Tag: Gear of the Year

From pickups to tuners, plectrums to practice amps, we all need those little extra bits of gear that help us sound better, play better, or simply play more – here are our picks for the year.

When it comes to taking things down low, sometimes all we need is the classics, but that hasn’t stopped some brands getting inventive with their bass gear in 2017…

Modern multi-effects processors come in all shapes and sizes – here’s our pick of the best of the last 12 months…

We’re living in a golden age of effects pedals, and that’s a fact borne out by some of the fantastic stompboxes that we’ve looked at in 2017…

There’s a simple joy in playing a fine acoustic guitar, and 2017 found us in no short supply of top-end charmers from boutique builders and the big boys alike.

2017’s affordable acoustic guitars can excel at home and on stage with high-quality build, well-chosen materials and a healthy dose of old-school vibe, too…

If money is no object in your pursuit of tonal nirvana, you’ve really never had it so good. 2017 saw amp builders big and small pulling out all the stops in the quest to capture perfect vintage tones, and push the envelope of high-end versatility…

The affordable amplifier category always throws up some of the most varied and interesting products around, and this year is no different – from valve-powered monsters to cutting edge modellers and everything in between…

When the sky is the limit price-wise, you know you’re going to be dealing with some truly inspiring musical instruments – here’s our pick of the best of the best high-end electric guitars from 2017…

If you’re looking for a serious instrument on a budget, you won’t go far wrong with any of these…