Loog Guitar

Pro VI Acoustic and Pro VI Electric

Loog

Our Score:  Pro VI Acoustic 4 out of 5 stars

                     Pro VI Electric 3.5 out of 5 stars

Loog Guitars burst on to the musical instrument scene in 2011 with a unique 3 stringed guitar design which utilizes the G, B and E strings and is set on a smaller scaled neck and body making it ideal for learners of all ages. In 2017 after a second successful Kickstarter campaign earning Loog the title of “Best-Selling Guitar Ever on Kickstarter” the company has yet to slow down or stop evolving their ever-growing product line.

The latest Loog offering is that of the Pro VI Acoustic and Electric models. Both guitars feature the companies first 6 string configurations which are set on larger scales and designed for guitarists ages 12 and up. Having purchased the 3 string Loog Pro for my son about a year ago both he and I were anxious to check out both new models, so we decided to start with the Pro VI Acoustic first as it was the most like our previous Loog.

After a quick tune up the Acoustic Pro VI was virtually ready to go right out of the box (something you do not often see from guitars in this price range). The overall feel of the guitar was quite good, and the added size of the neck and body balanced nicely in both sitting and standing positions. Where I felt the guitar really excelled was in the sound and projection. The parlor sized basswood body (available in 6 colors) has a mid-high tone range which helps each chord and note ring out loud and clear while the maple neck provides a solid fretting surface for both small and large hands. Though the fret ends could use a little work in the finishing department the guitar stays in tune quite well (a definite plus for younger players) and the overall playability and look of the guitar is quite good which made for an enjoyable playing experience.

Next, we fired up the Pro VI Electric guitar. After a quick install of a 9-volt battery (not included) via the compartment on the back and a flick of the micro switch located on the front of the guitar we were up and rocking. Though this is not Loog’s first attempt at amplification it is their first 6 string attempt and I have to say it is not half bad! The guitar features a paulownia body (available in 6 colors), 19 fret maple neck, volume & gain controls and an input jack for external amplification. Playability wise the Pro VI Electric has a comfortable feel with consistent balance despite the unique body shape. The maple neck has a straight, fast feel which will only get better the more you play it. Much like the Acoustic Pro VI and the Standard Pro I previously purchased I did find the fret work a little disappointing. The fret ends on both the upper and lower edge of the neck were rough and a bit inconsistent in length. This does seem to be a common flaw with Loog guitars and one I hope they look to address on future models. Sound wise it may take newer plays a little bit to adjust to the internal speaker sound when attempting to dial in a sound they like. Due to the limited controls (volume & gain) of the internal amp and the limited sweep of the knobs players basically get an all or nothing distorted tone which for some may be a little off putting and unusable especially if you are wanting a clean tone at higher volumes. Bypassing the internal amp via the front mounted input jack and plugging into an external amp did give the guitar a whole new feel and sound but not without a few quirks as using that input disables the volume and tone controls which may cause a bit of confusion for newer players. 

From head to toe the Pro VI Acoustic and Pro VI electric and great additions to the Loog line up. Yes, the guitars could benefit from some better finish work as both examples featured rough fret ends and inconsistent body finishes however you will be hard pressed to find anything as nice as what Loog offers in this price ( Pro VI Acoustic $149, Pro VI Electric $199). Not only does Loog offer solid instruments for all ages but the included flash card set and downloadable Loog learning app is a fun and interactive way for all ages to learn. For players wanting to expand their learning outside the App Loog lessons of all ability are offered in both group and private formats via Lessonface.com. Loog is more than just another guitar company with a product to sell. Along with providing an affordable, quality instrument the company is heavily invested in music education for both young and old so if you are looking to learn or want to expand your music knowledge then give Loog a look. You will not be disappointed. 

For more information visit https://loogguitars.com/

Author Bio:-  Rachael is a content writer at plantsumo.com, who has written on a Ultimate Resume Guide, from colored diamonds to SEO software. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, sketching, cooking, and video games.

“The Butthole Burner” Guitar Effects Pedal

Steel Panther

Our Score 4 out of 5 stars

Hot! Spicy! Sexy! And, Feisty! Steel Panther presents the newest edition in its line of signature guitar effects pedals. “The Butthole Burner” distortion pedal will scorch eardrums and backsides with the click of a button.  

Limited to one production run, “The Butthole Burner” is a repacking of the controversial “P**** Melter” distortion pedal which was released in 2019. Housed in a brushed red metal casing complete with multi-colored knobs and light up “peppers” the “Burner” is capable of adding an edgy boost to your favorite tone or craft a completely new sound. With two levels of selectable distortion (Scorched and Balmy) and knobs for Jalepen-Low, Wasab-Hi, Gasoline (load out) and Lava Flow (load in) guitarists can quickly dial in a usable sound without having to read a lengthy user manual or take an advanced electronics class. The pedal can be powered by a single 9 volt battery or via a power adapter (not included).  

After a couple minutes of turning knobs and changing the micro switch between the two distortion options I found a setting within the Balmy mode that paired nicely with my current distortion. Acting as more of a boost in this situation the “Burner” gave me just enough boost and saturation to make my solo’s stand out above our standard mix. The Scorched setting was a bit more than I needed and at times was a touch shrill however, I am sure there are plenty of players out there who will enjoy the razor like attack when the pedal is cranked to the max in this configuration. One other thing worth mentioning is the switching. Like most high end effect’s pedals the “Burner” features a standard tru-bypass switch. The switch included on my pedal was a bit stiff and required a heavy step for it to fully engage. This threw me off the first couple of times I stepped on it as it did not engage like other pedals but after a direct, heavy downward step on the button the dual red LED’s lit up the pepper graphics and we were on our way to sonic goodness.

If you picked up the first iteration of this pedal “The P**** Melter” and are looking for something with a different sound you will probably  want to skip this pedal as aside from the new aesthetics electronically it is built on the same engine as its predecessor making for little to no difference in tonal variety. If you missed out on the controversial pedals initial release and, have been longing for a pedal that is as visually aggressive as its sound then head over to Steelpantherrocks.com and snag one of the remaining units as it will certainly add some excitement to your guitar sound.