New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (July 2011)

Hardwire SP-7 Stereo Phaser (£147)

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 meticulously tested by either Guitarist or Total Guitar in recent months and published on MusicRadar throughout June 2011.

Flick through this month's picks and follow the links to read each product's full review. First up is a phaser to end all phasers...

Verdict:

"Few pedals offer such a wide range of cracking vintage and modern phaser tones, with true bypass, delivered in an easy-to-use package."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Hardwire SP-7 Stereo Phaser review

BUY: Hardwire SP-7 Stereo Phaser currently available from:
UK: DV247

Gibson 50th Anniversary SG Standard 24 (£1199)

Verdict:

"A great way to celebrate an anniversary. It's well-priced, nicely built and you get two more frets!"

Read the Guitarist Gibson 50th Anniversary SG Standard 24 review

Way Huge Green Rhino MkII (£165)

Verdict:

"To paraphrase This Is Spinal Tap, the Rhino's big bottom really will drive you out of your mind."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Way Huge Green Rhino MkII review

BUY: Way Huge Green Rhino MkII currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Fender Mustang V (£287)

Verdict:

"It's great value, but we'd suggest that the do-it-all nature of the series falls down in such a large format."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Fender Mustang V review

BUY: Fender Mustang V currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater

Sterling JP100 (£715)

Verdict:

"The JP100 has plenty to recommend it. While we have a few qualms about it, they're rooted in the worst kind of vanity."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Sterling JP100 review

Airline Tux Deluxe (£1099)

Verdict:

"Get over the price tag and it's the sort of guitar that will make you want to add words like Howlin' or Smokestack to your name."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Airline Tux Deluxe review

Peavey HP Single Cut SC-3 (£265)

Verdict:

"Playability, tone and price: sometimes the best things really do come in threes."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Peavey HP Single Cut SC-3 review

BUY: Peavey HP Single Cut SC-3 currently available from:
US: Full Compass

Jet City JCA5212RC (£775)

Verdict:

"The higher price compared to other amps in the range means higher expectations. It's not going to trouble a real Soldano, but for the money this is still a good amp."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Jet City JCA5212RC review

Visual Sound Garagetone Chainsaw (£59.99)

Verdict:

"10 years ago, you'd have killed to get this in your gigbag. Today, modelling units are threatening to make standalone distortion pedals an endangered species… but the Chainsaw can still cut the mustard."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Visual Sound Garagetone Chainsaw review

Manson Guitars MA-1 (£1419)

Verdict:

"The Fuzz Factory isn't for everyone, but not including it on the spec list feels like sucking the joy from this model. It all adds up to a tough decision and an axe that the expression 'try before you buy' could have been invented for."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Manson Guitars MA-1 review

Recording King RO-127 (£555)

Verdict:

"It plays like butter, sounds like a dream and looks so pretty that you'll probably carry a photo of it around in your wallet."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Recording King RO-127 review

Jet City Shockwave Distortion (£50.99)

Verdict:

"If you're after no-nonsense distortion of real pedigree, investigate the Jet City."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Jet City Shockwave Distortion review

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Goldtop (£499)

Verdict:

"For Bonamassa fans on a budget, this is a no-brainer. For everyone else it's a classy, affordable and well-spec'd Les Paul to add to your must-try list."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Goldtop review

Boss Power Stack ST-2 (£100)

Verdict:

"All in, the ST-2 is wholly professional and turns in a quality sound, but at £100, it's a purchase that won't stack up for everyone."

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Boss Power Stack ST-2 review

BUY: Boss Power Stack ST-2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Akai Deluxe Distortion (£69.99)

Verdict:

"From the brown vintage warmth of the Classic setting, to the mid-scooped mentalism of Modern, this is both the best and the most versatile pedal we've seen in a while."

5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Akai Deluxe Distortion review

Bare Knuckle Aftermath (£240)

Verdict:

"We love the power that's on offer from this set, even when played clean. The Aftermath is the best metal-oriented pickup Bare Knuckle has made to date."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Bare Knuckle Aftermath review

Danelectro Wild Thing (£379)

Verdict:

"A great neck, cool sounds and a truly eccentric look: what's not to like?"

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Danelectro Wild Thing review

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special (£839)

Verdict:

"It's the punk of the litter, but with some excellent split-coil Fendery voices and a kick like a mule."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special review

Vox Valvetronix VT80+ (£342)

Verdict:

"A genuine improvement on what's gone before, VT+ means just that: more amp models and effects, a better feel and an increased feature list."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Vox Valvetronix VT80+ review

Blade Durango Deluxe DD-4 (£799)

Verdict:

"Make no mistake, the wealth of usable tones afforded by the guitar's VSC is nothing short of incredible."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Blade Durango Deluxe DD-4 review

Ibanez AW250-ECE LG (£289)

Verdict:

"The Ibanez has a classy finish, stellar feature set and great sound quality."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Ibanez AW250-ECE LG review

Blade Durango Deluxe DD-3 (£699)

Verdict:

"This no-nonsense and affordable instrument ticks all suitable boxes to qualify as a real rock guitar."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Blade Durango Deluxe DD-3 review

Boss RC-3 (£189)

Verdict:

"A lot of looping power for such a compact package."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Boss RC-3 review

BUY: Boss RC-3 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Yamaha APX50011 (£320)

Verdict:

"Guaranteed to keep APX high up the stage-electro charts."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Yamaha APX50011 review

Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeller (£169)

Verdict:

"All the effects you'll need in a single stompbox, provided you use them one at a time."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeller review

BUY: Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeller currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Yamaha CPX700II (£515)

Verdict:

"This handsome mini-jumbo ticks nearly all the right boxes."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Yamaha CPX700II review

BUY: Yamaha CPX700II currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247

Hayden MoFo 55 combo (£1099)

Verdict:

"A credible rock-orientated 1 x 12 combo capable of a wide range of sounds with enough volume for small and medium gigs."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Hayden MoFo 55 combo review

AER Compact XL (£1249)

Verdict:

"A supercharged Compact 60, the XL ensures you'll be heard - clearly."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist AER Compact XL review

BUY: AER Compact XL currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Gibson Les Paul Studio '60s Tribute (£749)

Verdict:

"If you've never owned a P-90-loaded Les Paul then this is the perfect guitar to fill the void. Be warned: you might just fall in love!"

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Gibson Les Paul Studio '60s Tribute review

BUY: Gibson Les Paul Studio '60s Tribute currently available from:
UK: DV247