PRODUCT REVIEW
screeches and squeals of electricity traveling through a vacuum tube. Pick harmonics
sound sharp and clear, giving every stroke
a decisive attack. I found the G1 capable of
blues, jazz, and rock, though not metal, and
the tone remained the same whether it was
plugged into its AC wall adapter or running
on battery power.
traditions. But the battery does keep you disconnected from the grid and all the wonderful
spikes and breaker problems that every gigging musician has endured at some point.
Rating:
The Final Mojo
It’s no surprise that the G1’s digital power
section doesn’t really provide any sonic
enhancements. So guitarists who require a
tube power section should look elsewhere.
But it shouldn’t all just be about tubes. The
real burning question is whether a battery-powered amp with a tube preamp and a
digital power section can give you pleasing,
usable tones. And there are two answers,
one for people who need a battery-powered
amp and one for those who don’t.
If you have situations where you could really
use a battery-powered amp, then the G1’s
open-back design will radiate plenty of volume with more than enough headroom in all
directions—which is particularly important
if you’re gigging outside or in other atypical venues. It tastefully executes blues, jazz,
and other genres where the heavy lifting
of a tube power section is not essential to
the sound. I wouldn’t choose the G1 for
recording hard-rock tones in the studio, but
I believe it would perform capably in live
hard-rock settings.
you want to boldly play where
no other electric guitarist has
played before.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you’re dead set on a valve-only
amp or you want an amp for studio
recording.
Grid 1 Audio
Direct $1795
grid1.com
CLICKHere…
If you have access to power, the Grid 1 may
or may not be tonally compelling—it’ll just
depend on your willingness to break with some
Considering that presently no battery-
powered guitar amps come equipped with
power tubes, I believe the G1 offers the best
battery-powered tone you’re going to find,
hands down.
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PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2010 189
