The Certified Guitar Player chats (and jams) with John Bohlinger about recording his new album Living in the Light, detailing his philosophy on tone and live sound, his focus on song arrangements and melody, hitting the onstage curveballs, and why he’ll never retire from being happy (performing).
ENGL Amplifiers proudly introduces the RAVAGER IR, a 20-watt, 2-channel tube amp that blends vintage tone with modern technology. Designed for musicians seeking a versatile, portable solution, the RAVAGER delivers exceptional sound quality in a compact lunchbox-style chassis.
The E725 RAVAGER use 12AX7/ECC83 in the preamp and EL84 in the poweramp section, producing dynamic, harmonically rich tones. Its dual-channel design provides pristine cleans and aggressive overdrive, making it ideal for stage, studio, or home use.
A key feature is its built-in IR Loader, enabling users to use four impulse responses (IRs), three of them can be loaded via USB for unparalleled cab simulation. This makes recording and silent practice effortless while delivering a professional sound. The amp is also equipped with an XLR output for live and studio applications, along with a headphone out for private practice. Additionally, the integrated Power Soak feature allows users to reduce output power for cranked tube tones at lower volumes, perfect for home or studio environments.
Key Features:
20W, 2-channel tube amp
ECC83 preamp & EL84 power amp section for authentic tone
Built-in IR Loader with four Irs (three customizable slots)
USB connectivity for easy IR management
Headphone output for silent practice
XLR direct output for live and recording setups
Integrated Power Soak for adjustable power (20 Watts, 5 Watts, 1 Watts, Speaker off) ∙ Compact, portable lunchbox design
The ENGL E725 RAVAGER is a powerhouse for modern guitarists who need a flexible, compact amp without compromising on tone. Whether performing live, tracking in the studio, or practicing at home, this amp offers professional-grade sound and features.
E412XXLK Eminence Karnivore
Engl unveils the new E412XXL with Eminence Karnivore speakers — a powerhouse 4x12"cabinet built to meet the demands of modern high-gain players. This updated version of the legendary E412XXL combines Engl’s precision-engineered oversized enclosure with the aggressive tonal character of the Eminence Karnivore speakers, delivering bone-crushing low end,razor-sharp attack, and exceptional clarity at high volumes.
Features
Four Eminence Karnivore 12" Speakers
Designed for modern metal and hard rock, offering tight bass, cutting mids, and controlled top end for maximum definition under high gain.
Oversized Straight Cabinet Design
Deep enclosure for massive low-frequency response and room-filling projection.
High Power Handling
240-watt total power at 8 ohms, ready to handle the most powerful tube heads without breaking a sweat.
Tour-Grade Construction
Robust birch plywood build, reinforced corners, metal grille, and heavy-duty casters for reliable road use.
Huge, crushing sound ideal for drop tunings and extended-range guitars ∙ Precise articulation at high volumes for tight rhythm work
Designed from the ground up by Kristian Kohle and the Eminence engineering team, the Karnivore delivers all the bite and all the meat
Availability
The new E412XXL with Eminence Karnivore is available hrough authorized Engl dealers and distributors worldwide.
DOD today announces the release of the Overdrive Preamp 250-X, the 10th iteration of its legendary OD250 pedal. Available worldwide through local and online retailers, the 250-X delivers unmatched tonal versatility for players of all skill levels and musical styles. With three distinct distortion modes and modern refinements, the 250-X offers a fresh take on their time-tested classic at a new price point that strives to outperform its contemporaries in its category.
Inspired by the limited-edition DOD OD250-50th Anniversary model released last year, the 250-X (X representing the 10th iteration) offers the same three-position toggle switch function but in an imported, mass-produced model, at a more affordable price.
Operation is straightforward and intuitive. At its core, the 250-X retains the same Gain and Level control values and tapers as the original OD250, preserving the familiar feeling and response that players know and love. The three-position toggle switch expands its tonal range, offers Silicon symmetrical clipping for that iconic 250 sound, ASYM asymmetrical clipping for even-harmonic distortion, and LIFT mode, which removes diode clipping entirely from the signal path for a clean boost at moderate levels or a dirty boost at high levels as it drives the vintage-style LM741 op amp.
