MI Pro Issue116 January by Intent Media (now Newbay Media Europe)

No. 116

• JANUARY 2010 • WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

PRINT • ONLINE • MOBILE

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS

London calling SCV London sits in something of a unique position between MI and pro audio, but there's no clash

ROLAND NAMM SHOW FREESTYLE MFY TOMANDWILL GUITAR FX

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ISSUE 116 JANUARY 2010

CONTENTS REGULARS: DRUM NEWS 12 RETAIL NEWS 66 INDIE PROFILE 72 FRONT LINE 73 NEW PRODUCTS 47-62 CODA 84

EDITORIAL COMMENT

COVER STORY 18

STIRLING WORK Andrew Stirling has a peerless career in pro audio behind him, but now at the head of SCV London, he relishes the work that lies before him even more

ANDY BARRETT mipro@intentmedia.co.uk

NEWS ROLAND RESTRUCTURES, BEHRINGER BUYS MIDAS, DAVE MARTIN AND MARINER, STEINWAY SHARES SALE

When I asked him how MI retail could help, he came out with a list of how he could help MI retail

EVENTS NAMM 2010 14 6

A stand-by-stand run-through of the year’s first launches

SUPPLY BARNES & MULLINS 22 Admira’s lasting influence

FREESTYLE 24 Hiwatt’s new distributor talks British amps

PULSE 28 PA for the people

14 TOMANDWILL 30 How the Clarinéo will rock the woodwind world

SECTOR SPOTLIGHTS GUITAR FX 35 Guitarists can’t get enough of them

ELECTRIC GUITARS 40 The latest axes under £500

NEW PRODUCTS 47

RETAIL RETAIL NEWS 65 Nevada records on shop floor, World Guitars giveaway, Dawson’s Homeworld

MUSIC FOR YOUTH 68 Lincoln Abbotts reveals the joys of doing good

LOCATION REPORT 70 68

Victory is MI’s in this naval town

elcome to the New Year and doubly welcome to MI Pro’s new look. As you will see going through this month’s edition, there are some pretty neat cosmetic changes to the magazine and I’d like to thank our designer, Claire Brocklesby, for putting in the extra work and coming up with such great-looking layouts. On the structural side, you will notice that we have organised the mag slightly differently, creating definite ‘sectors’ for the first time. Those sectors are: news, events, supply, products and retail, each colour-coded and designed to make navigation that little bit easier. As a result, you will find the new products section (the fundament of everything we do in this industry) pulled forward slightly and the retail section a bit further back. The January edition is, of course, the NAMM Show edition and on page 14 you will find the start of our four-page run-through of all the launch information that was available as MI Pro went to press. NAMM has an ongoing responsibility to make new music makers around the world – a task it fulfils with admirable passion and a lot of imagination. There are obvious benefits to our industry to have more people playing musical instruments, but we must never forget that the benefits to the music playing individual are many: longer life, better brain power, enhanced social skills, the list goes on. By bettering our businesses, we are improving the quality of life for our customers. For this reason, I would ask all retailers to go straight to page 68 of this issue and read the interview with Lincoln Abbotts, the CEO of Music for Youth and the man responsible for taking the world’s largest music education charity forward. Millions of children and youths have passed through the MfY and been infected by the joys of music making – and bought a lot of kit, too. When I asked Abbotts how MI retailers could help MfY, he came out with a list of things that MfY can do for MI retailers – which was unexpected... But nice. If you make one New Year’s resolution for your businesses, make this one: call Music for Youth and get involved. The fact is, everyone benefits – and there aren’t many activities that can achieve that.

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NEWS

Booth and Walter take Roland UK’s managing director promoted to head of European operations, as commercial director takes on the role of UK JOHN BOOTH, the current managing director at Roland UK, has begun a new job within the global Roland group, assuming the title of director of European operations, while Tim Walter, previously Roland UK’s commercial director, assumes the role of managing director for the UK operation. Booth will continue to represent Roland UK as chairman. Since 2007, following Booth’s appointment to the main board of directors at Roland Japan, his time has been split between the UK, Japan and, increasingly, Europe. The creation of this pan-European role is Roland Corporation’s recognition of the importance of a collaborative approach between the European joint venture companies and that the growing needs of these businesses must be identified and developed. “I am delighted to be widening my role at a European level, representing the Roland

Corporation, Japan,” commented Booth. “My main focus will now be helping Roland Corporation improve and harmonise our operations across Europe, although I will remain as chairman of Roland UK.”

”

My focus will now be to improve and harmonise operations across Europe. John Booth Roland Corporation

Walter joined the Roland UK board in 2003, after seven years at the firm. Since 2008, he has been commercial director, responsible for all UK operations. “Roland UK has enjoyed a remarkable period since John took the helm back in 1996,”

said Walter. “The Roland UK of today has been by driven by John’s vision, business savvy and the ability to spot and develop good people. The founding principles of the company, however, remain firmly intact. The Roland of the past, present and future is all about people, product and passion. Our customers will continue to be our key focus and central to our distribution strategy.” “When I look at the senior team of Roland UK today, I see talented, passionate and dedicated people, most of whom have risen and developed in our culture of continuous personal development,” concluded Booth. “There is no better example than Tim, who is a top-class executive and now definitely ready to step up to the highest level. As chairman of Roland UK, I am looking forward to our partnership continuing and bringing even better results.” ROLAND: 01792 702701

Steinway sells 1.7 million shares

Achard plumps for Martin

Chairman of Samick joins Steinway board

MARINER GUITARS, Ken Achard’s UK based premium acoustic guitar company, has appointed Dave Martin International to represent the brand in global markets. Established last year, Mariner’s instruments are designed in Britain and have been gaining ground in the domestic UK and Irish markets under the distributorship of Music Force Distribution. “Following a recent reorganisation of our production capabilities in the Far East, we now have the capacity to widen our horizons,” explained Achard, the founder and MD of Mariner. “Dave Martin is a highly respected export consultant and international marketer in the MI industry. “He has a wealth of experience garnered over many years and is a thoroughly nice

STEINWAY HAS sold 1.7 million shares of its ordinary common stock to Samick. In connection with the sale, Jong Sup Kim, chairman of Samick, will join the Steinway board of directors. The shares were sold at $16 each – approximately 37 per cent above the closing market price on October 28, 2009, the date the parties set the purchase price.

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Steinway intends to use the proceeds of approximately $27 million to retire outstanding debt and for general corporate purposes. Steinway’s chairman, Kyle Kirkland, and CEO, Dana Messina, continue to hold 100 per cent of class A shares, which represent over 80 per cent of the voting power of the total common stock. STEINWAY: +49 40 853910

Mariner Guitars gets veteran international sales and marketing man

Martin (left) and Achard hope to establish Mariner worldwide bloke to boot. I believe our association will drive Mariner forward to the benefit of musicians, dealers and distributors worldwide.” Dave Martin added: “I’m very proud to be associated with Ken and his team at Mariner Guitars. He and I have known each other since the

60s back in our Shaftesbury Avenue music shop days, so it is a real pleasure for me to be now working with him to establish Mariner Guitars on the international market. MUSIC FORCE: 01780 781630 DAVE MARTIN: 07775 501414

NEWS

a step up MD. Booth to remain UK Chairman THE NEXT LEVEL: Booth (left) and Walter will continue to work closely

Behringer stuns audio world Bosch sells Midas and Klark Teknik to re-branded German manufacturer BEHRINGER SCORED a lastgasp winner in the shock news stakes of 2009 with the announcement that it had bought Klark Teknik and Midas from Bosch. To add to the intrigue, Behringer has created a new holding company, The Music Group, to oversee the three brands, primarily with the aim of distancing the Behringer brand from the peerless reputation of the UK audio designer and manufacturer. Despite this, the various websites concerned give facts and figures that relate directly to the history of Behringer and the new holding group is headed up by Uli Behringer and Michael Deeb, the bosses of Behringer. With Behringer's history of supplying entry-level products to the pro audio and MI

Peavey EuroSys Peavey is reintroducing its best selling plywood housed EuroSys PA systems, originally launched in the late 1980s, best sellers for many years, but absent from the company's range for some time. The new range will comprise two speakers (12 and 15-inch) and subs (15 and 18-inch).

MTD with Proel

Uli Behringer now owns Midas industries – a business with a £135m turnover – this move is something of a giant leap forward in terms of quality, as the two brands are widely acknowledged as a world leader in live sound consoles and outboard. “We believe we have found both the passion and the financial ability needed to grow Midas and Klark Teknik,” said Robert Mulatz, senior VP of Bosch Communications.

Logic System buyout Providence appoints Assets purchase agreement results in two new Godlyke for the US directors for UK loudspeaker company UK LOUDSPEAKER manufacturer Logic System has two new directors following a recent assets purchase agreement. The core assets of Logic System Pro Audio were acquired by Gurbakhash Sanghera and Shameer Sacranie, who have established a new company called Logic System Pro Audio (UK). All 17 staff (including Logic System founder Chris Scott), intellectual property, customer lists and many outstanding orders have been transferred to the new operation. Both Sanghera and Sacranie have existing interests in audio and related technologies. Sanghera is CEO of digital jukebox manufacturer NSM Music, while Sacranie is a corporate lawyer who has investments in NSM Music. The deal offers hope for the company, which recently went into adminstration after suffering

SOUND BITES

Proel International has announced the UK launch of MTD Kingston bass guitars, a range of affordable professional bass guitars designed in the USA by Mike Tobias. Three MTD Kingston ranges are immediately available in the UK and Ireland: the Artist series (entry level), the Heir (mid) and the KZ (high end). Prices range from £519 to £1,100.

Faber appoints HL Hal Leonard has secured exclusive, long-term distribution rights for the publications of Randall and Nancy Faber. The Milwaukeebased publisher will be responsible for sales, distribution and marketing of the Fabers' catalogue throughout the world.

Japanese effects and accessories added to US maker and supplier’s catalogue

New co-director, Sacranie financial difficulties. These were somewhat attributed to the demise of Sound Control, which had been the manufacturer’s exclusive retailer. “The opportunity to get involved with a premium audio product and help it to grow was not to be missed,” said Sacranie. A new retail-oriented product line is now set to be launched, building on Logic’s heritage of providing pro-audio products to the working musician. LOGIC SYSTEM: 01427 677008

GODLYKE HAS been named the exclusive North American distributor for the Japanesemade Providence effects and accessories, which enjoy endorsements from the likes of Ozzy Osbourne Band and Robben Ford. Providence has a reputation for testing and re-testing internal wiring layouts and all other factors to ensure that each product delivers uncompromised performance. Leading musicians and engineers are involved from initial product development right through final evaluation. Development and testing go far beyond basic reliability and electrical characteristics, with critical attention paid to musicality as well.

Godlyke will launch the Providence effects line in winter of 2009. In early 2010, following the NAMM Show, Godlyke will begin to offer other Providence products, such as its cables and signal routing units. GODLYKE: +1 973 777 7477

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NEWS

Bösendorfer survives crisis Emergency meeting ends on a positive note as Yamaha consolidates the Austrian piano maker’s future after a difficult year

IN A RECENT meeting held in Hamburg, senior managers and executives of Yamaha Europe and Bösendorfer considered the difficult year the prestigious piano manufacturer has undergone and discussed the brand’s future. In a statement from Yamaha, it was announced that, despite the rumours to the contrary, the Viennese piano factory will remain open. Yamaha, which announced its multibrand strategy to the UK dealers on September 20th this year, cited this approach (Yamaha piano sales focusing on a ‘piano for everybody’ catalogue, from entry level to the sort of concert grands made by the likes of Bösendorfer and Yamaha itself) as the surest way to pull the 200-year-old brand out of trouble. Of some obvious regret is the fact that, as the Bösendorfer operation is streamlined, layoffs are inevitable from among the 180-strong staff. The factory’s council of workers has been invited to discuss the details of this measure. The Yamaha statement pointed out that the global economic crisis has entailed farreaching changes in the international piano industry and has directly affected Bösendorfer. Since the company’s purchase in January of 2008, Yamaha has

offered significant financial support for the Austrian piano firm. “To strengthen Bösendorfer’s presence and its instruments in the global markets, Bösendorfer and Yamaha have decided upon an intensive collaboration in sales and marketing,” read the statement. “Integrated within a multiple-brand strategy, the strengths and special virtues of both brands will be more intensively advertised and utilised in order to open up new sales possibilities and capture new market share with combined vigour. Together, Bösendorfer and Yamaha are able to offer a perfect solution to every pianist, every teacher and every audience. “Instruments built by Bösendorfer, which will continue to be managed as an independent company, should therefore be increasingly available on the world’s stages. With the support of Yamaha and its infrastructure, artist management should be expanded worldwide and collaboration with concert halls and renowned educational institutions accelerated.” The statement concluded that the goal of all measures was to give Bösendorfer a stable financial basis for the future, with the Bösendorfer operation remaining in its native Austria. YAMAHA: 01908 366700

Save Our Sound Lords it Plight of wireless mic users raised in the House of Lords as MIA calls upon membership to take action IN A speech to the House of Lords recently on the subject of the Digital Economy Bill, Baroness McIntosh raised the issue of Government funding for the PMSE industry, helping Save Our Sound UK's cause. In her speech the Baroness said: “In a tough environment, its way forward is still not clear. I hope that Ofcom and the Government will do everything in their power to promote an outcome that will ensure a healthy, diverse public service landscape for the next generation of citizens and consumers.” The Baroness went on to talk about Ofcom’s new obligation ‘to promote appropriate levels of investment in electronic communications’ stating: “‘Appropriate’ can be a slippery word, leaving much to the judgment of the regulator. We have one example already before us in the current plight of the UK’s programme-making and special events sector. This is largely defined by the technologies it uses and the activities that rely on them. Those technologies are wireless microphones.

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“The activities are theatre, news gathering, live music, film-making, TV production, sports events, concerts, community events at all scales and, indeed, party conferences. Justified in its own view by duties enshrined in the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom has decided to clear and sell the 15 channels relied on by PMSE and the industry’s radio mics will become unusable.” At around the same time, the Music Industries Association has called on its members to get behind the Save Our Sound UK campaign. In a letter to its members, the association said: “Pressure from Parliament and your MP is now critical to help persuade the Government to do what is required. Peter Luff MP, who has led the charge in Westminster, last week tabled an ‘Early Day Motion’ in the House of Commons. The Motion supports the Save Our Sound campaign. Clearly, we need as many MPs to sign the Motion as possible, and the industry needs to persuade them to do it.” MIA: 01372 750600

DISTRIBUTION NEWS

Roland restructures in Europe Cakewalk becomes Roland’s dedicated brand, while Roland System Group integrates Edirol video products across Europe THE ROLAND Corporation has restructured its brands and merged Edirol into the respective European Roland JV subsidiaries in order to ‘give more focus and strength to its distribution throughout the UK and other key markets in Europe’. In the UK, the Edirol sales and marketing operation in Chiswick will now merge with and be run by Roland UK in Swansea, effective January 1st, 2010. In the UK, alongside the Roland and Boss MI business, Cakewalk by Roland computer, software and interface products will be handled by the Swansea office, while Edirol video products will be the concern of the Roland Systems Group in Chiswick. Similar organisations will be implemented across Europe. “We are extraordinarily proud of what we have achieved in Europe with Edirol over the last 11 years,” said Edirol Europe’s founder and managing director, Massimo Barbini. “We have managed to enter completely new markets from scratch and

build some amazing success stories along the way. The merger of operations with existing Roland JV companies will guarantee the continuity of this success story and allow Roland to focus on its brands with a whole new level of coordinated efforts inside the group. I would like to thank all of my colleagues for having spent many great years together and for all of their hard work in making Edirol what it is today.” Following the merger of Edirol and Roland, Massimo Barbini will become president of Roland Systems Group in France, a newly formed subsidiary of Roland based in Paris. The new Roland company will target the installation market and aims to expand the Roland audio and video business with RSS and Edirol products. “We are pleased to announce this very positive merger of operations and brand realignment,” said Tim Walter, the newly appointed MD of Roland UK (see page 6).

“We believe it will significantly improve our brands, product lines, distribution and potential customer awareness and understanding of what we do across all of our product ranges. The Roland and Boss brands continue to lead the way in their respective markets, while Cakewalk is now

one of the strongest brands in desktop music production. And we are pleased to bolster our Roland Systems Group operations with the complete audiovisual range of products now jointly represented by Edirol for video and RSS for audio.” ROLAND: 01792 702701.

North/south divide for Berlin snags Knaggs New US guitar brand appoints Berlin-based Sound Service Duesenberg Guitars for European distribution, prior to launch in Frankfurt Oasis Music and 440 Distribution agree to share distribution of Duesenburg Guitars in the UK OASIS MUSIC and 440 Distribution will be sharing the distribution of Duesenberg Guitars within the UK, following Oasis’ successful securing of the brand for import into the UK. “I recognised the potential and quality of Duesenberg, but I felt distribution within the whole of the UK would be difficult for Oasis Music alone,” explained Oasis Music’s Howard Gillespie (pictured right). “We believe products like these require the kind of support and attention that only small and independent distributors can provide.” Oasis Music is also the distributor for Huss & Dalton acoustic guitars, which hail from Virginia, USA, and the company sees the addition of Duesenberg, together with its sister brand, Kluson, as a natural addition to its portfolio. “I’ve worked with Tom Harrison at 440 Distribution on many occasions and he expressed interest in the Duesenberg and Kluson development. I couldn’t really ask for a nicer, pro-active colleague to be associated with,” continued Gillespie. 440 Distribution is fast becoming established through brands such as K Yairi and Baden acoustic guitars, DSL straps and Bullet Cables. The firm was established by Harrison in 2008.

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Harrison (left) and Gillespie “I’m of the same mind as Howard,” added Harrison. “I’m delighted to bring Duesenberg into my portfolio. It has achieved a lot in a short space of time and I hope that we, together with the support of new and existing dealers, can continue to grow the Duesenberg brand.” OASIS MUSIC: 01425 478135. 440 DISTRIBUTION: 01132 589599

THE HIGHLY anticipated start-up manufacturer Knaggs Guitars has announced its first European distribution deal. Knaggs will be handled for Central Europe by Berlin’s Sound Service, which will be looking after sales in Germany, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria and possibly other neighbouring countries. Knaggs Guitars will officially launch at Musikmesse 2010, where it will display its instruments at the Sound Service booth.

Founder Joe Knaggs said: “I have travelled the world for the past ten years, so it seems only appropriate that we are launching Knaggs Guitars across the big pond. I am proud of the fact that this is the first major stepping stone for Knaggs Guitars. We look forward to working with Sound Service for many years to come.” Jordanis Sountoulidis, Sound Service product manager, added: “We can't wait to receive the first instruments.”

DISTRIBUTION PROFILE D’ADDARIO Gateshead, Tyne and Wear Simon Turnbull’s new venture will first focus on establishing D’Addario in the UK. It has a number of other products in the pipeline that will be introduced once the name is bedded in the UK. Year Established: 2009 Number of employees: Eight How has the current economic climate affected business? We are new to the market so it's not affecting us. What are your bestselling lines and why do you think they perform so well? D’Addario has a policy of continual improvement of its products. Through a process of research and engineering refinement, products are improved and updated to keep them at the top. D’Addario XLs are ‘the player’s choice’, but are very different today than 30 years ago. The Evans EC2, now with SST, is an upgrade on what was already arguably the best rock drum head on the market. Planet Waves has any number of fast-selling gizmos and gadgets, many in their second, third or even fourth generation versions. What are your criteria for selecting new products? Although we are D’Addario, that doesn’t mean we will only carry D’Addario products. We have a number of great products in the pipeline that we plan to introduce once D’Addario UK is bedded in. Accessory products are our speciality and this is the area you will see us focus on at first. After that, well, just wait and see… What distinguishes you from the competition? This company will be built on offering great products with world class service and exceptional dealer margins. We’re not going to use complicated price/discount structures. We will set a retail price and offer a simple discount to all dealers.

