Guitar Gear Alert: July 2022

Guitars

Charvel Jim Root Pro Mod SD1 HH FR—another signature model from the Slipknot guitarist, this time in the style of classic superstrats equipped with a double-locking tremolo Floyd Rose 1500, a pair of EMG Jim Root Daemonum active humbuckers and the company's locking tuning machines. A mahogany body is combined with a maple neck and a rosewood or maple fingerboard with a variable radius carrying 22 jumbo frets. Colours: Black and White. The price includes a hybrid Multi-Fit case.

Fender Telecaster and Jazzmaster American Acoustasonic All-Mahoganynew versions of the hybrid guitars offer the sounds of both electric and acoustic models of the Californian brand. This time, they got a mahogany top instead of a spruce top, providing warm bass, more pronounced mids and pleasant highs. The concept based on the Acoustic Engine unit and the patented construction system SIRS (Stringed Instrument Resonance System) remains, as well as the controls with the potentiometer Blend and the combination of the magnetic single Noiseless, internal sensor and piezo pickup. Colour: Natural or Bourbon Burst. Prices: Telecaster approx. 1800 euros, Jazzmaster approx. 1850 euros.

Mooer GTRS Professional 800—a more luxurious variation of the superstrats follows last year's Standard 800 edition. The GTRS Professional 800 again uses the integrated GTRS system operating in combination with a mobile app (iOS/Android), providing access to 126 effects, 40 drum patterns, 9 guitar emulations, metronomes and an 80-second looper. However, compared to the previous series, the premium versions of the P800 got an alder body, a flame-roasted maple neck, locking tuning machines, a high-quality tremolo Wilkinson VS 50 II and 22 stainless steel frets. Colours: Tiffany Blue, Olympic White, Mint Green, Flamingo Pink, Fiesta Red, Dark Night. Price: approx. 550 euros including gig bag.

Effects

REVV Tilt Overdrive—a signature pedal built according to the preferences of Nashville guitarist Shawn Tubbs. A two-channel concept is divided into Drive and Boost sections—the former offers two-band EQ and volume and gain, while the boost circuit features volume, a Tilt EQ parameter for detailed bass adjustment and a three-position Half/Normal/Full lever switch that affects the midrange curve. Of course, it is equipped with high-quality components, true bypass mode and silent relay switching. The power supply (approx. 35 mA) is provided by a 9-12 V adapter, the price is around 270 dollars.

Tsakalis AudioWorks MultiCab 4—a desktop effect combining a switchable JFET preamp with a cabinet, microphone and preamp emulator. Eight box types (Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa Boogie, Zilla) are available with a choice of open or closed back baffle, offering natural ambience, three microphone options and virtual power amps (EL34/6L6). In addition to the intuitive controls on the main panel, there is the application T.A.W. Editor (PC/Mac) that can store eight presets via a USB port. There is an input gain pad, headphone output, Aux-In and line jack and XLR Out. Price: approx. 300 euros.

Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor—a booster combining four different analogue circuits with different input/output impedance, internal voltage and therefore internal volume too, giving each section its unique sound, so you can choose a mode to suit your setup and playing style. In addition to the overall level potentiometer and the four voicing mode buttons (9/18 V, OG/FAT), the box is equipped with a rotary switch with the following modes: RM—silicon treble booster, EP—JFET circuit inspired by a vintage tape echo preamp, MA—transparent op-amp booster, MF—massive boost based on the high impedance input circuit of a '90s MOSFET amp. Price: approx. 190 euros.

TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Chorus/Flanger—the popular modulation pedal, whose first series was introduced in 1976, has been upgraded this year with a new reissue edition which is now complemented by a limited collector's edition SE (Special Edition) in gold lacquer. The luxurious-looking 94 x 127 x 48 mm model is, like the previous version, powered exclusively by a 9V adapter. The price is around 150 euros which is almost the same as the standard version.

Amplifiers, combo amps, preamps, cabinets, etc.

Soldano SLO Mini Head—a compact transistor amplifier with the channels Crunch and Lead with a sound close to the iconic Soldano SLO 100 full-amp from the late 1980s. The Mini version features gain, master, three-band corrections, Bright function and channel switch. The 30-watt power amp has two outputs (8/16 ohms) and an effects loop. Power is provided by a 24V/2A adapter and the price has been set at 250 dollars.

Fender Pro Junior IV SE—a special edition of a small 15-watt tube combo amp based on a pair of tubes EL84 and the same number of preamp tubes 12AX7. Instead of the original Jensen P10R, the amp received a ten-inch Fender Special Design speaker offering a balanced, sufficiently dense sound with brilliant highs and a modified distortion circuit. The limited-edition model is covered in black vinyl, the controls consist of Volume + Tone potentiometers and the price is under 440 euros.

Accessories, software, etc.

Magma Flat Electric Stainless Steel—electric guitar strings with windings placed on the core in a round shape and then flattened under pressure, which results in greater volume, brilliance and sustain than traditional flat strings. In addition, their fine smooth surface eliminates the usually unwanted rustling sound of the left-hand fingers when changing positions. Manufactured in Buenos Aires, Magma Flat Electric's durable strings are represented by three sets, GE140SF / .010-.046, GE160SF / .011-.050, and GA170SF / .012-.052, and the first two come with a pair of G strings (1x wound, 1x unwound). Price: about 16 dollars.

Ernie Ball Music Man Heat Treated—new pickups available both as humbuckers and single coils, using material that provides a stronger output signal with wider frequency response, without sacrificing dynamics and transparency of tone. The humbucker is fitted with neodymium magnets, while the singles are made from ceramic. Both versions also feature a push-pull circuit with a boost of +20 dB. The HT pickups are now fitted to the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS, StingRay HT and Sabre HT guitars, which officially hit the market this month.

Ernie Ball Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core—Metallica frontman James Hetfield's signature strings use a thicker core taken from the company's Paradigm kits and plasma-reinforced nickel windings applied to a tin-plated steel hexagon. Durability is also enhanced by the brass RPS reinforcement at the ball end, eliminating string unwinding, and the chosen solution also contributes to greater tuning stability. The strings of 11, 14, 18, 28, 38 and 50 gauge are available in sets of three in a tin box.