Built with an aluminum chassis and weighing in at only 8 ounces (250 grams), construction features true hard-wire bypass, modern 9V DC power input, and +18V tolerant circuitry. With ¼” connections for input and output, the pedal is ready for both stage and studio use making it the most versatile 250 to date.
For more information on the DOD Overdrive Preamp 250-X, visit www.digitech.com.
The Who need no introduction, so let’s get to the good stuff: PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with the band’s farewell tour at Fenway Park in Boston, where guitarist Pete Townshend’s tech Simon Law and bassist Jon Button’s tech Joel Ashton gave him a look at the gear that the infamous British rockers are trusting for their goodbye gigs celebrating 60-plus years together.
This is Townshend’s No. 1 on this end-days run. Originally an Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (the identifying headstock stamp has been scraped off), Law says the body and neck have been changed 10 times, and bigger frets installed. Townshend’s preferred settings are marked on the guitar and knobs.
Other mods include a Piezo bridge with a separate volume control, a stereo socket output, and a blend to mix Piezo signal with the pickups, which are Fender Noiseless models. It also has locking tuners and the Clapton mid-boost circuit, but perhaps most interesting of all is a small piece of emory board glued behind the bridge, utilized by Townshend to rough up the edges of his picks.
Stepped-Down Strat
This black Strat comes out for songs in E-flat tuning.
This skinny-fret Strat is loaded with P-90s in the bridge and neck, but the neck pickup is purely cosmetic—unwired and used as a killswitch.
The Quiet One
Townshend has been using Gibson J-200s forever, and this ’90s model has a Fishman Ellipse system, plus a Piezo under the bridge. It’s in standard tuning, while a signature-model backup lives in D–G–D–G–B–C. The backup has D’Addario strings (.012–.056) while the main axe has .012–.053 D’Addarios.
Addition from Alessandro
Townshend has been relying on Fender Vibro-Kings since the ’90s, and this one’s been treated to new filter caps, speakers, pots, and tubes. Law notes it’s fiddly to dial in, but always sounds great. Usually, Townshend runs a 2x12 cabinet beside it, but a desire for more control led them to have George Alessandro construct a Fender Bandmaster replica, with a 2x12 configuration.
Pete Townshend’s Pedalboard
Pete’s guitars run into a Pete Cornish AC Powered 3 Way Split box, then onto a very custom Cornish-built pedalboard. Inside are just three circuits, pulled from their enclosures and wired up by Cornish: a T-Rex Effects Replica, a Boss OD-1, and a Demeter Compulator. Simon Law’s predecessor, lifelong Townshend tech Alan Rogan, had Cornish build two of these; the backup stays on hand in case of emergency. The board is also outfitted with a top-notch power supply and buffer circuit, plus the nifty “Dr. Who-style” footswitch buttons.
Button’s Best
This bass, says Button’s tech Joel Ashton, is perfect. Snagged by Button in the late ’90s in Hollywood, it’s a 1965 Precision that’s been beautifully aged, and is generally used for the entire show. It’s kitted out with a Hipshot system on the D string (which drops to D flat for “Eminence Front”) and Apex strings, which Button strikes with both picks and fingers.
Mega-Monitor
This classic Ampeg SVT is used solely as an onstage monitor for Button.
Jon Button’s Pedalboard
Button runs three signals to front of house: one from his Noble Preamp, and two from his Neural Quad Cortex. One of the Neural’s signals runs a stock Ampeg SVT model, and the other is an emulation of Pete Thorn’s Suhr SL68, plus four preset drive levels that Button can switch between as desired. Front of house blends the signals as they see fit.
PG contributor Steve Cook takes a look at EMG’s new E-Series bass pickups—a set of slim, soapbar, active pickups that feature wide-aperture coils and ceramic magnets. The E-Series offers big lows, articulate highs, and noiseless performance, the calling card of EMG’s active pickup designs. With drop-in replacement and full compatibility with EMG accessories, the E-Series presents a serious option for modern bassists.