Chris Kies has degrees in Journalism and History from the University of Iowa and has been with PG dating back to his days as an intern in 2007. He's now the multimedia manager maintaining the website and social media accounts, coordinating Rig Rundown shoots (also hosting and/or filming them) and occasionally writing an artist feature. Other than that, he enjoys non-guitar-related hobbies.
"Tungsten Amplification released the Creme Brulee, which is a cross between their Crema Wheat and a Fender tweed Harvard. Itуs loaded with 12AX7 preamp tubes, 6V6 power tubes, a 5Y3 rectifier tube, and has only two controlsяTone and Volume."
At the 2026 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Synergy will debut a patent-protected Machine-Learning power amp technology that combines the convenience, light weight, and power of class D, with the tone and feel of tubes, for a no compromise amplification solution. This revolutionary design is different than anything currently in the market!
Background - For decades, traditional tube amplifiers have remained the gold standard for guitarists seeking expressive feel, touch sensitivity and harmonic complexity. These qualities come from two critical factors: the inherent nonlinear behavior of the vacuum tubes and the complex real-time interaction between the amp and its speaker cabinet.
While Class D designs have improved in efficiency and portability, their inherent low-impedance output stage makes them an obstacle to recreating true tube amp tone.
Attempts to remedy this have consistently fallen short - often relying on static models and fixed impedance assumptions, resulting in a stiff and sterile tone and a
disconnect from the guitar player. Increasing the impedance outage stage has also failed, as doing so makes the amplifier inefficient or extremely unstable.
Until now!
Synergy’s invention takes a fundamentally different approach, combining high-efficiency, low-impedance Class D output stages, advanced digital signal processing and a proprietary, patent-protected Machine-Learning system that continuously measures voltage and current in real-time at the speaker output.
During initial operation, the amplifier learns your cabinet's impedance through controlled sweeps, then continues to monitor it in real-time. The Machine-Learning power amplifier dynamically adapts to recreate true tube amp voltage-current behavior, including sag, compression, frequency-dependent damping and harmonic richness.
The result is authentic tube amp feel and tone that translates naturally across different cabinets and playing situations, while retaining the efficiency, stability, portability and updatability of modern amplifier designs.
Synergy’s Machine-Learning power amp was designed from the ground up by guitar players, for guitar players, including modern features guitarists demand and consistent, stable and robust power across all speaker cabinet impedances!
To bring this revolutionary technology to life STMicroelectronics enabled SYNERGY as an alpha customer on their new advanced STM32V8 mcu series, which combines advanced 18 nm FD-SOI and ST’s phase-change memory (PCM) technology with a powerful 800 MHz Arm Cortex®-M85 core, delivering up to 6x faster Machine-Learning and DSP processing than previous product generations.
Legends Unite
Synergy has partnered with industry giants Brian Wampler and Dave Friedman in collaboration with Pete Thorn to bring this technology to life with the following products that will debut at NAMM:
Brian Wampler’s PEDALHEAD - a super-compact pedalboard friendly 240W (60 tube watt equivalent), stereo power amp with IR loader, MIDI and 6 power amp models.
Dave Friedman IR-LOAD, a collaboration with Pete Thorn, that is an all-in-one 360W (90 tube watt equivalent), stereo power amp/load box/attenuator/IR loader/MIDI.
These exciting new products will be demonstrated live at the 2026 NAMM Show at the Boutique Amps Distribution booth (#4626). Dave Friedman and Brian Wampler will be on hand for demonstrations, discussions, and media interviews throughout the show.
When GWAR stomped through Nashville with the goriest gear of all, we had to take a look. PG’s Chris Kies caught up with the band at Marathon Music Works to hang with Grodius Maximus, Bälsäc the Jaws ’O Death, and Casey Orr (aka Beefcake the Mighty). The band rolls cab-free, armed with a stack of dangerously signature gear.
