Planet Waves Pro-Winder

130 Guitarist February 2013
QUICKTEST
MISCELLANEOUS
CONTACT: Yamaha PHONE: [phone] WEB: http://uk.yamaha.com
Time to get out your footstool: Yamaha goes classical
The Bottom Line
We like: Heritage; build;
spacious tone
We dislike: Slightly cramped
string spacing at nut
GUITARIST RATING
The new Focusrite iTrack Solo
is a two-in/two-out audio
interface for use with an iPad
via the dock connector, but also
fully compatible with a PC or
Mac computer.
Compact yet rugged, the
iTrack Solo is powered via USB,
so you’ll need your Apple USB
power supply (or a computer
link) when using it with an
iPad. It features a guitar input,
plus a phantom powered XLR
mic input, each with its own
input gain knobs surrounded by
an ingeniously useful ‘Halo’,
which shows green when the
signal is at a good level, and red
if it’s clipping. A monitoring
knob controls the output from
a standard jack headphone
output plus L and R line RCA
phono outputs, while a direct
monitoring switch lets you hear
the input audio latency-free.
In Use
Focusrite has always been
about sound quality, and the
iTrack Solo doesn’t disappoint.
With quality 24-bit 96kHz A/D
conversion and 105dB dynamic
range, it captures all the
nuances of your sound, and you
The Bottom Line
We like: iOS and computer
connectivity; Halo level
indicators; software bundle
included; sound quality
We dislike: Short iPad
connector could compromise
positioning (easily sorted
with an extender cable)
GUITARIST RATING
Yamaha started out making
classical guitars in the 60s, and
utilised the expertise of
Spanish makers like Eduardo
Ferrer and later Manuel
Hernandez, along with players
like Segovia, Baden Powell and
Paco de Lucía. Originally, the
Grand Concert (GC) guitars
were just handmade in Japan in
very small numbers. While
can use both inputs at once and
record them to separate tracks,
if your software supports that.
Be aware, though, because
some iPad guitar apps such as
AmpliTube take their signal
from the left of a stereo input,
and the iTrack Solo’s guitar is
on the right.
Verdict
Dead easy to use, and with
quality sound, the iTrack Solo
could be your ideal choice for
recording electric guitar and
bass, as well as acoustic guitar
and vocals. [TC]
Yamaha GC22S £898
that’s still the case, the start
point of Yamaha’s new 2012 GC
range, the GC12 (£748), the
reviewed GC22 and the GC32
(£1,697) are factory-made in
China, and therefore highly
affordable in comparison to the
top-of-the range model, the
GC82 – a cool £9,987.
The spruce-topped and
lightweight GC22S is an
CONTACT: Focusrite PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.focusrite.com
New interface for iPad/iPhone/iPod touch
Focusrite
iTrack Solo £129
attractive piece: it’s all solid,
with rosewood back and sides,
mahogany neck and ebony
fingerboard. It’s gloss finished,
too, with a colourful Spanish-
style rosette. Internally, it’s
cleanly constructed, with a
dovetail neck joint, not a typical
Spanish slipper heel. Scale
length is 650mm (25.59 inches),
nut width 52mm (2.05 inches),
and the flat fingerboard is
devoid of markers, face or side.
Sounds
If you’re used to a nylon-string
electro, the higher ‘classical’
action takes some adjustment,
but the overall tone is balanced,
big and spacious with deep bass
and strong trebles. In a few
weeks, it’s definitely opened out
sound-wise; regular playing
will increase that.
Verdict
If you’re a serious student, or
just like to dabble with the
classic repertoire but on a
quality instrument, this is a
good place to start. Yamaha’s
excellent consistency is what
makes the brand so easy to
recommend, and this GC22S
is a fine example of serious
factory craft. [DB]
GIT364.rev_quick.indd 130 12/21/12 11:02 AM