The Hunt for a Cheap Microphone - The Apex 880 is here!

Inexpensive mics are often really cheap mics - they are not built good, they do not sound good and they do not last very long.

The Apex 880 is an inexpensive microphone that actually sounds and feels like it should cost much more. These mics do have an on/off switch, which I am not super happy about, but they have an excellent feel and weigh quite a bit. They also have a really nice sound.

It is a great age for microphones, and there are a lot of hand held mics that deliver the same performance to the standard, the Shure SM-58. The Apex 880 comes very close to that standard, and is suitable for almost any stage application, including voice, miking guitar amps and snare drums or more.

They are not suitable for bass cabinets, kick drums or other bass heavy applications.

These mics are a great addition to any line-up, and if you need an economical mic that actually sounds good the Apex 880 is hard to beat - come by Gaston Music & Pawn to check out these economical mics, great for an extra back-up mic or if you just need a mic and don't have a lot of money to spend!

Check out our Craigslist ad here!

Gaston Music & Pawn has been supplying the PA Gear Gastonia musicians have been relying on for years, and is one of the biggest music stores in Gastonia!

QuikLok A-50AM Studio Mic Stand Passes The Toughness Test

QuikLok A-50AM Studio Mic Stand Review

If you have ever rigged overhead mics on drums, you may know the frustration of trying to use a nice condenser suspension mic on a regular boom mic stand. A stand which is built for normal duty many times does not have the height or reach to get the best placement for the mics.

The QuikLok A-50AM Mic Stand - Heavy Duty Studio Stand with Casters

Enter The Studio Stand

At these times, a good studio mic stand can be essential. The QuikLok A-50AM fits the bill nicely. It is a truly heavy duty stand with optional casters - the height of the boom at the main stand can be set as high as 91.5 inches, and the boom length is extendable from 46.5" to 87". The stand has very heavy duty clamps and fasteners, and the back part of the boom has a movable weight so it is easy to counterbalance even the heaviest microphone.

The counter-weight makes holding even the heaviest microphone in place a breeze

The A-50AM is heavy duty throughout - this is not a light stand, but it is perfect for studio applications

Getting a Good Drum Sound

One of the best ways to record a good drum sound is a nice mic for the kick drum (the Shure Beta 52A is an excellent choice here) and 2 good over head mics. Large diaphragm or condenser shotgun mics work well here. But to get the best sound, the mic does need to be pretty far over the top of the drum kit.

This is easily accomplished with the A-50AM stand - as we stated before, a large condenser mic can quickly become to heavy for a standard tripod or round based mic stand, but the A-50AM has the weight and the reach to get these mics in the best possible position.

The 2 over head, 1 kick configuration supplies one of the best, most easily mixed drum sounds - if you have not used this method to record your drums before, try it the next time and you will be amazed at how good a recorded sound you get. Many jazz drums are recorded this way, but a good heavy duty studio mic stand can make all the difference!

This stand has the capacity to cover ANY drum set for perfect mic placement!

Gaston Music & Pawn has been supplying the musical gear Gastonia musicians have needed for decades, and is one of the biggest music stores Lincolnton players have access to - before you drive to Charlotte, give Gaston Music a try!  

                                                               

Turn Your Old Gold Into The Money You Need!

Gold Loans and Diamond Loans among the best items for Pawnshop Loans

Gaston Music & Pawn specializes in making short term loans on all sorts of quality merchandise, but there are some things which make the best loans. The best items are ones which do not quickly lose their lifespan. When you look at computers, TV's and other electronics they have a fairly short shelf life, and that is true for a pawnshops ability to make loans on items such as these.

However, some things have a much more stable used retail value. These include musical gear and instruments, firearms, certain types of tools - and gold and diamond jewelry.

Jewelry is especially good for short term loans as it is something that you may not use during the normal course of your life, and broken gold to a pawnshop is still gold.

Gold is down slightly now - it has been running about $1169 - $1200 or a little higher as of 03-2015. In real world terms, for a loan value from most pawn shops you are looking at about $9.00 to $12.00 per gram, depending on the purity of the gold and over all quality of the piece of jewelry.

Diamonds and gold make great items to get loans on, but beware getting loans on sentimental items!

Diamond's Can Make Great Collateral 

Diamonds are a bit trickier, and usually diamonds need to be at least 1/5th of a karat or more to loan beyond what the gold weight is on a diamond. The loan values are quite a but lower than new retail value, but they still make an excellent piece of collateral for loans.

Of course, we also buy any gold jewelry, no matter what condition it is in, and diamond rings, but getting a loan on your items does allow you to pick them back up.

There are a few things that we do caution people about - one is the size of the loan. It is always best to borrow the smallest amount you need so your items are easier to pick up, as large loans over 90 days especially can mount up. For instance, a $150.00 loan for the first 30 days is only $183.00, but if it is not picked up until the third month it will be $249.00.

