Mixdown Magazine April #240 - Electric Guitar and Bass Special

Electric Guitar & Bass Special

CMC MUSIC P/L DYNAMIC MUSIC ELECTRIC FACTORY JADE AUSTRALIA

6 ee Page AYs

D’ADDAR IOU L

YXL STRING GIV N E T EAW A TIM

PHONE: (02) 9905 2511 PHONE: (02) 9939 1299 PHONE: (03) 9474 1000 PHONE: 1800 144 120

Welcome to our annual Mixdown Magazine Electric Guitar and Bass Special, where we present a range of the latest and greatest electric guitar and bass models for your choosing. From f ngerpickers and strummers through to shredders and string slappers, you’re bound to f nd an axe in this special that will appeal to your playing style and budget. Our expert team of writers have summarised each model and looked at all the key features, with the included spec section helping you get down to the nitty gritty details of each model. A buyer’s guide, these reviews will help point you in the right direction and no doubt conjure up questions to ask your local music retailer when looking to pick up your next 4, 5, 6 and 12 string weapon. Plug in, strap up and most importantly get ready to shred, it’s time to get electric!

WWW.CMCMUSIC.COM.AU WWW.GODINAUS.COM.AU WWW.ELFA.COM.AU WWW.MUSOCITY.COM.AU

MUSIC MAN ARMADA

RRP: $5250

NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA MATON GUITARS AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

PHONE: 1800 441 440 WWW.NATIONALAUDIO.COM.AU PHONE: (03) 9693 5111 WWW.YAMAHABACKSTAGE.COM.AU PHONE: (03) 9896 9500 WWW.MATON.COM.AU PHONE: (03) 9549 1500 WWW.AUSTMUSIC.COM.AU

MUSIC MAN GAME CHANGER

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 6 STRING THROUGH NECK ELECTRIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH GAMECHANGER PICKUP SYSTEM

RECOMMENDED FOR: Adventurous souls who aren’t afraid to use something non-traditional. With this guitar’s lack of visual clues about what it should sound like, you’re really free to use it for whatever you like!

RECOMMENDED FOR: Studio guitarists, sonic adventurers and the technologically excitable. You’ll need a computer and some patience to get the most out of it but hang in there, it’s worth it!

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: This guitar and its electronics are specifically designed to be quite literally the most versatile guitar that ever existed. You can program its digitallycontrolled analog signal path to give you a near infinite number of sound options, so if you can imagine it then this guitar can do it.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The tones lean towards vintage clarity and warmth, with an airy but never-brittle treble quality that lends itself well to country and rock, but stay smooth enough to give you beautifully expressive, fusion-esque solo tones. The neck pickup is juicy and rounded like a vintage PAF but with a little more compression.

PLAYABILITY: Brilliant Music Man playability as always. The neck is very comfortable and the controls are easy to reach, which is crucial for selling an advanced concept such as this one.

PLAYABILITY: It’ll take a few minutes to get used to the unusual curves of the body but you’ll soon find that it’s a very ergonomic guitar which feels very playable and very wearable.

CONSTRUCTION: Bulletproof construction as always. If you’ve never tried an Ernie Ball Music Man with its ultra-secure neck joint, you have no idea how great a bolt-on neck can be. And the fret work here is a thing of beauty.

CONSTRUCTION: Ernie Ball Music Man have mastered guitar construction, they’ve really shown that they can make an unconventional guitar exceptionally well. It’s really a work of art and the soapbar pickup version released at NAMM this year further adds to the classiness factor.

OVERALL: This one won’t be an easy sell for Music Man because it’s unlike anything else out there, but that’s what makes it so cool and so adaptable to whoever takes one home. Judging by the forums, folks either love or hate the look– but one strum and you’ll be sold.

PG. 38 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / APRIL 2014

RRP: $4595

SPECS NECK: HONDURAN MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAHOGANY W/BOOKMATCHED TOP PICKUPS: 2 x MM90 SINGLE COILS BRIDGE: TUNE-O-MATIC WITH GRAPH TECH TAIL PIECE TUNERS: SCHALLER M6-IND LOCKING CASE INCLUDED: HARDSHELL SKB MADE IN: USA

OVERALL: This isn’t the easiest guitar to learn, since the Game Changer pickup changing system is so flexible and capable that it can take a while to wrap your head around it. But the guitar is topshelf, and the electronics are limited only by your imagination and your ability to figure ‘em out.

SPECS NECK: SELECT MAPLE FRETBOARD: SELECT MAPLE OR ROSEWOOD BODY: CHAMBERED BASSWOOD/ MAPLE TOP/MAHOGANY TONE BLOCK PICKUPS: DIMARZIO HH OR CERAMIC HSH BRIDGE: STANDARD OR MUSIC MAN® VINTAGE TREMOLO. PIEZO OPTIONAL TUNERS: SCHALLER M6-IND LOCKING CASE INCLUDED: HARDSHELL SKB MADE IN: USA

STERLING BY MUSIC MAN S.U.B SERIES AX3

RRP: $525

STERLING BY MUSIC MAN S.U.B SERIES SILO3

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rockers, bluesrockers, grunge-rockers, alternativerockers, rock-rockers… basically this is a rock axe no matter which way you look at it.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, blues, country, punk, classic rock and fusion.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The unidentified ‘hardwood’ body isn’t going to give you tones as complex as a primo piece of alder but this Music Man Silhouette-inspired axe will definitely give you a respectable range of voices from hard rock edge to twangy country and zippy blues. You might want to upgrade the pickups eventually but the stock units will do for most.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: With surprisingly adaptable pickups and coil-splitting 5-way switching, this guitar covers a lot of bases, most of them while cranking up the gain and blasting out some riffs. The clean tones are not as distinctive but that doesn’t matter. Nice neck pickup lead tones too.