We have introduced service level agreements relating to shipping and order satisfaction. If we don’t deliver on time we’ll pay you £5. If you’re not happy with any product on your order, you can send it back. We have published a D’Addario UK users guide, which details what dealers can expect from us. How do you maintain a good relationship with retailers? We believe that by keeping things simple and doing what we say we’ll do we can earn dealers trust. We have some great marketing ideas that can drive dealers’ accessory business and we hope dealers will engage with us and use these ideas to further their accessory sales. What would you say is the biggest challenge facing the industry today? To keep future generations playing real music. In the face of any number of activities competing for consumers’ attention, anything we can do as an industry to encourage music-making is good for all of us. Later this year, we’re going to launch ‘D’Addario Presents...’ a regular live music event that supports local musicians in the North East. What are your aims for the next 12 months? To show that we are serious about the points above.

CONTACT DETAILS Address: A3 Eleventh Avenue, Gateshead, NE11 0JY Phone: 0191 300 3000 Email: mail@daddario.co.uk Web: www.daddario.co.uk

miPRO JANUARY 2010 11

DRUM NEWS

Oyster drums into London UK drum show to debut in London as Drummer mag’s new owner pushes brand’s potential THE UK is to get its own dedicated drum show during the Autumn of 2010 thanks to Oyster House Publishing, which acquired Drummer magazine and other former MB Media titles in September, 2009. The show, which MI Pro understands will be held in a prestigious London venue, is scheduled to run for two days and is likely to feature a retail component. Speaking to MI Pro, Hugo Montgomery-Swan, MD of OHM said: “Since taking up the title a few months ago, we have been approached by many of our key clients and advertisers expressing great interest in Drummer magazine staging a dedicated drum show. The MIA retains the intellectual rights to the name 'Drummer Live', the show previously run by Drummer magazine, and as it has chosen to exercise its right not to

Newcastle drummers rejoice New website offers kit completion

release this to us, Drummer magazine's show will bear a different title, namely, 'The UK Drum Show’. “In the past weeks, we have been researching all the key exhibition venues in London and not only comparing costs but also the individual features and merits of each. We believe now that we have found a superb venue in West London for a twoday show, which features a purpose made concert auditorium for the show's live stage, a generous amount of exhibition space and all the highclass amenities including clinic rooms etc. that a show of this type truly needs. Our intention is to announce further details on the venue's location and other elements of the show early in the New Year.” OYSTER HOUSE MEDIA: 01884 266100

NEWCASTLE DRUM Centre has launched a new site, which is focused on helping drummers complete their kits. The site has over 4,000 items available, all backed up by secure web ordering. Extensive product info and images enable punters to find all the details needed right on the site. The store is also offering all web customers the chance to win every week, with prizes such as iPods, cymbals, and a signature snare drum worth over £300. Between now and March 2010, every £50 spent on the site gets a free ticket in a prize draw. The new site can be found at newcastledrum.co.uk. NEWCASTLE DRUM CENTRE: 0191 221 0301

The age of the Aquarian endorser Is this a new drum concept? More and more top drummers switch to promote the drumhead brand

UK company, Gatton Drums produces drums from Du Pont developed material GATTON DRUMS are handcrafted in the UK from Corian, a granite-like material developed by Du Pont. The drums are said to perform like a high-end wooden drum, but are free of the excessive tones associated with acrylic drums. Craig Cockrell, who runs Gatton Drums and hand crafts

each one, described the sound as “full of body, dry at the centre, with tons of ring at the edge, bright like a metal drum yet with much the depth of a wood drum.” The drums feature the Trick GS007 Strainer, S-hoops, Remo heads and Puresound snare wires. Corian also has highdimensional stability, and allows for extremely stable tuning. The shell is said to be highly damageresistant, although should scratching occur, the shells can also be re-sanded and polished to the desired finish. GATTON: 01522 790900

A HOST of new top names in the drumming world have been added to the Aquarian drumhead endorser list. Leading the list from the UK are Biffy Clyro's Ben Johnston, Siousxie Sioux's Rob Brian, Rob Jones (65 Days of Static) Mark Heaney (Gang of Four) and busy clinician and session player, Robin Guy. MSC has also recently supplied Aquarian heads for Rick McMurray from Ash (pictured), who are currently on an alphabetical tour of the UK and are releasing a single every two weeks. Other new signings include Richard Rayner (Young Drummer of the Year 2009), Gilson Lavis for the annual Jools Holland Christmas tour and Paul Matthews, who is on tour with the long-running British stage musical, Rocky Horror Show

From the other side of the Atlantic, Aquarian has been increasing it's roster too. Adding names such as the legendary Carmine Appice and Chris Adler (Lamb of God) are JJ Johnson

(John Mayer) Jeremy Stacey (Sheryl Crow) and Joey Waronker (Beck/REM). Aquarien heads are suppied in the UK by the Music Shipping Company. MSC: 01562 827666

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY MIKEDOLBEAR.COM, THE LEADING ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING DRUMS.

VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. 12 miPRO JANUARY 2010

Marshall Amplification plc Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1DQ www.marshallamps.com

EVENT PREVIEW NAMM

THE NAMM SHOW ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER, CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 14TH TO 17TH

Happy New Year The MI world is set to converge once again in Anaheim for the 108th NAMM Show and receive that annual shot in the arm that propels us into the year ahead, armed with everything necessary to make a success of our businesses…

t’s an odd thing about big trade shows. By around day three or four, everybody is forcing a smile that more resembles a wince and sheepishly admitting that they are looking forward to getting back home. Roll forward a year and those same people are veritably wriggling with delighted expectation over the prospect of getting back on to the show floor and to grips with the business of the moment. The fact is, shows such as NAMM have so much going on, so many new products and so many people who have not been seen for a year, that we just know there will be something to benefit us.

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In its prime calendar location, NAMM has long been the springboard for the MI year – and long may it continue to be so. There’s nothing like it. Last year’s gathering was widely considered to be a ‘quiet’ show, but there is no way anyone should mistake that for there being tumbleweeds blowing down aisles lined by frustrated exhibitors. The show was pumping and vibrant and a lot of important business was done and important networking achieved – as is always the case. This year, some 170 of the 1,500-plus exhibitors will be new to the show,

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Shows such as NAMM have so much going on that we just know there will be something to benefit us.

proving that the dynamism of the trade is still there after a year that has, largely, panned out better than many had hoped. Finally, but most importantly, the biggest to the smallest exhibitors will have new stuff on offer, stuff to be seen for the first time and will be offering the first opportunities to sign the order book for a product that could prove the difference between a good year or a great year. What follows is the limited amount of info MI Pro had in December of launches at Anaheim. There’s a lot to get through already, but this is nothing compared to what will be on show when NAMM opens.

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NAMM EVENT PREVIEW

As always, the NAMM Ideas Center will be packing them in ASHDOWN 4778 Kicking of the A to Z, Ashdown has, yet again, an awful lot going on at NAMM in January. First up is the 427 Small Block head, which has an octet of KT88s and three over-fed transformers lurking under the bonnet, as well as an ECC83-fueled preamp. Following nicely on, the 550 Spyder Head combines the warmth and grind of the Small Block’s all-tube preamp with the dynamics of Ashdown’s 500-Watt ABM power stage for a smart and considerably powerful gigging combo. The third element from Ashdown is the BTA (Big Tube Amp), which combines a thirdgeneration ABM preamp with a choice of 200, 300 and 400-Watt valve output stages. Rounding off the selection from the Essex noise boys is a wee amp named after James Dean’s car, the Little Bastard. This alltube bass amp head is rated at 30 Watts, so it won’t rip your head off, but its EL84-equipped power section is more than capable enough for small gigs. Importantly, it won’t put your back out on the way (I know a lot of us need that sort of reassurance). ROTOSOUND B 5596 Metal Legends Duff McKagan of Guns n’ Roses and Velvet Revolver and James Lomenzo from Megadeth lead a star-studded line-up of artists appearing on the Rotosound booth during the Saturday of the show. They will be joined by emerging talents, Eva Gardener fresh from touring with Pink, Warren DeMartini and Robbie Crane from metal rockers Ratt and veteran bass player Billy Sheehan. The itinerary is as follows. James Lomenzo: 11am, Duff McKagan: 1pm, Eva Gardner: 2pm, Billy Sheehan: 3pm, Ratt band: 4pm. Rotosound’s R9 and R10 Rotos nickel-on-steel guitar strings are now available in value twin set packaging. Called Double Deckers, the new packs of Rotos offer greater value for money and an improved profit margin for dealers. The new double decker packs R9DD and R10DD are space saving, more environmentally friendly and easier to merchandise. They will be available for stocking immediately SABIAN D 3254 Sabian (along with many drum and percussion companies) tends to use NAMM as a showcase for the entire year’s product launches, although, in fairness, the Canadian manufacturer has held back a bit in recent years. Of note from the promised releases in January is the HHX version of the popular Fusion hi-hats. Featuring a medium top and a heavy, un-lathed, hand-hammered bottom, the hats come in 13 and 14-inch sizes and ‘deliver high-definition sticking, crisp, clear pedal ‘chick’, and cutting volume in both closed and open positions’. The Fusion part of the name comes from the mix – or fusion – of raw bottom cymbal and lathed top, in this case an HHX top and an HH bottom. The enhanced Vault Artisan Crash is the latest cymbal development from Sabian. According to master product specialist Mark Love, both the performance and sound of the Vault Artisan Crash have been significantly enhanced through a variety of design changes and the cymbal responds faster and produces a richer, fuller sound.

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miPRO JANUARY 2010 15

EVENT PREVIEW NAMM

Guns n’ Roses legend Duff McKagan will be one of several stars on the Rotosound stand

16 miPRO JANUARY 2010

TANGLEWOOD 5010 Tanglewood is pretty chuffed with itself this year as the company has secured its slot on the main show floor upstairs from Hall E. The guitar company now has a double booth (in between PRS and Rickenbacker, we are told). Tanglewood’s directors see this as recognition of ‘everyone's work and effort in building Tanglewood Guitars into a truly global brand and every partner has played a significant part’. The stand will see a selection of new products in the Sundance series, the Discovery series and in the new Signature by Tanglewood electric guitar line, which has enjoyed no little success since its launch in the UK last Autumn. There will also be some new accessory lines that reputedly have ‘terrific profit and brand building potential’. Tangewood has tried to be extra competitive in its key market areas – and taking into account that retail price points have being driven down by the changing world economy, Tanglewood believes it

has the products and tools to continue growing and gaining market share. The company will also have some smart mahogany and spruce-topped ukuleles on show, too. JHS E 1310 2010 sees the introduction of some bold new models into the Fret King Blue Label range, some previously only available as more exclusive Green Label options. The 60s ‘art school’ Ventura will appeal to the more extrovert player who will appreciate the comfort factor and performance offered by this interesting yet practical and playable body shape. The deluxe twin cutaway Elan is destined to be a popular players’ choice with its chamfered and contoured body, carved top and rigid set neck construction. This guitar ‘definitely ticks the box marked deluxe’ – and with some new pickup layout options available alongside a variety of vibrato and hardtail options, this Fret King model looks set to be something of a hit at the show.

MEL BAY 3304 Receive an extra ten per cent discount on any orders of over 100 units (excluding pocketbooks) placed in January 2010 quoting the NAMM 2010 promotional code. Also, every order over 100 units placed receives automatic entry into winning a £250 credit and a free gift for every qualifying trade order over £250. ALLEN & HEATH 6474 The Cornish mixer maker has selected NAMM for the global launch of several new products from the iLive digital mixing series, the MixWizard multi-purpose range and the entry-level Zed compact USB range. Exhibited on US distributor, American Music & Sound’s stand, the new products will be unveiled on the first day. It will also be the first showing outside the UK of the new Xone:DX, a plug n play DJ controller launched at the BPM show in October 2009. The result of close collaboration between Allen & Heath and Serato Audio Research, the DX is another development in A&H’s Xone:D range of

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ENGL B 5928 The maker of imposing black boxes that are designed to pummel the senses is keeping its new releases close to its chest (along with many others), but has announced that a number of big-name rock artists will be appearing on its stand at the show. Shadows Fall and Orianthi will be appearing on the Friday, while Duff McKagan (busy man) will be there on the Saturday at 2pm. Steve Morse and Vinnie Moore will be showing up and whipping out some licks on either the Saturday or the Sunday. The manufacturer will also have Paul Allender from Cradle of Filth and Zach Myers from Shiendown. ORANGE C 4674 Still glowing from its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Orange will be maintaining its imposing presence at NAMM with new additions to its growing Tiny Terror range. The new ten-inch version of the Tiny Terror Combo, the TT15C- 10, has a Celestion G10 Vintage speaker and 15 Watts of class A power. The Smart Power bass cabs will be launched, with the new 1,000-Watt Terror bass. There will be a lot more than this on show, so get along to Hall C.

ESTA REQUIREMENTS The US Department of Homeland Security implemented the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) early 2009, which affects the residents of countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) who can enter the US without obtaining a visa. ESTA requires travelers from these countries to submit basic biographical information on themselves before entry into the United States. This is considered an important step for allowing more countries to participate in the VWP. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, though it is recommended travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans. For more information and ESTA updates, log on to www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/. You must fill in the ESTA form is you are travelling on the Visa Waiver Programme or you are risking not being allowed in to the US.

James LoMenzo

SPARROW E 1469 The Canadian electric guitar supplier will have its stunning collection of hand-finished axes on show, as well as special appearances from Duff McKagan and Steve Stevens. Regardless of the rock stars, Sparrow is worth a visit just for the sheer beauty of its products.

ZOOM B 5940 Another company keeping things very hush-hush before the show, Zoom has been issuing little bits and pieces on existing products recently, including the upgrade for the G1u multi effects system (version 1.10). The new operating system has fixed the problem that switched off the patch when the unit is rebooted from bypass mode and the error of delaytime between the value shown at edit and the actual value. This is downloadable immediately. Get along to the stand, however, where there are bound to be some exciting new releases.

All UK orders placed at NAMM are subject to an EXTRA 10% off your normal discount.

Eva Gardner

RETAIL UP C 4007 MI Pro’s regular partner at the NAMM Show, the website consultant and designer will be on hand throughout the event to offer its services to large and small alike. Retail Up has based its product profile on a few simple facts that pertain to the MI trade: first, there are hundreds of thousands of products to load and maintain, second, features that support promotions are costly, and third, pure e-commerce companies don't have industry-specific services, such as sheet-music downloads, rentals, print music fulfilment and so on. In its essence, Retail Up’s offering is a one-size solution for all, but in practice the websites it creates cater to very specific needs of each shop or supplier – and are branded accordingly. If you are having trouble with your website or (heaven forbid) you still don’t have a fully functioning one, it’s well worth having a chat with these guys.

YAMAHA Yamaha’s annual invasion of the Marriot Hotel over the road from the Convention Center will once again feature a mass of new product that even the most dilligent visitor would have trouble keeping tabs on. This year will see the new Tenori On Orange and, importantly, its new operating system, with upgrades for live and studio performance. 30 years after the introduction of the CP stage pianos, the manufacturer is introducing three new models, the CP1, CP5 and CP50. The CP1 has a redesigned sound technology: Spectral Component Modeling tone generation, which recreates pure acoustic and classic vintage instruments. Yamaha will also launch a new flagship DTX drumkit, the 950K (alongside the new 900K). The kit has a newly developed pad technology which offers dynamic control and feel for players. Alongside the new pad technology Yamaha have also created the new DTX900 module, which has a huge range of effects fromthe Motif XS synthesiser range, as well as a variety of samples from Yamaha's acoustic drums.

Billy Sheehan

controllers, featuring a 20-channel USB soundcard and integration of the brand new four-deck Serato Itch software. The Xone:DX is touted as the most versatile DJ controller to date.

CALLING ALL UK DEALERS

Duff McKagan

NAMM EVENT PREVIEW

See us at NAMM Booth 5596, Hall B Special guest appearances by

Duff McKagan Billy Sheehan James LoMenzo Doug Ardito Eva Gardner and Ratt

into the music www.rotosound.com www.myspace.com/rotosoundmusicstrings WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

miPRO JANUARY 2010 17

COVER FEATURE SCV LONDON

Stirling work One of the most recognisable names in the UK’s audio industry, Andrew Stirling today heads up one of the hottest crossover suppliers in Europe. Gary Cooper finds out what makes SCV tick…

aving been at the top of UK pro audio distribution since the days of the original Turnkey operation (when it pioneered the home recording business), Andrew Stirling is one of bestplaced commentators to reflect on how the industry has changed. And in particular, how it has come to interface so closely with sectors of the MI business in recent years. Today, he co-runs SCV London with Julian Blyth – distributing Fostex, Audix, Audient, Summit and a host of others. A bit rarefied for an MI platform? Perhaps not these days, as sharper MI retailers have moved into the still-growing hightech area. But who is SCV and how did Andrew Stirling become a part of it? “Originally, SCV was a French company, the biggest pro audio distributor in France,

18 miPRO JANUARY 2010

and Julian Blyth ran the UK office. Some years ago, the mother company in France went bankrupt and Julian bought the UK company from the administrators. He has been running SCV ever since.” In the interim, Messrs Blyth and Stirling had also been partners in Audient, of which Stirling had been one of the founding shareholders and he ran the successful Stirling Audio distribution business, too. “Then, two years ago, we decided to merge the two companies, Stirling Audio and SCV. It made a lot of sense because there were economies of scale to be had and we were non-competing, so the product mix was good,” he says. One the first things that happened following Stirling’s arrival was the abandonment of a couple of mainstream MI lines – Hughes & Kettner amplifiers

and Blade guitars – which had seemed a bit anomalous in amongst the company’s otherwise resolutely high-tech offerings. Was that why they had gone? “I felt they didn’t really fit and we weren’t making any money out of them, so we parted company with both products to focus on pro audio, which really is my background. We were also coming into the recession, we didn’t really understand that side of the market and our resources were better concentrated elsewhere. It was time for us to stick to our core business.” SCV’S CURRENT MODEL “The main corporate pitch – and I think it’s the one that works for our dealer base – is that we don’t sell to the end-user. Stirling Audio was originally a dealer and started distributing almost by default,

because manufacturers of high-end products, like Lexicon, decided to go into the MI business, which made us a bit of a hybrid retailer/distributor and caused problems. With SCV that is definitely not the case. “One of the reasons dealers like dealing with SCV is that trust element. They can share client information with us about a potential sale and they don’t feel threatened by us in any way. It’s quite a traditional business model – a big warehouse with a big inventory, so we can deliver product very quickly and a lot of people like that, too. “As for the products, they’re quite diverse, but we always seek out products that have a distinct technical or commercial edge. We started with Fostex, which used to be core MI but is now very

