IN THIS ISSUE Contents

54

GRETSCH A divine duo

58

FENDER

62

AMPEG

66

LAZY J

76

ALVAREZ

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Gear

Gretsch Electromatic CVT-111 & Double Jet With Bigsby 54 Two affordable lookers from Gretsch – a quirky three-pickup model and a semi-solid goldtop

Fender Blacktop Jaguar 90 & Blacktop FSR Jaguar HH 58 Two simple new Jaguars that open up tonal options for lovers of classic styling

Ampeg GVT15H

Ampeg successfully return to the six-string arena with their retro-styled all-valve GVT

62

Lazy J 40 Combo

Jesse Hoff’s new 40W combo lives up to its predecessors with a truly stunning sound

66

Digitech iStomp

71

An impressive new innovation from Digitech that puts a library of effects at you fingertips

Alvarez AP70 & AG75CE

76

Alvarez offer quality builds and top tone with their Artist Series. Here are two of the best

Sigma 000M-18 & DM18 80 A pair of great-sounding spruce-topped acoustics from the now-independent line

Gretsch Electromatic Junior Jet Bass II

84

Gretsch’s weighty new short-scale bass has a charming design and a chunky rock growl

PJB D-600 Bass Amplifier 89 600W of low-end power, all crammed into a lightweight twin-channel lunchbox head

Zoom B3 Bass Multi-FX

91

Effects, amp simulations and a looper in one

Rapid Reviews

A fine new bass bridge and a guitar cleaner

92

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PAGE 96

Vintage

Hooked On Classics

94

Are there any good reasons to sell vintage gear? Phil Harris ponders the perils involved

The Bishop of Denmark Street 99 Sid Bishop recalls the golden days when trips to the USA bore some particularly good fruit

Private Collection

100

With vintage models, reissues aplenty, neat homebuilds and some stranger fare, Quo-lover Martin Dufficy has all the options covered

MAY 2012 Guitar & Bass 7