You could WIN a Schertler GIULIA X acoustic amp! Giveaway ends October 18, 2022.
Giulia X
GIULIA X represents the state of the art in Swiss amplifier design, reflecting all the needs of the user. Offering a significantly improved power amp and speaker section, together with a crossover filter network, limiter and gain, this amp provides 70W (108dB SPL) of bi-amplified analog power. GIULIA X has a coaxial speaker system with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.5” woofer. It is designed with an optimized 2-way bass reflex construction.
Schertler has introduced the Basik acoustic pickup system as the ideal compliment to any acoustic instrument from guitars to mandolins, banjos to ukuleles.
Pomona, CA (May 13, 2013) -- Schertler has introduced the Basik acoustic pickup system as the ideal compliment to any acoustic instrument from guitars to mandolins, banjos to ukuleles. This new unobtrusive, compact, universal surface mount system allows players to easily apply and remove from to a variety of different acoustic instruments, for a high precision response resulting in an accurate natural sound and acoustic tone. The Schertler Basik will be featured at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville at the Eastman Guitars booth #1512.
With the Schertler Basik ($199.99), the easily applied contact microphone can be plugged directly into any amplifier through the phantom power adapter box supplied with a 1.5V AA battery. Simply affix the microphone to the recommended placement area for the desired instrument, plug in and play. Its user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness make the Basik the ideal acoustic pick-up for beginners, students or semi-professional musicians.
Since its foundation in the early 1980s, Schertler has embarked on a passionate endeavor of research aiming to achieve the highest levels of fidelity in the reproduction of acoustic stringed instruments. Today, the Schertler brand is a standard for live performance, broadcast and recording applications and proudly lists some of the world’s leading orchestras, ensembles and solo artists as ambassadors.
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Schertler
Shertler''s SM is a stage-ready, mid-priced acoustic-electric
Click here to view larger image | |
Download Example 1 Fingerstyle - Pickup, Amp, Mic | |
Download Example 2 Flatpickin' - Pickup, Amp, Mic | |
Mic: sE3 to Aphex 207D mic-pre Amp: L.R. Baggs Core 1, mic: Audix i5 to Aphex 207D mic-pre Direct: Pickup to Aphex 230 mic-pre, Interface: RME Fireface, DAW: Samplitude V8 |
Designed by Swiss luthier Claudio Pagelli, the SM has a modern look, with an oval sound hole and body shape; it’s sort of modern take on the Maccaferri guitar (like Django’s). Take a look at Pagelli’s website to see his other work; it is quite unusual and I would love to try some of them. I gather that this guitar is made in Korea (South) and the tuners and all the guts are made in Switzerland. Schertler is also making their own 18:1 gear-ratio tuners which have a clean modern look, and work very well with no play and a nice smooth response. The tuners will be available as aftermarket replacements and I would recommend them heartily.
The wood part
The SM is a modern-looking guitar, very round. It has all solid wood construction with an Alpine spruce top, and mahogany neck, back and sides. It should also be mentioned that the design places the bridge pretty much dead center in the lower bout, much like a twelfth fret neck joint would. That tends to give you the max that a box has to give, which is perhaps one reason for the pleasing sound of this guitar, despite its small size. The neck joins the body at the thirteenth fret, which may also contribute to the fuller sound. The fingerboard is ebony (and seems to have a finish on it), as are the bridge and peghead overlay. The rosewood binding is a classy touch, as is the raised wood soundhole surround. My only gripe is the slotted peghead design. I personally don’t care for slot heads on steel strings as it makes string changes more difficult, and this one has the string ramps cut so that the strings drag across the wood, which seems like it could ugly things up down the road. Other than that, fit and finish are very good. The neck shape is a nice round C which is quite comfortable, and the frets shine like mirrors. Setup is good right out of the box. Because the body is so small, it’s very comfortable to hold, and the cutaway gives good upper fret access.
Electronics
This is a guitar that you need to sit with for a while and get to know. It has a small body, which doesn’t give you a giant acoustic sound, but of course you don’t really want that in a guitar that is mainly intended to be played electrically. So some folks may be tempted to set the SM back on the shelf thinking they want a bigger sounding guitar. But consider what you want to use this guitar for; do you want a strictly acoustic guitar, or are you looking for a stage guitar that will deliver? Plugged into a Schertler Unico amp with tones set flat and the pickup balance to center, the SM had a very balanced musical sound. It’s quite rich harmonically and the sound is warm, full, and unusual in a way I can’t quite describe—but very pleasant. The pickup is sensitive to string squeak so you may want to consider a polished string. The SM is fairly feedback resistant and was not prone to howling bass notes. The first thing I look for when checking out an acoustic transducer pickup is a dead high-E string and/or a blazing hot G string. This guitar had neither, and the string response was very even, just as you would want it to be. The neck is satin-smooth and very comfortable, and combined with what can only be described as the overall snuggliness of this guitar, it makes for a great long-term couch companion, plugged in or otherwise.
The Final Mojo
Considering that the pickup system alone would cost you around $600 before installation and that this solid wood guitar comes with a nice light weight case, I think this is a pretty darn good deal. It plays well, and plugged in is very acoustic and true to the sound of the box. There is enough acoustic sound to give you the feel of an acoustic while not enough to cause feedback and howl. Unplugged…enh. But plugged in (as intended) it is quite good with a sound unlike any other acoustic-electric I’ve played. Definitely worth checking out.
Buy if...
you need a great sounding acoustic-electric, stage guitar.
Skip if...
you want a solely acoustic guitar.
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MSRP $1795 - Schertler- schertler-guitars.com |