Gear Reviews

  As one of the early pioneers of digital effects, Boss is highly responsible for pushing the limits of what pedals could offer musicians outside of the studio. But as great as their pedals are, Boss is more than just an effects manufacturer -- they also make their own amplifiers. Based on the tech behind their popular Waza amplifier, the Katana line of amps embodies everything that Boss gear is known for -- powerful controls, versatile sounds, and very competitive prices. Today, we take a look at three different flavors of the Boss Katana guitar amp line up -- a 1x12 combo, a 2x12 combo, and a fully featured amp head. Continue reading →

  Over the years, Suhr pedals have become increasingly popular, finding their ways onto the pedalboards of countless guitarists. The original Riot itself has come a long way since its initial release back in 2009 and is still in high demand to this day. But for all its popularity, there were still some players out there who felt the pedal could use a few variations. By listening to these customer's requests, the pedal creators at Suhr decided to give them what they wanted in the form of an alternate Riot stompbox. Which brings us to the Riot Reloaded -- a revamped distortion pedal that might just be the perfect addition to your board.  Continue reading →

  Quilter Labs is known for their use of Class D amplifier technology, also known as “switching amps.” These aren’t your more common transistor or even vacuum tube amps we’re talking about here, but a whole different technology. The reason this is important to know before heading into our review is that in order to fully understand the MicroPro Mach 2 8" Combo, and how such a little amp can pack such big sound, we have to understand that we’re dealing with a different beast than transistor or tube. Continue reading →

  The AKG K240 headphones have been around in one form or another since the mid-seventies and lives on to this day with a few changes from the originals along the way. At the time, it was known as the K240 Sextett due to its six passive radiators that helped supplement the bass. While the current K240s no longer contain this feature, they remain a staple of the studio headphone world due to their highly accurate sound representation, versatile use, and incredible value. Today, we're taking a closer look at two of the line's modern iterations -- the K240 Studio and K240 MKII. Continue reading →

When you think about manufacturers that are well known for pickups that specialize in vintage tones, you don’t usually think EMG. Instead, they are better known for pickups that are especially suited for hard rock and metal. With that said, I was very interested in checking out their 57 Bridge and the 66 Neck set, which are essentially vintage PAF-style humbuckers, albeit with an active system onboard. Continue reading →