News and other information

Latest News from Tony McKenzie and within the music industry. Press releases and general info about forthcoming or completed music gear reviews.

Latest News

News as of 4th May 2026

At last I have spent some time updating the website with written reviews :) It has taken me some time and there still remains much to do with more as some are not yet complete. But do take a look at these new reviews as they all offer a different take on the gear that is under review and as always in depth too.

Thanks for visiting and check out the 2026 reviews from the top menu...

News as of 29th January 2025

I have to say that I have neglected my own website with a preference to YouTube. But that's not really as cool as written reviews for many reasons. YouTube does not always 'allow me' to say what I really feel about some dodgy item... but of course my own website does. And I can go in to far more detail about different products and show the things that really matter, or what makes a piece of guitar gear be either outstanding or less than good in a better way.

There are only a small number of products over the years that are either exceptional, or rubbish, depending on what I'm sold and my generally unbiased opinion about such products. So I really am going to bring on board WRITTEN reviews, some from recent years (like the best of), and some brand new ones as I work through gear. There really is some interesting stuff going on, like the Marshall Origin main board upgrade I'm just finishing (from Headfirst Guitars in Australia) and I'll show all about that when its complete.

Of course those other reviews will generally be inside and out reviews of current products and the info you can glean from my reviews will always show the gear in a different light than those guys on YouTube as all they want to do is to make reviews that reflect the company that gave them the gear in the first place - and then you never see them with it again - ever noticed that? I have.

In any case starting right now I really am working on this stuff on here. 

News as of 1st February 2024

Well I have been working on YouTube for a while and my most recent review included the Kemper player - rather like a Kemper amp but can only play back the Kemper profiles. It's near enough £550-600 in the UK and buy it from Germany to the UK costs more because those Europhiles are still trying to 'penalize' the UK for telling them to 'push off'! Oh well, you would think Kemper would do what Thomann does to circumvent those antics... but apparently not.

The unit is well made, if a little under powered I thought, but overall I gave that a 10/10 for the device and I'll be putting on this website some more reviews including the Kemper. In fact I think I'll update this site a little rather than having to pander to the YouTube never ending pressure of making videos. I get more visitors to this site than for some reviews and there is no real reason for that except the subject matter... however I think if I review something, its often something worth reviewing and I remain not entirely convinced that YouTube promote my reviews as good as they otherwise might. Watch this space for more written reviews - and I like creating those too. While I'm on the subject of YouTube and reviews - I recently had a pillock on there. I won't post his post, but I will state my response to him here:

@GrowMasterGeneral I just love the way that there is absolutely NOTHING on your YT channel... and that about sums things up when you are using 'ageism' and even suggesting that I suffer from dementia. You are a total disgrace to YouTube and should be kicked off for this type of attitude.

From my reply I guess you can figure out what this numpty said... and if you want, I'm sure he would appreciate any readers dissatisfaction about his disgraceful way of participating on the internet. Me? I don't care if I never hear him again. He's a great example of what is wrong with the internet today...

News as of 3rd January 2024

OK - firstly the website platform has been substantially updated and you most probably will see a much faster result. It's a big improvement and necessary because this is a very big website with loads of pages etc.

In other news, I and Alan Bruce created an album back in 2006 (I think it was) called Berner Street. That was a rock/metal type of album written around the 'Jack the Ripper' story from the 1890's and it had some great music on Berner Street album. But moving forward to 2023 Alan has completed a musical for stage! It is a very good backdrop to the musical and most the music is already completed, but Alan Bruce has added a few extras. Of course there is a whole body of people involved and this musical goes ahead later this year.  Its called "GRUeSOMe The Musical" and is a new and visually powerful rock musical and steampunk reimagining of 1888's in London England. Here's a link to their website where you can find much more info and the dates that the musical runs from: GRUeSOMe The Musical  can be found at https://www.gruesomethemusical.com/index (sometimes does not work!) and I'm sure that Alan and the team involved will really enjoy the experience - so you could come and see it... Do let me know if you're coming. 

The Gruesome musical was a success and I visited it and recorded that (about 1 3/4 hours!) and am currently working on creation of the video which is interesting to watch. It may go online or may have excerpts online at this point I can't say, but I'll keep visitors updated about that as things move forward. The music was pretty much based on the Berner Street album from 2006 which was about 'Jack the ripper' and as you imagine that was generally rock/metal/progressive and created by me and Alan Bruce.

News as of 1st June 2023

News as of 28th June 2021

Well here we are basically almost post-pandemic... and I wonder how many guys have given up on the music - especially with no income! In any case for those people my thoughts are with you. I have just moved this website to a faster server with more protection than ever against spammers etc. You should see that some of the links to external websites have been dropped - basically because they are no longer there! And that's sad.

But I have also fixed a few bits and pieces on this website and I guess that I'll be updating this website with some of the YouTube stuff I have been doing for a while. So thanks to all the visitors to this website and I look forward to creating some new stuff for you all in due course.

News as of 2nd September 2019

It's been a while since I came back to this place for updates etc. and I have neglected this website somewhat for the benefit of creating YouTube videos of reviews and other things usually interesting to musicians, studio operators and those sort of guys. Health problems have followed me around and those refuse to go away, and I have to say that as I get older this stuff does get harder to be motivated to do the work involved - which can be extensive and expensive for me.