PLAYABILITY: Very easy and the tuning stability holds up quite well under heavy whammy abuse. It’ll take a few songs or some serious twang-bar freakout action to jostle this one out of tune. The frets feel a little sharp and the neck isn’t quite as comfortable as an actual EBMM Silhouette though.

PLAYABILITY: Inspired by the Music Man AXIS model (and the EVH before it), this guitar is exceptionally well balanced whether on your lap or on a strap, and that helps to effectively get the guitar ‘out of your way’ and let you concentrate on rocking. The fret ends can be a little rough but that’s about the only downer.

CONSTRUCTION: Quite well made, with a few rough spots here and there that drop a few hints as to the lower price point of these guitars, but it’s still a very nicely made guitar with no obvious flaws, just little finishing stuff.

CONSTRUCTION: Aside from the aforementioned fret ends and the occasional rough pickup cavity route on the examples we’ve checked out, these are very well-built guitars for the price and you could happily take them on stage pretty much anywhere and not have to sweat it.

OVERALL: Okay, so it’s not an actual AXIS or EVH but the AX3 is a surprisingly great guitar for the money. Beginner, intermediate, pro looking for a costeffective backup to put only minimal upgrades into, most players would really benefit from adding one of these to their collection.

OVERALL: A great alternative to the glut of ‘copy guitars’ around this price point.

It’s an actual authorised representation of the Silhouette concept, okayed by a company who has been notoriously hard to please when it comes to allowing budget versions of their instruments.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE FRETBOARD: MAPLE BODY: JABON PICKUPS: H/H BRIDGE: VINTAGE TREM TUNERS: SEALED CASE INCLUDED: N/A MADE IN: INDONESIA

GODIN XT-SA

RRP: $2149

DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, pop, metal, fusion, loopers, synth guys, live triggering and whatever you can dream up thanks to the electric, acoustic and 13 pin outputs on the guitar.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, blues, heavier styles and pop. S style players wanting something a little more hot rodded and those looking for USB output to compliment their standard setup.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: As an electric you can cycle through the 5 way switch including humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions, for the acoustic piezo pickup there’s a 3 band graphic EQ and volume control and then of the course the synth access to whatever you want to hook the xtSA up to! For versatility this Godin gets full marks and with enough tweakability to make any of the three output types more than usable.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Single coils in the neck and middle get you warm, spanky round tones and that strat type quack. Move to the bridge and you’ve got a Godin custom humbucker for edgy rock tones with a little added girth. On top of these sounds Godin have again employed the HDR switch for active tones on each pickup with extra bite and dynamic range. USB connectivity also lets the Progression Boutique plug straight into your PC be it in the studio or on the road.

CONSTRUCTION: Godin really sit under the radar as their guitars look like they should be priced much more than they actually are. A beautiful flamey translucent finish on this particular axe (and a range of other colours available too) the timber choice, action and setup are all top notch.

OVERALL: An interesting guitar from the Godin camp that combines some beautiful woods with added electronics and tonal versatility.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE OR ROSEWOOD FRETBOARD: MAPLE BODY: JABON PICKUPS: H/S/S BRIDGE: VINTAGE TREM TUNERS: SEALED CASE INCLUDED: N/A MADE IN: INDONESIA

GODIN PROGRESSION BOUTIQUE USB

DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

PLAYABILITY: The single cut design and weighty body leans more towards the LP side of things but its still a balanced all round guitar that shouldn’t cause any problems. Whether bashing out chords, fingerpicking or hammering out lead lines the xtSA feels solid, the deep cutaway allows plenty of upper register access and once you’ve got your head around the control layout you’ll be switching tones with ease.

RRP: $425

RRP: $1699

PLAYABILITY: Very much in the S camp of electric solid body guitars in both shape and feel the Progression Boutique plays like a dream with good body/neck balance and body weight. Add in the ease of use with the USB output and you can smash out tunes almost anywhere.

SPECS NECK: MAHOGANY BOLT-ON FRETBOARD: EBONY BODY: SILVER LEAF MAPLE CENTER WITH POPLAR WINGS PICKUPS: H-S-H, TREMOLO BRIDGE WITH RMC TRANSDUCERS BRIDGE: TREMOLO BRIDGE WITH RMC TRANSDUCERS FOR ACOUSTIC AND SYNTH SOUNDS TUNERS: GODIN, 3 A SIDE CASE INCLUDED: DELUXE GIG BAG WITH NECK SUPPORT MADE IN: CANADA

CONSTRUCTION: Maple and Rosewood are the woods of choice with this trans black example having a great quilted top with dark edges.