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SCV LONDON COVER FEATURE

top-end pro in many different areas, including live sound or film recording. That said, its speakers are MI and we do very well with Fostex loudspeakers in that area.” At which point, Stirling reveals a surprise: “Fostex is pulling out of the multitracker market. Firms like Tascam, Zoom and Roland have done very well there and Fostex has decided to switch gear to use its expertise in slightly more specialist markets. So over the next 12 months, Fostex will pull out of the small multitracker market. It’ll still be doing the 24-track machines and it’s still doing the RAM recorders for live sound and the digital recorders for the film business, and it will be doing more with its speaker business, too.” If this change of direction sounds as if it might push SCV out of the range for MI retailers, it won’t, because one of the company’s other brands, the microphone manufacturer Audix, is not only mainstream MI, but growing rapidly. In doing so, it reveals one of the SCV’s most distinctive qualities – an absolute refusal to consider a market so sewn-up that it is not worth trying to break into. Traditional wisdom in the MI business has it that the microphone market is set in stone, with Shure dominant, Sennheiser a strong second and everyone else quite some way behind. So what price a new entrant – especially one aiming at the very heartland MI side? But as it has turned out, SCV and Audix are doing extremely well in this area. “Audix is one of our fastest growing lines and has grown enormously this year. In fact we’ve doubled our business with Audix this year, which we’re very pleased about given the difficult trading conditions. I think there are two reasons for this. One is that nearly all the other microphone companies are focusing on the market for condenser microphones for studio uses – that and the fact that everybody

is importing cheap Chinese microphones. Audix, on the other hand, manufactures almost everything in the States and has focused very much on the core, backline market. The main players there are still Shure, Sennheiser and Beyer, and that market is less plagued by the cheap Chinese copies. Audix has also produced some unique products and we’ve worked very hard with it to gain the confidence of the dealer base.” Audix has also learned the lesson taught to the microphone business by Shure in the 1970s and followed by Sennheiser a couple of decades later – that microphones are hard to audition, so customers are very swayed by endorsements. Following suit, Audix has striven to gain big name users and, Stirling says, this is paying-off with sales. FINDING A NICHE Stirling and Audix have also worked at niches in the market – building a strong following for instrument miking and percussion/drumming. “The vocal mic market is a much more complicated prospect to enter,” Stirling says. “Shure owns it, followed by Beyer and Sennheiser. We’re making inroads – we have a good product – but it’s more difficult to penetrate. Percussion is our biggest area, with instrument miking also doing very well. I took the view a few years ago, do I try and sell one microphone to a singer, or six to a drummer? It’s the same effort, but for more microphones and, in fact, the drummer market is where we focused initially and it worked well for us.” Indeed, there are those who say that Audix’s D6 dynamic bass drum mic is now the market leader – which is no small feat for a relatively new brand in such a short space of time. Another SCV brand storming away is Focal – French-designed reference monitors which are doing extremely well in the project studio market – and not just through the specialist studio-

oriented pro audio retailers, Stirling reveals, but also in MI/high-tech retailers, who have had great success with it. Once again, it seems, Stirling and SCV have proved that however crowded a market may look, there is nothing to prevent a newcomer gaining share, if the product and marketing are right. “Yes, the speaker market is very, very crowded, but we’re very fortunate that we have a sales guy here, Gary Robson, who knows the studio business very well and takes the products round to all the top producers. All the business is channelled through the dealers, but we do a lot of direct demo marketing to the top end of the market, to facilitate those dealers, and that has worked extremely well. “As with Audix, I think the endorsement programme we run has helped Focal. Using the top producers that Gary has introduced Focal to has really helped musicians to make a decision.” But not everything in the SCV house is quite so aimed at the top of the market, it appears. “No, because at the real cheaper core end, we do Superlux microphones which are very, very wellmade Chinese products. You don't go rushing around saying you’ve got a Superlux mic, but they sell in tremendous numbers in the pub and club market and to churches and schools, for which they offer a good quality, cheap microphone.” SO HOW CHEAP IS CHEAP? “We do models from £29 and even though there are lots of cheap Chinese microphones around, Superlux has done nicely because it is a well made product.” Appetite whetted? If so, then yet another page to turn to in the SCV catalogue of product types you might not previously have thought about is the Universal Acoustics Foam range of panels for home and project studios, which SCV now handles worldwide. Few serious musicians don’t have some kind of home recording set-up and few, equally, don’t have problems with acoustics. Cue

There are a lot of SCV goods that appeal to the MI market

miPRO JANUARY 2010 19

COVER FEATURE SCV LONDON

Universal, says Stirling. “Again, we’ve done very, very well with that. Dealers like it – it’s a no-brainer to sell and with no after-sales problems.” With the honourable exception of some very interesting (if sometimes overlooked) bass and guitar pedals from Aphex, most of the other lines offered by SCV are, it must be said, pretty hardcore pro audio. So how is that market faring, vis-à-vis MI? Word suggests that the top

20 miPRO JANUARY 2010

end – the stadium side – has been suffering badly due to budget cuts by public authorities and commercial enterprises responsible for major projects, but Stirling says that the side of pro audio in which SCV specialises has been doing rather well. “I’ve seen pro audio develop very nicely across this year. The demise of Sound Control benefited one or two dealers and enabled them to put a lot

more resources into the pro audio side. Without being too cruel, musicians have always been skint, so whether there’s a recession or not, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference to them and we've seen a consistent, steady business on core products throughout the whole year and growth in two or three areas. Corporate business at the very top end of pro audio has definitely suffered – the postproduction market is definitely down as

well, but the MI pro audio side – the home studio market – has held its own quite well. “If you look at the transducers around the computer – speakers and microphones – most of the people in that market have done pretty well this year and most of the products seem to have been able to hold their perceived value very well. A wooden box with a piece of cardboard flapping in and out has a much

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SCV LONDON COVER FEATURE

higher perceived value than two and half years of software design – which everybody wants for free.” Reinforcing that thought is another SCV product – the Bricasti Reverb, which SCV sells using the argument that it offers the processing power of three Macs. Stirling says there seems to be a growing realisation among end-users that there is a lot more to good sound than plugins and Bricasti has so much more processing power at its disposal that you would have to be virtually deaf not to be able to tell the difference. “We’ve opened quite a few eyes with that,” he says. “It has done phenomenally well and the dealers like it because it is a nicely profitable piece of hardware for them with that perceived value that I was talking about. Offer a plugin and the reaction is so often ‘Oh, I’ll go and see if I can download that for nothing from the internet’.” Stirling remains well plugged-in to the finances of the industry and is very aware of how the only serious money being made by most musicians today is from live performances. He believes this is being reflected in growing markets for good quality audio products for live sound and he suggests it’s the need for excellence that is driving the move upmarket with products like Audix. So is he intending to look further into that area?

“

Sound and when I want to communicate with the dealers, I think the MI Pro concept of trying to get to the guys in the stores works. They can be very insular and I’ve always felt that something like MI Pro that gives them a wider view of who’s doing what, should help them. “But my business plan for next year is to put probably half my marketing budget into banner advertising, employing a young man to work Gearslutz and the other forums on the internet to keep people up to date with what we are doing. Of course, the beauty of internet marketing is that you can monitor it – you get a report each month telling you who looked at that page and how many times. But it’s trial and error. “Personally, I don't even have a Facebook account and the concept of doing it horrifies me, but that’s where it’s at now. You’re talking to your customer directly and you’re getting feedback directly from your market. “I think the thing that I would want to get across is that we need to expand our horizons. Look further than what you are doing and look to see if there’s something you could be doing that you’re not doing now. And don’t give business away. “I speak to so many people who say ‘Oh, we don’t do that’ – why not? Educate yourself and expand your horizons. There’s a lot of business to be had if people will look for it.

We need to expand our horizons. Look ahead and see if there’s something else you could be doing. Don’t give business away. Andrew Stirling SCV London

“Definitely, and by the end of the year we will have a PA speaker line. We’ve been offered a few and we have a desire to get into the smaller speaker market for pubs and clubs. We have something on the burner at the moment and we hope to make an announcement before too long.” One of the problems facing SCV and others in the high-tech, but also MI, market is how best to promote itself. The high-tech magazines, like Sound on Sound and Music Tech, are one obvious route – but where else? There’s not a lot of point advertising in the ultra-conservative guitar magazines, so where does he spend his advertising money? “The sad thing about page advertising is that we often do it to stay friendly with the people we need to be friendly with – but the real business comes through the internet. That said, I don’t think there is any studio, home or pro, that I go into that doesn’t have a copy of Sound on

“For example, one of the things that is fascinating at the moment is how Digital Village and some others are selling back into Europe. Thomann has been selling into this market for ten years now, with everybody bitching and moaning, but it has taken ten years for someone to challenge it. “We all need to get off our butts and challenge these guys and not let that firm take it away from us. And you can challenge – there are ways of doing it and it’s taken us a long while on our insular island to fight back a bit.” Coming from a man who has successfully challenged both the microphone and monitor markets in recent years – regardless of the conventional wisdom – these are words well worth considering as we enter a new year. SCVLONDON: 020 8418 0778

miPRO JANUARY 2010 21

COMPANY PROFILE BARNES & MULLINS

The

Spanish Main As one of the biggest selling names in Spanish classical guitars worldwide, Admira is a leading brand for Barnes & Mullins. Rob Power delves deeper into the world of the flamenco supremo...

n a time when so many manufacturers are quick to up sticks and move production to the Far East in the pursuit of cheaper costs, it is always refreshing to find a company that has stayed true to its roots. One such firm is Admira, a Spanish classical guitar brand that is based in Zarautz in northern Spain. Founded in 1944 by the German-born Enrique Keller Fritsch, the brand quickly established a name for itself thanks to its exceptionally high manufacturing standards – standards that have been maintained to this day. Largely, this has been down to the fact that building a classical guitar simply doesn’t lend itself to an automated process. This is why even today, despite advances in technology and a few specific automated processes, the vast majority of Admira's guitars are built by hand. Currently over 100 full-time, craftsmen and women form the basis – both physical and conceptual – on which Admira’s long-term future relies. Admira finds its way to the UK via Barnes & Mullins, which has sold the range in one form or another for nearly 50 years. “It was back in the early 1960s when we first worked with Keller (an Admira distributor) in Spain,” explains B&M’s joint managing director, Bruce Perrin. “From that time, for nearly 20 years, it was making classical guitars for us under the Barnes & Mullins brand. The first and possibly greatest B&M model was the now famous Clasico. This was – and still is in its current incarnation – a great entry-level guitar. “The business was somewhat different in that period, because if you wanted a real classical guitar, the only option was a proper Spanishmade model. I remember a story told to me when I first joined Barnes & Mullins – that one year in the late 60s, we imported and sold 38,000 Barnes & Mullins classical guitars. That shows just how popular they really were. “It was 1980 when Keller decided to actually launch the Admira brand and since then neither of us have looked back. Our experience of the quality and demand for the product during the 1960s and 1970s was so positive that 22 miPRO JANUARY 2010

changing the branding in 1980 was no issue at all. “These days, the competition is clearly much tougher,” Perrin continues. “As Keller recognises too, the choice available to players has never been so wide. However, despite being in constant competition with Asian guitar manufacturers, Admira Guitars consistently holds its own, retaining its position as the instrument brand of choice for thousands of professionals, teachers and students who depend upon the quality of their guitar for their reputation, income or musical achievement.” There are a number of stand-out models within the range that have a proven track record, which has helped the brand grow very steadily over the years. Starting at the entry level, the Infante (£150), Clasico (£150) and Almeria (£185) are without doubt the big sellers. The Infante is a 3/4 size with the regular dimensions; the Clasico is a 7/8ths size with a smaller body and full size neck – great for correct fingering, yet with better ergonomics for the younger student – whilst the Almeria is a full-size, regular classical guitar. All models consist of Oregon Pine tops and Sapelli backs and sides and sound just as you might expect a Spanish-built classical guitar to – impressive. The next step up is the Concerto model (£281), a satin-finished model with a solid cedar top, creating a mellow, focussed tone assisted by the rosewood back and sides. Its understated looks have won the Concerto a great deal of praise since its release in 2002. The Virtuoso (£369) and its more recent electro cutaway (£537) sibling are once again staple products for any classical guitar stockist. A high gloss finished Solid Cedar top provides the basis upon which the sound is built and beautifully grained and glossed rosewood is used for the back and sides. The electro cutaway version of the Virtuoso features a preamp and pickup by Shadow. This is a company steeped in the traditions of Spanish luthiery with a real commitment to keeping manufacturing processes and locations as they should be. Admira is a brand that has gone from strength to strength since its birth over 60 years ago, and is sure to remain a stalwart of the classical guitar world for some time yet – and being Barnes & Mullins, it is the indie dealer that benefits. BARNES & MULLINS: 01691 668310

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COMPANY PROFILE FREESTYLE

Freestylin’

Freestyle Gary Cooper talks to the Yorkshire distributor about Hiwatt and a whole lot more...

t’s almost six months since Freestyle Music took over UK distribution of the HiWatt amplification brand and a year since it reintroduced another much loved old-timer, Eko guitars. A busy time then, and a lot going on for the firm. Freestyle’s MD, Phil Pilsworth, discusses on the reception these two iconic brands have received and the company’s plans for 2010 as it continues its rapid growth. MI Pro: How did the Hiwatt distribution deal come about? Phil Pilsworth: We shook hands at Frankfurt last year, placed our first order and received the first container at the end of July. LiMS, which we exhibited at, was really the launch pad for us with Hiwatt.

24 miPRO JANUARY 2010

How has the trade reacted to Hiwatt since you took over sales? Very well, but it’s been a little bit of a mixed bag. The previous distributor had done a good job, but how Hiwatt was being perceived by the dealers was maybe not right for the brand. Some dealers are very aware of HiWatt and its history but some aren’t, so we’ve been working on creating a dealership basis for it, rather than just selling an amp here and an amp there. We’ve been looking for stores that will focus on the brand, instead of it being merely the fourth or fifth amp range they sell. What sort of dealers have gone for it? Quite a mixture, including some large dealers but also some smaller ones, who

saw an opportunity to make a name with a major branded product that is still in its early days and which they could get behind early on. Does taking Hiwatt involve major stocking commitments? Our dealership commitment is fairly modest. We’ve got a stocking commitment which encompasses the Maxwatt and Hi Gain series, which we call the M dealership, where they can pick and choose configurations to suit their store. Then we have the C dealership, which is the custom shop dealership, ideal for the small, boutique guitar shop which isn’t really into 15-Watt practice amps and just wants to focus on the custom shop products.

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FREESTYLE COMPANY PROFILE We’ve set up quite a few new dealerships. It’s a name that the end-user knows and yet a retailer can stock it without breaking the bank, which he might have to do with some other ‘big name’ amplifier brands. Do you just distribute the models manufactured in the Far East, or do you handle the British-made products too? The Chinese product is predominantly the Maxwatt series and the Hi Gain valve series, and it’s great sounding and very highly regarded. The UKmanufactured Hiwatts tend to be custom shop models, with various tweaks and cosmetic things that individual customers order. Those come from the Hiwatt workshop near Doncaster. We’re don't carry stocks of those, of course, but we are actively selling them to the dealers. Hiwatt seems to have a fantastic promotional profile – particularly among indie-type bands. How have you been using that? It certainly has got a fantastic profile and that was one of the things that attracted us. Hiwatt has very high quality endorsees/users, the majority being UK bands – traditional UK rock n roll – anybody from Oasis to the Arctic Monkeys and many inbetween. They’re not the run of the mill American endorsees – the sort of ‘who does he play for again?’ names that you sometimes see – they’re all very good people to be associated with and include a lot of up and coming bands. We’ve been trying to drive business into the dealers’ stores via the new HiWatt site and via our own new Freestyle website. We’re listing all our dealers on both sites. There are the newly launched Hiwatt pedals for dealers to get their teeth into now, aren’t there? Yes, they’ll fully launch at Frankfurt but we will have a small number available before then. We’re looking to see them along with new amplifier models in the new year. Another development is that the Hi Gain series are now all going to be loaded with Fane speakers, which ties-in with the UK custom shop products and the whole association between HiWatt and Fane. Fane will be used in the Hi Gain series initially, but they will be in the Maxwatt models too in the coming months, which is a great selling point. All three companies are in the M62 corridor, just west of Leeds, with Arthur Barnes and Fane at Castleford and Rick Harrison within 40 miles of us, so it’s a very close Yorkshire-based thing where we’ve all worked together to move the product forward for everyone’s benefit. How about Eko guitars? That’s another brand with an illustrious history – how has its reintroduction been received? Again, it’s been a difficult economic climate to be launching anything new, but the acoustics have done well, particularly the Eko Vintage Series, which has been very well received and is now backordered. The 12 and six-strings – the iconic models with the bolt-on necks and adjustable bridges – have gone down very well. This year is a special one as it’s Eko’s 50th and we’ve launched a 50th anniversary model of the Ranger 6 and 12, which has just

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arrived. The six-string will retail at £599 and the 12string at £649 – both with fitted hardshell cases, ebony fingerboards and tailpieces, solid tops, limited runs, certificates of authenticity – that’s a very exciting development. We’ll also have new models on show at NAMM, including an electric semi-acoustic. So there’s more to Eko than just the legacy models? Oh yes, there’s a lot in the range. We’ve introduced some entry-level starter packs of acoustics and classical models and there are new models coming along all the time. We’ve still got the original designers over in Italy, including Remo Serrangeli, who rejoined the company three years ago, along with Renato Gasparini. They were the original design team – Remo designed the Ranger and Renato designed a lot of the electric models. Beside restablishing HiWatt and Eko, what has been happening with your other brands? The other two major lines we have are Quiklok stands and Gator cases. Quiklok ties-in nicely with Eko, because the Eko Music group now owns it. Quiklok is very well respected and we’ve got new products that have been launched over the past few months that are now starting to arrive. Production moved from Italy to the Far East three years ago and it’s taken a while to get to grips with that because it slowed down the introduction of new models, but over the past 12 months we’ve really been starting to push forward again, with better quality and more retailfriendly, full colour packaging, which will be on show at NAMM. The R&D team are starting to come up with some very successful introductions as well, like a new keyboard stand and a unique laptop stand. And Gator Cases? Gator is easily our biggest line and keeps going from strength to strength with new models every six months. This year, guitar case sales have slightly decreased for everybody, because of guitar sales going down, but we’ve just launched the GPE ATA series, which is unique in that it has a TSA (Transport Security Association) security lock, which means you can check into customs, who have a key so they can open it to inspect. It’s a very secure way of transporting a guitar. It’s made from military grade polyethylene, so it’s really a very lightweight flightcase which saves on excess baggage, but still offers excellent security and quality. Gator as a brand has benefited from tremendous support from dealers, making it the number one case brand in the UK. What is the particular appeal to dealers? The quality and pricing. We’ve got very high quality, but we’re pitched in the mid-price range. Innovation is a major point, too. Gator has a new site, for example, where an end-user or dealer can source a case by instrument manufacturer, model or even just by the dimensions of the product he wants a case for. If you enter the measurements, the site will list all the Gator cases that will fit. What are your plans for the coming months? We’re focusing on e-commerce with both Gator and Quiklok, to support the dealers, who are increasingly finding that’s where business is coming from. We’re still advertising in magazines, but next year we’ll be looking at expanding our web advertising, supporting our dealers with the information and the ability to sell our products off their sites, trying to make it as easy as possible to add our products onto sales – so they sell a Korg XYZ and it tells the customer it fits this particular Gator case – ideas like that. That’s been rolled-out successfully in the US and now we’re bringing it here.

Come fly with us! We’re loading up a whole stack of exciting new products for Winter NAMM and we’ll be there in numbers this year to talk you through them.

2010 yamaha.com

So if you’re heading for the sun, fasten your seatbelts, make sure your seat backs are in the upright position and your tray tables stowed. We’ll see you at The Marriott. If you can’t be there, you can check out the products and deals from January 14th at our special website: www.2010yamaha.com/namm

PULSE COMPANY PROFILE Swindlehurst (left) and Beesley show of a stack of Pulse’s latest kit

A strong Pulse A young brand with plenty to offer, Pulse has quickly become a recognisable name in the industry. Rob Power finds out more about the high flying newcomer and its expanding line-up of amplifier products...

little over two years ago, the Lancashire-based Pulse brand established itself with the intention of blowing a breath of fresh air into the market. The company’s first products to make an impact on the market were basic microphone and amplifier stands, but before long it was increasingly being asked for a broader spread of products, specifically a brand of amplifiers. With retail keen to see what Pulse was capable of, the company went away and developed a comprehensive range of 300, 600, 900, 1300 1.3K and 2.4k power amplifiers, which reflected not only retailers’ wishes, but also the the brand values that the company was to be based upon. Built up on a number of simple business and product-based foundations, Pulse is a company that makes sure it listens to customers’ needs above all else, enabling it to deliver quality solutions, value for money and, importantly, margins for the retailers. With the brand’s star firmly in the ascendent thanks to its successful foray

28 miPRO JANUARY 2010

into the amplifier market, Pulse has seen its line-up grow from basic stands to a comprehensive range of touring sound and light equipment, including speakers, CD and DVD players, PA systems, touring cases, microphones and leads, with 2010 looking like it’s going to be another busy and productive year. “Our philosophy is simple,” explains business development manager Dave Swindlehurst. “We focus on our customers’ needs and react very quickly to deliver quality solutions which offer great margins. “Take our Portable PA products as an example. We were asked by several retailers to develop a range that delivered both quality and margin over 12 months ago and we now have six systems in our line-up that have proved to be must-have items for all of our customers. From the very popular Megamouth PA system to our PA40, probably the best small PA on the market, we’ve exceeded our customers’ expectations on quality and price and can guarantee next-day delivery.”

