June 2013: Top Picks From the Latest Releases

For the past couple of months, the music industry has been inundated with an outstanding array of gear.   We have chosen 10 of these products as our 'top picks.'  If you want to know why we picked them and what makes these releases truly unique and innovative, then keep on reading.

(In no particular order)
 

1. Roland V-Combo VR 09 Keyboard

 Why it rocks:

• Professional keyboard with instant-access operation for performing musicians
• Light and mobile; battery or AC power
• Pro-quality acoustic and electric pianos, including grand piano with 88-note stereo multi-sampling
• SuperNATURAL-powered Virtual Tone Wheel organ with nine harmonic bars, plus newly developed transistor-type ‘60s organ tone
• Wide range of synth tones, from vintage classics to modern essentials

2. Fender Japan FSR Strat and Bass

Why the Strat Rocks:

• Alder Body
• One Piece Maple C Neck
• Japan ST Single "Vintage" Pickups
• Only 252 available in North America

Why the Bass Rocks: 

• Alder Body
• Vintage Size Frets
• Japan "JG" Vintage Pickups
• Original Wiring
• Only 90 Available For All of North America  

3.  TC-Helicon Harmony Singer

 Why It Rocks:

• All-in-one, compact pedal featuring Vocal Harmony, Tone and Reverb
• Up to two harmony voices guided automatically by the guitar via the In/Thru connection
• Adaptive Tone “sweetens” overall vocal quality
• 3 high-quality Reverb styles with adjustable level

4.  Yamaha DGX650 Keyboard

Why It Rocks: 

• CF Sampling for pure concert grand piano tone
• Big box speakers for powerful and dynamic sound
• Smart Chord function automatically detects the appropriate chord
• Easy-to-read score and lyric display
• USB and Aux-In Ports

 5.  Fender Classic Series With High Gloss Nitro Lacquer

Why It Rocks:

• Features: '60s Strat; '50s Strat; '60s Jazz Bass; '50s Tele; '50s Precision Bass
• Coated with Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Vintage Style Pickups
• Era Specific Neck Profiles, Fingerboard Radii and Fret Sizes
• Authentically styled tuners, controls and other specific features of '50s and '60s

6.  Yamaha DTX-502 Electronic Drums

Why It Rocks:

• Similar kit configurations to their proven DTX500 series 
• Improved sound quality, expressive playability and user-friendly functionality
• Textured cellular silicone snare head 
• All-new TP70 tom pads

7.  Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite Electric Guitar Ebony

Why It Rocks:

• Thinline, weight-relieved version of the classic Les Paul Custom
• Thinner, lighter body is incredibly comfortable to play over long gigs
• 490R and 498T humbucking pickups serve up classic LP tone
• Coil-split switch lets you access single-coil tones too
• Quartersawn mahogany neck is more rigid than plain-sawn necks, for more sustain and durability
• Bound rosewood fretboard feels and plays smooth
• Chunkier '50s-style neck profile satisfies Les Paul purists 

 8.  Roland FR-8X V-Accordions

Why It Rocks:

• Flagship V-Accordion, filled with many enhancements requested by pro accordionists
• Newly developed Dynamic Bellows Behavior technology emulates the true bellows response of an acoustic accordion in every register
• Simple and convenient onboard battery charging with an AC adapter
• A large selection of accordion sounds from around the world, plus 180 orchestra and percussion sounds and world-class Virtual Tone Wheel organs
• Four powerful multi-effects engines (MFX), with dedicated MFX for Accordion, Orchestra 1, Orchestra 2, and Orchestra Chord sections
• Available in Black and Red Finishes; also in Piano and Button Type

9.  TC Electronic Ditto Looper

Why It Rocks:

• The guitar player's looper - made for guitarists by guitarists 
• Dirt simple looping - and nothing but looping 
• True bypass and Analog-Dry-Through  5 minutes of looping 
• Undo / Redo function 
• Unlimited overdubs  
• 24 bit uncompressed high qualityaudio
• Ultra-small footprint

 10.  Electro-Voice ZLX Passive Loudspeaker

Why It Rocks:

• 15" woofer for extended low-frequency response and 1.5" high-frequency titanium compression driver
• 44 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range
• 250 W continuous and 1000 W peak power handling
• 96 dB SPL sensitivity; 126 dB max SPL

 Bonus Feature: Deal of the Day!

L.A. Music has recently introduced a new 'Deal of the Day' program.  Check back often for your chance to get a discount on amazing products.

 

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Brand Overview: Pearl Drums

If you want to take the right stride as a drummer, then Pearl is the company to help you.  Renowned drummers such as: Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Chris Slade (AC/DC) and Eric Singer (KISS) all use Pearl kits.  To get you to their level, we thought it would be imperative to get to know what makes Pearl the 'best reason to play drums.'  On that sentiment, we have created an in-depth Brand Overview for you!

