Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

The Year in Gear 2019

The 60+ guitars, amps, pedals, basses, and accessories that stood out from the crowd and earned our coveted Premier Gear Award this year.

Carr Telstar

This handwired 17-watt, 1x12 combo employs two familiar power tubesā€”a 6L6Ā and an EL84ā€”to produce the presence and immediacy of a great Fender tweed, the thrilling sparkle of Vox overdrive, and a tighter, tougher bass response than youā€™d expect from a strictly vintage midsized combo. Telstarā€™s suave spring reverb, strong note fundamentals, articulate attack, and extraordinary touch response caused Joe Gore to exclaim, ā€œI love this frickinā€™ amp.ā€

Read the review
$2,450 street, carramps.com

Watch the First Look:

Plus! December Premier Gear Award Winners!
Read the full reviews on the pages indicated below!

1. Peavey Invective.MH ā€” $699 street, peavey.com
2. Chase Bliss Dark World ā€” $349 street, chaseblissaudio.com
3. Comins CGS-16Ā ā€” $2,399 street, cominsguitars.com
4. Ernie Ball Music Man Short-Scale StingRay ā€” $1,999 street, music-man.com
5. EBS MicroBass 3 ā€” $349 street, ebssweden.com


The series features three distinct modelsā€”The Bell,The Dread, and The Parlorā€”each built to deliver rich, resonant acoustic sound with effortless amplification.

Read MoreShow less

Mooer Prime Minimax M2 Intelligent Pedal boasts 194 effects models, 80 preset slots, MNRS and third-party sample file compatibility, an 80-minute looping module, internal drum machine, high-precision tuner, Bluetooth support, and a rechargeable lithium battery.

Read MoreShow less

Kirk Hammett has partnered with Gibson Publishing to release The Collection: Kirk Hammett, a premium hardcover coffee-table photo book where Kirk tells the stories behind his rare and collectible instruments.

Read MoreShow less

The collection includes Cobalt strings with a Paradigm Core, Tim Henson Signature Classical Strings, and the Tim Henson Signature FretWrap by Gruv Gear.

Read MoreShow less