OVERALL: A super strat type deal from Godin with boutique features such as a slick finish, hot rodded bridge humbucker, HDR function and USB output. Besides all the bells and whistles it’s also a really nice playing solid body that comes in way cheaper than you’d expect!

SPECS NECK: ROCK MAPLE BOLT-ON FRETBOARD: MAPLE OR ROSEWOOD BODY: SILVER LEAF MAPLE BODY WITH POPLAR WINGS PICKUPS: 2 x SINGLES, 1 x HUMBUCKER BRIDGE: TRADITIONAL TREMOLO TUNERS: GODIN, 6 A SIDE CASE INCLUDED: DELUXE GIG BAG WITH NECK SUPPORT MADE IN: CANADA

APRIL 2014 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / PG. 39

GODIN ICON TYPE 3

RRP: $2449

DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Predominantly jazz, blues and rock but also anyone wanting some warm archtop vibes or jangly bridge pickup tones.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Unplugged you get a round, smooth tone with quite a lot of sustain. Then with three Lollar P90’s and Godin’s HDR switch you get a host of versatility for warm round tones, creamy edge of breakup and fat rock sounds.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Warm round hollow body tones with a nice jazzy plasticky pick attack on the front pickup. You can then run more 50s and 60s R&B and almost early rock and roll tones on the bridge. Plenty of sustain and body unplugged too which often indicates a nice clean tone plugged in.

PLAYABILITY: Although a little weighty the Icon Type 3 still feels balanced and the chambered body still feels lighter than many other electrics in a similar style. The neck is nice and manageable, not too chunky and with a lovely round heel joint for those hanging around the 12th fret and beyond.

PLAYABILITY: I really like the single cut jazz body shape coupled with the thinline body depth which means that it’s not as bulky as a lot of typical rock and roll and jazz hollow body axes, but it still has that inherent tone and essence in its sound.

CONSTRUCTION: Like a lot of the Godin gear the construction seems great, looks a treat and is much more affordable than you’d think! The finish, paintjob and edges are all on the money and the body shape sits somewhere in the ‘modern take on a classic look’ camp.

CONSTRUCTION: Again, Godin have mastered quality in craftsmanship at an affordable price. It’s gorgeous semi hollow body design and finish is stunning.

It’s all about attention to detail from the headstock to the lower bout of the guitar, and the Montreal Premiere semi hollow passes with flying colours.

SPECS NECK: MAHOGANY SET-NECK FRETBOARD: EBONY BODY: CHAMBERED SOLID MAHOGANY BODY WITH CARVED MAHOGANY TOP PICKUPS: 3 x LOLLAR P90’s BRIDGE: GRAPHTECH RESOMAX TUNERS: GODIN, 3 A SIDE CASE INCLUDED: DELUXE GIG BAG WITH NECK SUPPORT MADE IN: CANADA

TOKAI JS-70

RRP: $1395

OVERALL: A great jazz, blues and rock roll guitar at a super price. Solid construction and a nice finish make it a looker as well as a good player. Semi hollow and thinline contribute to the smooth tone and light body weight for comfortable playing for hours on end.

Absolutely killer guitar at the price, this one will be timeless.

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: LP 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Jazz players, pretty much exclusively. It’s clear from the looks and the tone that you ain’t playing Meshuggah on this bad boy.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Classic rockers, hard rockers, blues-rockers, fusion players. We all know what this looks like and what this kind of guitar is great for!

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: With only a single pickup and volume and tone controls you’re going to be able to get plenty of tones out of this if you have great control in your hands. Not so much otherwise.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Tokai has long been known for the quality and sonic faithfulness of their guitars, and this one is no exception. Everything you’d want is here: the tone, the sustain, the articulation. And of course it sounds great under high gain. Coil splits would be nice though to add an extra dimension.

PLAYABILITY: If you’re used to jazz boxes, this is one of the most playable and comfortable out there. if you’re not you might feel a little confronted by this one at first. But it’s a beautiful guitar any way you look at it, and as playable as you could possibly hope for, given its large size.

RRP: $799

PLAYABILITY: If you’re used to carvedtop electrics with this kind of neck pitch, this is going to feel instantly comfortable to you. The neck feels great and the fretwork is pretty nice too.

CONSTRUCTION: This one diverges from the standard specs by featuring a Basswood body with Flamed Sycamore laminated top and Maple set neck. Build quality is quite good and the binding is nice too.

CONSTRUCTION: Construction is very good but not quite flawless. The frets are finished smoothly but some seem to have been tapped in at a slightly off angle, and some of the binding is a little spotty. But for the money these are quite acceptable quirks.

PG. 40 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / APRIL 2014

SPECS NECK: MAHOGANY SET-NECK FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: CANADIAN WILD CHERRY TOP, BACK & SIDES WITH A “BREATHETHROUGH” CARVED SPRUCE CORE PICKUPS: HUMBUCKERS BRIDGE: GRAPHTECH RESOMAX OR OPTIONAL BIGSBY TUNERS: GODIN, 3 A SIDE CASE INCLUDED: DELUXE GIG BAG WITH NECK SUPPORT MADE IN: CANADA

TOKAI LOVE ROCK ALS-48

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: JAZZ 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR

OVERALL: A beautiful playing and sounding guitar with very minor finishing issues that you won’t even notice after the guitar has broken in properly. Also, one of the most beautiful flamed mapleeffect backs you’ll ever see.

RRP: $2295

DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC GUITAR TYPE: THINLINE HOLLOW BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, blues and players wanting something beefier than single coils, but that isn’t in that super fat humbucker territory.

OVERALL: If you’re after something P90 ish in the LP sorta style,v the Icon Type 3 ticks a lot of boxes. The chambered body adds some sustain and the Lollar pickups are a great choice. Some will be able to take or leave the High Definition Revoicer switch but either way the Icon Type 3 pulls out some warm, smooth rocky blues tones.

GODIN MONTREAL PREMIERE SEMIHOLLOW

SPECS NECK: MAPLE FRET BOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAPLE ARCH TOP PICKUPS: 1 x FLOATING MINI HUM BUCKING BRIDGE: ROSEWOOD FLOATING TUNERS: GOLD DIECAST-NEW YORK STYLE CASE INCLUDED: HEAVY DUTY GIG BAG MADE IN: CHINA

OVERALL: It may not feature the same woods as the original but the majority of the tone is still intact despite the changes. This is a nice cost-effective way of getting most of that tonal mojo and all of that classic look.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE SET NECK FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: BASSWOOD PICKUPS: LSC-F x 2 BRIDGE: TUNAMATIC STYLE TUNERS: DIE CAST TULIP BUTTONS CASE INCLUDED: HEAVY DUTY GIG BAG MADE IN: CHINA

MATON 503 CLASSIC

RRP: $1599

MATON MS500

DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, pop, indie, blues, heavier styles. Pros, semi pros, amateurs, players looking for a different take on the double humbucker solid body.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, indie, progressive, pop, blues.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Big round chords and on the edge bluesy breakup on the neck pickup. It’s super useable and you can also brighten it up by flicking to the bridge. Switch the coil tap in the bridge position for a single coil vibe or you can also enjoy the neck and coil tapped bridge combo for a big fat vintage tone.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Featuring Maton’s own MVB0 and MHN0 pickups the 503 Classic is round and full on the neck pickup and fat and gnarly at the bridge. The 3 way switch also gets you the in between sound whilst the coil tap on the bridge opens more doors for brighter S styled tones.

PLAYABILITY: Light and shorter scale make the MS500 a fun axe to play. Smaller hands will love the neck and those sick of playing back breaking electrics will cancel those chiropractor appointments. Easy to handle but still a serious instrument.

PLAYABILITY: A medium kind of C shaped neck is easy to handle and the 12” fingerboard radius lets you whip around with ease. The deep cutaway and angled heel joint also allow plenty of access to the higher frets. Quite light in weight it’s also great for those who steer clear of heavy axes.

CONSTRUCTION: Maton’s 503 classic has some beautiful touches that conjure up vintage instruments whilst the design is definitely their own. Body shape, headstock shape, switches, pick guard all look great and the guitar feels top notch too. This particular example came in a cherry red finish that looked a treat and added to that vintage/modern vibe.

OVERALL: Well known for their acoustic guitars Maton’s electric offerings such as the 503 classic really kick some butt.

With distinctive looks at a more than reasonable price they’re definitely worth a look if you’re after a guitar that veers slightly from the classic shapes.

CONSTRUCTION: Vintage vibes and quality aussie craftsmanship here utilising Silkwood, Queensland Maple and Rosewood. The finish is sweet and Maton’s own pickups add to the old school feel, not to mention the control knobs and rotary pickup selector switch which feels and looks like something out of an old hot rod.

SPECS NECK: QUEENSLAND MAPLE FRETBOARD:ROSEWOOD WITH WHITE BINDING, PEARL DOTS BODY: SILKWOOD DOUBLE BOUND PICKUPS:MATON MVHB HUMBUCKER (BRIDGE–COIL TAPPED) MATON MVSC (NECK–SINGLE COIL) BRIDGE: FINISH–MAHOGANY BACK AND SIDES WITH HONEY FACE TUNERS: GROVER ROTOMATIC MACHINE HEADS CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA

MATON T-BYRD

RRP: $1899

OVERALL: A great Australian brand that needs no introduction. Possibly better known for their acoustic guitars, Maton’s electric range should soon reach the same heights with distinctive designs and shapes paired with classic tones. I’ve seen plenty of these guitars up close and live and they don’t disappoint. Worth checking out if you’re after something a little different in a solid body electric guitar.

DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: SEMI HOLLOW BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

RECOMMENDED FOR: Blues, roots, country, rock, pop. Although aimed initially at the country and country rock market the T-Byrd would be a great blues, rock, pop instrument too. Also handy as that ‘something slightly different’ axe when you need to mix things up a little.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, alternative, blues, pop, jazz and almost everything in between. Players of all styles and levels.

NECK: BOLT ON QLD MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: SILVER SILKWOOD PICKUPS: MVHB (COIL TAPPED) BRIDGE: CHROME TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: CHROME GROVER CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA

RRP: $3999

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The semi hollow design adds some nice body and sustain to clean tones. Both humbuckers can be split into single coils so you can work through fat and round tones to bright, sharper sounds with ease. I love the ability to change between woody almost jazz tones on the front pickup to grindy rock and roll on the bridge.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: A telecaster bridge, bridge pickup and control layout make for some very T styled tones in the middle and back pickup positions. The Lollar Super T can do sharp and jangly or chicken pickin.

