April 2008 Jazz Instrument Update
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Peerless Monarch KA guitarThe Peerless brand has been going from strength to strength since its instruments came on to the UK market just over a year ago. The Monarch, which is just one of the models in the jazz range, is a full 17-inch single cutaway and comes in all solid tonewoods with a rosewood fretboard, tailpiece and pick guard plus quality Grover machine heads. Originally available with just the standard Peerless floating pick up, it can now be purchased with a mellow voiced Kent Armstrong unit, hence the KA, which adds a whole new dimension to the dynamics of the instrument.
The Kent Armstrong pickup is a far more sensitive unit than the generic Peerless model and seems to find all the subtle characteristics of the big 17-inch sound chamber. The Monarch always delivered a meaty full sound, with plenty of punch, separation and clarity. However, with the addition of the Kent Armstrong set up there is now a defined edge and depth to the timbre as well as an added warmth and sonic spaciousness. Good quality and competitively priced. Go to www.peerlessguitars.co.uk
Eclipse LR trumpet
This feels just right the moment you pick it up. It’s light, yet solid, feels comfortable in the hands, is perfectly balanced and it’s compact. Uniquely, Eclipse horns have their tuning slide to the back of the instrument before the pipe enters the bell, so that the front end of the instrument is a clear unbroken tube. Eclipse claims that this free flow of air in the tube before it reaches the valves gives the instrument a better overall response. Putting in a mouthpiece makes this immediately apparent. Crucially, there is an immediate response and, yes, is it forgiving. Short travel valves make the model quick and one that offers good resistance, while the tuning is tight with a good vacuum.
The 460ml bore probably adds to the amazing amount of depth and presence in the sound with plenty of power and clarity and “the bottom” really speaks while top is very clear and clean. The LR can be coaxed into producing a beautifully focused, smooth and silky sound but don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a one trick pony, because this baby can also really chuck it out and will kick like a mule if you ask it to! This is a horn that clearly achieves what it sets out to do. You think we like it? Damn right. Go to www.eclipse.com
Squier Fretless Jazz Bass
New from the Squier stable, this fretless jazz bass is effectively a copy of the Jaco model and while it’s a budget model from the Fender stable, it plays like a dream. I was initially put off by the Ebonol composite fingerboard with its ivoroid “cast-in” fret markers, but after playing it for a while the smoothness of the surface can be appreciated and the comfortable fingertip feel. The neck is a jazz-designed standard – slim, nicely shaped and very well set up, while both the bridge and the machine heads are standard Fender style and are typically well engineered.
Non-active, it comes with two Duncan-designed single pole pick ups, two volume knobs and a tone control that is a treble cut rather than a base boost. The pick ups are well balanced, but the clean sound is a little on the boxy side. The best setting I achieved without any EQ-ing was to have both pick ups on full, with no filtering. Bring the EQ into play, and cut the treble to produce less “box” and more bass. If you are looking for a back-up bass, then this fretless might be just right. Go to www.squierguitars.com