It's been suggested that I go and audition a Marshall Vintage Modern amp.

Introduction

This is more expensive than the Kustom Defender 5W, but offers a few features that may make it more worthwhile, depending on what your looking for. It's still a low power amp and has piqued my interest by being licensed by THD Electronics.

Introduction

I'm a fan of small, low-power guitar amplifiers for nailing the tone you want at the volume that your neighbours will condone. I know a lot of people give the cheaper models a hard time, expecting top-end boutique tone out of a cheap Epiphone valve junior hot rod. Well that's not going to happen.

Yet another addition to the small, low-power valve amplifiers. I like the idea of the Bugera V5's power attenuator as I know that 5W is still too loud to crank up in your house if you want to maintain relationships with your neighbours. 1W is a good amount of power and I'm not really sure about 0.1W.

Following on from the Best Guitar Equipment article featuring the top-of-the-range in guitars, amplifiers and accessories, this article takes that concept a step further and showcases some of the guitars and amplifiers even further up the scale. I guess some of these fall more into the category of collectibles rather than instruments and it's a shame that many will not be played to their full.

This showcases the top-of-the-range in guitars, amplifiers and some accessories including effects and even straps. Some equipment has reached legendary status to the point that nothing else will suffice. It's that equipment that I started this list with, e.g. a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, especially 57 or 56 reissue. That's how the list started, then it grew into a list of guitars, amps and accessories that show the strengths of each manufacturer.

What a starter pack this would make! Unfortunately, the majority of these packs will probably end up in the hands of collectors, never to be played and only let out into the light to admire. That's not what a guitar should be about.

The last few years have seen a rise in the number of smaller, low-powered all-valve guitar amplifiers. These are great for achieving awesome tone at lower volumes and so we set up the Smaller Amps section. In the last few months, Marshall and Vox have both released small amplifiers; Marshall with their Haze line and Vox with the Nightrain.

Sure it's tiny, but do not mistake it for a toy.

What we say about the Fender Bassman 59 Reissue

This amplifier probably has more stories about it than any other amplifier. Buy this and get a piece of history. Well actually, you'd be buying a re-issue of a bit of history. If you find an original, then wow, they're hard to come by and the price reflects that.