NEW GEAR 6/25: PRS MT15 V2, Engl Fireball Pedal, G&L Basses and Arturia Controller

EVH Wolfgang Special Baked Maple TOM with fine tuner tailpiece

The Wolfgang instrument series, originally developed in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen, has welcomed another edition – the Wolfgang Special TOM, equipped with a fixed tune-o-matic bridge and a tailpiece with screws for fine-tuning, a system similar to the one Gibson has been using for quite some time under the name TP-6. Once again, it has a linden body, a baked maple neck, and a fingerboard made of the same wood with a variable radius, 22 jumbo frets, and Tech TUSQ XL nut. The sound is transmitted by a pair of EVH Wolfgang humbuckers. The guitars, manufactured by Fender in Ensenada, Mexico, are available in Gloss Black, Husk White and Oxblood with black or gold hardware. Price: approx. 1170 euros.

Music Man StingRay Dustin Kensrue with stereo switch

This guitar from the Artist series, built for the frontman of the rock band Thrice, is equipped with a custom Music Man RS humbucker bridge pickup and Alnico single coil neck pickup, a three-position switch, dual Volume + Tone potentiometers, and, unusually, a switch allowing both pickups to be routed in parallel independent mode directly to the stereo jack for expanded connectivity options. The StingRay, with an okoume body, 22 stainless steel frets, and a maple neck with an asymmetrical C-profile, is available in Dark Satin Tobacco, TV Blonde or Daiquiri Ice finishes and combines striking aesthetics with high-quality sound and versatility to meet the demands of modern players. Price including Music Man Mono gig bag: approx. 3500 euros.

EP635 Fireball IR Pedal: preamp with Engl amp sound

Engl, whose amplifiers are particularly popular among guitarists playing harder genres, has expanded its pedal portfolio with the EP635 Fireball IR Pedal, which delivers the sound of the well-known Fireball high-gain head in a compact form. The two-channel programmable preamp, which features the ability to save parameters for each channel separately, includes a three-band EQ, volume, gain, presence, and a sophisticated noise gate. The right footswitch can be set to either Bypass or Mid-Boost mode, there are three slots for IR cabinet files, whose loader is connected to a USB-C port or a proprietary application, and the manufacturer has also added a mini-jack headphone output. The pedal costs around 250 euros.

Seymour Duncan Philip Sayce "Mother" Stratocaster Pickup Set

Seymour Duncan's Custom Shop has added a set of three single-coil pickups to its lineup, which are replicas of the 1958 models featured on blues rock guitarist Philip Sayce's beloved 1963 vintage "Mother" Stratocaster. All versions (bridge – 5.86 kOhm, middle – 5.78 kOhm, neck – 5.72 kOhm) feature a resonant, punchy tone and use Alnico 5 magnets and period wiring covered with waxed cotton. The first 500 sets, aged to match the appearance of the originals, will be delivered with a certificate signed by Philip Sayce and Seymour W. Duncan. Price: approx. 375 dollars.

PRS MT15 V2 (2025): Tremonti's amplifier gets an upgrade

The PRS MT15, designed in collaboration with guitarist Mark Tremonti, is one of the most popular tube amplifiers in the so-called lunchbox format. The manufacturer has now decided to offer players an innovative model that has undergone a slight facelift, retaining all the features and connectivity of the original series, but with a radical transformation of the Lead channel, which, when the push/pull treble potentiometer is pulled out, offers a second voicing with more subtle distortion inspired by the "mid-gain" sound of the legendary Dumble amplifiers. The new model, with a mode taken from Tremonti's other PRS MT 100 amp, is available for approximately 1000 euros.

Victory The Deputy Lunchbox Head: single channel with three voicings

Similar to PRS, Victory Amplification has also begun offering a new "lunchbox" model, this time in the form of a single-channel amplifier from the Deputy series, developed in collaboration with guitarist Pete Honoré, known for his appearances in videos for the English retailer Andertons. The 25 W amp, based on three 12AX7 tubes and a pair of EL86s, interchangeable with related EL84 types, provides clean registers with a British 60s sound and distorted sound in the style of the 70s. In addition to the gain, master, three-band EQ, and digital reverb controls, the tone can be shaped using the Bright switch and a switch for selecting three voicing modes. There is also an effects loop, external bias points eliminating the need for internal access when changing output valves, and three speaker outputs. Price: approx. 1100 euros.

G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB MFD: a new take on the Jazz Bass?

"A new dimension in jazz tone" – this is the slogan accompanying the launch of the Fullerton Deluxe JB MFD basses from G&L, a company co-founded by Leo Fender. The four-string versions will be available in Vintage Natural lacquer with a maple fingerboard and swamp ash body or in Silver Metallic with an alder body and rosewood fingerboard. The instruments combine the classic JB platform with excellent G&L MFD (Magnetic Field Design) singles, providing musical tone, clarity, and versatility, including a dynamic range suitable for any style. They feature hard maple necks, Jescar 57110 frets, a bridge with brass saddles, and lightweight G&L Custom UL tuners. Price: approx. 2050 dollars.

Pedal MB Pro Bass Mixer od Markbass

With three channels, the MB Pro Bass Mixer is a great choice for all musicians (not just bassists) who use multiple instruments on stage and need separate controls for each one. Each branch is equipped with Gain and Volume controls, Hifizer and Old School filters, and an Output Selector switch that allows you to choose between Out 1 and Out 2 outputs. Channel 3 also has switchable 48V phantom power for condenser microphones. And if you need a virtually unlimited number of channels, you can connect Out 1 and Out 2 of one pedal to another, giving you maximum flexibility.

Compact electronic set Alesis Strata Club

Alesis has added the space-saving Club set to its Strata series of electronic drums. This seven-piece set delivers an authentic playing experience in a compact package with access to a huge library of sounds via the BFD3 sound engine of the associated Core module (USB MIDI, DIN MIDI In/Out, Bluetooth MIDI) with a seven-inch touchscreen display. It features four mesh-head drums (dual-zone 12" snare, 8" BD, 2x dual-zone 10" tom), a three-zone 12" hi-hat, and similarly designed 14" ride and 12" crash cymbals. The price of approximately 1700 euros includes a steel rack with locking rack connectors, 2x cymbal arms, and a snare stand.

Universal MIDI Keyboard Controller Arturia MicroLab mk3

With its truly compact dimensions, 25 high-quality keys with velocity function and natural response, a pair of touch-strip controls, Chord and Octave Shift modes and intuitive operation, the MicroLab mk3 is the ideal MIDI controller for producers working in small studios, on the road, or those just starting out on their musical production journey. It features a USB-C port, sustain/expression pedal input and Analog Lab Intro with 500 selected presets and instant integration with Ableton Live Lite software. The price for the black or white version is around 60 euros.