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

Gibson Melody Maker Les Paul (£499)

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 August 2011.

Verdict:

"Our heads say no, our hearts say yes. Only you can decide which one rules…"

3 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Gibson Melody Maker Les Paul review

BUY: Gibson Melody Maker Flying V currently available from:
UK: DV247

Orange Dark Terror (£399)

Verdict:

"This amp is the perfect high-gain partner for recording and medium-sized gigs."

5 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Orange Dark Terror review

Mesa/Boogie TransAtlantic TA-30 combo (£2136)

Verdict:

"All the good bits of the exceptional TA-15, but with a ton more headroom, more gain, reverb and a loop. Extremely hard not to like."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Mesa/Boogie TransAtlantic TA-30 combo review

Gibson Melody Maker Flying V (£450)

Verdict:

"Authentic sounds or 'that' logo on your headstock? The choice is yours…"

4 out of 5

Read the Total Guitar Gibson Melody Maker Flying V review

Two-Rock Gain Master 22 (£1999)

Verdict:

"This little combo shocked us into submission; we can't get over how incredible it sounds and how perfectly suited it is for its intended players."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Two-Rock Gain Master 22 review

Yamaha Pacifica 510V (£479)

Verdict:

"If your heart tends to beat to the sound of guilty pleasures such as Poison, Warrant, Van Halen et al, check this out."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Yamaha Pacifica 510V review

BUY: Yamaha Pacifica 510V currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247

Gibson Melody Maker SG (£499)

Verdict:

"Our heads say no, our hearts say yes. Only you can decide which one rules…"

3 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Gibson Melody Maker SG review

Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM (£579)

Verdict:

"Just what the range needed - a wholly versatile, mid-priced Pacifica with great style and tones to match."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM review

BUY: Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music | DV247

PRS ME Quatro (£4995)

Verdict:

"This is one of the finest and most classic-sounding PRS guitars we've played yet."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist PRS ME Quatro review

Music Man JPXI (£2800)

Verdict:

"It's difficult to conceive how Music Man will be able to improve significantly on this version. A guitar most definitely deserving of both names on the headstock."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Music Man JPXI review

BUY: Music Man JPXI currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater

Fret-King Black Label JD (£599)

Verdict:

"Inspired by Donahue's sonic sorcery, the Fret-King JD is a 'custom shop'-style guitar at an off-the-peg price. That goes for the sounds too. Any gigging guitarist drawing from the classic Californian tone well should check it out."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Fret-King Black Label JD review

Yamaha Pacifica 311H (£399)

Verdict:

"Proof that you don't need to spend a small fortune to own a guitar that plays like a dream and sounds pretty good too - the very essence of Yamaha's Pacifica concept."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Yamaha Pacifica 311H review

BUY: Yamaha Pacifica 311H currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247