Then move to the neck pickup and the cool addition of the Lollar Charlie Christian pickup will open up some big rounder tones–think rock and roll or blues. Makes for an interesting take on the Maton T type sound.

PLAYABILITY: Made for Josh Homme (of QOTSA fame) the JH is a hollowbody electric in Maton’s classic double cut style. A comfortable playing weight this BB1200 is lightish thanks to its hollow body but still meaty and solid enough to bash out loud chords and riffs without feeling like you should tone it down a touch.

PLAYABILITY: Bashing out chords or playing lines up the neck the T-Byrd feels pretty darn nice all over the fret board.

Slightly more D shaped than some of Maton’s other electric offerings, the neck will suit quite a lot of players and the guitar is balanced and comfy overall.

OVERALL: A kind of cross between a tele, semi hollow chambered electric and classic Maton double cutaway the T-Byrd definitely has its own thing going on too. Whilst I can see the appeal for country, roots, rock ‘n’ roll players there’s no reason it won’t also fit into a heap of other musical settings.

SPECS

MATON BB1200 JH JOSH HOMME

DISTRIBUTOR: MATON GUITARS GUITAR TYPE: CHAMBERED ELECTRIC 6 STRING

CONSTRUCTION: Great to see Maton developing new ideas such as the T-Byrd.

The build quality is up there with many pricier brands and it feels and looks like a serious player. Beautiful!

RRP: $1399

SPECS NECK: ROCK MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROCK MAPLE BODY: QUANDONG WITH ROCK MAPLE CAP PICKUPS: LOLLAR CHARLIE CHRISTIAN/ LOLLAR SUPER T BRIDGE: TRAPEZE TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: GROVER MINI CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA

CONSTRUCTION: I love the look, feel and tone and the satin Blackwood finish is earthy and natural with a dark, mysterious hint to it – perfect for Mr, Homme I’d imagine! The trapeze tailpiece adds some vintage feel to the guitar and the whole instrument feels great from a quality point of view – smooth edges, no marks, good intonation etc.

OVERALL: Thanks to its feel and range of tones it would suit players of all standards and styles. This is not one of those signature guitars that only appeals to a tiny section of the population, the BB1200 JH really deserves some attention no matter what your musical bag consists of!

SPECS NECK: SET ROCK MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: BLACK WOOD TONE CAP/ BLACK WOOBACK BINDING IVORY PICKUPS: JHB (BRIDGE – COIL TAPPED) JHN (NECK–COIL TAPPED) BRIDGE: TRAPEZE TAILPIECE & BRIDGE TUNERS: CHROME GROVER CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: AUSTRALIA

APRIL 2014 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / PG. 41

DEAN DECEIVER X

RRP: $499

RECOMMENDED FOR: In one word: Metal. This is a classic black machine that takes no prisoners and will go low when you want to, but also holds its own ground for rock solo work too.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a hybrid guitar that is going to not only suit blues and jazz players, but will also do well in the hands of many indi and rock players.

It’s truly versatile and shouldn’t be placed into one specific genre or style.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: If you like it loud and in your face, the Deceiver X is going to tick all the boxes. The highly compressed tone gives you the high output you would expect from this beast.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: As a hollow body guitar, this instrument has a great jazz tone with a great range of sounds as you move through the pickup selection options and ride the tone control to suit your sound. The solid wood block running through the centre gives it a really thick and rich tone that puts it halfway between a solid body and a true hollow body sound.

PLAYABILITY: Straight out of the box, the Deceiver X just felt great. I only needed to adjust a couple of strings to bring them into tune and it was ready to go. The fret work was really smooth, matching the unfinished neck that just slid through the hand effortlessly.

PLAYABILITY: Like butter, that’s how she plays. The larger body comes into play as far as the tone goes, but it goes completely unnoticed as far as playability.

This feels like a much smaller guitar, with a weight and a neck feel that is just right.

CONSTRUCTION: Without being too heavy, you still get a lot of timber in this guitar, so it has a solid, familiar feel. The bolt on neck has a great contour that really sits well in the hand as both a lead and rhythm guitar and the string through body construction goes a long way to continuing the sustain of this instrument.

CONSTRUCTION: Like any Yamaha guitar, there is no cutting corners in the production stage. The finish is superb, the inlays and binding add a great completion to the look of the guitar and the hardware balances it all out nicely.

OVERALL: You really cannot go wrong with the SA2200. It looks stunning, it feels great and it has a sound or two hidden within it, for just about any player. As usual, Yamaha have raised the bar with this instrument.

SPECS NECK: BOLT ON MAPLE C FRETBOARD: EBONY BODY: BASSWOOD PICKUPS: DMT DESIGN BRIDGE: FLOYD ROSE TUNERS: GROVER CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: CHINA

PRS SE CLINT LOWERY

RRP: $999

DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY GUITAR TYPE: CLINT LOWERY SIGNATURE SE MODEL

PRS S2 CUSTOM 22

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rockers, bluesrockers, jazz players… anyone who wants a true US-built PRS but can’t quite stretch the budget to the really deluxe-looking stuff.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: This one is designed to sound aggressive and big and yet tight and punchy at the same time, which is crucial given that Lowery’s preferred tuning is Drop B. Interestingly, this has a regular 25.5” scale length, not a baritone length. The pickups are PRS’s SE HFS and SE Vintage Bass models, which give you a lot of range beyond ‘GRAAARR.’

