PG Editors Ted Drozdowski, Jason Shadrick, and Director of Video Content Chris Kies pick their favorite gear from day 2.
Ted Drozdowski - Editorial Director
Boss Tube Amp Expander
<p>If chasing big, bold tones is your thing–but you can’t do it at brain-crushing volumes–consider investigating Boss’ Tube Amp Expander. Highly compatible with amps and DAWs, the Expander is a power attenuator with deep controls and adaptability. It’s also easy to use. A dial on the front switches between two impedance settings, appropriate for a combo or a stack. There are 10 rig presents, and it’s easy to design and save your own, too. There’s an “air” dial for ambiance, and speaker, line out, and headphone options. If headphones is your thing, just plug in your amp and don’t worry about a cab. Running with a DAW, a wide world of IRs, effects, and more becomes available. At dealers now at a $699 street price.</p>
Chris Kies - Director of Video Content
Godin Connaisseur MJ Flattops
<p>Our North American neighbors at Godin Guitars brought the brand-new Connaisseur MJ flattops. A solid spruce top, solid rosewood back & sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard make this a sturdy, stout ride. Each of these studs come with the <a href="http://lrbaggs.com/" target="_blank">LR Baggs</a> HiFi electronics, but we're not sure how much you're gonna want to plug in when this baby jumbo sings so well on its own.</p>
Jason Shadrick - Managing Editor
EVH Wolfgang Trans Amber
<p>EVH's custom shop was quite busy as well. As an unapologetic fan of '90s Van Halen, the finish on this Wolfgang Trans Amber brings back so many memories. Along with the basswood body and Quilt Maple arched top, it has 22 stainless steel frets, EVH Floyd Rose bridge, and Wolfgang Black and Creme Zebra humbuckers. Streets at $5,800.</p>
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The PG Editors pick their favorite gear from Ernie Ball, Martin, Huss & Dalton, Seymour Duncan, and more from the first day of NAMM.
Ted Drozdowski - Editorial Director
Huss & Dalton Trey Hensley Acoustic
<p>The adventurous bluegrass burner Trey Hensley & acoustic stalwarts Huss & Dalton combined to release a delightful dread that a thermo-cured Adirondack red spruce, wavy east Indian Rosewood for back, sides & peghead, Honduran mahogany with diamond volute, herringbone purfling, and Gotoh SXB510V open-back nickel tuners.</p>
Jason Shadrick - Managing Editor
Ernie Ball Stingray II
<p>Ernie Ball announced a new collaboration with Cory Wong called the StingRay II. Cory wanted more <a href="https://www.premierguitar.com/tag/humbucker?utm_source=website&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Smartlinks">humbucker</a> flavors in his arsenal, so these models feature his signature HT pickups, roasted maple neck, and stainless steel frets. They start at $2,999 with the Deluxe version listing for $3,299.</p>
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PG Editors Ted Drozdowski, Jason Shadrick, and Director of Video Content Chris Kies pick favorites for NAMM day 3. Gear from Dumble, Novo, Cream Guitars, Collings, EHX, and more.
Ted Drozdowski - Editorial Director
IK Multimedia TONEX Cab
<p>Audio creation specialists IK Multimedia showcased two strong new entries in their TONEX modeling and effects product line at NAMM: the powered TONEX Cab and the Joe Satriani Ltd. Edition TONEX One pedal. The lux-sounding cab, which ships in April but is available for preorder at $699 street–$100 less than the MAP–is full range, flat response with a custom 12" Celestion and a Lavoce 1" high-performance compression driver. It’s built to enhance the sonic vibe of amp modelers, and kicks out the jams at 350-watts via audiophile-grade power amps. The sound pressure level is 132 dB, so there’s plenty of punch, response, and definition. The control set includes a programmable 3-band EQ, a mike and live dial for tone, an easy-to-use preset dial, and a custom IR loader with 8 onboard presets. There are XLR and AUX outs, it’s MIDI controllable, has old-school tilt-back legs, wood construction, and swappable grille cloths. Plus, it comes with AmpliTube 5 SE, TONEX SE, and TONEX Cab Control Software.</p>
Jason Shadrick - Associate Editor
Dumble "Woody" Amp
<p><span style="background-color: initial;">Dumble</span> Amplification brought an impressive collection to the show, but this amp might be the most significant. Before <span style="background-color: initial;">Dumble</span> would agree to build you an amp you had to make the pilgrimage to see him and play for him. This amp, dubbed “<span style="background-color: initial;">Woody</span>”, would be what each player would plug into. It’s a single-channel design that has this beautiful, smooth compression. And like many of <span style="background-color: initial;">Dumble</span>’s amp designs, there’s nowhere to hide.</p>
Chris Kies - Director of Video Content
EHX POG3
<p>EHX always brings some fresh goodies to NAMM and this year they showed us a trio of tone twisters. The most impressive unit had to be the POG3 that builds off their stupendous previous iterations and put lightning-fast tracking and perfect polyphony over four octaves with smoother tone and performance than ever before. It has six voices including DRY, -2, -1, +5th, +1, & +2, you can mix each with individual sliders and create enveloping stereo effects with dedicated pan knobs and selectable LEFT/RIGHT/DIRECT outputs. The effects section has been expanded to offer envelope control and adjustable Q for the new multi-mode FILTER, enhanced DETUNE section with SPREAD, and individual DRY effect selection, plus the famous ATTACK slider for subtle or dramatic swell effects. It also includes expression effects like Freeze, Glissando, Volume, Filter, X-Fade, and Warp.</p>
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