Thomann's Cool Online Guides
Here's a list of our current Online Guides. Each one extends over several pages and explains a specific product area in simple terms with the aid of pictures and diagrams, covering their history, use, and different types. Some documents cover complete setups, and others specific techniques of use. If you’re unsure of how to go about choosing the right product for you, or you just want to know more about any of these topics, read on!
Please select a category:
- All categories (177)
- Wind Instruments (15)
- Cases, Racks, Bags (1)
- DJ Equipment (7)
- Drums & Percussion (15)
- Guitars & Basses (34)
- Cables + Plugs (3)
- Lighting + Stage (4)
- Microphones (17)
- Sheet, Books, DVDs (25)
- PA Equipment (9)
- Effects + Signal Proc. (4)
- Studio Equipment (12)
- Software (9)
- Keys (12)
- Traditional (6)
- Accessories (4)
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The first hurdle though, is to decide on which instrument to learn?
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Computers can be very complicated. We’re here to offer some advice!
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Choosing a digital piano actually involves many of the same considerations as choosing a real piano.
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In the digital age, the loudspeaker is the last and unchangeable outpost of analogue technology.
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Whether you’re a fan, a promoter or a performer, the refined craft of live sound is vitally important.
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The range of available guitars and amps has never been greater than it is today, and a huge variety of sounds are easily accessible.
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At the simplest level, a controller keyboard, also commonly known as a "master" keyboard.
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The central place of the piano in modern music cannot be overstated.
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Our aim is to explain the basic process of recording the electric guitar!
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Electric guitars are ten a penny and nowadays there are at least as many models and makers to choose from.
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LED PARs, LED Bars and Moving Heads - what should I bear in mind?
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There are a wealth of synthesisers available today, ranging from hardware keyboards to virtual software instruments.
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In this guide we’ll concentrate on the functionality of hardware mixers. They are an essential part of any live sound systems and studio setups.
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There is a wide range of audio interfaces available, and in the end, choosing the right one comes down to your personal preference.
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Cable... flex... lead... wire... what do all these terms mean?
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In this guide we’ll outline the basic principles of studio monitors, and take a closer look at their most common features.
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Recording choir music is always a challenge, even though it might not seem to be at first.
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This guide will help you find a suitable drum kit and accessories for beginners.
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Electronic drum sets are an instrument to reckon with.
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This article will look at how to integrate a computer into different studio environments, and will highlight the issues of functionality and connectivity.
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The following pages give an overview of the various types of guitar amp available.
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We investigate some of the many accessories available for both guitar and bass.
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The PAR can is usually the basis of an entertainment lighting system!
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They pick up any sound! In this guide, we have tracked down the most popular condenser microphones for you.
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The steel-strung acoustic guitar has a range of sounds that are unmistakeable and not easily replicated with any other type of guitar.
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There are many vocal microphones that are suitable for stage use, from the cheapest dynamic to the most expensive condenser.
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Professional standard lighting systems are no longer found solely in large venues.
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Headphones are basics for any studio or DJ. But not all headphones are created equal.
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Amp modellers are guitar DSP effects units that emulate the sound of a range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets.
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Miking up and recording a drum kit is a fairly complicated procedure, and this can apply equally to choosing the right mics for the job.
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Radio Mics are designed to give the musician the freedom to move about the stage unhindered.
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If you take good care of your equipment, your pack it up carefully - and this means getting a proper case!
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Here is a overview of the bass and all its component parts, from vintage to modern instruments.
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The term ‘modulation’ in its broadest sense covers a range of sonic effects, from the subtlest chorus to ear-bending ring modulation.
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Portable keyboards now offer a wealth of features to suit both the first time musician and professional songwriter alike.
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These days, musicians are experiencing the increasing complexity of their instruments and devices at first hand - regain some of the control you've lost!
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The multi-FX concept has been around in various forms since the mid 80s - It is therefore no surprise that there is a huge range of hardware available.
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Dynamic microphones are the basic tools of live sound and play an important role in every recording studio.
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Without strings, guitars and basses produce no sound, yet most players know very little about them.
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Until recently, the classical guitar represented the most popular route into guitar playing.
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Read on and learn all you should know about small diaphragm mics
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Hardware is the stuff you play on and it does not make a noise – ideal scenario that is.
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The multitracker is a great tool for musicians of all levels. It really can be a ‘studio in a box’ replacing many of the components of a traditional studio.
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In-Ear monitoring - reasonable prices since a few years only - a real bliss for any live musician. Why? Find out here..
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Unfortunately, choosing a simple dynamic mic is just the beginning.
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Microphone preamps, are analogue devices that will remain important even as most other equipment is superseded by digital alternatives.
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DJing has rather murky origins, and there are many people who claim to have been the first to mix two records together.
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The choice of cymbals is just as important as the choice of drums within a kit. Let’s take a closer look.
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Though there are other options, the stack remains a rock icon, and is still the most flexible form of guitar amplification.