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: This guitar is dripping with all the warm midrange goodness you’d expect from a PRS. It’s a great sound which sits really well in a band mix whether onstage or in the studio, and it just makes you want to play and play.

PG. 42 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / APRIL 2014

NECK: PREMIUM MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: EBONY BODY: LAMINATED FIGURED MAPLE PICKUPS: 2 x ALNICO V HUMBUCKER BRIDGE: T-O-M CASE INCLUDED: YES MADE IN: JAPAN

RRP: CALL FOR PRICING

PLAYABILITY: Playability is very nice here, from the gentle body contouring to the smooth fret work. And the controls are nice and easy to reach. It’s also very well balanced, and the vibrato system returns to and maintains pitch quite well.

PLAYABILITY: The neck shape is an unusual combination of ‘rounded’ yet ‘not super fat.’ This makes it great for intricate lead work and complex chord shapes. And the body carve is nice and ergonomic too.

OVERALL: The stylised inlays might put some players off, but the logo isn’t so singular as to be distracting or too identifying: most people will just see it as a cool design choice rather than an indication that it’s a signature guitar. You don’t have to be a Sevendust fan to love this guitar, but it helps.

SPECS

DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY GUITAR TYPE: SOLID BODY 6 STRING CUTAWAY

RECOMMENDED FOR: Well, specifically, Sevendust fans, but beyond that anyone who is interested in a low-tuned, aggressive, heavy rock or metal guitar with cool styling.

CONSTRUCTION: PRS SE guitars have come a long way since the first batch back in the day. These days they’re every bit as good as the main line of most other companies. The construction here is so tight and well-executed that it’s almost unfair! The intonatable combined bridge/ tailpiece is a nice touch.

RRP: $2999.99

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: SEMI-HOLLOW 6 STRING GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS GUITAR TYPE: 6 STRING SOLID BODY

OVERALL: Although the simplest model in the Deceiver range, Dean have got it right with the Deceiver X. It feels, plays and sounds like a whole lot more than what it actually is. You rarely get guitars in this price range that play like this one does, so Dean must be doing something right.

YAMAHA SA2200

CONSTRUCTION: This is a well built guitar with nice fretwork, good clean lines and nice reliable controls.

OVERALL: This is a really beautiful guitar which suits all sorts of musical situations, looks great, and is extremely playable.

SPECS NECK: MAHOGANY WITH WHITE BINDING FRETBOARD: BOUND ROSEWOOD BODY: CUSTOM ‘CL’ MAHOGANY WITH 3 PLY BINDING PICKUPS: SE HFS TREBLE, SE VINTAGE BASS BRIDGE: PRS ADJUSTABLE STOPTAIL TUNERS: PRS DESIGNED TUNERS CASE INCLUDED: GIGBAG MADE IN: KOREA

SPECS NECK: MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: ASYMETRIC BEVELED, BOOKMATCHED FIGURED MAPLE PICKUPS: S2 HFS TREBLE, S2 VINTAGE BASS BRIDGE: PRS S2 TREMOLO TUNERS: PRS S2 LOCKING TUNERS CASE INCLUDED: GIGBAG MADE IN: USA

DANELECTRO DC59 12 STRING

DANELECTRO 56 SINGLE CUTAWAY BASS

RRP: CALL FOR PRICING DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES (AMS) GUITAR TYPE: 12 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES (AMS) GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Indie, alternative, classic rock, country–anyone who requires a nice jangly electric 12-string tone but either can’t stretch their budget to Rickenbacker extremes, or simply loves that stylish, straightforward Danelectro vibe.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Those with an appreciation for the old-school, in both looks and tone. Also great for those with back problems, as we’ll see in ‘playability.’

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: This one isn’t going to give you modern slap and pop tones but it excels at rubbery, articulate-but-woody vintage tone. It’d be great for Beatles-style material or a retro-inspired neo-country band, a blues band–really anyone who needs a nice honest no-frills bass tone with nice attack, and isn’t fussed about having an overly slick, ‘LA Studio’ tone.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The bridge pickup is noticeably less powerful than the neck one, which overpowers it either when used alone or in combination. But the tones themselves are beautiful and very usable whether you’re running a clean tone, gobs of gain, or 60s-approved heavy compression.

PLAYABILITY: The string spacing might be a little too close for some players, especially if they’re not used to 12-string guitars, but you’ll adapt soon enough. It does take a little bit of retraining of the brain muscles to wrap your head around what you can and can’t do on a 12-string but this little “Dano” does its best to make it easy for you.

CONSTRUCTION: Danelectro’s are, by their very nature, constructed from very hardy yet relatively inexpensive materials.

They may not be crafted of the rarest most beautiful woods but when was the last time you saw a busted Dano? Never, right? They hold up really well and this is no exception.

OVERALL: A great entry into the 12-string market and for any player be they a folkie, a classic rocker, an indie or alternative janglemeister, or even a heavy rock player looking to add some extra shimmer and shine to some atmospheric overdubs.

