Sick of hauling hefty amps? Here are a handful of solid options.
Whether you need watts to power a real-life cab or just real-amp sounds, these stomps are guaranteed to make your next load-in a whole lot easier.
Universal Audio Dream '65 Reverb Amp Pedal
Drop this at the end of your pedalboard and you’ll have classic silver-panel tones without lugging around a hefty combo. Not only can you control the different speaker types, but you also have three different amp modes, options for 4-cable method, and a UAFX Control app for deeper editing.
uaudio.com
Strymon Iridium Amp & IR Cab Pedal
Loaded with three notable amp models and nine cab IRs, this pedal sports a powerful 2-stage DSP processor, a fav switch that can emulate a 2-channel setup, and 300 programmable presets that are accessible via MIDI.
strymon.net
Walrus Audio Mako Series ACS1 Amp & Cab Simulator Pedal
This handy stereo setup covers both American and British tones. It comes loaded with six different speaker IRs (or load your own), customizable boost, and the ability to route different amps and cabs to separate outputs.
walrusaudio.com
DSM Humboldt Electronics Simplifier Zero Watt Stereo Amplifier
Here’s an entirely analog zero-watt(!) amp that can be run in true stereo with extremely tweakable cab simulation. You can also cycle through three different cab sizes, adjust mic position, and emulate three different types of power tubes.
www.simplifieramp.com
Boss IR-200 Amp and IR Cabinet Pedal
Based around the company’s 200 series, this self-contained amp rig offers 128 presets, a 96 kHz sampling rate, functions as a USB audio interface, and allows you to run two IRs at once. It comes loaded with eight different amp models and over 150 impulse responses.
boss.info/global
Two Notes ReVolt Guitar Preamp Pedal
Designed around an actual 12AX7 tube, this unit has an all-analog signal path with three different channels (clean, crunch, and lead), a switchable boost, and a headphone output. The ReVolt also has analog cabinet simulation inspired by a Marshall 4x12.
two-notes.com
Quilter Labs SuperBlock US 25-watt Guitar Amplifier Pedal
This collection of “greatest hits” from classic American designs offers up takes on tweed, blonde, and silver-panel tones along with a full array of EQ, reverb, and limiter controls. It includes an effects loop, headphone output, XLR output, and the ability to connect to a passive guitar cab.
quilterlabs.com
Hughes & Kettner StompMan Guitar 50-watt Amplifier Pedal
This single-channel amp cranks out 50 watts (at 8 ohms) and is centered around H&K’s analog Spirit Tone Generator circuit. An interesting feature is the sagging knob, which affects the power amp compression. Other features include a switchable FX loop, solo boost, and resonance control.
hughes-and-kettner.com
Orange Terror Stamp 20-watt Valve Hybrid Guitar Amp Pedal
Based upon the British amp giant’s Micro Dark, this all-analog hybrid design couples a 12AX7 preamp with a 20-watt class AB solid-state power amp. The controls are dead simple and allow you to run one or both channels at the same time along with shape (from mid-forward to classic scoop) and gain knobs.
orangeamps.com
Acorn Amplifiers Solid State
After a recent revelation about a somewhat unheralded amp—the Peavey Decade—being the “secret weapon” on classic albums, Acorn got to work and developed their take but added extra features. Modern upgrades include two switchable tone modes, dual outputs, 3-band EQ, and a pedalboard friendly enclosure.
acornamps.com
$299
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A reimagined classic S-style guitar with Fishman Greg Koch Signature pickups and a Wilkinson VS100N tremolo.
Designed to resonate with both tone and soul, this guitar boasts a slightly larger profile with a raised center section, offering superior dynamics and feel. A chamber beneath the pickguard enhances punch, while hum-free Fishman Greg Koch Signature Gristle-Tone pickups and a Wilkinson VS100N tremolo complete the package.
This marks the third signature model from Reverend Guitars for blues virtuoso Greg Koch, joining the revered Gristlemaster and Gristle-90. Each of these guitars, equipped with Fishman’s Greg Koch Signature pickups, embodies the relentless pursuit of tone, delivering inspiration to players who seek to push their own musical boundaries.
The Gristle ST has everything I need to engage in fiendish musical deeds. It has the classic sounds with a second voice to the pickups that adds more girthsome tones, a tremolo system that can take a licking and stay in tune, it’s a gorgeous looking and playing instrument that is just a little bit larger as to not look like a mandolin when played by a larger soul such as myself…I can dig it all! – Greg Koch
The Reverend Greg Koch Gristle ST is now available through any Reverend Authorized Dealer.
For more information, please visit reverendguitars.com.
Metallica's M72 World Tour will be extended into a third year with 21 North American shows spanning April, May, and June 2025.
