Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
A Boss RC-10R looper pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best looper pedals 2025: My favourite loop stations for every budget
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Man holding acoustic guitar in front of a silver laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
Man in orange shirt playing drums with a guitar player
Drum Gear Best drum thrones 2025: my pick of budget-spanning stools for comfort behind the kit
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
Electric Guitars “Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut in Wychwood greenburst finish
Electric Guitars "For garage, punk, and rock styles, it’s got the tonal firepower on offer": Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut review
Fender American Ultra Luxe 60s Stratocaster
Electric Guitars Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage '60s Stratocaster review
Strandberg Boden N2 Original
Electric Guitars "A versatile, brilliantly engineered machine that will have your back, no matter what the gig": Strandberg Boden N2 Original review
PRS SE Semi-Hollow Special
Electric Guitars "A stellar build complements a gorgeous aesthetic, and thankfully, it has the tones and playability to back it up": PRS SE Special Semi-Hollow review
More
  • Radiohead's secret code
  • Blackbird
  • Spooky samples - free
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Captain Fantastic
  1. Guitars

Best guitar gear of the month: review round-up (June 2010)

News
By Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Chris Vinnicombe ( Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music ) published 17 June 2010

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

DigiTech JamMan Solo (£223)

DigiTech JamMan Solo (£223)

Every month, MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.

We've collated the latest electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers, effects and peripherals to have fallen under the expert eyes and ears of the magazine test teams. All the gear on show here was reviewed in recent issues of Guitarist, Total Guitar and Computer Music and was published on MusicRadar throughout May-June 2010.

Scroll on for this month's top picks and click through to read each product's full review and check out video and audio demos. First up: a seriously loopy stompbox...

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A smart looper with plenty of power and a small footprint."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DigiTech JamMan Solo


(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 202)

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Gibson Slash Appetite Les Paul (£2099)

Gibson Slash Appetite Les Paul (£2099)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A lovely vintage-inspired Les Paul with the gentlest of nods to modernity. But will it be more often collected and stored than played though?"

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Slash Appetite Les Paul


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 329)

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Egnater Rebel 30 1 x 12 combo (£749)

Egnater Rebel 30 1 x 12 combo (£749)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"One of the best small combos in its class - add the 1 x 12 extension cab and you've got a killer rig that's highly portable and versatile."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Rebel 30 1 x 12 combo


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 328)

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Jaden Rose Original 'Custom' Hardtail (£1749)

Jaden Rose Original 'Custom' Hardtail (£1749)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Here's a modern rock guitar that combines resonance, character and speed. A rare combination, a great guitar."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Original 'Custom' Hardtail


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 328)

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Marshall MA100H amp head (£577)

Marshall MA100H amp head (£577)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"After an affordable, powerful rock amp with visual wow factor? Put this at the top of your list!"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: MA100H amp head


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 323)

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Blackstar HT Club 40 1 x 12 combo (£549)

Blackstar HT Club 40 1 x 12 combo (£549)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"The HT Venue series sets a benchmark for affordable performance. Plug in as soon as you can!"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: HT Club 40 1 x 12 combo


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 329)

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Taylor GT-8 eight-string baritone (£3218)

Taylor GT-8 eight-string baritone (£3218)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Few acoustic instruments available outside of small luthiers' workshops challenge like this baritone. A unique voice on a mainstream stage."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: GT-8 eight-string baritone


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 330)

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Fender Road Worn '72 Telecaster Deluxe (£889)

Fender Road Worn '72 Telecaster Deluxe (£889)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Quite simply one of the coolest and most versatile Teles around. Looks and feels ready for the road and takes no tonal prisoners."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Road Worn '72 Telecaster Deluxe


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 329)

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Magix Vandal (£155)

Magix Vandal (£155)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Vandal isn't feature-heavy, nor is it covered in faux Marshall logos, but it's got it where it counts, with impressively real amp tones."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Magix Vandal


(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 153)

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
GearSkinz amp cases (from £65)

GearSkinz amp cases (from £65)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"GearSkinz won't replace a full flight case for heavy road use, but assuming that your gear isn't moved by angry gorillas, this is a brilliant medium protection solution."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: GearSkinz amp cases


(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 329)

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Mesa/Boogie TransAtlantic TA-15 (£1099)

Mesa/Boogie TransAtlantic TA-15 (£1099)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Every bit a pro all-valve head, despite the miniscule dimensions: your life just got easier."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: TransAtlantic TA-15

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 330)

Liked this? Now read: The best guitar gear of the month, April 2010

Connect with MusicRadar: viaTwitter, Facebook and YouTube

Connect with Rhythm:via Twitter and Facebook

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Chris Vinnicombe

Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

The magazine for serious players image
The magazine for serious players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
“Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
 
 
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
 
 
Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut in Wychwood greenburst finish
"For garage, punk, and rock styles, it’s got the tonal firepower on offer": Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut review
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Ernie Ball Paleblue rechargeable USB-C batteries: can these be the green solution your touring rig needs? Available now in AA and 9V packs.
Planet-friendly power for your rig? Ernie Ball declares war on single-use batteries with USB-C rechargeables that promise “consistent, full-voltage performance” for pro musicians
 
 
The J, from Thorpy FX, is a new collab between the high-end British guitar effects pedal company and boutique amp brand Lazy J, and the amp that inspired it can be seen illustrated in white on. black on the enclosure's front.
Thorpy FX teams up with Lazy J to give guitarists premium vintage Tweed tone in a preamp/drive pedal
 
 
PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow Limited Edition: featuring a black limba neck and body and artist grade figured maple top, these are restricted to just 280 pieces worldwide.
The ultimate semi-hollow? PRS Guitars’ latest 40th Anniversary release is a jaw dropping electric with an “artist grade” top
 
 
Jason Isbell with his two new signature acoustics from Martin, the 0-17, a high-end replica of his 1940 model, and the 0-10E Retro, a more affordable version.
Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
 
 
Harley Benton Halloween raffle
If you could have €500 worth of Harley Benton gear, what would you choose?
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: The early Black Friday sales are here - score big on Gibson, PRS, Universal Audio, Casio and more
 
 
Latest in News
Lindsey Buckingham and Florence Welch
“Hell if I know": Lindsey Buckingham claims not to know if Fleetwood Mac have played Glastonbury
 
 
autotune
"Metamorph isn't about replacing the human voice – it's about expanding what's possible when human creativity meets responsible AI": Antares unveils MetaMorph voice modelling plugin
 
 
Soma Laboratory Warp
“Create endless soundscapes out of almost any sound”: Soma Labs Warp is a digital effect powerhouse
 
 
Whitney Houston
Boy Meets Girl on how having one song rejected led to them writing Whitney Houston’s biggest ‘80s hit
 
 
Drake performing in 2022
"A substantial, non-trivial percentage appear to be the work of a sprawling network of Bot Accounts": Class action lawsuit claims Spotify claims has overlooked billions of fraudulent streams of Drake's music
 
 
FINNEAS attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
“I truly couldn’t have enjoyed working on it more.”: Finneas writes new three-second ‘mnemonic’ for Apple TV
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...