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.

Flick through this month's picks and follow the links to read each product's full review. First up is a genuine USA Gibson at a knock-down price...

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