PLAY IT LOUD
Like any other part of the electronics — entertainment business, musical equipment manufacturers are constantly introducing products. This month I'd like to run through a few of the new products presently on the market, not so much to make recommendations as to what's new and fabulous, but to keep all you pluckers up to date on the various ways you can spend your money.
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PLAY IT LOUD
by
Guitar Arnie
Now Available: 1952 Model Guitars!
Like any other part of the electronics — entertainment business, musical equipment manufacturers are constantly introducing products. This month I'd like to run through a few of the new products presently on the market, not so much to make recommendations as to what's new and fabulous, but to keep all you pluckers up to date on the various ways you can spend your money.
The first newie is a step back to the glorious past. It's the "1952 Conversion Kit" being marketed by RAB (P.O. Box 94, Rye, New York, 10580). If you want to give a new Telecaster or Esquire Fender the old "Tele" look, this kit is an inexpensive investment — $18 postpaid (bank or postal money order only, payable to RAB). You can also order the 1952 design control knobs separately at $3.60 each and the bridge pieces separately also at $3.60 each. While the bridge pieces are designed especially for the Telecaster (they'll also work on the Fender Esquire) and provide improved tonal quality and sustain, the knobs can be used on any guitar that uses set-screw mounting knobs — this includes many guitars in the Fender line including their basses.
All you piano players will be interested to find out that Earth Sound Research has come up with a 25 pound electronic piano. The suggested retail price is $499 and the piano features a full sixty-one note keyboard with a booming bass section,, three tabs for sound changes, and a really convenient size: six inches high, three feet long.
The piano can be plugged into any amplifier or through a p.a. system. It's being marketed by Instrument Systems Corporation (410 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho, New York, 11753).
From Guild comes another new product for those who are planning to put together a really functional sound system. It's Guild's new PA Mixer/ Pre-Amplifier that has five channels (with a total of seven inputs). The mixer accepts up to five microphones plus inputs for other accessories. The model number is M-700 and the price tag is only $149.50 — which is extremely reasonable for a mixer that has built-in tone controls. The mixer is also available without tone controls (Model M-70) for $110, but if you do some comparative shopping you'll find that the extra $39 for tone controls is a pretty spectacular buy. (Guild Musical Instruments, 225 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, 07202).
Carvin Professional Instruments (1112 Industrial Avenue, Escondido, California, 92025) has just issued their
new, 1974 catalog. (Carvin sells only by direct mail.) They make heavy-duty stuff with the best possible components. My favorite item in their new catalog is their 12 channel mixer (SP8000) with three VU meters, volume, bass, treble, reverb-echo, and monitor controls for each channel, plus every conceivable output you could want for both monitoring, amplifying, and recording. .. and the price tag is $599.95. If you went to buy one of these in a music store (which you can't), it would cost you at least $1500! This is typical of the type and quality of equipment they have available and their prices. Also delighted to see that they're pitching my good friend Richard Robinson's "Electric Rock" guitar book in the new catalog.
If you're in the market for a new
guitar, say a second guitar which doesn t cost an arm and a leg, both Guild and Martin are now carrying lines of imported guitars comparable to U.S. made instruments but at lower prices. The Martin line is called the Sigma guitar and includes both solid body electrics and electric basses as well as steel and nylon string acoustics. Interesting to note that Martin is saying that they've "approved" these guitars. (C.F. Martin, Box 329, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 18064). Guild's line of imports are called Madeira guitars and include both a solid body electric and solid body humbucking pickups, and chrome plated parts. Literature and prices available from Guild (225 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, 07202).
If you've ever worn out your fingers trying to adjust the Atlas Sound Baby Boom mike stand boom, you'll be pleased to learn that Atlas has a new Baby Boom that hak only one large handle-knob to make all tightening adjustments. There's also a cut out groove cable channel so you can keep the mike
cable out of the way. A nice set of improvements on an inexpensive and useful piece of equipment. No price has been set, but I presume that it'll be in the $10 to $15 category. Check your music or hi-fi dealer. Speaking of mike stands, Callas Arbiter, the Mellotron people, are importing Sound City Mike Stands from England. These British stands incorporate a boom arm as part of the stand and come complete with a mike cord clip to hold the cord to the shaft of the stand. For further information see your dealer or write Dallas Arbiter/USA/Ltd (301 Island Road, Mahwah, New Jersey, 07430.)
That's all the hot flashes for this month, back with more next issue, including (I hope) news of a whole new amp line that looks real good.
