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Vox Amps: hand-wired AC combos, pedals & more
Release date: 15th-16th January 2026
Vox have absolutely brought it this year, unveiling a seriously exciting range of gear. Headlining the launch is a new family of hand-wired AC amps, joined by two overhauled Valvetronix combos (an Andertons fave) and a fresh update to the popular Pathfinder practice amp.
But a pair of vintage‑inspired analogue pedals are perhaps the biggest surprise. First up, there’s the Vox VFZ‑1 — taking cues from the iconic Mk1.5 Tone Bender for snarling silicon‑based fuzz with a distinctive Germanium‑style character. And then there’s the VTB‑1 Treble Booster, which pays homage to Vox’s ultimate partner-in-crime — the legendary Rangemaster Treble Booster. It’s purpose‑built to drive a good valve amp into glorious, singing saturation with loads of bite.
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Boss & Roland: GX-1, GX-1B, CUBE Street Mini & FSC-10 footswitch caps
Release date: 15th January 2026
Boss and Roland have gone into 2026 meaning business. Two new multi-FX units, their smallest CUBE amp ever, plus some handy footswitch toppers that make their pedals even easier to use:
- Boss GX-1: A grab-and-go pedalboard with 23 pro-level AIRD amp models and 140+ killer effects. It comes loaded with 99 ready-to-play presets and 99 user slots for your own custom patches. And you can even play along with songs from your mobile device thanks to built-in Bluetooth.
- Boss GX-1B: Same as the above, just for bass! It’s equipped with 16 amps and over 130 effects, so there’s loads to play with. It works with the Boss Tone Studio app too, so you can access powerful practice features and sound-editing tools from your phone or tablet.
- Roland CUBE Street Mini: The dinkiest CUBE to date, with up to seven hours of playtime via its rechargeable battery. You get dual channels, built-in FX, Bluetooth audio, plus a handy onboard tuner. And don’t let its size fool you — its integrated 2.1 speaker system delivers wide sound and awesome projection!
- Boss FSC-10 Footswitch Caps: These clever little add-ons make hitting the right switch easier than ever. They’re compatible with a wide range of Boss pedals featuring metal footswitches. Plus, they’re transparent to let any cool LEDs shine through.
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Martin 2026 Road Series acoustics
Release date: 14th January 2026
Martin’s Road Series has been reimagined for 2026, now split into two clear families — Retro and Modern:
- Retro models: These honour Martin’s storied heritage, pairing traditional solid tonewoods with vintage‑style tuners, classic fingerboard inlays and timeless rosette designs. With both satin and gloss finish options — plus a standout “Plus” model featuring a Torrefied Spruce top, Granadillo back and sides and LR Baggs electronics — the Retro lineup is crafted for players chasing the feel and character of Martin’s most beloved acoustic designs.
- Modern range: As the name suggests, these acoustic are built for today’s performers. They offer a contemporary twist while maintaining that unmistakable Martin DNA. Striking rosettes, ergonomic cutaway options and stage‑ready electro‑acoustic features make them ideal for musicians who want smooth playability and reliable performance at home, in the studio or on stage.
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Bad Cat ‘Mod Shop’ Hot Cat 50 amps
Release date: 14th January 2026
The Bad Cat ‘Mod Shop’ Hot Cat 50 has landed. And it’s not just a refresh — it’s a total reinvention. With 50 watts of blooming, punchy power, this revamped valve beast feels bigger, bolder and more expressive than ever. Bad Cat’s opened up the mids, expanded the tone stack and reworked the presence circuit to dish out sweeter harmonics and a silky-smooth response.
The clean channel breathes with glassy American shimmer in Low mode, then kicks into a cranked AC/JTM‑style growl when switched to High. Flip over to the drive channel and the Hot Cat 50 shows its teeth. Gain Low delivers classic ’80s British crunch, while Gain High engages an extra tube stage that turns the amp into a tight, roaring high‑gain monster. Four killer voices — one purr‑fect amp!
Choose the head and partner it up with your favourite cab. Or grab the combo for a gig‑ready rig right out of the box. Whichever you choose, a two‑button footswitch and cover are included.
