Canadian Musician - November/December 2020 | Page 67

Black Lion B173 mkII British-Style Portable Preamp
Acoustik Attak Piks

Black Lion B173 mkII British-Style Portable Preamp

Black Lion Audio has released the B173 mkII , a British-style ( 1073 ) portable preamp packed into a convenient half-rack-sized unit .
The B173 mkII uses the same Cinemag input and output transformers that are found in the company ’ s full-size B173 Quad mic preamp to deliver 70dB of gain , alongside a revamped gain stage and a lower noise floor for a cleaner , lower distortion sound . Sonically , the front panel-positioned Hi-Z IN ( high impedance input ) brings a harmonically-rich tone to guitars , keyboards , and synthesizers while the stepped input 1073-style gain and variable output level attenuation knobs allow for control over transformer saturation . The 48 V phantom power and phase inverse controls round out the front panel with self-explanatory XLR in and TRS out connections in the back .
For more information , contact Erikson Audio : 514-457-2555 , info @ eriksonaudio . com , www . eriksonaudio . com .

Acoustik Attak Piks

Acoustik Attak , a newly-launched company , has released the Attak Piks for guitarists and bassists .
The company ’ s unique Attak and Ambush Piks are made using a customized injection molding process to create raised ridges , diamonds , and other patterns on both sides of their lower tip attack zones , which the company says results in enhanced sound waves regardless of an electric or acoustic player ’ s choice of instrument or strings . The Attak Pik features three rows of pyramid-shaped ridges on its top and bottom for clarity and less string noise , especially within the mids and high mids , making it ideal for lead guitarists . The sonic result comes from multiple , rather than single , strikes on the guitar or bass strings . The creators say this brightens the sound of a guitar or bass without having to go through an equalizer .
For more information , contact Acoustik Attack : support @ attakpik . com , www . attakpik . com .
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 67