
Archtop guitars usually become part of a guitarist’s life once the first stages of their development as a player are behind them. It is a family of instruments somewhat unknown to…
Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Roadhouse: A Mexican SRV?
It had been a while since we last sank our teeth into anything from this historic guitar giant. What could I expect? In recent years, Fender®'s Mexican series have seen a far…
Bogner Alchemist: California Sound for Rock and More
Sometimes we may buy products because of a trend, a fad or simply because lots of people use them. Personally, I try to stay a little on the sidelines, since time is what will…
Encore: affordable and pleasant to play.
Some musicians look down on guitars priced under €170, as if there were no need for them to exist. Quite the opposite, and as you might well expect, it's essential that someone…
Parkwood PW-370-M and PW-320: Interesting Prices and Quality
In guitars, it's hard to carve out a place among the brands that get all the buzz, even though those sometimes decline as time goes by. Earning the user's recognition is slow work…
Matchless Lightning 212 Combo Reverb: Simply Incredible
Wednesday dawns cold and cloudy, almost wintry for this time of spring. I head to the office to do today's test. When I come face to face with the amp, I have to admit its look is…
Jackson DKMG Dinky vs. Dean ML Knight: Heavy Hitters
It had been a long time since we squared off with models from these two great classics of the metal scene. And most importantly, they've rarely let us down. So this month, ISP…
Peavey HP Signature Special CT: The Jewel of Peavey
It had been a while since we aimed this high with Peavey. How do we fix that? Simple: “Give me the best you've got.” And no wonder. Considering the excellent results we've had…
Cort G290, G260 and KX-1Q: Three Takes on the Modern Electric
The evolution of guitarists, their techniques and their needs has demanded changes in how guitars are built. There is a segment of musicians who empathize with vintage gear. But…
Kustom “The Defender”: Tube Sound at a Surprising Price
For everyone who still prefers the authentic flavor of tubes. Want a manageable amp with an affordable price and tube tone? If you're tired of modelers and want the real deal…
Peavey ValveKing VK 112: An All-Terrain Tube Amp
We guitarists have a reputation for being musicians who are very obsessed with our gear, which makes some sense, since our instrument isn't just the guitar itself; our rig is made…
Mark Bass Classic 300 + 104: €5,400 Worth of Gear
Classic 300A perfect example of how efficient it can be to combine tradition with technology. The heart of this head is its tubes. Its brain is the microprocessor. The tubes warm…