A Diamond Designer Ring at Gaston Music & Pawn!

The other thing we recommend is that you judge the sentimental value of anything you might want to get a loan on - if you have your grandmothers ring which means the world to you, you may want to consider whether you ever use it as a way to get the short term money you need.

Most of the things I have been sentimental about don't have any real value but this should always be considered when you need money and are looking for a short term loan from a pawn shop.

Gaston Music & Pawn has been the pawn shop Gastonia residents have chosen for years - if you need money, our collateral based short term loans in Gastonia may be just thing to get you by!

Tuner Shootout! Review of the D'Addario CT-10 Headstock Tuner

Check out the results of some of the recent tuners we have gotten in at our sister blog, The Gaston Guitarist!

These tuners are in stock and for sale now, and make a great addition to your equipment line-up. Our best selling tuner remains the Snark headstock tuners, but as this article discusses they are not good for tight spots (the top part can snap off fairly easy in a gig bag, and especially in your pocket).

Snark Tuners at Gaston Music are only $17.99, but the head can break off fairly easily!

The CT-10 in another tuner that is pocket and gig bag proof - this neat little tuner is quite a bit larger than D'Addario MiniHeadstock model, but even more pocket proof. This tuner flips down for a streamlined, strong shape, and turns on automatically when flipped back up.

The tough D'Addrio CT-10

The display is also easily reversible with the push of a button, and the tuning function is quite smooth. It is a chromatic tuner, and works just as well on bass and electric acoustic guitars, as well as smaller instruments like Ukuleles and violins.

The CT-10 showing a 'G' note in tune!

The color scheme is also neat - out of tune, the screen is an orange and the letter is red. As it gets closer to being in tune, the background will turn green, and when it is in tune the background and the letters both turn green - as you can see from the pictures above, different shades of green.

When it is almost in tune the background turns green but the letters are still red - as it goes further out of tune, the background changes to a reddish orange!

These are great little tuners - they are a bit more expensive than the Snarks, but they are built tough and do an excellent job, and they are for sale right now at Gaston Music & Pawn!

A back view of the CT-10 in the open position

Gaston Music & Pawn is the home of the music gear Gastonia players rely on, and we also have one of the largest selections of guitars in Gastonia and Charlotte!

Review of the Apex 146 Podium Condenser Mic

The Mic - the Apex 146 

Apex 146 Podium Mic at Gaston Music & Pawn

The large bass is well balanced and quite heavy for stability

Podium mics can often be a pain in the butt, as they are usually installed in the podium. This can make wiring problems a real problem. Usually, it is a matter of replacing a cord, but for a traditional podium mic mount the wiring must be installed by hand, and if something goes wrong (as it usually does sooner or later), it will take a technician to diagnose and fix the problem.

There is a solution to this problem, though – Apex Microphones, by Yorkville, offer a great solution to this problem in the Apex 146. The 146 is a self-contained podium mic that uses a standard XLR connection – just run the wire through the top of your podium, and if there are ever wiring issues, all you have to do is replace the bad cord.

The 146 hooks up with a standard XLR cord - no need to wire this mic!

These are also great for mobile applications as well. The base has a good, solid weight to it, and the wand is flexible at the bottom but straight through the rest of the wand. This keeps a neat appearance while still giving a wide range of flexibility for people of different heights.

Note the LED light around the base of the wand, and the pressure switch just in front of it. The square rubber peice lights up when the mic is active!

There is a low cut switch, and on the other side a mode switch which can be extremely useful. There is also a nice LED light on the front of the mount that lets you know when the mic is on.

The Modes

The Modes make this mic even more useful for a variety of applications!

There are three modes you can set the microphone in:

• Mute
• Talk
• Lock

There is a contact button on the top of the mount (the LED surrounds this button). Depending on what mode the mic is in makes the button do different things. In Mute mode, the button mutes the mic. This is very useful when using the mic for broadcast purposes, when you need to say something you don’t want broadcast.

In the ‘Talk’ mode, the mic is muted until you press and hold the button. This mode is useful when the mic is used for occasional announcements.

In the ‘Lock’ mode the mic is always on – perfect for sermons or speeches.

There is a foam wind screen that fits on the end of the mic

Conclusions

The mic is a condenser mic, so it is quite sensitive. The low cut is particularly handy, especially for people who have a low range voice. Podium mics will not sound as full as a good handheld mic – this is because of the size of the diaphragm – but the Apex 146 has a nice, full tone and is easy to EQ.

This is a great podium mic, especially if you need something fast and easy, and is available at Gaston Music now!

Gaston Music & Pawn is Gaston county's largest music store, and has been the music store Gastonia residents have relied on for decades. For PA Equipment in Gastonia and Charlotte, and for quality new and used instruments, come to Gaston Music & Pawn! 

