Just like how 2019 will soon come to an end, we have reached the finale of our three-part roundup series for this year. We’ve looked at the year’s topnews stories和interviews, so now it’s time to cast our collective eyes towards the most popular gear reviews of 2019. From the bare-bones acoustic six-stringers to thecrème de la crèmeof electric guitars, check out which reviews caught the most attention.
Sheeran by Lowden W02＆S04
埃德·希兰（Ed Sheeran）和洛登（Lowden）之间的合作可能是NAMM 2019上最大的谈话新闻之一，因此we managed to get our hands on a pair back in April。While the W02 and S04 may not be as fancy as Lowden’s usual offerings, their stripped-down build retains Lowden’s characteristic precision and crispness. For instance, the one-piece mahogany neck construction and stacked heel are far more conventional than Lowden’s usual laminated style.
The most significant departure from a full-fat Lowden is the use of five-ply laminates for the back and sides. The S04 and W02 both feature solid Sitka spruce tops with Lowden A-Frame bracing, and their thinness is exaggerated by the absence of binding and Lowden’s usual double layering around the soundhole. The company certainly hasn’t skimped on the quality of the outer veneers, because the grain impresses. This is particularly true of the S04 model, with its highly figured walnut
吉布森Custom 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard
称该吉布森的“最佳和最古老的莱斯保罗标准”是一个大胆的主张，但1959年尊敬的1959年Les Paul Standard的钻石周年纪念日需要一种无法实现的能力的工具。什么时候we laid hands on this instrument in May, we knew instantly that what we had was something special.
Billed not just as a tribute, but a ‘clone’, this 2019 model incorporates some of the R&D that went into吉布森Custom’s Collector’s Choice和True Historic lines, saluting the instrument used to such blistering effect by the likes of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield andJimmy Page。从周期性的挂钩到3D扫描的顶部和颈部雕刻以及化学重新创建的老式塑料，其想法是为Les Paul Aficionados提供一把吉他，它可以在不付出任何合适的盒子的情况下勾勒出所有正确的盒子。
Fender American Performer Stratocaster and Telecaster
The American Performer series represents Fender’s most affordable USA-made instruments for 2019. Superseding the previous American Special range, American Performer is now the most affordable way to get your hands on a solidbody built in Fender’s Corona facility in Southern California, loaded with pickups designed by Tim Shaw no less.
Experiencing the series’Stratocaster and Telecasterfirsthand at the start of 2019left us with a favourable impression. Broadly speaking, the Performer designs are mash-ups of various eras of Strat and Tele evolution, so the Tele gets an early-50s-style trio of brass saddles, an alder body and a silver 70s-style logo, while the Strat is similarly 1970s at the end of its oversized headstock, but its alder body and mint ’guard offer more of a 1960s persona.
Gary Richrath’s 1959 Gibson ‘Richrath Burst’ Les Paul Standard
Vintage-accurate reissues are one thing, buthandling the real deal in the flesh是完全不同的事情。这个1959年的吉布森·保罗标准（Gibson Les Paul Standard）的经典例子带有可爱的淡淡的老虎条纹的烈性酒，除了Reo Speedwagon的Gary Richrath之外，还属于“ Richrath Burst”。
We were able to use the Richrath on some studio recordings and discovered it had an extraordinary ability to sit in a track. Without excessive brightness or edginess, the subtleties of its tone cut straight through and there’s an evenness to the dynamic response that kept the Richrath right at the front of a mix.
At the same time, an explosive blast of harmonic overtones characterised the attack, along with massively solid single notes and an overall density that made individual chords sound like they’re double-tracked. It didn’t take long to determine that this was an out-and-out rock Burst, with exceptional cutting power, otherworldly sustain and sheer balls.
Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster
狮子座的长子一直被认为是有史以来最好的固体电吉他之一，因此，当宣布以声学电动形式重新引入Fender Telecaster时，它肯定比几只耳朵刺了。但是毫无疑问：这只是芬德以前的远科症状的重新设计。
声音电视台穿着坚固的Sitka云杉顶和桃花心木脖子，背面和侧面，装有一个钓鱼员的垫圈压电，旁边的内部身体传感器和Fender N4无噪声磁性拾音器。再加上五向拾音器选择器和mod旋钮，该系统可以轻松访问大量的音调。Our findingsindicated that the American Acoustasonic Telecaster worked well with either acoustic or electric amplification and its small, shallow body offered very good resistance to feedback.
