Reviews
Solid-state guitar combo The Stingray is back in the Carlsbro catalogue, this time as two-channel solid-state unit, equipped with onboard digital effects.
DI boxes The dB10 and dB12 are relatively new products from the well-respected Dbx stable, and between them they should be able to meet every requirement you could think of for a DI box.
Bass amplification Up for review this month are two new bass rigs by American manufacturer Gallien-Krueger — from the top of their Artist range, the 2001RB and 410RBH cab, and from the entry-level Goldline series, the 400RB-IV and 410GLX enclosure.
Powered PA speaker This is a serious, but affordable 'wooden-box' powered PA speaker, ideally suited to small and medium-sized venues. It can be used as part of a larger system with an optional sub if required, and also has the ability to drive an additional passive speaker.
Noise reduction pedal Single-ended noise reduction processors for guitar rigs have something of a chequered history, rarely performing without significant side effects. This one, however, certainly offers a new approach. So how does it perform?
VRX portable line-array system A large outdoor gig at a familiar venue offered a perfect opportunity to test JBL's new VRX portable line-array system, which utilises technology from their flagship VerTec series.
Acoustic guitar combo This acoustic amp from LR Baggs marries unusual speaker technology with all-discrete circuitry and, in doing so, sets a new standard in acoustic instrument reproduction.
Active PA speakers Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? Those clever people at Mackie certainly seem to believe so...
Powered PA system This high-quality PA system comes with a unique space-saving feature during transportation and storage. It is ideally suited to the gigging band needing a portable system able to provide good coverage over medium-sized venues where audio quality is a top priority.
Hybrid electric guitars The Parkwood PWH4 and PWH2 hybrids are two recently introduced six-strings, each offering an appealing combination of electric and pseudo-acoustic sounds.
Pedal board This aluminium, open frame-style pedalboard combines light weight with lots of flexibility for pedal mounting and cable routing.
Electric guitar The Mira electric from Paul Reed Smith should attract guitarists looking for a guitar with the individual looks, great quality and superb workmanship that the PRS label implies, but at a more affordable price.
Retrospec We take a look back at the early 1980s to find out how a cheap keyboard revolutionised the performance synth market.
LED PAR can controller Using your feet to control stage lighting is nothing new, but this DMX foot controller from Ryger allows you to literally trip the light fantastic
Drum kit A well-built, powerful, punchy-sounding kit, with Tama's unusually shallow Hyper-Drive toms offering a fast attack and short decay.
Fixed bridge vibrato system The Trem King vibrato unit offers a novel approach to the problem of staying in tune when playing finger bends or when a string breaks.
Sound Advice
Tech Notes Following on from active and passive crossovers, for this month's installment we begin to look into the weird world of compression drivers and power amplifiers.
| People + Opinion
Tech That Björk is one of those rare enigmas within the music industry: an artist who is both radical and popular. Her unconventional approach to singing, production and performance and love of experimentation all serve to create unique challenges for her musicians and techs alike.
The Art of Reinvention Following the globe-spanning success of Supernature, Goldfrapp have switched from glam pop to pastoral psychedelia for their latest album. PM talks to the mysterious duo about the art of reinvention.
JBL Probably the best column in the world... Transcribed by Gary Cooper
Unsigned + Signed Another diary entry from our anonymous Signed and Unsigned musicians.
Back on the road with Level 42 Level 42 sold over 30 million albums at the height of their pop prowess, but they were always a serious jazz-funk band at heart. Mark King tells us why they are back and firing on all cylinders again.
Leader Editor Dave Lockwood wonders whether audiences expect live bands to sound just like their records.
JBL Probably the best column in the world... Transcribed by Gary Cooper.
Stage Gear Our regular brief look at what instruments and gear is being used live by this up-and-coming band.
Technique
Electricity It's back to basics for this month's instalment of our lighting series, with a look at the fundamental principles of electrical power.
An American tour diary No tour bus. No big rig. Just one man and his guitar, in a rental car, making his way across America from motel to motel. Welcome to the realities of touring as a solo act.
Music Business
Make money from your songs In the age of digital media and the Internet, publishers are now better placed than traditional record companies to exploit all the new channels and outlets to help you make money from your songs.
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