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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Music technology gear of the year 2025
Tech Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic
Electric Guitars "It isn’t just a collection of cool features; it’s a tool designed to make your recorded guitar sound better, right out of the box": Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
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
Man holding acoustic guitar in front of a silver laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals "Makes the case that you might never need anything else": Neural DSP Quad Cortex review
Two Taylor beginner acoustic guitars lying on a purple floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2026: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
The Boss PX-1 Plugout FX is a white compact series Boss pedal with three blue dials with silver inserts, and has eight assignable presets so that it can be any one of 16 classic pedals.
Guitar Pedals The Boss PX-1 is a treasure trove of classic and contemporary Boss effects pedals. Here's everything you need to know about the compact chameleon stomp box
PRS SE Fiorre HH
Electric Guitars “These are classy sounds with no danger of single coil hum... a near-perfect function-gig guitar”: PRS Fiore HH Satin review
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars Best cheap acoustic guitars 2026: Top picks for strummers on a budget
Gibson Les Paul Special DC
Electric Guitars “Virtually every sound I conjure recalls a classic player or style”: Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cut review
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: Find your favourite acoustic strings
YouTuber Carlos Asensio presents his brand-new Harley Benton ST-Modern signature model, which is offered in Cactus Green Metallic Gloss and Ice Blue Metallic Gloss finishes
Guitars Harley Benton just put a Vega-Trem on YouTuber Carlos Asensio's $700 signature guitar: is this the best-value S-style on the market?
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

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

News
By Guitars ( Guitarist, Total Guitar ) published 1 May 2018

Put a little spring in your step

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

Vintage VSA500

Vintage VSA500

MusicRadar's verdict:

“This guitar illustrates just how good ‘low-end’ Chinese guitars have become.”

FULL REVIEW: Vintage VSA500

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Walrus Audio ARP-87

Walrus Audio ARP-87

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A neat pedal that delivers fun in spades.”

FULL REVIEW: Walrus Audio ARP-87

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
PRS John Mayer Silver Sky 

PRS John Mayer Silver Sky 

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A superb vintage and experience-informed three single-coil bolt-on.”

FULL REVIEW: PRS John Mayer Silver Sky 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Fender Eric Johnson Thinline Stratocaster

Fender Eric Johnson Thinline Stratocaster

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A guitar fit for a guitar hero.”

FULL REVIEW: Fender Eric Johnson Thinline Stratocaster

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2018

Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2018

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A great guitar and an even greater price.”

FULL REVIEW: Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2018

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
TC Electronic Flashback 2

TC Electronic Flashback 2

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A versatile delay pedal elevated by that MASH feature.”

FULL REVIEW: TC Electronic Flashback 2

5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
DigiTech SDRUM

DigiTech SDRUM

MusicRadar's verdict:

“For players who are seeking to get quick and easy rhythm tracks down, this is an inspirational tool.”

FULL REVIEW: DigiTech SDRUM 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Sigma LGM-SG2

Sigma LGM-SG2

MusicRadar's verdict:

 “The dark horse delivers again.”

FULL REVIEW: Sigma LGM-SG2

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Total Guitar)

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Fidelity Guitars Double Standard

Fidelity Guitars Double Standard

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Heaps of cool with sounds to match.”

FULL REVIEW: Fidelity Guitars Double Standard

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Danelectro Battery Billionaire

Danelectro Battery Billionaire

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Battery Billionaire is perhaps a bit specialist, and of questionable interest to many players, but others will see its advantages and regard it as a more practical purchase.”

FULL REVIEW: Danelectro Battery Billionaire

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Guitarist)

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Guitars
The magazine for serious players image
The magazine for serious players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
PRS SE Fiorre HH
“These are classy sounds with no danger of single coil hum... a near-perfect function-gig guitar”: PRS Fiore HH Satin review
 
 
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
“Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
 
 
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
 
 
A Cort G200SE on a dirty white floor
"Just as good as many affordable Squier, Epiphone, or Yamaha guitars I’ve played": Cort G200SE review
 
 
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2026: Top picks for strummers on a budget
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic
"It isn’t just a collection of cool features; it’s a tool designed to make your recorded guitar sound better, right out of the box": Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
 
 
D'Angelo and Prince
D’Angelo was so in awe of Prince that he refused to play his guitar on the one occasion they shared a stage
 
 
Keeley Electronics Nocturne: this new stereo reverb is the latest signature pedal for Andy Timmons and has a dark metallic blue enclosure with a similar control surface to his Halo Core pedal.
“I turn this thing on, I don’t want to stop playing”: Keeley Electronics has made Andy Timmons fall in love with reverb with his new signature Nocturne pedal
 
 
Paul McCartney points to the crowd and raises an eyebrow as he performs with his iconic Höfner Violin Bass
Paul McCartney's favourite bass company is in trouble – Höfner's future uncertain as it files provisional insolvency proceedings
 
 
Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X – The latest and most high-profile addition to the Finnish brand's signature plugin range, Mayer's plugin is replete with captures of boutique, rare and one-off amps and pedals
It’s official! Neural DSP’s John Mayer Archetype plugin suite is here – and with Dumble, Klon and Reverberator captures, it is the motherlode for boutique electric guitar tone
 
 
Joe Walsh plays a PRS SE electric guitar live onstage
Joe Walsh on the best guitar solo he ever recorded (and how it officially made the talk box a thing)
 
 
Latest in News
Purple Rain vinyl side B
How Prince's When Doves Cry and Purple Rain ended up in the Stranger Things finale
 
 
moog
“He feels it should be in the hands of people who will put it to good use”: John Paul Jones’ studio gear goes up for auction – including a rare £24,000 Moog Model 15
 
 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 29: Peter Gabriel performs at Little Caesars Arena on September 29, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)
“We are sliding into a period of transition like no other”: Peter Gabriel to release follow up to i/o this year
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Shawn "Clown" Crahan attends the ASCAP GRAMMY Brunch in the Garden at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on February 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
“A professor in my pocket”: Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan says he’s been using AI “my whole life”
 
 
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava
Splice partners with UMG on the development of AI-powered tools and virtual instruments
 
 
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 09: Billy Joel performs at Allegiant Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight”: Billy Joel makes surprise return to live performance
 
 

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
  • 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...