New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (February 2012)

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

Verdict:

"Has the potential to be another fine Guild jumbo."

4 out of 5

Read the Guild F-150R review

BUY: Guild F-150R currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

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

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

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

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

Read theTaylor Doyle Deluxe review

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

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

Verdict:

"Desirable mid-size all-rounder electro sure to attract many takers."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guild F-130CE review

BUY: Guild F-130CE currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann

Verdict:

"A genuinely impressive modern rock guitar, with a feel and tone that belies the rather attractive pricetag."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Ibanez RG870Z review

BUY: Ibanez RG870Z currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

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

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

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

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

Read the Harmonic Design Super Chrome review

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

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

Verdict:

"A very decent amp that'll belt out solid clean and crunchy sounds."

4 out of 5

Read the Randall Diavlo RD50H review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verdict:

"A picker-friendly dread with winning sounds and looks to match."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Tanglewood TW15H-E review

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

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

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

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

Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play Acoustic review

Read the Guitar Man Plug 'N' Play English Channel review

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

Verdict:

"A fuzzbox that goes beyond the normal into sonic mania."

3.5 out of 5

Read the Coopersonic Germaniac Vintage Fuzz review

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

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