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster, 60s Jazzmaster Modified & 70s Stratocaster
As one might infer from the name, Fender’s Vintera series is the American brand’s attempt to offer vintage-inspired instruments at a mid-level price. We were given the opportunity to putthree of their Mexican-made electric guitarsthrough their paces back in July, and were pleased to discover a healthy amount of pragmatism despite the series’ vintage connotations.
While the 60s Jazzmaster Modified and 70s Stratocaster were performers in their own right, our preference ultimately went to the 50s Telecaster, thanks to the winning combination of its chunky neck and expressive pickups.
吉布森2019 Les Paul Studio Tribute & SG Standard Tribute
吉布森’s budget-tier instruments have always been about offering the same tonal experience as its Standard line, but without the fancier accoutrements. With 2019 representing something of a watershed moment for the Nashville-based company, we were curious to see what changes (if any) would feature in their present catalogue.
Our February reviewof the Gibson 2019 Les Paul Studio Tribute and SG Standard Tribute revealed that the two guitars bring everything you’d expect of their price point. There is a distinct absence of superficial frills, but you do get the classic combination of mahogany and rosewood construction. The twist: both guitars sport maple necks. While vintage purists may balk at this revelation, one could argue that the added brightness does add an interesting aural dimension when combined with Gibson’s trusty 490 series humbuckers.
Marshall Studio Series SV20H & SC20C
Marshall’s Studio line of amps may not possess the same level of presence as its 4×12” beasts, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t able to deliver the goods. When we reviewed the theirStudio Vintage SV20H and Studio Classic SC20Cin March, we were pleased to discover how well they were able to recapture the magic of the Plexi and JCM800 amps they were styled after.
The UK-made SV20H and SC20C feature all the aesthetics you would expect of a Marshall amp. Looks aside however, there are plenty of features for the Marshall aficionado to go ga-ga over. The SV20H features the same four-channel input as a Plexi, which means you get to patch channels to experience that classic Plexi grit. Meanwhile, the SC20C surprised us with its absence of fizz – a common complaint with many a JCM800s. Despite its lower power rating, the SC20C was more than capable of dishing saturated tones loaded with harmonics.
吉布森2019 Les Paul Standard 50s & Les Paul Tribute
One of the more notable changes made to Gibson’s catalogue for 2019 is the segmentation of its production-line instruments into the Original and Modern Collections. The new 2019 Les Paul Standard 50s and Les Paul Tribute represent the next logical step forward from the previous Traditional and Studio Tribute models and while there is room for improvement in both, it is definitely a step int he right direction.
Forour July review, both guitars came with a Plek machine set-up and the classic Les Paul combination of a maple-capped mahogany body, set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. While the Les Paul Standard 50s came with Burstbucker pickups, the Les Paul Tribute sported a pair of 490 series humbuckers. They perform well enough, just don’t expect Custom Shop-level finesse.
Supro 1812R Blues King 12
Supro Amps have been experiencing something of a renaissance recently. While the brand’s claim to fame has largely been Jimmy Page’s use of their Coronado amp, they’ve been actively trying to cement their place as a legitimate manufacturer of quality guitar amps. However, instead of going all-out in the boutique direction, Supro has sensibly decided to include budget-friendly options like the 1812R Blues King 12 in its line-up as well. Our回顾这个负担得起的15瓦组合showed that its ability to turn heads was a keen reflection of the brand’s burgeoning reputation.
A lone 12AX7 preamp tube and the single 6L6-loaded power amp lie at the heart of the 1812R’s single-ended circuitry. Along with the house-made Supro speaker, the built-in switchable FET-driven boost and cascading FET-driven hi-gain mode make the 1812R more than just your regular ol’ blues amp, despite what its name might have you believe.
Check out our previous roundups of the most popularnews stories和interviews。