A Little Bit of History ...

Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa in Tokya, on April 2 1946.  By 1953, Pearl was officially established as 'Pearl Musical Instrument Company' and began manufacturing drums and percussion that includes: drum kits, marching drums, Latin percussion instruments, cymbals, stands, and accessories.  Pearl initially made shells for other companies, but eventually in the 1960s started manufacturing under their own logo. An interesting fact, Pearl released their first professional level kit called the 'President Series' in 1966 and thus began a legacy of innovation in the music-making industry.

Drum Sets

Masterworks - Completely custom made; every drum is designed by the customer and built to perfection.
Reference Pure and Reference - The mission behind Reference Series: To create a perfect sounding drum set where every drum is optimally engineered to produce the best sound possible within its respective tonal range.  Reference delivers maximum projection for live performances while the Reference Pure is optimized to crate the most resonant professional series, perfect for recording.
What makes Reference Pure and Reference Different?  Reference Pure consists of Thin Ply Shells, STL Lugs and FatTone Hoops.  Reference consists of Regular Ply Shells, BRL Lugs and MasterCast Hoops.
Masters MCX  - Masters MCX are adorned with MasterCast Hoops, the finest die cast hoops available, and feature the perfect blend of thickness and mass to improve the depth, clarity and focus of the drums.

Pearl MCX924XSPC  Quilted Bubinga Sunburst

The Session Studio Classic follows the original Session “recipe” with blended Birch and Kapur shells, recreating the classic “Session sound” of strong attack and projection with outstanding lows and punch that you can feel.
Vision - Vision Birch Laquer (VBL)  is Pearl's most affordable 100% Birch drum set. Vision Birch Artisan II is based on the original Vision formula and features blended Birch ply shells. Vision Birch has a unique shell combination gives projection to the low end while equally matching the high frequencies produced by smaller drums.

Pearl Vision Birch Artisan VBA825 Amber Burst Eucalypstus

Export - Let’s face it, most entry-level drum sets are plain vanilla with no regard to sound. But not Export. Taking its cue from Pearl’s award-winning Reference Series, the new Export puts sound first by blending premium Poplar and rich Asian Mahogany for an incredibly lush and full-bodied tone.
Rhythm Traveler  - Easy to transport and easy to practice, this kit is a gigging and practice kit in one.

Electronic E-Pro Live offers the limitless sonic capability and realistic feel of electronic drums on a drumset built with real drum shells, real brass cymbals, and real drumset hardware.

Pearl's Unique Construction Technique: Superior Shell Technology

1. Begins with hand selected woods, chosen for their acoustic resonance capabilities
2. Wood is then milled to precise thickness with overlapping scarf joint seams for a perfect air-tight fit and strength.
3. The wood plies are then saturated with Pearl’s proprietary “AcoustiGlue.”
4. While in the press, it is heated so that the glue is brought to a boil forcing the shells to fuse very closely.

Here is a video to further explain SST:

The Importance of Shell Wood on Sound

Maple

Maple is an excellent choice for general purpose applications due to its smooth, warm, well rounded tone, with equal amounts of hi-end attack and mid-range body and an excellent low-end punch.

Birch

Birch is known for its "naturally EQ'ed sound" that offers slightly boosted hi-end frequencies, a smooth, mellow mid-range and a deep low-end presence and is a great choice for any applications that require extra presence and cut. 

African Mahogany

 

African Mahogany is extremely rich in low-end frequencies, with beautifully smooth mids and a slight roll-off in the higher register. Drums made from African Mahogany have warmth and body that sets them apart from all others. Without question, if your main requirements are "bottom" and punch, African Mahogany should be your wood of choice. 

Pearl Hardware

Pearl offers hardware that consists of: boom stands, straight stands, hi-hat stands, snare stands, drum racks and pedals.

 Here is a quick overview on one of their best selling hardware: the Demonator Pedal.

The Demonator is a single-chain drive pedal, equipped with a Demon Style Powershifter long-footboard, an interchangable cam and infinitely adjustable beater angle, allowing you to customise to your desired feel and power. The pedal also comes equipped with Pearl's Click-Lock spring tension keeper and Control Core Beater. 

Famous Pearl Endorsees

Chad Smith - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Tico Torres - Bon Jovi

Ian Paice - Deep Purple

Mike Cartellone - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Mike Mangini - Dream Theatre

Tommy Lee - Motley Crue

Eric Singer - KISS

Chris Slade - AC/DC

Mike Mangini of Dream Theatre

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Yamaha Premiers New DTX-502

Yamaha premiered its revamped DTX-502 electronic drums at Musikmesse, in Frankfurt, Germany. Based on the DTX-PAD, the kits feature including newly designed tom pads, a lighter-weight steel rack and a new drum trigger module.

