The PowerValve 200 is a compact 200-watt power amplifier built specifically for use with modelers, standalone preamp pedals, and full pedalboard rigs. Rather than replacing digital gear, it enhances it—injecting warmth, harmonic richness, and the dynamic response associated with valve-driven amplifiers while still keeping rigs streamlined and portable.

At the heart of the unit is Victory’s VRC, or Valve React Circuit. When engaged, this system activates an EF91 (CV4014) valve that introduces natural compression, harmonic complexity, and touch-sensitive response to your tone. The result is a more organic feel when driving a real guitar cabinet—something many players feel is missing from FRFR-based setups. If a tighter, more linear response is preferred, the valve stage can be bypassed to run through a solid-state signal path.

With 200 watts available at 4Ω, 100 watts at 8Ω, and 50 watts at 16Ω, the PowerValve 200 can comfortably power a wide range of speaker cabinets. This flexibility makes it suitable for everything from compact rehearsal rigs to full stage setups. Victory recommends pairing it with their Lunchbox Speaker series for a portable yet powerful rig, though the amplifier can drive virtually any standard guitar cabinet.

Using the PowerValve 200 is refreshingly simple. Players connect the output of a modeler, preamp, or pedalboard to the unit’s balanced input, adjust the input level, shape the tone with the onboard controls, and send the signal directly to a cabinet. An LED indicator helps ensure proper gain staging, making setup quick and intuitive even in live environments.

Tone shaping is handled by a straightforward three-band EQ consisting of Resonance, Body, and Presence controls. These detented knobs provide precise adjustment while making it easy to return to neutral settings—the midpoint effectively bypasses the EQ for an uncolored response.

Despite its power and versatility, the PowerValve 200 remains highly portable. Its pedalboard-friendly form factor is housed in a rugged zinc-plated mild steel chassis designed to withstand the rigors of touring. The compact footprint allows it to integrate easily into modern pedalboard rigs without requiring the space or weight of a traditional amplifier head.

The amplifier also offers flexible connectivity for practice, recording, and live performance. A switchable analog cabinet simulation is available via an XLR output, allowing players to run directly to a recording interface or front-of-house system. For silent practice, the unit includes a dedicated 3.5mm headphone output. A dedicated Headphone Level control allows independent adjustment of both the headphone output and the cab-sim signal without affecting the main speaker output.

Get the Victory Amplification PowerValve 200 Power Amplifier here for $599 and keep up with all our Victory coverage right here!

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Developed by Novation, the Launch Control 3 centers around a flexible layout that combines 16 smooth, endless rotary encoders with eight assignable buttons. These controls allow users to manipulate parameters in real time, whether they are shaping plugin settings, adjusting mixer levels, or controlling external synthesizers.

The controller integrates seamlessly with major digital audio workstations, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, and Cubase. For other compatible platforms, Mackie HUI support ensures immediate connectivity and reliable control.

A vivid OLED screen sits at the center of the interface, providing clear real-time feedback on parameters and settings. Whether adjusting effects, balancing mixes, or navigating through sessions, the display keeps critical information visible without interrupting the creative process.

Where the Launch Control 3 truly shines is its adaptability within complex setups. Using Novation Components software, users can create custom MIDI mappings and store up to seven user-defined Custom Modes. These modes allow the controller to be tailored to specific workflows, giving musicians the ability to control plugins, software instruments, and hardware devices with equal precision.

The unit also supports standalone operation thanks to built-in 5-pin MIDI In, Out, and Out2/Thru ports. This means it can function independently of a computer, making it a valuable addition to hardware-focused or hybrid studio environments. Producers working with external synthesizers, drum machines, and other MIDI-equipped gear can integrate the controller directly into their rigs.

Power is supplied via USB-C, ensuring straightforward connectivity and reliable operation during both studio sessions and live performances.

To round out the package, the Launch Control 3 includes a bundle of studio-grade software. Buyers receive Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and effects from respected developers such as Klevgrand, Baby Audio, and Output.

Get the Novation Launch Control 3 Control Surface here for $169.99 and keep up with all our Novation coverage right here!

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Developed by Strandberg Guitars and its visionary founder Ola Strandberg, the N2.6T pairs ergonomic innovation with premium materials and cutting-edge hardware to deliver a guitar built for modern players who demand speed, precision, and comfort.

