Latest articles by Nick Guppy
How Roland’s JC-120 became the king of solid-state guitar amps
We unpack the magic of the Jazz Chorus, which has been producing reference-quality clean tones and sublime chorusing for everyone from The Police to Metallica since its introduction in 1975
Laney Supergroup LA-Studio review
The latest amp head from Laney’s flagship UK-designed and made Supergroup range offers real vintage tube tone combined with Two Notes cab emulation
Victory V1 Series review
In collaboration with ThorpyFX, this new range of pedals from Victory aims to capture the tones and performance of its current amp range in a solid-state stompbox format
PRS HDRX 20 review
This affordable compact head joins PRS’s Jimi Hendrix-inspired HDRX range, which aims to reproduce Holy Grail late-’60s tones with modern design and components for improved tone and reliability
Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head review
Blackstar’s next-gen digital range has arrived and provides more proof that digital is the new black. We plug in…
Fender Pro Junior IV SE review
Fender’s entry-level tube combo gets a limited-edition run that’s more affordable than the standard model. It might just be the bargain of the year…
Baroni AFK150 review
From the cult Foxgear pedal brand comes Baroni’s latest innovation: a micro head that could just be the most portable tube amp out there
Blackstar St James 50 EL34 Combo review
Blackstar claims its latest release is “the lightest 50-watt all-valve combo in the world”. Is this really the future for tube amplification? Time to plug in
Victory V4 The Jack review
Victory’s latest addition is a highly portable all-valve preamp with a 180-watt power amp, digital reverb and built-in Two Notes Torpedo cab sim technology
The history of modded Marshalls
From master volumes to motherboards, we take a look at the evolution of Marshall mods with legendary amp guru Paul Rivera Sr
The story of the JTM45, Marshall’s first amp and a holy grail of rock guitar
Wartime crooner, big band drummer and legendary shop owner, Jim Marshall’s life was shaped by music. In 1962, he and his team shaped music with an amp that changed everything
Carl Martin Ampster review
This valve-driven DI box from Carl Martin could be the missing link for pedalboard users
Line 6 Catalyst 100 review
Line 6 shakes up the budget digital combo market with a new range that packs HX-quality amp sounds and effects into handsome cabinets
Cort Tube Craft CMV15 review
Cort is well known for its own‑brand guitars, as well as those it makes for other companies, such as PRS’s SE line. But a tube amp? Let’s take a look…
Charting the evolution of solid-state and digital guitar amps – and the future of tubes
Non-tube amplification is nothing new. While the future for tube amps is far from certain, innovation in digital and solid-state designs is something to be excited about
Orange The Guitar Butler review
“Your tone is served,” says Orange as the renowned British amp builder presents a juicy new preamp
Dumble amps: the legacy and legend
Following the death of Alexander Dumble, we take a deeper dive into the legendary designs that bear his name, and the gear and sounds that followed from his influence
Fender Tone Master Super Reverb review
This stunning digital recreation of a legendary combo includes superb reverb and tremolo for authentic Fender tone and response without the price – or weight – of an all-valve version
Laney Lionheart LT20-112 review
Laney’s unique Class A tribute to vintage British tone blends classic styling with a wide range of tones. You need to hear this…
Thermion Zero Dynamic Hybrid Amplifier review
Spanish pedal wizard Thermion has cooked up a compact stereo power amp that lets you enjoy your pedals anywhere
Juketone Rival Son review
This 15-watt all-valve combo from the tweed specialists offers vintage vibes with onboard effects on a budget
Ashdown AGM-484H Head review
Ashdown’s Guitar Magnifier head features a deceptively simple preamp that delivers a wide range of tones into the classic quartet of EL84 output tubes – all at real-world prices
633 Engineering Dragonfly 1x10 Combo review
Cliff Brown presents his take on the classic single-ended low-power valve combo – offered with or without reverb and tremolo
