Vox

OUTPUT: 2 x 10 watts rms
KEY FEATURES: 12 electric, bass and
acoustic voices, 16 effects, 12
memory slots, USB audio, Bluetooth,
aux in, headphones out
CONTACT: Blackstar Amplification
01604 817815
www.blackstaramps.com
At A glAnce
OUTPUT: 2 x 20 watts rms
KEY FEATURES: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, 21
amp models and 46 effects, phones
out, line out, comes with Fender’s
cross-platform Tone App
CONTACT: Fender GBI
0845 305 1122
www.fender.com
At A glAnce
november 2017 ToTal GuiTar
the tg test
101
Is this a stallion or a pony?
Fender may be traditional but they can do high tech as well as any of
the competition and better than most. The awesome new Mustang
range includes the compact GT40, which includes Bluetooth for
audio streaming and Wi-Fi, letting you connect the amp directly to
Fender’s Tone portal without the need for a PC.
Sounds great. What can I do at the Portal?
You can access Fender artist-created presets, download  rmware
updates and connect with the Mustang community to share presets,
Is this the Blackstar that we know and love?
Blackstar’s ID:Core BEAM is one of the more established desktop
rockers and looks the part in black vinyl with a white logo on a black
speaker grille. Behind that grille is a pair of speakers powered by a
punchy 2 x 10 watt output stage with super-wide stereo imaging and
a clever digital preamp with built-in eff ects.
What does BEAM stand for?
Bass, Electric, Acoustic and Music. The preamp has two bass, six
electric, two acoustic and two acoustic simulator voices to cover any
playing tips and more. With a powerful 40-watt stereo power stage
and relatively big 6.5" speakers, the Mustang 40 is a proper amp,
but still small enough for tabletop use.
What other perks are on offer with the Mustang?
No less than 21 improved amp models and 46 eff ects with spillover
ensure you’ll never run out of creative inspiration, plus a small,
sharp and bright LCD display lets you know where you are (the
mobile version of the Tone app provides perfect control with
wireless convenience). With a 60-second looper, headphones and a
line out, the Mustang GT40 off ers huge bang for your buck.
guitar need. Bluetooth allows you to stream music to the BEAM for
high-quality playback. The ID:Core BEAM has familiar, amp-like
controls for gain, volume and EQ with a voice selector and two knobs
to select and vary the onboard eff ects. There’s a phones output and
a line in as well as a USB socket, allowing connection to Blackstar’s
excellent Insider software and two-way audio.
What else do I get for my money?
Extra ‘secret’ functions can be accessed through Insider, or by
holding down the tap tempo button like a shift key. Despite its plain
exterior, the ID:Core BEAM has plenty of features.
FeNdeR
MUSTaNG GT40
Maximum horsepower
BLaCKSTaR Id:
CoRe BeaM
Small but perfectly formed
£195
£199
TGR299.gear_test.indd 101 10/10/17 4:31 PM