Chip Stern

Paiste’s Traditional and New Signature lines of premium cymbals employ the company’s proprietary Signature cast bronze alloy and a variety of hand-hammering, machine assisted hand-hammering and machine-hammering techniques to approximate the dark tonalities and complex harmonic structure of its randomly hammered Turkish K line. As such, their appeal for jazz drummers is analogous to cymbals … Read More “Paiste Signature Silver Mellow Ride and Full Crash”

In an enthusiastic review of the Mesa Walkabout hybrid bass amp (JazzTimes, December 2002), I noted its tonal accuracy, timbral flexibility and dynamic aplomb. I also alluded to the fact that a jazz bassist’s concept of portability may best be defined as having a fighting chance of carrying the instrument with one hand and your … Read More “Mega Boogie Walkabout/Scout Bass Combo”

Times change and musical tastes tend to run in cycles. Whereas 20 or 30 years ago drummers were demanding heavier, more penetrating styles of cymbals to cope with the ever-escalating volume of rock, funk and fusion, modern drummers seem to be gravitating toward a thinner, drier sound and feel due to today’s more sophisticated sound … Read More “Zildjian K. Custom Session Cymbals; Special Dry Crashes”

There is much to admire in the superb workmanship and surfeit of tone-shaping options in this upgraded edition of acoustic-electric virtuoso John Patitucci’s signature instrument-the Yamaha TRB JP2 Electric Bass. Opening up the case and taking in the luminous amber glow of this six-string bass’ quilted maple cap (and matching headstock), was enough to take … Read More “Yamaha John Patitucci Signature Electric bass”

When it comes to addressing the day-to-day needs of working musicians, Hartley Peavey’s Meridian, Miss.-based megalopolis has long been at the forefront of bang-for-your-buck performance, managing in the process to demonstrate to domestic manufacturers how they might beat offshore competitors at their own game. Having initially developed a regional reputation with its guitar amplifiers, over … Read More “Peavey KB 5 Keyboard Amp”