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New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (August 2010)

By Chris Vinnicombe, Guitarist, Total Guitar
published 20 August 2010

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August 2010: Guitars, amps, FX and more

August 2010: Guitars, amps, FX and more

Every month MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm, Future Music and Guitar Techniques - publish the 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 meticulously tested by either Guitarist or Total Guitar in recent issues and published on MusicRadar throughout August.

Flick through this month's picks and follow the links to read each product's full review. Up first: Peavey 6505+ 112 combo

Page 1 of 18
Page 1 of 18
Peavey 6505+ 112 combo
A metal classic gets re-sized for realistic gigging

Peavey 6505+ 112 combo

MusicRadar's verdict:

"For those who want to play with true stadium metal tones but on a smaller budget, this amp is perfect."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Peavey 6505+ 112 combo

(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 205)

Page 2 of 18
Page 2 of 18
T-Rex Room-Mate reverb pedal
A familiar name, but an all new box of reverb

T-Rex Room-Mate reverb pedal

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A classy reverb for your rig in nicely compact package."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: T-Rex Room-Mate

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 3 of 18
Page 3 of 18
Vox SSC-33 electric guitar
An affordable sibling to Vox's upmarket range

Vox SSC-33 electric guitar

MusicRadar's verdict:

"An excellent guitar that's very well executed from design to manufacture."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Vox SSC-33

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 4 of 18
Page 4 of 18
Dean Michael Amott Tyrant Bloodstorm electric (£999)
It'll dent your wallet, but wait 'til you see what it'll do to your skull

Dean Michael Amott Tyrant Bloodstorm electric (£999)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"There are a lot of good things to say about this guitar, but it's a serious investment - and a decision to give you a real pain in the skull."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Dean Michael Amott Tyrant Bloodstorm

(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 204)

Page 5 of 18
Page 5 of 18
Framus Mayfield Custom Flamed Maple electric
Framus sets its sights on a little piece of Gibson's ES-335 market

Framus Mayfield Custom Flamed Maple electric

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A classy, if not hugely original, take on Gibson's ES-335."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Framus Mayfield Custom Flamed Maple

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 331)

Page 6 of 18
Page 6 of 18
PRS SE Nick Catanese electric (£749)
PRS continues its love for metal axes

PRS SE Nick Catanese electric (£749)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"We like it when Paul Reed Smith's brand turns its hand to metal and Washburn's loss is definitely PRS's gain."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PRS SE Nick Catanese

(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 204)

Page 7 of 18
Page 7 of 18
Vox SDC-33 electric guitar
An affordable sibling to the upmarket Vox guitars

Vox SDC-33 electric guitar

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A contender against anything from the big brands under £1,000. Huge tonal versatility from the excellent CoAxe pickups."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Vox SDC-33

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 8 of 18
Page 8 of 18
T-Rex Mudhoney II distortion pedal (£215)
The name may be familiar but this is an all new bit of kit

T-Rex Mudhoney II distortion pedal (£215)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"This is effectively two overdrive/distortion pedals for the price of one pedalboard slot."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: T-Rex Mudhoney II

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 9 of 18
Page 9 of 18
Crafter GLXE-6000/RSB electro-acoustic (£1499)
Crafter edges further into pro territory with this luxury-spec guitar

Crafter GLXE-6000/RSB electro-acoustic (£1499)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Once the preamp is sorted, Crafter has a deserving flagship electro on its hands."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Crafter GLXE-6000/RSB

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 10 of 18
Page 10 of 18
Framus Mayfield Pro Mahogany electric
Framus sets its sights on a little piece of Gibson's ES-335 market

Framus Mayfield Pro Mahogany electric

MusicRadar's verdict:

"This less posh Mayfield is quite simply an excellent working thinline."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Framus Mayfield Pro Mahogany

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 331)

Page 11 of 18
Page 11 of 18
PRS Sweet 16 amp head (£2299)
A small but perfectly formed head from Paul Reed Smith's new amp range

PRS Sweet 16 amp head (£2299)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Are PRS's amps as good as its guitars? Not yet, but despite some reservations, the Sweet 16 stands as a very strong statement of intent."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PRS Sweet 16

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 12 of 18
Page 12 of 18
Hofner HCT-J17TR archtop (£510)
A big-bodied archtop-electric with more than a hint of Gibson influence

Hofner HCT-J17TR archtop (£510)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A big-bodied jazzer that offers a lot of class and quality for comparatively little money."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Hofner HCT-J17TR

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 13 of 18
Page 13 of 18
LAG S1000PC-HOS Phil Campbell Signature electric (£899)
A mainstream version of the Motörhead guitarist's signature Explorer

LAG S1000PC-HOS Phil Campbell Signature electric (£899)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"This is a no-nonsense shape guitar that's perfectly suited for all rock styles. It's a signature model you can enjoy, irrespective of your devotion to Motörhead."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: LAG S1000PC-HOS Phil Campbell Signature

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 14 of 18
Page 14 of 18
AER Cheeky D 1x10 combo (£1359)
The acoustic amp expert enters the electric market

AER Cheeky D 1x10 combo (£1359)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A top-quality, high-spec, small combo that takes a unique route to electric and acoustic tones. Jack of both trades…"

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: AER Cheeky D

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 15 of 18
Page 15 of 18
Tanglewood TSB C 58 LTD2 electric (£449)
Meet the electric guitar with a personality crisis - in a good way

Tanglewood TSB C 58 LTD2 electric (£449)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"You may think you've got this guitar's number just from looking at it - but think again, this one's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tanglewood TSB C 58 LTD2

(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 204)

Page 16 of 18
Page 16 of 18
Vigier Excalibur Kaos electric (£1703)
A stripped-back version of the company's mainstay electric

Vigier Excalibur Kaos electric (£1703)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A nice twist on a great Vigier design aimed squarely at technique-led rockers. Shame it's only in black…"

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Vigier Excalibur Kaos

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 332)

Page 17 of 18
Page 17 of 18
Pro Co Reissue '85 Whiteface RAT distortion pedal (£229)
This filthy little vermin is an alternative legend

Pro Co Reissue '85 Whiteface RAT distortion pedal (£229)

MusicRadar's verdict:

"This Rat does make some great sounds, but that price tag is a lot for a pedal of this type. It's worth considering whether you really need that LM308 chip."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pro Co Reissue '85 Whiteface RAT

(Reviewed in Total Guitar magazine issue 203)

Liked this? Now read New guitar gear of the month: June-July 2010

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Chris Vinnicombe
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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.

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