Grodius Maximus’ rig is all about spectacle, aggression, and controlled chaos—designed to sound less like a guitar and more like a “big crazy animal.” His primary instruments come from Radical Instrument Products in Salt Lake City. His go-to is pointy, pink, and equipped with a locking tremolo and a single humbucker. He also carries a gold neck-through model loaded with a pair of humbuckers and a coil tap.
Inspired by Buzz
Rounding out the guitar lineup is an Electrical Guitar Company instrument—something Grodius was turned onto by Buzz Osborne of the Melvins. That guitar features dual humbuckers and a Mastery bridge, adding a slightly more refined edge to an otherwise savage setup.
Dark Favorite
Grodius calls the Orange Dual Dark 100 his favorite amp of all time. While it’s not being used onstage for this show, its DNA is still present via a Kemper, which houses a model of the Dual Dark that anchors his core tone.
All Sorts of Nasty
Effects are where things get truly unhinged. On his rack, a Line 6 Filter Pro handles “all sorts of nasty tones,” while a lineup of Bananana Effects pedals sit in reserve, ready to be unleashed when needed. Switching duties are handled by a Voodoo Lab Guitar Audio switcher, and he also shows off a Death By Audio prototype, alongside trusted staples like the DBA Echo Dream 2 and DBA Robot.
His actual pedalboard is deceptively compact but vicious: a Boss Chromatic Tuner, a Line 6 FM4 pedal, a Hotone expression pedal, DOD Gonkulator, Bananana Mandala, and an MXR Carbon Copy Bright, all powered by a Voodoo Lab supply.
Bälsäc the Jaws ’O Death - Blue Beast
Bälsäc’s rig blends modern metal precision with an openness to conventional and unconventional tools. His signature Schecter Bälsäc Blue Jaw model—soon to be released at what he jokingly calls “an exorbitant price”—is constructed using material from his actual costume. Finished in Antarctic crackle, it’s loaded with a pair of blue Fishman Fluence pickups, delivering clarity and aggression in equal measure.
Non-Metal Vibes
He also relies heavily on a Schecter PT Custom with a purple finish—a T-style guitar that initially raised eyebrows. “It’s surprising how much I love the PTs,” he admits. “It’s such a non-metal shape.” The guitar is outfitted with Fishman Fluence pickups and an Amptone XY MIDIpad, which wirelessly controls his Fractal Axe-Fx III.
Modeling Rig
The Axe-Fx handles amp modeling duties, often dialed in to a Mesa/Boogie-style sound. He also rocks the familiar purple Line 6 Filter Pro. Because Gwar performs to click tracks, all patch and effect changes are automated through Ableton, keeping everything locked tight.
Chaos via Kaoss
Bälsäc’s pedalboard is deep and experimental: a Chase Bliss Onward, Death by Audio Robot and Disemboweller, and a Meris Ottobit and Hedra. In the rack, he keeps a Korg Kaoss Pad, EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter, and an EHX C9 organ emulator, allowing him to blur the line between guitar, synth, and noise weapon. He even uses a Moog Theremini as an expression controller, further expanding his sonic vocabulary.
Casey Orr/Beefcake the Mighty - Slim Nikki
Handling low-end duties behind the scenes is Casey Orr, who you might better as Beefcake the Mighty. His primary instrument is the Schecter Casey Orr Beefcake Bass, which shares its electronics with the Riot 4, but features a Nikki Sixx–style body, slimmed down for comfort. The bass also sports a thinner neck, along with 24 frets, a kill switch, and a pair of EMG pickups—a combination Orr describes simply as “super comfortable.”
Backpack Rig
On the amplification side, the cornerstone of Orr’s sound is the Darkglass Alpha·Omega Ultra, which he calls the “missing link” in achieving the bass tone he’d previously been chasing—aggressive, articulate, and perfectly suited to Gwar’s controlled mayhem.
Shure Introduces Slx-D+ Wireless Microphone System
Shure Introduces Slx-D+ Wireless Microphone System
The new line of condenser microphones delivers premium, true-to-life audio capture with ultra-low self-noise in a sleek, modern design.
