Epiphone ES135

The stunning blueburst of this Limited Edition, Korean Custom Built ES 135 neatly reflects the instrument’s characteristics and credentials. The semi-acoustic slimline body with its Venetian cutaway and 3-ply plastic pick guard, has a laminated maple top and solid mahogany back and sides and offers just enough air space to open up the texture and timbre of the sound. And this 135 does have excellent acoustic properties even before you plug it in, with a tonality that is round and full bodied with good overall balance.

The bound rosewood fingerboard is set on a shallow ‘U’ maple neck and comes with 22 jumbo frets – with surprisingly little “pink” from the 18th to the 22nd. The head is standard swept Epiphone and holds the six chrome plated Grover machine heads. While down at the other end, the tailpiece is a simple double arm trapeze, which looks as though it could have been lifted straight out of the Gibson factory.

Adjustable tunematic bridges are standard fare on this type of guitar, and here the “house” Epiphone tunematic doesn’t disappoint. It is certainly built to a higher spec than those found on most guitars in this price bracket with no audible rattling or buzzing. The two Humbucking pick ups are “designed by Epiphone in the USA” and have alnico classic magnets, are double vacuum waxed and have enamel wire and give plenty of bite and punch. The 3-way switch on the top bout provides the usual rhythm combination and lead options. I was, however, a little disappointed with the tone pots, which we felt needed a broader dynamic range to both match the undoubted power of the pick ups and give the bridge pick up more of an edge. Overall though, this is an exceptionally fine and well finished instrument that plays like a dream.

Rosetti Series 7 -Rose Brass Trumpet

This Series 7 Trumpet is an elegant piece of kit and comes with a semi-soft moulded zippered case, with a useful zippered exterior pouch, top and side “grab” handles and shoulder strap. Made for the student and semi-pro markets, it is supplied with a standard 7 mouthpiece and has a Rose Brass lead pipe and bell which gives the instrument a smoother and darker overall delivery than it’s lacquer and silver plated sisters. That said, the Rose Brass has a bright tone and is very responsive, particularly at the bottom end where there is plenty of body. The top end is a little harder to drive, but we still reached top C with ease. Handling is excellent with a good balance, and while the instrument is light, it has a solid, substantial feel which is further enhanced by the quality valve block and the Z bracing. I am not entirely sure about the aesthetic mix of brass, silver brass and rose brass on the instrument – or the "squared off" main front crook, but that’s purely personal. This Rose Brass Series 7 certainly has the potential to deliver, and with a 3 mouthpiece you can get really mellow.

Roland FP4 Digital Piano

The FP4 is one of two new additions to Roland’s digital piano line (the other being the FP7). The FP4 is not only more streamlined that it’s bigger brother but is also much more affordable, making it the perfect choice for music students who need a great sounding, great feeling digital piano, but who don’t require the many features of the larger FP7. The new FP4 comes with a full 88 keys which includes the PHA alpha 11, a new compact version of the Progressive Hammer Action 11 keyboard technology found in the FP7. With a 128 voice polyphony and hundreds of new sounds, an easy to read onboard LED screen, a headphone jack and built in speakers, the FP4 is well worth checking out.