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New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (January 2015)

By Guitarist, Total Guitar
published 7 January 2015

December's guitar, amp and effects reviews

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G&L Tribute Series Fallout
We fall for Leo Fender's Fallout

G&L Tribute Series Fallout

Every month, Total Guitar and Guitarist magazines - both of which are our sister publications - review the latest amplifiers, electric guitars, acoustics and other guitar-related items.

In this gallery we've gathered every new review featured on the site throughout December and originally published in Total Guitar issues 261/262 and Guitarist 388/389.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A super-freak with Leo Fender's fingerprints on it; don't let it fade into obscurity again."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: G&L Tribute Series Fallout review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 260)

BUY: G&L Tribute Series Fallout currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Full Compass

Page 1 of 26
Page 1 of 26
BluGuitar Amp 1
A revolutionary pedalboard amp?

BluGuitar Amp 1

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The next big thing? We reckon the Amp 1 will do for pedal amps what the iPad did for tablets - watch out!"

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: BluGuitar Amp 1 review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: BluGuitar Amp 1 currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 2 of 26
Page 2 of 26
Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail
Modulated delay reaches for the sky

Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An analogue delay pedal that extends the sonic palette beyond the standard."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 3 of 26
Page 3 of 26
Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster
The tuning's low, and so's the price tag

Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Considering the faultless build quality, toneful Duncan Designed pickups and reasonable street prices, you'll struggle to find a baritone that offers more for the money."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 4 of 26
Page 4 of 26
Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive
A TS-808-style pedal with added extras

Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A practical pedal in front of clean or dirty amps. In an over-subscribed genre, the 805's EQ and wide range of gain gives it real versatility."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Page 5 of 26
Page 5 of 26
Fender Classic Player Triple Tele
Tele with a trio of singlecoils

Fender Classic Player Triple Tele

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Lightweight 50s-vibe Tele with three Tele bridge pickups. Daft? Not at all - a great 'Strat' for the Tele player."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Fender Classic Player Triple Tele review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Fender Classic Player Triple Tele currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 26
Page 6 of 26
Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE DC DLX
Get entangled in this tiger mahogany dreadnaught

Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE DC DLX

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A classically styled dreadnought cutaway with great build quality, value for money, playability and sound."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE DC DLX review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE DC DLX currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 7 of 26
Page 7 of 26
Xvive V5 Delay
Miniature repeater pedal

Xvive V5 Delay

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A fine entry point to delay land."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Xvive V5 Delay review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Xvive V5 Delay currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 8 of 26
Page 8 of 26
Fender Classic Player Baja '60s Telecaster
Another tinkered-Tele

Fender Classic Player Baja '60s Telecaster

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Classic 60s-style Tele with extra sounds from the four-way selector and S-1 switch: what's not to like?"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Fender Classic Player Baja '60s Telecaster review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Fender Classic Player Baja '60s Telecaster currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 9 of 26
Page 9 of 26
Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE SF DLX
Does this tiger-vibed acoustic earn its stripes?

Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE SF DLX

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A good all-round sound, acoustically and amp'd, but a little less big-hearted tonally than its dreadnought sibling."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE SF DLX review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Tanglewood Premier Deluxe TPE SF DLX currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 10 of 26
Page 10 of 26
Xvive V3 Metal
Maximum scoop, maximum gain

Xvive V3 Metal

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Although the V3 lacks versatility, you'll be hard pushed to find heavier tones elsewhere."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Xvive V3 Metal review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Xvive V3 Metal currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 11 of 26
Page 11 of 26
Fender Classic Player Strat HH
A stylish humbucking Strat

Fender Classic Player Strat HH

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A classy looking Strat with dual Wide Range humbuckers and a dual personality to match."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Fender Classic Player Strat HH review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Fender Classic Player Strat HH currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 12 of 26
Page 12 of 26
MacPherson Nomad
British builder breaks out under his own name

MacPherson Nomad

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Beautifully made and finished with a very clean modern aesthetic. The supplied pickups are aimed at gain-laden tones but, of course, you can choose your own."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: MacPherson Nomad review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

Page 13 of 26
Page 13 of 26
DigiTech Bass Whammy
Weird, whacky and wonderful!

