New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (February 2012)
A new six-string that evokes the heyday of '80s rock guitar
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."
4 out of 5
Read the Ibanez RG3250MZ review
BUY: Ibanez RG3250MZ currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
A new Guild jumbo that should age like a fine wine
Guild F-150R (£1054)
Verdict:
"Has the potential to be another fine Guild jumbo."
4 out of 5
BUY: Guild F-150R currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater
Plug in for some extra grunt
Pigtronix Class A Boost (£99)
Verdict:
"One louder when you need it, classily delivered."
4 out of 5
Read the Pigtronix Class A Boost review
BUY: Pigtronix Class A Boost currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
An extended scale metal guitar from Ibanez
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."
4 out of 5
Read the Ibanez RGD2120Z review
BUY: Ibanez RGD2120Z currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
Echo evolution or Echo revolution?
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?"
4 out of 5
Read the Pigtronix Echolution review
BUY: Pigtronix Echolution currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
A more affordable version of Doyle Dykes' signature, the new Doyle Deluxe has its own voice
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!"
4.5 out of 5
A big plate o' sustain and distortion
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."
4.5 out of 5
Read the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone review
BUY: Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Is this new LTD the trusty, no-frills hard rock and metal axe it appears to be?
ESP LTD M-330R (£625)
Verdict:
"As a metal guitar it's disappointing, but clean tones are decent."
3 out of 5
Read the ESP LTD M-330R review
BUY: ESP LTD M-330R currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater
A cutaway electro from Guild
Guild F-130CE (£850)
Verdict:
"Desirable mid-size all-rounder electro sure to attract many takers."
4.5 out of 5
BUY: Guild F-130CE currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
We investigate the most affordable model in Ibanez's new Premium range
Ibanez RG870Z (£739)
Verdict:
"A genuinely impressive modern rock guitar, with a feel and tone that belies the rather attractive pricetag."
4.5 out of 5
BUY: Ibanez RG870Z currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
Pushing the envelope to extremes…
Pigtronix EP-2 Envelope Phaser (£195)
Verdict:
"Conventional phasing meets off-the-wall funky weirdness in one box. Excellent."
4.5 out of 5
Read the Pigtronix EP-2 Envelope Phaser review
BUY: Pigtronix EP-2 Envelope Phaser currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
A gorgeous all-mahogany 12-string dreadnought
Guild D-125-12 (£634)
Verdict:
"Delightful, janglesome 12 that's bang on the money."
4.5 out of 5
Read the Guild D-125-12 review
BUY: Guild D-125-12 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
A familiar name makes a welcome return to the delay game, but in a totally new guise…
Strymon TimeLine (£399)
Verdict:
"A do-it-all delay pedal, superb for studio and stage."
4.5 out of 5
Read the Strymon TimeLine review
BUY: Strymon TimeLine currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater
A P-90-style single-coil for your Telecaster… without routing
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."
4.5 out of 5
Re-enact the British Invasion with this vintage-voiced stompbox!
Boss BC-2 Combo Drive (£99)
Verdict:
"For some better than skin-deep retro action, this is well worth a gander."
4 out of 5
Read the Boss BC-2 Combo Drive review
BUY: Boss BC-2 Combo Drive currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
This Dinosaur Jr bites like a T-Rex
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster (£430)
Verdict:
"An appealingly leftfield addition to the Squier stable."
4 out of 5
Read the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster review
BUY: Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
What's in a name? More than you might think…
Randall Diavlo RD50H (£420)
Verdict:
"A very decent amp that'll belt out solid clean and crunchy sounds."
4 out of 5
Talk about opening a can of worms…
Way Huge Ringworm (£179)
Verdict:
"A solid competitor to the Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing."
4 out of 5
Read the Way Huge Ringworm review
BUY: Way Huge Ringworm currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass
Can the modelling king turn its hand to mobile apps? The proof is in the POD-ing
Line 6 Mobile In Mobile POD
Verdict:
"A promising package dragged down by its various flaws."
