Reviews:

Adam Black Libra Extreme

Can you really make a guitar for this sort of money that’s worth making a song and dance about? It seems that Adam Black may have found a way. Marcus Leadley investigates. ...

Carvin B4 Bass

Built in California, sold by mail, Carvins have never enjoyed the European sales they deserve. Gareth Morgan reckons there's a case to be made for buying sight unseen. ...

Fender: Ritchie Blackmore Signature Stratocaster

Want to get closer to rock god tone? With a custom pickup layout and, crucially, a scalloped fingerboard, this Blackmore model is like no other Stratocaster. ...

Breedlove Atlas Retro OM/SM Electro-Acoustic

No more dangerous headstocks, no more swoopy bridges: Breedlove’s Korean-made Retros hark back to the golden age of American acoustics. Review by Jerry Uwins ...

Larrivee RS-4

Best know for its fine acoustics, Canadian maker Larrivée has a history of dipping in an and out of the electric game. Marcus Leadley checks out the latest offering ...

Martin OMC Cherry Electro-Acoustic

Deforestation is real – but then so is the deep-seated human need for a great-sounding guitar. Can Martin help us go green without tonal compromise? Review by Jerry Uwins ...

Digitech Harmony Man Intelligent Pitch Shifter

By applying the technology of its Vocalist pedals, Digitech has cooked up a new, super-brainy automatic harmony generator. Review by Marcus Leadley ...

Hartke LH500 Head / HyDrive HX115 & HX410 Cabs

Hartke made its name with aluminium speakers, then offered paper ones, and now are back with both in the same package. Gareth Morgan finds out what’s going on ...

MXR Bass Auto Q

If the Funk Mothership had a black box recorder, it would look like this ...

Vintage Icon Series VJ96MRJP Fretless

With a distressed sunburst finish, a lined fretless neck and fine pickups, there’s no cheaper way to deliver the weather report than this. Review by Gareth Morgan. ...

Eventide Pitchfactor

Eventide made its name back in the ’80s with a line of studio-quality rackmount effects, and now the best sounds have been crammed into three stompboxes. Review by Huw Price ...

Eventide Modfactor

Eventide made its name back in the ’80s with a line of studio-quality rackmount effects, and now the best sounds have been crammed into three stompboxes. Review by Huw Price ...

Eventide TimeFactor

Eventide made its name back in the ’80s with a line of studio-quality rackmount effects, and now the best sounds have been crammed into three stompboxes. Review by Huw Price ...

Durham Zia Drive

As well as adding a chewy harmonic Class A-style complexity, the Zia exhibits a bumped-up midrange like a Vox amp ...

Brazen Dynasty Vintage

A meeting with Elton John’s guitarist Caleb Quaye led Steve Tsai to found Brazen guitars, an imported line with an intriguing blend of features. Review by Huw Price ...

Squier James Johnston Jazz Bass

Last month we reviewed the Squier Simon Neil Strat, and it was good. Very, very good. Can the Biffy Clyro bassist’s budget signature model keep up? Review by Gareth Morgan ...

MTD Kingston Artist

With Tobias basses now owned by Gibson, the company’s founder is doing his own thing – and he hasn’t forgotten the affordable end of the business. Review by Gareth Morgan ...

MTD KZ

With Tobias basses now owned by Gibson, the company’s founder is doing his own thing – and he hasn’t forgotten the affordable end of the business. Review by Gareth Morgan ...

Electric Babes Layla 07

Underwear-loving Austrians Norbert Lechner and Helmut Frank launched their Electric Babes guitars at NAMM 2007. A brave Huw Price takes a trip into the basque region ...

Breedlove D250/SBe Passport Plus

Have guitar, will travel: Breedlove’s vast and varied range now includes Passport Plus electro-acoustics in both traditional and original-design formats. ...

Duesenberg 52 Senior

Elevating the single-pickup Junior concept to fully carved-top status and adding clever switching for extra adaptability – it’s a stroke of rock genius. ...

Charvel Pro-Mod Wild Card

The Wild Card's humbucker is articulate and the single coils have a classic Stratty tone. It's more versatile than the So-Cal, but is it as much fun? ...

Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeler

Line 6 are making the brave move of providing a sound-crammed multi-FX unit that you can’t use for multi-FX. Do the modelling specialists know something that we don’t? Review by Richard Purvis ...

Hayden HGT-A20

A mere four hundred drinking vouchers sounds like a good deal for an all-valve combo with three channels and reverb, especially as the first ones will be put together in the UK. Review by Huw Price ...

Music Man Stingray 4 Classic

Simple, stylish and faultlessly practical, this authentic reissue of an all-time great –complete with two-band EQ and string mutes – will take you straight back to the ’70s, at a price. Review b ...