Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

by | Feb 20, 2019 | NAMM Awards

The WA-251 was created to offer a classic microphone design to a new generation of recording artists at an affordable price. The WA-251 is an all vacuum tube, large diaphragm, transformer balanced, multi-pattern, large condenser microphone, based on the classic 251 that has been used on many hit records for the last 50+ years. It is designed for pro studio, home studio, live performances, and broadcast applications. It’s great for vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, acoustic/electric bass, drums, piano, strings, brass/woodwind instruments. Just about any other instrument you want to record. The classic 251 became extremely popular as a vocal microphone in the 60’s and is now considered to be one of the greatest condenser microphones ever created. Even though the classic 251 is still widely used today, it’s become very expensive. Warm Audio designed the WA-251 to sound like the classic 251. According to the company, it was “no easy task, especially since some of the vintage components are no longer manufactured or available.” But they succeeded and this beautiful, great sounding microphone is priced so that it is now in reach of not only high-end studios, but serious home studios as well. For more information about this product, click here.

Roland Cloud

Roland Cloud

by | Feb 20, 2019 | NAMM Awards

The Roland Cloud is a cloud-based collection of high-resolution software, drum machines and sample instruments for contemporary musicians. It is also a community of musicians and producers all developing and sharing ideas and music. It’s also subscription-based, which means that you pay monthly to have access to all the digital synths and updates. 

Years ago I owned the first Juno 60 when it hit the market. I spent hours enjoying this marvel of creative sound. Unfortunately, I sold it a few years later. I thought about replacing it, but the cost was prohibitive. Now for as little as $20 a month, I have access to the digital version of the Roland 106, the Jupiter 8, the drum sounds of the TR 808 and 909, plus Roland’s ever expanding JX – 3P synthesizer and 11 more.

OGSR’s Randy Winters (R)

After reviewing the demo, I signed up to try it out. I use Logic Pro X to record my music and was delighted when the Roland Cloud installed easily into my plug-ins. That gave me an opportunity to compare the Roland Cloud suite of products to Alchemy, the very popular free synthesizer that comes with my Logic Pro X. While Alchemy is an excellent system I found myself favoring the Roland Cloud because, not only does it have more to offer, but once again I could play the sounds of the original Juno 60 that brought back so many memories. Ah, those wonderful sounds I remembered from years ago. Plus, the newer JX-3P sounds great and I was immediately inspired by its new, rich sounds.

If you’re looking for an expansive and meaningful new sound palette, I would suggest you give the Roland Cloud a try. There is a free trial, so you’ve got nothing to lose.  

For more information about the Roland Cloud click here. 

Doyle Dykes Signature Godin Guitar

Doyle Dykes Signature Godin Guitar

by | Feb 19, 2019 | NAMM Awards

I’ve got to say right off that I’m prejudiced about this guitar, this brand and this artist. I purchased my first Godin after seeing Doyle Dykes perform at a mini concert in North Vancouver, B.C. in the fall of 2016. There were about 30 of us gathered inside the Prestige Guitar store and we were mesmerized by Dykes’ playing. At the end of the night the guitar players in the crowd felt one of two ways: Either you felt inspired, or you felt like going home and burning your guitar because you knew you could never play that well. I was inspired and I bought my guitar a couple of days later. In fact, it was the same guitar Dykes had played that night. (Unlike this Signature model, my guitar has a 13-pin output. See review.)

The Doyle Dykes Signature Multiac Steel comes with tons of tonal possibilities, including a custom-voiced LR Baggs system, which offers the possibility of blending an LB6 saddle transducer with a Lyric microphone. The top wood is solid spruce, while the back, sides and neck wood is mahogany. This model also includes the famous finger-style player’s signature White Rose inlay at the 12th fret.

I also do most of my song writing with my Godin. It sounds great through an amp or just unplugged. If you enjoy playing a good guitar, and you haven’t played a Godin yet, do yourself a favor and try one. They’re not inexpensive, but they are reasonably priced and an incredible value for what you get. 

For more information about this guitar click here to go to the Godin site. 

You can also listen to Dykes demonstrating this guitar. 

Fishman Pickups

Fishman Pickups

by | Feb 19, 2019 | NAMM Awards

If you’ve been in a guitar store recently, then you were probably surrounded by Fishman pickups but didn’t even notice it. Lots of boutique guitar makers and even the big guys like Fender use these innovative pickups.

From the Fishman site: “The electric guitar pickup has been wound since 1934. 80 years later, we’ve unwound it. Original and totally re-imagined, Fishman Fluence pickups are free from the hum, noise and frustrating inductance issues that plague even the most coveted wire-wound pickups—revealing pure, uncorrupted and musical tone.”

Nobody explains things better than Mitch Gallagher at Sweetwater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGNIVl4CIPY.

For more information about this product, click here. 

 

Fender Acoustisonic

Fender Acoustisonic

by | Feb 19, 2019 | NAMM Awards

This guitar was one of the real highlights of the NAMM Show for me. I was in the market for a Fender electric guitar (Telecaster or Stratocaster), but I really love playing and writing with an acoustic guitar. I currently have a Godin steel string Multiac, an old Ovation from the 70s I play almost every day, and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Goldtop. When I saw the Fender Acoustisonic I couldn’t wait to try one on for size. Although I don’t own one, I see one in my future. I loved the feel and and the look. It definitely attracts attention. The applications are obvious, particularly if you play in a band, as I do. Our repertoire includes hard rock and Eagles’ songs. Using the Fender Acoustisonic, I can travel light.

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Thin and light with an open-pore satin finish, the hollow body is naturally loud and resonant with plenty of projection. An inset top and integrated forearm contour make it comfortable and easy to play.

ACOUSTIC ENGINE

A mix of classic analog and future technologies, the Fender and Fishman®-designed Acoustic Engine delivers a variety of acoustic and electric voices.

STRINGED INSTRUMENT RESONANCE SYSTEM

Fender’s patent-pending tuned soundport uses a “waterfall” design to control the flow of air into the body, creating a naturally loud voice and lively harmonics. For more information about this great guitar go to the Fender site: