Keeping up with all the new gear out there is tough. Which is why every week, we’re going to round up a few of our picks for kickass new gear and showcase ’em all in one (sorta) compact article! This week’s picks are:
- The Jackson Pro Series Signature Wes Borland King V, available here for $1,299.99
- The Ryan “Fluff” Bruce Seymour Duncan FLF Model humbacuker, starting at $180 per pickup.
- The Solid State Logic SSL 1 USB-C Audio Interface, available here for $159.99.
- The S By Solar XB4.6C, available here for $549.99.
- The Akai Professional MPC Live III Retro, available here for $1,699.
Jackson Pro Series Wes Borland King V
After years of speculation, Jackson unveiled the Pro Series Wes Borland King V, a production-model version of the V-style guitar that has become synonymous with the Limp Bizkit guitarist.
The Pro Series Wes Borland King V features a Nyatoh body paired with a neck-through Maple neck reinforced with graphite rods for maximum stability.
An Ebony fingerboard houses 24 jumbo frets across a 25.5″ scale length, while a black finish accented by thick white binding, pearloid sharkfin inlays, black hardware, and an aggressively pointed King V body shape keep things pretty metal.
The Pro Series Wes Borland King V features a single bridge-position Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 humbucker — one of the highest-output passive pickups on the market.
Control-wise, there’s only a master volume knob. According to Borland, even that was carefully positioned far away from the bridge to prevent accidental adjustments during bouts of tremolo abuse (specifically the Floyd Rose 1500) and overall frenetic stage performances.
Get the Jackson Pro Series Signature Wes Borland King V here for $1,299.99.
Seymour Duncan FLF Model Humbucker
YouTube metal titan Ryan “Fluff” Bruce teamed up with Seymour Duncan this week for a new signature pickup, the FLF Model.
The pickup takes inspiration from the JB Model and the Black Winter, putting it in the middle of two total crushers. The FLF dishes out a thick, snarling midrange with a percussive attack tailor-made for drop-tuned riffing.
And while the pickup is undeniably engineered for high-gain punishment, it is not a one-trick chug machine. Roll back the volume knob and the FLF cleans up with a surprisingly warm, chiming response that gives players access to a broad tonal palette without ever touching the amp.
Get the FLF Model here starting at $180 per pickup.
Solid State Logic SSL 1
Solid State Logic is here to give you 50 years of knowledge all crammed into a very reasonably-priced ($159.99) USB audio interface – the all-new, 2-in/2-out USB-C audio interface SSL 1.
The Solid State Logic SSL 1 offers a wide range of features that punch above its class. That include next-gen 32-bit/192kHz converters, a high-quality SSL preamp, a flexible Instrument/Line Input, balanced monitor Outputs, and a high-current Headphone amp.
The Mic input also features a 48-volt phantom power option, a Highpass filter, and the much-loved Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement mode that captures SSL’s 4000-series console via some tweaks in the preamp.
For inputs and outputs, the SSL 1 features a Neutrik XLR mic input, a switchable INST/LINE input, two balanced outputs, and x2 USB‑C connectors for USB audio and 5V external power supplies or power banks on the back; and a headphone jack on the front.
The SSL 1 also offers up a Mix button for low-latency input monitoring, DC-coupled outputs for sending CV to synths, and a stereo loopback feature for content creators.
Get the Solid State Logic SSL 1 USB-C Audio Interface here for $159.99.
S By Solar XB4.6C
Solar Guitars has expanded its more affordable S by Solar lineup with the XB4.6C, an aggressive X-shaped electric guitar that may actually poke your eye out.
The XB4.6C uses a Mahogany body with a 24.75″ scale bolt-on Maple neck carved into Solar’s comfortable C profile. A stained Rosewood fingerboard with a 350mm radius and 22 jumbo frets keeps the feel fast without cutting any corners.
The bolt-on construction is paired with a sculpted neck joint for easier upper-fret access, while the shorter scale length adds a slightly looser string feel that’ll really let you dig into those chugs.
Electronically, the XB4.6C offers two high-output ceramic humbuckers mounted directly into the body for added resonance and attack, controlled via a 3-way toggle and single volume knob.
Get the XB4.6C here for $549.99.
Akai Professional MPC Live III
You all know the Akai Professional MPC Live III in all its sampling glory. This is exactly that, but with a new Retro look to it. It’s pretty cool.
The MPC Live III also marks the debut of Akai’s MPCe performance pads, which are then further expanded by the customizable Performance Touch Strip. Workflow enhancements and a wealth of included Live III-exclusive tools join a flood of wired and wireless – CV/Gate, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RCA, 5-pin, combo jacks, and more – connectivity options, while deep integration with Ableton, direct iPhone sampling, and multichannel functionality as a USB-C audio and MIDI interface make the Akai MPC Live III pretty damn powerful.
Get the Akai Professional MPC Live III Retro here for $1,699.
