New Vox AV Series Amps

Vox Amplification announced today the release of a fantastic new range of combo amps - the AV Series.
There are three models - AV15, AV30 and AV60 - all of which have valve pre-amps and the 30 and 60 have valve outputs.
There is no digital modelling! But there are eight switchable peripheral passive circuits designed to produce a variety of amplifier characteristics based on a range of well-know valve amp designs. A further four switchable modes modify the response characteristics of the valve circuits.
And, they look very cool indeed! They should be in stock in February at great prices.

Vox AV60 @ Hollywood Music
Vox AV30 @ Hollywood Music
Vox AV15 @ Hollywood Music

Here's what Vox say:

• Eight analog preamp circuits to reproduce the sounds of eight tube amps, from clean to high-gain, with careful attention paid to circuit design and selection of parts
• Pre- and power-amp sections use the 12AX7 dual triode tube, delivering real tube sound
• Four modes modify the response of the vacuum tube peripheral circuitry
• High-quality modulation, delay, and reverb effects are built-in
• The cabinet is constructed with an integrated baffle for efficient sound projection
• The speaker unit is mounted from the front, providing loud, clear, and spacious sound
• A proprietary bass-reflex structure delivers natural sound balance
• Power level control allows the volume to be adjusted while maintaining the tonal character
• Headphone out is equipped with a cabinet simulator for realistic sound & presence
• Send/return and speaker output are provided (AV30/60 only)
• Hi-fi spec AUX input allows an audio input source to be faithfully reproduced
• An optional footswitch can be used to switch channels (AV30/60 only) or effects
• Available in three models: a compact 15W model, or the two-channel 30W/60W models

Analog preamp circuits that provide eight distinct sounds
The preamp circuit that decisively determines the character of the sound uses a completely analog design, and is constructed with a huge number of carefully selected resistors and capacitors. It is actually equipped　with eight different analog preamp circuits. In other words, the AV series is able to accurately reproduce the sound of eight classic tube amps. In addition to the coveted AC30 top boost sound, it also covers a wide range of tones from clean to high-gain, including a sound that is reminiscent of the rare AC15 with EF86 tubes.

A 12AX7 is used for both the preamp and power amp
In order to deliver true tube sound, there must be vacuum tubes. The AV series features a circuit design with two triode tube circuits that utilizes the classic 12AX7. The AV30/60 use two 12AX7 tubes, one for the preamp and one for the power amp, delivering an even more dynamic sound. The internally supplied voltage is 60V; this high voltage allows the potential of the vacuum tubes to be fully utilized, and lets you obtain natural and powerful distortion reminiscent of some of the most iconic tube amplifiers.

Four modes can modify the circuit response of the preamp and power amp tubes
Four slide switches allow you to modify the response of the vacuum tube peripheral circuitry. For the preamp tubes, there are two switches: BRIGHT boosts the high frequencies, and FAT boosts the low end. For the power tubes, you can change the operating point of the vacuum tubes by using the BIAS switch to select either a clear and modern sound or an easily distorting vintage sound, and the REACTOR switch lets you vary the amount of feedback to the power amp, changing the damping factor to obtain a more dynamic, wide-ranging, and crisp sound. These changes can be made instantly, allowing you to modify the amp’s response in. In spite of these obsessive specifications, sounds can be switched instantly, letting you enjoy a wide spectrum of variation.

High-quality effects
We have paid careful attention not only to the amp sound but also to the effect section. The AV series is equipped with three high-quality effects: modulation, delay, and reverb. Each can be selected independently, giving you the freedom to shape your sound accordingly.

Revolutionary cabinet structure that enhances the sound quality
The cabinet structure of the AV range has a major influence on the sound quality. The baffle and cabinet utilizes a one-piece construction, which allows for the vibration of the speaker to be supported by the entire cabinet, minimizing unwanted vibration and more efficiently emitting the sound. Front-mounting the speaker also achieves a louder and clearer sound that's less directional and more spacious. In addition, the bass reflex design maintains the low range while delivering a more natural sound balance. It goes without saying that this clever design is another significant advantage of the VOX AV series.

Breathing new life into conventional tube amp design
The AV series achieves functionality and expandability, both with a high degree of precision. The headphone amp features a version of the cabinet simulator used in products such as the amPlug series, with additional refinements that allow it to convey an even more detailed sense of airiness. Even when playing your guitar at home or at night, you can enjoy sound that overflows with realistic presence. The AUX input lets you connect an external audio source, and is equipped with a circuit that compensates for the response of the speaker and cabinet, allowing you to hear sound that's faithful to the original source. The AV30/60 provide additional expansion potential with send/return jacks for convenient connection of compact effect units, as well as an external speaker output. With these features, you'll be able to take full advantage of the AV series' capabilities in a wide range of situations.

