NEW GEAR 33/24: Drive Rattler, Strandberg Collier, Behringer UB-Xa D and Epi Yungblud SG

Signature Solar A1.6Silas Canibalismo

This premium superstrat, created with Esfinge guitarist Silas Fernandes, follows the metal direction of Solar Guitars but features electronics with the ability to cover everything from high-gain saturation to crystal clear sounds. In addition to the typical A-series neck-trough concept with an alder body and maple neck, the A1.6Silas boasts an ebony fingerboard, a high-quality locking tremolo Gotoh GE1996T fitted with a brass block, locking tuners with 18:1 gearing, and active EMG pickups in an HSH EMG 81/SA/60 configuration, with both humbuckers featuring split coils thanks to a five-position toggle switch. Price: approx. 1500 euros.

Epiphone Yungblud SG Junior Classic White

British singer-songwriter and guitarist Dominic Harrison, who goes by the name Yungblud, has become the new factory player for Epiphone, which has built a 600-piece limited edition Yungblud SG Junior for him. The all-mahogany construction with a comfortable SlimTaper-C neck is complemented by a Laurel fingerboard fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets and a Graph Tech nut. A simple wraparound bridge is combined with Deluxe Vintage tuners, while the electronics is limited to an Epiphone Dogear P-90 Pro pickup controlled by high-quality CTS Volume and Tone potentiometers. The instrument in Classic White colour costs about 600 euros including the hard case.

Strandberg Boden Jacob Collier guitars

Strandberg has prepared two limited editions of Boden JC 5 and JC6 Djesse Ltd Headless guitars in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier. The neck-through models, with chambered lime body and maple top in satin yellow lacquer, use Lace Alumitone humbuckers, the baked maple necks have a patented EndurNeck profile, the ebonol fingerboards carry 24 Jescar steel frets and the strings are locked into an EGS Rev7-type bridge. Both versions with dual 25-25.5" scales are fitted with D'Addario NYXL 10-46 strings in DAEAD (JC5) or EADGHE (JC6) tunings. Prices start at around 3000 dollars including a special Venture gig bag and Allen keys.

Jam Pedals Rattler MKII in the style of Rat distortion

The improved distortion pedal with a sound inspired by the famous ProCo Rat pedal has received a second footswitch activating the integrated mid-boost in addition to the classic Volume, Gain and Tone controls. There is also a new toggle switch selecting between asymmetrical and symmetrical clipping, and the main circuit uses a custom operational amplifier with characteristics of the now discontinued LM308 chip. The volume of the mid-boost can be adjusted by an internal trimmer, its low-band level is affected by a slide Dip switch, and the state of both sections can be selected when the effect is switched on. Price: approx. 240 euros.

Transistor combo amps Blackstar Debut 100R

The 100-Watt models Debut 100R 1x12 and 2x123 in Cream or Black are more powerful versions of the Debut 50R combos. The two-channel preamp, based on MOSFETs with tube circuitry characteristics, has a common three-band EQ, ISF function and, in the case of the clean channel, a Bright function. The Clean branch is based on the HT series amps, while the distortion section brings the St. James 6L6 collection's timbre. There is a reverb with Plate/Hall modes, as well as a knob that reduces the max volume level to 5 W. Equipped with the company's 12" Anthem 50 speakers, the amps have a minijack Line In, an effects loop and an emulated line/headphone output in addition to the footswitch input.

Positive Grid Spark 2: evolution of the modelling amp

The Spark 2 is the latest evolution of the popular Spark digital combo, bringing, along with enhanced power of 50W, new features including an advanced looper (Groove and Creative modes), the most requested feature missing from the first series. The second generation may also offer Spark AI technology, whose operation is summed up in the manufacturer's Instagram tagline, "Describe the tone you're imagining and Spark AI will bring it to life." In other words, the system is tied to an app that suggests appropriate presets for the player to download, with the AI learning and improving over time to anticipate your tastes. "I've used a ton of practice amps while touring the world for over 38 years and it was always just a technical, bland exercise," says guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. "Spark 2 is like taking Madison Square Garden wherever you go – epic and versatile."

Porter: an open-source headphone amplifier that gets along with pedals

Startup Neighborhood Circuits advertises a small headphone amplifier, Porter, for guitar or bass that breaks the standard in its product category. Compared to its competitors, it has an analogue concept, so you won't find any digital modeling, effects, looper, presets, etc., only volume, Guitar/Bass EQ mode switch, instrument input, headphone TRS jack and micro-USB port, used for charging the battery (battery life is about 15 h) or as a line input. Featuring a solid aluminium chassis and steel strap clip, Porter's high-quality clean sound with classic amp response and circuitry make this new addition an ideal platform for preamp effects. Full project documentation will be available on GitHub.

Three basses from the Player II series

Basses from the new, more affordable Fender Player II collection include the four-string Player II Precision, Jazz Bass and Mustang PJ models. Common features are alder bodies, maple necks with Modern-C profile, rosewood or maple fingerboards with 9.5″ radius, a Standard bridge with steel saddles and Open-Gear or Vintage Style tuners. Precision and Jazz Bass are equipped with matching single-coil Player Series Alnico 5 PB and JJ pickups, while the Mustang PJ version with a shortened 30″ scale combines both pickup types. You can choose from many colour finishes, prices start at around 745 euros for the Mustang variant.

EFDMINI-EXPCKC: package for Efnote Mini

Efnote is expanding the sonic possibilities of its smallest electronic drum kit, the Mini, which takes up only 115 x 75 cm when set up, with the Expansion Pack EFDMINI-EXPCKC, priced at approx. 380 euros. It includes a 14-inch Triple Zone Crash Pad and a high-quality flat stand with dual extension. The cymbal pad has three trigger zones – bow, edge and cup, and features a choke function, allowing the sound to stop instantly. The pad provides a realistic playing feel resembling the vibration behaviour of a real cymbal.

Desktop analogue synth Behringer UB-Xa D

More than two years after Behringer first announced that it was preparing a desktop and rack-mount version of the UB-Xa D synth, inspired by the vintage Oberheim model from the early 80s, the new product should finally be heading for distribution. The UB-Xa D has all the same features as the keyboard version of the UB-Xa, including connectivity with a USB-B port, MIDI In/Out/Thru DIN connectors, five sockets for footswitches or pedals and four audio outputs. There is a 16-voice polyphony, dual OSC, 2x LFO, filtering or 2x ADSR per voice, aftertouch, MPE support, arpeggiator, sequencer, bank with 512 slots, etc. European price: approx. 850 euros.