GET YOUR WAH WAHS OUT!

CREEM'S 3RD ANNUAL GUITAR BREAK

GET YOUR WAH WAHS OUT!

GUITARS

by

Eric Gaer

This, CREEM’s 3rd Annual Musical Instrument Supplement is for you, the consumer, the player, the aficionado of musical instruments and sound equipment.

You have often heard and are no doubt personally aware that musical sound is, for the most part, very different from hi fi and consumer electronics; if for no other reason, it is far more personal. It is not uncommon for a musician to spend more time and deliberation in choosing an instrument than he does in choosing a mate.

The major thrust of this supplement is for it to be a buyer’s guide to the products that serve as the bottom line in the world of music: the tools with which music is made and finally produced for the listener’s entertainment. (The public spends in excess of $4 billion annually for the pleasure of listening to what musicians do with their instruments.)

We hope to explain within these pages the importance of a good, utilitarian instrument as well as to analyze their function and use. Another topic for discussion will be learning vs. professional use including the various educational aids that are available.

We’ll discuss how to shop for musical instruments, how they are manufactured, and the extraordinary subjective criteria used In their selection .

How To Shop

How do I get a ‘deal’? Can I try it Before buying it? Should I get it in a sealed factory carton? What do I need?

Anyone who has ever shopped for musical merchandise has undoubtedly experienced one of the most unique retail exploitations there is. The music store is at once a circus, a playground, a showroom, and a used car lot.

What is of paramount importance, howeverj is that you grab hold of a salesman (on'e who is knowledgeable) and ride his ass until you’ve got all the information you need to make the choice that’s best for you. Set all of your preconceived notions aside as well as those of your friends. Try everything you need to and ask scores of questions. Don’t worry about the box ,. . nobody ever played an instrument that way. And be prepared to answer some of the dealer’s questions about what you really want.

Throughout this incredible charade of investigation and bartering, be most careful to do a good dealbf listening. Remember that the retail music salesman lives more of his life inside that store than he does at home and typically knows a great deal more about the merchandise and its implementation than even the most seasoned musician. Think of him as a roadie. Ask him questions . ., and expect answers that matye sense. Insist upon trying the instrument for yourself. (Bring along the intrument or amp you’re going to use with what you’re looking at as well.)

Then, finally, ask him the price. Dealing in the music store is not unlike shopping for a used car. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for and service may be a large part of the purchase price. You’ll find a few-more dollars is worth it if the dealer will really stand behind the sale.

Remember the bottom line, “does it sound like I want it to sound?”

Happy hunting!

TIPS FROM THE TOP

PETER FRAMPTON Guitar

I started out by playing a banjo— banjalele ; . . ukelele. 4-string gut instru-; ment. After a lot of badgering my parents bought me a cheap $10 guitar. And then I drove them mad. So they said, if you’re going to drive us mad, you might as well learn how to play the thing properly. So they sent me to four years of classical guitar .. . and that brought me tp tears! But I learned a lot—and I realized it afterwards. It taught, me how to pse the right fingers for the right notes and things like that. I wouldn't necessarily recommend anyone to get into classical, but maybe if I hadn’t had it, I wouldn’t'play the way I do. I don’t know, I can’t say. I used to play the guitar from the minute I got home from school, 4:30, until midnight. And then my parents psed to turn the power off and I had to go to bed. The constant pounding used to shake loose the kitchen sJnk ...

Old Or New

Although a few artisans still can be found in obscure’Shops around the world, the days of the completely hand-crafted instrument seem to be over. This does not presume however, that new instruments are of lesser quality, fin many cases, mass-produced instruments and sound systems ate greatly improved over their hand-made pred-; ecessors.)

Don’t be fooled into thinking old is better. Attention to'detail, advanced technology, quality control standards, and dedication to excellence is by and large possible with the mass production of musical goods.

Oathe other hand, discontinued classics, custom-made models, and other substantial differenced in the construction of older models continue to cloud the retail atmosphere. The desirability of these instruments is clearly evidenced bV their escalating prices and diminishing availability.

Our advice is simply to choose on the basis of your own preferences and pocketbook.

Place your trust in your hands and your ears.,

Axe Facts

The guitar is one instrument that can be played with little or no knowledge of music. No knowledge ,bf the major scale, music theory, or sharps and flats is necessary in that the guitar is selftransposing. Learning three or four chords is sufficient to play thousands of tunes.

Shopping guides include several areas of concern.

The neck: Is it straight? Can it be adjusted when it warps slightly due to temperature and humidity changes? Are the strings too close to the neck? Too far away? Can you adjust the height of the strings (action)?1

The body: What materials are used? Spruce for the top; rosewpod or mahogany for the side and ,back. What about the bridge and tailpiece? Are they dense enough yet sensitive enough to help the strings’ resonance through the body? Is the grain of the wood even on the face? What about the construction of the bracing? >

Each'type of guitar has its own special idiosyn? cracies and you should both be aware of some and ask the salesman about others. If he doesn’t have the answers to your questions, it might be ' best to shop elsewhere.

Plugging In

The thing that makes a guitar electric is the pickup — a device something like a microphone which converts the energies from string vibrations into an electric signal. This impulse is sent to the amplifier, where it is boosted thousands of times.

There are three general types of electric guitars: solid body, hollow body, and semi-solid. The solid body employs a solid, laminated slab of wood, is heavier and its tone is almost purely electric with virtually none of the resonance present in the hollow,body guitar.

Since it is less susceptible to feedback, the solid body is much better suited to high-volume playing. The density of ,the body permits more treble emphasis and sustain. The more dense the body, the better the sustain.(

A hollow-body electric guitar is more subdued in tone though still capable of a bright, high-frequency sound. The woods used are chosen for acoustical reasons so the sound of the hollowbody is a combination of its resonant and acoustic qualities. Distinguished by its arched top and back, f-shaped sound holes, and deep sides, it’s the choice of almost all jazz guitarists.

The Gibson company developed the semisolid (or semi-acoustic) guitar in 1958 and it has since become a favorite with many guitarists. The use of a solid block of wood down the center of the arched-top body produces a crisper sound than a solid body. With a stop-like tailpiece rather than the usual tailpiece suspended from the end of the body, the center block can give you a lot of extra sustain.

GIBSON (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincoln wood, HI. 60646)/ Gibson is the world’s only manufacturer that offers a huge selection of professional guitars in nearly every category. Other companies compete successfully in specialized areas (Martin’s acoustic guitars, Fender’s solid-bodies, etc.), but Gibson, in the electric category, stands as a giant.

The Les Paul Series features four guitars: the Les Paul Signature, Les Paul Recording, Les Paul Deluxe, and Les Paul Custom. It’s hard to believe that some of today’s most progressive rock sounds are created on a guitar that was originally designed in 1952. These guitars are still unequalled for their superb sustaining power and penetrating tone. The Les Pau| Custom’s low, fast action earned it the nickname “The Fretless Wonder.” 1971 saw the introduction of the immensely controllable Les Paul Recording model and this year’s entry, the Les Paul Signature, represents the first thin-line, semi-acoustic Les Paul model.

There are essentially four thin body electrics that carry the Gibson name. The concept, developed in the 1950’s, was popularized by names such as Chuck Berry and B.B. King. The standard of the line is the ES-335, combining the best features of the arched hollow-body electric and the solid body guitar. The ES-345 adds the use of a five position tone selector. The latest addition, the ES-325, utilizes a less powerful Humbucking pickup and eliminates the solid centerpiece.

The Custom Order series includes the Citation, Super 400, and the L5 (which can be traced to 1903 when Gibson introduced its Model “O”). These guitars are unequalled anywhere because their materials, designs, and hand-craftsmanship seem to be unavailable anywhere else. While it takes a lot of time to construct an instrument this way and it shows often enough in its price, once you play one of these guitars we believe you’ll agree it’s worth it.

