The top gear pick for the first week of November goes to the Electro-Harmonix Cock Fight. This is an interesting new wah pedal that offers fresh sounds and ideas. It includes a ‘Talking Wah’ mode for stuck voice-box sounds. You can also use its built-in distortion for more grind and growl. Purchase and pricing available will be available soon. (Scroll down for more info.)
Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 35
This new model is based on the Mark Five: 25, featuring 4 x EL84 tubes and an onboard CabClone DI to bypass the need for a microphone. You can set the amp to either 35, 25 or 10 watts. More info.
Fender Custom Shop Mike Campbell
This Custom Shop release from Fender relics Mike Campbell’s original Fender Telecaster, from the tone to the scratch marks. This is a limited edition release, and funds from the reproduction will go to Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund. More info.
Electro-Harmonix Cock Fight
This is described as a ‘cock talking wah pedal’. It features 2 filter types, namely ‘talking’ and ‘wah’. You can connect an expression pedal in order to control the wah effect. Some great artwork on this one too. More info.
Blackstar Amplification Artist Series
An expanded version of Blackstar’s Artisan series. They’ve added their ISF tone shaping circuit, reverb as well as an effects loop. These amps are powered by 6L6 tubes and Celestion V-Type speakers. More info.
EVH 5150III LBX
This new release by EVH is a smaller-than-average amp head that will make for easy transportation. It features 5 12AX7 tubes as well as 2 EL84’s. Eddie Van Halen described his new amp as “a beast in a box”. View on Amazon.
Xotic Effects Scott Henderson RC Booster
These pedals will be limited to 3000 pieces worldwide. This is an upgrade from the RC Booster that was released in 2002, and now features an additional gain channel on top of a 20db+ transparent boost. As the name suggests, jazz and blues guitarist Scott Henderson designed the pedal. Not only does it look great, but it sounds great too.
LO/Rez Pedals Mona Lisa Overdrive
This handmade pedal features an overdrive coupled with a rotary effect. You can check out the audio demos here. My personal opinion is that this release isn’t quite worth the $200 price tag. More info.
SolidGoldFX Horizon Compressor
A retro-style compressor that relies on a photocell and light source to control the dynamic range of the input signal. This compressor can be used on guitar, bass guitar and keyboard. More info.
Godlyke TWA Triskelion Mk II
The TWA Tk-02 is a variable-state bandpass filter with adjustable gain. The circuit is based on the Systech Harmonic Energizer used by Jim Walsh, Greg Lake, Frank Zappa and Dweezil Zappa. More info.
Walrus Audio Vanguard Dual Phase
As the name suggests, this pedal incorporates 2 phasers that work together. It features 3 selectable modes, with 8 controls in total. You have the option of using only 1 phaser at a time or both simultaneously. It sounds like a great pedal, although some more audio demos would have been nice. I guess we will have to wait for the official launch date, which is a week from now. More info.
Dynamo Amplification GT120x and GT50Xc
This is a head and cabinet as well as a 2×12 combo release by Dynamo Amplification, as part of their Grand Tour series. Both amps are based on the M50X model, which features ultra-high gain overdrive as well as a clean channel. Unfortunately no audio demos for this one. More info.
