GEAR OF THE YEAR
FLOOR AMPS & MODELLERS
Digital innovation continues apace, bringing first-class tone to any environment
IK Multimedia Tonex Pedal
IK Multimedia has brought amp capture to the masses. The Tonex Pedal combines with the brand’s included Tonex software, which utilises AI machine modelling to create ‘Tone Models’ that could be various combinations of amp, cab and drive pedal. The application will let you capture the sound of your own rig, but you also get access to a huge and expanding library of Tone Models, and the triple-footswitch pedal can hold 150 of these for use on stage, in the studio or wherever you happen to take your guitar. It provides a similar functionality to the Kemper and Neural options at a fraction of the price – providing the sound of your own captured rig (and loads of others) for gigs, practice or recording.
Price: £399 Website: www.ikmultimedia.com
Boss K atana-Artist II head
The Katana range of amplifiers is so popular and widespread, they’re almost a generic name, like Hoover is for vacuum cleaners, for example. There’s a Katana to suit every need, from compact wireless desktop combos, to beefy combos that can easily fill any venue. At the top of the pack, the Katana-Artist II head provides flexibility and power to satisfy the most demanding of professionals, with high-quality tweed-influenced amp voices using Roland’s clever Tube Logic technology. There are over 60 studio-quality effects onboard, including some excellent models of pioneering delays from Roland’s early years. If you want the reliability and consistency that only digital can provide, the Katana-Artist II is a class act.
Price: £591 Website: www.boss.info
Blackstar Amped 2
Hot on the heels of Blackstar’s popular Amped 1 pedalboard amplifier, Amped 2 added boost, drive, fuzz, delays, modulations, reverbs and more, making it one of the most versatile compact pedalboard amps we’ve seen. The built-in CabRig speaker emulation and XLR output makes it perfect for home recording, while on the other hand you can take it to a gig in your pocket, send huge sounds to your FOH console and drive a 4x12 with up to 100 watts of Blackstar power. MIDI control and programmability via Blackstar’s brilliant Architect app provide the kind of versatility not seen in many products at this price, making Amped 2 a real steal, not to be ignored.
Price: £539 Website: www.blackstaramps.com.
MY YEAR IN GEAR
“It has to be said, several of this year’s Gear Of The Year winners were reimagined versions of (or at least based on) classic gear from years past. Who’d have thought Uni-Vibe sound would still be sought after almost six decades on? The thing is, there are some eternally popular sounds that guitarists always want, and on that theme a special ‘if it ain’