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You could sum up the whole idea of a PA power amplifier in a single word - sound. The power amp is a crucial part of a musician’s live sound.
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These days, software instruments seem to most like the natural thing to use as a sound source in a computer-based studio.
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Learning to play an Viola is a long, but rewarding journey, and this guide has been designed to help at the start.
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More people than ever are now convinced of the advantages of plug-ins. Why?
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Our guide assist you in discovering which is the right kind of flute for you.
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A classic Ibanez Tubescreamer or Colorsound Tonebender can fetch many times its original price from guitarists in search of the ultimate killer tone and sustain.
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Percussion instruments are the backbone of many traditional styles of music and are a wonderful way to add colour, texture and motion to contemporary music.
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The single most important element in any style of dance music is the ‘groove’, a chemistry of rhythm for your song that can make or break its overall feel.
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Effects processors designed for use with bass guitars are now more popular than ever.
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The trumpet is one of the most versatile instruments, standing its ground in every music genre imaginable.
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The acoustic guitar is one of the most frequently recorded instruments in the studio, but it is often recorded poorly.
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Often underestimated and thought of only as a holiday instrument, the ukulele is experiencing a revival - and by no means only on Hawaii
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The workstation keyboards has come of age and found niches in many different areas.
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Before buying an acoustic amp, it’s important to consider exactly what you want it to do.
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Is mastering a ‘black art’ best left to the professionals, or with the right technology, is it something that anyone can attempt?
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This tutorial covers audio compressors and how they are used.
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Software Sequencing as a term is deeply inadequate to describe the power of the programs now available to the computer-based musician.
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Sampling technology is no longer restricted to large studios!
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This guide aims to help complete beginners and existing double bass students (and their parents).
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Drumheads have been manufactured from plastic since 1956, mostly polyester.
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Turntables have evolved over the years from traditional record players into the professional record decks seen in every club today.
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Learning to play an instrument is a long, but immensely rewarding journey, and this guide has been designed to help at the start of that journey.
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There is nothing mysterious about the basic principles of the electric guitar pickup.
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EQ is perhaps the least noticed of all types of audio processing, but also the most important.
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This article will look at how a DSP accelerator can be a useful part of your computer-based studio, and also at their limitations.
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While we could go into more and more detail about DI boxes and their inner workings, at some stage it’s best to get some hands-on experience!
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In our online guide, we want to look at the modern drum set from every angle.
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Many Drummer’s have not yet found their optimal stick - the selection is large.
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A wide variety of percussion instruments forms the modern orchestra’s rhythm section.
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Let’s take a close look at this beautiful-sounding instrument.
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Despite its infamous classroom or beginner’s image, the recorder is in fact just as difficult to play well as most other instruments.
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Modern electronic tuners are generally accurate, reliable and fairly inexpensive.
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Delays offer a simple and convenient method of creating a sense of space around your sound.
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Reverb is an essential ingredient in almost all pop and rock music.
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Welcome to our Online Advisor for Harmonicas.
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When choosing a mixer, the most important thing to consider is what style of mixing you will be doing.
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The trombone is a popular instrument in the brass family, and features in much classical, jazz and popular music.
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There are many types of reporting, interviewing and other broadcasts. Each bring their own audio challenges, and each have their own solutions.
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Alto Horn or Euphonium - Two Brothers or Total Strangers?
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Not all mouthpieces are created equal. Some things you should definitely know!
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With a tuba, the sky's the limit - sounding good, looking good, and always tuned to fun!
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In this Online Advisor, created in conjunction with planetguitar.net, we explore the key features of the instruments that have redefined power chords.
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The variety and choice of mouthpieces is huge and can be confusing, too. We will do our best to help you find your way!
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The sound of the snare drum defines and unites almost all forms of popular music.
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One instrument with many names - the tenor horn and its counterpart, the baritone.
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Percussion for drum sets is like the toy shop for drummers.
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There is a wide selection of units to choose from in both single and double player format and a large range of prices.
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All you ever wanted to know about the small helpers called headphone preamps ... can be found here
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The monitor controller is an elegant solution to a relatively new problem, and is invaluable in the project and commercial studio alike.
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Enjoy your bassoon, the wonderful sound it makes, and the beautiful music written for it.
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There are many kinds of mute available, all of which alter both the volume and timbre of the instrument played.
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In this guide, we’re going to look at one of the most important decisions a parent can make for their child
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DJ systems are the interface between the vinyls and the sound you can hear. Here, you will also find whatever else a DJ needs.
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This article will look at what MIDI is, how it’s used to connect different devices, and some of the more popular MIDI interfaces.
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It would be fair to say that the development of the wah-wah pedal has been somewhat experimental over the years.
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Ribbon microphones sound full, rich, and smooth. Seasoned engineers love their unique sound.
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Your guitar needs care and attention, and by that we mean more than simply cleaning and polishing it. Read this tutorial to find out more.