With almost twice the wave ROM and more than 250 additional sounds than the previous model, the new DTX502 drum trigger module is the first to incorporate drum and cymbal samples that have been optimized for DTX by Yamaha?s sound engineers. The system lets users import audio samples and MIDI files for further expandability.


During the development phase, Yamaha created laser technology to analyze drum strokes and precisely tune the trigger settings, so that the playing experience on each of these sets provides “a more natural feel.” It also includes advanced features such as cymbal muting, natural swells and smoother snare drum rolls.
?Most of the changes to the new DTX502 series can?t be seen but they can be heard and felt,? said Athan Billias, Director of Marketing, Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division.

The new DTX502 module has a streamlined front panel layout, and features plug-and-play USB connectivity for easy “interfacing” with a computer. The newly-designed DTX502 can be easily mounted to acoustic drum hardware using a standard multi-clamp for use in a hybrid acoustic-electronic drum set.
The DTX502 series also includes new training and educational functions, and practice routines for drummers to improve their playing.

The DTX522K, the most affordable model in the series, includes the three-zone XP80 8″ DTX-PAD snare and three newly designed TP70 7.5″ tom pads. The new TP70 pad is softer and quieter, yet more expressive, than the previous model. This kit, which comes with three-zone, choke-able ride and crash cymbals, is the first electronic drum kit ever to feature a three-zone hi-hat pad.

The next kit in the lineup, the DTX532K, uses the same drum pads and rack system as the DTX522K but features an upgraded hi-hat and two large PCY135 13″ three-zone choke-able cymbal pads. The RHH135 vertical motion hi-hat pad, which mounts to the included Yamaha HS650A hi-hat stand, provides a setup that more closely matches an acoustic kit.

The top model in this series is the new DTX562K, which includes the large cymbals and real hi-hat pad, upgrades the toms to an all-DTX-PAD configuration with three XP70 7″ pads.

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New from NAMM 2013: Roland Drum Releases

Roland TD-4KP Portable V-Drum

Featuring a small footprint and an innovative folding design for fast breakdown and easy transport/storage, the TD-4KP V-Drums Portable is the ultimate e-kit for mobile drumming and small spaces. The powerful TD-4 sound module is equipped with a wide range of expressive, editable sounds and essential practice features, while the integrated pads provide a satisfying feel and natural playability. Perfect for small venues, rehearsals, lesson studios, bedrooms, apartments, and more, the TD-4KP combines V-Drums performance and features with impressive mobility and stow-away convenience.

- Renowned V-Drums sound and quality in an ultra-portable mobile kit
- Innovative folding design for quick, compact breakdown and easy transport/storage
- Includes TD-4 Percussion Sound Module, loaded with expressive sounds, Coach and Quick Record/Play functions, and more
- Eight pads total: kick, snare, toms x3, hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals; FD-8 Hi-Hat Controller included
- Snare and tom pads feature cushioned-rubber surfaces for natural playing feel
- Options: custom carrying case (CB-TDP); mesh-head snare pad (PDX-6/-8); pad mount (MDH-12); drum accessory package (DAP-3X); drum mat (TDM series)

Roland BT-1 Bar Trigger Pad

The compact and affordable BT-1 Bar Trigger Pad makes it easy to add electronic triggering to any drum kit. With a curved shape that mounts on the side of a V-Drums V-Pad or acoustic drum, it provides convenient playing access without disturbing your existing kit layout. The BT-1 is great not only for playing sounds in a V-Drums module or SPD-series percussion pad, but also for convenient control of a variety of functions like start/stop of backing songs and phrase loops, and much more.

• Compact and reliable single-trigger pad
• Curved shape for mounting on a V-Pad or acoustic drum
• Quick and easy mounting through a drum tension rod; attachment parts for standard rod-type mounts included
• Internal design eliminates false triggering while playing surrounding drums and/or pads
• Use with a V-Drums module or SPD-series percussion pad to trigger sounds and control functions such as start/stop of backing songs and phrase loops, effects on/off, kit selection, tap tempo, and more
• Great way to add electronic triggering to any acoustic kit or additional triggering to a V-Drums set

Additional Triggering for V-Drums Kits

If you’re a V-Drums player, the compact BT-1 makes it simple to incorporate additional triggers without having to add more pads. This gives you access to additional sounds, as well as convenient control of an enormous range of performance features in your V-Drums module or an SPD-series percussion pad. And with its small size, it’s easy to add additional BT-1s as needed to continuously expand the expressive power of your Roland percussion rig.

Easily Incorporate Electronics with Acoustic Drums

The BT-1 is an easy and affordable way to integrate electronics with your acoustic kit. Unlike large round pads and inconvenient foot switches, the BT-1 blends seamlessly with your kit without adjusting your setup or playing style. Simply plug the BT-1 into a trigger input on a V-Drums module or SPD-series percussion pad and enjoy a universe of new possibilities that Roland electronic percussion brings.

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