At its tonal core is a resonant Basswood body, chosen for its balanced response and ability to support everything from glassy cleans to high-gain saturation.

The neck is crafted from Roasted Maple and reinforced with titanium rods, dramatically increasing dimensional stability while enhancing clarity and sustain. Capping the neck is a smooth Roasted Maple fingerboard, delivering articulate note separation and a lightning-fast playing feel.

The electronics package is equally formidable. A pairing of Seymour Duncan Sentient and Seymour Duncan Pegasus humbuckers delivers a versatile palette that prog and modern metal players will immediately recognize.

The Sentient neck pickup employs an Alnico V magnet to produce articulate cleans, fluid leads, and detailed harmonic response across a wide range of gain levels. At the bridge, the Pegasus humbucker provides tight low end, focused mids.

A defining characteristic of the Boden design is its headless architecture. By removing the traditional headstock mass, the guitar achieves improved balance and reduced weight, making long rehearsals and marathon stage sets significantly more comfortable. The N2 series further enhances this concept with the debut of Strandberg’s EGS Arc Tremolo bridge and String Lock system, engineered specifically for multi-scale instruments to maximize body contact, sustain, and tuning stability.

The body itself has also been refined. Updated contouring introduces a gently curved top and more fluid rear body lines, improving both comfort and control whether you’re seated in the studio or moving across the stage.

Perhaps the most visually distinctive feature remains the EndurNeck profile. Its trapezoidal rear shape may look unconventional at first glance, but players often find it remarkably comfortable. Designed to encourage proper thumb positioning and relaxed grip, the EndurNeck reduces fatigue and allows for longer, more comfortable playing sessions.

The multi-scale fingerboard further enhances performance. By assigning each string a slightly different scale length, the design increases tension on the lower strings for tighter intonation while maintaining easy bending on the higher strings. The N2.6T employs a 25″–25.5″ multi-scale layout on a 20″ radius Roasted Maple fingerboard, complete with 24 Stainless Steel frets for exceptional durability and smooth playability.

Get the Strandberg Boden Standard N2.6T here for $1,899 and keep up with all our Strandberg coverage right here!

The post STRANBERG’s New Boden N2.6 Is All About That Whammy Bar appeared first on Gear Gods.

The Microverb itself was a fascinating piece of digital history. Built at a time when computational power was expensive and rack units ruled the studio landscape, it achieved lush ambience through clever engineering and a few unavoidable compromises. Those limitations became part of its identity: unusual reflection filtering, quirky decay characteristics, and a distinctly “digital-but-musical” character that remains beloved decades later.

CB Paint embraces those idiosyncrasies rather than sanding them away. The pedal captures the spirit of the original algorithms while expanding them with features that make integration into a modern pedalboard effortless. The result is a stompbox that sits comfortably between vintage charm and contemporary flexibility.

The pedal’s controls expand on the original concept in smart ways. The Tone knob operates as a 2-pole low-pass filter, letting players soften the high-frequency edge of the reverb tail. Turned upward, the reflections stay bright and articulate; rolled back, the ambience becomes darker and more subdued, perfect for sitting behind a dense mix.

Mix is another welcome addition. While the original rack unit offered limited integration flexibility, CB Paint allows precise blending between dry signal and reverb. At minimum, only the direct guitar signal passes through. At maximum, the output becomes fully wet, opening the door to ambient textures and studio-style parallel effects.

Perhaps the most intriguing control is Onset. Functionally similar to pre-delay, it determines how long the reverb waits before appearing after the initial note The Onset control takes on additional roles in specialized modes. In the gated reverb patch, it sets the gate time, shaping the abrupt cutoff that defined so many iconic recordings of the era. In reverse mode, the control determines how much smearing occurs in the reversed reflections.

At the heart of the pedal sits the Mode knob, an eight-position switch that unlocks the Microverb’s classic palette. The first six positions reproduce original patches from the rack unit, with room size and decay time increasing progressively from compact ambience to cavernous space. Each retains the distinctive filtering and diffusion characteristics that gave the Microverb its unmistakable voice.

Position seven delivers the famed gated reverb effect, a sound that exploded across recordings just five years before the Microverb first appeared. The result is the dramatic, punchy ambience that defined an entire generation of drum and guitar production.

The final position reveals the pedal’s reverse reverb patch, one of the Microverb’s most unusual tricks. Rather than literally reversing recorded audio, the original processor used mathematical manipulation to alter the reflective properties of the reverb state itself. The result is a swelling, rushing ambience that feels like it is pulling the signal forward through time.