November 2015 Newsletter

November Newsletter | Some really interesting stuff here!

We've got a reward card scheme starting today!

And here's the new Hendrix Strat expected in store soon.

Maybe there's a simple way of posting it as a blog article! Must check that our...

Tokai Love Rock Electric Guitars

Tokai have been making musical instruments in Japan since 1947! In the late 1970s, Tokai began  making copies of Gibson's Les Paul. They were so good that they were forced to stop using the Les Paul trade mark after lawsuits from Gibson.
Now we have the Love Rock guitars - they look a lot like Les Pauls, a lot - which are of excellent quality and have the feel and sound of earlier Gibson models. The craftsmanship is superb and the best quality materials are used throughout the guitars' construction.
Prices are also much lower than you might expect for such quality, about half the price of Amercan made guitars of equivalent quality. Tokai also have Chinese factories making excellent, lower-priced guitars. We think they are better than most other budget brands. The pickups are high output humbuckers, the neck profiles are more like the really expensive American guitars - particularly on the UES60 semi-acoustic - than that other, better-known brand.
So if you're after a top quality Les Paul-style guitar this Christmas, come and try our Tokais. Japanese models from £999 and Chinese from £359.

Support your local music shop!

We’re all instinctively quite lazy! For our ancestors, hunter-gatherers, the balance between energy expended catching something to eat and the energy gained from the lunch they just caught was a matter of survival.

So whenever we (humans) want or need something, we have a tendency to get it in the least energy-costly way. The INTERNET is a great example of how we approach getting the stuff we want as cheaply as we can with regard to energy expenditure.

Retailers with bricks-and-mortar shops have had a hard time competing with internet retailers because they are at a disadvantage when it comes to the effort their customers need to make in order to get the thing that they want.

Of course, we all know the advantages of buying in a shop – we get to see the thing, try it out, compare it to other things and have somewhere to take it back to if there’s a problem - especially important if the thing is a guitar!. But we still get lazy and buy gadgets and accessories on-line a lot of the time. This doesn’t help keep high street stores open for those occasions when we really wish we could get some advice and have a look at something before we buy it. We just can’t get the service level we expect from an on-line retailer, in spite of the rights we have to return goods. 

So remember that if you can get the thing you need locally, then you should go to your high street and buy it there. Help keep your local shops open, because when they’re gone, they’re gone!

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Kronos Sound Libraries

Korg have made a number of new sound libraries available for the Kronos. You can download them here: http://www.korg.com/us/news/2015/0826/

KAPro

KApro has just released five new EXs sample libraries for KRONOS. KApro has also updated the their EXs118 sample libraries. This update adds new programs and multi-samples. To update a previous installation, simply download the new EXs data and re-install as you would normally. Existing authorization codes will continue to be valid.

Sound of Planet

We are happy to announce the addition of a new sound developer - Sounds of Planet - to the KRONOS family with the release of three EXs libraries, three KRS professional sound libraries and one bundle package. 

Sounds of Planet started in 2012. The multi-instrumentalist founder and owner - Grzegorz Marciak – has been around for many years as both a producer and sound designer. They aim to create high quality unique sounds using cutting-edge sampling technologies and their KRONOS sound libraries are the fruits of these efforts. Another important area of their activities is the production of combinations for the KRONOS. You can find out more about the company here: www.soundsofplanet.com

KARO

KARO has developed a stunning number of well-received sound libraries for the KRONOS. Today, KARO is pleased to announce new pricing for their some titles.

Play Music, Start Young!

Learning a musical instrument is one of the most valuable experiences a young child can have.

Developing motor skills, concentration, learning the musical language, applied maths and science, teamwork, communication and social skills – all of these essential and transferable skills make up the wider musical curriculum.

Then there’s the sense of achievement and the positive reinforcement the child feels when they have mastered even the most basic piece of music, raising their self-esteem and motivating them to keep playing and attempting more difficult pieces. And, of course, there’s the joy and the positive emotional effect of the music itself.

It doesn’t matter what instrument a child plays, but it may take a while to settle on the right one for them! So be patient and don’t assume that music is a fad, it may be that they just haven’t found the instrument that suits and inspires them the most. They will know when they do, so encourage them to be honest if they don’t like the one they’re trying now, and to try something else.

Even if they give up eventually, their brief experience of playing will have helped them to develop many skills and thought processes that will serve them well in the future. Who knows, they may return to playing as a hobby in their teens or adulthood. Or, perhaps, stardom beckons!