JazzTimes – October 2019

JAZZTIMES.COM 51

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New-Neu New-Neu

Trendy alt-spelling and interest-

ing color schemes like Skyline

Blue (pictured) aside, Ludwig’s

new USA NeuSonic drums

are designed for “the drum-

mer looking for reliability and

performance for every working

professional setting.” The six-

ply crossover shell design uses

a maple exterior over a cherry

interior, a 45-degree bearing

edge, and modern assembly

techniques that optimize tone

and response.

Three-piece shell pack $1,537

MSRP | ludwig-drums.com

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Tele-Transformer

The tagline for the Fender American

Acoustasonic Telecaster is: “Acous-

tic. Electric. Everything in between.”

But with an acoustic-style bridge, a

hollow body designed to resonate

unplugged, and electronics developed

in partnership with noted acoustic

pickup maker Fishman, it’s apparent

that the designers wanted to get the

“acoustic” part of the hybrid formula

down—without losing the shape, feel,

and electric tones that make tradition-

al Teles so player-friendly.

$1999.99 | fender.com

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Legendary Buzz

The new RS Berkeley Jackie McLean Legends

Series Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece, developed in

collaboration with McLean’s son and fellow sax

player Rene, is designed to be an exact replica

of the model that the elder McLean used on

so many groundbreaking recordings. Features

include a .077” tip opening, bronze construc-

tion, and a natural finish. Like other products in

Berkeley’s Legends series, it’s made in the U.S.A.

$490 MSRP | rsberkeley.com

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When Standup Is No Joke

Q: “How do you get a guitarist to turn down?” A: “Put a sheet

of music in front of him.” That oldie probably gets fewer embar-

rassed chuckles from jazz guitarists—a musically literate bunch,

comparatively speaking—and they may have the last laugh with

D&A Guitar Gear’s Hammerhead + Folding Music Stand. Built

to be stable onstage, its sheet music holder can be adapted to

support laptops and tablets. The portable unit also boasts an

attachment that lets it double as an instrument stand.

Price TBA | dnaguitargear.com

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Reason on the Run
Propellerhead Software’s cross-platform
Reason has long been a popular suite
of electronic instruments for Mac and
PC users. With Reason Compact 2.0, the
company says its iOS version is evolving
“from a pocket synth [to] an advanced
pocket music studio” that lets users col-
laborate in real-time using Ableton Link
and integrate with other music apps using
Audiobus or Inter-app Audio. Additions
include a new Rytmik drum machine and
Monotone bass synth (which are also in
the latest version of the desktop Reason
10.4), all for a price you can’t beat.

Free | propellerheads.com