START ME UP!

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

THE CHORD COMPANY – CHORD CREAM CABLE

1 Whenanaward-winning high-endaudiocompany produce guitar cables, it’s always worth investigating. Thechordcompanyhasbeen designing and hand- building audio and video cables since 1985.Itschordcreamguitar range doesn’t disappoint; Neutrik jacks, two large high quality conductors for signal and return,premiumjacketsand insulation with conductors arranged in a twisted pair configuration, wrapped in cotton spacers to reduce noise. www.chord.co.uk

TC ELECTRONIC DITTO+

2

Wehonestlydon’t rememberthelasttime wewerethisexcitedabout a loop pedal. The latest addition to the Ditto range is mini and feature-packed, with highlights thatinclude99memoryslots, upto60minutesrecordingtime andextendloopmode–allowing youtorecordlongeroverdubs over shorter loops. There’s also anautocuefeaturethattakes the stress out of nailing your overdubtiming.worthchecking outforjammingathomeor performingasaone-manband. £99, available late August, www.tcelectronic.com

BLACKSTAR DEBUT AMPS

3

The British amplification heroes never stand still, and their new practice amps series is all about simplicity. They’re available in 10- and 15-watt configurations with clean and overdrive channels, as well as its Infinite Shapefeature,whichallowsyou to dial in your tone fast by ear. Theothercontrolsarevolume and a tape-style delay. There’s alsoa3.5mmlineinandspeaker emulatedoutputfor headphone‑basedpractice. Debut10e£59,debut15e£75, www.blackstaramps.com

HARLEY BENTON ST-TRAVEL

4

A minimalist electric guitar for travelling is a ‘nice to have’thatcanbehardto justify spending out on. However, at this price, it suddenly becomesverytempting.nowyou can fit a guitar in the car, train or, maybe,planetokeephoningyour chops.thecandyapplered St-travelfromthomann’s consistently impressive Harley Benton brand delivers a full 25.5-inch scale with tremolo and three single-coil pickups. Take it away...

£71, www.harleybenton.com

CHASE BLISS AUDIO AUTOMATONE PREAMP MKII

5 Wegotveryexcitedwhen wesawtheprototypeof thisbackatnammin2019. It’s taken a while, but the latest collaborationbetweenchase Blissandchristopherbensonof Benson Amps is finally shipping. Beyondtheverycoolmotorised EQ sliders and eyebrow-raising price, there’s 30 presets and detailed control over clipping, fuzzandthreemidsresonance settings with variable routing. A world of tone.

$749, www.chaseblissaudio.com