 |
|
The UK's Biggest Selling Jazz Magazine 
|
| May 2006 Jazz Instrument Update |
| Tuesday, 13 February 2007 11:54 | |||||||
|
BJH guitars BJH 6 & 7 It’s no longer a secret: we have some of the very best luthiers in the world sitting right here on our own doorstep. BJH guitars like many are a "one man band," and they are fast becoming recognised as one of the leading archtop manufacturers, with a range of six and seven string instruments. Hand built, the 17" model, with a selected spruce top and maple back and sides, together with a 21-fret ebony fingerboard, bridge and tailpiece has a response and resonance that is truly remarkable. There is also a choice of single floating or fixed Kent Armstrong custom pickups which are well matched to the acoustic qualities of the instrument and deliver a deliciously smooth jazz vibe. Needless to say, these instruments don’t come cheap. But then again – neither does a Rolls-Royce  Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz Series The Catalina Club series has been around for a while now, but this four piece jazz shell pack is a more than welcomed addition. It has been designed for the player looking for quality features in a four piece jazz configuration, but at a price that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Taking advantage of the warmth of the mahogany shells, the pack comes with an 8”x12” mounted tom, a 14”x14” floor tom, a 5”x14” eight lug snare drum and a 14”x18” bass drum. The bass drum hoops are inlayed, while the lugs are of the mini Gretsch variety, with mini Gretsch GTS suspension systems used throughout. With Silver Sparkle and White Pearl finishes, it’s not just the sound that’s going to stand out in the crowd Cranes Bb Tenor Saxophone There’s a lot of competition out there at the budget end of the sax market, and to survive these days, you’ve got to have an excellent product. This Bb Tenor from Cranes is not quite a revolution, but it’s certainly a revelation. Made like many in Vietnam, it offers incredible value for money. The pads give a clear "pop" rather than a dull thud, and the rocking table keys have an easy action and are well balanced. Like most of the current crop of horns coming out of the Far East factories, it is also fitted with that high F sharp key to facilitate an easier access to the higher register. It comes in gold lacquer finish and blows like a dream, but you’ll undoubtedly want to upgrade the generic mouthpiece to something a little more ‘playable’. Elkhart baritone horn If you’re looking for a truly deep soul sound, then this horn might be just the ticket. Although it is aimed at the student market, this horn comes with some serious pro specs. The standard stainless steel coated valves have been upgraded to a more hard wearing variety, and the usual student entry level mouthpiece has been replaced as standard with a Denis Wick 6BS. This together with a 13.5mm bore makes for a free blowing instrument further enhanced by the 240mm bell for that extra rich, warm and full sound. With a lacquer finish, the baritone certainly looks the business, and with a substantial preformed ABS case, shouldn’t meet with any accidents in transit. Ibanez Artcore AF105 custom If you haven’t got the pennies to splash out on a hand built job, you could do worse than to pick up one of these amazingly high end jazz boxes for just a fifth of the price! The AF 105 is la crême de la crême of Ibanez’s highly successful Artcore budget range. With a full flamed Maple body and the famed Artcore maple\bubinga neck with rosewood fretboard and small frets, this handsome instrument not only plays like a dream, but also projects a well balanced, rich, deep sound. This is further enhanced by the two 58 custom pick ups, which are the same as those fitted to Ibanez’s GB200 BST George Benson model. David Gallant
Only registered users can write comments!
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
|
|||||||
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 March 2007 13:48 |
news
features
features
features
reviews
UK Jazz Venues
Pizza Express Jazz Club London (1871)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Jazzwise magazine - digital edition
Jazzwise Branded App
Live Twitter Feed
2012 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jazzwise Intern Opportunities
Jazzwise E-newsletter
instrument guide
recommended jazz gigs
See all the UK's hottest jazz gigs here
Abram Wilson, featuring Jason Marsalis and Myrna Hague A New Orleans Christmas Kings Place Friday 17th December 2011
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November
related items
Roy Babbington - Bass
Andy Sheppard - Movements in Colour ****
Grover Washington Jr - Feels So Good ***
Branford Marsalis - Changing Man
Kenny Wheeler Quintet - East Side Jazz Club, London, 03/03/09
March 2009 Jazz Instrument News
Mark Fletcher - Drums
Ravi Coltrane - Gold Blend
Gareth Williams - Feel the Force
Django d’Or Festival - Various Venues, Paris, France 21/01/2009
Andy Sheppard - Movements in Colour ****
Grover Washington Jr - Feels So Good ***
Branford Marsalis - Changing Man
Kenny Wheeler Quintet - East Side Jazz Club, London, 03/03/09
March 2009 Jazz Instrument News
Mark Fletcher - Drums
Ravi Coltrane - Gold Blend
Gareth Williams - Feel the Force
Django d’Or Festival - Various Venues, Paris, France 21/01/2009