Swindlehurst reinforces Pulse’s commitment to its customers daily, through regular visits to retailers where he can advise them on ranges and relay feedback to senior product manager Chris Beesley. Fairly recent additions to the ranges include flight cases and touring cases, including the British-made General Purpose Road Truck, which has proved to be a huge seller for Pulse. Also popular are headset microphones with interchangeable cables that can be used with any number of belt packs. Last but not least are Pulse’s cables, which form a fully comprehensive range that now incorporates header cards for easy merchandising. “2010 will see new and improved additions to the Pulse range,” says Beesley. “These will include two new ranges of speakers, alongside a series of stage monitors. I’ve just completed work on a new Pulse Value Series Range as well as an ABS range of speakers. The value range offers unrivalled value for money, hitting

price points rarely seen in the UK, while still delivering on audio quality. The fully-featured cabinets complete with steel grilles and sturdy handles are perfect for the budget-conscious DJ or karaoke entertainer. “The ABS range has been specified to deliver on sound quality first and as a result features high power compression drivers to deliver high-end detail and accurate woofers, all complemented by well specified crossover networks. “ABS cabinets keep weight to a minimum, a key aspect for today’s entertainers. I’ve complemented this range with new ten and 12-inch stage monitors, so we’re now offering everything needed by modern entertainers.” With so much achieved in its first 24 months, Pulse is certainly a company on the up. A big spread of new gear combined with proactive management keen to get the brand on everyone’s lips should mean that 2010 will be a very busy year for the newcomers. PULSE: 01772 664873

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Complete portable lighting system The newly upgraded LED Parbar MKII is ideal for all performers from live bands to DJs It now has improved 20% more powerful LEDs Each lamp has a newly designed lighter casing LED covers for added protection on the road The whole kit now weighs in at only 16Kg! Sound controllable built-in programs Stand-alone operation for soloists DMX 512 compatible / 15 channels Each lamp has 108 RGB LEDs Individual lamp tilt and swivel T-bar incorporates controller Stand height reaches 240cm Sets up in just 3 minutes! Includes padded rig bag 4 pedal foot controller Stand and stand bag

“The effects are literally

dazzling, with a very effective selection of lighting effects available from 11 separate of preset internal programs that can be selected via the built-in control panel” PlayMusic

“The Parbar is the complete

set-up... A genuine all-in-one solution, the Parbar simply screams convenience” iDJ Mag

“The LEDs far outstrip standard light bulbs and will boost your presentation” Tim Slater

“The Parbar is a great way to

illuminate your band or show without costing a bomb. Damn near essential, we say” Pickup

COMPANY PROFILE TOMANDWILL

Tom,Will and

Clarinéo

he news, late this autumn, that Graham Lyons had launched the Nuvo Clarinéo sent a buzz of interest around the industry. Already well known for his 40 year’s work as a leading teacher and writer, Lyons had in 1992 introduced the pioneering Lyons C clarinet, in an attempt to help bridge the wide gap between the recorder and band and orchestral wind instruments. But the Clarinéo promises to be something altogether more popular and, as such, has tremendous potential for those retailers who cater for the educational and young player market. Appointed UK distributor for the Clarinéo is the enterprising tomandwill.com – best known for offering a wide range of bags and cases for just about every imaginable instrument. The company’s MD, John Hughes-Chamberlain, picks up the story and explains why the Clarinéo has created so much interest and what he and his team will be doing to promote this genuinely exciting new introduction. But first, how had Tomandwill secured the distribution? “I think the product probably needed a small distribution company which would be likely to give it the quite specific attention that it needed, rather than being swallowed by a huge company, and we

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”

You may go on to play the oboe, bassoon or any instrument – and more easily than from the recorder. John HughesChamberlain MD, Tomandwill

had known Graham Lyons for some years and been a fairly good customer of his,” he explains. It’s a good product fit, too. Out of the enormous rage of bags offered by Tomandwill, the bestsellers are not, as you might expect, bags for guitars, which means the company has contacts with a wide range of shops beyond the exclusively rock n roll fraternity. “Among our bestsellers are more unusual items like double trumpet bags, and a lot of bassoon and double bass bags,” HughesChamberlain says. Having agreed to handle the Clarinéo, how does Hughes-Chamberlain plan to convince the market of its virtues? “We’ve got a multi-pronged approach. Firstly, we are mailing all the music shops and we are also very lucky to have Clive Guthrie with us, who will be known to most of them. Clive worked for Boosey and Hawkes for 20 years and he’s probably responsible for the huge number of Buffet B12 clarinets that are out there today, as he would have sold them to the music shops. He knows the woodwind and brass market very well indeed and he is basically running the sales of the Clarinéo to MI stores. “We also have Robert Simmonds with us, who was with Boosey and Hawkes too,

so with those two on board, I believe we can do a fine job. I think that was the key thing that led Graham to think this was the best way of getting the instrument into shops.” Hughes-Chamberlain is well aware that launching not just a new model of an existing instrument, but something entirely new, is a huge challenge. “Music shops, musicians and teachers we’re all naturally reticent about things that are off the standard, anything that’s a little bit different, so it helps tremendously when you have people introducing it who are well known and very knowledgeable,” he says. Assuming retailers are receptive, the next stage of Tomandwill’s marketing programme presumably has to be convincing music teachers that the Clarinéo is the instrument they should be teaching their pupils to play. So how does he propose to go about this somewhat daunting task? “We’ve created a website – www.clarineo.com – which went live a few weeks ago and I must say it’s already getting a lot of traffic. We will be doing an awful lot of mailing to teachers and to music services and schools – all very much designed to spark interest. On the website, we’re listing the dealers who are

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TOMANDWILL COMPANY PROFILE

After securing the distribution rights to Lyons’ groundbreaking Nuvo Clarinéo, Tomandwill has drawn up a plan of action that should help get the instrument into the heads of music tutors and into the hands of school children. Gary Cooper speaks with MD John Hughes-Chamberlain to find out if it has something of a recorder killer on its hands... taking them and we are adding quite a few names every week. We are also starting to do a lot of advertising in various magazines, such as the CAS Magazine, the Rhinegold Publishing magazines and much more besides.” While the Clarinéo’s Lyons C predecessor certainly had its admirers and advocates in music services departments around the country, the Nuvo Clarinéo seems, on the face of it, an even more attractive proposition for them. “It is similar, but a number of significant improvements have been made, and the marketing and packaging is at a different level altogether. Importantly, it’s attractively packaged and it looks the part. “Primary school music has traditionally been about recorders and that is the level where this instrument should do really well – the five to nine-year-old range. Schools have previously been somewhat restricted to recorders and, more recently, ukuleles have become quite popular as has percussion, but an instrument like this is a fantastic addition for them.” It is also a much easier and more suitable bridge to traditional wind instruments and its clever plastic construction, ease and cheapness of service and light weight make it seemingly the ideal instrument for a beginner.

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So does Tomandwill see the Clarinéo as an instrument children would play after the recorder, or instead of? “Either, but I would hope instead,” Hughes-Chamberlain says. “After playing this for a few years, you may well go on to play the clarinet, but you may equally go on to play the oboe, the bassoon or any other instrument – and more easily than from the recorder. But just in its own right as an instrument at that level, it offers lot more than the recorder. “There are two models that we sell. One is the standard Clarinéo, but the other is what we’re calling a self-teach pack, which comes in a colourful box and includes a tutor book and DVD tutor with backing tracks. It is something that sits on the counter of a music shop, making a very saleable package. And at the price, a suggested £145 for the self-teach model, it’s an attractive proposition and very good value. “The standard package, incidentally, without the extras, sells for a suggested £129. There are some very cheap clarinets out there too, of course, but compared with an equivalent quality clarinet or a flute, the Clarinéo is very appealing.” While it isn’t hard to see retailers who already sell traditional instruments taking the Clarinéo as part of their product line-

up, does Hughes-Chamberlain feel it could also offer new sales potential for more rock and roll orientated stores as well? “That’s a fascinating question, because I hope so – but I’ve yet to find out. Though we have been surprised by the reaction we’ve had to the first mailing we did – we were expecting a lot more resistance than we’ve actually had. “I think a lot of music shops are actually crying out for new things and this is genuinely a new instrument. It’s got good packaging, a fun side, because it comes in different colours, and I think it will be really interesting to see whether it can sell well in lots of different types of music shops. “Where we have already been very successful has been with some really important music retailers, like Dawkes, and it’s very encouraging when stores like that, and even some who didn’t stock the Lyons Clarinet, have looked at this and been keen to adopt it. “We are, as a company, going to be doing a pretty significant amount of advertising on this product, because I think it is something that both justifies and requires it. We have a pretty good campaign currently being planned, which will be taking place over the next nine months – a lot of it aimed at teachers and educators, initially.” With its new retail friendly packaging and a very child-friendly design and construction, it’s not hard to see the Clarinéo reaching places that the Lyons C couldn’t get to. Certainly, with the sort of exposure that Tomandwill have planned for it, the new instrument has tremendous potential, as a visit to the new website clearly shows. Here the Clarinéo is explained in great and convincing detail. Importantly, it offers a new prospect not just for retailers already selling wind instruments, but also for retailers who wouldn’t consider expanding into woodwind and brass sales, but for whom having something to offer aspirational parents who are not going to be satisfied with their children learning a guitar, offers a genuinely new opportunity. What is more, with Tomandwill so thoroughly behind the new product, and every chance that teachers are also going embrace it, the Clarinéo has the potential to become a staple part of a music shop’s stock in years to come. TOMANDWILL: 08450 945659

miPRO JANUARY 2010 31

PROFILE

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING DAN GOODAY Artist relations and marketing manager Ashdown’s Dan Gooday reveals all about his working day, which can include everything from sorting out gear for the biggest bands to preparing new products for the biggest trade shows...

normally get up, have a quick cup of tea and check the emails on my iPhone. Then I wander over to the office with the dogs. I live on the farm where the offices are – built within the stable block. First off, I’ll answer the dozens of artist requests that have come into our website and double check that prior requests have been sorted. We like to do our utmost and support everyone to the best of our ability. We work with anyone from small bands that play in pubs all the way up to huge bands such Foo Fighters. We get an awful lot of people coming to us. Generally speaking, how much we help depends on what they’re doing as a band. We don’t give anything away, but we offer great pricing and support. If a band needs loan gear anywhere around the world we can generally sort that out for them. Often, bands won’t take a backline with them on tour, so we step in. For example, over the last few weeks the Foo Fighters were over and it was down to me to organise two rigs for them. They were doing Jools Holland one night and the VMA awards in Berlin the next, so they needed gear in both places. Logistically, putting that together was all sorts of fun and games. We have a lot of high profile players, people like Mark King from Level 42, Nate Mendel from the Foo Fighters, and Adam Clayton from U2. It’s a broad spread, you've got everyone from rock icons to high fidelity players, down to young English bands like Bloc Party –

32 miPRO JANUARY 2010

we're supporting a lot of artists. I’ve been doing this job for the last seven years, so I’ve built up good relationships with a lot of people. There’s no one else at the company that deals with artists or marketing, so I’ve got a lot of my plate, to say the least. At the moment I’m working on the photography for the Valve range coming out at NAMM. I’ve been working on the brochure as well as the imagery. I’ll also be writing press releases for NAMM and the global media that we deal with.

”

I’m writing press releases for NAMM and I’ll be working on Frankfurt after that, so there’s no rest. Dan Gooday, Ashdown

I’ll be working on Frankfurt after that, so there’s really no rest. Once the big trade shows are out of the way, I hit my really busy period in the summer: festival season. All the sales people tend to have a quiet time over the summer, but for me it’s the opposite and I’m rushed off my feet. I get home about six o’clock, and relax. I play myself and I have a little studio, so I keep myself pretty busy.

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AT E R G LS A E D Rackmount MP3 player

Ref: MP3 Master

Accepts SD cards or USB drives. Balanced microphone input completes the unit making this ideal for entertainers of all kinds.

Studio Monitor Headphones Ref: Studio Cans Made for the studio these headphones provide a well balanced frequency reponse, tough build quality and are retail packed ready for instore display

Speakon Leads

Ref: PLS00159

Speaker cables featuring Genuine Neutrik Speakon connectors and tough, flexible 2.5mm cable

Ultra-portable PA System Ref: PA-40 Packing an impressive 40Wrms output this unit outperforms most similar size units. Supplied complete with a 16CH UHF radio microphone

HUGE MARGINS! UNBEATABLE TRADE PRICES! FEEL EVERY BEAT From PA systems to mic stands, spotlights to flight cases, the PULSE series of sound & lighting equipment delivers power, portability, versatility and quality for all your requirements.

XLR multicores

Ref: PLS00035

Handy cable reels ideal for gigging musicians.

To see how the Pulse range can improve your sales and profitability call Dave Swindlehurst. Tel 01772 664873 email: dave@pulse-audio.co.uk PULSE, Faraday Drive, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9PP. Coming Soon - www.pulse-audio.co.uk & www.pulse-light.co.uk

CONTACT DETAILS

GUITAR FX SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

ZOOM 01462 791100 PEAVEY 01536 424664 STRINGS & THINGS (DUNLOP) 01691 668310 ARIA UK 01483 238720 SOURCE (EVENTIDE/MOOG) 020 8962 5080 WESTSIDE (MORLEY/ 0141 248 4812 CHORD 0845 270 2411 HEADSTOCK (IBANEZ) 0121 508 6666 GODLYKE (GUYATONE) +1 973 777 7477 JHS (MXR/DUNLOP) 0113 286 5381 ROLAND (BOSS) 01792 702701 HOTROX UK 0115 987 3163 SOUND TECH (DIGITECH) 01462 480000 MARSHALL 01908 375411

Zoom G2 RRP: 89.99 Designed for both studio and live use, there is a staggering amount packed into what is quite a tiny box, including 16 classic amp and FX models, preset patches and a drum machine.

Line 6 M9 RRP: £329 Boasting over 80 stomp box models within its read-for-the-road frame, there are enough effects in this box to keep any guitarist happy for months. Easy to use and with a looper and many of the effects from the popular DL4 included, this is quite a package.

T-Rex Tonebug Reverb RRP: £72 With an ingenious dual mode feature that allowes players to switch between Modern (contemporart reverbs) and Spring (classic vintage reverbs) this is a versatile and great sounding addition to the expanding ranks of T-Rex pedals.

The FX effect The guitar effects market has a vast array of products within it – an amount that belies the cabinet space it affords in most shops. Rob Power walks through the minefield of über tone to discover some explosive (and profitable) sounds...

“

Huge multinationals compete with boutique manufacturers for the attentions of fickle guitarists

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s a breed, guitarists are constantly looking for the new sound, whether it's the harshest overdrive or the wildest delay. It's a constant search that, for many players, never quite ends – there's always something else out there that can be added to the pedal board, always another update or innovation. To cope with this, the effects pedal market is crowded to say the least. Huge multi-national companies compete with the smallest of boutique manufacturers for the attentions of fickle effects hunters, so there's plenty of variety to suit pretty much any taste. Long the first choice of players after something that offers a large range of effects as well as essential value for money is Zoom, a company that has

been turning out extremely popular multi effects units for quite some time now. The most recent addition to its range is G1 X Next, which follows the familiar dual pedal layout and packs a staggering amount of variety into what is essentially a very small box. State of the art modelling technology combines with familiar Zoom ease of use, a clutch of artist presets and a range of effects including everything from modulations through to eqs, 20 odd overdrives and a huge number of delays and reverbs. The G1 X Next includes an expression pedal in order squeeze a bit more usage out of the box, but be in no doubt this is a highly effective, incredibly flexible pedal that will have a huge number of Zoom fanatics reaching for their wallets.

Peavey's main competitor in the effects market is the Budda Wah, a pedal that has been favoured by the likes of Dave Navarro and Steve Vai for a good reason. Tonally bright without being too piercing, it features a hard-wire bypass so that the effect is kept out of the circuit when it is not in use, keeping the signal path as uncluttered as possible. A custom coil inductor, essentially an update on the technology that was central to the 60's Cry Baby, is also central to the vocal effect that the pedal produces. Another major player in the effects world is Line 6, a company that has exposed many players to their first encounter with effects. The DL4, a delay modeler that packs the sounds of a huge range of classic and modern delays into

miPRO JANUARY 2010 35

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT GUITAR FX Digitech Timebender RRP: £315 Featuring 10 delay types including, the TimeBender goes beyond normal delays to create custom repeat rhythms and has endless scope for rhythmic variety, whilst up tp to 6 taps can be set to quickly create delays that would normally take a rack of effects and hours of programming.

Chord PH-50 phaser RRP: £32.99 This fully analog phase shifter aims to recreate classic rock and pop phasing, while the versatile controls allow variations from slow comb filtering all the way up to high speed vibrato effects.

Ibanez Tube King RRP: £149 Thanks to the 12AX7 at it's heart, the Tube King has the enviable ability of being able to make a solid state amp sound like a filthy tube driven monster. Perfect for players with a budget that doesn't quite stretch to a tube amp...

Moogerfooger MF-102 RRP: £279

On the electric side there is the A beautiful looking ring modulator designed by none other than Bob Moog himself, the pedal features an analog Ring Modulator with a built in Carrier Oscillator and LFO. A top notch high end pedal.

an eye catching green box, has become a classic in its own right, and is a consistently strong seller. A new product on the market for Line 6 is the M9, an update on the M13 stompbox modeller which scales down of the size of the M13 but packs just as much of a punch. A new line of affordable pedals from Aria has hit the market in the form of Series 10. Housed in durable cases in striking colours with chicken head knobs, effects in the line include DT10 distortion and the FL10 flanger, amongst many others, with prices ranging from £44.95 to £64.95. Eventide, at home with Source Distribution – as is Moog – has plenty of gear to entice guitarists in with. The newest of the Eventide stompboxes is the

36 miPRO JANUARY 2010

Pitch Factor harmonizer (£459), which joins the Time Factor delay and Mod Factor modulation pedals. A highly anticipated pedal, it follows in the harmonising tradition that Eventide built its reputation on. New from Moog is the MF-105M MIDI Murf 110V, a beautiful looking wood bound pedal that has bundles of retro allure in both looks and sounds thanks to its extremely resonant, 100 per cent analog mid and bass filter bands. Westside has plenty to offer the effects laden guitarist, with everything from the mighty Morley wahs to the cutting edge designs of T-Rex under it's wing. Westside is also home to the mighty Ebow, one of the most instantly recognised effects on the market that has

the ability to revolutionise the way a player approaches the guitar. A new brand, Chord looks set to make a name for itself in 2010 with it's distinctive range of cost effective stomp boxes. From the likes of the OD-50 overdrive which delivers a sweet classic rock tone to the PH-50 phaser, there's enough variety on offer to pique the interest of any passing guitarist. Ibanez has its place in effects pedal heaven guaranteed thanks to the Tube Screamer, but there are plenty of other Ibanez pedals that do just as good as job, from the warm sounding AD9 analog delay through to the CS9 stereo chorus. Of particular interest to the shredders among us is the Ibanez Jemini, the signature distortion pedal of Steve Vai,

which with its double pedal layout and crazy colour scheme makes for an interesting addition to any effects rig. The Guyatone Mighty Micro range is the latest from Godlyke, which is based on the well received Micro series and aims to offer professional-grade features and exceptional sound quality in an ultra-compact, lightweight chassis that is 33 per cent smaller and 50 per cent lighter than the average stompbox. To date, the range includes the Hgm 5 Hot Drive, Mdm 5 Micro digital delay (an upgrade on the best selling MD-2), Mrm 5 Wah Rocker, and finally the Vtm 5 VeriTrem, with each coming with a three year warranty, aluminium 'stomp guard' to protect the controls and top mounted jacks. Really worth a look.

