Giveaway!
INTRODUCTION Ho, Ho, Ho! It’s that time of the year again where we look forward to gathering around the ol’ pine tree and listening to a rendition of jingle bells from your favourite metal band. With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to start writing up your wish lists, and checking them twice! Whether you have been naughty or nice, the team here at Mixdown have got your lists covered with our huge Christmas special! To help you make those tough decisions, we have reviewed an
extensive selection of this season’s most desirable products. From stocking stuffers for your band mates, to presents that even the big man himself will struggle to lug over the Pacific. We have compiled everything from accessories through to studio gear and a range of instruments to consider. So what are you waiting for? No matter what you (or the person you’re shopping for) plays, we have you covered.
MAHALO RAINBOW SERIES UKULELE PRODUCT TYPE: UKULELE DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES
RRP: $29.95
WIN A NICK CAVE PRIZE PACK, SEE PG. 6 FOR DETAILS
PRICE RANGE COLOUR CODE
UNDER $100
$250 - $500
$100 - $250
$500 and over
VOX AMPLUG
RRP: $59.95
PRODUCT TYPE: HEADPHONE AMP DISTRIBUTOR: VOX AUSTRALIA
RECOMMENDED FOR: Kids whose hands are too tiny for a guitar but would love something to strum, as well as beginning ukulele players, or just those who’d like a cute ukulele to learn on and have around the house. Cool stocking stuffer! SOUND AND TONE: This is a very light, sweet-sounding ukulele with strong midrange frequencies that almost ring out like a bell. There’s an almost vocal-like quality to single notes, and when you let a note ring out, the sustain is surprisingly long for such a little ukulele. PLAYABILITY: The tiny neck may be a bit cramped for those used to guitar, but tiny hands or those just starting out will appreciate how neatly everything falls under the fingers. It’s not too neck-heavy (which can be a problem even for a super-light instrument like a ukulele - it doesn’t take much to throw ‘em off balance) and it’s easy to tune. CONSTRUCTION: The thick full-gloss finish on Sengon wood makes this one feel a little bit ‘plasticy’, but the frets are well finished and the tuners seem to be of very high quality, so it’ll stay in tune for a long time. OVERALL: A great first ukuele for those who want to see if they get along with the instrument, as well as a really fun ‘basher’ for kids to play around with.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Practicing, learning, getting a usable tone going for laying down a sudden song idea. SOUND AND TONE: The four models in the range - AC30, Classic Rock, Metal and Bass - cover a wide range of sounds, surprisingly convincingly for such a simple unit. Very thoughtfully voiced effects too, and low noise. The mid-gain tones are especially nice, with convincing tube-like warmth for such a basic unit. the Metal version has an aggressive modern-metal crunch but is also capable of some nice hard-edged cleans as well. USABILITY: These plug directly into your guitar’s output jack, and a redesign means these now fit your guitar easier than ever. The clever layout makes plenty of use out of a small number of controls. CONSTRUCTION: Although they feel pretty much like hollow plastic, these little tone monsters actually seem quite hardy. The design minimises and wear and stress that might come about from headphone-yanks and stuff like that. It’s powered by two AAA batteries and weighs only 40grams. OVERALL: A great option for those who need tone on the go, with maybe a smattering of effects - but it’s really more about the amp sounds than the effects, so don’t expect a whole bunch of editable parameters. It fits right in your pocket and it can really make some noise.
PG. 40 / MIXDOWN NO. 248 / DECEMBER 2014