Start Me Up
Five awesome new products to get your gear engine revving this month…
Elixir Optiweb
1 The coated string experts at Elixir have been beavering away for sometime on the latest advancement in their coated string tech, and the brand new Op ti web range is the result. Optiweb is a lightweight coating that Elixir promises will provide long-lasting tone while sounding indistinguishable from traditional uncoated strings. As if that wasn’t enough it also protects strings from the elements for a longer tone life while allowing them to vibrate with less damping, to retain a crisp tone with a natural feel. (£11.95, elixirstrings.co.uk)
Vox Amplug 2
2 V ox’ s am Plug 2 has three new flavours: Clean, Blues and Lead. Clean delivers a boutique-inspired, erm, cleans, while Blues serves up American amp-style drive and Lead gives you an ultra-hot high-gain sound. As with other am Plugs, there are nine onboard effects, while improved cab simulation and a multi-stage gain circuit ensure they sound better than ever. You’ll get 17 hours of battery life out of’ em, and an auxin lets you jam along to your phone, too. (£39.95,www.voxamps.com)
D’Adda rio Beatles accessories
3 The Beatles are back at D’ Ad dario with a new range of strap sand picks that won’ t let you down. Four straps are available – MeetTheBeatles,
YellowSubmarine, Revolver and the classy SgtPepper’s number pictured above – and all are non-leather and vegan-friendly, too. Pick-wise, you can get your hands on a blister daisy pick pack or this snazzy collectable pick tin, with plecs adorned with classic Beatles albums. Fab! (£46.50[strap],from£8.50 [picks],www.daddario.com)
Roland Rubix22
4 Roland has given its range of audio interfaces the once-over for 2017, and we’re liking the looks of the smallest and most affordable in the range, the Rubix22. Two XLRcom bi jacks offer stereo recording possibilities, while the Hi-Z input is ideal for going straight in and hooking up to plugins. Condenser mic fans will be pleased to note the presence of phantom power, and Roland has even throw nina copy of Ableton Live Lite to boot. (£119,www.roland.co.uk)
DOD Mini Volume/ Expression
5 Simultaneously reviving and shrinking DOD’s old tread le format, these new launches come in both volume and expression formats. Both have all-steel construction and gear drive for extra durability, plus non-slip rubber pads and treadle throws that are equal to units twice their size. The Mini Volume features a500k pot, while the Expression offers a TRS/TS/RTS selector, so it will work with any stomp box you can throw at it. By the hand of DOD, these pedals are useful. (£89,www.digitech.com)