‘Specs’

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 17

‘Specs’

Musical Specialists, Ltd, at 800 Colombo-Street, near the Christchurch Town Hall, concentrates exclusively on the sale and repair of amplification gear and guitars, some of them custom-built by the firm and sought after from as far awav as Australia.

■The guitars range from learners' to professional instruments and collectors' items.

Verv much in demand are the Fender Stratocasters with a sharper, more brittle sound preferred for heavy rock, and .the Fender Telecasters for country rock, according to Mr Bob Mould, who does the firm's construction and repair work.

He says that Ibanez is another popular make in both electric and acoustic guitars, while Ovation acoustic electrics are the most sought-after by country musicians and vocalists. Martin guitars are also popular for country and folk music but are "very pricy." whereas Washburn electric guitars have achieved popularity in a more accessible price range. Fender, Musicman and Ibanez are the big names in bass guitars. Musical Specialists also has virtually every kind of music amplifier; guitar and bass “amps,” compressors, slave amps, mixing units and P.A. cabinets as well as “combo” unitsIn addition, there is a wide variety of special effects devices, such as echo machines and analogue delay to produce echo effects, line drivers — otherwise known as "noise gates” — to cut out

equalisers to bring up the middle, bottom or top range.

Bob Mould says ' the speakers now becoming available are “much better quality." such as the Italianmade’ RCF, and JBL and Black Widow from the United States. The firm's stock covers far more than just the major items. For instance, it includes brass fittings for guitars and basses. Among a huge range of strings for electric and acoustic guitars and basses, the biggest selling name in strings for electric guitars is D'Addario. for acoustic guitars it is Martin, and for bass guitars. Roto Sound. Musical Specialists also sells strings for classical guitars and for banjos, dul--cimers. mandolins and violins.