NEW GEAR 31/24: Fendery AP Timber, Orange head, Six-string Squier JB and Tama Snare

Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster American Performer Timber

For the Stratocaster and Telecaster American Performer Timber series, Fender decided to use less common materials for the body. Each model can be purchased with a body made of sassafras (an alternative to swamp ash in a satin Mocha finish), select spruce (2-Color Sunburst) or Lambert pine (Honey Burst), which are not exactly traditional woods in the electric guitar industry. The guitars are fitted with Yosemite single-coils with expressive tone and dynamic response, and the Stratocaster features push/pull activation of the neck pickup at the first two switch positions, while the Telecaster uses a Greasebucket circuit for the Tone, which affects the highs without adding bass. Price including gig bag: identically about 1500 dollars.

Fuzz Structures FVZZ by Spun Loud Effects

Named after an American IPA from Structures Brewing, the Fuzz is based on a two-stage clipping circuit with separate gain controls and germanium plus Darlington transistors combined with LEDs. Gains are complemented by Volume and Tone potentiometers with a fairly wide range. This concept also allows for a more subtle overdrive sound with enough volume headroom to boost the input of tube amps. Each clipping section (Stage I / Stage II) offers significantly different registers, with one branch connected directly to the fuzz circuit, while the other follows a milder approach but increases in volume as distortion grows. When both gains are cranked simultaneously, it results in an aggressive but articulate fuzz.

Limited edition Orange Dual Dark 100 White

Orange returns to the currently discontinued Dual Dark 100 two-channel head, representing the highest gain model within the brand, with a special Dual Dark 100 White series in white tolex. Compared to its predecessor, the limited edition also features a slightly modified distorted A channel, whose circuitry has now appropriated some of the DNA of the OR 100 amplifier, contributing to a wider sonic flexibility. As with the previous model, players can take advantage of the massive output of the power amp, equipped with four EL34 tubes that can be set at 100, 70, 50 and 30 W, a footswitch-controlled global attenuator and a tube effects loop. The price is under 2130 euros.

Multifunctional looper DigiTech JamMan Solo HD

DigiTech has upgraded the JamMan Solo XT pedal and launched the Solo HD version with a built-in recorder, phrase sampling and advanced looper. Memory includes two hundred slots, stereo loops can handle up to 35 minutes of recording, and the recording section capacity has been increased to a total of 32 hours of audio thanks to the ability to connect micro-SD/SDHC cards. Equipped with high-quality AD/DA converters, the new product features JamSync for connection with other compatible devices, automatic quantisation, reverse mode, time-stretching (different playback speeds without changing the pitch), etc. There are dual inputs and outputs, Aux In and a mini-USB port for importing/exporting files with the help of the supporting JamManager HD software. Price: approx 250 dollars.

Fender Tone Master ‘59 Bassman: the modelling form of an icon

The Tone Master '59 Bassman combo uses the full power of the DSP section to achieve a single, yet legendary sound -– faithfully modelling the circuitry and 45-watt output of the original Fender Bassman tube amp. By using a Class-D power amp that achieves the headroom and dynamics of a tube amp, the result is a pure tone that is virtually indistinguishable from the original. The resulting sound is aided by a solid pine chassis and four Jensen P-10R Alnico speakers, integrated Vintage/Tight switch, convolution spring reverb, effects loop, XLR with cabinet emulation (3x IR), USB port, mute function and the ability to reduce max power in 5 steps (22, 12, 5, 1, 0.5 W). Price including two-way footswitch and soft cover: approx. 1 650 euros.

Affinity Jazz Bass VI: the debut of the six-string Squier bass

For the first time, Squier adds a six-string bass to its lineup, part of the updated Affinity edition. The Affinity Jazz Bass VI model in gloss black lacquer is a budget-friendly instrument with a price tag of around 330 dollars, aimed mainly at beginning players or musicians on a budget. The poplar body is connected to a maple neck that, somewhat surprisingly in this category, boasts graphite bracing, the headstock carries lightweight 4+2 tuners, the vintage bridge has 17mm string spacing, and the Laurel fingerboard received 20 medium jumbo frets. Two noiseless ceramic JB single coils are connected to separate volume potentiometers and a common tone.

Bass guitars Cort Artisan C4 and C5 Deluxe

The Asian giant Cort has expanded its range of basses with the Artisan C Deluxe edition, including the C4/C5 Deluxe four and five-string models, offering sound and workmanship comparable with more expensive American-made instruments at an affordable price. Both variants received a one-piece maple neck, a two-octave jatoba fingerboard, a MetalCraft M bridge for easy string changes, Bartolini MK-1 pickups and a Markbass MB-1 active preamp with three-band EQ, balance, overall volume and an active/passive mode switch. The 34-inch bass, equipped with D'Addario EXL strings from the factory, can be purchased in Candy Red, Black and Candy Blue for approximately 430 euros.

Dual Channel USB Guitar Card Blackstar Polar 2

"Polar will never digitally clip, it reacts like a guitar amp, has high headroom FET inputs, and comes with a complete software bundle," says UK-based Blackstar of its new USB sound card. In addition to the low-noise FET circuits, the manufacturer has integrated an optional Enhance mode into both channels of this model that mimics the input section and character of a tube amp, resulting in a fuller tone with rich harmonic components. A software package with the company's St James amp plugin, Ableton Live Lite DAW application, Melodyne Essentials and Relab lx480 Essentials reverbs is included. The official price is around 200 dollars.

Signature snare Tama Brann Dailor: limited edition of 100 pieces

Brann Dailor, the drummer of the metal band Mastodon, has finally got his Tama signature snare drum, which, in addition to the official name Tama Brann Dailor Limited Edition Signature and the product designation BD1465, is also nicknamed "Brann's Bronze", which clearly identifies the material the drum is made of. The 14 x 6.5-inch model is based on the popular Starphonic collection, the 1.2mm thick bronze shell is combined with hoops Grooved Straight Hoop for extra attack, and the snare wire, fitted with thirty carbon steel springs, adds the necessary sensitivity and response to the tone. The snare is covered in a patinated light blue finish inspired by ancient Bronze Age sculptures, and a decorative emblem pays homage to Tama's history.

Analogue synth Moog Labyrinth

The long-awaited Labyrinth semi-modular synth in Eurorack format is, according to Rick Carl, systems architect and head of hardware at Moog, "designed to be an engine of sonic exploration. It allows users to create evolving sequences and rich timbres. It’s like having a compositional companion that navigates through a labyrinth of sound, constantly reconfiguring and surprising you with new sonic landscapes." The manufacturer has used a different concept with a pair of generative sequencers, new types of oscillators, a state-variable filter, wave folding and parallel signal processing. There is also an analogue clock, MIDI sync and patch bay with 32 points. Price: approx. 700 euros.