[tonefight]

What kind of guitar wireless is everyone using? My wife uses a Samson True diversity, VHF mike that she has had for over 10 years and she gets clear drop out free use out of it. So is it necessasary to spend the big bucks on the newer UHF systems. Not only that but there is such a price difference in the UHF systems alone. I'm just looking for some input on anything people have had trouble with and anything that has been working problem free.

[lonewolf]

On one rig I'm using a Nady 950GS which is hard to find now that they don't make pro end stuff anymore. 25-20K response and 160 UHF channels. You'd have to go to Lectrosonic for better response.

I'm also using 2 Shure UT4 UHF systems for guitar and headset. I'm not thrilled with the Shure for guitar, but they work super for vocals.

As far as UHF vs VHF, there is no difference in quality of sound or transmission. It all has to do with interference. The VHF band has been around longer and there are a lot more TV stations, wireless phones and other products using these frequencies than there are using UHF frequencies. You have a better chance of getting interference from VHF than UHF (for now). If you are playing around Cambria county, then all you really have to worry about is the group of TV stations from PGH, J-town and Altoona. If you plan on going to N.Y.C., you might end up broadcasting an underground porno show thru your PA.

If you are concerned about interference, you can look at multiple frequency systems that will allow you to "change channels" within a given frequency band. If that is not a concern, you might want to look at the NADY closeouts:

http://www.nady.com/products/closeout_pgs/closeout_wireless_1.html#750

Instruments like guitar and bass need a wider frequency response than vocals and the XR-61 and XR-62 have 25-20K response and 120db DR. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY else can match these specs in this price range. The XR-62 is TWO XR-61s in one. You could run 2 instruments thru 2 amps for $200. The XRs are the last of Nady's quality stuff.
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[ragztem]

depends if you want to go rack mount or pod system....but you can get a mounting kit for a pod to fit in a rack... the pods are much cheaper...i have a nady uhf pod system, it was $250...probably cheaper now, and works fine, no problems..goes 40yards with no delay..but if you go rack mount, samson and shure are the way to go.. definately want true diversity and UHF is better, but also a lot more costly...comes down to budget and what you want to do with it...local gigger most likely wont need a UHF system....

[facingwest]

I use a Nady Wireless One that I've had for about 10 years now. I bought it from a friend of mine and paid 50 bucks for it. Something good about it is that it never left me down yet, knock on wood. For vocals, I went with a Samson VHF, then to a UHF, with their Q headset on each. This particular wireless has great points as well as bad ones. The great points are no drop out and a VERY sleek style headset. A few bad points about them that I've experienced is they aren't road worthy and too much high end in them. However, I have two, so if one goes down, I can just set the other one up. What's funny is Kenny, our bassist, bought a different brand and he looks like a freaking sports announcer with it on. If you get the chance, stop out and check it out. heh The next wireless I'm going to purchase will be something similar to the Samson I'm using, but a little better quality in the mic and hopefully I won't have to work on it as much.

[tonefight]

I've heard bad things about Nady but mainly from people selling other brands, I know you can't beat there price. you seam to get more features for less cash, they sell a uhf true diversity system in musicians friend for like $130 bucks!!! The sure and AKG are more expensive, sometimes with less features. So I guess I'm looking for make and model #'s that have worked fine and ones that have caused a problem.

[facingwest]

Everyone can knock Nady all they want, but the abuse I put mine through in the past 10 years, I'm surprised it still works. Something even more interesting is it isn't true diversity. *SHRUGS* The next wireless I'm going to buy will be tour worthy. Too many times I've learned that you should just buy the best and don't settle for anything less. I'm not saying buy something for the name though. What I mean is buy something that's going to do the job and last a long time.

[facingwest]

Heh...I fear walking around wired. Between tripping on the cord and pulling it out, I need a wireless. How active we are on stage with Retro, we'd be a complete tangled mess if everyone was anchored down. You are right that you do lose some quality, however it's the price you have to pay for freedom.

