Sound check

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

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.

DEFINED AS AN analog amp simulator, the EarthQuaker Devices Easy Listening is a mini pedal designed to go at the end of your pedalboard. Featuring just a single knob, single input and a headphone out,

Blackstar created this fire-breathing signature head for guitar icon Doug Aldrich. But does it rock our world?

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

Decked out in tooled western-style livery with a saddle bag’s worth of speaker and circuit upgrades, this anniversary edition stands strong in the lineage of the classic benchmark combo