PLAYABILITY: This bass is surprisingly light, which makes it an ease to play. The neck is also very comfortable, and not at all neck-heavy despite how it might look.

The fretwork isn’t perfect but it’s not sliceyour-fingers bad either, and the controls are easy enough to reach.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE BOLT-ON FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MASONITE AND LAMINATED WOOD PICKUPS: 2 x CHROME ALNICO LIPSTICK TUBE PICKUPS BRIDGE: FULLY ADJUSTABLE HARDTAIL BRIDGE TUNERS: GOTOH CHROME SEALED CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: KOREA

MUSIC MAN CLASSIC SABRE

RRP: $3850

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

OVERALL: This is a really intriguing bass because it has a sound that’s all its own; recognisably a bass, of course, but nothing like a P-Bass, a StingRay or anything like that. Maybe you can compare it to a more punchy Hofner ‘Beatle’ bass in tone. Whatever you call it, it sounds great and plays wonderfully.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE BOLT-ON FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MASONITE AND LAMINATED WOOD PICKUPS: 2 x CHROME ALNICO LIPSTICK TUBE PICKUPS BRIDGE: ROSEWOOD SADDLE BRIDGE TUNERS: KLUSON STYLE WITH VINTAGE IVORY BUTTONS CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: KOREA

STERLING BY MUSIC MAN S.U.B SERIES RAY4 RRP: $595

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, blues, punk, funk, jazz, metal and soul players looking for a straightforward but affordable take on the venerable Music Man StingRay. SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Like the classic StingRay, the 2-band active EQ (Treble and Bass) really helps to open this one up, from reliable ‘regular bass’ to a hi-fi slap-and-pop one. It’s deceptively flexible, even though the looks might suggest something a little more meatand-potatoes.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The two humbucker pickups–16-pole neck and 8-pole bridge–offer plenty of sounds from the deep and boomy to the edgy and cutting, and the Silent Circuit keeps everything nice and quiet no matter how distorted you like your sound. And the 2-band active preamp (Treble and Bass) gives you extra scope to shape your sound.

PLAYABILITY: The neck shape will seem a little broom-like to some players but it definitely aids in playing for long periods, especially if the material calls for lots of steady eighth notes that require endurance rather than zipping around the neck like a caffeinated marmoset.

PLAYABILITY: A very sturdy, rock worthy, road worthy bass that stays out of your way and lets you either dig into rhythm parts or really get intricate with jazzy solos. It’s also great for slap/pop techniques. The lever pickup selector is a nice touch too, so you don’t have to deal with push-pulls or mini-switches for single coil modes.

OVERALL: A good solid all-rounder, capable of shifting genres as fast as you can. The look as also suitably adaptable and it’d be at home on pretty much any stage you can think of, which is awesome!

CONSTRUCTION: Danelectros are hardy buggers, and this one is built in a very solid way with a neck joint that seems like it will never shift. The control knobs do feel just a little bit filmsy but not enough to get worked up about.

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC P/L GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, punk, country, blues and top 40 bass players who want a top-quality bass with simple but flexible electronics and who don’t want to deal with the buzz and hum when rocking single coil sounds.

CONSTRUCTION: The six-bolt neck joint ensures nice efficient energy transfer from the string to the neck and body, and the fretwork is characteristically perfect.

RRP: CALL FOR PRICING

SPECS NECK: BIRDSEYE OR FLAME MAPLE FRETBOARD: FRETTED - MAPLE OR ROSEWOOD BODY: ASH PICKUPS: HH 16 POLE AND 8 POLE WITH PATENTED MUSIC MAN “SILENT CIRCUIT” BRIDGE: TOP LOADING HARDENED STEEL w/ MUTE PADS TUNERS: SCHALLER BM, WITH TAPERED STRING POSTS CASE INCLUDED: HARDSHELL SKB MADE IN: USA

CONSTRUCTION: Quite well built for the price, with a few rough edges here and there but nothing to chuck a strop about. Surprisingly faithful to an actual StingRay, getting the ‘little details’ right such as a neck-base truss rod adjustment and the look of the bridge. All the little things help!

OVERALL: No, it’s no actual pricey StingRay–the tone isn’t as complex, the woods aren’t as nice and the fret work isn’t as finessed–but it captures the essence of the classic StingRay so well that it’s certainly worth a look.

SPECS NECK: MAPLE OR ROSEWOOD FRETBOARD: MAPLE BODY: BASSWOOD PICKUPS: SINGLE HUMBUCKER BRIDGE: FIXED TUNERS: OPEN CASE INCLUDED: N/A MADE IN: INDONESIA

APRIL 2014 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / PG. 43

DEAN EDGE 1-5 BASS

RRP: $499.00

YAMAHA TRBX174 BASS

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS (NAS) GUITAR TYPE: 5 STRING BASS

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

RECOMMENDED FOR: The bass player who wants to take his or her tone lower than normal should take a look at the Edge 1-5 bass. It offers a classic design with a darker edge that will appeal to both fans of Dean Guitars and bass playing purists as well.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners and intermediate players or part timers that want a good playing bass for not a lot of cash.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Although sitting at the entry level end of Yamaha’s bass range the TRBX174 still has a solid range of tones on tap. With its P/J pickup setup you can dial in clear, big neck pickup tones when you need to fill out your sound or more bridge for a little extra zing if brighter and edgy is your thing. Classics to modern, slap, funk, pick and a whole lot more!