Get the Catalinbread CB Paint Late 1900s Reverberator here for $209.99 and keep up with all our Catalinbread coverage right here!

The post CATALINBREAD Drops “Late 1900s” Paint Reverb Pedal appeared first on Gear Gods.

Each instrument is handmade and built with neck-through construction for enhanced sustain, superior structural stability, and a seamless feel that makes upper-register playing remarkably comfortable. This construction also dramatically improves ergonomics. Because the neck and body are carved as a unified structure, the transition into the higher frets becomes smooth and unobstructed, allowing players to reach the upper register with ease.

The Masterline series also distinguishes itself through its meticulous wood selection. FM Guitars incorporates a wide range of visually dramatic and tonally rich materials rarely seen together in a single production lineup. Among the featured woods are Buckeye, Wenge, Tzalam, Swamp Ash, Blacklimba, Cocobolo, Birdseye Maple, Purple Heart, Ziricote, Walnut Burl, and Flamed Maple. Each piece is chosen not only for tonal performance but also for its striking natural figure.

Another defining visual element is the multi-piece neck construction. Instead of a single wood slab, Masterline instruments feature necks made from multiple laminated layers of contrasting tonewoods. This technique enhances structural stability while creating a bold, exotic aesthetic that highlights the craftsmanship behind each build.

In terms of range, the Masterline series reflects FM Guitars’ reputation for pushing boundaries. Every model in the company’s catalog is available in the new series, covering a wide spectrum of configurations.

Players can choose from traditional 6-string designs all the way up to extended-range 9-string guitars. For those exploring more experimental territory, the lineup also includes the company’s expansive FM Style instruments, which stretch from 12-string builds up to massive 18-string configurations.

Check out the whole line here and keep up with all our FM Guitars coverage right here!

The post FM GUITARS Introduces New, High-End Masterline Series appeared first on Gear Gods.

At the heart of the pedal lies a system of infinitely repeating micro-echoes that generate rhythmic impulses feeding a massive cathedral-style reverb engine. The result is a towering ambient bed that grows organically from each note you play. The Length control shapes this environment by adjusting both the decay time and density of reflections, allowing everything from short atmospheric halos to cavernous, nearly endless ambience.

Intersecting the delay and reverb pathways is a resonant Low-Pass Filter inspired by classic Vintage Synthesizer circuits. This filter injects warmth, harmonic bloom, and darker atmospheric coloration into the signal. By adjusting the Filter control, players can determine how deeply that resonant coloration interacts with the reverb structure, adding everything from subtle tonal shading to dramatic spectral movement.

Navigation through this sonic terrain is handled through three distinct operational modes:

1. In Manual Mode, the player directly controls the filter frequency using the Frequency knob. The system creates opposing movements between the left and right stereo channels, allowing for dynamic tonal shifts that widen the soundstage and produce dramatic spatial motion.
2. Envelope Mode introduces a dynamic response to playing intensity. Picking harder or softer alters the filter frequency automatically, transforming playing dynamics into fluid harmonic motion. In this mode, the Frequency control adjusts sensitivity, determining how aggressively the filter responds to your touch.
3. LFO Mode hands control to a slow-moving oscillator that sweeps the filter across the stereo field. As the modulation drifts from side to side, the effect creates an evolving panning filter that continuously reshapes the sonic environment. The Frequency control adjusts the LFO rate, determining how quickly the filter travels through its spectral arc.

Towers also includes eight user-assignable presets, allowing players to store and instantly recall favorite ambient configurations with a turn of the Preset knob and a press of a switch.

One of the pedal’s most intriguing features is Stretch, a time-warping effect that dramatically alters the internal processing engine. Activating Stretch slows the entire system down, doubling the reverb length while simultaneously altering the frequency spectrum and introducing subtle pitch-bending artifacts. As the delay lines elongate and the filter smears across the soundscape, the effect becomes lo-fi and dreamlike, producing musical irregularities that add character and atmosphere.

The Stretch footswitch can be tapped for a quick atmospheric shift or held down to gradually plunge the entire system into a slower, deeper sonic abyss, generating unexpected textures along the way.

Control over the pedal’s architecture remains intuitive. The Mode toggle selects between Manual, Envelope, and LFO operation. Length adjusts the reverb decay and also controls the speed of the Stretch process. Mix blends the processed signal with the dry tone, while Frequency and Filter govern the spectral movement and resonance shaping the effect.

