
A Mesa-centric cabinet emulator offers a straight-ahead and simple solution to top-box needs.
Superb construction. Full collection of Mesa cabinet/speaker IRs. Stores 16 IRs onboard. Traditional MIDI I/O jacks. Supports third-party IRs. Continuously adjustable attenuation levels.
No switchable ohmage. No editing software. No effects. Only includes Mesa IRs (but you can load third-party IRs).
$799
Mesa Boogie CabClone IR+
mesaboogie.com
Mesa Boogie's CabClone IR+ is a major upgrade on the company's original CabClone (which I reviewed here in 2016). The original was a load box and attenuator with an old-school speaker emulation, which was actually a speaker-like EQ curve rather than a set of impulse responses. The CabClone IR+ is available in 4-ohm, 8-ohm, and 16-ohm models.
(Mesa also offers the $599 CabClone IR, minus the plus sign. It's a load box/IR speaker emulator similar to its pricier sibling, but it omits speaker attenuation. If you seek a device primarily for direct recording or gigging, but don't need to lower the volume of your amp, you can save $200 with the non-plus version.)
The CabClone IR+ is a hefty chunk of hardware measuring approximately 7.5"x 6.5" x 4". It's as rugged and road-ready as most Mesa gear, and it sports the company's signature industrial vibe. Yup, it would look pretty sharp perched next to a Mesa head and cab.
⦠and Nothing but the Boogie
In fact, CabClone IR+ is specifically targeted toward Mesa amp users. The included IR library is not a grab bag of popular cabs from multiple manufacturers, but a collection of eight Mesa cabs impulses: two 4x12s, two 2x12s, and three 1x12s. The four Recto IRs, the two Lone Star cabs, and the 1x12 Thiele cabs feature Celestion speakers. The 1x12 California Tweed cab has a Fender-favored Jensen.
The CabClone IR+ stores a generous 16 IRs onboard in two banks of eight. As shipped, Bank A includes the eight cabs captured through dynamic and ribbon mics, while Bank B features the same cabs recorded via condenser and ribbon mics. Meanwhile, you can load third-party impulse responses to expand the IR gene pool
The attenuation function is uncommonly versatile. While some products merely toggle between preset attenuation levels, here there are four levels and a -16 dB trim pot. That means you can dial in precise speaker levels ranging from full volume to silence.
With the presence control set at noon (as heard in demo Clips 3 and 4), tones are bright and stringy, with more high-end content than you typically get from a miked speaker. Lowering the presence knob softens that edge for a more naturalistic sound, but that extra treble is always there if you need it. It could be especially useful with ultra-high-gain tones, which can lose treble impact.
Hold the Bells and Whistles
The CabClone IR+ excels at its core tasks. You can master its streamlined controls in minutes. But the flipside of that simplicity is a lack of extended features. There is no editing software other than a minimal IR loader. (Your computer "sees" the connected device as a hard drive. Just drag the desired IRs into the single-level directory that appears on your desktop). You can't, for example, alter the relative mic levels of the dual-mic IRs, shift virtual mic positions, or add effects. But the CabClone IR+ offers full MIDI functionality via full-sized MIDI I/O ports.
The Verdict
Withits focus on Mesa cabinet sounds, the CabClone IR+ is an obvious choice for players who pledge allegiance to the brand. (Mesa has been integrating CabClone into its recent amp modelsāa darn good idea.) It's dead simple to use, but it offers minimal editing features. You may not want or need those features, but consider your likely use scenarios before buying.
- Mesa/Boogie California Tweed Review - Premier Guitar āŗ
- No Mics, No Cab, No Problem! - Premier Guitar āŗ
- Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Badlander 50 Review - Premier Guitar āŗ
- No Mics, No Cab, No Problem! - Premier Guitar āŗ
Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where theyāre based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like āBand Practice,ā āStudio Mic Setup,ā or āQuick Jam,ā making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
āThese tools are all about saving time and hassle,ā said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. āMusicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, weāre giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.ā
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream deviceāso they will always know whoās ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefishās mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriersāwhether youāre jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
Few musical acts did more to put their fame and fortune to good use than punk rock icon Wayne Kramer. Known for his enduring commitment to activism, especially in justice reform, his life story embodies the defiant, DIY ethos of punk, directly inspiring generations of bands and musicians who followed. Now, fans and fellow musicians alike can attempt to emulate Kramerās incendiary sound with the new, limited-edition pedal.
Designed before his death in February 2024, Wayne Kramerātogether with friend Jimi Dunlop (Dunlop CEO) and Daredevil Pedals owner Johnny Wator āthe pedal features artwork from artist and activist Shepard Fairey (Obey Clothing founder). A majority of profits from the sale of the pedal goes directly to Kramerās charity supporting the rehabilitation of incarcerated people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
In honor of his close friend, Tom Morelloāthe innovative guitarist behind Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman, and moreādemoed the pedal, showcasing its sound and shining light on Wayne Kramerās incredible legacy.
Tom Morello Introduces MC5 Wayne Kramer-Inspired Pedal For Charity: MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive
"What they've tried to bake into the MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive distortion pedal is not just Wayne's sound but Wayne's attitude, and the grit and the rawness of Detroit and of the MC5," said Morello, one of Kramerās best friends, during his demo of the pedal. "This is the guitar pedal that was used on the song 'Heavy Lifting' that I recorded with Wayne for the last MC5 record.
"Named after the late rocker's charityāwhich provides instruments and art workshops to incarcerated individuals as rehabilitation toolsāthe MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal aims to capture all of the high-voltage energy of Wayne Kramer's sound. It features two uniquely voiced gain circuits cascaded together with a singular pot controlling both the output level of each circuit and the overall saturation level of the distortion.
Music makers looking to capture Kramerās raw, fiery sound can pick up the new MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal, exclusively on Reverb via The Official MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive Reverb Shop for $199, here: https://reverb.com/shop/the-official-mxr-jail-guitar-doors-reverb-shop.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kieselās new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼ā input, XLR and ¼ā outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. Itās intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But donāt let that hold you back if youāre a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼ā phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry ā important for the instrument most responsible for the bandās groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).