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D R A D N A T S T X E N E TH

G1J JOHN 5 SIGNATURE

G1K KIKO LOUREIRO SIGNATURE

G2R RICHIE KOTZEN SIGNATURE

G2G GEORGE LYNCH SIGNATURE

Zoom UK, 15 Weston Barns, Hitchin Road, Weston, Hertfordshire, SG4 7AX, UNITED KINGDOM

TEL: +44-1462-791100

G1M MICHAEL AMOTT SIGNATURE

Zoom Corporation, 2F, ITOHPIA Iwamotocho 2-chome Bldg., 2-11-2 Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, JAPAN

www.zoom.co.jp

FAX: +44-1462-791117

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT GUITAR FX

Boss Space Echo RRP: £189 Reproducing the sound of the classic piece of outboard studio wizardry, this dual pedal opens up a whole new world of sounds to guitarists looking for something that will send their sound into the stratosphere. Excellent retro sounds and style.

Dunlop Kirk Hammett RRP: £249 Designed to capture the tone of the Metallica icon, and developed in conjunction with the man himself, this is an absolute must have for fans of the band or players looking to emulate Hammett's way with the wah.

Godlyke RRP: $POA Selectable waveforms and rugged construction are all part of the package here. The Veri-Trem creates warm vintage tremelo tones and allows players to sculpt the sound to their own liking.

Electro Harmonix Cathedral RRP: £179 A stereo reverb capable of allowing players to transcend this world and sound heavenly, Electro Harmonix have once again created something that is able to not only help alter a guitarist's sound but also help open up the floodgates to creativity.

With an awful lot of effects brands under its wing, JHS has plenty to shout about in this department. First up is the MXR Black Label chorus, a new addition to the much lauded MXR range. A Zakk Wylde signature pedal used to thicken up his wall of distortion, the pedal features vintage-style tones and a heavy-duty housing for a lifetime on the road. Also at JHS is the ever popular Danelectro Cool Cat range. Distinctive designs, genuinely great sounding pedals and prices that aren't terrifying to guitarists still on pocket money, Danelectro has made an impressive name for itself with its effects and continues to do so. Hot Rox has a few interesting names on its books, not least the mighty Electro Harmonix, a brand that, thanks to it's

38 miPRO JANUARY 2010

flawless 60s heritage, remains hugely popular and sought after. The Big Muff is still a strong seller, but there is a hell of a lot more to the brand, such as the Memory Man analog delay or the Holy Stain multi effects unit which includes reverb, a tremelo and pitch shifting amongst other tricks. Roland, with its Boss brand of course, is still very much the first port of call for many players searching for effects. While there are some evergreen pedals that seem to find their way onto every pedal board – the DS-2 or DD-5 for example – some of the more recent additions have also made a splace. Check out the absolutely bonkers Slicer for example, a harmonic, arpeggiator-type pedal than frankly needs to be heard to be believed.

Still a big name in effects, Digitech continues to unleash its mindbending products on the market thanks to Sound Technology. The RP1000 integrates into set ups, switching stomp boxes in and out of the signal path like a pro rig, and allows players to integrate loops into their sound. Also better known for its amplifiers, Marshall has made impressive inroads into the effects market in recent years. Its current range includes the crunchy Guv'nor and Bluesbreaker II distortion pedals, alongside the likes of the Regenerator, which includes a phaser, flanger and chorus all in one small unit. Value for money, sturdy design and, as you might expect from Marshall, professional level sounds that should slot into any set up with ease.

”

Of particular interest to the shredders among us is the Ibanez Jemini

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OD-50 Overdrive

FL-50 Flanger

Ref: 174.204UK

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HM-50 Heavy Metal

CH-50 Chorus

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DL-50 Delay

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BOD-50 Bass Overdrive

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CM-50 Compressor

BEQ-50 Bass Graphic EQ

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BCH-50 Bass Chorus

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DS-50 Distortion Ref: 174.201UK

... with our NEW range of effects pedals!

Audio clips online

These authentically styled ‘Chord’ pedals all come housed in a heavy duty die-cast case to withstand stage abuse and stay put underfoot.

Find the perfect stomp pedal for your needs by listening to the sounds and effects that can be created at www.chordmusicuk.com

0845 270 2411

They have a pure analogue signal chain combined with up-to-date features to satisfy the demands of today’s guitarists, without the exclusive price tag.

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CONTACT DETAILS FENDER (SQUIER/HAMER) 01342 331700 TANGLEWOOD 01937 841122 BARNES & MULLINS (LAG/GOULD) 01691 652449 JHS (FRET KING/VINTAGE/ ITALIA/DANELECTRO) 0113 286 5381 EMD (STAGG) 01293 862612 MUSIC FORCE (ASHTON/SPARROW) 01780 781630 ARIA 01483 238725 INTERMUSIC (SHINE) 01202 696963 WESTSIDE (SCHECTER/AXL) 0141 248 4812 HEADSTOCK (IBANEZ) 0121 508 6666 PEAVEY 01536 461234 YAMAHA 01908 366700

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT ELECTRIC GUITARS

Stagg G Force RRP: £295

Ibanez GSA 60 RRP: £195

While Stagg is synonymous with good quality, value-for-money familiarly styled entry level electrics, there also exist uniquely styled models somewhere between the upper echelons of entry level to mid price. The impressive G Force is designed to get the younger rock players salivating with its almost industrial take on the V-style guitar. A solid alder body fitted with high output humbuckers, a fixed bridge and a slim neck profile for speed playing.

With less aggressive lines than the classic Ibanez rock guitars, namely the RG series, the GSA 60 is one helluva cool starting point for players wanting to get their first taste of an electric. A quality maple neck on an agathis body and looks to die for, the GSA 60 has two single coil pickups and a bridge humbucker for that extra kick to compensate the bite. A paltry £195 will buy your customers this baby.

Fret King Eclat 2 RRP: £549 At the upper end of this price bracket is the Fret King Eclat 2, which features the classic format for this style of set-neck construction. With a two-piece flat front centre-jointed mahogany body and single-piece mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, this guitar also features a unique forearm chamfer, rear comfort scoop and enhanced upper fret access. A Wilkinson intonatable GTB200 combined bridge/tailpiece and custom designed Fret King P90s complements this axe.

Pre-budget statement There is no bigger market for guitars than the £150 to £500 sector of electric models. Thousands of new models appear each year in much the same way mushrooms do, but the dilemma for player and retailer alike is simply where to start. Andy Barrett gets up close and personal with a few new additions…

“

It’s worth pointing out to the punter that the right choice has become pretty vital, as this could be a guitar that remains with the player for ages.

40 miPRO JANUARY 2010

icking one mid-priced guitar from the plethora is very much down to the sales patter of the shop staff. Once you get over £200, it is the components and the finishes that begin to change.The use of quality machineheads and string retainers on the headstock, the bridge (whether trem loaded or not), the control pots and switches. All of these start to make a difference to the sale and, because the wood begins to be selected with something approaching concern, translucent finishes can be applied to bring out the best of those lovely mahogany, ash and maple bodies. With the standard of these lower (but not lowest) priced axes reaching everimproving quality, it is worth pointing out to the punter that the right choice has become pretty vital, as this could be a guitar that remains with the player for ages.

For the dealer, the queue of reps growing at the door is the result of there being so much to choose from, so there should be no problem finding the brands and models you are comfortable with. Happy hunting and successful sales… When talking ‘guitar’ you have to talk Fender – and when adding the word budget, the conversation easily swings to Squier. Fender GBI is making much at the moment of the new Squier Biffy Clyro signature models – the Simon Neil Stratocaster and James Johnston Jazz bass. The Stratocaster is colour-matched to Neil’s 60s Custom Shop guitar and features a custom set of pickups. Away from the main lines, so to speak, Fender GBI also has the Hamer XT series, which at sub £500 represents top value.

With the company’s runaway success in the sphere of acoustics, it is easy to forget that Tanglewood has an impressive line up of electrics to offer. As well as the TSB 58 L-types (above) there is the TSB 67 SGtype, for those after a touch more classic cut and the TJD 700, a more modern take on the double cutaway. The 700 features a basswood body and a maple neck with die-cast chrome tuners and nickel hardware and a couple of humbuckers to feed the appetite of the heavier rockers. Barnes & Mullins has a couple of electric brands on their books and I’m certain the company wouldn’t mind my saying that the headliner of these is Lag. The classic Roxane design (the original Lag shape) comes in for as little as £419 for the R200ST. The double cutaway design,

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ELECTRIC GUITARS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT Lag RRP: £459

Aria TA 50 QM RRP: £349

Lag’s Arkane A200ST (£459) features a Flamed Maple top on a solid basswood body; a Bolt-On neck; 3 x EMG Pickups and a Floyd Rose trem system. A200STs are available in Black Shadow (left handed, too), Honey Shadow and Royal Blue Shadow. There is also a Matt design version A200MD (£369) which features a fixed bridge, string-thru design which is only available in Black (of course). The famous Roxane design is also available at the lower end in the shape of the R200ST models (£419).

The TA series has been around since 1967. The new TA 50 QM offers a top, back and sides that are all quilted maple with a natural amber finish, combined with the cream body bindings, chrome hardware and black scratch plate. A pair of high output HB-103 humbuckers with ceramic coils, based on the SH-6 Duncan Distortion units make for a powerful signal, but they clean up beautifully. The guitar has Aria's own SPT bridge and patented type QH tailpiece.

beautifully flamed maple tops and solid mahogany bodies are equipped with tonally broad EMG pickups. Like the Arkane (above), the Roxane has a Matt Design version too: R200MD. The matt black or pearl white finishes, brushed chrome hardware and string-thru body design create a more contemporary appearance. B&M’s other brand is Gould, which has proved a successful starting point for many an aspiring rocker. The GST100 is an S-type and available in a choice of finishes (and leftie versions). This and the L-type GLP100 come in a full colour display box. JHS’ Vintage brand offers a comprehensive range of many of the best known styles of electric guitar directly available in this price category. These include Vintage Reissued, Vintage Advance and the fabulous pre-aged Vintage Icon instruments, a range which has already

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Axl Badwater AT-820 RRP: £159

Tanglewood TSB58 RRP: £349

Axl’s Badwater range has the look and feel of ancient artefacts, with even the headstock and backplate sporting vintage distressing. The Badwater guitars are built around an alder body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The guitars are equipped with EMG-designed pickups and the AT820 (T-style) is available in worn brown and worn white (£154) and crackle brown blue or black (£159).

Tanglewood’s TSB58 is well suited for anyone looking to upgrade, or have a quality second guitar, maintaining the Big T’s reputation from its acoustics, with a quality constructed and finished guitar. A solid mahogany body with a flame maple veneer top, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard, Kluson style machineheads and a couple of Entwistle Alnico HV58 humbuckers make for an attractive package for just £349.95.

achieved international success. Furthermore, Fret King Blue Label guitars are produced in a low volume, luthier-built environment, bringing the Fret King designs to a wider audience while using the same quality of imported tonewoods associated with the upper-end Green Label guitars. Blue Label utilises custom-wound Fret-King pickups and circuitry with premium hardware by Wilkinson and Gotoh and authentic vintage construction. As JHS becomes, in guitar terms, the home of Trevor Wilkinson, the Garforth company also has the Italia range of guitars – something of a favourite of Wilkinson’s. In a world of what seems like homogenised guitar design dominated by established shapes, it's often left up to the more radical alternatives to provide some light relief. Taking inspiration from the

individual guitar designs of the 50s and 60s, Italia takes the concept of 'modern retro' as its left-field starting point. JHS also has the hip Danelectro guitar range. Of note is the reissue of the Hornet Dead On 67 guitars. Available in a selection of retro finishes, the Hornets have zero gloss nickel hardware, double action truss rods that offer easy adjustment at the headstock end and 25-inch scale length. EMD’s Stagg has some uniquely styled models, positioned somewhere between the upper echelons of entry level to mid price in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The Z600QM (£350) has a solid alder body with a quilted maple top, high output humbuckers, fixed bridge and slim neck profile for speed. This is not unlike the Nitro T-type (£379) with the same chequered pattern as the G Force (above). There is also the funky Tribal model (£189),

an S-type model with two single coils and a humbucker at the bridge. Peavey has recently launched the PXD series, a new breed of ‘extreme’ electric guitars that captures the aggression and attitude of modern metal players. With active pickups anchored to slabs of mahogany, the PXDs offer full-on aggression in any of the four models: the Tomb, Twenty-Three, Tragic and Void. Features include Kahler tremolos and Tuneo-matic bridges with all models shipping in Coffin Case cases or gig bags. They all have high-output EMG or Peavey VFL active pickups and they retail from £236 to £354. Music Force wades in with both Sparrow guitars (above) and, of course, Ashton. The latter has a few surprises up its sleeve with three models in the shape of the Rocker, a basswood-bodied double cutaway and the similarly shaped Classic

miPRO JANUARY 2010 41

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT ELECTRIC GUITARS Yamaha Pacifica RRP: £129 Take a solid American alder body, a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, teamed up with custom designed pickups, a vintage trem and solid chrome machineheads. Then give it to Yamaha to put it all together and you have possibly the most successful budget electric ever. The Pacifica changed the way people looked at cheap guitars and began the sort of ‘quality wars’ still going on today. The latest version, the 112 V, launched in 2007 took the Pacifica another step forward.

Vintage Icon Thomas Blug V6 RRP: £399 Guitars like the new-to-the-range Vintage V6 Thomas Blug Signature Icon offer authentic feel, aged Wilkinson tuners, hardware and pickups, and look as though they’ve been played for decades with all the marks of wear and tear to prove it. Blug himself pronounced the end result as ‘breathtaking’, which, combined with the £399 price tag, means one helluva big bang for the buck for budget axemen.

Sparrow Twangmaster RRP: £499 Billy Bones’ success with Sparrow is an excellent lesson to anyone looking for a way into the guitar market. The Korean-made, Canadian finished models are beautifully appointed, as shown here with the Twangmaster. An ash body, maple neck and fingerboard, Grover tuners, Kent Armstrong humbuckers and custom finish makes this (at a quid inside this price bracket) one of the best on the market.

Peavey Rockingham RRP: £473 Designed by Peavey endorser, Darrel Higham of Imelda May, the Rockingham is bigger than a Gretsch 6120, but smaller than a Gibson L5, thus eliminating feedback, but maintaining strength of construction. Featureing a Bigsby B6 tailpiece and some funky looking knobs, the Rockingham bridges the gulf between jazz and rock. The word from Higham and Peavey is simple: ‘Give on of these a try – you’ll be impressed’.

both excellent starters. A little more unusual is the Fidelity, which comes in at £159, has an elm body, no less, cut in the classic T shape and looks considerably cooler than its price tag might suggest. Wilkinson pickups, a maple neck and a choice of maple or rosewood fingerboards round off the deal. Aria’s Diamond series of solid bodied guitars and basses are inspired by the guitars of the 60s, and are back as an affordable, alternative guitar choice. The Diamond DM380 guitars have cool, reversed body shapes, topped with a neat, whitepearloid scratchplate and contrasting black control knobs. The diamond studded headstock plate is also included. The DM380 sports a pair of APS-9 single coil pickups on alder bodies, with bolt-on maple necks and rosewood fingerboards. The guitars remain articulate in crunch mode, with that little extra bite in reserve when used with overdrive, for lead work.

42 miPRO JANUARY 2010

Intermusic’s Shine guitars – made by the Saein company in Korea – are superbly made, have the widest range of product of any supplier and are at a very competitive price to give the retailer a good margin, which is why, Intermusic tells us, more are turning away from famous names, to Shine. There is little to separate Shine from others in this bracket (quality woods, Grover tuners, sturdy hardware), the range has some of the best-looking guitars. As well as Axl, Westside brings in the Schecter range of electrics, which start at the entry level Omen Range (£249) and the C-1 shaped basswood body, bolt-on maple neck and two Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers. There are options for a licensed Floyd Rose trem (£299) and a seven-string model (£279). A step up from here is the Active Range – a new series of guitars made by Schecter for export only (so none in the US). Built in China the guitars come in a

variety of shapes including Schecter’s take on the L-types with the Solo-6 (£359) and V-type (£329) as well as its standard C-1 (£329). Body construction is mahogany with a bolt-on maple neck, gothic cross inlays and black hardware. These guitars feature Seymour Duncan’s HB-105 active pickups. Ibanez has an absolute mass of the very best in mid-priced guitars and it won’t take much travelling around the local pub scene to come across an Ibanez guitar or bass. The Japanese brand, sold in the UK through Headstock, is now coming back to the fore with the latest swing back to ‘shredding’ and guitars such as the GSA 60 (above) retailing at such low price points, that trend is likely to continue. Aside from that, there is the GAX30 with an agathis doublecutaway body, maple neck, fixed bridge and dual humbuckers at a mere £149, and the GRG170DX, an Ibanez RG shaped model with a synchronised tremolo system and

three pickups set on a basswood body with a maple neck. This comes in at the same £195 price point as the GSA 60. As does the GRGR121EX, a twin humbucker model. Yamaha, like Squier, is a must-see brand when looking for a quality, sub-500 quid guitar. Obviously the Pacifica (above) could be all that is needed, but there is a lot more. The RGX121Z, for example, has the looks and sounds for today’s heavier rockers. A modern design and progressive curves make this a smooth, sleek player with a variety of powerful tones. Coming in at around the £300 mark, the RGX A2 features Yamaha’s proprietary Alternative Internal Resonance technology in the body construction, LED lit cylindrical diecast knobs, diecast cylindrical tuners and Yamaha Alnico soapbar pickups. All of this goes together to make this a high tech vehicle, with the expected playability and considerable value for money.

