Bob's Back

Aphex, Dod, Symetrix, Ashly Audio, Oberheim, Sundholm and Alesis are just some of the high-tech audio products being handled by the newly formed Sound Technology Ltd., headed by the indefatigable Bob Wilson, founder of Atlantex. Bob is to be aided by former fellow Atlantex stalwarts Dave Scott and Tony Williams. IT readers wanting details on any of the above products should contact Sound Technology Ltd. at their brand new premises, (Contact Details).

SYNTHAXE SHIFT

Followers of the astounding SynthAxe (especially those waiting for the launch of this extraordinary half synth/half guitar) should note that the official release date of the micro-chip marvel has been set for the U.S.A.'s NAMM Winter Market Show, Anaheim, California, in January 1986, with its official European send-off following one month later at the good ol' Frankfurt annual music biz beanfeast.

To enable the final gear-up for production to take place, meanwhile, SynthAxe have recently moved from their West London base to a new factory site in Oxfordshire. Interested readers can find out more direct from them at SynthAxe Ltd., (Contact Details).

MAXI MINIS FROM CUSTOM SOUND

IT readers looking for compact yet amazingly powerful PA speakers should make a point of checking-out the latest from Custom Sound. So new that they hadn't even been given a name when the IT team saw and heard them (and boy did we hear them!) the new compact enclosures each contain four newly developed Fane 5" speakers plus two horns. Each ported cab will handle 200 watts RMS and, judging from the astonishing loudness of them, the sensitivity must be extremely high. Covered in Custom Sound's distinctive 'carpet' material, these mini cabs will sell for an RRP of £249 each inc. VAT. Strong metal stands are also available at £45 each inc. VAT. Interestingly, the Custom Sound team demo'd them for us on a Disco system and, despite the tiny speakers and small enclosure size, the bass response was quite remarkable. Less spectacular, perhaps, but potentially equally useful, are two tiny monitor units. One contains two of the new Fane 5"-ers (and it'll take 70 watts RMS), due to sell for RRP £79.95 each, the other has just a single 5" driver (ideal as a 'spot' monitor) and will sell for £54.95. Both had really punchy sounds with an excellent hard bass response.

Watch out, too for a new Custom Sound 200 watt RMS MOSFET 5 channel mixer-amp with built-in reverb, set to sell for RRP £299. Dubbed the 2005, the new amp takes pro-spec low impedance balanced line mikes, as well as high impedance types. Each channel offers volume, treble and bass controls, plus individual reverb and outboard effects level.

Finally, on the way from the men from Leeds is an all-valve 30 watt guitar combo in the Custom Sound Cub range. Due in the shops soon, we're hoping to cadge one for a review very soon.

More details from Custom Sound, (Contact Details).

SHURE CONDENSED

Three new condenser mikes have just been added to the prestigious Shure range, led by a low priced addition to Shure's highly successful Prologue series - the 16-LC, which will sell for under £70.

The 16-LC heads the Prologue series and is a low impedance, battery powered, unidirectional electret condenser. According to Shure, this model is mainly aimed at the home recording market, but could equally well be used for on-stage vocals and instrument miking, as it exhibits a cardioid pickup pattern, flat response and high sound pressure operating level. Being battery powered, of course, it doesn't require phantom supplies from the mixing desk.

Moving up market, two new Shure condensers, the SM94 and SM96, also join the range. The SM94 is apparently most suited to instrument miking and recording roles, on account of its essentially flat response through the frequency range, while the SM96 is better applied to vocal uses, having a slight presence boost and, Shure claim, a smooth bass roll-off. Both the SM94 and SM96 exhibit cardioid (heart-shaped) pickup patterns and have unique 'space frame' shock mounting systems, claimed to effectively isolate the transducer elements, thus protecting against stage-borne thumps and handling noises. Both mikes are also said to be able to operate at very high sound pressure levels.

