Canadian Musician - March / April 2020 | Page 70

HOT GEAR Yamaha SLB300SK Silent Bass Yamaha has introduced the SLB300SK Silent Bass, the next generation of electric upright basses that allow the performer to control their sound from the instrument itself with the press of a button. Yamaha’s Studio Response Technology (SRT) now allows the SLB300SK to model an acoustic bass played through different high-end acoustic microphones, ranging from the clear, crisp sound of a dynamic microphone to the well- balanced rich timbre and warm low-frequency emphasis of classic and vintage vacuum-tube microphones. SRT provides performers with control of their sound directly from the instrument. The SLB300SK can also be broken down into an easily-transportable “subway friendly” instrument that can be packed into a TSA case without fear of being damaged en route. It also allows the player to take their acoustic sound to places where they may have feared to bring an expensive, classic acoustic instrument, such as an outdoor gig on a hot humid day. For more information, contact Yamaha Canada Music: 416-298-1311, www.ca.yamaha.com. Eventide Spring Reverb Plug-In Eventide has released the Spring reverb plug-in, which models the sound and character of popular spring reverbs found in guitar amplifiers, popularized by surf, garage, and rockabilly music. Spring takes this a step further by allowing manipulation of physical parameters not normally available in a real spring tank. The results vary from faithful recreations of real springs to distinctive new sounds that push the physical boundaries of reverb. Spring contains two different sized “spring tanks” along with the ability to morph between one and three springs. Program the ribbon to transition between any two settings in real time. The added tube-amp-style tremolo can be routed before or after the spring, resulting in the ability to craft a custom reverb sound. The intensity can be altered by changing the tremolo depth and adjusting the tremolo rate in Hz or note value when tempo-sync’d to the project. Spring also has controls to independently manipulate the damping frequency for both the low and high end. For more information, contact Eventide: 201-641-1200, [email protected], www.eventide.com. D’Angelico Excel Mini DC Guitar D’Angelico has introduced the Excel Mini DC, which is a 14-in.-wide double cutaway semi-hollow guitar with a punchy vintage tone and enhanced comfort. The Mini DC’s combination of an undersized body, com- pact headstock, and slim C-shape neck is meant to create a lightweight design ideal for players who want full control over their instrument. Strapped with Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers and coil-splitting push/pull tone knobs, the Excel Mini DC offers a variety of tones. The ebony finger- board has a bright edge for greater articulation and smooth sustain, and the fingerboard is paired with a 14-in. radius and medium-jumbo fretwire from Jescar. The Mini DC is available in black, trans cherry, and vintage natural. For more information, contact Audio Distributors Inter- national: 450-449-8177, [email protected], www.adimi.ca. 70 CANADIAN MUSICIAN