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Gear Of The Year 2019: Best guitars, amps and pedals

We’ve crowned the best electric guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal, amp and accessory of 2019!

Gear Of The Year (Hero)
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It doesn’t feel like too long ago that we inducted the winners of our Gear Of The Year 2018 awards. But in the 12 months since, we’ve seen some monumental events shake up the guitar universe. From Gibson’s legal battles to Ed Sheeran partnering a small UK luthier to a new world record for the most expensive guitar sold at auction, it’s never been a more exciting time to be a six-string lover.

But we’re here for the gear. So without further ado, these are the best gear in seven categories: premium electric guitar, affordable electric guitar, acoustic guitar, amplifier, stompbox, multi-effects pedal and accessory.

Best premium electric guitar

GOTY Gibson Custom 60th Annivesary 1959 Les Paul Standard

Winner: Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard

Recommended:

  • Gretsch G6620T Players Edition Nashville Center Block Double-Cut
  • Eastman Romeo

Also nominated:

  • Macmull Custom Guitars Heartbreaker Custom
  • Novo Mirus J
  • Gibson SG Junior
  • Bunting Melody Queen
  • Vuorensaku T Family ‘Birke’
  • Millimetric Instruments MGS2
  • Music Man Valentine Tremolo

Best affordable electric guitar

GOTY Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster

Winner: Fender Vintera ’50s Telecaster

Recommended:

  • Sterling By Music Man St Vincent HH
  • Chapman Guitars ML1 CAP10

Also nominated:

  • Gibson Les Paul Tribute
  • Fender Vintera ’60s Jazzmaster Modified
  • Fender American Performer Stratocaster
  • Chapman V2 ML2 Modern Standard
  • Shergold Provocateur SP02-SD
  • Supro Silverwood
  • Harmony Jupiter

Best acoustic guitar

GOTY Taylor Builder's Edition 717E Grand Pacific

Winner: Taylor Builder’s Edition 717e Grand Pacific

Recommended: 

  • Sheeran By Lowden S04
  • Eastman Double Top Series DT30D

Also nominated:

  • B&G Caletta Crossroads
  • Dearnaley Guitars Natural
  • Taylor 562ce V-Class 12-string
  • Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe
  • Lowden F32
  • Auden Artist Julia Mahogany

Best electric guitar amplifier

Orange TremLord 30

Winner: Orange TremLord 30

Recommended: 

  • Boss Katana MkII 50
  • Marshall Studio Series SV20H

Also nominated:

  • Supro 1812R Blues King 12
  • Carr Telstar
  • Supro 1696RT Black Magick Reverb
  • Blackstar Silverline Stereo Deluxe
  • Rift Amplification Aynsley Lister Signature
  • Two-Rock Studio Signature
  • Blackstar HT-20R MkII

Best guitar pedal

GOTY Strymon Volante

Winner: Strymon Volante

Recommended: 

  • Beetronics Swarm
  • Keeley Fuzz Bender

Also nominated:

  • King Tone The Duellist
  • Becos CompIQ Pro Stella Compressor
  • ThorpyFX Heavy Water
  • Redbeard Effects Red Mist Mk IV
  • Teisco Boost
  • EarthQuaker Devices Plumes
  • Walrus Audio Slö Multi Texture Reverb

Best multi-effects

GOTY Kemper Profiler Stage

Winner: Kemper Profiler Stage

Recommended: 

  • Mooer GE300
  • Fender Tre-Verb

Also nominated:

  • Keeley Electronics DDR Drive Delay Reverb
  • Electro-Harmonix Grand Canyon

Best guitar accessory

GOTY Blackstar amPlug 2 Fly

Winner: Blackstar amPlug 2 Fly Guitar

Recommended: 

  • EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things Pedalboard Reconciler
  • IK Multimedia AXE I/O

Also nominated:

  • Tul Microphones G12 Retro
  • IsoAcoustics Stage 1
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