Missed everything that's gone on in the gear world this week? Never fear - we've got you covered.
For our final gear spotlight of 2020, we’re taking a look at new acoustic models from Cort, a cosmic collaboration between Keeley Electronics and Daniel Donato, plus new releases from Darkglass Electronics, Reverend and TAL. Let’s go!
1. Cort SFX-Myrtlewood Acoustics
New from Cort, the SFX-Myrtlewood range of acoustic guitars combines a 25.3″ scale with a Venetian cutaway and slim body shape for a big, crisp sound that’s bound to project well in any setting. The unique aged-to-vintage Myrtlewood top ensures that all guitars in the range will boast their own unique visual flair, with colours ranging from blonde yellow to taupe and beyond.
The guitars also include a V-shaped mahogany neck and ovangkol fretboard with 20 frets, while a Fishman Presys II preamp with two-band EQ, Phase switch and tuner and a Fishman Sonitone under-saddle piezo turns the SFX-Myrtlewood series into a range that’s suited for the studio and the stage.
2. Keeley Electronics x Daniel Donato Cosmic Country Phaser
Teaming up with the Cosmic Cowboy himself, the latest effect from Keeley Electronics is a spacey phaser designed in conjunction with Southern wiz-kid Daniel Donato. It’s the first in a new Artist Series of pedals from Keeley, and we’re awfully keen to see what else is on the cards for next year.
Featuring two, four and six-stage phasing, the Cosmic Country Phaser features controls for depth, rate, feedback and level, allowing for a huge range of tonal possibilities. The pedal also boasts some very cool psychedelic artwork, with Keeley Electronics also announcing a portion of sales from the Artist Series will go towards helping artists who’ve struggled through the pandemic.
Hear it in action bel0w – shipping begins on December 22!
3. Darkglass Electronics ADAM Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine
What’s in a name? Apparently for Darkglass and Adam Nolly Getgood, everything. The ADAM Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine sees both parties combine resources to create a highly programmable, brutally voiced distortion device that’s packed with features, and we reckon it’s a no-brainer for any bassist to own.
Featuring a six-band programmable touch slider EQ, five distinctive distortion algorithms and compression modes, an inbuilt tuner and room for three presets, the ADAM offers more tones than the average bassist could ever think of using, plus some. Knobs for compression, drive, character, blend and level allow for hands-on tone tweaking, while an Aux input, Headphone out, MIDI in, DI and USB-C port offer oodles of connectivity.
Listen to Nolly put the ADAM through its paces below.
4. Reverend Guitars New Finish Options
Arriving in 2021, Reverend Guitars will be expanding the colour palate of their current offerings with a range of eye-catching finishes. The Warhawk DAW will now be available in four colours, including Silver Burst, Purple Burst, Red Burst and Avocado Burst, while the Roundhouse will be decked in Midnight Black, Italian Purple, Venetian Gold and Deep Sea Blue.
Elsewhere, Reverend’s flagship Jetstream 390 and the Agent W will be splashed with Outfield Ivy, while the Tele-shaped Greg Koch Gristlemaster will receive a Three-Tone Sunburst makeover – can’t beat a classic. Keep your eyes peeled for all new colours in 2021!
5. TAL J-8
Any producer bound to a shoestring budget will extol the virtues of the TAL-U-NO-LX: a wallet-friendly VST emulation of the classic Roland Juno 60 that’s found a home in many an Ableton rig around the world. Now, TAL are backing up their success with the TAL J-8: a new take on the coveted Roland Jupiter 8 polyphonic monster.
With two virtual VCOs packing cross-modulation and VCO modulation, plus low-pass and high-pass VCF filters and two ADSR envelopes with an LFO, the J-8 should let you tap into a myriad of classic pads, basses, sound effects and more. The calibration section of the plug-in allows for some immensely squelchy resonance and filler overdrive, while MPE support is also included for immersive, hands-on sound design.
Available to download now and featuring more than 200 factory presets, the TAL J-8 is the only plug-in you’ll ever need this silly season.
Never miss an update – sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news, reviews, features and giveaways.
