Interesting new instruments
The LK100, a signature model created in collaboration between guitar legend Steve Lukather and the Music Man team, features specifications that the manufacturer claims are rare in its price range. These include a basswood body with a flame maple top, a roasted maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, locking tuners, and a vintage-style tremolo bridge. Marketed under the Sterling By Music Man brand, the guitar is equipped with specially designed humbucking pickups for the LK100 model, along with an active 12dB booster that can be engaged via a push function on the volume knob. The pickup selector is a five-way switch.
The guitar, which has been available for some time at a price of around 1050 euros, now features a new color option, Bohdi Blue, alongside the previous finishes of Purple Sparkle, Blueberry Burst, and Hazel Burst.
Read more: https://intl.sterlingbymusicman.com/products/luke?variant=
Cymbals from Finland
Sihi, a cymbal brand that emerged around the turn of the decade, is reportedly the world’s only Finnish cymbal brand. The design and marketing are based in Karjaa, while the manufacturing takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, where many consider the best cymbals are forged.
The collection’s dark and stylish names might suggest that Sihi cymbals are primarily designed for metal drummers. However, this isn’t the full story. For example, the “Kaski” series, known for its earthy feel, is suitable for nearly all genres of music, while the “Sysi” series, with its dark tone, is inspired by the legendary “Turkish K” cymbals. The “Kaaos” series shines in situations where the cymbals need to cut through even the heaviest guitar walls, and the “Ahjo” series honors the style of late 1960s and early 1970s rock’n’roll bands.
The “Hohto” series was developed in collaboration with Nightwish drummer Kai Hahto, and the unfinished, raw “Louhi” cymbals, especially their ride cymbals, offer a very dry sound.
The price range is wide and varied, much like the extensive Sihi collection, which includes dozens of cymbals.
Read more: https://www.sihicymbals.com/
Guitars from afar
Jet Guitars, a relatively new but already available brand on the global market, is now more widely available in Finland. The Chinese brand offers both guitars and basses, catering to a range of players from beginners to more advanced musicians, especially given its price point.
The manufacturer boasts that the affordable JS-300, priced in the low couple of hundred euros range, offers unprecedented features and build quality. The guitar features a roasted maple neck, which is particularly resistant to changes in humidity and also looks great. The three single-coil pickups deliver a genuine Stratocaster feel and punch. The pickup switch is a traditional five-way toggle, and the instrument’s tuning stability is enhanced by a rare bone nut in this price range.
Read more: https://jetguitars.com/
Hammond in colour
The Hammond M-solo keyboard instrument is now available in several eye-catching finishes, including blue, wine red, and purple, alongside a traditional neutral black option.
Measuring four octaves, the Hammond M-solo is the smallest Hammond organ ever made. Weighing under four kilos and featuring 49 keys, this instrument includes features typical of the Hammond sound, such as a vibrato-chorus effect and a digital Leslie simulator.
Emulating the feel and tone of the classic Hammond B-3, this modern, lightweight version also offers sounds reminiscent of other legendary organs—from Vox and Farfisa to even the 1970s-style “violin machine.” The signature glissandos, essential to creating the characteristic tone colors in Hammond instruments, serve different roles in the M-solo depending on the selected model.
Even a casual user is likely to find the M-solo useful, whether at home in the studio, during band rehearsals, or on stage at live gigs.
The Hammond M-solo is priced at just under 1200 euros, making it accessible for a wide range of musicians, from beginners to professionals.
Read more: https://hammondorganco.com/msolo