I recently went back to take a look whether Fractal Audio equipment had improved over what I saw back in 2011 with the Axe-FX III. I spent literally a number of months creating an inside and out review covering most of the things I do with other simulators and amps etc. and even asked some guys around to play a track each and give their opinions on what they heard and saw. That video was around 3 1/2 hours long and covered so many things that no one ever talks about. Things like the quality, the chips used, the pricing of the components, the approvals of the device, the firmware, the editor, using the front panel, the back panel, using the editor and lastly musicians playing. Indeed, the most thorough review likely that anyone has ever seen.

And just like back in 2011 with the Axe-FX II, I was ridiculed, harassed, threatened, verbally abused and more. And here's me thinking that surely the clowns from 2011 had gone. None of it. They were and are just as awful as they have ever been.

But this time I decided to kill the video review after a few days of it all. Some of those characters even came on this website, filled out the form and made threats. I have each and every one of those names and their IP addresses so there's no hiding behind stupid silly names that they use when filling out forms on here. In future particularly on this website I will publish each and every one of them with their details. Maybe others could do it back to them? Who knows.

In any case, I worked to reduce the size of the video review and as well as that I WILL create a review on this site that shows exactly the sort of things that V3 is made of, the quality and a bunch of other stuff because that's what I found in a review. It will take a while.

But one things for sure, those horrible nasty people are as bad as they always were and good luck to anyone that dare venture there for help of any kind. Animals springs to mind. What's 'AXE FX' mean - simple: Its an abbreviation for "A Xenophobic Entrepreneur Featuring Xanax" which I rather like.

In any case visit my YouTube channel for recent reviews and make no mistake I'll be back. 

News as of 19th March 2019

Yes, I have been working on this website behind the scenes so to speak. Now more compatible with mobile phones and all that other god stuff. Over the coming months I'm going to start bringing back online updates and reviews of equipment. Also after the Dallas Guitar Show there will be a report on that and what I saw there... no doubt some cool video as seen by me as I wander around there. I'm also currently waiting the 'Smart Multiamp' from DV-Mark that should be a very interesting unit to see close up.

As well as the above, you will see more of the semi-completed pages getting updates as well. Sometimes with the video that was not always pertinent, but at least with this website I'm in control of the content rather than a half assed approach by YouTube that fails to promote my videos simply because my channel is not monetized for their benefit... who said YouTube is not biased? They clearly are. But maybe if I made lame videos about rabbits or something like that then the viewer count would rise. Not for me... I'll continue to post videos, but only as a benefit for this website.

My studio was updated to Presonus gear throughout and the trust Yamaha O2R96 (02R96) was sold. I also used a MOTU LP32 which proved very useful for recovering the multitrack recordings from over 30 years of work! Recommended. Other information in recent videos.

In any case, here I am and if you only just found the site, welcome, and if you're an old hand... welcome :)

News as of 24th January 2018

I noticed that Roland Boss have a new Effects unit the GT-1000 which promises some wonderful stuff at a great price. As soon as I can get one I'll be doing an inside and out review. Here's the current holding page with some info and a video: GT-1000

I am back from the doctors and am gradually but slowly improving so watch this space...

Currently I have a chest infection. Once that is out of the way then I intend to get back to this site and get some real updating done. Seems like one thing after another I guess but do bear with me and I'll be doing this site next. I just hate letting guys down but currently I have little choice. As Arnie said... I'll be back... 

News as of January 6th 2018

Well... I did not get to the website for new reviews but I DID make seven different ones on YouTube over the Christmas period and I trust anyone who comes here has seen them... they took extended time to make.

But I did also come on here and update the section about 'Awesome John' my friend Asim Can Gunduz. In case you have 'never heard of Awesome John' I reckon you should visit his page on this site. Asim and also visit www.dreamstrat.com for info about the guitar that was made for him by Fender. Asim passed away around June 2016. RIP Asim you are missed my friend.

I intend to update this site over January 2018... at least that's the plan!

News as of December 10th 2017

I added a section on the menu's to review music that is sent to me. The first review is an album called 'Trenches' from a band called Stolen Apple from Florence Italy.

I am not actually looking to review albums so please understand that unless you are particularly persistent then I won't be adding albums by the day. I'm not really an album reviewer, but I did find the one from Stolen Apple interesting to say the least. Whether 'Stolen Apple' agree with my review is another story, but my comments really are unbiased and I knew nothing of the band before the review so I guess it is a genuine review with that sort of mentality in place...

I will be updating the site a little over Christmas hopefully. My left arm suffered from 'tendonitis' and has been hard to get rid of but it is slowly going away. Here in the UK the wait for Physiotherapy from the 'so called' NHS (National Health Service) is frankly a joke. The government takes your money, but where I live the health service is rubbish. Indeed when I had major problems a few years ago I had to go to a different hospital to ensure (in my opinion) that I was treated properly. My local NHS Trust is grim.

As I often say... I'll be back!

Older news has now been deleted to manage the page better - it was from 2009-here.

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