START ME UP!

Five awesome new products to get your gear engine revving this month…

JAMES’S HOME OF TONE SIGNATURE SERIES SOLDERLESS PRE-WIRED HARNESSES

1

Is the thought of soldering putting you off upgrading yourpots?ormaybeyou wantafasterwaytotryout different pickups on your guitar. Jamesgascoigne’ssuperbonline store offers the solution – you simplyscrewyourpickupand ground wires into the terminals provided. There’s Strat, Tele, Les Paul,sgandmore–allwith50s wiring to give you a great upgrade for your tone. From£44.99, www.homeoftone.co.uk

DUNLOP PRIMETONE PICKS

2 Formanyofus,ourpick choice is the last thing we experiment with, let alone paymorethanusualfor.but finding the right pick for you matters a lot, and we really rate these. Primetone picks are made from Ultex for durability andabrightsoundandhave hand-burnishedsculptededges to improve articulation and quick string release. We certainly foundthat,andthegripwas greattoo.notcheapbut certainly impressive. £7.99forthree(0.73to2.0mm options),www.jimdunlop.com

BOSS WAZA CRAFT TB-2W TONE BENDER

3 Acompacttonebender fuzz?yesplease!the Japanese-madewaza Craftserieshasthetonehounds salivating again with its collaboration with Sola Sounds to bring back an “authentic sonic recreationofthetonebender MKII’. It’s packing germanium transistorsunderthehoodand controls are a simple Level and Attack, plus a three-way voltage selectorforaddedheadroom. Andinothernews:there’sawaza Crafthm-2pedalcomingtoo. £Tbcavailablespring2021, www.boss.info

BLACKSTAR CARRY-ON

4

We certainly didn’t expect Blackstar to be releasing an electric guitar in 2020 but here it is in all its 20.7” glory. Thecarry-onwasdesignedwith fellowukcompanygordonsmith Guitarsandismadefromone pieceokoumewoodwithaset necktomaximiseresonance. Its mini humbucker is splittable and the two finishes (Jet Black and Vintage White) are available withapremiumtravelbagplus optional extras including a FLY 3 Bluetoothminiamp. From£349, www.blackstaramps.com

CORT CORE-OC

5 Corthasimpresseduswith its electrics, and recently with the Little CJ Travel guitar but now it’s raising the full-size electro acoustic spec standardsforunder£500here. All solid tonewoods, Fishman electronics and bone nut. There’s a choice of three cutawaymodelswithmahogany (pictured), blackwood or spruce/ mahogany,eachoffering Fishman’slowkeysonitone preampsystem.there’seven a swish looking gig bag included. £459, www.cortguitars.com