Get the EarthQuaker Devices Towers pedal here for $299 and keep up with all our EarthQuaker Devices coverage right here!

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Visually, the guitar makes its first impression with a striking AAA Book-Matched Flat Flame Maple top, paired with a matching headstock cap finish that elevates the instrument’s overall aesthetic. The dramatic figuring of the Maple creates a bold, premium look that hints at the meticulous craftsmanship behind the design. It also looks like a classic Dime Slime, and I am here for it.

Beneath the top lies a body and neck crafted from hand-selected pieces of aged African Mahogany. These carefully chosen tonewoods provide the warmth, sustain, and midrange authority that have long made Mahogany a staple in high-performance electric guitars.

For the fingerboard, Solar opts for Richlite — a modern material known for its smooth feel and exceptional stability. Compared to traditional woods, Richlite offers greater resistance to temperature and humidity changes while maintaining a fast, comfortable playing surface. The board is outfitted with Stainless Steel Super Jumbo frets for durability and effortless bending, along with Luminlay fret markers for enhanced visibility on dark stages. A Solar 12th fret logo inlay completes the instrument’s distinctive visual identity.

Performance hardware ensures the XF6LB stays locked in no matter how demanding the gig. An Evertune Bridge provides unmatched tuning stability by maintaining constant string tension, while Solar 18:1 Locking Tuners and a GraphTech Tusq nut deliver precise tuning control and reliable string performance.

Electronics are equally impressive. The XF6LB is equipped with custom-wound SA56BEU and SA56NEU Solar Modern humbuckers, developed in Europe and voiced with a modern, aggressive take on the classic Alnico V sound. Ola Englund and the Solar team designed these pickups specifically to complement the guitar’s tonal architecture, balancing clarity, output, and harmonic complexity.

Get the Solar Guitars XF6LB here for $4,299 and keep up with all our Solar coverage right here!

The post SOLAR GUITARS’ New XF6LB Gives Real Dime Slime Vibes appeared first on Gear Gods.

One of the more surprising revelations comes when Heafy discusses his creative influences. While Trivium’s music is firmly rooted in metal, he explains that orchestral composition – particularly the work of legendary film composer John Williams for the Star Wars series – has played a role in shaping his melodic thinking and riff construction.

“The next song I want to take a look at is a song called ‘Suffocating Sight’ off our second record, Ascendency,” said Heafy. “On this record, we decided to go fully into Drop D. This is one where I’ve always prided myself in being a great rhythm guitar player. I’d say that the shreddiest guy of this band is absolutely Cory.

“I’m a decent lead guitar player. My solos are more like dad solos, sticking in pentatonic boxes and blues, things like that. But this song is one that even to the best lea guitar players of other bands, their arms have fallen. So, this is a good song for you to learn. If you can learn this one, you can play anything.”

Get the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins here for $1,099 as the 6-string version, and $1,199 as the 7-string version. You can also keep up with all our Epiphone coverage right here.

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More than thirty years later — and following the recent return of the 90s 2-Channel Dual Rectifier — MESA is bringing back the mighty Triple Rectifier in a limited production run.

Built in Petaluma, California, the 90s Triple Rectifier Solo Head captures the layered harmonics, tight low end, and percussive midrange punch that made the original model a staple of detuned riffs and stadium-sized rhythm tones. Now reissued with modern manufacturing precision and backed by MESA’s five-year warranty, the amp delivers the same thunderous performance that helped it become so influential.

This limited run arrives dressed in one of the company’s most sought-after Custom Configured looks: a stealth-inspired Blackout aesthetic. The amp features a black chassis, black Speed knobs, and black Diamond Plate accents that replace the traditional polished aluminum hardware.

“Following the excitement around last year’s Chrome edition of the ’90s Dual and Triple Rectifier Solo Heads, we wanted to honor one of the most iconic Custom Dress options in our history with a limited run of stealth-inspired ‘Blackout’ Triple Rectifiers,” says Doug West, Director of Tone Lab for Gibson Amplifiers and MESA/Boogie.

“Back in the 90s, these upscale blacked-out models dominated stages behind some of the biggest names in rock. Today, finding one on the pre-owned market usually means heavy wear from years of touring—so this is a rare chance to own one in pristine, brand-new condition.”