Handily, the SM94 and SM96 will both run either via phantom powering from mixing desks (the usual 12-48 volts DC supply) or can run from internal 1.5 volt 'AA' size batteries, the latter operating as back-up supplies in the event of phantom power supply breakdowns.

Both the SM94 and SM96 are to sell for around the £200 mark, making them, Shure claim, '...exceptional value to the consumer. In terms of performance, both models compare very favourably with some of the more expensive condenser microphones on the market, yet cost considerably less.'

Details of all Shure products can be obtained either by ticking the Shure box on this issue's 'free product info' coupon, or direct from distributors H.W. International, (Contact Details).

ILP Take Lead?

I.L.P. Electronics, best known for their well-regarded modular slave power amps, have just joined the instrument amplification and speaker markets with two brand new products.

Starting with their new 80 watt RMS lead guitar combo, this twin channel unit features a 12" speaker and offers twin channels: Clean and Overdrive. MOSFET powered and with an ILP-manufactured toroidal mains transformer, the new combo affords a Bright switch plus three band Eq on the clean channel plus a single tone and Overdrive gain on Channel 2 with pre-amp/Master volume operating on both channels. Effects (apart from distortion) include a 3 spring Accutronics reverb and a single jack send/return circuit for FX units. RRP of the new ILP guitar combo is £295.95. Watch out for IT's forthcoming review of this brand new product.

Meanwhile, ILP have also launched their own 12" loudspeaker, said to be able to handle tasks normally allocated to 15" and 18" types. Claimed to have been the result of giving 'loudspeaker experts virtually unlimited facilities to research and test the product.' ILP say they've arrived at a new technology product selling at far less than competitive speakers, yet with applications normally reserved for high-price specialist drivers - namely bass end reproduction in instrument and PA enclosures plus disco applications.

ILP say that their new speaker enables bass enclosures to be made considerably smaller, while not losing either loudness or bass reproduction. The speaker's specification sheet quotes 350watt RMS handling, frequency range 20Hz-5kHz bandwidth, 96dB power (1w, 1 metre), from a 3" voice coil. Distortion, it's claimed, was assessed via an IEC baffle with a constant 96dB SPL at 1 metre, with frequency limits of 50Hz-5kHz and, ILP say, was measured at less than 1%. Suitable for amp makers and users intending to re-speaker existing bass enclosures, the new ILP looks like an interesting prospect. Full technical details (including the essential Thiele-Small parameters and electro-mechanical specs, measured to B.S. 5428 Part II Section 9) are available direct from ILP, as are brochures on their new guitar combo and modular power slaves. Contact I.L.P. Electronics Ltd. at (Contact Details).

Bass Blast from Seymour

A new range of Seymour Duncan 'direct replacement' active bass guitar pickups, each fitted with built-in Eq, has just been unveiled by U.K. importers Labtek International.

Three Eq switches positioned cleverly on top of each pickup allow the user to shift resonant frequencies for a total of eight different sounds. Claimed responses include a 'warm, fat' tone (sounds like a description of the Ed! - the IT Cat), a 'snappy' sound or 'something in between'.

Low impedance (hence defeating noise and colouration), the pickups feature a small battery-driven pre-amp, with a claimed cell life of some 5,000 hours on a typical 2-pickup system.

Models are available, we understand, for both 'Precision' and 'Jazz' basses, with a 'Precision/Jazz' combination also being offered. They come complete with schematic wiring details, mounting screws, pots, battery clip and wire, and will sell for £108 for a single pickup and £164.95 per pair.

More info from Labtek International, (Contact Details).

PERSONAL KEYBOARD FROM HOHNER

Launched at the British Music Fair and in the shops now is Hohner's new PK-250, a 32 voice, microprocessor controlled 'personal keyboard' synth.

The PK-250 provides 28 different Poly voices with 4 organ presets - unique among 'personal' keyboards, Hohner claim. Operating in stereo (and coming complete with 2 detachable speaker systems, each with 2 speakers plus a 2x20 watt amp), the Hohner offers 16 different rhythms, the 'Arrangeur' with over 60 sounds, auto intros and endings, plus a MIDI facility enabling the PK-250 to interface with other MIDI equipped instruments and suitable home computers. More details from M. Hohner Ltd., (Contact Details).