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ACCESSORIES NEW PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES SPOTLIGHT

3 2

1. DENIS WICK ULTRA U3 EUPHONIUM MOUTHPIECE £57 They say: Has such a powerful high register – the loudest top B that you will ever have played. For: Euphonium players Range: Denis Wick mouthpieces Spec: Silver-plated, heavier outer shape, more rounded cup, sharper inner edge to rim. Available in two sizes: SM3U and SM4U). Further euphonium and baritone models to follow. (Gold-plated version £80.20.) From: Denis Wick 01202 665100

2. STAGG SGEPB/4 PEDAL BAG £36

6. ROCKCASE ABS CASES FROM £109

They say: Quality deluxe bag for safe transportation and use of stomp boxes. For: Guitarists, bassists Range: Stagg accessories Spec: Deluxe padded gigbag, holds four Boss or similar sized pedals. Interior dimensions: 280mm high x 460mm wide x 70mm deep (11" x 18.1" x 2.75"). From: EMD 01293 862612

They say: We've extended our Premium Line cases to include special designs for oversized guitars with extreme shapes. For: Guitarists Range: Rockcase cases Spec: ABS cases for Explorer, BC Rich & Dean-type guitars, plush covered EPS foam inner, through-bolted ergonomic handle, large, lidded interior compartment, aluminum extrusions. Five models available. From: Warwick +49 3742 2555 3110

4. LOGJAM MUSIC LOGARHYTHM MKII £49.95 They say: A totally analog, natural selfaccompaniment, which is unique to each player. For: Musicians Range: Logarhythm foot stompers Spec: African sapele tonewood block, cushioned internal dynamic microphone, standard guitar lead connection to amp, PA or recording desk, mark II with optional heel & toe ‘groove board’ control (£68.26). From: Logjam 01544 388433

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5. FISHMAN AURA SPECTRUM DI PREAMP £469

3. KORG CA-1 & GA-1 TUNERS £13.79 & £11.49

They say: Restores the pristine sound of a studio-miked instrument to undersaddle and soundhole pickups. For: Acoustic guitarists Range: Fishman pickups Spec: 128 pre-loaded acoustic images (upgradable), three-band eq, built-in chromatic tuner with bypass/mute, oneknob compressor, volume, blend and image controls, automatic feedback suppression (three notches), effects loop, XLR DI. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

They say: Excellent features with a new, enhanced design – all at an even better price. For: Guitar, bass, general Range: Korg tuners Spec: Replace GA-30 and CA-30 models. GA-1 dual mode bass & guitar tuner, wide detection (7B through 1E in guitar mode, and low B to high C in bass mode). CA-1 general instrument tuner, detects C1 to C8. From: Korg 01908 857100

HIMA CARBON FIBRE VIOLIN CASES FROM £265 They say: Nothing combines strength and lightness as carbon fibre does. These full-size cases offer all the protection you could need and are very easy to carry. For: Violinists and cellists Range: Hima cases Spec: Three new strong and lightweight carbon fibre cases from Hima, providing strength and protection for orchestral strings, all with foam suspension interior and ‘practical’ carrying straps. Available in black, silver, red and blue. Full-size versions only available. 1380: Hima carbon fibre violin hardcase,foam suspension interior, two bow holders, removable accessory compartment and interior music pocket. Two padded carrying straps, 1.8kg. £265. 1381: As above but for viola. £285. 1382: Cello case, foam suspension interior, metal fittings, made in Germany, two padded back straps, 3kg approx weight. £620. From: Stentor 01737 240226

“

All the protection you could ever need – with the lightness of carbon fibre

JANUARY 2009 miPRO 47

“This amp is a real mother******” Simon Neil, Biffy Clyro

Discover the MoFo at www.haydenamps.com

BACKLINE NEW PRODUCTS BACKLINE SPOTLIGHT ITALIA RETRO AMPS FROM £59.99 They say: A reflection of the 'modern retro' flair and vibe of the Wilkinsondesigned Italia catalogue. For: Guitarists Range: New Italia product Spec: Taking inspiration from some of the more colourful amplifier liveries of the 1950s and 60s, the cream and red combination colour scheme of Italia Retro amps certainly makes them stand out in style. The amps also feature grey check grille cloth and chrome plated corner protectors, and the 'chicken head' rotary controls certainly add to the retro looks. Italia amps are perfect for anyone who needs a practice/rehearsal unit that's as attractive to look at as it it is to play through. Using solid state circuitry, the Italia Retros are available in ten, 15 and 25-Watt versions, with the latter featuring a short pan spring reverb. All are twin channel units with switchable clean and overdrive settings. ITR10 10W combo: £59.99. ITR15 15-Watt: £79.99. ITR25R 25Watt with reverb: £119.99. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

2 3

1.DANELECTRO COOL CAT FUZZ V2 UPGRADE £54.99

2. DANELECTRO COOL CAT OVERDRIVE V2 UPGRADES £44.99

3. ROLAND BA-330 PORTABLE STEREO AMP £499

They say: The same as the original Cool Cat Fuzz unit, with not so much a bright or fizzy fuzz, but more of an articulate, liquid sound. For: Guitarists Range: Dano effects Spec: Fuzz pedal, input sensitivity control, distortion ‘smoothness’ control, headroom control, output clipping. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

They say: Has many added features eagerly anticipated by pedalheads. For: Guitarists Range: Dano effects Spec: Overdrive pedal with input sensitivity trimpot, single coil or humbucker output levels optimumisation, ‘lo fi’ DIP switch for second frequency range, drive control. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

They say: Whether battery powered or plugged in, the BA-330 delivers highperformance sound that defies its size. For: Live performance Range: Roland compact PA Spec: All-in-one portable four-channel digital PA system, stereo, four customdesigned 6.5" speakers, two tweeters, AC or eight AA battery powered, built-in effects and eq, anti-feedback function, speaker-stand adaptor. From: Roland 01792 702701

4. TOTALLY WYCKED AUDIO LD-01 LITTLE DIPPER VOCAL FORMANT FILTER $POA

4 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

They say: A holy grail effect brought into the future. For: Guitarists Range: Totally Wycked effects Spec: Envelope-controlled vocal formant filter based on 70s circuit, dual filters bend and morph guitar signal, qulaity component and hard-wearing metal construciton. From: Godlyke +1 973 777 7477

5. VOX AMPLUG ACOUSTIC £45 They say: Now you can enjoy sweet acoustic tones from your electric guitar, anytime, anyplace. For: Guitarists Range: Vox Amplug Spec: Headphone amp and acoustic modeller, quarter-inch jack plug, headphone socket, ‘fat/bright’ switch, blend control, 27-hour battery life, aux input. From: Korg 01908 857100

6. WAY HUGE ANGRY TROLL LINEAR BOOST £169 They say: Now teamed with Dunlop, Way Huge pedals still offer legendary tones and still under the control of Jeorge Tripps. For: Guitarists Range: Way Huge pedals Spec: Boost pedal with 50dB controllable gain via six-position ‘Anger knob’, master volume control, quiet relay-based true bypass, metal construciton. From: JHS 0113 286 5381 Strings & Things 01273 440442

miPRO JANUARY 2010 51

NEW PRODUCTS BASS AND GUITAR

1. ADAM BLACK LIBERTY UK GUITARS £399 They say: A unique and excellent sounding guitar with superb playability. For: Guitarists Range: Adam Black guitars Spec: Rock maple bolt-on neck, US ash body, two high-output, ceramic-magnet humbuckers, gun-metal nickel hardware, carbon fibre effect scratchplates, natural or scar red finishes, branded gigbag. From: Rosetti 01376 550033

4. MARINER LX-6N SUPER JUMBO ACOUSTIC £495

They say: The most elegant super jumbo acoustic guitar. For: Guitarists Range: Mariner Masthead series Spec: Solid mahogany back and sides, solid sitka spruce top, maple and rosewood bindings and detailing, abalone inlays, Grover Sta-Tite tuners. Available in natural or jet black finishes. From: Music Force 01780 781630

2. HOKADA 3343 & 4 STEEL STRING ACOUSTICS £99

They say: Hokada guitars have a strong reputation for quality and affordability, meaning playability and great value. For: Guitarsists Range: Hokada acoustics Spec: 3343: Dreadnought shape body, natural gloss finish, individual chrome machine heads, bound rosewood fingerboard. Scale length: 640mm. 3347: Mini steel string acoustic guitar with cutaway, rounded pressed back, natural matt finish. Scale length: 580mm. From: Stentor 01737 240226

5. MARINER ESO SERIES FROM £599

6. WARWICK CORVETTE ASH SPECIAL FRETLESS £1,359

3. ARIA ZZ2 £359

They say: Beauty and tone, extraordinary clarity and natural reproduction. For: Guitarists Range: Mariner electros Spec: Venetian cutaway body on dreadnought, auditorium and super jumbo models, Fishman MatrixInfinity system, rosewood back & sides. Left-handers available. From: Music Force 01780 781630

They say: Generates deep sustaining qualities, a perfect marriage to the gnarly edged attack of the mids and soaring highs. For: Guitarists Range: Aria ZZ electrics Spec: Alder body, bolt-on maple neck, two Seymour Duncan designed, active HB-105N humbuckers, through-body stringing, Aria solid STP bridge, black hardware. E-type guitar, black finish. From: Aria 01483 238720

They say: The last of the four planned Warwick Special Editions for this year. For: Bassists Range: Warwick custom Spec: Based on Corvette STD, bolt-on neck, Warwick Just A Nut III, tigerstripe ebony fingerboard, ovangkol neck, black hardware, passive MEC pickups, Warwick twopiece bridge. From: Warwick +49 0374 225550

BASS & GUITAR SPOTLIGHT GUYATONE TA 50 SF THINLINE SEMIACOUSTIC £389 They say: The TA series continues to innovate with alternative styles on the original 50s design. For: Guitarists Range: Aria TA series guitars Spec: These seriously affordable, bigbodied semis are offered in a stunning array of finishes and body tonewoods. As part of the TA Custom series, the TA 50 SF Scottish Flag, has all the qualities of the standard TA 50, featuring the same

52 miPRO JANUARY 2010

symmetrical body shape with maple top, back and sides, mahogany set neck and a bound rosewood 22-fret fingerboard with inlaid parallel position markers. The TA50 SF also features a pair of high output, Duncan-designed HB-103 humbuckers with ceramic coils wired to individual volume and tone controls and selector switch. These pickups are based on the powerful SH-6 Seymour Duncan Distortion set. Aria’s SPT bridge and unique patent type QH tailpiece are also included. From: Aria 01483 238720

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The TA series continues to innovate with alternative styles on original designs

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DRUMS NEW PRODUCTS DRUMS SPOTLIGHT

YAMAHA DTX MULTI 12 PERCUSSION MODULE £685 They say: Delivers dynamic, versatile and affordable pro percussion power. For: Drummers, producers, DJs Range: Yamaha DTX Spec: Self-contained module with 12 on-board percussion pads, 1,200 drum, percussion and keyboard sounds, many drawn from Yamaha's Motif synthesizer range and many completely new. Up to 200 custom set ups can be created and stored with ease to suit any musical context using all internal sounds and 42 types of effects.

1. EVANS EC2 HEAD £POA They say: Upgraded and enhanced through sound shaping construction technique. For: Drummers Range: Evans drum heads Spec: Sound Shaping Technology ring under two plies of 7mm film, each head size has different thinkness and densities on ring, ring isolates and damps higher overtones, enhancing low-end and attack, and enabling a broader tuning range. From: Summerfield 0191 414 9000

Additional sounds can be loaded and stored into the onboard 64MB memory and allocated to any pad. For established drummers it will bring a new sound set and performance capability to current setups and compliment any musical setting. The unit is designed to integrate into an existing acoustic set up or act as a stand alone unit. The Multi 12 will also prove invaluable to composers thanks to the included Cubase AI 5" software which facilitates quick and easy computer connectivity. From: Yamaha 01908 366700

2. MEINL MARCHING & SYMPHONIC CYMBALS £POA They say: Suitable for use in musical situations ranging from very low to extremely loud volumes. For: Orchestral & marching percussion Range: Meinl cymbals Spec: Nine cymbal pairs, three weights (thin, medium and heavy), 18", 20" and 22" in each category. Five suspended cymbals (14", 16", 17", 18", and 20"). B20 bronze, hand-hammered in Turkey. From: Active Music 020 8693 5678

3. LUDWIG BUN E CARLOS KIT £POA They say: A companion shell set to the Bun E Carlos snare. For: Drummers Range: Ludwig kits Spec: 14x24" bass drum, 9x13" rack tom, and 16x16" floor tom, new Citrus Glass Glitter finish, Bun E's personal badge, Ludwig 100th anniversary badge, signed and numbered on inner shell label. From: Active Music 020 8693 5678

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Will prove invaluable to to musicians and composers thanks to Cubase software included.

5. SABIAN VAULT ARTISAN TRADITIONAL SUSPENDED CYMBAL.

5. KICKPORT KICKPORT KICK DRUM SOUND HOLE £41.99

They say: Premium ‘Old World’ sounds that are tonally deep, dark and rich, with a robust vintage musicality. For: Orchestral percussion Range: Sabian traditional Spec: Available in 15" through 20", medium-thin, high-density traditional hand hammering, HHX tone projection dimpling, natural finish (brilliant finish optional), B20 bronze. From: Westside 0141 248 4812

They say: Enhances the sound of your kick drum. For: Drummers Range: New Product Spec: Condenses and directs low frequencies, dampens head, tunable, plastic construction. From: Pearl +31 77 366 9349 (fax)

6. TECHTONIC DD502J ELECTRONIC KIT £429 They say: If you are in the market for an entry level electronic kit, read on as this is aimed at you. For: Drummers Range: New Soar Valley product Spec: standard five-piece set up, kick, snare, three toms, two cymbals and hi hat, 215 drum, percussion and cymbal samples, 20 preset kits, ten user-assignable kits. Ships with maple 5B sticks. From: Soar Valley 0116 230 4926

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY MIKEDOLBEAR.COM, THE LEADING ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING DRUMS.

VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

miPRO JANUARY 2010 55

NEW PRODUCTS LIVE LIVE SPOTLIGHT

1 3

2 1.ALTO APM 200 POWERED MIXER £785 They say: Ultra low noise discrete mic preamps and extremely high headroom, giving users greater dynamic range. For: Musicians, engineers Range: Alto APM seeries Spec: 20-Channel 2 + 2-bus format powered mixer, 16 mic/ line inputs, two stereo line inputs, low cut filters per channel, two pre-post faders switchable for monitoring, four-band fixed eq. From: Proel 020 8761 9911

3. BLUE ENCORE LIVE MICS £POA They say: Brings Blue’s heritage of highquality studio microphones to the stage. For: Live applications Range: Blue Encore Spec: Three models in range: 100, 200 & 300, all with Aria capsule, cast-zinc bodies, 200 with Active Dynamic circuitry and output transformer, 300 with Aria condenser capsule, matched pre-amp and phantom circuit, tuned enclosure. From: TC Electronic +45 8742 7000

2. SR TECHNOLOGY MX1620A POWERED MIXER £1,449 They say: Designed for the live performer who requires fully professional audio quality and exceptional power output. For: Musicians, engineers Range: SR Tech MX series Spec: 700W RMS or 1,200W RMS per side at 4Ω, 12-channel powered mixer, sevenband master graphic eq, four-band parametric eq per channel, line/instr/mic input per channel. From: Big Cat Audio 01406 365291

4. ECLER AUDEO SERIES SPEAKERS £POA They say: Strikes the perfect balance between the intelligibility and sound reproduction quality. For: Installation Range: Ecler speakers Spec: Three in series: Audeo 103, 106 and 108. Full range, two-way acoustic speakers, ABS casing, 8Ω, 100V line operating switch, IP 54 class for outside install. Available in black or white, ships with mounting accessories. From: Miltec 01622 873378

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5. PROEL FLASH 12HA ACTIVE ENCLOSURE £599 EACH They say: Despite the massive increase in power, the weight of the Flash12HA is just 19kg. For: Live applications Range: Proel Flash Spec: 500-Watt polypropylene-housed active speaker, custom designed Celestion neodymium speakers (12-inch woofer and one-inch compression driver), bi-amped continuous 400 Watt + 100 Watt output, 1,600Hz crossover, 128dB max SPL. From: Proel 020 8761 9911

6. RSS BY ROLAND M380 MIXER £4,799 They say: All the features and benefits of the award-winning M-400, but in a compact rack-mount unit. For: Live applications Range: Roland V-Mixers Spec: Rapid recall of setups, touch sensitive faders, dedicated multi-function knobs for eq, pan, gain and dynamics control, 48-channel mixing, digital patchbays with Roland FX, 16 aux/mon sends, eight matrices, eight DCAs, eight mute groups and built-in stereo recording. From: RSS 01792 702701

LD SYSTEMS STINGER SERIES SPEAKERS £POA They say: Powerful performances, easy handling and high pressure levels for all types of full-range applications. For: Live applications Range: LD Systems Spec: Speaker series ‘powered by Eminence’, BMS compression drivers. Passive & active models. Active with Bang & Olufsen Ice power amp, line I/O, mic in, volume control, ground lift, two-band eq, birch ply box with black textured finish.

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Powerful performances, easy handling and high pressure levels from a highly durable enclosure. The versatile Stinger eight-inch is virtually unbeatable in terms of priceperformance ratio.

LDEB82 passive: Multi functional high quality loudspeaker with eightinch custom made speaker and BMS one-inch compression driver. 18mm plywood cabinet structure, highly durable textured lacquer finish, integrated speaker stand receptacle. The versatile Stinger eight-inch is virtually unbeatable in terms of priceperformance ratio. LDEB82A active: As above with B&O amp and Speakon passive output allowing the connection of a passive speaker. This speaker also features the new Volex power plug. From: Adam Hall 01702 613922

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www.ashdownmusic.com

Photography: Dan Gooday

RECORDING & HI TECH NEW PRODUCTS 1.FOSTEX D2424 MK II FROM £1,703

They say: A perfect successor to the D2424, with a great new solution for transferring to computer. For: Home recording Range: Fostex recorders Spec: Simultaenous 24-track recording, 24 TRS balanced jacks I/Os, 32 virtual tracks, six foramts (up to 24/96), ADAT I/O, twin drive bays (second with CF card slot), 80Gb hard drive. 160Gb version: £1,761. From: SCV London 020 8418 1470

2. LEXICON PMC 92 REVERB/EFFECTS PROCESSOR £TBC They say: The finest collection of classic Lexicon algorithms to offer the ultimate processor. For: Studio, live Range: Lexicon processors Spec: 28 mono and stereo reverbs, delays, and modulation effects, flexible routing configurations, infinite switch, reflection pattern selection, scaling and eq’ing, two channels balanced XLR, two channels XLR AES/EBU digital I/O. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

2 3 3. SPECTRASONICS TRILIAN £209

4. KURZWEIL PC3 LE £1,045

They say: Brings many different types of Bass together into one extraordinarysounding virtual instrument.. For: Computer musicians, producers Range: Spectrasonics virtual instruments Spec: 34GB core library incl acoustic, electric & synth bass samples, built on 64bit native ‘steam’ engine, full integration with Omnisphere synth. From: Time+Space 01837 55200

They say: Includes the widely acclaimed sound set from the PC3, in addition to many of the PC3's most popular features. For: Keyboard players Range: Kurzweil PC3 series Spec: Auto control use display, 64-voice polyphony, ten insert effects, sounds include orchastral strings, vintage keys, drums, basses, guitars, voices and horns, USB thumb-drive, 16 arpeggiators, 61note keyboard. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

5. SE ELECTRONICS X1 CONDENSER £99 They say: One of the coolest, sexiest new mics for the MI market in years. For: Studios Range: SE mics Spec: Large diaphragm condenser, 10dB pad, bass cut, hand-made in Shanghai. From: Sonic 0845 500 2500

4. SE ELECTRONICS PROJECT STUDIO REFLEXION FILTER £99 They say: One of the most exciting rollouts in the MI sector this decade. For: Project studios Range: SE RF series Spec: Single layer polyester acoustic board, high density crystal foam lining with curved ridge, based on the successful pro version. From: Sonic 0845 500 2500

5 HI TECH SPOTLIGHT M AUDIO OXYGEN SERIES MIDI CONTROLLER FROM £73 They say: Giving musicians intuitive hands-on control over a session right from the keyboard. For: Computer musicians Range: M-Audio controllers Spec: The first USB MIDI keyboard controller to feature DirectLink, a hassle-free control mode that instantly maps the Oxygen's controls to a digital audio workstation (DAW), giving musicians intuitive hands-on control

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over a session right from the keyboard. Redesigned with a fresh look for stage and studio use and available in 25, 49 and 61-key models(£73, £92 and £121), the Oxygen keyboards are ideal for laptop production, live performance and professional studio applications.

The Oxygen series controllers feature full-size velocity-sensitive keys along with a complement of sliders, knobs and buttons for tweaking and performing with software instruments. With DirectLink, these same controls

instantly map to a DAW’s mixer, pan, and transport functions, providing real time control with a variety of DAWs including Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason, Live, Logic and Garageband. From: Avid 01753 655999

miPRO JANUARY 2010 59

PRINT NEW PRODUCTS BOOK OF THE MONTH ARTIST: MICHAEL JACKSON THE COMPLETE MICHAEL JACKSON Target: Guitar, vocal Comment: The prime purpose of this monthly print review section is to alert retailers of the latest music books on the market and, more particularly, to those that are likely to offer at least a good return on investment. Well, with the Jackomania resulting from the artist’s unfortunate demise,

this one will sell by the bucket load. The book is a reissue of the 1997 publication that contains a full catalogue of Jackson’s work up to 1996 with vocals (melody notation and lyrics) and guitar chord boxes, combined with a brief biography and full discography. That Jackson long held the crown as the most famous man in the world is beyond doubt, his moniker as the ‘King of Pop’ will most likely be as permanent as Elvis Presley’s title. Wherever history consigns HIStory, Jackson is a brand that will sell be for some considerable time.