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Fender Quantum LT & HD Audio Interfaces
Release date: 13th January 2026
Fender’s come out swinging with the new Quantum LT Series — a trio of interfaces designed to make recording feel easy. These things deliver proper studio-grade results while keeping the workflow slick, thanks to low‑latency drivers and some seriously impressive MAX‑HD mic preamps. And as everything hooks up seamlessly with Fender Studio Pro, you get direct monitoring and full control over each Quantum LT mixer right from the software — no menu-diving, no stress. Here’s how each model in the lineup stacks up:
- Quantum LT 2: A compact, bus‑powered little powerhouse. You get a MAX‑HD mic preamp, an instrument input, flexible monitoring options and near-zero latency — ideal for mobile recording and home studios.
- Quantum LT 4: Need more? The LT 4 steps things up with expanded I/O, dual MAX‑HD preamps, Fender instrument inputs and loopback for streaming. Perfect for creators, duos or anyone levelling up their studio game.
- Quantum LT 16: A full 16‑in / 8‑out USB‑C interface with eight MAX‑HD mic pres, eight extra TRS line inputs for outboard gear, DC‑coupled outputs, MIDI I/O, standalone mic‑pre mode and Fender Studio Pro bundled in. If you’re tracking a band, this is your guy.
Fender also dropped the Quantum HD range, aimed squarely at pros, producers and players who want the absolute best in low‑latency performance and top‑tier audio conversion. There are two models to choose from:
- Quantum HD 2: A high‑performance interface for project studios, musicians and content creators who want uncompromising clarity. We’re talking 32‑bit/192 kHz converters, MAX‑HD preamps with +75 dB of gain and ultra‑low latency that keeps everything feeling tight and responsive.
- Quantum HD 8: If you’re recording multiple instruments or running a bigger setup, the HD 8 gives you loads of I/O, the same high-end converters, MAX‑HD preamps and seriously efficient drivers.
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PRS Guitars: new amp, electrics, updates & colours
Release date: 13th January 2026
The folks at PRS Guitars have kicked off 2026 with a bang, introducing two new Maryland‑made electric guitars and a gig‑friendlier version of one of their most popular amps. They’ve also refreshed their SE Series with upgraded hardware and added some cool new colours across the entire range. Here are the highlights in a nutshell:
- DGT Semi-Hollow: Inspired by one of David Grissom’s Private Stock treasures, this gorgeous guitar offers everything players adore about the Core PRS DGT, but adds the airy, resonant magic of a semi-hollow body.
- S2 Vela HHT: Takes the offset S2 Vela design up a notch with dual DS-01 humbuckers and a trem for extra versatility. It’s also available in a wide selection of satin and gloss finishes.
- Archon Classic 50 Combo: This valve-powered, Celestion-loaded combo serves up everything from sparkling, 3D cleans to rich edge‑of‑breakup tones and searing high‑gain crunch. With a tube‑driven FX loop, it plays beautifully with pedals too.
- SE Series updates: Many 2026 PRS SE models now come with new pickup rings and ‘Wing’ tuning‑peg buttons, bringing them visually closer to their American‑made counterparts.
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DSM & Humboldt Dumblifier Overdrive Special pedal
Release date: 9th January 2026
DSM & Humboldt is a small outfit out of Santiago, Chile that’s always punched above its weight. They’ve had a number of hit products over the last few years, from the original Simplifier analogue amp and cab sim to its kitted-out MKII upgrade. Not to mention the dual‑amp, stereo powerhouse Simplifier X!
Now, they’ve taken on one of the most elusive tones in guitar history — the Dumble Overdrive Special. Their new Dumblifier pedal captures the amp’s legendary feel using the same proven analogue modelling tech that put them on the map. It’s not just the tone — it’s the bloom, the compression, the touch sensitivity and the singing sustain that make those amps so mythical.
You get clean and overdrive channels, a footswitchable preamp boost (PAB), plus a raft of tone-shaping controls and switches that even let you choose your fave emulated speaker and cab size combo. Add in a stereo FX loop and onboard reverb, and you’ve got a seriously versatile pedalboard centrepiece. Lee and Pete ran it through its paces — and let’s just say, they came away very impressed…
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