Revised Classics from Fane

No, Yorkshire's finest haven't re-written Lorna Doone, Treasure Island or G. Boycott's Averages 1964-1997! What they have done is revise their seemingly everlasting 'Classic' range of speakers. New models begin with the 8/50, a 'high efficiency' 8" 50 watter, optionally available with a linen cone surround and/or tweeter cone, suited for all-purpose applications. Next comes the Classic 12/150, replacing the old 12/150C. This new Classic features a 2 1/2" glassfibre coil plus ferrite magnet system and, Fane claim, offers very high efficiency at up to 150 watts. Available in a wide variety of optional types, the 12/150 can be used for applications in both live and recorded music fields. Simultaneously, other members of Fane's Classic family now have increased power ratings, due to new technology and materials applications.

Details of all Fane speakers can be obtained from U.K. distributors Audio Factors, (Contact Details).

SABIAN GO FOR BIG CATS' GROWL

Drummers looking for Rock cymbals should certainly check out the new Sabian Ride, Crash, Hi-Hat and Splash types, headed by the new HH Leopard Ride. Repetitive heating and cooling as the metal is shaped, combined with hand hammering, gives the Leopard '...a deep, dry sound with virtually no distracting overtone', Sabian claim. It's available in 20" and 22" sizes and is said to be a heavy cymbal 'designed to produce the ultimate stick ride'.

Also new from Sabian is the AA Rocktagon. Octagonally shaped (really!) it's an 18" Crash type which, Sabian say 'gives the aggressive Rock drummer an explosive, penetrating crash - perfect for heavy metal rock!'.

Watch too for a new 12" AA Rock Splash cymbal. Again developed for Rock players, this new Sabian features a larger bell and has a heavy weight, producing 'a quick penetrating choke with absolutely exquisite bell qualities', Sabian say. Two weights are available - one for Rock, one for H.M. players.

Finally, two new Sabian Hi-Hats are on the way - 14" and 15" Rock 'Sizzle Hats'. With a refined air escape and rivet formation (delivering, Sabian claim, 'a more high-end, high-pitched sound), they sound well worth checking out.

At the same time, Sabian have announced some major changes in their 'special effects' cymbal range. The price surcharge for Brilliant Finish types has been eliminated. Moreover, new 20" and 22" AA Flange Rides have been launched. Available in two weights (medium and medium-heavy) this new Ride cymbal has a specially hammered flange around the outside, developed to control overtone build-up and giving, Sabian say, 'the traditional wash effect prized by so many of the world's great Jazz musicians.'

Finally, Sabian have a new 'special effect' Hi-Hat, the compact 10" AA Mini Hi-Hat. Claimed to give a high-pitched 'quick-chick' effect, it's audible under 'virtually any playing conditions', Sabian say. The new compact Hi-Hat can be played either open or closed.

More info, by adding 'Sabian' to this issue's free info coupon, or direct from Sabian (U.K.), (Contact Details).

T&D CASES IN MOVE

Leading instrument and accessory case makers T&D have just announced a change of address. They can now be contacted at (Contact Details).

MARSHALL MAKES HIS MARK

Having already stamped an indelible impression on the history of Rock with his redoubtable amps, Jim Marshall has been singled out for a major American accolade - his palm print and name are to be permanently impressed in Hollywood's Walk of Rock on November 13th.

The Walk of Rock is to be music's answer to the Hollywood tradition of great film stars who have left their impressions in cement, and will be a permanent 'sidewalk gallery' on Sunset Boulevard, with a special ceremony being held to coincide with the opening of the new Guitar Centre Complex in Hollywood. The Gallery will be opened when Jim Marshall joins the other legendary figures who have been awarded this unique status; Leo Fender, Les Paul, Robert Moog, Frank Martin III, Bill Ludwig, Remo Belli, Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Wonder, each of whom will leave their impressions for posterity.

