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  1. News

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

By Chris Vinnicombe
published 2 September 2011

Gibson Melody Maker Les Paul (£499)
It's a Melody Maker, but not as we know it…

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

Page 1 of 23
Page 1 of 23
Orange Dark Terror (£399)
A metal-friendly high-gain addition to the best-known lunchbox amp range

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

Page 2 of 23
Page 2 of 23
Mesa/Boogie TransAtlantic TA-30 combo (£2136)
Twice the power as the TA-15 - is it twice the fun?

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

Page 3 of 23
Page 3 of 23
Gibson Melody Maker Flying V (£450)
Willing to sell your own gran for a 'real' Gibson. Now you don't have to…

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

Page 4 of 23
Page 4 of 23
Two-Rock Gain Master 22 (£1999)
Small but mighty - just overlook the price tag!

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

Page 5 of 23
Page 5 of 23
Yamaha Pacifica 510V (£479)
A custom-shop vibe with boutique-style appointments

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

Page 6 of 23
Page 6 of 23
Gibson Melody Maker SG (£499)
This affordable guitar has caused quite a stir

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

Page 7 of 23
Page 7 of 23
Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM (£579)
A new variant on Yamaha's most popular electric ever

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

Page 8 of 23
Page 8 of 23
PRS ME Quatro (£4995)
An extremely pleasing vehicle for the new PRS 53/10 pickups

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

Page 9 of 23
Page 9 of 23
Music Man JPXI (£2800)
The latest John Petrucci signature model may well be the best yet

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

Page 10 of 23
Page 10 of 23
Fret-King Black Label JD (£599)
Jerry Donahue's fantastic introduction to Fret-King's new signature range

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

Page 11 of 23
Page 11 of 23
Yamaha Pacifica 311H (£399)
The ever-popular model gets a makeover

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

Page 12 of 23
Page 12 of 23
Godin Multiac Encore Nylon (£1199)
This new Multiac has under-saddle and soundboard transducers for accurate tonality

Godin Multiac Encore Nylon (£1199)

Verdict:

"A versatile guitar with realistic amplified sounds - a great addition."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Godin Multiac Encore Nylon review

BUY: Godin Multiac Encore Nylon currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Page 13 of 23
Page 13 of 23
Takamine EF300W (£1114)
A more affordable, less-is-more version to tempt you

Takamine EF300W (£1114)

Verdict:

"A more affordable limited edition offering a loud and lively output, it's also well suited to life on the road."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Takamine EF300W review

Page 14 of 23
Page 14 of 23
Vox TB35C1 combo (£1127)
Partnership with amp legend Tony Bruno yields slightly pricey results

Vox TB35C1 combo (£1127)

Verdict:

"A good choice for straight-ahead blues and vintage rock players - check it out soon."

3.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Vox TB35C1 combo review

Page 15 of 23
Page 15 of 23
Seagull Maritime SWS Folk HG QI (£920)
No cutaway, no problem

Seagull Maritime SWS Folk HG QI (£920)

Verdict:

"A nice folk picker with no pretensions."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Seagull Maritime SWS Folk HG QI review

BUY: Seagull Maritime SWS Folk HG QI currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Page 16 of 23
Page 16 of 23
Two-Rock Studio Pro 35 (£2049)
A tiny 1 x 12 combo that offers huge headroom

Two-Rock Studio Pro 35 (£2049)

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 Studio Pro 35 review

Page 17 of 23
Page 17 of 23
Breedlove Atlas Retro OM/ERe (£1025)
A quality, versatile electro-acoustic investment

Breedlove Atlas Retro OM/ERe (£1025)

Verdict:

"A very classy OM all-rounder."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Breedlove Atlas Retro OM/ERe review

Page 18 of 23
Page 18 of 23
Tanglewood TW70HSR-B (£1090)
A lovely-looking folk with some impressive tones

Tanglewood TW70HSR-B (£1090)

Verdict:

"An exercise in tasty tones and cosmetics."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Tanglewood TW70HSR-B review

Page 19 of 23
Page 19 of 23
Eventide Space (£499)
A neat little reverb stompbox, but is it overpriced?

Eventide Space (£499)

Verdict:

"The ultimate stompbox for creating atmospheric sounds."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Eventide Space review

BUY: Eventide Space currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 20 of 23
Page 20 of 23
Takamine TAN76 (£1282)
Does this folk guitar sound as good as it looks?

Takamine TAN76 (£1282)

Verdict:

"A great-looking OM from Takamine."

4.5 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Takamine TAN76 review

Page 21 of 23
Page 21 of 23
Freshman Guitars Apollo 4DC (£699)
Forget the lollipop sticks. Here's an electro-acoustic with a proper fat neck

Freshman Guitars Apollo 4DC (£699)

Verdict:

"The 4DC is yet another successful mission for the Apollo team."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist Freshman Guitars Apollo 4DC review

BUY: Freshman Guitars Apollo 4DC currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 22 of 23
Page 22 of 23
EMG JH Set (£265)
As Hetfield's new EMGs prove, you cannot kill the battery

EMG JH Set (£265)

Verdict:

"At £265, owners of an 81/60 set will find it more of a luxury than life-or-death."

4 out of 5

Read the Guitarist EMG JH Set review

BUY: EMG JH Set currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 23 of 23
Page 23 of 23
Chris Vinnicombe
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Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

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