Gibson began making solid body electric guiJ tars with the SG Series in 1954. Latest developments are the L5-S, L6-S, and the use of the “Q System” which gives the player a wide variety of sounds through bass, treble, and midrange tone controls. Easy 24 fret access also makes a Gibson a pleasure to play and own. The latest entry is the Marauder which employs three Humbucking pickups, peg head design for the tuning machines, and a beautiful inlay design of abalone for the neck. The L5-S is often considered the ulti-/ mate solid-body guitar both in performance and appearance! The L6-S, with its extra hot pickups, is favored by Carlos Santana.

SG’s include the SG Custom, with three Humbucking pickups and ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, the SG Standard with two Humbuckings and ebony fingerboard, and the SG Special with slightly “cooler” Humbuckings and rosewood fingerboard. All utilize the superior tune-o-matic bridge.

The Electric-Acoustic series (hollow bodies) goes back to the 1949 ES-175 which helped establish a whole new school of guitarists. The ES175 allowed the guitar player to finally step out of the rhythm section as a soloist. Models now include the Johnny Smith, Super 4000CES, Howard Roberts, Byrdland, ES-175D, L-5CES, and ES-150DC with its master volume control. Not enough can be said about these intruments here. But any jazz guitarist who has played a bit can fill your head with volumes about them. Keep in mind that it takes Gibson 90 days to. assemble, finish, and adjust just one electric-acoustic guitar.

FENDER (1300 E. Valencia, Fullerton, CA 92631). The world of music was revolutionized over twenty years ago when Leo Fender invented the first solid-body electric guitar. It was called the Telecaster and to this day it remains the most widely used electric guitar in the world. Relatively inexpensive and extremely durable, the Telecaster has an easily recognizable twangy treble tone.' Still the Telecaster’s three-posistion switch provides a range of tone choices: lead pickup alone, both pickups together, of front pickup alone.

The Fender line also includes the Telecaster Deluxe with two humbucking pickups, the Telecaster .Thin-Line with humbucking pickups in a semi-solid thin-line body, and the Telecaster Custom which offers a hu mucking front pickup and standard “tele” lead pickup in the rear.

The Stratocaster, introduced in 1954, is probably the most desired of all guitars for the rock musician. Its contoured body makes it a bit more comfortable than the bulkier Telecaster. Unfortunately, the solid maple necks once standard on the Strat are now an optional feature, the rosewood fingerboard being standard. The Strat’s three pickups may be played individually. The fact that the selector-switch may also be balanced between position one and two or between two and three, achieving a combination of pickups, is an accidental bonus. These two pickup combinations produce something like an out-of-phase tone. ' -

Other Fenders include the Jaguar, Jazzniaster, Mustang, Bronco, and Musicmaster guitars. (The Mustang, Bronco, and Musicmaster models are ideal for the beginner.) In the electric-acoustic series, there are the hand-carved Ltd. and the Montego I and II.

ALEMBIC (c/o L.D. Heater, 10300 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton, Ore. 97005.) Alembic instruments, expertly hand-crafted, offer a combination of unique features no other guitars offer: The guitars are available in two scales (long and short). Each scale length has its own correspond. ing body style. Jhe necks are reinforced by a steel truss rod assembly embedded in silicone rubbers Their strength is enhanced still further by a fivepiece laminate of maple and walnut which runs the full length of the instrument. Alembic bodies are made in two sections glued to each side of the neck and 'made of a variety of woods. The tailpieces are made from brass or bronze and allow for easy string replacement. The bridge is brass and is totally adjustable for harmonics and string height. It is noteworthy that the Alembic bridge sits on a half-pound'block of brass inset to the body giving the guitar excellent sustain properties and even response in all registers. The pickups have a very strohg magnetic field and are constructed with a monolith ceramic magnet instead of pole pieces, achieving low distortion and excellent response. Active electronics within the instrument, in addition to the continuously variable tone controls, assure you of a great control .system with unbelievable versatility. These are truly state-of-the-aitinstruments reflecting a great deal qf engineering forethought. List price, by the way, is $1,650.

GUILD (225 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N.J. 07202). Most guitarists, upon hearing the Guild name, irrimediately envision a fine acoustic guitar. Most acoustic-electric guitarists are quite familjar with Guild’s Starfire Series and the topof-the-line Artist Award as well. Not only have these guitars improved measurably, but Guild’s solid body guitars are now better than ever. Beginning with the S-100 Standard, a lightweight, body contoured, double-cutaway instrument, Guild offers the rock guitarist a well crafted, very fast neck and workmanship that belies its moderate price. The S-50 and S-90 guitars, for even less money, are good bets as well. The singlecutaway solid bodies, thicker and heavier, are better yet. The heavier body enhances the sustaining characteristics of the instrument. The . standard offering in this area has been the M75CS, but the new M80CS seems to truly impress the professional guitarist.

HOAG(Millenial Enterprises, Inc.; 2504S.E. Clinton St., Portland, Ore., 97202). The Hoag Light Guitar is probably the first major change in stringed instruments in 4000 years. This guitar uses an infra-red light beam to sense string move• mentand converts this movement to a signal for use in the amplifier. This electronic sensor replaces the magnetic pickups or mechanical transducers now being used ih conventional guitars-. We tried the guitars recently and found them exceptionally playable and flexible.

TRAVIS BEAN (11761 Sheldon St., Sun Valley, Calif. 91352). The improvements in the Travis Bean Guitar are derived from two areas: how the sound is made, and, how t|ie sound gets to the amplifier. Machined aluminum is used to make Up the one-piece neck assembly of the guitar, forming a solid metal link between both ends of the string. This allows the string to continue to vibrate as long as physics allow, adding to the sustaining and harmonic properties of the instrument.

RICKENBACKER (201 E., Stevens St., Santa Ana, Calif. 92707). In the mid 60’s, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds popularized the electric 12-string with a Rickenbacker whose body lit up in conjunction with the notes and chords. Today there are over a dozen models of Rickenbacker electric guitars in several styles: solid body, thinline acoustic-electrics, double-necks, 6and 12string combinations, etc. Rick-O-Sound stereo outputs on deluxe models can create stereo and special effects in addition to noise reduction and tone enhancement. The Rickenbacker neck, however, is probably the best, and most prafctical feature of all on these well-crafted instruments.

OVATION (New Hartford, )Conn. 06057)., Ovation, known primarily for its pioneering of the bowl-shaped body for acoustic guitairs, has two electric models. The body styles are quite unconventional but the non-symmetrical shape has balance and grace. The Breadwinner might be described as the Volkswagen of the guitar industry as it features outstanding tone and versatility at a very reasonable price. The Deacon; better detailed in the neck and body goes for a bit more money but is well worth it. The simple controls of these guitars as well as their built-in FET preamplifier gives the player a wide range of tonal possibilities with no hum and greater clarity and brilliance of tone. These guitars stack up as excellent road and recording guitars.

We could continue on but space prohibits it here. But we also recommend that you look further into the following brands, all featuring fine instruments in all price ranges.

HAGSTROM (c/o Ampeg, P.O. Box 310, Elkhart, Indiana.46514).

AMPEG (see aboveh

EPIPHONE (c/o Gibson).

IBANEZ (c/o Chesbro Music, P.O. Box 2009, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401).

DORADO (c/o Gretsch, 1801 Gilbert Ave./ Cincinnati, Ohio. 45202).

You Don’t Have To Be A Folkie

The flat-top, steel string (folk or country western) guitar is perhaps the most widely used guitar in this country.

The back and sides of good flat-tops are usually constructed of rosewood and (occasionally) maple. Less expensive models of good quality usually employ mahogany.

Most guitars have a two-piece back. Sometimes you’ll also find those with three-piece backs. The difference in construction is due to variations in bracing which may or may not affect the tone of the instrument.

