Guitar Technology

• Can a Power Soak really give you 'loud tone' without volume? • ESI Pro Jam Mate UG1 USB electric guitar • Hughes & Kettner Switchblade • Guitar pedal news... •

• Ehrlund Acoustic Pickup • Compensating for Volume Control treble loss • Radial Engineering Plexitube, Hartke AC75/AC150, TC Electronic G Sharp, Zoom G7.1ut/G9.2tt

We feature the Vox AC30 Custom Classic amp and Fliptone v.25 Instrument amp with Flat-panel Speaker — plus Big Bends Nut Sauce, tips on miking up your Line 6 POD, and more...

We check out the Takamine Cool Tube acoustic preamp and offer a technique for successfully combining mics and pickups in acoustic guitar recording.

A recording amp with switchable choice of output tube type...

Expanding on the modelling technology used in their Variax and Variax Acoustic, Line 6 have dropped an octave and turned their attention to the bass guitar. The Variax Bass features 24 models of 'classic' instruments — is it all the bass you'll ever need?

Extending the modelling approach they pioneered with the original Variax electric, Line 6 have now taken a shot at reproducing the sounds of different miked acoustic guitars. Almost completely immune to feedback, the Variax Acoustic will clearly be a hit in some live applications, but does it sound good enough to record?

The Vetta II amp range embodies the most sophisticated implementation of Line 6's guitar amp modelling technology to date. It delivers more amp models than the original Vetta, offers more user control of the sounds, and it also features an optional digital interface for use with the Variax Digital Modelling Guitar. Second opinion by former Be Bop Deluxe guitarist Bill Nelson.

Not content with modelling guitar amps, Line 6 have now turned their attention to the guitars themselves.

This hybrid physical modelling, valve and solid-state design, presented in a classic AC30-style format, aims to offer the best of all possible worlds. How far does it succeed?

Roland's new V-Bass refines the technology developed for the pioneering V-Guitar systems to meet the demands of bass players.

Paul White tests Digitech's latest GeNetX amp modelling technology, which includes a Warp control allowing you to morph between amp and speaker models in real time.

Behringer's take on the desktop amp modeller adds a new twist - rotary shaft encoders with LED displays. Paul White approves...

Paul White studio tests Roland's versatile modelling guitar amplifier, which has applications both on stage and in recording.

You might think the Pod Pro is just a Pod in a rack, but there's a lot more to it than that.

Roland's new guitar synth is their most affordable yet, but could it also be the best?

Dave Lockwood explains why a Class A valve guitar amp that can muster a mere six Watts is fully deserving of a place in the pages of Sound On Sound.

Paul White tries out a modelling guitar amp with a wide range of tones and a stereo DI output.

Can you get a wall of sound from something the size of a brick? John Walden plugs in his guitar, inserts his earplugs and finds out.

Line 6 announce a software upgrade for their physical modelling guitar amplifier. Paul White plugs in, turns on and checks out the reborn AX2.

Dave Lockwood tests this hi-tech guitar system which seeks to replicate the sound of many of the most coveted vintage and modern amplifiers on the market, with full digital multi-effects thrown in, and all in a convenient, portable, combo format.