START ME UP!
Five awesome new products to get your gear engine revving this month…
WALRUS MAKO M1
1
Universal Audio’s Astra dazzled us last year with its quality recreations of classic modulation units in one pedal, but now walrus have their own High-fidelity Modulation Machine that could become an inspirational source for all your chorus, phaser, tremolo, vibrato, rotary and filter. Nine onboard presets and 128 available via Midi is certainly going to come in very useful, with the onboard Lo-fi control allowing players to warp and de grade the six algorithms. £319 www.walrusaudio.com
SQUIER CLASSIC VIBE BARITONE CUSTOM TELECASTER
2 The temptation to add a baritone to your collection may have reached tip ping point with this double bound 27-inch-scale beauty. Available in Black and 3-Colour Sunburst, it continues Squier’s recent Tele extended excursions that began with the para normal series Cabronita, with Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups, C-shape maple neck with 9.5”-radius laurel fingerboard and narrow-tall frets. £429 www.fender.com
HARLEY BENTON G112 A-FR ACTIVE CABINET
3 With the growth in amp modelling and multieffects units comes a burgeoning market for full range and flat response( aka Fr fr) active cabs that can deliver for the home, practice room and stage. harley benton already has form in this department with the excellent Frfr-112 a but this more compact 1x12”100-watt rms solution could be just the ticket for many guitarists. £198 www.harleybenton.com
FENDER HAMMERTONE PEDALS
4 Fender has gone all-in since it launched its pedal line in 2018, and this new nine-stomp box range offers slimmer cases and prices too. The hammer tone range covers distortions, overdrive, delays, reverb, chorus and fuzz withy digital and analogue circuits. The contrast of grey powder-coated casing a bright control colours continues the big F’s attention to visual flair, and we’re hoping these pedals deliver on the tone front, too. £69.99–£84.99, from april www.fender.com
POSITIVE GRID SPARK CONTROL
5 The run away success of Positive Grid’s Spark practice amp was only very slightly marred by the lack of foot controller to enhance its user experience. now pg have delivered with the Bluetooth Spark control that boasts four footswitch selectable ‘scenarios’ that go beyond pre set and effects selection and also covering starting and stopping backing tracks. It offers up to four months battery life on a single charge, too. $109 www.positivegrid.com