Shure, a leading manufacturer of audio solutions known for quality, performance, and durability, unveiled its new KSM condenser microphone line today—the KSM32C, KSM40C, and KSM44MP—at NAMM 2026. The new KSM series delivers lifelike fidelity and a thoughtfully engineered design, crafted for musicians and studio professionals.
Shure KSM microphones have delivered exceptional audio quality for decades. With the launch of new models, the KSM line once again sets the benchmark for professional recording by providing premium, true-to-life audio capture and ultra-low self-noise, all within a sleek, modern design.
The KSM line captures every nuance, from the warmth of vocals to the dynamic energy of instruments, with stunning realism. Each model features precision-engineered capsules for maximum control and accuracy, ensuring the source sounds exactly as intended. Whether you're a musician or engineer needing transparent voicing for natural reproduction, rich low-end presence, or multi-pattern flexibility, there’s a KSM microphone ready to elevate any session.
“At Shure, our mission has always been to empower audio professionals and artists with quality tools that deliver uncompromising sound,” said Eduardo Valdes, Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Management, at Shure. “The new KSM microphone line reflects this commitment by offering upgrades to both design and engineering, meeting the evolving needs of recording studios. Featuring circuitry upgrades from previous models, varied capsule options, and premium accessories, we designed every detail to help professionals capture precisely what they want. By making boutique-level quality attainable for both home and professional studios, we’re ensuring exceptional performance is within reach for all professionals."
The KSM Studio Lineup
Built for precision and performance, the new line includes a range of expertly engineered and hand-crafted capsules, from compact ¾" to robust 1" designs, offering exceptional off-axis rejection, clarity, and creative flexibility for vocals, instruments, ensembles, and beyond. Thoughtful details like lightweight, all-metal construction, advanced shock mounts, and curved magnetic pop filters ensure durability and ease of use, while premium accessory options complete the professional package.
KSM32C—SMALL CAPSULE. BIG SOUND.
The KSM32C is a large diaphragm condenser microphone that delivers a smooth, balanced response and exceptional low-frequency performance. This microphone is ideal for vocals, instruments, drum overheads, and ensemble work, and is available in a stage and studio bundle.
Precision engineered ¾" capsule
Exceptional off-axis rejection
Flattest voicing in the KSM line
Exceptional flexibility for vocal and instrument recording
Premium materials and compact design
KSM40C—WARMTH YOU CAN FEEL. DETAIL YOU CAN HEAR.
The KSM40C is a versatile, large diaphragm condenser microphone that delivers natural, detailed audio with enhanced proximity effect and natural high-frequency boost. An ideal microphone for capturing rich nuances in vocals and instruments, including upright bass, guitar amps and kick drum.
1” capsule delivers natural, detailed audio with rich low-end
Uniform cardioid polar pattern for predictable placement
The KSM44MP offers unparalleled versatility in a sleek, dual-diaphragm design that maximizes sensitivity and stabilizes pattern consistency, improving off-axis control at low frequencies. A multi-pattern microphone with natural clarity and smooth, airy detail, this mic is ideal for vocals, pianos, stereo techniques, distant miking, and ensembles.
Selectable polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and Bidirectional
Flat response with subtle high-frequency emphasis
Optimized polar consistency and low-frequency rejection
Ultra-low self noise
Sleek, modern design
“The new KSM microphones look elegant, and have great, low-profile appearance, which is always a nice aesthetic in the studio (and live) environment,” said Greg Norman, Engineer, Electrical Audio. “One of the most immediately striking features is their impossibly low self-noise, so low, in fact, that while tracking a very quiet vocal, I found myself double-checking to confirm the mic was even active. This level of noise performance is seriously impressive.”
