Guitar Wireless Systems – Have You Gone Wireless Yet? Part 1
By MNJ
| Posted in Guitar
If you, as a guitarist, have been putting off going ‘wireless’, there could be several reasons. Worries over cost may be among them, alongside the fact that you typically play in a pub standing no more than six feet from your amp. Additionally you might be concerned about reliability, or that the technology could somehow change your sound. If any of these worries sound familiar – and for many guitarists they probably will – then please read on.
For a long time, guitar wireless systems were no more than a variation of a wireless microphone set up. They shared the same receiver but instead of the microphone, had a little transmitter which attached to the guitar strap with a short cable and jack. As a consequence, these systems were expensive and only ever used by pros playing big arenas or festivals where using a long cable would degenerate the guitar signal. In the last few years however, dedicated guitar systems have appeared, and at realistic prices for the average player
The major players in the field of guitar wireless systems have traditionally been companies like Nady and Trantec, as well as the big microphone manufactures such as AKG, Sennheiser, Shure and Audio Technica. They all offer UHF systems at various price points and with varying features typically including multiple channels and predictive diversity. Some of the fixed or limited frequency, single channel units are very cheap indeed – for example the Audio Technica Unipak system hovers around the £100 mark.
At the other end of the spectrum are systems like the Sennheiser EW572, which is part of Sennheiser’s new G3 wireless system range. With a price tag of over £700, it offers an Ethernet port and a built in tuner, and it’s a definite choice for pros and touring bands.
Elsewhere, Samson, who has a history of making reliable and affordable pro-audio, including a range of wireless mics, offers the Airline system where the transmitter actually plugs in to the guitar. The advantages of this are obvious – if you have one or more guitars on stage you simply unplug and plug in your second instrument, whereas a transmitter attached to a strap would make this unfeasible. Some systems even offer a receiver which is pedal sized and will fit on your pedalboard – a real time saver when setting up.
Line 6, who has been leading the way for some time in marketing innovative products for the guitarist, have the Relay G30, a lightweight digital transmitter and receiver which features 118dB dynamic range and a frequency response that guarantees sparkling highs and no loss of low end. It can also add in a ‘Cable Tone’ which models the slight loss of signal apparent when using a conventional lead. This is a definite advance in guitar wireless technology and at under £250, will attract new converts to the increasing numbers of wireless users.
Tags: akg, audio technica, Line 6, samson, Sennheiser, shure, wireless guitar systems