The top is traditionally made of tight-grained spruce. (Guitars made with plywood are generally more resistant to cracks, but their tone suffers measurably. Mosit imports feature plywood faces which also keeps their price down.) Factory produced guitars are finished with several coats of spray lacquer or polyester.

The neck of the folk guitar is usually carved from mahogany and joins the body at the fourteenth fret. Ebony or rosewood are most often used for the fingerboard.

We’ve chosen to include 12-string guitars as well in this section. The first difference to look for, besides the obvious difference in the amount of strings, is the wider neck of the 12-string and how it meets the body of the instrument at the twelfth fret. , j , 1 !

GUILD (225 West Grand St., Elizabeth, N.J. 07202), Guild features 14 flat-top models and 8 models of 12-string instruments. Guild is without question one of the finest manufacturers of this type of/nstrument in the world. Divided into both ‘D’ Series and ‘F’ Series, all models feature the finest woods and hand-craftsmanship you’re likely to find. Most favored among ‘D’ SeHes flat-tops is the D-50 (used, at last look, by Paul Simon) featuring a two-piece rosewood back,, ebony fingerboard, and choice spruce top. The ‘F’ Series F-50R Navarre, however, with its larger body style apd beautifully detailed neck reflects the beauty of tone and ease of playing that anyone would expect from an instrument with an $850 price tag. But to truly appreciate what Guild is about is to sit and play their 12string instruments, generally recognized as the finest in the world. For $895 you can pick up a Guild F-512, though an F-312 should suit you just fine; both instruments are nothing short of outstanding.

HARMONY (Chicago, Ill. 60632). The higher priced Harmony models ($100 to $180) and Sovereign Models ($200 to $250) should suit the student just fine.

GIBSON (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646). Words like Dove, Hummingbird, Heritage, d-50, and J-45 have come to mean “superb guitars” over the years. The woods for Gibson flat-tops come from all over the world and are carefully stored and aged under temperature and moisture-controlled conditions. Their patented symmetrical bracing gives Gibson a light yet extremely sturdy construction. It allows the wood jo resonate freely for the fullest possible tone production. Each instrument has smooth, easy, precise action as well. Gibson not only produces beautiful sounding guitars, but beautiful looking instruments.

HOHNER (Andrews Road, P.O. Box 130, Hicksville, N.Y. 11802). Hohner imports twelve flat-tops and two 12-string guitars. The lower priced line is Contessa; the better instruments carry the Hohner name in the grand concert and dreadnought sizes. Our choice is the HG-303 featurirfg rosewood, pearl inlay and a nice piece of solid spruce for the face.

MARTIN (Nazareth, Pa. 18064). Martin has been making fine fretted instruments since 1833. The tone of a Martin instrument is the result of study and close attention to details such as bracing, choice of woods, types of construction, and the ultimate use of the instrument (voice accompaniment, instrument accompaniment, or as a chamber instrument). The most popular Martin instruments are the five “D” or dreadnought models, particularly, due to price, the D-18 and D-28 models. It is important to note that Martin guitars do not use adjustable truss rods in the necks as do other brands. This feature is compensated for by the precision construction and strength of the Martin neck.

OVATION (New Hartford, Conn. 06057). Ovation features models (three of which are 12strings) , all with their famous bowl-shaped body of fiberglass. The “bowls” are offered in both Ovation and Artist sizes. The Ovation bowl is a bit larger and tends to produce a deeper, richer sound. The Artist tone is tighter and crisper. All fingerboards are ebony which facilitates further ease of playing. Four models in the line are electric which is to say that the bridge has a transducer-type pickup in it, a cord outlet in the bowl, and a volume control at the juncture of the neck and body; a very convenient, utilitarian device. No guitar exceeds 5V2 pounds in weight which serves the performer well whether standing or seated. With all the wood “purists” complaints due to Ovation’s use of the fiberglass bowl, the instruments sound just as great dnd record easier than most anythina ori the market.

SIGMA (c/o Martin, Nazareth, Pa. 18064). Seven models, two of which are 12-strings, are imported by Martin and feature the same styling as Martin in the headpiece. The flat-tops start in price at $149.50 (GCS-6 Grand Concert) and go up to $329.50 for the DJ-7 dreadnought. Look fqr the best combination of woods and listen with a careful ear when shopping. Serviced by the C.F. Martin company, Sigma guitars are a good bet for the student or player on a budget.

YAMAHA(6600Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620). Yamaha, recognized king of imported guitars, features eight flat-tops, two electric flat-tops, and a V4 size fold guitar. Two models are 12-strings. Two sizes are featured. The “folk” models are Grand Concert size or thereabouts. The “jumbos” are dreadnought size although not as thick iri the body as Americanmade instruments .-The real value for the player is the FG-200N which retails for less than $200.

BASS

FENDER (1300 E. Valencia, Fullerton, CA 92631): The Precision Bass changed the sound of American music. Leo Fender recognized the need for an instrument to replace the cumbersome upright bass. The advantages of the electric bass were immediately apparent: smaller, louder, and portable. The “P” Bass is still the most popular bass guitar in the world. Fender basses are available with or without frets, with various neck widths (narrow or standard), and with solid maple necks or with rosewood fingerboards.

TIPS FROM THE TOP

SUZIQUATRO

Bass

When I was 14 my sisters and I formed our first group which became the Pleasure Seekers. Everybody picked their instruments before me and I was left with the bass—that's how I got into playing it. The first time I played It I fell in love, and ever since it's been the only instrument I've ever wanted to play. The lead instruments; the guitar and organ are for the mind, but the beat of the rhythm section—bass and drums, that's body music and that was for me.

When picking your bass, remember It's the size that counts; It's what feels good in your hands. It takes experimentation. Whats good for me isn't necessarily good for another bass player. Now that I know what basses I like, I'm collecting them. The two that I use when I'm playing are a Fender Precision and a Gibson Ripper. My amps and speakers are made by Acoustic. /

You know you can practice forever, but the real test of your bass playing is when you're up on stage in a group. At that point you're at the mercy of your sound man.

GIBSON (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646): Gibson originated the violin-shaped electric bass and has since developed a complete range of bass guitars. Each features the “Q” System of tone controls and humbucking pickups. Most popular over the years has been the EB-3 which features two humbucking pickups. Converted guitar players especially appreciate the thin neck of the EB-3 . The new Les Paul Signature Bass is the only hollow-body (semi-acoustic) bass in the Gibson line.

IBANEZ (c/o Chesbro Music Co., PO Box 2009, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401): Ibanez, imported from Japan, features a greater selection than any of the various manufacturers we reviewed. There are no less than nineteen different models of electric bass, effectively duplicating all styles of Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker models of American manufacture. The detailing is excellent and the prices are just right for tight budgets. The Black Eagle (Model #2409E) in the Custom Series is a beautiful instrument of excellent quality.

RICKENBACKER (201 E. Stevens St., Santa Ana, CA 92707): The Rickenbacker solidbody basses (4000 and 4001), have achieved incredible popularity in recent years for their superior treble. The long thin neck facilitates ease of playing and the crisp, tight tonal response produced from the instrument is a bass player’s entre to center stage. Other models include the semiacoustic modelp 4005 and 4005/6 six-string bass and models with the Rick-O-Sound stereo effect.

GUILD (225 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N.J. 07202): Guild features several electric bass models. The SF basses in the Starfire Series are semiacoustic models with humbucking pickups. The M-85-2 features two humbucking pickups on a thick body Style much like Gibson’s Triumph Bass. The JS Series are solid-body basses featuring humbucking pickups both standard and long scale sizes. The long scale basses are also available without frets. Prices range from $340 to $485.

See guitar section for reviews of the Travis Bean and Alembic guitars which also feature electric bass models. Both companies feature superior instruments in design and construction.