With numbers ranging from the early juvenalia of the Jackson 5, Ben and Rockin’ Robin, right through to his final recordings, taking in, of course, the massive hits of Thriller and Bad, this comprehensive collection will be snapped up by fans and repertoire hungry giggers (not to mention secretive bedroom players) alike. Stock up now, it’s going to fly out the door (official MI Pro prediction) – you know you won’t regret it. FABER: 01279 828989

EDUCATION AUTHOR: LINDA THOMAS GETTING INTO HAMMERED DULCIMER Target: Dulcimer Comment: Could the dulcimer be the new ukulele? It’s always a hard call to predict the next big thing, but dulcimers are certainly making something of a comeback as recent news and arts broadcasts seem to indicate. In this tome, Thomas takes the aspirant through the basics of layout and technique, then quickly gets going with some tunes. After a few of these, more lessons and tips are introduced, so the learner can progress and play simultaneously. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

AUTHOR: MORTY & RON MANUS TEACH YOURSELF TO PLAY UKULELE Target: Ukulele Comment: And still the uke books keep coming. This C-tuning edition begins at the very beginning, with a brief history and explanation of the instrument and then goes into, lesson by lesson, the rudiments of playing, building up to (60-odd pages later) quite complex work. This serves as an excellent introduction. ALFRED (FABER): 01279 828989

AUTHOR: DOMINIC PALMER DISCOVERING ROCK BASS Series: Schott ‘Discovering’ series Target: Bass guitar Comment: A quite superb collection of lessons, history and personalities that have gone to make the bass guitar the indispensable instrument it is in rock music today. Palmer covers the major styles of electric bass playing and throws in a healthy portion of anecdotes, as well as taking the learner through some quite sophisticated playing. Worthwhile for any interested player to have a look at. SCHOTT: 020 7534 0744

AUTHOR: KIRK TATNALL POWER CHORDS Series: Hal Leonard Guitar method Target: Guitar Comment: Ah, the beauty of the (rock) classic 5th chord – and here’s a book full of them. Taking in popular rock songs from Hendrix through to Weezer, this book shows the beginner what to do with a root, a fifth and an octave. It’s the staple of the young rock guitarist, and here is a formulated work-through of how to get the most out of it. HAL LEONARD (MUSIC SALES): 01284 702600

TRADITIONAL ARTIST: VARIOUS (JOE CARR, ED) ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEST FIDDLE TUNES

AUTHOR: D’JALMA GARNIER III LOUISIANA CREOLE FIDDLE METHOD

Target: Fiddle Comment: Carr has selected and notated a collection of ‘Texas Style’ tunes, targeting the Southern States contest styles of breakdown, waltz and tune of choice and drawn from performances of top contest fiddlers. The book begins with brief notes on bowing, a noter on chord names and then a couple of pages of explanatory notes on each tune – of which there are 56. The book comes with an accompanying CD. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

Target: Fiddle, guitar Comment: As much an education book as a Creole-style repertoire collection, although the extensive guide and notes is really no more than an extended introduction into the second half of the book, which is sheet music of a quite challenging standard. The guitar parts in Creole (apparently) function more as a bass line accompaniment, but there are some tricky chord sequences to go through, too. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

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miPRO JANUARY 2010 61

NEW PRODUCTS PRINT POPULAR

ARTIST: KYLE DATESMAN RENAISSANCE ELIZABETHAN MUSIC FOR BANJO Target: Banjo Comment: An obscure an approach to the banjo as you are likely to find (this reviewer conjectures), but a fascinating one, nonetheless. Datesman takes a selection of British Elizabethan tunes and then as many again from the (earlier) continental renaissance and precedes each piece with notes playing style and technique. A whole new perspective for the ambitious banjo picker. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

ARTIST: JS BACH (ARR INGRAM) JAZZ BACH FOR FINGERSTYLE GUITAR Target: Guitar Comment: JS Bach has been one of the most influential composers upon modern jazz players and now Adrian Ingram takes the Jacques Loussier concept a step further by introducing the beauty of Bach to guitarists. Despite the fingerstyle appellation, the style is definitely jazzy. There are challenges a-plenty for any guitarist, but as a result, a lot of satisfaction to be garnered. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

AUTHOR: JANET DAVIS BANJO PICKING PATTERN CHART

ARTIST: VARIOUS THE REALLY EASY UKE BOOK Series: Faber Chord Songbook Target: Ukulele Comment: The surge of ukulele popularity continues and is illustrated here as clearly as you could hope for. Almost 40 songs with chords and lyrics, covering everything form All Along the Watchtower to Yankee Doodle (via Amarillo), this book shows not only how versatile the uke is, but also how varied the tastes of those taking up the instrument and maintaining this most surprising of trends. FABER: 01279 828989

ARTIST: ARCTIC MONKEYS HUMBUG Target: Guitar Comment: The guitar tab edition of the Monkey’s latest album, this is touted as a band-approved, deluxe edition – and it does the label proud. Quality snaps from the band’s energetic live shows are liberally peppered throughout the precise tab and vocal folios. Such features make these books as tempting to the nonplaying fans as to the guitarists who want to learn the licks, which means, with the right placement, more people coming into the shop and more sales. FABER: 01279 828989

ARTIST: O’KEEFE & BENJAMIN LEGALLY BLONDE

Series: Mel Bay charts Target: Banjo Comment: Mel Bay’s excellent, low-cost, comprehensive wall charts (or instrument case charts?) that cover chords and other instrument fundamentals continues with this indispensible folder for banjo players. It’s almost like dozens of lessons on three pages, with the added benefit of having free demonstration audio available online. Banjo pickers rejoice. MEL BAY: 020 8214 1222

Target: PVG Comment: Vocal selections from the musical of the film and that has now hit London’s West End, this collection will doubtless become something of a hit among schools, choirs and drama societies, as well as with the gigging muso as these songs become ever more heard. It is always something of a hit and miss as to which Broadway/West End musicals make the big time, but with rave reviews following this one around, it could well be a laster. HAL LEONARD (MUSIC SALES): 01284 702600

ARTIST: GREEN DAY 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN

ARTIST: JAMIE CULLUM THE PURSUIT

Target: PVG Comment: Billy Joe Armstrong spent nearly three years perfecting this album – and after the phenomenal success of American Idiot, you can hardly blame him. The result is something of a re-hash of the predecessor, but none the less dramatic and powerful for all that. The number of big hits from Breakdown has come nowhere near the half dozen or so that came from Idiot, but then again, kids wanting to get hold of the authentic music for Do You Know the Enemy could well keep sales figures up. FABER: 01279 828989

Target: PVG Comment: Another artist-approved edition from Faber, with the spectacular cover of Cullum’s latest album. It is tribute to Cullum that, while essentially being a jazz player, he slots perfectly into the pop genre, thus bringing jazz to a whole new audience. The Pursuit takes what is becoming the artist’s regular format – a selection of co-written numbers, carefully mixed with pop hits and jazz standards and makes for a diverting collection of sheet music. FABER: 01279 828989

62 miPRO JANUARY 2010

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Introducing ®

the silent rehearsal studio

Play anywhere, anytime.

BedRoom

GreenRoom

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Up to 7 Musicians 24-bit Digital Effects USB Recording Output

TourBus Up to 7 Musicians 24-bit Digital Effects With Built In RAM Card Recorder & USB Recording Output

Neighbours can’t hear it. Parents can’t hear it. Cops can’t hear it. But you won’t believe what the band can hear. Every band has the same problem: rehearsing is too loud for most locations and studio space is expensive. But now you can play anywhere, anytime virtually silent to the outside world: quietly enough for your bedroom, at Uni, in your apartment or hotel room. JamHub® was created to let you play more, and the experience rocks. Just pick a color section and plug in your instruments, mics and headphones. Then control your own individual mixes with new clarity, and no volume wars. You’ll hear yourself like never before, and improve faster. JamHub is also portable and affordable. And whether you’re a garage band or touring professionals, there’s a JamHub model designed for you. So start jamming more without disturbing the peace.

Distributed in the UK by SCV London. Call 020 8418 1470 for your nearest dealer. www.scvlondon.co.uk

FIELD SALES MANAGERS 3 posts - North, South and South West England

GROUP

AVSL Group Ltd., based in Manchester, is looking for three dynamic and enthusiastic individuals to join their rapidly growing sales & marketing team. Established in 1998, AVSL has grown to become a substantial, well respected manufacturer, importer and distributor of products under our wholly owned brands: Adastra, AV:Link, Chord, Citronic, Mercury, QTX (Sound, Light & Effects) Our current product portfolio runs to just over 4,000 lines and whilst diverse in content has its roots firmly entrenched in the MI, Pro Audio, Effect Lighting and Public Address sectors. Suitable candidates will possess: t " GVMM DMFBO 6, ESJWJOH MJDFODF t &YDFMMFOU TBMFT BOE DPNNVOJDBUJPO skills with a proven track record of SFBDIJOH BOE FYDFFEJOH UBSHFUT t &OUIVTJBTN ESJWF BOE UIF BCJMJUZ UP work both alone and as part of a team t &YQFSJFODF PG UIF .* 1SP "VEJP sector would be an advantage but not essential *O SFUVSO ZPV DBO FYQFDU UP SFDFJWF BO attractive remuneration package. To apply, please send a full CV and accompanying covering letter to: The Sales Director AVSL Group Limited Containerbase, Barton Dock Road Manchester M41 7BQ alternatively please email your application to: jobs@avslgroup.com

Regional Manager Electronic Keyboard Division Yamaha Music UK Ltd. is currently seeking a motivated and professional individual to join their Electronic Keyboard Division. Reporting to the Sales Manager, you will be responsible for the sales and business development of our portable keyboard and digital piano ranges utilising resources in order to achieve set sales targets and long-term objectives. Specific geographic region will depend on the location of the successful candidate. To be considered for this role you must have a relevant sales background and be able to communicate effectively at all levels in a confident and knowledgeable manner. You will also need to have a flexible attitude as regular UK travel is a requirement of this role. An up-to-date knowledge of the UK musical instrument retail market, together with experience in field sales and relevant product knowledge is essential. You should also have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office. In return, the successful candidate will receive a competitive salary, company car and the usual company benefits. If you feel you meet the criteria, please apply by e-mailing your CV and covering letter demonstrating your suitability, including your salary expectations by Thursday 31 December 2009 (quoting reference RMEKB/1209/TIL) to: Helen Bates, Human Resources Assistant at:

recruitment@gmx.yamaha.com

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Regional Manager Acoustic Division Yamaha Music UK Ltd. is currently seeking a motivated and professional individual based in the South of England, to sell our market-leading acoustic pianos. Yamaha is the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturer and our Acoustic Division markets acoustic pianos to retailers throughout the UK. Whilst not necessarily from within the "music industry", the successful applicant must have some knowledge of the piano as an instrument as well as the ability to play to a basic level. More importantly they will be able to demonstrate their sales skills through a proven sales record and possess the drive, enthusiasm and confidence to expand sales within an established territory. The need to establish trust within the dealer base is essential, we therefore seek experienced and disciplined communicators, with advanced inter-personal skills, who enjoy being part of a successful team. Computer literacy and a driving licence are essential. This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to expand and develop our piano business through our new multi-brand strategy. We offer a competitive salary and a car plus all the usual benefits associated with working for a large, forward thinking company. If you feel you meet the criteria, please apply by e-mailing your CV and covering letter demonstrating your suitability, including your salary expectations, by Thursday 31 December 2009 (quoting reference RMACO/1209/TIL) to: Helen Bates, Human Resources Assistant at:

recruitment@gmx.yamaha.com

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

The Insolvency Act and Rules 1986 KEMBLE & COMPANY LIMITED (In members’ voluntary liquidation) Notice is hereby given that written resolutions were passed by the members of the Company on 9 December 2009 placing the company into members’ voluntary liquidation (solvent liquidation) and appointing Jeremy Simon Spratt and Finbarr Thomas O’Connell of KPMG as joint liquidators. Notice is also hereby given, pursuant to Rule 4.182A of the Insolvency Rules 1986, that the joint liquidators of the Company intend to make a final distribution to creditors. Creditors are required to prove their debts on or before 26 January 2010 by sending full details of their claims to the joint liquidators at KPMG Restructuring, 8 Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8BB. Creditors must also, if so requested by the joint liquidators, provide such further details and documentary evidence to support their claims as the joint liquidators deem necessary. The intended distribution is a final distribution and may be made without regard to any claims not proved by 26 January 2010. Any creditor who has not proved his debt by that date, or who increases the claim in his proof after that date, will not be entitled to disturb the intended final distribution. The joint liquidators intend that, after paying or providing for a final distribution in respect of creditors who have proved their claims, all funds remaining in the joint liquidators’ hands following the final distribution to creditors shall be distributed to the shareholders of the Company absolutely. The Company is able to pay all its known liabilities in full. Dated: 9 December 2009 Jeremy Simon Spratt, Joint Liquidator

RETAIL NEWS, OPINION, DATA NEWS World Guitars’ PRS giveaway, Cheshire’s Homeworld, Shadows’ Strat snatched

MUSIC FOR YOUTH How MI retail can help the world’s largest music education charity – and itself Marcia and Mike Devereux (centre left and right) receiving their MIA award at 2009’s ceremony

Made in Nevada launched UK band Georgia Wonder moves on to local store’s shop floor to record their latest album SHUNNING THE traditional recording studio, UK band Georgia Wonder has turned to its local music retailer, Nevada Music, and will record its next album on the shop floor. Like many bands, Georgia Wonder was struggling to fund its next studio album. Although the duo had done much of its previous work at home on the first two EPs Hello Stranger and Destroy, the pair felt that, given the right resources, they could take things much further creatively. And it wasn’t just studio time that the band needed – it was also short on worldclass instruments such as the guitars, basses and keyboards that all contribute to making a great album. “It dawned on us that our local music shop has everything we need to record our music,” explained Stephanie Grant (vocals). “If we could get the keys, we’d be half way there.” The band emailed its local store, Nevada Music and asked if they could use the shop to record their next album. To their surprise, Mike Devereux, founder of Nevada, loved the idea and went a step further by setting up the Made In Nevada project.

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LOCATION REPORT I love the smell of Portsmouth in the morning – smells of... Victory

INDIE PROFILE Berkshire’s own drum specialist, Drumwright also puts the world to rights

BEHIND THE COUNTER Georgia Wonder: making waves in Portsmouth and beyond “It’s always nice to see bands thinking “We’re going to be a bit like a couple of out of the box,” commented Devereux. kids in a candy store,” said Georgia “It’s a great concept and we’ve given them Wonder’s Julian Moore. “So it would be a free reign to do anything they like in our shame if we didn’t show people what we shop for six months. We’re as excited as were up to. We can take this opportunity anyone to see what Georgia Wonder come to experiment and share the results. There up with.” are so many instruments for us to chose The band is making a video blog of the from, we have no idea where to start. If process that will be posted on Muzu.tv only all music stroes were like this.” and the Made In Nevada Youtube page. NEVADA MUSIC: 023 9220 5100

The horror of the in-store hangover gives way to musings on what’s next for MI trends

ALL INSIDE THIS MONTH miPRO JANUARY 2010 65

RETAIL NEWS

Cheshire’s first Homeworld

World Guitars giveaway

Dawsons makes news for EKB in Chester’s standout store

UK’s largest PRS dealer celebrates first anniversary

DAWSONS MUSIC Chester opened the region’s first Yamaha Homeworld in November, immediately followed by a public opening, where visitors to the store had the opportunity to see, hear, and play the latest Yamaha products aimed at the home user and speak to product experts. “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to become the first Yamaha Homeworld in Cheshire,” said Dawsons’ managing director David Briggs. “The key to our success has always been the very personal service we offer and the high degree of expertise of our staff. As a Yamaha Homeworld the store now offers the ultimate musical shopping experience and promotes the benefits of learning to play to people at all skill levels in relaxed and luxurious surroundings.” “We congratulate Dawsons Music on the opening of the new Homeworld in Chester,” added Yamaha’s EKB director, Robert Webster. “Dawsons has been one of Yamaha’s major home keyboard and digital piano dealers for many years. The

WORLD GUITARS has announced plans to celebrate its first anniversary by giving away a Paul Reed Smith Private Stock guitar with a price tag approaching £10,000. Based in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, World Guitars is the largest PRS dealer in the country and carries more Private Stock models than any other in Europe. In order to enter the competition, participants must visit World Guitars at The Old Magistrates Court, High Street,

key reason for this is the quality of personal service extended to all its customers. We are thrilled that the chain has embraced the Homeworld concept.” With nine stores throughout the UK, Dawsons Music is one of the largest musical instrument retailers in the country. The company, established in 1899 in Warrington, came to Chester in 1972 and moved to its current Pepper Street location in 1994. DAWSONS CHESTER: 01244 348606

Strat snatched from Shadows Exclusive guitar stolen from Oasis Music in transit HAMPSHIRE RETAILER Oasis Music has reported the theft of a Shadows 50th Anniversary Stratocaster. The special collector’s outfit, numbered 16, was stolen while in the possession of FedEx. The package had been misrouted to Birmingham instead of going to Brighton and by the time it reached Brighton on Saturday morning, all that was delivered was a sealed empty box.

Oasis Music would like to ask all industry professionals and customers to keep an eye and ear out for any information that might lead to the return of the guitar. Anyone who comes across the guitar or has any information can contact Howard Gillespie at Oasis Music by email on howard@oasismusic.co.uk or on the phone number below. The company hopes by ‘turning up the heat’ the package will miraculously re-appear once the thief realises that it's too ‘hot’ to sell easily. This is not the first incident involving the guitars. Another, bound for Ireland via UPS, was over a week late arriving, but was eventually found behind other packages in a depot in Cologne. OASIS MUSIC: 01425 478135

Stonehouse, Gloucestershire and fill in an entry form. The form contains a PRS Private Stock spec sheet, from which entrants must guess the options included on the unique competition prize. The £10,000 Private Stock prize will be awarded to the entry that gets closest to guessing the spec of the guitar itself. The competition will be open to entries until January 31st. WORLD GUITARS: 01453 824306

Freshman broadens through launch of acoustic amp range Brand new product line debuted alongside Apollo 3 series FRESHMAN HAS introduced a longawaited range of acoustic amps, as well as the latest Apollo 3 series guitars. The new amp range starts with the £69.95, 10-Watt Junior, aimed at the beginner with two inputs, phaser, treble, bass and volume controls. At £149.95, the Freshman Senior is a compact 30-Watt, twin-speaker amp designed for the rehearsal/studio environment and offering chorus, delay, eq and effects send/return. Top of the range is the £249.95, 60-Watt Master (pictured), which adds two channels, five-band graphic eq and reverb. Meanwhile, following the success of the Freshman Apollo 1 and 2 ranges, which sold out three times in 2009, the firm has introduced the Apollo 3 series.

The new series comprises two models – a dreadnought cutaway and OOO cutaway, which, according to Freshman, ‘pack a punch tonally, well above their weight’. They feature quality timbers, a neat eq section and dual pick-ups. ACCESS ALL AREAS: 01355 228028

A Lifetime of Satisfaction In 2007, we introduced a unique Lifetime Warranty* across our 40 Series studio microphones and in 2009 we are going a step further and extending this offer to include both our Artist Elite and Artist Series ranges of wired microphones. Unsurpassed in the market, our Lifetime Warranty offers genuine added value to every sale and reinforces our commitment to unbeatable customer service. Call us today on 0113 277 1441 – and experience more. *Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.audio-technica.com/warranty for full details.

