David Mellor tries out three new effects units from ADA — a MIDI programmable stereo equaliser, MIDI valve preamp, and a pitch transposer - and finds one that gives his secret studio weapon a run for its money.

Headphone Amp

JHS Bass Box

JHS Rock Box Mk2 and Bass Box

Shirley (our single's out now... buy it) Gray tries out these two new products in the studio as a means of DIing guitar and bass.

Valve Keyboard Preamp

JHS Tubeman

Guitar DI/Preamp with wider applications

headphone amp for rock, man

Ampcheck

An ampman? A personal stack? Alan Kensley goes mobile

Murder your own ears for a change

Sessionmaster Direct Recording Pre-Amp

The Sessionmaster spurns unnecessary extras best left to other effects units and concentrates on producing a quality DI guitar sound. Dave Lockwood approves.

Marshall JMP1 Valve MIDI Guitar Preamp

MIDI, metal mayhem and the Marshall logo add up to an impressive package. We find out whether it justifies its price tag.

Award MB10 Matchbox DI/EQ/Speaker Simulator

This extremely versatile problem solver can function as a low-noise DI box, guitar preamp and speaker simulator.

Crate, Hughes & Kettner, ART Guitar Preamps

We take the H&K Metal Master, ART Powerplant, and Crate TDP recording guitar preamps into the studio in search of that elusive valve sound.

Aphex Tubessence

Microphone Tube Preamp

Tech 21 SansAmp Rackmount Tube Amp Emulator

Tech 21 have taken their popular SansAmp foot pedal guitar preamp and repackaged it in studio, rack-mount format. Paul White takes a look at what else it has to offer.