Fusion 1 instrument bags
There seems to be a glut of instrument bags on the market at the moment and the Fusion brand certainly stands out from the rest of the pack, due very possibly to the fact that one of the company’s directors spent many years designing various products for the outdoor industry. With Fusion bags you can attach add-ons to the main unit as required and the add-ons themselves can also be used as separate smaller packing units. The trumpet case/rucksack looks as though it could have been built for a trek in the Himalayas, it’s that tough. Made from strong weatherproof nylon denier, it comes with three staggered, zippered face pockets, the front and rear pockets having hidden inner zippered pouch and pen pockets. The main zippered compartment is extremely well padded and lined in velvetine having a velcroed restraining strap holding the separate padded, velvetine lined zippered trumpet pouch. To the rear of the rucksack is a Flow-System mesh and lumbar pads together with an adjustable padded harness incorporating a zippered phone pocket. There is also an adjustable waist band with a quick release buckle and padded fins and two heavy duty rubberised handles to the top and side. The second smaller Fusion sack with its two zippered face pockets and padded main compartment rides pillion by means of nylon composite eyes and heavy, plasticised velcro straps. A very well designed product.
For more go to www.fusion-bags.com

Rico Reserve Classic clarinet reeds
The Reserve Classic reeds have been developed using revolutionary 3-D reed-modelling software using a special cane treatment process to help dramatically reduce reed warping. They differ from the original Reserve reeds in that they feature an increased warmth of sound and a lightened articulation by way of a newly designed tip radius. Players can therefore fine tune their exact strength, with specially measured hard to find strengths including 3.5 plus and 4.0 plus. Each reed is precisely cut on the company’s state-of-the-art reed manufacturing machines while special diamond cutters ensure unparalleled precision and consistency from reed to reed. The Reserve Classics are made exclusively from lower-internode cane, a technique pioneered by Rico.
Go to www.bandm.co.uk

DPA 4099 sax / guitar / trumpet microphone
The Danish company DPA has been at the forefront of microphone technology for some time, refining its studio range for the optimum response levels to capture every nuance of the acoustic environment. This advanced technology has now been incorporated into their range of mini “clip-on” pre-polarised condenser microphones that feature supercardioid polar patterns for superior gain before feedback. The mounting system has been designed to give the best possible audio reinforcement and stability in live performance.

Jazzwise road tested both the STC and GC 4099s and they are both featherweight and remarkably easy to handle. The fully adjustable goose neck is sturdy enough to stand up to plenty of repositioning and the whole system fits securely to either the bell of the sax or the rim of the guitar. Microphone direction and distance is paramount and we found that a change of position could alter the sonic characteristics quite dramatically. But the quality of the microphone is nothing short of exceptional, capturing the instrument’s full range and all of the subtle inflections of sound.
For more go to www.dpamicrophones.com

LeBlanc Bliss clarinet
Coming with a distinctive modernistic preformed bell, there are no metal joints to the body of this clarinet. But there is a fitted rubber seal on the thumb rest so you don’t have to go out and buy one. The standard keywork is nicely finished and well sprung and feels very solid with a positive action and there’s a nice light action through the throat register and both the intonation and articulation are excellent. Sonically, the dynamic range of this instrument is nothing less than remarkable, particularly in the upper register. Low notes are also very good allowing the player to perform with complete confidence. The instrument has a warm tone and would be equally at home in either a jazz group or chamber orchestra. Packed into what is fast becoming the musician’s standard instrument case, now a rucksack, with three zippered compartments, one of which has a heavy duty key clasp and phone pocket, while the main compartment has the usual preformed velvetine lined base and top for the instrument parts. There is also a top grab handle and a basic lightly padded back harness. This instrument could well become a benchmark for the future.
For more go to www.vincentbach-ltd.co.uk