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Baritone guitars are the dark side of the guitar world - without them, there's almost nothing you can get done in the rock and metal scene.
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Guitar players in particular should know something about potentiometers
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We delve into the digital technology bridging the gap between guitars and synths in several exciting areas.
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E-bass pickups influence the sound of your bass decisively.
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Explore the oboe, the wonderful sound it makes, and the beautiful music written for it.
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Yo cannot nowadays conceive of an unplugged rock, pop, and especially folk-rock session without this box as a replacement for the bass and snare drums. Consulting this guide will help you make the right choice.
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Congas, common to most cultures worldwide. A somewhat challenging instrument sometimes but always so versatile
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It’s time for more guitarists to take advantage of the freedom of movement provided and strut their stuff!
Native Instruments Maschine Mikro MK3
Native Instruments Maschine Mic MK3Groove Production Studio contains USB Controller and Maschine Software;, 16 highly-sensitive back-lit pads with velocity and after-touch; Dual-Touch Smart Strip; Encoder; VST and Audio Unit Host;, built-in effects section; import of samples, REX2 files and MPC...
to the product
Presonus Faderport V2
DAW Controller with USB 2.0 Port Touch-sensitive 100 mm motor fader (10-bit resolution, 1024 steps), Transport buttons with Start / Pause, Record, Stop, Forwards, Rewind, RTZ and Loop, Function keys, such as Bypass, Mute, Solo, Automation Touch / Write...
to the product 
Electro Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Fuzz
Effects Pedal Fuzz, Reissue of the original Version 1 Big Muffs from 1969, Creamy, violin-like sustain, Controls: Sustain, Volume, Tone, LED: Effect On / Off, Footswitch: Effect Bypass, Connections: input (6.3 mm jack), Output (6.3 mm jack), Power supply...
to the product 
ESP LTD EC-256FM STAQMB
Electric Guitar Model exclusively available from Thomann, Body: Mahogany, Top: Flamed maple, 3-Piece set neck: Mahogany, Fretboard: Jatoba, Fretboard radius: 350 mm, Neck profile: Thin U, Scale: 629 mm (24.75"), Nut width: 42 mm, 22 XJ Frets, Pickups: ESP...
to the product 
Orange Crush 20 WHT Ltd. Edition
Solid State Amp Combo for Electric Guitar Limited special series, Power: 20 Watts (RMS), Equipment: 1x 8" Speaker, Warm sound and soft distortion from clean to overdrive, Controls: Dirty Volume, Switchable Overdrive, 3 Band EQ, Gain, Clean Volume, Connections:...
to the product 
Boss VE-500 Vocal Performer
Vocal Multi-Effects Stompbox Especially suitable for singing guitarists, Automatic adjustment of harmonies and pitch based on newly developed BOSS algorithms for gapless tracking and a natural sound, Extensive effect selection, specially adapted to vocals, Enhance section for the basic...
to the product 
Fun Generation SePar Hex LED RGBAW UV IR
6-in-1 LED Flat Par 5 Powerful Hexa-Colour LEDs in the colours red, green, blue, amber, white and ultraviolet, Very bright beam with compact dimensions, The flexible mounting options make it ideal for mobile DJs, entertainers and clubs, Rubber feet...
to the product 
Roland TD-1DMK V-Drum Set
E-Drum Set Entry-level model into the world of Roland V-Drums, TD-1 Drum module with 15 drum kits, 15 Songs, 10 Coaching functions, Metronome, 3.5mm Stereo Jack Mix In, 3.5 mm Stereo jack headphone and line output, USB for MIDI...
to the product 
iZotope Spire Studio
iZotope Spire Studio; mobile recording studio with battery operation; built-in microphone enables studio quality recordings; battery operation allows mobile recording for at least 4 hours; automatic level optimization at the push of a button prevents distorted recordings; up to 8...
to the product 
Native Instruments Komplete 12
Plugin Bundle Comprising software instruments and sample libraries from Native Instruments, Contains a total of 45 instruments and effects, such as shape, replica, strummed acoustic guitar, Una Corda, Discovery Series "India", Reactor 6 including Block, Kinetic Metal, Contact 6,...
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Fender SQ Affinity Strat Pack HSS BSB
Electric GuitarSQ Affinity Strat Electric Guitar Body: Poplar, Neck: Maple, Fretboard: Indian Laurel, 21 Medium jumbo frets, Nut width: 40,9 mm (1.61"), Scale: 648 mm (25.5"), Pickups: HSS humbucker (bridge) and 2 single coils, 6-Saddle Vintage-Style...
to the product 
Victory Amplifiers V4 The Countess Preamp
Victory Amplifiers V4 The Countess Preamp; effects pedal; clean and overdrive sounds based on V30 The Countess amplifier, developed with Guthrie Govan, all tube signal path with 1 x EC900 and 3 x CV4014 tubes, two channels, use it as...
to the product 
We're looking forward to hearing from you and aim to solve any problems as soon as we can.