A Great Pizza Crust Recipe

Summer is here, and with this season comes family dinners! We here at Gaston Music & Pawn think hot dogs and hamburgers are great, but sometimes you're just in the mood for something a little different, and if you like pizza there is nothing better than some home made pizza crust!

And, making bread or pizza crust is just not as hard as a lot of people think (though it is a lot easier with a good mixer and a dough hook). The recipe below is also great for bread sticks! The recipe is as follows - if you don't have a baking stone, no big deal!

565 grams (4.5 cups) of flour (bread flour recommended)

1.75 teaspoons Salt

1.5 Teaspoons Instant or bread machine yeast

1.75 (1 ¾ ) cups cold water

Mix dry ingredients, stir together, then add water. If mixing with a powered mixer, mix for 8-10 minutes on medium low speed (# 2 on a KitchenAid mixer) Knead until the dough is smooth and just slightly sticky (you may have to add just a touch more flour to get it to the right consistency).

You can cut the dough into six sections of 6 ounces each, depending on the size of pizza crust you want. If you are using one that night, form into a rough pizza dough shape, spray top with oil and cover with plastic wrap; let rise for two hours, and finish forming crust, stretching gently to the size and thickness you want.

For a crispier crust, sprinkle some cornmeal on your pizza pan before placing the dough!

For the dough you are not using, you can freeze the sections for up to 2 – 3 months; just take out of the fridge about 2 hours before making the pizza! The best way to freeze them is to lightly cover the dough balls in oil (pour a little bit of cooking oil into a bowl and roll the dough balls in the bowl briefly) and then place into small ziplock bags – that’s it!

A Note on Cooking Your Pizza:

Heat your oven up to its maximum amount; most home ovens will only go to 500 – 550 degrees; turn it up all the way. For gas ovens, place your baking stone on the bottom of the over. For electric ovens, place the backing stone on the lowest rack available. In both cases, place your pizza pan directly on the baking stone.

At maximum heat, most pizza’s will be done in 10 – 12 minutes!

Most pawn shops in Gastonia do not often have kitchen appliances or accessories, but occasionally we do get a nice KitchenAid mixer or a set of chef's knives, so check in to Gaston Music & Pawn to see what we have in stock - and enjoy this easy and great pizza crust recipe!

The Southern Quiche Recipe - Or A Great Way To Use Eggs!

A Simple Quiche

The Quiche has a bad reputation - and yes, if done right, men do love it! This simple dish is almost infinitely variable and is one of my favorite recipes, and can suit nearly any taste by the vegetables and meats that are included in the quiche. From a delicious breakfast quiche to a savory vegetarian dish, this dinner will impress everyone, and leave the cook plenty of time to talk and visit with the guests instead of slaving in the kitchen. Best of all, the veggies and meats are included; serve with some rolls or some other bread and all the bases are covered!

The recipe here will use the ingredients found below, but they can be substituted by the meat & veggies of your choice – this is one of my favorite formulations of this quick and easy dish, though. This dish also makes a great vegetarian dish!

Cook all meats completely before cooking the quiche!

Sausage (ground Neese’s is what I like best, but you can also use Italian Sausage, or any type of bratwurst. On those types, cook the sausage completely and then cut them into small bite sized chunks)

Green beans or Snow Peas

Purple/Red Onions

Broccoli or slices of red or yellow bell peppers

Cheddar Cheese

Munster or another soft white cheese

Eggs

Milk 

1 Deep Dish Pie Pan (frozen or scratch made, in deep pie tin)

Saute the veggies before making the pie; start with the onions, and cook them the longest; cook the peas/beans and broccoli so they are just barely cooked. Cook all veggies in a frying pan with butter or olive oil (the peas/beans and broccoli will finish cooking inside the pie).

Take the veggies and the meat, and make a layer in the bottom of the pie crust, then add a layer of grated cheese (mix the varieties). Do a second and a third layer until the meat, veggies and cheese come even with the top of the pie crust.

Mix eggs and milk together (usually three eggs) until they are the same consistency as what you would mix for scrambled eggs. Pour this mixture into the pie pan until the egg mixture is even with the top of the meat and veggie layers. Cover with tinfoil, bake for about 45 – 60 minutes in a oven preheated to 375. 

The eggs can overrun the pie crust if filled to high, so place the pie crust on a tin foil lined cookie sheet. Cook until the eggs are done or nearly done, then uncover the pie crust, put on a final layer of cheese and cook another 20-30 minutes until the top layer of cheese is a golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes then cut into slices and serve!

Even though we are a music store Gastonia players have relied on for years, as a pawn shop Gastonia residents depend on we occasionally get very good deals on KitchenAid mixers and other high end kitchen appliances and equipment!