LEAK: New Fender Vintera Series appears online – UPDATE

Fender Vintera Series = Vintage Style for the Modern Era. Fender Germany leaked new instruments with specs of the golden era bass models . Will the Classic Series be replaced?

Gibson sues Dean Guitars, claims copyright infringement

That was quick! Gibson follows through with its threat to take legal action on companies it says infringe on its copyrights - the first company is Dean Guitars! Will this be the first of many?

MODO Drum: physically modelled percussion from IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia's MODO Drum pulls out all the stops to model the physical attributes of both the drums and the player in a remarkably detailed study of the humble drum kit.

Can Cort disrupt the boutique guitar market with the dual humbucker G290 FAT?

Swamp ash, bird's eye maple, splitable humbucker and two gorgeous paint finishes: The G290 FAT has some boutique chops at low prices. Dare we say it: this has some Suhr-like vibes going on...

Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200: “The largest-sounding combo ever produced”?

The new Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200 combo is feature packed 200-Watt solid state amp with all the modern features you could hope for. But will players warm to its transistor based tones?

VCV Rack the ultimate virtual Eurorack arrives at version 1.0

They've done it! VCV Rack has reached version 1.0. With polyphonic cabling, MIDI mapping, multicore engine support and dozens of enhancements it's ready for the real world and it's awesome.

Erica Synths ports Black Wavetable VCO and Black Octasource to VCV Rack

VCV Rack users can now get hold of virtual versions of the Erica Synths Black Wavetable VCO and Black Octasource LFO completely free of charge for the Eurorack emulating platform.

EarthQuaker Devices and Sunn O))) create the Life Pedal (yes, it’s already sold out)

Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices have joined forces to create the new Life Pedal designed to give you tube-amp destroying distortion, and bowel wrenching octave effects all in one unit.

Gibson launches Dave Amato Les Paul Axcess Standard Boston Sunset Fade

Gibson's new Dave Amato Les Paul Axcess Standard Boston Sunset Fade combines a Floyd Rose with a '59 Reissue, potentially making it a super-versatile signature guitar.

Dave Navarro reunited with long-lost custom Nothing’s Shocking Ibanez

Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction has finally been reunited with his long-lost custom Nothing Shocking Ibanez. It turned up in Guitar Center Hollywood and it took a Sex Pistol to get it back to him!

Subfretboard System Project: A fretboard unlike any you’ve ever seen

The unique Subfretboard System Project is on Kickstarter trying to raise the capital to get their new unique guitar fret system off the ground. But will it fret out before it takes off?

Klevgränd Modley is a modular delay plug-in with lots of inserts

Klevgränd has introduced Modley, a modular delay plug-in. Modley lets you insert effects like tape saturation, compression, reverb, and more, right into the delay loop. Sounds like fun!

Output Portal: A granular FX plug-in with heaps of modulation

Output has released Portal, a granular effects plug-in. Portal lets you run any input signal through its granular synthesis engine, and shape it with modulation and additional effects.

Slate Digital intros All Access Pass, adds Kilohearts bundle and ANA 2 synth

The Slate Digital Everything Bundle is now the All Access Pass. The subscription includes all of Slate's plug-ins and many new additions, like the Kilohearts bundle and ANA 2 software synthesizer.

ROLI wants to teach you music with the LUMI lighted keyboard

After much speculation, ROLI has revealed the LUMI lighted keyboard. ROLI LUMI is an integrated learning system that consists of the keyboard and an interactive app.

Behringer is searching for synthesizer engineers and picks up AMSynths

Uli Behringer would like to recruit 70 synthesizer engineers including collaborations with boutique manufacturers. Rob Keeble from AMSynths has signed up for a bit of that vintage synth re-action

Acustica Audio Honey3 is all about vintage American console sounds

Honey 3 recreates an American mixing console used on classic records by Michael Jackson, AC/DC, ABBA, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and others. The suite comprises four plug-ins.

Dave Sommerfield GiG: Turn your guitar case into a portable workshop

The new Dave Sommerfield GiG Personal Guitar Workshop makes working on your guitar a lot easier when you're on the road, providing a neat, portable solution that uses your guitar case.

Becos Effects CompIQ MINI ONE Pro Compressor: Studio-grade compression in a mini pedal?

Becos Effects aims to give you a studio-grade compressor in a compact, pedalboard-friendly chassis with simple controls: Enter the CompIQ MINI ONE Pro Compressor pedal!

Mr Black Mini Echo-Delay: ’80s rack delays in a mini pedal format

Portland-based Mr Black has squeezed a whole 19" rack-mount delay into a tiny pedal in the form of the Mini Echo-Delay, aiming to give you those classic '80s tones without the hassle and strain.

System 2: Audiophile Circuits League’s second standalone modular system

Audiophile Circuits League (ACL) has put together another complete system to take all the bother out of choosing individual modules. They are calling it System 2.

June Ball Family Reserve Collection: Ernie Ball Music Man reveals all

Offered in limited runs, June's Ball Family Reserve Collection has 3 guitars with some creative finishes and nice tone woods; all are based on existing models from the company's catalogue.

IK Multimedia has a new musical breakthrough coming this Thursday

The IK tease machine claims they are tackling the "oldest instruments in human history". Unlikely to be a caveman analogue synthesizer or ancient axe - it's got be all about banging rocks together.

Preorders open on the SP 2400 drum machine sampler from Isla Instruments

The SP 2400 is still some way off but they've decided to open up preorders for people who want to get their money down on this exciting evolution of "the greatest drum machine the world ever saw".