New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (October 2012)
PRS DGT Standard (£2795)
Every month, MusicRadar’s industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.
We’ve collated the latest guitars, amps, pedals, recorders and interfaces to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music, Future Music, Rhythm Total Guitar and Guitarist’s test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Guitarist issue 359.
Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: PRS DGT Standard
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Less wide sounding than the maple- topped DGT, this Standard version is another voice: a 21st-century Les Paul Special but with expanded sounds, vibrato and PRS's legendary build quality.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: PRS DGT Standard
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: PRS DGT Standard currently available from:
UK: Thomann
MXR SF01 Slash Octave Fuzz (£171)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Fuzz plus octaves up and down: this stomper can cover a vast array of sounds from old-school Hendrix to lo-fi Auerbach, and a pretty cool Slash to boot!”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: MXR SF01 Slash Octave Fuzz
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: MXR SF01 Slash Octave Fuzz currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
Vox AC4C1-BL (£358)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“What's not to like (providing you're not changing valves in a hurry)?”
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vox AC4C1-BL
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Vox AC4C1-BL currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater
A/DA APP-1 (£339)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A/DA returns with a genuinely new product, full of different tones and myriad features.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: A/DA APP-1
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: A/DA APP-1 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
Tascam iU2 (£149)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A comprehensive portable I/O device for both Apple's iOS and computers - someone needed to invent this, Tascam has, and it's done a brilliant job.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Tascam iU2
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Tascam iU2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Full Compass
DigiTech Whammy (5th Generation) (£199)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“The most useful Whammy so far and awesome fun to boot. You need one!”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DigiTech Whammy (5th Generation)
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: DigiTech Whammy (5th Generation) currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater
Roland G-5 VG Fender Stratocaster (£1450)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Less detailed than the Variax, the G-5 VG Stratocaster beats its rival on open/dropped tuning functions at least. Its digital trickery is also loaded on a familiar, much-loved Fender Stratocaster chassis: that goes a long, long way!”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Roland G-5 VG Fender Stratocaster
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Roland G-5 VG Fender Stratocaster currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass
Peavey Xport USB Guitar Interface (£39)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“The Xport is a great guitarist's companion to a laptop that will work for recording or practice wherever you are.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Peavey Xport USB Guitar Interface
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Peavey Xport USB Guitar Interface currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater
AKG DMS70 Dual digital wireless system (£349)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“An excellent- sounding wireless system that shouldn't pose any performance problems.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: AKG DMS70 Dual digital wireless system
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: AKG DMS70 Dual digital wireless system currently available from:
UK: DV247
Vox AC4HW1 (£778)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“For recording, this could be all the amp you ever need.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vox AC4HW1
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Vox AC4HW1 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Guild GSR D-40 Noir (£2926)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A visually striking dreadnought with a punchy and instantly likeable acoustic tone.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Guild GSR D-40 Noir
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Guild GSR D-40 Noir currently available from:
UK: Thomann
TC Electronic MojoMojo (£105)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Lovely transparent overdrive that's like adding an extra channel to your amp.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: TC Electronic MojoMojo
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: TC Electronic MojoMojo currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | guitarguitar
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass
FR: Thomann | Michenaud | Star's Music | Woodbrass
Vox Apache I (£262)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“This distinctive-looking electric offers self-powered performance and play- anywhere portability. Most of all it's great fun.”
3 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vox Apache I
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Vox Apache I currently available from:
UK: Thomann
TC Electronic Dark Matter (£105)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A responsive stompbox that will put a flavour of that cranked Marshall raunch on your board.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: TC Electronic Dark Matter
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: TC Electronic Dark Matter currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Mariner Capstan (£369)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Mariner is still a new name in the affordable market, but the Capstan is a fine fingerstyle-friendly performer.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Mariner Capstan
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
Tascam DP-24 (£749)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A self-contained 24-track recording studio that will take you from the first chord to a finished CD.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Tascam DP-24
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Tascam DP-24 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Full Compass
TC Electronic Röttweiler (£105)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Pedal to the metal? This one takes you straight there. It barks and it bites.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: TC Electronic Röttweiler
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: TC Electronic Röttweiler currently available from:
UK: DV247
Music Man Reflex Game Changer HSH (£2539)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Time will tell whether this technology will be a real-world game changer or an interesting footnote. Regardless, this is a very good electric guitar with which to broaden your sonic horizons.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Music Man Reflex Game Changer HSH
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Music Man Reflex Game Changer HSH currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater
Guild GSR F-30CE Cocobolo (£2926)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“For those sufficiently well heeled and able to track one down, the F-30CE Cocobolo is pretty much as good as fingerstyle guitars get.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Guild GSR F-30CE Cocobolo
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Guild GSR F-30CE Cocobolo currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Mad Professor Old School 21 (£1799)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Time will tell whether this technology will be a real-world game changer or an It doesn't quite live up to its rather hefty price tag but the Old School '21 is well worth auditioning for those on a quest for tonal nirvana.”
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Mad Professor Old School 21
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
Vox Apache II (£262)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“This distinctive-looking electric offers self-powered performance and play- anywhere portability. Most of all it's great fun.”
3 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vox Apache II
(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)
BUY: Vox Apache II currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2011: synths, DAWs, plug-ins, keyboards, apps and more
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