TRAYNOR QUARTERHORSE MICROAMP

While numerous manufacturers have focused efforts on direct-to-PA tone boxes, Traynor decided to think inside the box—the speaker box, that is. Selectable twin channels offer a host of groovy tones, with independent footswitches for reverb and effects. The Channel Select and Effect Bypass footswitches are positioned side by side so you can jump from cushy rhythms to smoky delay-laden solos with a single stomp. If delay isn’t your thing, a mini-toggle allows you to select the plush Tremolo. What we love most about this 25-watt guitar microamp is its incorporation of a speaker cabinet into the signal chain. While direct-to-PA setups can sound tinny due to the full-range nature of monitors, the QuarterHorse shines in its ability to harness the actual sound of a guitar cabinet.

–Doug Doppler