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
Lag HyVibe HV10ACE
Acoustic Guitars “Powerful, extremely versatile and creatively refreshing, it offers a ton of inspiration if you click with it”: LAG HyVibe 10 HV10ACE review
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Guitars Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
Man wearing black hat playing the Roland TD716 electronic drum set
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets in 2026: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Fractal Audio ICONS; the amp modelling company debuts its first-ever plugin suite for guitarists.
Guitars Amp modelling titan Fractal Audio unveils its first guitar plugin suite
Harley Benton R-458MN LH WH MultiScale
Guitars Harley Benton just dropped an 8-string for southpaw players that has a multi-scale fretboard, high-gain humbuckers and offers change from 300 bucks
Mooer Audio F40i / F40i Li Intelligent Amp
Guitars Mooer Audio’s flagship Intelligent Amp lets you find guitar tones using AI prompts
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
Hottest music tech gear of NAMM
Tech The best music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and more
Deals of the week
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We round up all the best Presidents' Day discounts from Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, and Sweetwater
Headphones next to electric guitar
Headphones Best guitar amp headphones 2026: My top picks for practicing your guitar quietly
A Spark Link receiver in a Spark Mini practice amp
Guitars Best guitar wireless systems 2026: Cut the cord and liberate your playing today
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
Guitars The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
The new models of theMartin Road Series 2026 are photographed in a living space.
Guitars Has Martin redefined the workhorse acoustic? Legendary brand announces blockbuster refresh of its Road Series
Taylor Academy 10E
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

The 6 best guitar innovations of 2018

News
By MusicRadar Team ( Total Guitar ) published 3 December 2018

The guitar gear moving things forward

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

6. DigiTech SDRUM

6. DigiTech SDRUM

The Total Guitar/MusicRadar Best in guitars 2018 polls received an astonishing 126,000 votes, and we're now ready to roll out the winners. The nominees were what we considered to be the guitarists and guitar gear that have excelled in 2018. Here, we present the best guitar innovations of 2018. First up we have the DigiTech SDRUM...

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

Read the review: DigiTech SDRUM review

The MusicRadar Best in guitars awards are brought to you in association with Ernie Ball. #colorsofrocknroll

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
5. Line 6 Powercab Plus

5. Line 6 Powercab Plus

We say: Another guitar gear revolution from Line 6, and a perfect companion for modelling floorboard users.

Read the review: Line 6 Powercab Plus review

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
4. Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2

4. Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2

We say: Positive Grid has raised the amp plugin game with this fully featured, tone-filled update.

Read the review: Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2 review

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
3. TC Electronic Ditto Jam X2 Looper

3. TC Electronic Ditto Jam X2 Looper

We say: An innovative approach that offers clever beat sync functionality, the ability to slow down loops and tap tempo.

Read the review: TC Electronic Ditto Jam X2 Looper review

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
2. Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box

2. Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box

We say: The OX is a flawed yet potentially brilliant design, aimed shamelessly at the top end of the pro market, where most potential customers will already have the means to exploit its current capabilities.

Read the review: Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box review

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Winner: Fractal Axe-Fx III

Winner: Fractal Axe-Fx III

We say: Other, more affordable units will probably scratch the itch for most players, but if you simply, positively have to have the best road-ready modeller in the world, then accept no substitutes.

Read the review: Fractal Axe-Fx III review

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
MusicRadar Team
MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number 1 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 actual craft of music making that no other music website can.
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
Music technology gear of the year 2025
Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
 
 
NAMM 2026
NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
 
 
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Best multi-effects pedals: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
 
 
A woman plays an MPC XL and synthesizer in a home studio
After years of covering the NAMM cycle I've never seen flagship gear hit the shelves so quickly - here are 6 of the hottest NAMM 26 releases you can pick up right now
 
 
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
“The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
 
 
Latest in Guitars
ring stinger
Behringer clones the Lovetone Ring Stinger, a cult classic ring mod/fuzz pedal heard on Radiohead's Kid A
 
 
Gibson Custom Shop Aged Greenybucker Set: with the nickel housings given the Murphy Lab treatment, these are exacting replicas of the pickups found in the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul, complete with the out-of-phase middle position sound.
Gibson unveils the $449 Murphy Lab aged humbucker set that will make your Les Paul sound like ‘Greeny’
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: We round up all the best Presidents' Day discounts from Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, and Sweetwater
 
 
Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett in 1986
"Cliff took Kirk's solo, which I think is just so cool": Robert Trujillo on the time Metallica mixed up their solos
 
 
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
 
 
Harley Benton R-458MN LH WH MultiScale
Harley Benton just dropped an 8-string for southpaw players that has a multi-scale fretboard, high-gain humbuckers and offers change from 300 bucks
 
 
Latest in News
vape synth
Hack your disposable vape into a mini wind synth with this DIY guide
 
 
Clyde Lawrence and Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes schools Clyde Lawrence on how to play the piano part in Toto’s Rosanna correctly
 
 
Concert crowd arms raised in mosh pit
“What kind of ecosystem do we want for live music in Europe?”: New research shows the grip four companies have on live music
 
 
Guitarist Greg Brown is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Cake on November 12, 1996
His creative contributions were immense”: Greg Brown, co-founder of 90s band Cake has died
 
 
British New Wave & Pop musician Howard Jones plays keyboards as he performs onstage at Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, New York, August 3, 1984. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
"It will always be my favourite”: Howard Jones takes you on a tour of the synth he’s owned since 1983
 
 
Claw.fm screenshot
“Give your agent a music career”: New online radio station launches for AI agents’ music
 
 

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...