IT sends sincere congratulations to Jim Marshall, and we're sure that our readers will join with us in a rousing chorus of 'Rock on, Jim!'.

SMASHING TIME FOR DRUMMERS INC.

Newly formed by Leicester-based drummer Tony Bingham is the appropriately Mafia-sounding 'Drummers Incorporated', an organisation which looks like offering a lot of really useful benefits to drummers interested in signing-up.

Tony tells us that Drummers Inc. is now fully functioning and that several top-line names have been co-opted to help, including Simon Phillips as Hon. President, and, as Vice-Presidents, the Shadows' Brian Bennett, Robbie France (sometime U.F.O. sticksman), Lloyd Ryan (perhaps the top U.K. teacher) and Roger Horrobin (liaison man at Premier and one of the most popular figures in U.K. percussion circles). Membership of Drummers Inc. is just £4, and entitles members to a quarterly newsletter including an info and advisory service, catalogues and leaflets from all the major drum manufacturers, and. Drummers Inc. plans, specially negotiated price discounts.

IT readers wanting more information should send an S.A.E. to Drummers Incorporated at (Contact Details).

All That Jazz

New from amp maestros Peavey is the Jazz Classic instrument amp, purpose designed, Peavey tell us, for Jazz guitarists. Peavey's ideas about what Jazz players want are well summed up by the words contained in their news release on this new 210 watt RMS combo. 'The Peavey Jazz Classic... delivers the added punch and low end solidarity so sought after by Jazz artists.' To achieve this, the high-power combo uses a heavy duty Peavey Black Widow 15" speaker with a special cone material featuring a high content of Kapok fibre to increase the resonance and sustain, Peavey say. Intended to sound 'smooth and punchy', the Jazz Classic uses Peavey's DDT compression circuitry to avoid unwanted amp/speaker breakup, even when used at high volumes, and has been specially tailored to reproduce the frequencies of hollow-bodied guitars. With a 6 spring Accutronics reverb, semi-parametric midrange Eq, and noiseless FET channel switching, the Jazz Classic is available from Peavey dealers now, at an RRP of £425 inc. VAT.

More details from Peavey Electronics (U.K.) Ltd., (Contact Details).

KEW FOR GIFFINS

Roger Giffin, one of Britain's finest guitar makers, has opened a new retail centre - and very promising it looks, too!

Giffin (who numbers some of the top guitarists among his clientele) opened his doors on Saturday October 5th amid scenes of suitably debauched revelry but (despite the attractions of vast quantities of liquid refreshments) your ever-conscientious IT reporting team managed to find time to inspect some of Roger's remarkable custom guitars and basses. Threatened with physical violence, the great man has promised to loan us one for a review in a future issue. We'll hold him to that, too!

In addition to Roger's own renowned instrument making and repair services, his new shop will be handling a nice line in premium quality add-on parts at good prices (including several hard to get rareties), plus some tasty vintage instruments. Very much a mecca for the serious player, Roger and shop manager Melvyn Hiscock can be found lurking dangerously close to the River Thames, at (Contact Details).

Akai - The Nooz!

Hot on the heels of Nick Graham's enthusiastic review of Akai's S612 MIDI Digital Sampler and MD280 Sample Disc Drive (see IT Issue 6), comes news of a great 'package' price drop, whereby both units can now be bought together for £948 - a reduction of some £231 from the £1179.80 individual prices we quoted in our review.

Incidentally, the disc prices quoted by Nick (£49.90) are per box - not per sound. Each disc contains two sounds, which makes them a very attractive £2.49 per sound. More news on the Akai system, by the way, is that this disc format is becoming increasingly popular (Sharp are also using it for some equipment) and the 'Quick-Disc Drive' automatically formats a new disc for the user.

Finally, a new range of sounds for the Akai system is being introduced, and continuous additions are promised to keep the sound library up to date.

More info, from Akai (U.K.) Ltd., (Contact Details).