SECTOR SPOTLIGHT TRADITIONAL
Ozark 2255SD £695
The ‘f’ model 2255SD is a highly desirable instrument because of its aged finish and its older, more traditional appearance, as well as its powerful, smooth tone. A rosewood fingerboard, along with gold plated machines and a die- cast tailpiece add further to this valuable product.
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Barnes & Mullins BJ301 banjo £249
Recent additions include the BJ301 and BJ301T, which feature high quality geared machineheads, a maple fingerboard, Remo head and satin maple resonator. These five- string and tenor models are aimed at musicians looking for something a bit different from the norm.
GREMLIN 01903 203044 ARIA DISTRIBUTION 01483 238720 FENDER 01342 603733 ROLAND 01792 702701 OZARK (STENTOR) 01737 240226 EMD (STAGG) 01293 862612 RECORDING KING (WESTSIDE) 0141 248 4812 BARNES & MULLINS 01691 652449 VINTAGE (JHS) 0113 286 5381 LEE OSKAR (FCN MUSIC) 01892 603733 TANGLEWOOD 01937 841122
Tanglewood TMR £499.95
Recording King RM-998-D (Style O series) £429.99
Its bell brass construction delivers excellent sound projection and tone with its 9.5-inch hand-spun Continental cone, mahogany neck and hard maple bridge. This instrument has received acclaim from beginners all the way up to professionals.
The TMR resonator from Tanglewood is another quality instrument, with a maple biscuit bridge, mother of pearl veneer headstock, chrome die-cast machine heads and a nickel plate finish.
Stagg BJM30 4DL £216.91
The BJM30 4DL four-string bluegrass banjo is equipped with an all-cast metal alloy pot, an 11- inch Remo head, a resonator and neck binding made from Ivoroid cream and a maple and ebony bridge.
Lee Oskar harmonicas £29.95
The Major Diatonic is most commonly used for blues, rock, country, folk and jazz styles. For more traditional ethnic music genres, including Eastern European and Middle Eastern styles, there is the Harmonic Minor.
Vintage Laka ukeleles £99-£219
The Lakas are equipped with high quality Italian Aquila strings, which enhance the instruments’ performance and help produce a well-balanced sound. These electro-acoustic models are even fitted with Fishman Sonitone preamp systems, which are soundhole-mounted and nicely concealed.
One of these is the Style-O from
Recording King, which starts with a powder coated bell brass body and comes with Fishman Resophonic pickups. Recording King’s Tricone series, named after its three six-inch Continental cones is available in three engraved designs and a new champagne finish. An eq balance is created from the two cones on the base side and the third on the treble side, providing a sweet, warm sound. The Tricone also includes an ebony and maple saddle and a T-shaped bridge connected to the centre of each cone, which helps direct the vibrations towards the bridge from the saddle. The Professional resonator banjo combines pre-war traditional features with modern components, such as its floral peghead and inlay and Mastertone- style flange, for more experienced players. The Soloist has mostly the same features
46 miPRO OCTOBER 2010
as The Professional, but instead has a flamed maple resonator and figured neck, along with a glorious sunburst finish. Considering Barnes & Mullins’
founders based their business on the banjo back in 1895, it’s no surprise they have a grand selection in this category. A variety of tenor, five-string and six-string guitar banjos are available from the supplier, ranging from £169 to £320. B&M also distributes Brunswick mandolins, which specialises in primarily entry-level instruments. The BM500E is a sunburst-finished, arch-topped, flat- backed model with Shadow Electronics SH928 Nanomag pickups. The pickup bar moves and the controls are mounted with the pickguard assembly, making it virtually identical to a regular instrument. It is when the BM500E is amplified though that it really plays to its strengths. As well as being a major force in the
electric guitar market, Vintage also offers a variety of ukeleles, mandolins and banjos. The Laka uke range provides excellent tonal resonance and response as a result of their open pore satin finishes. The VFM300/400 and VMT400 mandolins feature oversize headstocks, solid spruce tops and maple back and sides, creating a collection of affordable instruments that also possess great tonal qualities. All of the above have adjustable rosewood bridges and gold plated open gear tuners with ‘crushed ice’ effect pearloid buttons. Vintage’s banjo series starts with the
£159 VOB12 open back G banjo and the range offers great response, tone, performance and value. The VGB26 six-string version is ideal
for bluegrass and at £349, the VUB50 ukelele banjo represents the top of the Vintage range.
Tanglewood’s TB18 four-string tenor banjo has a mahogany resonator, neck and rim, a chrome tension hoop and tailpiece and a maple bridge with rosewood tip. Then there’s the spruce topped TML VS mandolin and the Union series ukeleles, meaning there is more than acoustics on offer from this brand. One other instrument associated with
folk music is the harmonica. Lee Oskar is one of the leading brands here and The Major Diatonic is its bestseller. Replacement reedplates can also be purchased for all models for those serious about maintaining their instruments. The Mi-Si series of pickups and pre- amps is also available from the supplier FCN Music. These battery free accessories can provide eight hours of playing time with only one minute of charging time and include pickups for guitar, mandolins, violins and ukeleles.
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