December 2009 \ Features \ Premier Gear Awards \ 2009 Premier Gear Awards

2009 Premier Gear Awards

Premier Guitar Editors

2009's award-winning gear - all in one place! Read our picks for awards in these categories: Small Package-Big Tone, Two-for-One, Tons O'Tones, Toe-to-Toe, The Kitchen Sink, Artisan, Fresh Approach, Redux Deluxe, Tone Enhancers and Nice Price.
Premier Guitar December 2009
(2 of 11)

Small Package, Big Tone
Good things come in small packages. It’s one of the oldest clichés in the book, so it should come as no surprise that good tone can also be had from a seemingly diminutive unit. 2009 was a BIG year for that, and these are the best of the … shall we say, unhuge.

Komet 19

A “portable powerhouse” with loads of versatility and personality. That’s how reviewer Steve Ouimette described the Komet 19 amp head back in our September 2009 issue. Komet has made a very nice name for itself with its high-quality components and construction, and its custom-designed output and power transformers. It took all of that know-how and neatly stuffed into the Komet 19, and the result blew Ouimette away. “It reacted like the power and punch of a Marshall Superlead mixed with the chime and sparkle of an AC30,” our reviewer gushed. “And it was loud and incredibly dynamic, with the loudest strums nicely breaking up into great a crunch tone. It belies its size with a gigantic range of tones that let your instruments’ true personalities sing.”
MSRP $2295
kometamps.com
Read the full review...



Blankenship Carry-On
Blankenship Amplification Mini-LEEDS21 Carry-On

Imagine getting punched out by the smallest kid on the block. The Carry- On, part of Blankenship’s LEEDS21 series of amps, does just that—and more. It was designed to be a small, lightweight amp that guitarists can lug around without breaking their backs, or losing any tone or wallop. The Carry-On succeeds in both areas, delivering a powerful voice quite uncommon for an amp its size. As reviewer Brian Barr puts it, the Carry- On is “the lunch-box version of a Marshall Plexi … voiced for the classic British tone of the ’60s, but with modern updates that may make some enthusiasts think twice about leaving the house again with their prized vintage amp.”
Street $1499
Blankenshipamps.com
 Read the full review...


Cornford Roadhouse 30 ComboCornford Roadhouse 30 Combo

Cornford has been making amps for quite some time now, though never have they tried to compete within the ever-growing horde of endlessly shrinking amps—that is, until 2009. And little did anyone know they’d raise the bar as high as they did with their Roadhouse 30 Combo. Although slightly bigger than most of the competition is this class, the Roadhouse Combo (June 2009) wins out handsomely by pushing 30 watts of sonic dynamite through a 12" Celestion Vintage 30. Reviewer Kenny Rardin said, “I found the Cornford Roadhouse 30 combo to be a great amp for those looking for a professional-quality tone without the weight. It’s a small package with a big tone, and it would serve the needs of almost any type of guitarist. Whether it’s blues or screaming, harmonic-laden riffs, this amp seems to do it all very well.”
Street $1499 (Combo); $1399 (Head)
cornfordamps.com
Read the full review...



Vox Night Train
 VOX Night Train NT15H Head

Big sound got really small in 2009, and one of the most anticipated “small” releases was the VOX Night Train NT15H. Suffice to say, it didn’t disappoint. VOX’s storied past met head on (no pun intended) with today’s trend to pack as much technology and punch into ever-shrinking enclosures, and the result was sweet music to our ears. Reviewer Jordan Wagner (August 2009) summed it up this way: “It’s not often that you find a small-wattage head with cleans that can compete tonally with some of its larger wattage brethren, and also be as capable and convenient for gigging. It’s certainly the best sounding small-wattage clean tone that I’ve heard so far. Coupled with a fantastic overdrive that seems like an entirely different amp itself, the Night Train is really hard to beat if you’re in the market for a low-wattage amplifier.” ’Nuff said.
MSRP $700
voxamps.com
Read the review...
Watch the video review...


SWR Spellbinder BlueSWR Spellbinder Blue

If you thought big tone in a small package was limited only to guitar amps, think again. SWR blew away bass aficionados with its amazing Spellbinder Blue—a powerhouse of a bass amp run by a 160-watt Class D power amplifier thumping sound through a single 10" SWR-Designed Eminence Neodymium Driver and a Customer Eminence Supertweeter. It doesn’t get much better than that, and reviewer (and noted Nashville bassman) Sean O’Bryan Smith (February 2009, web exclusive) agreed: “Take my word that this is a LOUD 160 watts. Even at pushed volumes the sound is articulate and full. The user-friendly features coupled with extreme portability are sure to entice players of all styles. Studio musicians and jazz players especially will love how easy it is to dial up a big sound in a small package.”
MSRP $1499
swrsound.com
Read the review...



MegalithMountainking Electronics Megalith

Big tone in a small package doesn’t have to just be limited to the world of amplifiers. Mountainking Electronics delivered the goods in a stompbox-sized package with a “massive sounding Fuzz/Distortion Pedal that will leave you shaking in the wake of its destructive path,” wrote reviewer Brian Barr (November 2009). He wasn’t kidding. The Megalith lets you dial up a slew of killer fuzz/distortion combinations that may just cause you to neglect your other fuzz pedals. It was definitely a worthy recipient of our recognition.
Street $265
myspace.com/mountainkingelectronics
Read the full review...


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Comments

 (5 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Chris Tomlinson
on 03/14/2010 		These are great. However, everything from floyd upgrades is a rip. You can get it all for less in other places. Heck, even the big block is all over ebay from some other dude. It works just as good and a much better price (and his is the 42mm version). But yes, the stuff you can do to a floyd is great, just don't waste your money with "floydupgrades.com".
Garrison Vest
on 01/29/2010 		yep the Floyd rose "big Block" upgrade is worth the $. alot more sustain and clarity added
Garrison
www.daggerrocks.com
Vince L.
on 12/11/2009 		I ditto Dave V's comments about floydupgrades.com's products. I own a couple of late 80's Jackson's. The tone improvement and weight balance is almost immeasurable!
Dave Valliere
on 12/09/2009 		floydupgrades progresses my guitar tones to new dimensions! Superb resonance with Herculean sound! Sustainability reaches new levels, allowing me to hang on a few choice notes while enjoying my music! Dave Valliere (Val Year) www.davevalliere.com
Dan Marois
on 11/20/2009 		"Economic woes may have put a damper on the grand plans of buyers and sellers alike, but the gear … the gear that came our way this year was every bit as cool, innovative, beautiful, ingenious, exceptionally crafted and great sounding as it was the year before." There was still a lot more expensive new gear than I expected to see in these so-called hard times. I guess not everyone is feeling the pinch. Or maybe only consumers and workers got the memo - companies are still sifting through their hate mail. :-) Manufacturers and builders could have used the opportunity to reinvent themselves. One would have thought they could have used a bit of ingenuity to make their products more affordable. You know, to get them out there. The media must take a large portion of the blame - they didn't stop parading expensive equipment these past two years. Of course, we all know why they do that right? Magazine reviewers want to get their hands on the "best" stuff not for our benefit but for their own. :^)



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