DigiTech Bass Whammy

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Serious return of a cult pitch-shifting pedal with mono and polyphonic modes."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DigiTech Bass Whammy review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: DigiTech Bass Whammy currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 14 of 26
Page 14 of 26
Nineboys Tonk Bros Parlour Guitar
A rootsy, bluesy acoustic

Nineboys Tonk Bros Parlour Guitar

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Highly affordable Brit-made electro that comes beaten up and bruised if you want. Not for everyone, but has undeniable mojo."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Nineboys Tonk Bros Parlour Guitar review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Nineboys Tonk Bros Parlour Guitar currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 15 of 26
Page 15 of 26
Barnett-Davies 15/30
Brit boutique amp with a difference

Barnett-Davies 15/30

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A finely-built Brit amp with workaday looks but purposeful tones and features."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Barnett-Davies 15/30 review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

Page 16 of 26
Page 16 of 26
Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys FFM6 Fuzz Face Mini
Summon the sound of Jimi's fuzz

Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys FFM6 Fuzz Face Mini

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Another worthy entry in the small Face family - an aggressive vintage fuzz for Hendrix tones and beyond."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys FFM6 Fuzz Face Mini review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys FFM6 Fuzz Face Mini currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music

Page 17 of 26
Page 17 of 26
Boss VE-2 Vocal Harmonist
Create vocal harmonies using guitar chords

Boss VE-2 Vocal Harmonist

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Easy vocal enhancement and harmonies for singing guitarists."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Boss VE-2 Vocal Harmonist review

(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 388)

BUY: Boss VE-2 Vocal Harmonist currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 18 of 26
Page 18 of 26
Washburn Parallaxe PXS29FRTBBM
A 29-fret metal monster guitar

Washburn Parallaxe PXS29FRTBBM

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The metal market is saturated with shred machines, but not many possess more than 24 frets. So, if your playing style demands more at the dusty end, this model is worth serious investigation."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Washburn Parallaxe PXS29FRTBBM review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Washburn Parallaxe PXS29FRTBBM currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Page 19 of 26
Page 19 of 26
Orange Micro Crush Pix
Micro amp with the crush crunch

Orange Micro Crush Pix

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It's not very flexible, but if you operate within its parameters you'll find the Micro Crush Pix is a decent mini amp."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Orange Micro Crush Pix review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Orange Micro Crush Pix currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

Page 20 of 26
Page 20 of 26
Höfner CS Verythin Limited Edition
Slim pickings... literally

Höfner CS Verythin Limited Edition

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Yes, it loses points for some untidy binding and a scratchy jack, but with some TLC, this Verythin could be a retro crowd-pleaser."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Höfner CS Verythin Limited Edition review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Höfner CS Club Solid currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 21 of 26
Page 21 of 26
DOD Envelope Filter 440
Radiohead-approved envelope filter

DOD Envelope Filter 440

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"There are no subtle wah textures; the 440 is all about in-your-face filter goodness, with a host of intuitive, faithfully recreated tones."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DOD Envelope Filter 440 review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: DOD Envelope Filter 440 currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 22 of 26
Page 22 of 26
Höfner CS Club Solid
An electric that's worth the weight

Höfner CS Club Solid

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"What Höfner is offering with the Contemporary Series Club Solid is an aristocratic guitar at a price we bums can afford. Sorry, Mr Lebowski - we won after all."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Höfner CS Club Solid review

BUY: Höfner CS Club Solid currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

Page 23 of 26
Page 23 of 26
Blackstar Fly 3
Fly-away tone from this micro amp

Blackstar Fly 3

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A huge innovation in a tiny field."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blackstar Fly 3 review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

BUY: Blackstar Fly 3 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 24 of 26
Page 24 of 26
Höfner CS Galaxie
A space oddity of a guitar

Höfner CS Galaxie

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Galaxie was odd in its time and it's odd now, but it has a tone that's unique - and that's rare nowadays."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Höfner CS Galaxie review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

Page 25 of 26
Page 25 of 26
Caparison C2 ANG-QE
A stripped down 'pro' axe

Caparison C2 ANG-QE

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If metal is your bag, there aren't many guitars in this price range that are built this well and produce such truly brutal metal tones."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Caparison C2 ANG-QE review

(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 261)

Page 26 of 26
Page 26 of 26
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