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: With pickups that have some real grunt to them, you can make a statement with your bass sound with the Edge 1-5. It delivers a high output tone that still has plenty of life when you pull out the higher frequencies to get extra power.

PLAYABILITY: I loved the feel of the neck on this instrument. Even though it seemed fairly wide at first, the flat contour makes it easy to play and really has you feeling like you are playing a four-string rather than a five-string neck.

PLAYABILITY: At this price point and general intended audience you don’t want to be fighting your instrument– and Yamaha have put together an easy playing neck, simple to understand and operate controls and a light weighted body that will withstand plenty of abuse.

CONSTRUCTION: It is all pretty simple with the Edge 1-5. The bolt on neck has a smooth gloss surface that feels great and the bridge is solid without adding unnecessary weight to the end of the body. It’s simple and understated, yet it just works.

OVERALL: With a neck that is wide enough to still play slap bass on, this 5-string bass offers a wide range of possibilities and still feels great to play.

It isn’t fancy to look at. It is just black. I like that. It delivers in tone and feel and doesn’t try to compensate for any lacking with fancy looks.

CONSTRUCTION: Tough with all the right appointments. Solid bridge, accurate vintage styled tuners, an option of 3 different colours and a bass that’s fine to take to school for lessons, chuck in the car for rehearsals, record, jam and practice til the cows come home.

SPECS NECK: BOLT-ON MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: BASSWOOD PICKUPS: DMT DESIGN BRIDGE: DIE CAST TUNERS: SEALED DIE CAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: CHINA

YAMAHA TRBX504 BASS

RRP: $899.99

OVERALL: Yamaha sell a tonne of these and it’s easy to see why. The perfect beginner instrument backed by Yamaha’s know how brand name. Super competitive at this price, check out the TRBX174 if you’re in the market for a entry level bass.

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, pop, metal, progressive. Players wanting a quality instrument from a well known brand name on a smaller budget.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great all-rounder that will suit a variety of bass players from beginners to advanced.

While it works well as a rock bass, it can easily be used for jazzier works as well.

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Some classic rounder type tones through to sharper slightly aggressive tones when winding in the bridge pickup. Yamaha have added the ability to switch between active and passive mode with the TRBX504’s H5 pickups so you can also dial in extra ‘oomph’ if needed. Either way the TRBX504 is flexible and can pull a range of tones quite easily.

NECK: MAPLE FRETBOARD: SONOKELING BODY: AGATHIS/MAPLE/MAHOGANY PICKUPS: SINGLE COIL AND SPLIT BRIDGE: VINTAGE TUNERS: COVERED CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA

RRP: $599.99

SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The dual humbucking pickups and selector switch that is reminiscent of the previous TRB range offer a variety of tones that are all very usable. With a gritty rock punch when driven hard, to a mellow blues tone when wound back, there is something for everyone in here.

PLAYABILITY: Like the previous RBX374 this is a bass that feel like it is above the actual price range that it sits in. The ergonomic body is easy to work around and the smooth neck just glides through my left hand. With a well-spaced nut, there is plenty of scope for this to be played as a slap bass too.

PLAYABILITY: Super slim neck on this baby means getting around the fretboard shouldn’t be an issue. The body is also nicely weighted and the curved edges allow you to nestle in comfortably. Great for younger players or those with small hands.

CONSTRUCTION: Typical Yamaha goodness here–clean and slick with some nice touches. The translucent finish looks great with its almost matte appearance and the top sided fret markers give a fresh modern look to the instrument.

PG. 44 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / APRIL 2014

SPECS

YAMAHA TRBX304 BASS

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS

OVERALL: Tough to beat at the price the TRBX504 is another welcome addition to Yamaha’s existing bass line-up. Players on a budget, beginners, intermediate, bedroom bashers or gigging folk could all rustle some sweet tones from the TRBX504 and do so without spending their life savings. Also suited to those modern, techy type players that love to whip around the neck and dial in a range of active and passive tones on the fly.

RRP: $349.99

SPECS

CONSTRUCTION: Being a combination of both the TRB and RBX models, this bass draws a little from both in the body and the neck. It is finished very nicely, it has a great balance to the weight and it feels like it is going to take just about anything you can throw at it, making it ideal for stage use.

NECK: 5-PIECE MAPLE/MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAHOGANY PICKUPS: ALNICO V HUMBUCKERS WITH QUAD POLE-PIECE DESIGN AND ACTIVE/PASSIVE SWITCH BRIDGE: DIECAST TUNERS: DIECAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA

OVERALL: I have always enjoyed playing Yamaha basses and this one is no exception. As an entry level bass, you are getting so much more bang for your buck than with similar priced instruments.

Beyond that, the TBX304 is a bass that will carry on with you as you develop as a bass player and will not necessarily be replaced when you advance, but should stay in your collection for years to come.

SPECS NECK: 5-PIECE MAPLE/MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAHOGANY PICKUPS: CERAMIC HUMBUCKERS WITH OVERSIZE POLE PIECES BRIDGE: DIECAST TUNERS: DIECAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA