Players Choice Awards 2011 ผลโหวตของผู้อ่านนิตยสาร Acoustic Guitar มีคลิปในแต่ละหมวด น่าสนใจมาก ขออนุญาตินำมาลงบางส่วน
Guitar of the Year
Gold: Schenk Guitars Ophirio
Silver: C.F. Martin and Co. D-28
Silver: Taylor Guitars GS Mini
Bronze: Santa Cruz Guitar Company 1929-00
This year, players chose Schenk Guitars’ Ophirio as Guitar of the Year, opting for a newly introduced high-value instrument from a small maker over more classic models from established companies. The Ophirio adheres to the same quality standards as Schenk’s high-end custom guitars, but it has a more basic design, feature set, and visual impact, while maintaining small-shop vibe and tone.
Travel Guitar
Gold: Taylor Guitars (GS Mini)
Silver: C.F. Martin and Co. (LX1)
Bronze: Voyage-Air (VAD-2)
Dedicated travel guitars are relatively new to the guitar market. But who doesn’t want an ax that can be easily brought along on a vacation or business trip and is also fun to play at home on the couch? Travel guitar designs vary from miniaturized versions of standard guitars to instruments that come apart or fold up for easy packing, so jet-setting pickers now have more options to choose from than ever.
Having received an enthusiastic review in our December 2010 issue, Taylor’s GS Mini is one of the company’s latest developments. Slightly larger than its hugely successful Baby model, the GS Mini is a stout 3/4-size six-string that fits into most overhead compartments while providing surprisingly big tone.
Most Innovative New Product
Gold: L.R. Baggs Anthem
Silver: Snark Guitar and Bass Tuner
Bronze: TC Electronic PolyTune
Just when it seems as if everything has been accomplished in the world of acoustic guitar gear, manufacturers surprise us with innovative products, as evidenced this year by L.R. Baggs’ Anthem pickup system. Though the primary individual elements—an undersaddle pickup and an internal mic—aren’t revolutionary, the way they’re connected by way of a crossover is a new approach that results in remarkably natural sound for an easy-to-use, mono-output amplification system.
L.R. Baggs came up with a unique approach when it released its Anthem system (see the review here) last year. Using an undersaddle pickup and an internal mic like many other multisource rigs, the Anthem includes a sophisticated crossover circuit that allows most of the output signal to be delivered by the microphone, with the pickup primarily taking care of the bass frequencies.
Acoustic Amplifier
Gold: Fishman Transducers (Loudbox Mini)
Silver: Roland US (AC-60)
Silver: Fender Musical Instruments (Acoustasonic 30 DSP)
Bronze: L.R. Baggs (Reference Amp)
Whether used as a stand-alone system in a small venue or as a stage monitor on a big stage, a dedicated acoustic guitar amp designed to deliver transparent, full-range sound is an important part of many performers’ rigs. Fishman hit a home run last year with the Loudbox Mini (see the review in the January 2011 issue), which combines practical features and big sound in a small, affordable package.
Undersaddle Pickup
Gold: Fishman Transducers (Matrix Infinity)
Silver: L.R. Baggs (Element Active)
Bronze: Dean Markley Strings (Sweet Spot)
Undersaddle pickups are the most widely used option for amplifying a flattop guitar. Offering hassle-free tone in a variety of playing situations, good feedback resistance, and nearly invisible installation, these pickups (also called undersaddle transducers or USTs) are popular both as factory-installed equipment and after-market add-ons. Fishman’s Acoustic Matrix Infinity (see the review in the July 2008 issue) features solder-less installation and soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls.
Stand-Alone Acoustic Preamp
Gold: Fishman Transducers (Aura Spectrum DI)
Gold: L.R. Baggs (Venue DI)
Silver: Radial Engineering (Tonebone PZ-Pre)
Bronze: Ultrasound Amplifiers (DI Plus)
Bronze: D-Tar (Solstice)
Whether they’re used to boost a pickup’s signal, add EQ to the basic sound, battle feedback, or function as a DI box, stand-alone multifunction preamps are essential equipment for most performing guitarists. L.R. Baggs and Fishman tied for the Gold Award in this category.
PA System
Gold: Bose Professional Systems (L1 Model II)
Silver: Fishman Transducers (SA220 Solo Performance System)
Bronze: Yamaha Corporation of America (StagePas 500)
Owning a portable PA can be a great way to expand gig opportunities at cafés, restaurants, and private events. Bose made a big splash when it introduced its line array–based system a few years ago, and its latest L1
Magnetic Soundhole Pickup
Gold: L.R. Baggs (M1 Active)
Gold: Fishman Transducers (Rare Earth Blend)
Silver: Dean Markley (ProMag Plus)
Bronze: Mi-Si (Acoustic Duo)
Magnetic pickups that install in a flattop steel-string guitar’s soundhole are popular for a variety of reasons. Many players are attracted to their simple installation, which can often be done without a luthier’s help or modifications to the instrument, while others prefer their warm tone and smooth attack as well as their excellent performance in loud band environments.
Each with a variety of magnetic pickup options, Fishman and L.R. Baggs tied for a Gold Award. Baggs’ M1 Active uses a unique humbucking design that suspends the pickup’s second coil in such a way that it senses vibrations from the guitar’s top, allowing the pickup to capture all the nuances of a guitar’s sound. Fishman’s Rare Earth Blend (see the review in February 2000) also aims to capture both string and body sounds by combining an internal microphone with the company’s Rare Earth magnetic pickup.
Other Acoustic Pickup
Gold: L.R. Baggs (Anthem)
Silver: K&K Sound Systems (Pure Mini)
Bronze: Shadow Electronics (Sonic Doubleplay)
Bronze: D-Tar (Multi-Source)
Although undersaddle and magnetic pickups dominate the field, other designs have made strong inroads in the last few years. Multisource systems are popular with players who want to capture as much of their guitar’s acoustic voice as possible, and soundboard transducers have also gained popularity.
