Tell Me About Your New Wah-Wah

One of the major problems with writing about (and being interested in) guitars and amplifiers is that it’s none too easy to find out what’s going on. I’m constantly telling guitar and amp manufacturers that if they let me know what they’re selling and send me a picture then it’ll be easy to keep all my devoted readers up to date on how to spend their money. Sometimes I even call them up and plead. More often than not I don’t get too far with all this subservience — I just get bitchy letters forwarded to me from CREEM’s advertising department signed by vice fhesidents who want to know why I didn’t mention their company’s products in the latest CREEM supplement.

So I was delighted that the bhone rang the other day and a representative from Chicago Musical Instruments (they have Bigson, AKG, Epiphone, Yamaha, Maestro and other fine lines) introduced himself and proceeded to teM ifie in' excited tones about their new SG amplifier series. We talked for about a half hour and then I went to Manny’s (NYC’s musical instrument headquarters) to see the SG amps for myself. I hope you’ll give a listen to the SG serie^, because you’ll find that they are one of the important amp lines to consider when outfitting a. band. And I also hope that Chicago Musical Instrument will call again and send me more info on some of their other stuff. v

As with any amplifier, the SG’s have to consider a combination of factors in their design: amplifier, speaker, cabinet, and the interrelation of those elements. For the amplifier sections SG has worked out a fine compromise between thle traditional tube sound and the hybrid solid state circuitry presently in vogue — a tube type power amp with a Solid state pre-amp so that you get the coloration that tubes provide without the bulky, psychotic reliability of a totally tube unit. And they’ve installed heavy-duty, wide-range speakers in solidly built cabinets featuring 1 inch metal extruded and reinforced trimming. An especially important feature of SG equipment is their frequency response controls — which can really be tuned to your ear. The title “SG Guitar Systems” isn’t far off the mark — these amps are “systems,” allowing you to produce the guitar or other electronic ^ instrument sound that you want to your liking.

There are five different SG amps or amp systems in the line. The controls are similar on all of them, so I’ll just give you a list of the general specifications: two channels, normal and effects; bass, midrange, treble, accent, volume, and main controls; three speed phase shift control; four position notch shift control; variable wave shape control; reverb; polarity switch for ac with a Circuit breaker and extra ac outlet; variable sized knobs so you can find the control you need without having to guess between two identical knobs; footswitch control for the reverb and save shape functions; output for a three position phase shift footswitch. As far; as the cabinetry goes, the SG maintains its quality with heavy duty casters, fully padded handle, and options such as a strong, durable amp cover. | v Prices for the SG systems are also ' reasonable. The guitar amps range from $729.50 (this is list, remember, and you can get discounts on most musical equipment) for the SG212 with two 12 inch speakers, to $849.50 for the SG610 which has six 10 inch speakers. The SG215 is their.bass amp, retailing' for $649.50 and that includes two 15 inch heavy duty speakers. As forPA Systems, SG has one of those too, the SG812j($ 1,199.50) which is a six chan-' nePj>a with four speaker units, each with two 12 inch speakers.

Guitar Notes: The little Pignose amps are selling like hot cakes across the country — they’re great for tuning up with and they really are cute! Pignose is featuring Terry Kath of Chicago an their ads, by the way; wish more companies would key their products to the musicians who use them... Love the nice clean lines and full set of controls on the new Gibson “Ripper” bass guitar.,. Speaking of bass guitars, you should now be able to get the British made Pica to strings for your bass. They’re extra-sensitive amj are available, ih both round and flat wound.. . If you need a little variety, get a see-through patch chord from Eiger. They’re twenty feet long, well made, and you can see all that wonderful copper shielding. #