New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (March 2015)
Classic design, Classic Vibe
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s
As they do every month, MusicRadar's sister magazines Total Guitar and Guitarist have been hard at work reviewing the latest guitars, amps and acoustics.
Here we've collected every guitar, amp, effect, acoustic and other guitar-related gear review published in their pages and on the site throughout February.
All of the reviews published here were originally featured in Guitarist issue 390 and Total Guitar issue 262/263, starting with the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A faultless build and one that captures that signature Strat sizzle."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s review
(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 262)
BUY: Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
A '60s-style Strat without the vintage price tag
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Few can top the Classic Vibe when it comes to nailing that authentic Strat mojo."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s review
(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 262)
BUY: Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Acoustic fun - with a capital 'F'
Fender Sonoran SCE
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A good sounding, great looking, top value for money acoustic: are you ready to be noticed?"
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fender Sonoran SCE review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Fender Sonoran SCE currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Heavy duty distortion pedal
Empress Heavy
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Tailor-made for metal players and useful for anyone seeking aggressive distortion."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress Heavy review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress Heavy currently available from:
UK: Thomann
A lightweight amp that packs heavyweight tone
Matrix Elements VB800
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Immensely portable with great tone and good looks, too."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Matrix Elements VB800 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
A laid-back phaser pedal
DOD Phasor 201
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A welcome return for a mellow-voiced phaser."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DOD Phasor 201 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: DOD Phasor 201 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
A stripped-down, US-made blues machine
St Blues Juke Joint Mississippi Bluesmaster
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A neat hybrid design that's very tidily made with some good sounds. A gigging workhorse."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: St Blues Juke Joint Mississippi Bluesmaster review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
Put some fun in your acoustic strum
Fender Malibu CE Mustang Limited
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Great fun, works well on stage and looks cool, though acoustic performance is compromised."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fender Malibu CE Mustang Limited review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Fender Malibu CE Mustang Limited currently available from:
UK: Thomann
A clever little boost pedal
DOD Bifet Boost 410
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A practical boost - great for kicking in for solos."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DOD Bifet Boost 410 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: DOD Bifet Boost 410 currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
High-end luthier tackles depression-era budget box
Waterloo WL-14 X
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Authentic to the last, the Waterloo may divide opinion, but its tone is vintage country-blues pickin' nirvana."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Waterloo WL-14 X review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
A humbucker-heavy Strat
Fender American Standard Stratocaster HH
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A Strat as far removed from its tonal source as any we've heard."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fender American Standard Stratocaster HH review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Fender American Standard Telecaster HH currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater
A drive pedal with multiple personalities
DOD Overdrive Preamp 250
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Provides boost and dirt for your amp, with a fuzzy edge as you turn up."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
A riff-ready Tele
Fender American Standard Telecaster HH
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"There are fat rhythm tones aplenty to be had from this slinky player."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fender American Standard Telecaster HH review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Fender American Standard Telecaster HH currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater
A US-made mod-mad electric
St Blues Juke Joint Scoundrel
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Lacks a little 'mojo' but is an excellent gigging tool with a great pickup combination."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: St Blues Juke Joint Scoundrel review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
Bling me the horizon with this kitted-out LP
Epiphone Ltd Ed Lee Malia Les Paul Custom
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An extremely well-constructed guitar from a custom shop that's deserving of serious recognition, especially at this price point."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Epiphone Ltd Ed Lee Malia Les Paul Custom review
(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 262)
BUY: Epiphone Ltd Ed Lee Malia Les Paul Custom currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
A trem to tremble for
Empress Tremolo2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An upgraded version of one totally tasty tremolo."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress Tremolo2 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress Tremolo2 currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Has the classic PRS electric changed?
PRS 30th Anniversary Custom 24
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Subtly upgraded over the standard Custom 24, a super, classic-sounding take on PRS's solidbody electric classic."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: PRS 30th Anniversary Custom 24 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: PRS 30th Anniversary Custom 24 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
A new size - and name - in acoustic guitars
Andrew White Eos 1010
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"This intriguing blend of folk and small jumbo offers something new, tonally and aesthetically."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Andrew White Eos 1010 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
Fuzz, overdrive and distortion pedal
Empress MultiDrive
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Three-in-one dirt blender that saves pedalboard space."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress MultiDrive review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress MultiDrive currently available from:
UK: Thomann
All phases of phasing in one pedal
Empress Phaser
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Possibly the most comprehensively adjustable pedal delivering a single modulation effect we've seen."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress Phaser review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress Phaser currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Boutique designed, Korean-made acoustic
Andrew White Freja 1010
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Sits between dreadnought and jumbo norms, yet has strong midrange projection, too: unique."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Andrew White Freja 1010 review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
British steel and old-school valve know-how equal stellar tone
Dickinson D1 Overdrive Pedal
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An amp expander/booster of the highest order. Looks cool too, huh?"
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Dickinson D1 Overdrive Pedal review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Dickinson D1 Overdrive Pedal currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music
A new face for the classic fuzz pedal
Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz Dirty Donny Edition
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The Dirty Donny has a massive range of sounds, some in Big Muff territory, some more radical."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz Dirty Donny Edition review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz Dirty Donny Edition currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
A modulation toolbox stompbox
Empress Nebulus
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A great choice if you want a single pedal with a relatively small footprint."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress Nebulus review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress Nebulus currently available from:
UK: Thomann
The Muse man's latest signature guitar arrives
Manson MBC-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Bellamy, Manson and Cort have created one of the finest rock axes at this price. Let's hope this is just the beginning of a significant partnership."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Manson MBC-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature review
(Reviewed in Total Guitar issue 262)
Killer tape delay stompbox
Empress Vintage Modified Superdelay
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A multi-faceted delay with great tape echo emulations."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Empress Vintage Modified Superdelay review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
BUY: Empress Vintage Modified Superdelay currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Tone Bending fuzz box
Way Huge Havalina Germanium Fuzz
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A new flavour of Tone Bender-style fuzz - but a tasty one nonetheless!"
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Way Huge Havalina Germanium Fuzz review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)
A CSP with an extra tonal control USP
MXR CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A warm, vintage-voiced compressor that does subtle to squash, all with utmost tonal clarity."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: MXR CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe review
(Reviewed in Guitarist issue 390)