STRINGS

Ever since the invention of stringed instruments, people have been trying to improve the strength and sound of the strings themselves. Though many new combinations of materials have been employed in the production of strings, there remain only two basic categories: steel for both electric and acoustic guitars, and nylon or gut for classic guitars. Breaking down the steel category we find ‘round wound’, ‘flat wound’, and ‘ground wound’. And for more specialized purposes, there are compound and nylon tape wound varieties. The gauge of a string refers to its thickness and the lighter the gauge, the easier it is to fret and bend. But, the heavier the gauge, the ‘bigger’ the sound.

Guitar Man (c/o Musician’s Supply, P.O. Box 1440, El Cajon, CA 92020). Guitar Man strings utilize an advanced alloy combination that adds life and brilliance to the strings.

Ernie Ball (P-O. Box 2117, Newport Beach, CA 92663). Ernie Ball manufacturers a complete line of strings for all guitars and basses. The “Slinky” string should be familiar to most of you who play guitar. The Earthwood strings are excellent bronze wound strings for acoustic guitar

La Bella (c/o E.O. Mari, 3801 23rd Ave., Long Island City, N.Y. 11105)..La Bella, one of the largest manufacturers of strings includes items for violin, pedal steel, ukulele, mandolin, harp, electric and upright bass, cello, and banjo as well as guitar.

Black Diamond (New Brunswick, N.J. 08903). One of the oldest and most respected line of strings, Black Diamond features strings for all fretted instruments as well as upright bass.

D’Addario (1176 Route 109, Lindenhurst, N.Y. 11757). Excellent strings‘bffering long life and excellent brilliance of tone.

G.H.S. (P.O. Box 136, Battle Creek, Michigan 49106). The Boomer line is excellent for electric guitar.

Gibson (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646). Along with a full line of strings for the guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, etc., Gibson has just introduced its Observer series of bass strings; tightly wrapped three times to reduce fret wear and retain tone.

Darco (3535 35th St., Long Island City, N.Y. 11106). Part of the Martin Group of Companies, Darco carries a complete line of strings for acoustic guitar (bronze or gold Wound). and brass wound on steel for the electric guitar.

Ovation (New Hartford, Conn. 06057). Strings are manufactured to exacting specifications for all fretted instruments.

Martin (Nazareth, PA). Martin offers one of the most complete line of strings for fretted instruments available.

Guild (225 West Grand St., Elizabeth, N.J.). Sidebender, Vibraphonic, Multi-Core, flatwound strings, etc. All Guild strings are excellent and worth experimenting with on your next trip to buy some.

4MPS

Buying amps, like any other instrument, is a very personal thing. Shopping around for price probably will not hurt a bit. But looking for reliability and service is more important.

Determine the sound you want, the price you’re willing to pay, and what purpose the amp is to serve. Above all, determine what you are going to do with your amp and for how long.

In many cases, the dealer is just as much a novice when it comes to amplification as you are. Try to pick out a reputable and technically oriented dealer instead of just searching around town for a discount. It’s worth noting whether the dealer understands the idiosyncracies of performance as well. Also check with other musicians you know and try their equipment out to see if it suits you. Listening to live performances of major and local acts will give you useful perspective in determining what to buy for yourself.

Another important concept to grasp is that an amplifier for musical instruments must accomplish TWO things: (1) amplify the sound so that the audience and the rest of the group can hear you clearly, and (2) modify the sound in a particular ‘character’ to supplement the sound of the instrument itself.

In other words, the parameters used in the selection of hi-fi equipment don’t necessarily hold, true for the musician and professional equipment.

There are dozens of more technical considerations to ingest when trying to choose an amplifier. Among them are tubes vs. solid state circuitry, damping factor, power ratings, etc.

Acoustic (7949 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406). Acoustic features a complete array of solid-state amplification equipment. There are self-contained units (130 Series), and amps that swing both ways (guitar and bass) in the 450 •and 470 Series. At the bottom end is the selfcontained 130 Series. Models 134 and 135 are lead amps; the 136 is a single 15” base amp. All offer 125 watts RMS. In the 150 Series are three amps (two lead, one bass) featuring the same 125 watt power gating but utilizing the stacked (two piece) packaging.

Ampeg (Box 310, Elkhart, Indiana). Ampeg’s full line of amplification equipment includes tube and solid-state models available for both lead and bass applications. Amps are mated with compatible speaker bottoms in several combinations.

Delta (8828 Lankershim Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352). The latest product from Delta is the Concept One amplifier which features tube circuitry, built-in tape echo, and pre-set graphic equalization.

Dallas/Sound City (301 Island Rd., Mahwah, N.J. 07430). Lead amps consist of the L50, L120, and L200. The last digits in the model number indicate RMS power ratings. On the bass side you’ll find models B50 and B150. All amps are tube-type in construction.

TIPS FROM THE TOP

ACE FREHLEY Amps

Heavy musicians prefer English amplification, which there are 3 or 4 fo choose. Marshall, Hiwatt, Laney and Sound City. Above all. Kiss prefer Sound City after trying everything else, because of their durability, and since we play very loud, tone is very important, and we are satlsified with the sound that we can get out of Sound City amps. They just came out with a special line called SMF. They're really terrific. They're strong, made out of heavy thick wood and have metal corner protectors. You could throw them out the window without damaging them. The speakers are front mounted (most are rear mounted) and you |ust have to turn 4 screws and take out the front grill, and stick a new speaker In, in a matter of a minute and a half, so the show can go on no matter what.

Earth (790 Park Avenue, Huntington, N.Y. 11743). Earth is introducing several new amplifiers. The Traveler Series are great for smaller gigs and offer 50 watts RMS. The REVIVAL Series, a reproduction of the amps of the ’50’s in their cosmetic appearance and ,tube-type circuitry stand up very well in performance and price. The Producer is the most advanced amp in the line and should be closely looked at when shopping.

EMC (21819 Royalton Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44136). EMC features the new 440 Series and the 110 Series of amplifiers. The 440 is for lead amplification and packs 200 watts. The 110 includes two guitar models and one bass amp. Both models offer 60 watts of power.

Fender (1300 E. Valencia, Fullerton, CA 92631). Fender is perhaps the largest manufacturer of musical instrument amplifiers in the world. The Twin Reverb, Super Reverb, Bassman, Princeton, etc. are legendary in the minds of most players. The Princeton Reverb, small as it is, appears in virtually every recording studio in the world. The Twin Reverb is an industry standard, seen often stacked one atop the other in concert.

Kustom (1010 West Chestnut, Chanute, Kansas 66720). Kustom’s amplifier line is* quite extensive and offers most anything in guitar and bass combinations. The pleat and roll cosmetics are gone and the amps appear far more industrial.

Marlboro (MICA, 170 Eileen Way, Syosset, N.Y. 11791). Marlboro’s compact line of amps include lead, bass and keyboard configurations and the new Backpacker portable unit.

Music Man (Box 6?50, Anaheim, CA 92806). Music Man products are worth looking into when searchifig for a reasonably priced unit. Features include: tubes, phase reversing tremolo, power reduction switch for distortion, and lock-jointed corner construction.

SG Systems (c/o Nerlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Linco}nwood, JL 60646). What makes the SG amplifiers stand, out so prominently is their extremely readable construction (like a travel case). Self-contained or stacked, the models range from *100 to 200 watts RMS.

Hohner (Andrews Road, Hicksville, N.Y. 11802). In recent years Hohner has become a full line company manufacturing many instruments in additjon to harmonicas. They make six amps (three lead and three bass)'. If you are just starting out, this may be the place to begin.

Sound Vendor (c/o L.D. Heater, 10300 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton, Ore. 97005). A new concept in M.I. amplifier design, Sound Vendor takes its lead from recording studio technology. Modular packaging allows you to mount modules from various manufacturers in the package (i.e. phase shift, fuzz, limiting, etc.).

