Winter NAMM 2016: PGL Picks

It’s only the other day that I did a post boasting about the Line 6 Relay series of wireless guitar systems. Line 6 have added a new member to the family, the G10, and it’s now better than ever. As I highlighted in my earlier post, Line 6 seems to be highly reputable in the wireless industry and is the first choice for many guitarists. This system is advertisted as “the easiest wireless system ever”. It’s as simple as connecting the rechargeable transmitter to your guitar and you’re good to go. Everything on this device is automatic. We’ll be taking a closer look at this in the future.

I’ll be honest – I wasn’t expecting the amazing sound quality that this unit has to offer. It takes a lot for a multi-effects pedal to impress me, especially with the fierce competition from Boss and Line 6. Hotone is a relatively unfamiliar company, but the MP-10 sounds surprisingly good. You can connect it directly to the PA system, which means there’s no need to carry a heavy guitar amp to your gig. It can also function as a USB audio interface. In my opinion, this unit only lacks on the heavier sounds, such as the metal presets.

It seems like IK Multimedia really know how to bring out innovative products. Take a listen to the audio demo in the video below, and I’m sure you’ll agree that the new iRig Acoustic sounds fantastic. It’s the first acoustic mobile guitar interface to be released, and works in conjunction with the Amplitube software on your mobile phone or iPad. The main idea is to allow guitarists to still achieve great acoustic guitar tone while on the road. This device seems like a great idea, however the reviews on Amazon do paint a slightly different picture. Thus we will be taking a look at the iRig Acoustic more in depth in a future post.

This is Marshal’s new series of digital guitar amps. The Marshal Code made it into this list purely based on its amazing sound quality. But don’t take my word for it, judge for yourself by watching the video demo below. It includes the Marshal Code smartphone app, which essentially will allow you to control the amp wirelessly. All in all, it’s a great companion for any live musician, due to the fact that you don’t have to cart a heavy tube amp around with you.

An interesting idea from Taylor Guitars. This is basically a Smartphone application designed to keep an eye on your precious guitar. It measures and monitors your guitars temperature, humidity, battery life as well as any impacts your guitar may encounter. It’s great if you’re a travelling musician, especially if you’re making use of airlines.

This gadget actually won the “Best in Show” award at NAMM 2016. Virtual Jeff is an intelligent pitch controller in the form of a digital whammy bar. It can be added to any guitar with a pickup, even an acoustic. There is no tension placed on your strings, so you never have to worry about going out of tune. The one issue I have with Virtual Jeff so far is the price, which is said to be in the $300 range.