Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Synth Week 26
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
A Harley Benton Fusion IV HH electric guitar lies on a white floor with a rug and guitar cable nearby
Electric Guitars “It certainly appears a lot more expensive than it actually is”: Harley Benton Fusion IV HH FR review
Harley Benton JA-Baritone HH BK
Guitars Harley Benton drops a sub-$250 baritone that proves you can do low tunings at low prices – and stay fashionably offset
Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster Road Worn and Cabronita
Electric Guitars Fender 75th Anniversary Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster & American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
DOD Badder Monkey pedal
Guitar Pedals “A bit of EQ tweaking with the Bad setting will get it sounding like a viable substitute for a Klon... there’s a world of drive to be explored”: DOD Badder Monkey review
Crazy Tube Circuits Triptychon
Guitars Crazy Tube Circuits’ Triptychon might just be the only pedal you need for classic rock
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
timbre wolf
Tech "Boy, do people hate it": 10 of the most divisive products in music tech history, from iLok to the Akai Timbre Wolf
Harley Benton BassTheWorld MV-JB Plus: the Burgundy Mist J-style challenges our preconceptions of the Thomann-owned brand with a high-end build
Guitars Budget gear giant Harley Benton goes high-end for BassTheWorld signature bass
Gretsch Synchromatic Flacon close up of pickguard
Electric Guitars Best Gretsch guitars 2026: Nail that Gretsch sound at any price point
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Calling all live performers, we've found $300 off a full Kustom PA, $120 off a popular Yamaha mixer and $100 off one of the best column speakers in the game
The Strymon Canoga is a simple two-knob silicon fuzz and is part of the digital effects brand's Series A analogue range.
Guitars FAO Jimi Hendrix fans, Strymon expands analogue range with the vintage Fuzz Face-inspired Canoga
Headphones next to electric guitar
Headphones Best guitar amp headphones 2026: My top picks for practicing your guitar quietly
Woman in orange hat plays classical guitar in front of a laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2026? I’m a professional guitar gear reviewer and these are my highest-rated lessons platforms
Two guitars lying on the floor with guitar cables
Guitars Best guitar cables 2026: Leads and patch cables for all budgets
More
  • Synth Week 2026
  • Jimmy Jam
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Chinese synths
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Pedals

New guitar gear of the month: review round-up (March 2018)

News
By MusicRadar published 7 March 2018

Give your sound a spring clean with these guitars and pedals

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Faith Naked Mars

Faith Naked Mars

The bounty of beautiful gear that came at NAMM is now a distant memory, as we have been inundated with all manner of guitar products that have eased the post-Anaheim comedown.

Here, we take a digested look at all of the guitar reviews that appeared on the site during February. We start with the Naked Mars from Faith.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A great all-rounder.”

FULL REVIEW: Faith Naked Mars 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 1 of 16
Page 1 of 16
Empress Echosystem

Empress Echosystem

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An excellent pedal for delay aficionados, and it can only get better with subsequent firmware updates.”

FULL REVIEW: Empress Echosystem

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 2 of 16
Page 2 of 16
Walrus Audio Monument Tremolo

Walrus Audio Monument Tremolo

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A practical pedal offering an excellent variety of sonic options with the bonus of plenty of expressive control.”

FULL REVIEW: Walrus Audio Monument Tremolo

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 3 of 16
Page 3 of 16
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR

Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR

MusicRadar's verdict:

“While the haircuts may have changed since the ‘80s, the desire for a fun, well-appointed, classic shred machine will clearly never die out.”

FULL REVIEW: Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder FR

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 4 of 16
Page 4 of 16
Emma ReezaFRATzitz

Emma ReezaFRATzitz

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A solid pedal that has some interesting sounds to offer.”

FULL REVIEW: Emma ReezaFRATzitz

3 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 5 of 16
Page 5 of 16
Stone Deaf Trashy Blonde

Stone Deaf Trashy Blonde

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A pedal blessed with tones to put a smile on a classic rocker’s face.”

FULL REVIEW: Stone Deaf Trashy Blonde

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 6 of 16
Page 6 of 16
Wampler Catapulp

Wampler Catapulp

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A powerful contender.”

FULL REVIEW: Wampler Catapulp

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 7 of 16
Page 7 of 16
Shergold Masquerader 4

Shergold Masquerader 4

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An affordable and well-built guitar that is well worth your time.”

FULL REVIEW: Shergold Masquerader 4

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 8 of 16
Page 8 of 16
Gretsch G6134T-58 Vintage Select ’58 Penguin

Gretsch G6134T-58 Vintage Select ’58 Penguin

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Some might think that the price tag takes the biscuit but we reckon there’s never been a better time to p-p-p-pick up a Penguin.”

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch G6134T-58 Vintage Select ’58 Penguin

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 9 of 16
Page 9 of 16
Mooer Ocean Machine

Mooer Ocean Machine

MusicRadar's verdict:

“For a one-stop ambience shop, Mooer’s Ocean Machine is the logical destination.”