Oberheim (1549 9th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401). Oberheim has put together two professional quality portable mini-amplifiers; the Oberheim Studio Amplifier and Studio Amplifier with Phasor. They can run on D cells as well as AC power.

Peavey (711 A St., Meridian, Miss. 39301). Peavey is fast becoming the most popular line of amplifiers around. Hot new model is Mace at 160 watts RMS. Other self-contained models include the Artist, Deuce and the Vintage Series of amplifiers. Larger units are the Session 400, Century bass amp, Bass, Musician lead amp The Standard Road master. F800G, and F800B.

Pignose (8600 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles CA 90069). The legendary Pignose amp is hardly ^something to laugh at. They started the current craze of mini amps. It operates on batteries or on AC power and is ideal for rehearsal and/or tuning back stage.

RMI (Macungie, Pa. 18062), The most exciting part of the RMI line is their Modamp System. With the trend toward modular construction, this is where it’s at,

Orange (c/o Musonic, 1271 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, 111. 60016). The distinctively colored Orange amplifiers are hard to miss wherever you may see therfi. They use tube circuitry and have guitar, bass and power amps in the line.

Road (P.O. Box 932, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701). Road puts a great deal of care and craftsmanship into the manufacture of these extremely rugged amps and speaker enclosures. They are producing five bass models with prices ranging from $695 to $1,395Three lead amps are in the same price range.

Sunn (Amburn Industrial Park, Tualatin, Oregon 97062). Sunn appears to have everything. Guitar amps, bass amps, keyboard amps, and some of the finest speaker cabinets available on the market. The new keyboard amps in the Concert and Coliseum series provide mixable channels to accomodate a variety of instruments. Special enclosures and circuitry are combined to give the keyboard player a real treat. Models fall into one of three series of amps: self-contained Stage Series, Concert Series, and Coliseum Series.

Dwarf (c/o 21st Century Products, 102C Hamilton Dr., Ignacio, CA 94947). A portable amp in a natural wood enclosure, the Dwarf looks excellent. Battery powered or AC, it’s versatile and pledges low noise.

Marshall (75 Frost St., Westbury, N.Y. 11590). Marshall Amplification, long considered among the'' top tube amplifiers in the world has introduced a new solid state line which actually duplicates the identical harmonic distortion identified with Marshall. The new 100 watt RMS amps will be merchandised with the Big “M” speaker cabinets in outfits under $1000 list.

KEYBOARDS

If you think guitar players are fussy about choosing their guitars (which indeed they are), keyboardists spend $7 million annually in quest of that perfect combination of Sound (do I want a Stefnway that sounds like a funky, mellow harpsichord?), Size (do I put it in my pocket or call Bekins?), Touch (can I play a G Major 7th by blowing on it or do I carry a hammer?), and Price (tsk, tsk). Shopping for the right combination can make you want to take flute lessons.

Shopping for organs seems less mind boggling. Of course if you look hard enough (like two stores instead of Qne), you will be successful in creating an equally confusing dilemma for yourself. But at least one of the four criteria of size, sound, touch, and price is, for the most part, standardized. Luckily, the ‘‘feel” of most organ keyboards i^at least-similar. Before any of you purists out there take issue with us, compare the great differences between large numbers of electric keyboards that fall into the piano category with those in the organ group.

It is with great confusion that we mention the “Musical Twilight Zone” known to us all as the synthesizer' capable of reproducing virtually every musical instrument in use today with outstanding authenticity. Keep in mind however, that a certain touch is needed on the instrument to duplicate the subtleties of other instruments. Added features include “noise” generators which duplicate sounds (noises) ranging from birds to thunderstorms-Here too, as'in the other keyboard categories, the four criteria for picking your synthesizer remain the same. The Sound speaks for itself; Size varies but nearly all are transportable; Touch is somewhere between the electric piano category and the organ group; Price can go sky high but most are very affordable. One could write page after page on one aspect of the synthesizer (as have ARP and Oberheim Electronics), but we leave that tb your own inquisitiveness when you’re shopping.

Tfps On Puschasing Your Keyboard:

1)Know what you want. Obviously, if you are looking for an organ, you don’t want to be testing pianos and vice-versa. This is not as silly as it sounds. Many buyers go on shopping sprees and wind up unhappy with what a shrewd salesman sold them. If you’re after an acoustic sounding piano, ask for a demo first. If a mellow sound is what you’re after, know it ' and don’t be sold. Fortunately, there are many good' combination (combo) instruments that can provide quite a few of these sounds without having to buy a carload of product.

2) Know your budget and stick as close to it as possible.

3) Shop around. Don’t drive yourself crazy, but don’t settle for the first deal.

4) Try out the instrument as thoroughly as possible and don’t rely on a salesman’s demon\ stration of the keyboard. You’re buying it. . . not him.

CORDOVOX (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646): Cordovox, normally associated with extravagant accordion equipment, has developed several electric combo organs. The CRD-0610 features a 49-note keyboard (C to C), 12-note manual bass and several treble voices such as strings, brass, flute, and melodia. Lots of colors are available with the use of vibrato and presets such as piano, guitar, banjo, and harpsichord.

UNIVOX (c/o Merson, Westbury, N.Y. 11590): Most popular in the Univox line is the Compac Piano. The big extra plus in the new model is the addition of a switch for bass extension in addition to the piano, honky-tonk and clavichord sounds. The Organizer is another vastly portable entry utilizing draw bars and per-' cussion presets. For $1095, the value of this electric organ is extraordinary. The Univox Stringman is a “multiple string” unit meaning that the string effect is polyphonic^. It features the full range of violins, cejlos, and contra bass in a compact keyboard. The Maxi-Korg is a 2-oscillator (2voice) polyphonic, stereophonic synthesizer. Say it fast and the dealer may even discount it past its $995 list price. . -

HOHNER (Andrews Road, Hicksville, N.Y. 11802): Hohner features essentially four keyboard products. The Clavinet is perhaps the most popular producing a unique, percussive sound created by strings struck directly by piano keys. Other keyboards include the Combo Pianet and Key Bass.

TIPS FROM THE TOP

RICKWAKEMAN Keyboards

My advice to young keyboardists Is: Play the music that you want to play and don't compromise yourself, or ever get discouraged by the competition, just stick with it. As for equipment, buy the best you can afford, because It's worth it. I found Wurlitzer to be the best for me.'

RHODES (c/o Fender, 1300 E. Valencia, Fullerton, CA 92631): Rhodes keyboards have become virtual standards in the electric piano market. They come in Suitcase models which feature their own self-contained amplifier and speaker system, and Stage models which are keyboards and preamp section only. All models come with either 73 or 88 key configurations. In addition is the Piano Bass which features a 32 note keyboard.

YAMAHA (6600 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620): Yamaha features five combo organs. Top-of-the-line is the dual manual YC45D that also offers bass pedals, a dual preset lever system, special effects, and the additional versatility of piano, harpsichord, and vibratone sounds. The YC-25D is less elaborate. Single manual organs include the YC-30, YC-20, and YC-10. Yamaha’s tops in value for your dollar in the electric organ market.

SPECTRUM (c/o St. Louis Music Supply, 1400 Ferguson Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63133): The Spectrum and Concert Spectrum keyboards are primarily background accompaniment instruments used for string effects, french horns, trumpet, piano, and harpsichord. Both instruments work in stereo. The Concert Spectrum has pan controls as well to allow you to move the voices from left to right.

ROLAND (c/o Beckman Musical Instruments, 2925 S. Vail Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90024): Imported from Japan; Roland has grown to become one of the most respected names in electronic keyboards. Electric pianos include the EP-10 with two piano and two harpsichord stops, and the EP-30 which adds on several more effects and tone controls. Each employs a 61 note keyboard. Roland also offers three keyboard synthesizers that are well worth investigating: SH-1000, S‘H-2000, and SH-3A.