[lonewolf]

I'll say it again...if you want to go wireless with guitar, you need FULL FREQUENCY RESPONSE or you won't get all the harmonics on the high notes--the tone will suck. 5-string basses suffer because the low B thru E notes are below 50Hz. If you check it out, most models from most brands are 50Hz-15Khz. That is fine for vocals, but not for guitar or bass. Even Shure's top of the line $2000 system is only 50Hz-16Khz--hey, they are a microphone company. I just did this wireless research about a month ago and ended up getting a used Nady 950GS. This is a pro level unit that retailed for $1600 before they discontinued it. Metallica uses them. Some of Nady's stuff WAS best in class. Most is not. I recently checked out most systems available that have a 25Hz-20Khz frequency response and there aren't many:

Lectrosonics (just about everything)
Sennheiser EW 501
Nady XR61 / XR62 (unbeatable at $139/$199 see the link to their factory closeout above)
AKG WMS40/80/81/4000 (50Hz-20Khz...OK for guitar)
Shure and Audio Technica don't make the list at any price.

Some of Nady's stuff IS questionable, especially when they abandoned the pros a few years back. The XR61 and 62 are the last high quality guitar systems they still make.
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...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...

[tonefight]

Thanks for the full frequency response tip, I've never heard of that but it makes sense. I was looking at Carvin wireless, I'll check what there response is and I'll look into the link Items also.

[tonefight]

OK, Carvin is only giving 50 to 15k also, on the nady link if you go back a bit on the site it says that some of the closeout are refurbished and B stock but it doesn't let you know what you're ordering. I'll do more searching but I'm cheap and I'll loose some response before I go over $500.
50 to 15k seams pretty good to me but what the heck do I know.

[JimmySkinny]

i had a NADY wireless, and it worked great for a year, then it kinda turned to crap. i refuse to use it anymore because its horrid.
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[lonewolf]

The AKG 40 UHF series models are all around $300 at AmericanMusical.com. It will be hard to find the full selection anywhere else. They have several versions but they all have the full response. Its a matter of personal preference. The basic WMS40 is NOT TRUE DIVERSITY--the others on the link are. The differences are basically: battery powered versus wall wart powered receiver. Guitarbug transmitter versus beltpack transmitter. Bonus: you get an AKG D660s microphone with any AKG diversity wireless purchase (for what its worth).

http://www.americanmusical.com/sort.asp?&byKeyword=yes&search=AKG%20WIRELESS%20GUITAR
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[lonewolf]

I'm glad I looked into this! They really lowered the AKG WMS80's price (last one on the link above)! They used to be $600. That is a quality unit that has 15 frequencies that you can select in case you get interference-you'd be set for life. That's a lot of wireless for $320. Too bad, no cheap microphone for free (for what its worth):

http://www.americanmusical.com/item.asp?&menu=&keyword=&item=AKG+WMS80GT
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...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...

[lonewolf]

Another little item I just found...the AKG Guitarbug transmitter only has HALF the output of the AKG beltpack transmitters. That would cut the operating distance quite a bit.
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...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...

[facingwest]

Two nights ago, I borrowed our bass player's wireless for the night because the solder connection came loose in mine. I was shocked to see how much of a difference there was in the sound quality between his Telex and my Nady. The Telex colored so much that I honestly thought there was a problem with a low battery or bad cable because all my presets sounded like crap. My Nady, I think stays true and accurate to everything and the only thing I don't like about it is that it isn't true diversity. Saying that, I'm in the process of purchasing a new wireless within the next 6 months and am going do a lot of testing before buying one now. If you don't mind lonewolf, I'd like to get some info from what you researched in them.

Something I did hear about wireless' and don't know how true it is or not, is the frequency/channel that the unit is transmitting and receiving will affect the sound.

[lonewolf]

I'll be glad to post anything I found out. I downloaded a lot of .pdf files.

Yes, the Telex (basically, ElectroVoice) are good for vocals, but they have some undesirable effects on guitar. Some models have noise gates and active, but uncontrollable compressors on the input!!!

About the frequencies. VHF thru UHF are running at about 200MHZ and up. Thats 200,000,000 hz and up. The highest usable frequency for wireless is 20Khz. Thats 20,000 hz.

There is absolutely NO problem piggybacking a 20,000 hz signal on a 200,000,000 hz carrier wave--you have a 10,000 to 1 ratio. You won't lose anything! This is true of any frequency over 200Mhz.

The ONLY thing that can cause problems on a particular frequency is INTERFERENCE from an outside transmitter on that frequency. That is why it is a good idea to get a unit that has at least SOME switchable frequencies.

I haven't had a chance to try one out, but the specs on the AKG WMS80 guitar system are impressive at only $320 (http://www.americanmusical.com). Its the only UHF system under $500 that met all my criteria for guitar. This model was around before AKG caved on the low end market and used to cost around $600.
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