Our favorite gear of the year

IT TAKES A brave soul to take on Boss in the modeling-amp arms race, and an even braver one to do so explicitly. After all, the Japanese firm’s Katana range — now on its third iteration, following a m

WHEN IT COMES to tech, the Boss VG-800 sits at the cutting edge, not just in terms of modeling amps and effects, but transforming your guitar into an entirely different instrument. It can make your St

THE ULTRA AND Ultra II succeeded Fender’s Elite range as the manufacturer’s highest-end California-made production six-strings, with its most contemporary specs, including neck heel and rear body cont

VERY FEW NAMES in our industry command as much respect as John Suhr’s. His creations are widely considered to be world-beating manifestations of design and craft colliding at the highest possible leve

This latest wave of Fender’s American Ultra models continues to cater for the modern player but with an old-looking vintage vibe. We just can’t escape the past!

NOW, LET’S BE clear — although this 15-watt combo is technically advertised as a practice amp, it can churn out some serious sonic damage and is capable of keeping up with metal drummers at rehearsal.