ARP (320 Needham St., Newton, Mass. 02164): ARP instruments are probably the most prominent synthesizer units in the music world. Most consistently identified with the product line is the 2600 model which involves both knobs and wires for creative and selective patching. But ARP also manufactures several other units that are both reasonable in price and relatively simple to operate. Most complex and versatile is the Odyssey which incorporates three oscillators (one being a noise generator). Descending the line, you’ll find the Axxe and the pre-set Explorer I and Pro Soloist models. A new addition to the line is Little Brother which is a synthesizer expander module .of one oscillator (VCO).

MOOG (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646): Four basic synthesizers compose the product line of Moog, the first of the performing synthesizers. Most popular among the models has been the Mini-Moog which puts most of the sounds you’ll need in a nicely compact, versatile unit. New to the line is the Taurus Bass Pedal Synthesizer which enables the keyboard player to produce fully synthesized bass lines at the tap of a foot via 13 pedals and a five octave range.

OBERHEIM (1549 9th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401): The basic products from Oberheim are Two and Four Voice polyphonic synthesizers. The polyphonic feature allows you to play chords with the amount of notes in the chord determined by the number of voices (or oscillators) in the unit, truly a landmark development in the growth of synthesizer technology. The other notable feature of Oberheim’s units is how “clean” they are electronically. The units are composed primarily of Oberheim Synthesizer Expander Modules which are also available separately.

DRUMS

Most musicians, music lovers, and even music stores neglect the highly complex set of criteria used in the selection of percussion equipment. The idea that drums, cyfpbals, and accessories are just noise makers to produce rhythm for the other instruments to follow is extremely erroneous. The choice of these instruments involves the same care and attention as any of the melody instruments in the band.

Drum criteria include size of the drum, and the materials for the shell. (In recent years, materials other than wood have been used with great success. Not unlike the turn-around from calfskin heads to plastic drum heads.)

Cymbals have a story all their own. Size, materials, size and shape of the bell, etc. need to be considered.

Even sticks, heads, cowbells, wood blocks, gongs, timbales, congas, marimbas, and certain electronic effects need careful consideration from the serious percussionist.

Drums:

A set of ‘traps’ as the drum set (or kit) is commonly referred to, holds its own particular magic, quite sexual in nature, for musicians and listeners alike. The drum shells may be constructed of wood (maple or mahogany) or of a plexiglass material. The density of the shell is of prime importance because it affects both the tonal characteristics of the ‘note’ played and the durability of the drum itself. Its importance also extends to how well the drum stands up to temperature and humidity changes which could cause the shell to warp (if made from wood) and how it stands up to the abuse typical of its use. Hardware is chrome plated for cosmetic reasons, but make sure a hard metal such as steel is used for tuning lugs, etc. Accessories such as the bass drum pedal and hi hat stand should be both durable and comfortable to play. Speed, smoothness, and utility should be your guides when shopping. Remember, playing is the only way to assure yourself of an instrument that will suit you. The drum itself is a combination of several drums (at least two; bass and snare) sized so that a particular tone balance can be achieved. Casual gigs are simpler in that the drummer usually carries a minimal amount of equipment: small (18” to 22”) bass drum, snare strum, one mounted tom on the bass drum (usually 12” to 14”), floor tom (14” to 16”), hi hat, and ride cymbal. Larger gigs for rock ‘n’ roll employ a larger bass drum (or two), one to four piounted toms, large, deep snare drum, and as many as a half-dozen cymbals. The snare drum produces a crisp, snappy, high pitched sound, the toms are tuned in descending tonal range, then the floor toms, and finally the low pitch of the bass drum (s). A knowledgable music store salesman will be able to help you put together the right combinations. He may also be able to give you some other helpful hints such as tuning tips.

Cymbals:

Cymbals come in so many varieties that even the most seasoned musician can become confused. Splash cymbals are 7” to 11” in diameter and are usually thin in weight. (Also called the ‘choke’ cymbal.) Crash cymbals are thin to medium-thin and are usually 14” to 18” in diameter. They are struck one or more times to accent the beat. Crash-Ride cymbals are usually medium-thin and run 16” to 22” in diameter. They are suitable for both crash work and sustained ride playing. Ride cymbals (also known as bounce, top or rock) are usually 18” to 24” in diameter in various weights. They are especially made to carry a sustained beat. Sizzle cymbals (ride or crash) are 18” to 20” in diameter and have holes drilled and rivets installed to give a sizzling or buzzing style of cymbal sound. Swish cymbals are 18” to 22” in diameter with turnedup edges giving ‘Chinese’ tonal characteristics. Rivets are usually installed for a more sustained effect. Hi-Hat (sock or after beat) cymbals are a special combination of two cymbals 12” to 16” in diameter mounted on a cymbal stand, one atop, the other and controlled by a foot pedal. They are usually factory matched to produce a blend of tone and ‘chip’ sound. Many weight combinations are available but the preferable one nowadays is a heavy bottom cymbal and thin to ! medium weight cymbal on the top to accent to ‘chip’. Other cymbal types, to further complicate matters, include Pang, Ping, Suspended, Hand cymbals, Gongs, etc. Do lots of listening, keep well in mind what kind of music you’ll be playing. The best way to try cymbals is to try the whole set at once so you can tune-in on the tonal characteristics of each in relationship to one another as you play.

Other Percussion:

Congas, sound effects, timbales, marimbas, xylophones, vibes, etc. are all specialized instruments in the world of percussion. Use the catalogues and the advice, of a good music store salesman as well as the advice of your fellow musicians in making your choice. Unfortunately, to run down the idiosyncracies of each would take up a great deal of space unavailable to us here. Just keep in mind that the usual parameters . of sound, reliability, and utility are best to follow.

Gretsch (60 Broadway, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211). Gretsch is competively priced and features a full line of drums, hardware, and accessories. New to the line is the Monster Bass Drum Pedal for $55.

Gon Bops (2302 E. 38th St., Vernon, CA 90058). Gon Bops manufactures perhaps the finest wood conga and tumba drums in the world. Materials used for the shells are mahogany and oak, often covered with a thin layer of transparent fibreglass which prevents warpage. So you get the resonance of wood and the durability of fibreglass. Many different models are available as well as bongos, bells, wood blocks, etc.

TIPS FROM THE TOP

KEITH MOON Drums

My advice to the amateurs wanting to get into playing the drums is to play the Huitar.

Ludwig (1728 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, III. 60647). In addition to drums, Ludwig manufactures tympani, sticks, heads, accessories, vibes (Deagan), and countless other percussion instruments. It seems Ludwig has been first in percussion for as long as anyone can remember.

Latin Percussion (PO. Box 88, Palisades Park, N.J. 07650). The name of the company pretty well describes the product line: congas, timbales, cow bells, bongos, Cuica, etc. The congas are fibreglass and are extremely durable and effective.

Pearl (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646). Everyone who plays drums may very well remember their first set as Pearl. But the introduction of the professional line changed things radically from the student sets of a while back. The catalogue alone can serve as an idea kit for even the most seasoned drummers.

Slingarland (6633 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, Ill. 60648). The “Set-O-Matic” tom tom holder is a great development allowing maximum flexibility upon set up. This feature is available on floor stands or mounted on the bass drum. The cymbal boom stand is also excellent.

Sonor (c/o Charles Alden Music, S.W. Industrial Park, Westwood, Mass. 02090). Sonor, an imported line, utilizes very fine hardware and shells. New this year is the clear, plexiglass shell to the line, complementing their full selection of wood-shell drums.

Premier (c/o Selmer, P.O. Box 310, Elkhart, Ind. 46514). Imported from England, Premier drums stand out especially for their heavy-duty hardware and stands. Many combinations are available in the drum line plus typani, vibes, bells, chimes, and marimbas.

Impaltt (2936 S.E. Taylor, Portland, Ore. 97214). Impakt is a percussion synthesizer. Prices for complete kits range from $399 to $1475, and the ‘voicing’ is phenomenal. To explain the system here would take up too much space, but we urge you to look into this new concept further.

