Gear Reviews

For many bass players, the Ampeg brand is synonymous with high-quality tube-driven bass amps. Between their SVT, Heritage and Portaflex lines, Ampeg has the premium bass amplification market covered. So when I had the chance to try one of their smaller, budget-friendly options, I wasn't sure what to expect. I am, of course, referring to the BA-112 (version 2, to be exact) -- a 75-watt solid state 1x12 combo bass amplifier that can be had for less than $300. While some out there might discount the BA-112 on price alone, I’ve tried enough guitar and bass amps in my life to know that you can’t discount what modern manufacturers are able to deliver nowadays at these kinds of prices. After putting the Ampeg BA-112 through its paces, I can say that this little combo certainly comes packing plenty of surprises.     Continue reading →

Over the last couple of years, I’ve had a good amount of experience with Walrus Audio pedals. If I had to sum up their gear with just one phrase, “highly versatile” quickly comes to mind. More than just simple effects, they work more like complimentary tools that can alter your tone in unexpected ways. Take the Janus Fuzz/Tremolo for example and its unique yet intuitive dual-joystick controls or the insane amount of sonic possibilities you can get out of their Descent Reverb. Add in the consistent hand-built quality of their build and the awesome decals and you have a pedal line that has plenty to offer players who are serious about their effects. So, when I finally had the chance to mess around with the Mayflower Overdrive, I was excited to hear it in action.     Continue reading →

When we first heard about the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay guitar effects pedal, it definitely had us intrigued. It combines the real-time active control of a foot rocker with the tonal capabilities of a delay and reverb effects pedal. Even without so much as hearing the pedal in action, it was obvious that the Expression Ambient Delay was aimed at delivering something different. We recently had a hand's on with Ernie Ball’s other foot-sweepable pedal, the Expression Overdrive, and loved what they cooked up, so we were eager to see what that same concept could do with delay and reverb. Long story short – it’s a definite winner in our book! Read on for our full impressions on the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay.     Continue reading →

When we had our first look at the new Ernie Ball Expression Overdrive effects pedal, we found the combination of an expression pedal on a dirt box very interesting, to say the least. Despite its long history, expression pedals in the effects world have been mainly relegated towards wah-wahs, whammy emulators, and volume pedals. After a few hours of putting this pedal through the paces, I can say that the Ernie Ball Expression Overdrive succeeds in taking two type of pedals and creating an experience that manages to feel like something entirely new. That alone makes this pedal a winner because if there’s a single effect that feels like it has been done every possible way imaginable, it’s overdrive.     Continue reading →

DigiTech is a company well known for embracing the more eccentric side of music creation, pushing guitar gear and effects towards strange new sounds. If you’re the type of player that loves to create unique tunes that think outside the box, DigiTech has plenty to offer. Below, we take a look at five of our favorite guitar effects pedals from DigiTech.       Continue reading →