FULL REVIEW: Mooer Ocean Machine 

5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 10 of 16
Page 10 of 16
Gretsch G6128T-57 Vintage Select ’57 Duo Jet

Gretsch G6128T-57 Vintage Select ’57 Duo Jet

MusicRadar's verdict:

“If you want a classic tone machine that’ll transport you back to a time when amplifier distortion was still regarded as a fault, the ’57 is a dream.”

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch G6128T-57 Vintage Select ’57 Duo Jet

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 11 of 16
Page 11 of 16
Taylor Academy 12e-N

Taylor Academy 12e-N

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A fine guitar, but it comes at a price.”

FULL REVIEW: Taylor Academy 12e-N 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 12 of 16
Page 12 of 16
EMG RetroActive Fat 55 pickup set

EMG RetroActive Fat 55 pickup set

MusicRadar's verdict:

“This provides one of the most intelligent blends of old and new that we’ve heard.”

FULL REVIEW: EMG RetroActive Fat 55 pickup set

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 13 of 16
Page 13 of 16
La Patrie Arena CW Q1T

La Patrie Arena CW Q1T

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An impressive build and design.”

FULL REVIEW: La Patrie Arena CW Q1T 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 14 of 16
Page 14 of 16
BAE Audio Hot Fuzz

BAE Audio Hot Fuzz

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A sublime combination of fuzz and treble boost.”

FULL REVIEW: BAE Audio Hot Fuzz

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 15 of 16
Page 15 of 16
Gretsch G5435T Electromatic Pro Jet

Gretsch G5435T Electromatic Pro Jet

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An affordable model that won’t let you down.”

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch G5435T Electromatic Pro Jet

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 16 of 16
Page 16 of 16
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number one website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.
Read more
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Save a colossal $500 off one of my favourite Sterling by Music Man guitars, grab $200 off a super cool D'Angelico, plus all the week's biggest sales on music gear
 
 
MusicRadar author Matt McCracken plays a Manson 007 electric guitar at The Guitar Show in Birmingham, UK
Guitars Here's 7 of the hottest guitar gear releases I tried at The Guitar Show this weekend that are available to buy right now
 
 
Thomann Spring Sale 2026
Guitar Pedals With up to 60% off in Thomann's Spring Sale now is the time to give your pedalboard a spring clean - here are my 8 pedal choices starting at only £9.60!
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Score hundreds off PRS, Bose, and Moog - and grab a new guitar pedal for less than £10!
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $390 off a divisive Fender Stratocaster, $180 off a stunning Gretsch and hundreds off PA and live gear
 
 
Latest in Guitar Pedals
DOD Badder Monkey pedal
Guitar Pedals “A bit of EQ tweaking with the Bad setting will get it sounding like a viable substitute for a Klon... there’s a world of drive to be explored”: DOD Badder Monkey review
 
 
Crazy Tube Circuits Triptychon
Guitars Crazy Tube Circuits’ Triptychon might just be the only pedal you need for classic rock
 
 
Oliver Ackermann [left] playing on a red-lit stage and Richard Fortus playing his White Falcon live with Guns N' Roses
Artists Death By Audio’s Oliver Ackermann on the time he sold a pedal to Richard Fortus and disaster struck
 
 
The Strymon Canoga is a simple two-knob silicon fuzz and is part of the digital effects brand's Series A analogue range.
Guitars FAO Jimi Hendrix fans, Strymon expands analogue range with the vintage Fuzz Face-inspired Canoga
 
 
Walrus Audio Highpoint Analog Optical Compressor features console-style VU metering on the front.
Guitars The tone-sweetener your rig has been waiting for? Walrus Audio's Highpoint is one serious compressor pedal
 
 
A screenshot of the Fukkaudio home page, where guitarists can type in a text prompt, and dial in a tone via the web app.
Guitars No rig, no problem! This website lets guitarists design amps and effects tones by text prompt
 
 
Latest in News
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE))   Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff perform onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by TAS2024/Getty Images)
Artists Taylor Swift explains the songwriting trick that she and Jack Antonoff have used multiple times
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Jack Antonoff and  Taylor Swift attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Jack Antonoff says he has no problem with not being involved on Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life Of A Showgirl
 
 
Beyonce and Stevie Nicks
Artists Is Beyonce about to release a rock album with a guest appearance from Stevie Nicks?
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Calling all live performers, we've found $300 off a full Kustom PA, $120 off a popular Yamaha mixer and $100 off one of the best column speakers in the game
 
 
007 First Light logo and man with gun
Djs “Get ready to turn the speakers up”: Chase And Status sign up for new James Bond video game
 
 
Blonde Ambition Tour, Madonna, Feyenoord Stadion, De Kuip, Rotterdam, Holland, 24/07/1990. She is wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier conical bra corset. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images)
Artists “I hired all the musicians and the engineers, and pretty much made the record”: Patrick Leonard on Madonna’s Like a Prayer
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...