Zickoo (11844 W. 85th St., Lenexa, Kan. 66214). Zickos was one of the first manufacturers of the clear drum shell that has become so popular. The hardware is excellent and new improvements in these shells forego warpage.

Avedis Ziidjian (P.O. Box 198, Accord, Mass. 02018). Ziidjian cymbals are simply some of the best available in the world. Every conceivable application is covered. ‘New Beat’ Hi-Hats revolutionized the choice of difficult matching when Ziidjian started to pre-match them at the factory. Write Ziidjian for some of their revealing literature on how cymbals are made, and their book of popular cymbal set-ups.

SOUND SYSTEMS

The technology developed for the recording studio is the latest in the development of public address. Modular packaging and design, and high-quality electronic gear seem to be fat more present in today’s concert environment. P.A. equipment is available from your local music store as well as professional products dealers and sound contractors. Implementation of this equipment can get quite complicated requiring an engineer or an educated novice to operate the system, but the job the equipment must do and how it does so is really elementary. A microphone is plugged into a pre-amp (mixer). The signal is then sent to amplifiers and then to speakers. Many different considerations need to be made when considering the quality of the sound once it gets to the speakers and how far the sound must travel to reach the back rows of the hall.

Care should be taken in the selection of equipment as to guarantees, service, and the size of the halls you are playing. Know what specifications you will require. Your dealer should be able to help you quite a bit. Read up on this type of equipment and get advice from as many sources as possible. Literature from each manufacturer will also serve to keep you well informed.

In the P.A. field, everyone is claiming they have the greatest advancements on the market. Compare consoles and mixers before swallowing hype. Find out for yourself just how advanced each is. Also ask who is going to fix it if you should need service. Make sure you can compare systems when shopping.If some of the terminology used in the sales presentation confuses you, ASK QUESTIONS! Lots of them.

Acoustic (7949 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406). Acoustic has three basic mixers: the 850,870, and the 890. The 850 is 8-channel, 275 watts RMS; the 870 is 6-channel, high and low impedance, 170 watts RMS; the 890 is 16channel stereo. External power amps such as Acoustic’s 400 (375 watts RMS per channel) or 300 (275 watts RMS) are necessary with this unit. Available P.A. speaker columns from Acoustic are the 804 (2-12” and 3-8” speakers and piezo-electric tweeters for high end reinforcement) , and the 808 cabinets which employ two 15” speakers, three Vega horns, and piezoelectric tweeters.

Altec (1515 S. Manchester Ave., Anaheim, CA 92803). Altec has been actively involved in the P.A. arena for many years and well deserves its fine reputation for quality and performance. Control consoles include: 1212A (7 channels, 100 watts), 1215A (7 high impedance and 6 low impedance inputs), and the winner of the line, the!220AC Audio Control Console which is Altec’s entry as the perfect portable control console. The “Voice of the Theatre” speaker system is still one of the finest available.

Bose (The Mountain, Framingham, Mass. 01701). Bose is well known for the stage presence offered by their speaker systems which supply an unbelievable amount of clean sound from a system of eight 4” speakers in a V-like frontal shaped enclosure. The Bose 800 speaker system is versatile and extremely transportable in its own travel case. The 1800 power amp is a workhorse, pumping out approximately 400 watts RMS per channel with unquestionable reliability.

Knstom (1010 West Chestnut, Chanute, Kansas 66720). Kustom’s got quite a variety of products in this area. Top-of-the-line is the XX SRM Console which offers 16 to 24 channels in a modular design.

Peavey (711 A Street, Meridian, Miss. 39301). Newest entry from Peavey is the Model 1200 Mixer which offers 16 channel mixdown for under $1000. The rest of the line features the PA 120, PA Standard, PA 400, PA 600, PA 900, the 800 Mixer (8 channel), power amps, and Peavey microphones.

Sculptured Sound (1503 E. Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz. 85034). Sculptured Sound has come up with the most radical design and approach to sound reproduction systems. Their speakers are in uniquely sculptured, rounded cabinets.

Shure (222 Hartley Ave., Evanston, Ill. 60204). Shure has perhaps the most complete line of P.A. equipment available today. From mixers to microphones, to speakers, to power amps. They make it all. . . and with excellence. Of course, most popular with the musician has been the VocalMaster which has been vastly improved upon this past year. Shure microphones are nothing short of excellent and come in all price ranges.

Sunn (Amburn Industrial Park, Tualatin, Ore. 97062). Like their amp line, Sunn has done some very extensive work in the P.A. area. They were perhaps the first company to offer large P.A. systems to the musician. They’ve got a whole new line this year under the umbrella title of “AUTOMATED SOUND SYSTEMS”. The entire line of mixers, speaker systems, and power amps is probably the most exciting thing happening this year in PA.

Topco (405 Howell Way, Edmonds, Washington 98020). Tapco has a wide variety of sound reinforcement mixers, all very low in price. The Tapco 600 series is their standard mixer/' Various additions are available to alter the model for your own particular requirements.

Yamaha * (Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90620). Yamahp has come up with one of the most distinctive lines in P.A. mixdown. Their PM 1000 is top-Of-the-line and features 16 channels in a beautifully crafted wood cabinet.

Cerwin Vega (6945 Tujunga Ave., N. Hollywood, CA 91605). Cerwin Vega is best known for their speaker enclosures. They recently have also come out with power amps as well. The A-30001 at 365 Watts RMS, and ' the A-1800 at 225 watts RMS.

By the way . there is also a firm that deals in this equipment on a mail-order basis but will answer all your questions and package theequipment for you. (They are: Warehouse Sound Co., P.O. Box “S,” San Louis Obispo, Calif. 93405. Write for their catalogue. $1.00 and worth it.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

First on the list of priorities when looking to buy a special effects device is to ask the dealer about warranty, ease of service, repairs, and replacement of parts. Find out if there are any conditions under which the device could damage your amp. TREMOLO: (amplitude of Volume Modulator.) You should be able to control both the amount (depth and intensity) and the rate of flutter (speed). Check both controls for a wide range. VIBRATO: This effect is similar in effect to tremolo though it varies the pitch as opposed to the volume. Look for the same range of effects. REVERB: A combination of direct and delayed signals produces'a haunting, echo-like sustain. DISTORTION & SUSTAIN UNITS: These devices distort the sound.

WAH WAH: This device is a tone control operated by a foot pedal. When comparing models, play a sustaining note or chord, depress the pedal gradually, and listen for a smooth, even change from bass to treble (the reverse in some models). VOLUME PEDALS: These devices should al"so offer a smooth transition from low to high levels.

ECHO DEVICES: Echo units sometimes employ a continuous loop and recording heads! The, signal is played back after a variable delay, creating the echo. Additional playback heads increase versatility. In addition to repeating echo, most echo machines offer a reverb effect. Electrostatic echo devices operate with magnetic drums or discs.

TONE BOOSTERS: These devices range from about ten to several hundred dollars. There are bass boosters, treble boosters, and combination high and low frequency booster.

OCTAVE SPLITTERS: Some units add the note one octave lower thairthe one played on the instrument. Others add the note one octave higher: At least one device, the Guild Tri-Oct, can do both.

COMBINATION DEVICES: Many models are offered which include two or more effects in the same unit. The popular. combinations are wah wah & volume, fuzz & wah, sustain & fuzz, and wah, fuzz, & volume^ Some effects defy categorization while being too important to overlook: the Mutron III, the Pulse Modulator and Frequency Analyzer by Electro-Harmonix, and Maestro’s Ring Modulator, are all examples which should,be investigated.