3 out of 5
Read the Line 6 Mobile In Mobile POD review
BUY: Line 6 Mobile In Mobile POD currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
A 'board with a built-in amp? We have a few notes
SKB FootNote Amplified Pedalboard (£179)
Verdict:
"A hybrid that doesn't quite come off."
3 out of 5
Read the SKB FootNote Amplified Pedalboard review
BUY: SKB FootNote Amplified Pedalboard currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
It's springtime for your pedalboard, thanks to this analogue spring reverb pedal
Carl Martin HeadRoom (£249)
Verdict:
"The smart way to get real spring reverb without buying a whole amp."
4.5 out of 5
Read the Carl Martin HeadRoom review
BUY: Carl Martin HeadRoom currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Full Compass
A new single-cutaway LTD enters the fray…
ESP LTD EC-330 (£559)
Verdict:
"The EC is fine for cleans, but the metal tones let it down."
3 out of 5
Read the ESP LTD EC-330 review
BUY: ESP LTD EC-330 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
An off-the-wall head from a true amp master
Bogner Goldfinger 45 (£1999)
Verdict:
"The Goldfinger is one seriously versatile head - take it for a spin…"
4 out of 5
Read the Bogner Goldfinger 45 review
BUY: Bogner Goldfinger 45 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Is this the king of tone, or merely another pretender to the throne?
Hagstrom Viking Rex-Tone (£515)
Verdict:
"It looks the business and Elvis played one of its ancestors. What's not to love?"
5 out of 5
Read the Hagstrom Viking Rex-Tone review
BUY: Hagstrom Viking Rex-Tone currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
A specialised combo from one of the world's top amp designers
Bogner Barcelona (£1449)
Verdict:
"The Barcelona is a great example of a perfect niche-market amp - audition it."
4 out of 5
Read the Bogner Barcelona review
BUY: Bogner Barcelona currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
A highly impressive entry-level electro dreadnought from Tanglewood
Tanglewood TW15H-E (£859)
Verdict:
"A picker-friendly dread with winning sounds and looks to match."
4.5 out of 5
This German stompbox offers the most faithful Leslie emulation to date…
Neo Instruments Ventilator (£379)
Verdict:
"One of the most realistic rotary speaker emulations we've seen - the next best thing to a real Leslie."
4 out of 5
Read the Neo Instruments Ventilator review
BUY: Neo Instruments Ventilator currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater
A simple yet highly accomplished electro
Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T (£870)
Verdict:
"Plainish looks but a versatile powerhouse when fired up."
4 out of 5
Read the Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T (£870) review
BUY: Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Spruce SG A3T currently available from:
UK: DV247
Don't be fooled by the snow-white livery - this beast was made for dark business…
ESP LTD H-330NT (£529)
Verdict:
"Probably the best sounding guitar in the LTD 330 Series."
3.5 out of 5
Read the ESP LTD H-330NT review
BUY: ESP LTD H-330NT currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music | DV247
A rock solo overdrive complete with delay
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."
4 out of 5
Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Lead With Delay review
Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Metal review
Two delays in one pedal…
Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay (£249)
Verdict:
"A fine piece of kit for occasional, old-school delayists."
4 out of 5
Read the Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay review
BUY: Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
A fuzzbox for sonic terrorists
Coopersonic Germaniac Vintage Fuzz (£99)
Verdict:
"A fuzzbox that goes beyond the normal into sonic mania."
3.5 out of 5
A new update and some added toys to play with…
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."
4 out of 5
Read the IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3.7 & Custom Shop add-ons review
BUY: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3.7 & Custom Shop add-ons currently available from:
US: Full Compass
A raw, quirky rock machine…
Fret-King Black Label Eclat DBC (£599)
Verdict:
"Anyone need a raw rock machine? This is it."
4 out of 5
Read the Fret-King Black Label Eclat DBC review
BUY: Fret-King Black Label Eclat DBC currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music