Features

Features

Charlie Starr Shows Us His Full Live Rig (Blackberry Smoke UK & Europe Tour)

Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr chats with Jonathan Graham at London’s Hammersmith Apollo during the band’s UK & Europe tour…

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Features

Martin Kidd Unveils the Victory Amps MKX: Is This the New Jack?

Victory Amps’ Martin Kidd sits down with Nick Jennison to unveil the Victory MKX — a seriously versatile new…

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Reviews

Cream T Polaris LT Review: A Smarter Take on Swappable Pickups

ByNick Jennison February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

Known for its high-end, boutique, British-built guitars, Cream T has brought its signature technology to a much lower price point with the Polaris LT — and for gearheads and tone aficionados alike, it could well be the answer to your tone-chasing prayers.

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Reviews

Gibson Les Paul Custom ’70s Review: An Underrated Nashville-Era Classic

ByNick Jennison February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

The 70s Custom Buttercream Top looks the part, but the calibrated T-Type humbuckers steal the show—bright, wiry and super responsive to pick attack, in a Nashville-era Les Paul Custom ’70s spec package.

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Reviews

Kernom Moho Review: The Analog Fuzz With a Digital Brain

ByNick Jennison February 23, 2026February 26, 2026

From velcro splutter and ’60s psychedelia to Big Muff-style grind, octaves and ring-mod mayhem, Kernom’s Moho is a massively flexible fuzz that still behaves like a proper stompbox—while packing MIDI, presets and expression blending for deeper control.

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News

NEW Martin Acoustics for 2026! (First Look at NAMM 2026)

ByJonathan Graham February 20, 2026February 21, 2026

Molly Tuttle performs live at NAMM 2026 as Martin Guitar unveils two brand-new Molly Tuttle signature models during their…

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News

Hotone’s Most Portable Rig Yet (NAMM 2026)

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

Nick Jennison and Thinking About Guitar hit the Hotone booth at NAMM 2026 to explore space-saving, gig-ready gear—from compact multi-effects and tiny amps with big sounds to brand-new pedals, including a convolution reverb and an unreleased pitch shifter aimed at modern, portable rigs.

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News

Faith’s Torrefied Acoustics Sound Like 15–20 Year Old Guitars?! (NAMM 2026)

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

Jonathan Graham heads to the Faith Guitars booth at NAMM 2026 with Rob to explore new 2026 releases and upgraded series features. Highlights include the PJE Legacy FG4 Earth Satin Sunburst with a torrefied Sitka spruce top and African Khaya mahogany back and sides, the updated FX Series built from Java mango wood with a new contour bevel for comfort, and a refreshed Nexus range with updated finishes and premium appointments—plus a look at why Fishman electronics remain a natural match for Faith acoustics.

Read More Faith’s Torrefied Acoustics Sound Like 15–20 Year Old Guitars?! (NAMM 2026)
News

Is This the Best Budget Amp-Capture Rig? Valeton GP200 (NAMM 2026)

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

Nick Jennison stops by the Valeton booth at NAMM 2026 to explore the GP series with Neural Capture technology. The chat highlights why the GP200 is a dependable, gig-ready unit built around great sound and real-world usability—plus how to capture your own amp tones and load community-made captures without getting lost in touchscreen gimmicks.

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News

We found the best affordable guitars at the NAMM show

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026

Nick Jennison visits the Jet and Spira Guitars booth at NAMM 2026 with Lee for a hands-on look at new affordable electrics that don’t feel “budget.” The walkthrough covers updated JT models, a JJ350 with an anodised pickguard, a baritone with P90 plus humbucker, and a brand-new Spira SR420 star-shaped guitar—along with player-friendly specs like roasted maple necks, coil-splits, locking tuners, trem options and standout finishes.

Read More We found the best affordable guitars at the NAMM show
News

The Wildest Boutique Guitar Ever Made?

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026

Nick Jennison meets Filippo from Paoletti Guitars at NAMM 2026 to reveal a breathtaking limited-edition prototype inspired by the stained glass of the Florence Duomo. Only eight instruments will be made, featuring around 6,000 pieces of Venetian mother-of-pearl, official Duomo approval, and an inlaid piece of cathedral marble—collector-grade art with a planned 2026 unveiling event in Italy.

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News

Ibanez NAMM 2026 New Guitars Tested! Vision Series, Alpha 8-String & RGD

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026

Nick Jennison and Jonathan Graham visit Ibanez UK for a sneak peek at the NAMM 2026 lineup—ranging from a money-no-object Vision Series RG showpiece (around £7,000) to the futuristic Alpha Series (including an 8-string) and a metal-ready RGD built for low tunings. Along the way, they dig into J-Craft/J.Custom-style craftsmanship, Fishman Fluence Modern pickups, multiscale ergonomics and monorail bridges—then take a quick look at Laney Black Country Customs’ Billy Corgan Supergroup “Loudpedal.”

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News

Tech 21 Just LEVELED UP the SansAmp… Meet the Bass Driver ELITE (NAMM 2026)

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

Thinking About Guitar’s Nick Jennison visits Tech 21 at NAMM 2026 to check out two big new releases: the SansAmp Bass Driver ELITE and the Geddy Lee Signature Amalgamation Chorus. Tim from Tech 21 walks through the ELITE’s next-gen feature set—128 presets, MIDI, app editing, built-in effects and IR loading—before switching to the all-analog Amalgamation Chorus, including Geddy’s subtle movement approach and the Deviate function for bigger, more animated modulation.

Read More Tech 21 Just LEVELED UP the SansAmp… Meet the Bass Driver ELITE (NAMM 2026)
News

Martin Guitars Best NAMM 2026 New Releases Tested!

ByThinking About Guitar February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

At NAMM 2026 media preview day, Thinking About Guitar’s Jonathan Graham and Nick Jennison go hands-on with Martin’s latest Road Series releases, including the D-10 and D-12 dreadnoughts, a modern SC-style model and a more premium Retro Plus option. The walkthrough explains the Retro vs Modern concept, highlights the key differences between D-10 and D-12, and looks at what you gain stepping up to Retro Plus—including a torrefied top—while keeping that unmistakable “Martin sounds like a record” vibe at a gig-friendly price.

Read More Martin Guitars Best NAMM 2026 New Releases Tested!