AKG WMS40 Flexx Pro

I bought an AKG WMS40 Flexx Pro Presenter set, which came with the receiver and transmitter (obviously), and an AKG CK55L lapel mic. I bought the cable that connects my guitar and the transmitter separately from www.guitar-cable.com, and I use both the lapel mic and the cable regularly.

The system is pretty simple to operate, in my opinion, and the manual is a fine example of Austrian precision. It details every button, knob, and LED and does it four or five different languages. Anyway, I didn't really need to use the manual for anything. Just plugged in and started playing.

The first time I used this system, I gave the lapel mic to the pastor and let him use it for a sermon. I had to play with the EQ on the mixing board to get a natural sound out of the mic, but that wasn't a big deal. Something interesting did catch my ear, though. Whenever he was talking, there was a background hiss. Not loud static or ear-blasting fuzz, but a small background hiss. After a while, the hiss went away, or maybe I just got used to hearing it.

Anyway, I played around with it some more with my guitar and the hiss was back, only far more pronounced. Whenever I hit a note, there would be a definite backround noise. Figured that maybe it was my pedals or the amp, but there wasn't any hiss when I played with a cable. Plugged the wireless back in and the hiss was back. It was more noticeable on quiet, single notes than it was on chords, but you could always tell it was there. I EQ'd out some of the higher bands with my Boss EQ-20 and that helped quite a bit, although it didn't completely kill the noise. Btw, I play with an NS-2 in my pedal chain too, and that didn't take care of the noise either. I've noticed that the hiss isn't noticeable at all when you're playing with a band. Pretty pronounced when you're playing alone, though.

Other than the noise, I like the sound quality of the system. It doesnt' color my sound too much--maybe a little bit more high-end than with a cable--but it sounds good. I guess my only other complaint is that I lose some volume playing with this. I can't keep my guitar at normal volume 'cause I'll constantly peak on the receiver, but when I turn my guitar down so that it doesn't peak the receiver as much, I lose quite a bit of volume. Even with the volume on the receiver turned all the way up, I'm pretty quiet. I make up the volume difference with a Boss CS-3, so it's not a huge deal, but it's still something I think AKG could've done better.

Just a note: I'd probably rate this with an eight or a nine in this category if it wasn't for the hiss. That really takes away from this system, IMO.

When I purchased this, I anticipated a piece of Austrian-made gear. All the other AKG items I own were made in Austria, although this one was not. Made in China, just like everything else these days. Oh well...

That aside, the receiver and transmitter both seem solid. All metal case on the receiver and all the knobs and switches are solid and don't feel cheap at all. Pretty much the same for the transmitter. I've got it all mounted on my pedalboard with Velcro and I don't anticipate it failing or breaking any time soon.

As for whether or not I'd gig this without a backup, I don't think I would gig any wireless system, regardless of the manufacturer or quality, without a cable for emergencies. I've always got a supply of guitar cables nearby, just in case something acts up.

I sent AKG's customer service department an E-mail before I bought this system with a few questions and got a polite, courteous reply the same day. A few months later, I sent them a few more questions and never got a reply. I resent the E-mail and got the cold shoulder again. I'm not quite sure how to rate that...the one time that they worked with me, they were great. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Outside of the hiss, the volume loss, and the fact that it's not made in Austria, I like this product. The range is decent, although I haven't gone more than 50 feet from the receiver yet. I haven't experienced any interference, and I've got three other channels to choose from if I ever do.

It's really a great feeling to be free from cables. I can walk back to the mixing board to change a setting and keep on playing, I can walk around stage without having to worry about tripping over my cable--it's a great product in that sense.

If this was stolen, I'd probably buy another wireless system, although I don't know if it'd be this one. It seems to be one of the more highly-regarded systems in the price range, although I might look into a Shure or an Audio-Technica if I had to buy another wireless system. Overall, it's a good product--it certainly has a few caveats, but it gets the job done.

This thing is very easy to use. It's the 2006 version, the Flexx type is a diversity receiver with 3 channels to pick from. I picked the body pack type, not the GB (guitarbug) because the body pack has 10mW of power, the GB has only 5mW.

Just set the level on the transmitter, there's a clip LED on the receiver so it's really fast.

I chose this because it's supposed to go down to 35 Hz, and I'm a bass player. On my Precision Special (4 string) this thing sounds fantastic, absolutely identical to a cable. Completely noise free, total bottom end, very convincing.

Only had it a month, used a few times on club gigs (slightly unnecessary but I couldn't help myself) and it's great.

I would never use it without a backup cable ready to go, regardless of it's reputation.

I play Blues, R&B (old style, not modern joke) and rock, this thing works well with all of it. Even playing delicate stuff at low levels, it sounds super clean, uncompressed ( there is a compander in it but no audible artefacts) and full-range. I've been playing 30 years, GK RB400 head, JBL 15 box, RNC studio compressor in insert line of amp, Fender Jazz and Fender Precision basses. Stopped needing pedals once I got this stuff together, it sounds huge.

I chose this product because it was mid-priced, I read so many bad reviews of everything but the Sennheiser, Shure, and AKG wireless systems, and also because this one has diversity.