New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (June 2015)
The dynamic luthier creates a modern acoustic
Faith PJE Signature FSGNCLPT London Plane
There's been a wealth of new gear coming through the Total Guitar and Guitarist office of late and last month saw reviews of new acoustics, stompboxes, electrics, amplifiers and effects.
Browse the gallery to view all of the reviews posted on the site last month, starting with the Faith PJE Signature FSGNCLPT London Plane...
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An extremely consistent instrument, with quality at the fore. Excellent attention to detail throughout."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW:Faith PJE Signature FSGNCLPT London Planereview
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Doggone good drive
Joyo JF-314 Husky Drive
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Good with single coils, but works OCD-style wonders with a humbucker-equipped guitar."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Joyo JF-314 Husky Drive review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
Small yet perfectly formed acoustic
Farida M-15E
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"It's well made, sounds fine both acoustically and amplified, and comes in at a decent price - that's all we could ask for."
3 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Farida M-15E review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
Mini chorus goes back to the future
Joyo JF-316 Future Chorus
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An affordable mini-chorus with sweet, shimmering tones."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Joyo JF-316 Future Chorus review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
Overhauled overdrive pedal
Suhr Shiba Drive Reloaded
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Amp-enhancing overdrive with a choice of smoothness."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Suhr Shiba Drive Reloaded review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Suhr Shiba Drive Reloaded currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
Red Witch's first bass unit
Red Witch Factotum Bass Suboctave Drive
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you want to add distortion and/or sub-octave effects, check this out."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Red Witch Factotum Bass Suboctave Drive review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Red Witch Factotum Bass Suboctave Drive currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater
Stand-out clip-on tuners
Korg Sledgehammer Pro
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Not the cheapest, but in terms of accuracy, the Pro is the way to go."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Korg Sledgehammer Pro review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Korg Sledgehammer Pro currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Mind-expanding eight-string electric
Strandberg Boden 8
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you're serious about eight-string instruments this is one of the most innovative and intuitive designs out there."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Strandberg Boden 8 review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Affordable nylon-string 'crossover' acoustic
Cort CGC7 Electro nylon cutaway
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Affordable and stage-friendly, a good starter for nylon-string wannabes."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Cort CGC7 Electro nylon cutaway review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Warm fuzzy goodness in stompbox form
Suhr Rufus
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A fuzz for all seasons, with variety and versatility in spades."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Suhr Rufus review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Suhr Rufus currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
A sharp-edged, slick-playing single-cut
Vigier GV Rock
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A versatile rock guitar that sports one of the most playable necks out there."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vigier GV Rock review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
A signature boost box
Nemphasis Silver Box
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A versatile boost with useful tonal shifts."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis Silver Box review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Multi-voiced distortion stompbox
Suhr Riot Reloaded
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A stack-in-a-box with practical voicing options for classy amp-style distortion."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Suhr Riot Reloaded review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Suhr Riot Reloaded currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
Shred starter guitar
Jackson JS12 Dinky
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"This is a quality guitar that outshines many similarly priced starters - if you'd handed this to us when we were first learning, we'd have been thrilled."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Jackson JS12 Dinky review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Jackson JS12 Dinky currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
EHX-aping fuzz box
Nemphasis The Muff
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Familiar name, familiar sound, enhanced features."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis The Muff review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Classic looks, modern features, killer tone
Orange Rockerverb 50 MKIII Combo
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you're after classic heavyweight British tone and iconic styling, the new Rockerverb doesn't disappoint."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Orange Rockerverb 50 MKIII Combo review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Orange Rockerverb 50 MKIII Combo currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
One-stop compression stomper
Suhr Koji Comp
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Versatile compression with extra top end if you need it."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Suhr Koji Comp review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Suhr Koji Comp currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
80s-aping chorus box
Nemphasis Liquid Mind
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Languid 1980s-style modulation revived."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis Liquid Mind review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Floyd Rose-equipped budget shredder
Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Equip this beast with a set of Seymour Duncans or DiMarzios and you'll have a serious electric that's anything but budget."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
Studio style comp pedal
Nemphasis VT Comp
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Keeps your signal consistent and under control without messing with your tone."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis VT Comp review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Crossbred overdrive/wah pedal
Nemphasis Mr Q Driwah
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Not for everyone, but this pedal has a unique, quirky sound."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis Mr Q Driwah review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Affordable V is a total victory
Jackson JS32T Rhoads
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you like the shape, there's very little to dislike about this Rhoads."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Jackson JS32T Rhoads review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Jackson JS32T Rhoads currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
Pro-aimed amp head
Orange Rockerverb 100 MKIII Head
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A loud, versatile head that easily swaps from classic rock and blues tones to modern rock and metal."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Orange Rockerverb 100 MKIII Head review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Orange Rockerverb 100 MKIII Head currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Valve-driven overdrive stompbox
Nemphasis X7 Tube Overdrive
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Ace overdrive! It seems that, sometimes, only a valve will do..."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Nemphasis X7 Tube Overdrive review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Artist joins PRS's SE acoustic ranks
PRS SE A15AL Alex Lifeson Thinline
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"It'll need some help on stage, but this is a classy thinline electro that makes a great at-home guitar."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: PRS SE A15AL Alex Lifeson Thinline review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: PRS SE A15AL Alex Lifeson Thinline currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
A reinvented modern classic
Italia Fiorano Standard
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Italia has reimagined a classic-looking guitar for the modern age."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Italia Fiorano Standard review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Italia Fiorano Standard currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
Fishman's pickup invention produces a super-guitar
Fret-King Corona 60 Fluence Equipped
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A classy version of a classic recipe that, with Fluence's unique attributes, makes a first-class choice."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fret-King Corona 60 Fluence Equipped review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
The affordable 24-fret Satriani signature arrives
Ibanez JS140
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"As a mid-priced rock-ready electric, we reckon you'll be impressed."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Ibanez JS140 review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: Ibanez JS140 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Satin-finished take on the classic thinline semi-acoustic
Gibson Memphis ES-335 Satin 2015
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"At this price, we'd ignore the more expensive gloss version - it's simply a killer-sounding contemporary ES-335 with classic looks."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Gibson Memphis ES-335 Satin 2015 review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Gibson Memphis ES-335 Satin 2015 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
S-style stunner with Fishman innovative new pickups
Fret-King Corona 70 Fluence Equipped
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Fret-King's host guitar is seriously good and it's loaded with one of the most innovative pickup concepts in decades."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fret-King Corona 70 Fluence Equipped review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
Smaller-bodied satin semi-acoustic shines
Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Compact dimensions with classic tones and styling; if you want the ES-335 experience in a smaller package, then this is it."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015 review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Gibson Memphis ES-339 Satin 2015 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
The first all-new S2 design and the coolest PRS yet
PRS S2 Vela
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"This is the finest S2 to date... and a PRS guitar that certainly isn't for doctors and dentists!"
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: PRS S2 Vela review
(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)
BUY: PRS S2 Vela currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
The king of spring, in outboard form
Fender '63 Tube Reverb
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The daddy of all spring reverbs is still potent, even half a century on."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fender '63 Tube Reverb review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Fender '63 Tube Reverb currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Easy mobile guitar connectivity
IK Multimedia iRig 2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Cheap and cheerful no-brainer plug-in-and-play unit, just add headphones."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia iRig 2 review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: IK Multimedia iRig 2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Desk-aping preamp stompbox
JHS Colour Box
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A go-to tool for direct guitar recording."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: JHS Colour Box review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: JHS Colour Box currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music
US: Sweetwater
Boutique tone from the Black Country
Laney L20T 212 combo
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The colour scheme may be polarising but the sounds aren't: world-class tone at a very affordable price."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Laney L20T 212 combo review
(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)
BUY: Laney L20T 212 combo currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music