NEW GEAR 39/24: Engl E658 20, Gibson Victory, Orange AD 200 Bass and Launchkey MK4 Controllers

Gibson Victory: a return to the Superstrats of the 80s

Shades of Gold Mist, Dark Green, Dark Walnut, Iguana Burst, Wine Red and Smokehouse Burst were chosen by Gibson for the reissue of Victory, first launched in the early 1980s. With a mahogany body whose shapes are far from the brand's traditional concepts, the guitars feature a neck made of the same material with a comfortable Slim Taper profile, an ebony fretboard bearing 24 frets, a 25.5-inch length scale, an aluminium stopbar, a tune-o-matic bridge and Grover Mini Rotomatic machines on an Explorer-type headstock. The sound is carried by two 80s Tribute split humbuckers with selectable coils (external/internal). The Victory series is also available in Figured versions with a maple top.

Ibanez Jon Gomm JGM11 electroacoustics

Another signature instrument from the great guitarist Jon Gomm, although based on his previous signature acoustics, this time the all-massive JGM11 version brings some significant changes. The asymmetrical jumbo-style body gets an African mahogany back and sides, while the upper soundboard is made from AAA-grade Sitka spruce that, like the X-M's internal ribbing, has been heat-treated. Macassar ebony was chosen for the fretboard with special "Passionflower" inlays, the compact bridge and edge trims, and the headstock now carries four Gotoh SGS510Z machines complemented by Keith Banjo D-Tuner steel drives for unwound EH strings. The sound system is provided by a Fishman active system equipped with a magnetic pickup, piezo sensor and small microphone.

Warhead Mini-Amp: the sound of Dimebag Darrell

After a sold-out limited series, another edition of the Warhead Mini-Amp compact amplifier is likely to hit the market in November, this time in a black snakeskin tolex. The high-gain unit, bringing the typical sound of the Pantera guitarist, is a collaboration between Darrell's former engineer Grady Champion and KHDK, whose chief designer is Antonín Salva. The 40W single-channel transistor amplifier has straightforward gain, master and four-band EQ controls, an effects loop and a 24V/2A DC adapter. The official price is around 530 dollars. The attached video demonstrates a model from the first product line, the newly advertised Black version is no different from the limited edition.

3 Ashdown combos from the Killer Tone edition

Ashdown is so confident that its new series of affordable guitar combos, consisting of the KT-15, KT-15FX and KT-30FX models, offers killer tone that it has dubbed it the KT Line or Killer Tone. The manufacturer claims the compact amps deliver a rich and warm sound with the character and dynamics of tube amps. The new products, where the numbers in the designation represent maximum power, have a two-channel preamp, headphone output, mini-jack Aux In, footswitch jack and the FX versions add an easy-to-use effects section, including modulations, delays, reverbs and combinations thereof. Official European prices: KT-15 1x8" approx. 100 euros, KT-15FX 1x8" approx. 220 euros and KT-30FX 1x10" approx. 240 euros.

Engl E658 Steve Morse Signature 20 amplifier

The second Engl signature amp from the guitarist of Deep Purple and Dixie Dregs is a smaller alternative to his previous model, the E656 100W. The fully tube two-channel amp in a lunch-box format also offers gain-boost, master-boost or noise gate, delay and reverb, whose controls are located on the rear of the chassis, along with a switch for a total of eight IR pulse box slots, XLR and headphone outputs, a Power Soak section (0, 1, 5, 20 W), a high-quality effects loop, a MIDI In connector or a USB-B port for uploading five custom IR samples. The modernly conceived and sonically versatile head costs about 1400 euros.

Fender CS Keanu Reeves Inspired Precision Bass

Guitarist David Brown of the Fender Custom Shop made a custom Precision model for Dogstar actor and bassist Keanu Reeves, with a few special modifications and an unconventionally designed Three-Tone Sunburst lacquer finish with a Shell Pink base coat that is supposed to stand out from the paint when the top coat wears off. The instrument is based on the P Bass Ultra version, the maple neck with Precision 1965 profile is attached to the alder body via an ergonomic five-bolt joint, and the width of the rosewood fretboard has also been modified. Fully original is the electronics circuitry with P/J-type pickups connected to a common volume, a Blend control for a smooth mix of both pickups and dual tone potentiometers for each single-coil. "He's the first person that thought of this setup. I'm going to use it in the future," says David Brown.

Epifani Boost Da Bass Preamp DI

Epifany's bass pedal preamp is headed for distribution, and in its words, the new product delivers "a rich, full, deep tone that blends harmoniously with the other instruments". The main panel is fitted with gain, master and three-band EQ potentiometers, complemented by a continuously adjustable and footswitchable Mid-Cut parameter. Also integrated is a toggle switch activating the Vintage voicing circuit taken from the Piccolo amp, an effects loop with Blend knob, active/passive mods and an XLR DI output with detachable ground, pre/post-EQ switch and level control. Price: approx. 550 dollars.

Orange AD200 upgraded bass head and OBC series cabs

The Orange AD200 all-tube bass head returns as an updated edition with a few modifications. A Clean lever switch has been added to maintain signal clarity, a new output transformer with more massive low-band projection has been installed, and the 200W end unit is now powered by a foursome of KT88 tubes producing a punchier tone. These are also interchangeable or combinable with the Type 6550 and each has its own bias setting. The new range of OBC410HC, OBC115C and OBC810C boxes with their dense undersides and warm mids are fitted with Celestion Pulse XL drivers, and the 410 version has had one internal vertical baffle removed and the horizontal bracing strengthened, reducing weight and tightening low frequency response.

Armor Hybrid: snare covers from AHEAD

AHEAD has added to its portfolio a trio of transfer cases from the new Armor Hybrid Snare Series for snare drums with 14" diameters and 5.5, 6.5 or 8" depths. These hybrid cases combine the durability of a hard case with the flexibility and matching quality of the classic Armor Soft Snare version, from which they differ with a hard ABS core approximately 5mm thick sandwiched between two layers of highly durable foam. The chosen solution thus gives the zippered cases the necessary rigidity and thus better protects the stored snare. Prices including the padded shoulder strap start at about 140 dollars.

Novation Launchkey MK4 keyboard controllers

The fourth-generation Novation Launchkey edition in 25, 37, 49, 61, Mini 25 and Mini 27 models represents another shift in controller technology, featuring detailed and practical controls for all major DAWs, powerful chord and melody creation tools, a collection of soft-synths, powerful effects processors and a step sequencer for Ableton Live users. The MK4 not only looks but also plays like an instrument – from the redesigned high-quality keyboard, to the patented Launchpad-style FSR pads, to the encoders and OLED display. New features combine these elements with built-in creative tools, allowing you to quickly create chord progressions, bass lines, melodies or sequences with the expression you need. The Mk4 edition should be available during October, with a bundle including Ableton Live 12 Lite, GForce Software's Oberheim SEM, Oberheim OB-EZ and AXXESS, Klevgrand LUXE, R0Verb, Slammer and Orchestral Tools.