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First Look

First Look: MXR Timmy Drive

Paul Cochrane teams with MXR to build a tiny and accessibly priced take on his ultra-legendary overdrive.

First Look: Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

From Gilmour to Mascis, the mighty Ram's Head has always represented the pinnacle of Muffery. Now this econo version delivers the goods for a fraction of the vintage-madness price.

First Look: Breedlove Organic Series Wildwood Concert Satin CE

Solid mahogany construction and stylish contemporary design distinguish this slinky performer—all for less than $650.

First Look: Foxgear Rainbow Reverb

Five digital reverb engines and deep tone-tailoring features make this super-affordable time machine a supreme steal.

First Look: PRS SE Hollowbody Standard

Muscular output and magnificent overtones meet in the first affordable, SE version of Annapolis’s hallowed hollow.

First Look: MXR Timmy Drive

January 16, 2020

John Bohlinger

Paul Cochrane teams with MXR to build a tiny and accessibly priced take on his ultra-legendary overdrive.

First Look: Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

January 13, 2020

Brandon Highfill

From Gilmour to Mascis, the mighty Ram's Head has always represented the pinnacle of Muffery. Now this econo version delivers the goods for a fraction of the vintage-madness price.

First Look: Breedlove Organic Series Wildwood Concert Satin CE

January 6, 2020

John Bohlinger

Solid mahogany construction and stylish contemporary design distinguish this slinky performer—all for less than $650.

First Look: Foxgear Rainbow Reverb

December 30, 2019

Nikos Arvanitis

Five digital reverb engines and deep tone-tailoring features make this super-affordable time machine a supreme steal.

First Look: PRS SE Hollowbody Standard

December 23, 2019

John Bohlinger

Muscular output and magnificent overtones meet in the first affordable, SE version of Annapolis’s hallowed hollow.

First Look: Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster

December 16, 2019

John Bohlinger

Fender reimagines its original offset 6-string with a compound fretboard radius, noiseless pickups, and super-versatile switching options.

First Look: Meris Hedra

December 9, 2019

Brandon Highfill

It’s a bit complex, but this multifaceted shifter of undulating pitches rewards creative persistence with fascinating sonics.

First Look: Danelectro The Breakdown

December 2, 2019

John Bohlinger

We take this 2-knob take on the vintage Univox Uni-Drive used by Page and Beck for a spin with ’buckers and single-coils.

First Look: Strymon Iridium

November 5, 2019

Nikos Arvanitis

Marshall-, Vox-, and Fender-style tones and a plethora of killer cab and speaker IRs reside in this impeccable pedalboard amp modeler for stage and studio.

First Look: Ernie Ball Music Man Mariposa

October 21, 2019

John Bohlinger

Omar Rodríguez-López's signature axe delivers punch and flexibility outside high-gain alternative realms.

First Look: Fender Vintera ’50s, ’60s & ’70s Telecasters

October 14, 2019

John Bohlinger

Explore the subtle to significant differences among the company’s three new vintage-spec, mid-priced solidbodies.

First Look: Blackstar Silverline Standard

October 10, 2019

John Bohlinger

We take a listen to the British amp outfit’s latest, which features six power-tube-mimicking modes and numerous recording and performance options—all in a compact and handsome form factor.

First Look: Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb

October 7, 2019

John Bohlinger

Classic "American" amp tones in a butt-simple modeling amp? You bet—and it sheds 15 pounds in the process!

First Look: MXR Clone Looper

October 1, 2019

John Bohlinger

Two footswitches, one knob, and an almost infinite universe of speed-morphing, reverse-recording, loop-stacking possibilities.

First Look: Peavey Invective MH

September 16, 2019

Perry Bean

Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor’s shrunken signature amp dishes 20 brutally loud watts—plus a boatload of flexible sound-shaping and recording options.