Tom Butwin is back with round two of Pedalmania 2025!
First, he demos the versatile Chase Bliss Brothers AM, a collaboration with Analog Man that packs the beloved King of Tone sound into a compact powerhouse. Next, experience the unique and wild sounds of Eventide's Knife Drop, a collaboration with Third Man that delivers crushing distortion and synth tones. Finally, explore the simple but effective Rock N Roll Relics Stinger Overdrive, an old-school pedal with new old stock parts that offers a wide range of usable tones—from a clean boost to searing leads.
The cosmic-country cowboy touts a rig inspired by the greats and powered by a mix of vintage and modern-day gear.
Hot on the heels of his new record, Horizons, Daniel Donato took PG’s John Bohlinger on a trip through his live setup, which spans more than 70 years of electric-guitar history.
This Fender Custom Shop 1963 Telecaster has “everything that a great traditional Telecaster needs,” says Donato.
Jack of All Trades
This DGN Custom Guitars T-style, built by Dan Neafsey, is dubbed the Epoch. Donato wanted a Tele that he could play all night without tiring of the tones, so Neafsey assembled this do-it-all electric. Its body is an eighth of an inch smaller than a traditional Tele’s, and its flame-maple neck sports a compound radius. Neafsey wound the PAF-style pickups, which can be configured as overwound single-coils via a coil-tap function. The steel ashtray bridge was cut to fit a humbucker.
Donato plays Dunlop Jazz III picks, and loads his guitars with a .010–.052 set of Ernie Ball Slinky strings.
Pro Tip
This 1966 Fender Pro Reverb is the first black-panel amp Donato ever purchased. It’s been converted to a 2x12 configuration in place of the usual 1x15, and it’s loaded with Weber 12F150 speakers.
Daniel Donato’s Pedalboard
Donato says that while the Pro Reverb is the steak, the Fender Tonemaster Pro is the best thing to season it with. His effects run into this floor unit, which is set to a black-panel Twin Reverb program, through a Radial Highline, and out to the front of house at a clean, crisp level. Donato uses some of the Tonemaster Pro’s onboard effects, too, like a graphic EQ and tape echo.
The rest of the board, designed by XAct Tone Solutions, carries a Dunlop X Volume Mini and CAE Wah, Gamechanger Audio Plus, Greer Lightspeed, a Keeley Noble Screamer, Cosmic Country Phaser, and Rotary, a Strymon TimeLine, Walrus R1, Universal Audio Max, DigiTech FreqOut, and Eventide H90.
An EHX Hum Debugger, always on, rests on top of his amp to keep his Teles in line.
The Certified Guitar Player chats (and jams) with John Bohlinger about recording his new album Living in the Light, detailing his philosophy on tone and live sound, his focus on song arrangements and melody, hitting the onstage curveballs, and why he’ll never retire from being happy (performing).
ENGL Amplifiers proudly introduces the RAVAGER IR, a 20-watt, 2-channel tube amp that blends vintage tone with modern technology. Designed for musicians seeking a versatile, portable solution, the RAVAGER delivers exceptional sound quality in a compact lunchbox-style chassis.
The E725 RAVAGER use 12AX7/ECC83 in the preamp and EL84 in the poweramp section, producing dynamic, harmonically rich tones. Its dual-channel design provides pristine cleans and aggressive overdrive, making it ideal for stage, studio, or home use.
A key feature is its built-in IR Loader, enabling users to use four impulse responses (IRs), three of them can be loaded via USB for unparalleled cab simulation. This makes recording and silent practice effortless while delivering a professional sound. The amp is also equipped with an XLR output for live and studio applications, along with a headphone out for private practice. Additionally, the integrated Power Soak feature allows users to reduce output power for cranked tube tones at lower volumes, perfect for home or studio environments.
Key Features:
20W, 2-channel tube amp
ECC83 preamp & EL84 power amp section for authentic tone
Built-in IR Loader with four Irs (three customizable slots)
USB connectivity for easy IR management
Headphone output for silent practice
XLR direct output for live and recording setups
Integrated Power Soak for adjustable power (20 Watts, 5 Watts, 1 Watts, Speaker off) ∙ Compact, portable lunchbox design
The ENGL E725 RAVAGER is a powerhouse for modern guitarists who need a flexible, compact amp without compromising on tone. Whether performing live, tracking in the studio, or practicing at home, this amp offers professional-grade sound and features.
E412XXLK Eminence Karnivore
Engl unveils the new E412XXL with Eminence Karnivore speakers — a powerhouse 4x12"cabinet built to meet the demands of modern high-gain players. This updated version of the legendary E412XXL combines Engl’s precision-engineered oversized enclosure with the aggressive tonal character of the Eminence Karnivore speakers, delivering bone-crushing low end,razor-sharp attack, and exceptional clarity at high volumes.
Features
Four Eminence Karnivore 12" Speakers
Designed for modern metal and hard rock, offering tight bass, cutting mids, and controlled top end for maximum definition under high gain.
Oversized Straight Cabinet Design
Deep enclosure for massive low-frequency response and room-filling projection.
High Power Handling
240-watt total power at 8 ohms, ready to handle the most powerful tube heads without breaking a sweat.
Tour-Grade Construction
Robust birch plywood build, reinforced corners, metal grille, and heavy-duty casters for reliable road use.
Huge, crushing sound ideal for drop tunings and extended-range guitars ∙ Precise articulation at high volumes for tight rhythm work
Designed from the ground up by Kristian Kohle and the Eminence engineering team, the Karnivore delivers all the bite and all the meat
Availability
The new E412XXL with Eminence Karnivore is available hrough authorized Engl dealers and distributors worldwide.