What’s Included
KSM32C/HM—Cardioid Condenser Microphone (Stage Kit) ($659): Includes a KSM32C Cardioid Condenser Microphone, Premium Flocked Foam Windscreen, Premium Zippered Carrying Case, Swivel-Mount Mic Clamp (Hard Mount), Threaded Adapter
KSM32C/SM—Cardioid Condenser Microphone (Studio Kit) ($729): Includes a KSM32C Cardioid Condenser Microphone, Shock Mount, Magnetic Pop Filter, Premium Zippered Carrying Case, Set Replacement Shock Mount Bands (8), Threaded Adapter
KSM40C Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone ($879): Includes a KSM40C Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, Shock Mount, Magnetic Pop Filter, Premium Zippered Carrying Case, Set Replacement Shock Mount Bands (8), Threaded Adapter
KSM44MP Large Diaphragm Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone ($1,099): Includesa KSM44MP Dual Diaphragm Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone, Shock Mount, Magnetic Pop Filter, Premium Zippered Carrying Case, Swivel-Mount Mic Clamp (Hard Mount), Set Replacement Shock Mount Bands (8), Threaded Adapter
Availability
The KSM line will be available this spring and is on display at the Shure Booth (#15608) at NAMM 2026 in Anaheim (January 22- January 24).
For more information about the KSM microphones, visit these web pages:
Genzler® Amplification is proud to announce the new MAGELLAN®ULV series of ULTRA * LIGHT * VERTICAL bass cabinet designs. With decades of cabinet design and build expertise, these new models are by far the lightest, most compact bass cabinets Jeff Genzler has ever offered.
These great sounding cabinets are tuned and ported to reproduce the depth and clarity of any bass instrument, with tight low-end support, vocal, mid-range definition, and available top-end shimmer.
The MG-ULV cabs are all vertical designs, with a minimal stage footprint, and are constructed from a new ultra-light, multi-layer, poplar plywood, for its warmth, density and strength, and all cabinets feature full internal acoustic dampening.
The MG-ULV series features:
**All vertical cabinet designs, front ported for better projection and depth
**High-powered Neodymium speakers and tweeters
**Ultra-light, multi-layer, poplar plywood construction
**Small, compact stage footprints
**Full, internal acoustic dampening
**12dB/octave crossover with Tweeter Level control
The series consists of 3 models with exceptional
weight to performance ratios.
MG-ULV-112T
NEO—1X12” w/Tweeter, 350W, 8 ohm
WT: 19.5 LBS
DIMENSIONS: 18 1/8”H x 14 ¼”W x 14”D
USA MAP: $1,099.99
MG-ULV-210T
NEO-2X10” w/Tweeter, 600W, 8 ohm
WT: 25 LBS
DIMENSIONS: 26 1/8”H x 14 ¼”W x 14”D
USA MAP: $1,359.99
MG-ULV-212T
NEO-2X12” w/Tweeter, 700W, 4 ohm
WT: 35.5 LBS
DIMENSIONS: 29 ¾”H x 14 ¼”W x 14”D
USA MAP: $1,599.99
GENZLER AMPLIFICATION staying in tune with the player community has responded with the new MAGELLAN® ULV series; addressing player’s needs for the lightest weight, most compact bass cabinets possible, without sacrifice in tone, power, warmth, and durability.
EBS has introduced two new lines of high-performance cables: the CurlySquare and Regular Square instrument cable.
The EBS CurlySquare coiled instrument cable features a bold design with jumbo-sized curls and square-shaped cable. The innovative shape performs an important function: its square shape prevents the cable from turning into a mess due to cable memory, and the heavy-duty insulation makes it extra durable and protected.
These cables feature a unique design by EBS called WaveGrip, which means the 1/4” contacts have annular grooves spaced along the shaft that lock the contact in the jack. That means the risk of stepping on the cable and losing signal because it pulls the plug out of the jack is eliminated.
The CurlySquare cables are available in two lengths: 4.6 m (15 ft) and 7.6 m (25 ft), and configurations with straight/straight or straight/angled contacts.
If you prefer a more discreet design but still want the heavy-duty insulation and square-shaped cable, pick the EBS Regular Square edition, a straight instrument cable version available in 3.8 m (12.5 ft) and 6.8 m (22 ft) lengths, with the same contact configurations as the CurlySquare cables.
The CurlySquare name and WaveGrip design both have pending patent applications in Europe and the USA.