Mesa/Boogie Throttlebox

MARCH 2017 TOTAL GUITAR
Upgrade your gain to premium with these
amp-in-a-box distortions
105
T
he BE-OD pairs down Friedman’s
Marshall-inspired BE-100 amp to pedal
form. Control-wise, it’s the most
preamp-like here and there’s an internal gain
trim pot, too. Maxing out the gain, you’d think
it was already turned up full, but a quick look
inside reveals that it’s factory-set to halfway!
In truth, cranking it past three-quarters is too
much, but it’s a nice addition. Pinning our
colours to the mast, the Friedman is the best
all-round distortion here. It’s defi ned bite and
increased output is very noticeable and the
tight control does exactly that – removing fl ab
– and the BE impressively retains its character
across the gain spectrum. For £199, this will
let you in on one of rock’s best-kept secrets.
T
he Diezel VH4 is the amp that’s fuelled
James Hetfi eld, Matt Bellamy and Billy
Corgan with some of their angriest tones
and this VH4 pedal brings you those same
tones at just over 10 percent of the head’s
ticket. The VH4 has the most original sonic
character on test. It sounds like itself, with a
gravelly edge of ‘air’ present across its entire
sweep. At fi rst it feels like there isn’t as much
gain as you might expect, because it never
veers into ‘fi zzy pedal’ territory, and with such
a defi ned character comes a lack of versatility
– there’s no escaping the throaty aggression.
It’s ruddy huge though – both in tone and
physical stature. It does it’s thing, and does
it impeccably and unapologetically.
Friedman BE-OD
YOUR PLEXI’S ON FIRE!
Diezel VH4
GIVE ME FUEL…
TYPE: Distortion pedals
BYPASS: All true bypass
POWER REQUIREMENTS:
Bogner – Battery/PSU,
Mesa/Boogie – Battery/PSU;
Friedman – PSU only;
Diezel – PSU only
CONTACT:
Guitar Guitar
(Bogner, Diezel, Friedman)
0800 456 1959
www.guitarguitar.co.uk
Westside Distribution
(Mesa/Boogie)
0844 326 2000
westsidedistribution.com
AT A GLANCE
£199
£279
PEDAL ROUND-UP
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VALUE FOR MONEY
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OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
PEDAL ROUND-UP
BEST BUY
AWARD
TGR290.gear_pedals.indd 105 27/01/2017 16:20