Music has changed the lives of many. It has widely reached and influenced the world. Hence, countless local or international people and musicians enjoy and follow the music trends. With the evolution of music, musical instruments have also been upgraded. It’s integrated with present technology to make musical instruments electronic, portable, and accessible for worldwide travel. This guide will explore the top 5 electrophones or electronic musical instruments in the market today.
What are electrophones?
An electrophone is any musical instrument with sound produced or modified electronically. There are two fundamental types of electronic instruments: sound originates from an acoustic instrument like the violin and is subsequently altered electronically, and sound is generated entirely electronically.
Top 5 Electr0phones in 2024:
Ibanez Genesis RG550 (Electric Guitar)
Crafted with metal and high-octane shreds in focus, the RG550 is precision-engineered. Its razor-thin neck, locking tremolo system, locking nut, and high-output humbuckers provide all the essentials for aspiring virtuosos to redefine the boundaries of gravity. This is best for fast plays.
Within the realm of guitar styles, various sub-genres exist, with one of the most prominent niches being guitars tailored for heavy styles of music. This specialization is evident in body styling, ergonomics, and hardware, with certain brands such as ESP and Schecter dominating this realm. However, we focus on one of the most renowned names in metal guitars: the Ibanez RG550. Reissued last year and based on an iconic model within the genre, the RG550 is purposefully engineered for metal. Its wafer-thin neck, locking tremolo system, locking nut, and high-output humbuckers equip this guitar with everything necessary to unleash blistering shred performances.
Pros
- Recommended for shredders: When it comes to executing lightning-fast runs, Ibanez consistently remains our top choice.
Cons
- Not recommended for frequent tuning changes: Although the locking tremolo system ensures pitch-perfect performance while shredding, it complicates changing tunings.
The ultimate electric guitar for shredders features the following specifications: Body crafted from basswood, maple/walnut neck, maple fingerboard, 24 jumbo frets, and equipped with two humbuckers and one single coil pickup, along with an edge locking tremolo system. Today’s best deals can be found on Amazon and Lazada Philippines. Reasons to consider buying include its legendary status and broader tonal palette than expected. However, potential downsides include locking nuts needing to be better for frequent tuning changes and a neck that may need to be thicker for some players.
Discovering the finest electric guitar can be both challenging and exhilarating. The concept of ‘best’ varies from person to person, adding to the complexity of compiling this guide. For some, the ideal electric guitar is straightforward and practical; for others, it’s an instrument adorned with elaborate designs and numerous features like the following.
Additional choices:
- Ideal for beginners: Squier Bullet Mustang
- Suited for versatility: PRS SE Custom 24
- Optimal playability: Fender Vintera Tele
- Excelling in heavy tones: Charvel Pro-Mod DK22
- Perfect for rock & blues: Gibson ES-335 Satin
image from https://Ibanez-Genesis-RG550
Yamaha BB434 (Bass Guitar)
Offering a versatile tone and a build ready for gigs, the Yamaha BB434 bass guitar stands out for those with a keen eye for budget-friendly purchases. With its versatile P/J pickups and slim, gig-ready construction, the BB434 sets high, affordable standards. Inspired by California classics, its alder body and rosewood fingerboard deliver a punchy sound and familiar fretwork. Yet, with offset optimization that’s easy to appreciate, the body’s distinctive cutaway features enhance playability beyond many of its Californian counterparts.
The BB434’s VS-series single-coil pickups, vintage-voiced P/J set powered by Alnico V magnets, deliver tight tones. The BB434’s multipiece mahogany and maple neck complete the ensemble, thinner than the BB-series standard neck carve for stellar speeds. Moreover, its multipiece construction ensures stability, even during travel across diverse climates from gig to gig.
Number of Strings: 4
Body Shape/Material: Yamaha BB Doublecut/Alder
Neck Shape/Material: Thinner BB Neck Profile/5-piece Maple and Mahogany
Fingerboard Radius/Material: 10 Inches/Rosewood
Scale Length: 34 Inches
Pickups: Bridge: VSC5b Alnico V Single-coil/Neck: VSP5n Alnico V Split Single-coil
Pros:
- Replication of a classic bass
- Thinner neck for a modern feel
- Striking appearance with offset double-cut body shape
Cons:
- You may not need another bass!
image from https://www.google.com/Fhub.yamaha.com
ANDSF Portable Flexible 88-Key Piano (Electronic Keyboard)
Crafted for a warm and gentle sound, this portable 88-key piano enhances the enjoyment of playing. It offers compatibility with a sustained pedal, enriching the warmth and depth of its sound. With its advertised mellow and gentle tone, the piano features an 800mAh rechargeable lithium battery lasting up to 15 hours – longer than many phones. It also allows using three AAA batteries as backup or charging via USB, ensuring unlikely battery problems with this keyboard.
The Roland SPD-SX Pro is leading the pack, prized for its intuitive design, top-notch playback, and unparalleled durability. The SPD-SX range offers three models: the Pro edition features 32GB of storage, customizable LEDs for each pad, many onboard sounds, and a robust multi-effect engine. The SPD-SX Pro is ideal if you seek an instrument capable of triggering any sound beyond percussion.
