New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (February 2014)

G2D Morpheus

Every month Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - all of which are MusicRadar's sister publications - feature the best independent gear reviews around.

Here we've collected all the guitar-related gear reviewed on the site in January, including guitars, amps, stompboxes and recording interfaces.

All of the gear here was originally reviewed in Guitarist issue 376/377, Total Guitar issue 248, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team. This month, things kicked off with the G2D Morpheus pedal...

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Decent, if a little overpriced, distortion from Down Under if you don't mind a three-inch-tall pedal."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: G2D Morpheus review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 376)

Larrivée D-40R

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A beautifully expansive dreadnought that is equally at home strummed or fingerpicked. A must-try."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Larrivée D-40R review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 376)

T-Rex Fuel Tank Goliath

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It's not the cheapest example on the market, but the Fuel Tank Goliath demonstrates T-Rex's unending dedication to improvement. A highly capable power supply."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: T-Rex Fuel Tank Goliath review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 376)

BUY: T-Rex Fuel Tank Goliath currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Larrivée OM-40

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The slightly tighter-sounding OM is our choice for recording and ensemble use."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Larrivée OM-40 review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 376)

Hotone Chunk

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"For classic Maiden leads and sleazy Slash riffs, the Chunk is what you want."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Hotone Chunk review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Hotone Chunk currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Blackstar HT Metal 60

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The authenticity and versatility of the tones never fails to satisfy - nobody's going to mess with your riffs with this behemoth behind you."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blackstar HT Metal 60 review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Blackstar HT Metal 60 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

LTD TE-212 UK

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This guitar has tweaks and tradition in all the right places, and that's just our cup of T."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: LTD TE-212 UK review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

Blade X-Fire XF-120

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"There's a lot of guitar here for the money, a successful slice of classic and contemporary."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blade X-Fire XF-120 review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

Hotone Eko

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"From subtle ambience to wild noises, the Eko's got you covered."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Hotone Eko review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Hotone Eko currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Blackstar HT Metal 1

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If you're after a combo for heavyweight bedroom jams and backstage warm-ups, this could be the HT Metal for you."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blackstar HT Metal 1 review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Blackstar HT Metal 1 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Hotone Grass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Grass's punchy, midrange-focused tone only sounds better as it gets louder, making it an awesome gig-friendly overdrive."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Hotone Grass review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Hotone Grass currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Digitech Element XP

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Like the best multi-effects, rather than leaving you endlessly tweaking sounds, the Element XP actually makes you want to play."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Digitech Element XP review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Digitech Element XP currently available from:
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Alvarez MG75SCE

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A tidily made, good-sounding acoustic with an excellent pickup/preamp system. What's not to like?"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Alvarez MG75SCE review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 377)

Hotone Trem

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If you want to squeeze a tremolo onto an already packed 'board, this is the one to opt for."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Hotone Trem review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Hotone Trem currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Strymon BigSky

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This kind of quality doesn't come cheap, but reverbs don't get much better than this - a superlative stompbox in every way."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Strymon BigSky review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 377)

BUY: Strymon BigSky currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann

IK Multimedia iRig BlueBoard

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A flexible bit of kit and essential if you already use IK Multimedia's apps."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia iRig BlueBoard review

BUY: IK Multimedia iRig BlueBoard currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Blackstar HT Metal 5H

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Run this head through just about any cab in any studio, and your heavy tones are sorted - it's as simple as that."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blackstar HT Metal 5H review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: Blackstar HT Metal 5H currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MXR CSP203 La Machine

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If you're after exceptional octaves and functional fuzz in one, La Machine is well worth plugging in."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: MXR CSP203 La Machine review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: MXR CSP203 La Machine currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music

Fender Pawn Shop Special Ramparte

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Not every player's cup of tea, but for retro rock or indie styles the Ramparte could find a big fanbase."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Fender Pawn Shop Special Ramparte review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 377)

BUY: Fender Pawn Shop Special Ramparte currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

DigiTech JamMan Express XT

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The JamMan Express XT is a no-brainer for your pedalboard, whether you're a loop newbie or a seasoned loop fiend."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DigiTech JamMan Express XT review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 249)

BUY: DigiTech JamMan Express XT currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Line 6 AMPLIFi 150

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Putting a music playback system and a versatile guitar amp in a single box is a mad/genius idea that actually works, and works well."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Line 6 AMPLIFi 150 review

BUY: Line 6 AMPLIFi 150 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Alvarez MP70E

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A fingerstyle-friendly belter: yet more proof that small is the new big! Track one down and try it out."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Alvarez MP70E review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 377)