ROTATING SPEAKER EFFECTS; PHASING: Several special effects are offered which duplicate or approximate the spinning Leslie speaker. Some such devices incorporate a phase shifter. “Phase” is the sequential correspondence between two electrical impulses. By altering this interval to a controlled degree, a celestial, spacy, twisting sound is produced. y

MERSON / UNIVOX (75 Frost Street, Westbury, N.Y. 11590). Univox features essentially four effects devices. New to the line is the Korg Synthepedal for all electric instruments. It comes in two parts: a pedal which controls the amount of effect set on the control box, and the control box itself. The pedal also has a switch to deactivate the effect or turn it on. The effect is a versatile, variable voltage control finder to render synthesizer-oriented responses.

FOXX (c/o Electronic Sound Corp., 3245 W. 30th St., Chicago, Ill 60623): New ownership hopefully will bring a turn-around in the availability of these versatile devices. Well over a halfdozen different effects are offered, many of them combination devices.

SEAMOON (2802 Tenth St., Berkely, CA 94710): Two products are currently offered by Seamoop. The Funk Machine is a small box for electronic wah wah. The effect is controlled by the ‘attack’ of the instrument instead of a pedal. Fresh Fuzz is Seamoon’s state-of-the-art preamp that allows for the playing of chords as well as single notes with a clean fuzz sound.

BAND BOX (P.O. Box 115,1 Arden, No. Cat. 28704): Band Box features a new product known as Chordafama. It includes recorded 8track cartridges to give you a wide variety of musical Styles and rhythms,

MU TRON (Musitronics, Rosemont, N.J. 08556) : The most prominent product here is the Mu Tron III which is perhaps the market’s first device to produce automatic wah wah popularized by its use with the Clavinet. This device, however, offers a vastly increased amount of control over other products that claim to do the same thing.

OBERHEIM (1549 9th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401): Oberheim, known primarily as a manufacturer and developer of state-of-t(ie-art, polyphonic synthesizers, has also developed several special effects devices. Oberheim actually developed several of the effects now manufactured by other companies (most notably the phase .shifter). The Oberheim Phasor is a four-stage device with controls for turning on the phasing effect /and controlling its speed. The Voltage-Controled Filter is an outgrowth of synthesizer technology. In its “envelope follower” position, the unit will produce an automatic wah wah sound. In the S/H or “signal & hold” position, the popular random filter sound is achieved.

' SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY (2025 Factory St., Kalamazoo, Mich. 49001): Six Systech units are currently available. In addition to phase shifter and overdrive units, there are several esoteric devices offered. The Flanger electronically duplicates the result of two tapes run in and out of sync during studio mixdown which can transform any keyboard into honky-tonk and any 6-string guitar into a 12-string.

PLAY BOY (c/o Gretsch, 1801 Gilber Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202): Play Boy’s HF Modulator can be adjusted so you can play harmony with yourself. The Harmonic Booster offers standard distortion features with the added plus of being able to play clean simultaneously.

GUILD (225 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N.J. 07202): Guild offers the Copycat tape echo unit which features five heads, a combination wah and volume pedal, and a volume and wah pedal. Also featured is the original Foxy Lady distortion/sustain pedal which, for our money, stands up just fine in tbje marketplace.

MAESTRO (c/o Norlin, 7373 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, Ill. 60646): Maestro offers a multitude of different effects units. Three echo units: Echoplex Groupmaster (4 channels), Echoplex (vastly popular), and Sirecho (compact unit). Three rhythm units: Rhythm King 4 (16 choices of rhythms), Rhythm Jester, and Rhythm Queen. The new Universal Synthesizer System may be used with any amplified instrument and include effects such as phase shift, filter, sample & hold, octave divider, wave form, and envelope circuits all in one package

ROLAND (c/o Beckman Musical Inst., 2925 S. Vail, Los Angeles, CA 90040): Roland features several kinds of effects in their product line that give the player an overwhelming amount of control. There are three phasers offered. The Phase Five (AP-5) is top-of-the-line offering two different phase effects: ‘continuous’ in accordance with the adjustment of controls, and ‘touch’ which is automatic and varies in accordance with the input. Roland’s Echo Chamber (RE201) uses a free-running tape system (spaghetti-like in appearance) minimizing wow and flutter effects in the echo.

The Rhythm Arranger (TR-66) is especially good for solo performers who need a rhythm section and can’t afford to carry several musicians along. It features 27 basic rhythms plus a 3-Shift Arrange switch which implements the performance of any of the basic rhythms in three different ways.

ELECTRO-HARMONIX (27 W. 23rd St;, New York, NiY. 10010): Electro-Harmonix now featutes 22 products in its catalogue. They include: Big Muff distortion device; Low Frequency Compressor for sustain of bass; Crying Tone Pedal (wah wah); Knock-Out Attack Equalizer to allow you to accent bass and treble and ‘knock out’ mid-range; Black Finger distortion free sustain; and Frequency Analyzer, an accessory for brass aftd/woodwinds which expands the notes to sound like three horns.

THE*BOX (455 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station, N.Y. 11246): This little device is a bit far out but extremely practical. After plugging your instrument in and hooking The Box onto your belt, the device sends the signal to your amplifier eliminating the' use of extended guitar cords.

ROWE-DEARMOND (1702 Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio 43909): DeArmond, primarily known as a manufacturer of pickups for musical instruments, also features a line of about a halfdozen quality effects units: combination tone & volume, the ever popular volume control pedal (especially popular with pedal steel players), wah wah & volume pedal, pedal phaser, and the new Pan Pedal which sweeps the sound from one speaker to the other as you depress the pedal.

MXR (P.O. Bo* 722, Rochester, N.Y. 14603): MXR devices are little boxes that produce a variety of controlled special effects. The Phase 90, for example, is a completely self-contained phasing system packaged in a very rugged case ahd producing the effect very cleanly. The Phase 100 is a programmable phasing device that offers an intensity control in addition to speed.

COLORSOUND (c/o Musonic, 1271 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, Ill. 60016): Subject to your own particular tastes, Colorsound offers most effects in pedals that are both durable and versatile. Each offers great value for your money.

MORLEY (c/o Tel Ray Electronics, 2301 W. Victory Bl., Burbank, CA 91506): What primarily separates Morley from other units is that they are all AC powered and very, very clean. Pedals include Power Wah/Boost, Power Wah/Fuzz, Wah, Volume, Rotating Sound, and Echo. The echo device is an electro-static unit which eliminates tape and heads.

ACCESSORIES PICKUPS

Barcus-Beny (5782 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, CA 90803). Barcus-Berry markets about the most complete line of transducers (pickups). They are availably for guitar., percussion instruments, woodwinds, stringed instruments, brass and piano. They also produce instruments with their pickups built into th^ unit . New this year is Hot Dot which is a titiy transducer placed in the bridge of the guitar.

Anvil Cases (923 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016). Anvil Cases are perhaps the most wjdely known and used custom travel cases on the market. They manufacture the ATA type case of wood and ABS plastic as well as fibre cases for all instruments. Their heavy duty trap case of wood and sturdy wheels is unsurpassed in the industry. Built to travel, each case is custom made to your specifications. ,

Ibancas(c/o Chesbro Music, P.O. Box 2009, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401). Ibanez manufactures a full .line of guitar accessories. Everything from hardshell cases to pickups.

Choice Product Developement (Box 5097, Concord, CA 94520). CPD makes an interesting case of hard plastic material. Foam lining assures your instrumerff of protection on the road.

Bobadilla Cases (2302 E. 38th St., Los Angeles, CA 90058). A division of Gon Bops (the Latin drum people), they manufacture both hard shell (ATA) and fibre cases.

Helpinstill Designs (6124 Jessamine, Houston, Texas 77036). If you saw our August issue, you know Helpinstill makes piano pickups for both upright and grand models. They are clearly the finest pickups available for this purpose.

Rowe-Dearmond (1702 Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio 43609). DeAmarmond is perhaps the oldest manufacturer of pickups for the guitar. They also offer piano transducers as well as those for banjo and even autoharp.