Wizard Amplification
Originally created by übertech Rick St. Pierre, these legendary amps were once a secret floating among the biggest guitar
heroes; their artist list reads like a short rock history. They are
now in steady production and (somewhat) available to the masses. Built for serious musicians, the Wizard Vintage Classic and
Modern Classic amps produce some of the most authentic plexi
tones you’ll find today—perhaps that’s why you’ll see them on
stage with acts like AC/DC and Aerosmith. Both models are com-
pletely handwired, feature a variety of cool vintage tolex options,
and are available in 50- and 100-watt configurations.
Starting at $3695
wizardamplification.com
BOLT Guitar Amplifiers
BOLT Guitar Amplifiers made their debut at the show, attracting
interest with their racing-inspired aesthetic and a few technological twists. While the amp remains tube-based in both the preamp
and power sections, it also incorporates DSP technology that
BOLT says, “enhances the tubes’ ability to operate at their optimal level across the entire volume range,” similar to the computerized control systems found in modern engines, creating “one
big sweet spot.” Switchable into both 50- and 100-watt modes,
capable of running on both 6L6s and EL34s and featuring a bevy
of signal routing/effect options, the BOLT promises to give high-performance nuts something to tweak on for some time to come.
$1699 Head MAP
$1999 2x12 Combo MAP
boltamps.com
91124 P RPERMEIME R I E RG UGI UT A I TRA R D EMC E A MR CBHE R 2 020090 8
Ableton Live 8
Ableton unveiled version 8 of their music creation, production, and performance software. Shipping this spring,
it offers a wealth of new enhancements, including the
one guitarists (including this one) have been clamoring
for: Looper. True, Live’s “clips” already loop, but the new
Looper feature allows the more traditional sound-on-sound looping; the kind normally found in hardware units
like the Line 6 DL4 and the Boss Loop Station. Looper
lets you record, overdub, undo, and more using a single
footswitch (not included), without touching the computer. Like the hardware devices, Live sets the tempo
from the length of the first loop you record. It then
reads that tempo and automatically syncs everything
else—drum loops, effects, etc. You can drag loops from
Looper into clip slots and vise versa, as well as using
multiple Loopers, all in sync. Live was a cool guitarist’s
tool before, but Looper takes it over the top.
MSRP $449 (full download); upgrade pricing varies
abletonlive8.com
