Zoom H5 Handy Recorder

November 2014 Guitarist 125
QUICK TEST
MISCELLANEOUS
Quicktest
Fancy doing some busking? If
so, you might just be interested
in Roland’s new Cube Street EX,
an update on the previous Street
model, that the company says
offers a huge performance
upgrade. What you get is a
wedge-shaped battery- or
mains-powered 50-watt stereo
amp with four independent
channels for connecting a
variety of mics and instruments.
What’s more, there is an array
of familiar COSM amp models
available and the ability to plug
in your iPhone or iPad via an
included four-pole cable to play
backing music (there’s a free
Cube JAM app with phrase
training facilities) or record
your own performances.
In Use
The Cube Street EX’s dual
eight-inch woofers and two-
inch tweeters can push out a
powerfully loud sound on its
50-watt setting, and there are
also 25-watt and 10-watt output
power modes, which are more
economical with battery power.
A flexible range of sounds
include very usable Clean,
Crunch and Lead options, as
well as a functional acoustic
simulator for electric guitar,
while electro-acoustics get to
use the amp’s clear-sounding
preamp. You also get an
onboard tuner, three-band EQ,
reverb and a choice of chorus
or delay.
Verdict
Okay, £459 is a significant
investment, but in return you
get a product optimised for
outdoor performance that’s
light, has a substantial carrying
handle or optional water-
resistant shoulder-strapped
case and is packed with enough
sounds and connectivity
options to suit the needs of
most street musicians.
[TC]
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Practical and
portable amplification for
busking and ‘let’s do the show
right here’ performances
Portable powerhouse with street smarts
CONTACT: Roland UK PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.roland.co.uk
Roland Cube
Street EX
£459
NSF Controls
Free-Way switch
approx £25
Not quite your normal three-way toggle switch
CONTACT: NSF Controls Ltd PHONE: N/A WEB: www.freewayswitch.com
Yes, it
looks like a regular
three-way toggle switch that
you’d find on most double
’bucker guitars, but this is a
toggle switch that works in two
planes (each with three
positions), creating a six-
position switch. Designed
primarily for twin-humbucker
guitars with four-conductor
wiring, it allows for various
pickup coil configurations and
huge versatility.
Guitar-maker Chris George
explains: “I discovered the
switch while building a triple
single-coil guitar, but I wanted
– apart from each pickup
individually – all available
twin-pickup combinations:
bridge and middle, bridge and
neck, and middle and neck.”
Now that could all be done
with a push/push or push/pull
on the tone or volume control,
or even a separate DPDT
switch, but the Free-Way is
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Tricky switching
be gone! If you need to expand
your pickup switching options,
this takes some beating
simpler and doesn’t add extra
switches to fight with on stage.
In Use
Once you get used to the dual
plane of the switch, it works like
a dream. All connections are
‘make before break’, so there are
no clicking or popping noises as
you change positions. “The only
downside,” mentions Chris, “is
that it isn’t quite as smooth as,
say, a Switchcraft long-spring
contact toggle switch.”
Verdict
For expanded sounds, without
altering your guitar’s switches,
try this. A great UK-designed/
manufactured product.
[DB]
GIT387.rev_quick.indd 125 10/2/14 10:53 AM