- Enhanced Roll-Up Piano: Features a standard 88-key digital piano with 128 excellent sounds, 100 rhythms, and 80 demos. Equipped with double loudspeakers, Bluetooth connectivity, microphone compatibility, and a new generation of keyboards and high-speed processors for a top-notch piano experience.
- Truly Portable: Easily rolls up for convenient transport anytime, anywhere. It has an 800mAh rechargeable lithium battery lasting up to 15 hours, displaying real-time power. It also supports 3 AAA dry batteries or USB charging.
- Multi-Functional: Built-in double speakers for immersive sound; Bluetooth function for playing songs from your phone for practice; microphone connectivity for karaoke. Features a multi-function interface supporting MID, maintenance, and recording, as well as USB, external speakers, headphones, and external power supply.
- Well-Designed: Offers powerful functions and a gentle, standard tone. Black keys are higher than white, providing a high-end keyboard with a thickened sense of perfection and high sensitivity.
- Enjoyable Piano Practice and Gifting: Certified by FCC, CE, and RoHS for safety and reliability. It utilizes a top-grade, food-grade silicone keyboard for an environmentally healthy option. They are professionally designed for children and beginners, making them an excellent gift for friends and kids.
image from https://www.google.com/www.musicindustryhowto.com
Roland SPD-SX Pro (Drum Pad)
Electronic drum pads have transformed music creation, providing limitless sound manipulation and expression opportunities. Drummers are no longer confined to purely acoustic or electronic sounds; instead, a realm of hybrid setups awaits exploration! With the addition of electronic drum pads to your acoustic kit, you can trigger a diverse range of sampled sounds and backing tracks, opening up a world of creative possibilities.
The Roland SPD-SX Pro Sample Pad stands out for its intuitive interface, simplifying navigation and operation for musicians of all levels. Its user-friendly design enables easy sound production without cumbersome controls or menus, fostering creativity effortlessly.
Featuring a clear and accessible interface, the SPD-SX Pro Sample Pad organizes menus neatly with conveniently placed buttons and knobs. Customizable LED pads enhance visibility, minimizing errors during performances.
Regarding sound quality and samples, the Roland SPD-SX boasts 1550 pre-loaded sounds and samples, assignable to any of its nine pads. With 32GB of internal storage, ample space is available for storing samples, backing tracks, and click tracks, along with the option to import personal sounds and samples via USB or MIDI.
Specifications:
- Trigger Pads: 9
- Internal Memory: 32GB
- Sounds/Samples: 1550
- Connectivity: USB, MIDI, Audio Out
Pros:
- Ample internal memory enables the storage of a wide range of sounds
- Customizable LED pads offer visual feedback during performances
Cons:
- Higher price point compared to alternative models
The Roland SPD-SX quickly became the industry’s go-to standard for triggering loops, samples, and backing tracks. Its elevation to this status is evident, and the new Pro model has taken innovation to the next level.
At first glance, the Pro model may seem similar to the standard SPD-SX, but significant cosmetic and performance enhancements justify its ‘pro’ designation. Notably, customizable LEDs for each pad improve navigation in low-stage light and aid in identifying assigned samples.
With onboard storage now at a substantial 32GB, double that of the SPD-SX Special Edition, and over 1,500 kits and sounds integrated into each unit, the Pro offers a comprehensive range of sounds and styles.
Additionally, the Pro introduces a desktop app for complete control, enabling easy assignment of samples to pads and application of effects without navigating extensive menus. Preparing for gigs has always been more complex.
Other noteworthy additions include a clear 4.3″ color screen, four direct outputs for separate outputting of individual pads, effects, or click tracks, and an onboard 16-step sequencer.
Yamaha Silent Series YSV104 (Electric Violin)
The electric violin combines power and elegance in perfect harmony, yet unlike guitars, which are recognized for both acoustic and electric variants, violins are predominantly associated with their acoustic forms.
The Yamaha Silent Series YSV104 electric violin is a modern, technologically advanced interpretation of an acoustic violin, tailored to provide acoustic violinists with a familiar feel while incorporating additional versatility and features. An improvement over Yamaha’s YEV-104 model, the YSV104 boasts a solid spruce body, showcasing an elegant shape and robust construction. Resembling traditional wooden violins, its hollow design ensures lightweight handling, blending traditional and contemporary aesthetics seamlessly.
Yamaha’s SRT (studio response technology) is integrated into the YSV104, offering electronic components that replicate the tone of an acoustic violin, including resonance and complex overtones. Moreover, users can fine-tune the violin’s tone by adjusting the onboard reverb via a dial on the back of the body, providing quality sound output with enhanced sustain compared to conventional violins. The violin comes with an external control box enabling reverb adjustments and the ability to play with any song using an aux input, which can be connected to headphones or speakers. This convenient control box simplifies and enhances violin practice sessions significantly.
Conclusion:
Modernized musical instruments make the lives of musicians, from Beginners to Professionals, easier. It is handy and can be accessed anywhere, which makes it more convincing. It’s less hassle when musicians or individuals transport from one place to another. It is also beginner-friendly and professionally excellent, which makes it significant to the music industry.