The M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will continue the hallowed No Repeat Weekend tradition, with each night of the two-show stands featuring entirely different setlists and support lineups. These will include the band’s first Nashville shows in five years on May 1 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, as well as Metallica’s return to Tampa after 15 years on June 6 and 8 at Raymond James Stadium. M72 has also confirmed its much anticipated Bay Area hometown play, to take place June 20 and 22 with the band’s debut performances at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
In a new twist, M72 2025 will feature several single shows bringing the tour’s full production, with its massive in-the-round stage, to venues including two college football stadiums: JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York on April 19, and Metallica's first ever visit to Blacksburg, Virginia, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. The May 7 show at Lane Stadium will mark the culmination of 20+ years of “Enter Sandman” playing as the Hokies take the field.
In addition to playing football stadiums across the nation, the M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will also include two festival headlines—the first being the opening night of the run April 12 at Sick New World at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. May 9 and 11 will then mark a festival/No Repeat Weekend combo as Metallica plays two headline sets at Sonic Temple at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Support on M72’s 2025 North American run will come from Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies and Ice Nine Kills. See below for specifics.
Additionally, M72 2025 will see Metallica’s long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand.
M72’s 2025 North American leg is produced by Live Nation and presented by new sponsor inKind. inKind rewards diners with special offers and credit back when they use the app to pay at 2,000+ top-rated restaurants nationwide. The company provides innovative financing to participating restaurants in a way that enables new levels of sustainability and success. Metallica fans can learn more at inkind.com.
Citi is the official card of the M72 tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program.
Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for the M72 tour in the U.S through Verizon Access, just for being a customer. Verizon Access Presale tickets for select shows will begin Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time.
* Citi and Verizon presales will not be available for Sick New World, Sonic Temple or the Toronto dates. Verizon presale will not be available for the Nashville, Blacksburg or Landover shows.
As always, a portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to local charities via the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017 as a way to give back to communities that have supported Metallica over the years, All Within My Hands has raised over $15 million – providing $8.2 million in grants to career and technical education programs including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, now in its sixth year, over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, more than $3.5 million to disaster relief efforts.
For more information, please visit metallica.com.
Metallica M72 North America 2025 Tour Dates
April 12 Las Vegas, NV Sick New World @ Las Vegas Festival Grounds
April 19 Syracuse, NY JMA Wireless Dome *
April 24 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre *
April 26 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre +
May 1 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium *
May 3 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium +
May 7 Blacksburg, VA Lane Stadium *
May 9 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 11 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 23 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field +
May 25 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field *
May 28 Landover, MD Northwest Stadium *
May 31 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium *
June 3 Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
June 6 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium +
June 8 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium *
June 14 Houston, TX NRG Stadium *
June 20 Santa Clara, CA Levi's Stadium +
June 22 Santa Clara, CA Levi's Stadium *
June 27 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High +
June 29 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High *
* Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies support
+ Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills supp
Beetronics FX Tuna Fuzz pedal offers vintage-style fuzz in a quirky tuna can enclosure.
With a single "Stinker" knob for volume control and adjustable fuzz gain from your guitar's volume knob, this pedal is both unique and versatile.
"The unique tuna can format embodies the creative spirit that has always been the heart of Beetronics, but don’t let the unusual package fool you: the Tuna Fuzz is a serious pedal with great tone. It offers a preset level of vintage-style fuzz in a super simple single-knob format. Its “Stinker” knob controls the amount of volume boost. You can control the amount of fuzz with your guitar’s volume knob, and the Tuna Fuzz cleans up amazingly well when you roll back the volume on your guitar. To top it off, Beetronics has added a cool Tunabee design on the PCB, visible through the plastic back cover."
The Tuna Fuzz draws inspiration from Beetronics founder Filipe's early days of tinkering, when limitedfunds led him to repurpose tuna cans as pedal enclosures. Filipe even shared his ingenuity by teachingclasses in Brazil, showing kids how to build pedals using these unconventional housings. Although Filipe eventually stopped making pedals with tuna cans, the early units were a hit on social media whenever photos were posted.
Tuna Fuzz features include:
- Single knob control – “Stinker” – for controlling output volume
- Preset fuzz gain, adjustable from your guitar’s volume knob
- 9-volt DC operation using standard external power supply – no battery compartment
- True bypass switching
One of the goals of this project was to offer an affordable price so that everyone could own a Beetronicspedal. For that reason, the pedal will be sold exclusively on beetronicsfx.com for a sweet $99.99.
For more information, please visit beetronicsfx.com.
What are Sadler’s favorite Oasis jams? And if he ever shares a bill with Oasis and they ask him onstage, what song does he want to join in on?
Once the news of the Oasis reunion got out, Sadler Vaden hit YouTube hard on the tour bus, driving his bandmates crazy. The Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit guitarist has been a Noel Gallagher mega-fan since he was a teenager, so he joined us to wax poetic about Oasis’ hooks, Noel’s guitar sound, and the band’s symphonic melodies. What are Sadler’s favorite Oasis jams? And if he ever shares a bill with Oasis and they ask him onstage, what song does he want to join in on?