At its core, the amp is a 150-watt, Class A/B, all-tube powerhouse running six MESA 6L6 power tubes with a maintenance-free fixed-bias design. A bias switch allows players to run either 6L6 or EL34 tubes, expanding the tonal range from American punch to British-style grind.

The amplifier’s signature feel comes from its trio of 5U4GB rectifier tubes and selectable Tube or Silicon Diode rectification. Players can further tailor response using the BOLD/SPONGY power switch, which adjusts the amp’s dynamic feel from tight and immediate to looser and more vintage-inspired.

Two fully independent channels provide classic Rectifier flexibility. Each channel features its own Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence, and Master controls, along with Channel Style/Cloning options for expanded voicing possibilities. Channel 1 “Orange” can deliver pristine cleans or Variable High Gain “Vintage” tones, while Channel 2 “Red” handles the amp’s aggressive high-gain duties with multiple voicing options.

A tube-driven series FX loop with a global output level control is included for integrating pedals and rack effects, while external switching allows control over channel selection and loop engagement. Channel switching itself is handled by a compact single-button footswitch.

Get the MESA/Boogie 90s Triple Rectifier here for $3,699 and keep up with all our MESA/Boogie coverage right here!

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Captured using the latest TONEX V2 AI Machine Modeling technology, the release delivers the blooming sustain, touch-sensitive cleans, and vocal overdrive associated with these legendary circuits — tones typically locked behind six-figure price tags. The two original amplifiers alone are valued at more than $300,000, representing highly coveted eras of the design.

At the center of the launch is the TONEX ONE Double Special Limited Edition, a collector-focused pedal limited to just 1,000 units worldwide. Handcrafted in Italy, the special edition features a custom Vintage Brown finish and arrives preloaded with 20 exclusive Premium Tone Models unavailable in the standard collection.

Beyond the onboard sounds, the pedal unlocks the complete Double Special TONEX Signature Collection inside the TONEX software environment. It also includes the ODS Legends Signature Collection, which adds another 20 Tone Models captured from four additional Dumble-style amplifiers. In total, players gain access to tones derived from six highly collectible amplifiers — a tonal library valued higher than many homes.

The Double Special TONEX Signature Collection itself includes 40 Premium Tone Models captured from two historic Overdrive Special combo amplifiers. These tones channel the expressive blues, fusion sustain, and edge-of-breakup textures associated with iconic players like Robben Ford, Carlos Santana, John Mayer, and Larry Carlton.

IK Multimedia captured each amplifier with and without its cabinet across multiple gain stages, channel configurations, and tonal sweet spots. The collection also includes full rig captures featuring classic front-end boosts modeled after the Klon Centaur, Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer, and JHS Morning Glory. These combinations recreate the stacked boost tones many players use to push Overdrive Special circuits into rich sustain and focused midrange punch.

The two featured amplifiers highlight key evolutionary moments in the circuit’s history. A late-1970s export model delivers airy top end, blooming mids, and a highly responsive feel ideal for piano-like cleans and smooth, vocal overdrive. A refined 1980 version offers tighter bass response, faster transient attack, and greater articulation at higher gain levels while maintaining the cascading clean-to-overdrive behavior that made the design famous.

Both amps were captured through custom open-back cabinets loaded with period-correct speakers, using multiple microphone pairings to preserve everything from tight, punchy close-mic tones to expansive studio ambience. The result is a versatile collection that moves seamlessly from expressive rhythm work to soaring lead tones.

Powered by TONEX V2 AI Machine Modeling, the new models deliver detailed harmonic complexity and dynamic responsiveness designed to translate equally well in the studio or on stage. Players can manage and edit Tone Models using the TONEX Editor for Mac and PC, with full compatibility across the TONEX ecosystem including TONEX Pedal, TONEX ONE, and TONEX Plug.

With its rugged aluminum chassis and stage-ready design, the TONEX ONE Double Special Limited Edition pairs boutique heritage tones with modern AI modeling technology — bringing some of the most coveted amplifier sounds ever built from the vault directly to pedalboards worldwide.

The Double Special TONEX Signature Collection is available for $149.99 ($99.99 for TONEX hardware users), while the TONEX ONE Double Special Limited Edition pedal is priced at $249.99 and includes both the Double Special and ODS Legends Signature Collections. Get it all here and keep up with all our IK Multimedia coverage right here!

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