Truetone V3 VS-XO Dual Overdrive Pedal
The Truetone V3 VS-XO Dual Overdrive Pedal is a stompbox pedal that has two overdrive channels. It has a 3-way Clipping switch, a 3-way Bass switch, and a Clean Mix knob. The right channel has pronounced mids without being honky.You also have the choice of internally switching the Pure Tone buffer on or off with each channel.If you use a switching system or want to change the order of effects, no problem… separate Ins and Outs allow for that. If you just want to plug one cable in and one out normally, you can do that too. And since we didn’t skimp on anything having to do with reliability, the VS-XO is covered by the Truetone Lifetime Warranty.
TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini
TC’s polyphonic PolyTune was a hit from its first iteration. The ease—and the sense of reassurance that comes from determining which strings are sharp or flat with a single strum—made it super practical in real-world performance situations. This even smaller version makes it even more utilitarian. It’s an elegant, simple tool and a shoo-in for a Premier Gear Award.
$89 street
tcelectronic.com
Click here to read the full review
In the years we’ve compiled our annual list of Premier Gear Award winners, we’ve probably never seen a list more eclectic than 2015’s. From high-gain monster amps and atmospheric reverbs to mini overdrives and wahs, 2015’s award winners covered all the bases.
As always, it was a joy to see how both big-time musical instrument industry players and little shops a step removed from the garage managed to haul in Premier Guitar’s prize for gear excellence. And if anyone’s counting, we’re pretty sure we also set a record for Premier Gear Award winners. So we hope you’re comfy—this list of primo gear may take some time to cover.