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Just a few of our Leading Brands...

Blueridge have taken America by storm with their authentic vintage style guitars, and now we have made them available in the UK. This range, renowned for spectacular value for money, continues to receive excellent reviews in all the best known guitar press, including Guitar & Bass, Guitarist, Guitar Buyer, Acoustic Magazine... For the Gypsy in your soul! These beautiful guitars pay homage to the Selmer and Maccaferri guitars of the early 20th century. They have solid tops, are a joy to play, and look and sound like the real thing, right down to the excellent reproduction of the original tailpiece. More to the point, they are very affordably priced.

The best selling aluminium whistles in the UK. Renowned for their clear sound, they appeal to whistle players of all standards. Though ideal for beginners, they are professional instruments and are used on stage by many leading players.

The Kentucky mandolins are the pinnacle of affordable bluegrass instruments, and offer exceptional quality at excellent prices. These mandolins are a very welcome addition to our growing section of great quality bluegrass instruments, which includes mandolins, banjos, dobros, guitars and more.

SK120 Rated ‘Exceptional’ in Acoustic Magazine. “A wonderful little amp designed by people who understand what musicians need”. Also Guitar & Bass have awarded the SK60 a massive 82%. We distribute these ShireKing Acoustic Amps along with Headway’s very popular pickups for acoustic instruments, including the Snake 3 and SA1 pickups, and the ‘Band’ violin and cello pickups.

A competitively priced range of student squeezeboxes, including Piano Accordions from 12 to 120 Bass, B/C, D/G and Cajun one-row melodeons, and Anglo and English concertinas, all ideal for beginners.

The leading brand of resonator guitars, with a long US heritage, available in the UK exclusively from Gremlin Music. Saga Music, have applied the same dedication to quality to these guitars as they have to the Gitane and Blueridge guitars, and the results are spectacular.

A professional quality range of Acoustic Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos & Fiddles, Basses, cases, electrics and more. This is the largest range of mandolin family instruments, banjos and ukuleles in the UK, and the Ashbury name is associated with high quality and excellent value.

As well as being the first point of call for all the hard to find traditional musical instruments your customers are asking you for, Gremlin Music is a one stop shop for any musical instrument retailer. We can supply a massive range of acoustic musical instruments, spares, accessories, strings, books and DVDs. Become a Gremlin Dealer and give your customers a better choice! We pride ourselves on the personal touch - you can always reach us by phone during working hours, and we’ll always send your order as fast as possible, no matter what the size. If you’re a dealer, you can browse our website for prices (retail and wholesale), contact us by email, and place orders online! We’ve been in the business for over 25 years, and can offer you an experienced, friendly and professional service.

www.gremlinmusic.co.uk

post@gremlinmusic.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1903 203044 (9.30 - 5.30 Mon - Fri) | Unit A, Easting Close, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8HQ

RETAIL MUSIC FOR YOUTH

The hub of the Music for Youth will celebrate 40 years of its existence in 2010. The charity’s CEO, Lincoln Abbots, tells Andy Barrett how dealers

man of considerable repute, who has earned (among a few of his fans) the title of ‘wise’, often says: ‘distrust anyone who wants to teach you something’. This aphorism will doubtless produce wails of approval from the average school pupil, who will take it as justification to ignore his or her teachers whenever it suits them. What the proverb means, of course, is that it is the student that should seek learning and not the teacher soliciting teaching. Music for Youth is the world’s biggest music education charity, yet, when you boil it down, it doesn’t actually, actively teach anything at all. What it does, quite often, is change the lives of young musicians and ignite the spark in them to begin or further or complete their musical education and ultimately enter the world of ‘the player’. 2010 marks the charity’s 40th anniversary, so what better time to take an indepth look at what the charity is 68 miPRO JANUARY 2010

doing, what it hopes to do and – most importantly – how you, the MI retailer, can get involved in what is arguably the single most important inspiration for nurturing young musicians in the UK? Lincoln Abbotts is MfY’s CEO and only the second man to head up the organisation after Larry Westland, the man who, in 1970, set this particular snowball rolling until he stood down in the beginning of 2008. (Westland is now the honorary life president.) I sat down with Abbotts to find out more about MfY’s year ahead and how the MI trade can help. Some of his answers are surprising, yet no less inspiring for that… But first, he outlines how Music for Youth works. “You can boil down MfY activities into three categories,” begins Abbotts, as energetic in speech as he is with a baton in his hand. “The first thing is performance. Music for Youth gives young players a bigger stage, whether that is at one of the regional festivals, at the

National Festival or the Schools Prom. We make it possible for them to feel the thrill of a professional performing experience.” The regional festivals (of which there are now 73) cover the entire country from Belfast and Glasgow to Truro and Tenterden and everything in between, meaning that wherever you live, there will be one nearby. As long as the performers are under 21, admission is open, whether from a school, a community group, a private project and whether covering orchestras, pop and rock or folk music. As Abbotts puts it: nothing is typical. “There is still something of a perception that it is classical music by school orchestras, but that simply isn’t the case,” he explains. “And this isn’t a competition, either. The experts (we prefer to call them mentors) who view everything at the festivals will never say one performance is good and another bad; they are there to give advice as to how each can improve. There is a real ‘festival atmosphere’ at

”

We are painfully aware that not every child has the opportunity to play.

Lincoln Abbotts CEO, Music for Youth

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MUSIC FOR YOUTH RETAIL

matter can be central to what it does… these events and we find that the performers learn from each other as well, just from watching.” Once the regional festivals are over, the mentors make recommendations as to which acts will best benefit from appearing at the National Festival in Birmingham – a full week of performance, essentially taking over the whole city, with performances at the Symphony Hall, the O2 and all the others, as well as some concerts outdoors, again giving the musicians the chance to step up on to a bigger stage. Some 12,000 children and youths take part and from here over 3,000 are selected to appear at the Schools Prom at the Albert Hall in London. The mentors are all active musicians – people making a living from playing or recording music and who have an awareness of music education and how to express themselves to young musicians. There are currently about 50 of them giving up their time to help at the

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festivals. In 2009, members of the pop group Divine Comedy looked over a lot of the pop and rock acts, while Peter Stark worked with the orchestras – to give you an idea of the calibre of these people. “The second element of MfY is inspiration,” continues Abbotts. “We are painfully aware that not every child has the opportunity to play, so this year we are putting on five free concerts where youngsters can come and see other youngsters on stage.” This idea stems from Abbotts’ time with the BBC, where he initiated a roadshow that aimed to get kids inspired to play. “The difference with this,” he says, “is that there is a big contrast between seeing a 30year-old on stage and

seeing a 14-year-old. Seeing a teenager playing tells the primary school kid that he can do this, too – and from there ‘pester power’ comes in as the child presses the parents to get him an instrument.” The third element is ‘engagement’. This means getting children – and particularly schools – involved in music making. MfY is currently using the official ‘Year of Music’, which runs through to the end of the 2010 school year and incorporates all of the activities going on around the country, from Howard Goodall’s Sing Up project to the opportunities of Government funding for musical instruments, and alerting schools to them. “We are making a noise so that entrepreneurial teachers can hear about what is going on and say ‘I want music in this school’ and know that instruments are available to help make that happen. Wherever you look, people are making music. It is our job to take advantage of and support all of these initiatives.” The crux of this article – and the main reason MI Pro wanted to find out more about Music for Youth is that, as the hub of the local musical communities, the MI retailer really should be getting involved (if it isn’t already). Abbotts’ explanation of what they should do was surprising. “The crucial element for us is the regional festivals,” he begins. “The first thing to do is pick up the phone and call us. Ask for details about the festival nearest to you and what you can do. Basically, all you need to do is pitch up at the festival and say ‘hello, I’m Mr Bedford Music Shop’ and bring some of your flyers or cards. If you have a guy free who can man a stand in the hall where the activities are taking place, even better. We can’t guarantee you sales, but we can promise contacts and potentials.” Hang on, this sounds more like what can MfY do for dealers. “Yes, but it’s about relationships and creating networks,” enthuses Abbotts. “Of course, we could ask for money, but

that only goes so far. It’s far more important to have everyone involved.” Beyond this, there is a lot dealers can do for MfY in terms of putting themselves out a bit. “Retailers can identify potential mentors for the festivals. We are always on the hunt for inspirational people in each of the geographic locations. If dealers can put people forward, this would be a great help. Once they know where and when the local festival is, they can encourage the young musicians that come into their shops to attend. Then, of course, if Mr Bedford Music Shop has a spare room out back, we could organise getting some kids down to try out some gear. Money is always useful, but never our first element for discussion. Local sponsorship of a festival can be as little as £200 and for that we can tailor the deal to the festival and the sponsor, including branding, a stand at the event and so on. But I have to say, money is not the driving force here. If you are motivated, please give us a call.” In the same way that MI Pro gets tarred with the rock n roll ‘brush’, so MfY gets smeared with the classical counterpart, but in both cases, the labelling is vastly inaccurate. “Whatever you do, wherever you do it, under whatever umbrella, if the performers are under 21, we want to hear from them. We have just got new sponsorship from Rock School and this year there will be more rock and pop than ever before. The great thing about getting in as many styles as possible, is that the genres become blurred and when these youngsters get together, ensembles are created that defy definition. It’s a wonderful thing.” Wonderful indeed. And with some 50,000 kids passing through the festivals each year – and the alumni numbering in the millions, that is a wonder that just keeps growing. The ‘wise man’ who told us to distrust teachers and altruists was essentially advising that we check out these people before believing them. Well, this is the third or fourth time I’ve checked Music for Youth out and each time I’ve done so, it has been clear that the charity does nothing but good. I heartily advise any dealer that hasn’t had a look to do so right away. The same wise man said ‘don’t be helpful – be available’. I think Lincoln Abbotts would agree with that. MFY: 020 8870 9624

RETAIL LOCTION REPORT

Portsmouth England expects that every MI store does its duty – and they certainly try their best. Ross Mulkern takes a swing by downtown Portsmouth to check out the stores there and finds a few very healthy examples…

VENN PIANOS Venn Pianos shares something of the workshop feel of its close neighbour, Street Level. A large proportion of its business is dedicated to repairs and maintenance, with manager Stephen Venn working as a professional tuner when not in the shop. The shop offers used and new instruments for both sale and rental, including short-term hire. From various upright examples, such as a particularly distinctive 1937 Challen, complete with

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PJ’S GUITAR CENTRE PJ’s Guitar Centre stands as something of a guitar emporium, offering a huge range of guitars and equipment, covering the spectrum of products available on the market today. From the obligatory Gibsons and Fenders to expensive signature models – even a particularly ostentatious sixnecked example assuming pride of place in the window – every guitar-playing demographic seemed well provided for. The staff were both helpful and knowledgeable, with a good understanding of the industry as well as the products on display, which made trying out a guitar a comfortable and informative experience. The sheer range of equipment on offer, however, means that despite its relatively large size, everything is very densely packed, which creates a situation where

the sheer mass of guitars can somewhat overwhelm you and make it hard to find a specific instrument unaided, and some great instruments may go unnoticed to the casual observer. The presence of attentive staff makes this a minor flaw. The shop has a high-end sheen, but not at the expense of personality, with various Kiss masks and other memorabilia on display, giving the shop a fun feel, which is a nice change from the intimidating atmosphere found in many larger guitar shops such as this, especially for a less experienced musician. PJ’s is located just out of the Albert Road area, taking it slightly away from the hoards of local shoppers. That said, with a prosperous Portsmouth music scene, centred around the nearby Wedgewood Rooms, its reputation is enough to ensure a steady stream of custom.

STREET LEVEL Located at the heart of Portsmouth’s bohemian epicentre, the Albert Road (a street so renowned among the local populace that it even plays host to its own yearly appreciation festival), Street Level is a retailer ideally situated to attract local musicians and tourists alike. The shop itself appears somewhat on the smaller side when compared to the MI supermarkets that are more and more frequently springing up in big cities these days, but the space available is maximised to its full potential, with every wall and shelf lined with a myriad of equipment and accessories. Included in this is a rather comprehensive selection of pickups and after-market electronics of an abundance that one would struggle to find in many larger stores. With regards to such products,

the shop offers a full fitting service, as well as set-ups, maintenance and general repairs, such as re-fretting in a dedicated workshop toward the rear of the unit. As for the instruments themselves, the selection available, while less than extensive, is well considered, comprising guitars and basses ranging from budget models to several more expensive or unusual examples, such as a Dan Armstrong-style ‘see-through’ model. Although primarily a guitar shop, Street Level caters for other sections of the MIbuying public by stocking woodwind, percussion and stringed instruments. From the outside, the shop appears colourful and its attention-grabbing facade stands out from surrounding businesses, and the staff were extremely informed and glad to answer my queries.

art deco motif, to full-size grands, the shop floor plays host to a great variety of pianos, including more recent Far Eastern examples for those in search of something a little more basic. In addition, the company, due to its affiliation with Roberts of Oxford, offers a piano removal and advice service between the Hampshire and Oxford areas. As mentioned, the shop itself has a professional yet informal feel, in keeping with the specialist nature of the business, with a friendly and helpful service.

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RETAIL

INDIE PROFILE Chris Wright of percussion specialist Drumwright talks to Rob Hughes about Christmas pricing mayhem...

L to R: Drumwright’s Brooke and Chris Wright pose as winners of a 2009 MIA Award How is business compared to this time last year? Year on year about the same, happily. We are experiencing a bigger Christmas surge than last year. How do you market the shop? Via direct mail-outs, a comprehensive website, strong links with excellent drum teachers and ad campaigns in Rhythm magazine. How do you compete with the online competition? Online is now a major part of our business too, but the price-match feeding frenzy this Christmas is scary. It bodes ill for the future of specialist drum stores, unless they have the cash and capacity to price for volume sales. There is no choice with the level of transparency afforded by Google Shopper and so on. We get high levels of repeat business from loyal customers, but they expect us to price-match the box shifters. What are your main strengths? Our knowledgeable staff, range and depth of stock, strong marketing capability and a healthy balance sheet. How do you ensure a good level of customer service? Through constant monitoring of shop floor, customer surveys and by maintaining a high number of customer compliments and a refreshingly low number of complaints.

How can the industry do more to support retail? Two things: first, by recognising the investment ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers make in stock, premises, display and rewarding us. Many suppliers do this in a range of imaginative ways, for example, marketing support, rebates on in-store sales and so on. There needs to be more of this if retailers are to survive and thrive. Second, by monitoring dealer prices more closely. And before they shout ‘competition law – we can’t’, yes they can. Much more of the price mayhem is caused by cock-up than conspiracy. Too many retail bosses leave junior staff, who don’t know a margin from a mark up, to fix prices. Most of the more ridiculous prices I have seen recently on investigation by suppliers have proved to be the result of errors, not strategic thinking. Supplier ‘health checks’ on retailers are not anticompetitive – they are just common sense and vital to the survival of this industry.

FACT BOX Address: 4 Loddon Vale Centre, Hurricane Way, Woodley, Berks, RG5 4UL Phone: 0118 9441418 Owners: Brooke and Chris Wright Established: 1996 Employers: 7 full-time and 5 part-time

What is the one product you couldn’t live without? That’s a difficult one to answer but, if I were pushed, I’d have to say Zildjian cymbals.

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Bestselling lines: Mapex, Pearl and Tama acoustic kits, Yamaha and Roland electronic drums, Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste cymbals.

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RETAIL

BEHIND THE COUNTER

A NEW YEAR, NEW MUSIC AND NEW GEAR TO SELL This month, MI Pro’s undercover retailer says store staff need to keep an

eye on the year’s upcoming trends...

H ow that the crushing New Year’s hangover is beginning to clear, it’s time once more to welcome in a new decade. What will the 2010s bring us, one can’t help but wonder? Surely we’re due some sort of musical revolution, some rebirth of invention that’s going to have all the kids excited and the grown ups scared. While that’s only a nice thought, it has the benefit of making the dismal January weather easier to deal with. Realistically, this year looks set to carry on much in the same vein as the last. In the face of ever-impending economic meltdown, a pick and mix selection of largely unwinnable wars and the all-powerful Simon Cowell’s X Factor chart domination, the Great British public are well aware that the musical future lies with them. This is rather handy for music shops, which have traditionally weathered social and economic disasters relatively well.

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I guess it’s easier to write songs when you’ve got the blues. Howlin’ Wolf would have been a lot less interesting if he’d had a £30k-a-year job and a house in Shropshire.

“

Howlin’ Wolf would have been a lot less interesting with a £30k-a-year job

2009 was certainly a strange time for music. An uneasy mix of boys with guitars and girls with huge voices and wild imaginations. It’s hard to judge what’s coming next. Maybe DJ Hero on the Xbox will lead to a fresh surge in the dance charts, rendering our years of carefully

cultivated guitar knowledge useless as we try to get to grips with decks. Or perhaps the legions of marginal shredders will unite, coming together like a mammoth, über-fast playing mega-transformer that will smash us all to tiny pieces with 1,000,000 note-per-second attacks. Probably not, though, eh? One thing for sure is that if retail is to prosper, it must be ready and willing to adapt to the market at the drop of a hat. Music trends come and go so fast now that it would be easy to miss out on a rash of Tenori On sales simply because in the six months they were popular you managed to miss it. Keeping a close eye on what’s going on outside the pop charts will be increasingly vital, as musicians search for new ways to get themselves heard and to stand out from the crowd. So be vigilant, fellow shop-front folk, and let’s make 2010 a good one.

miPRO JANUARY 2010 73

THE PLACE FOR BUSINESS

MIMARKETPLACE TO ADVERTISE CALL DARRELL CARTER OR ROSIE MCKEOWN ON 01992 535647

440 DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0113 258 9599 A ALLPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0870 442 3336 B BILL LEWINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01268 413366 C COVERNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0121 327 1977 F FOCUS MERCHANDISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8245 9035 FCN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01892 603730 FUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0113 320 0304 G GHANA GOODS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0117 955 8668 GUITARRAS DE ESPAÑA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0117 973 3214 H HC DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00 353 5991 34268 HERGA MUSIC SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8861 1590 HOT ROX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0115 987 3163 J JAM PERCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0151 494 1492 L LEED REPRESENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01243 378050 LEISURETEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01525 850085 M MARSHALL AMPLIFICATION. . . . . WWW.MARSHALLAMPS.COM MCELLAND/GREMLIN MUSIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01273 491333 MEL BAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8382 8010 MUSIC SHIPPING CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01562 827666 O OCARINA WORKSHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01536 485963 R RICH ART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WWW.RICH-ART.CO.UK ROBERT MORLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8318 5838 ROTHWELL AUDIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01204 366133 S SAXOPHONE UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01892 662 533 SOAR VALLEY MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 230 4926 STEVE CLINKSCALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01573 225 885 T TEAC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01923 438 880 V VARSITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0131 557 4310 W WIND PLUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 243 1698

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT

MARKETPLACE INDEX

dB Technologies An acoustic specialist with 25-years of experience DB TECHNOLOGIES has made quite a name for itself in the past few years. Its boxes can now be found at sizeable gigs and prestige installations. A growing reputation among the pro community was cemented three years ago with the DVA (digital vertical array) series, while the upper echelons of the passive Arena range continues to be a mainstay for pro mobile applications and fixed installations. RCF’s influence? UK retailers are also stocking its smaller boxes for the pub and club markets. The current president, Arturo Vicari, who founded the parent company, AEB (Acoustic Engineering Bureau) back in the 1970s, bought RCF in 2004, from Mackie. While this might seem to place dB and RCF head to head in the market, in practice, they tend to focus on different areas and, in fact, both benefit from the other’s technical expertise – AEB having a strong background in electronics and RCF in speaker design. “We started with one or two models and now have expanded the range with a lot of very professional

products – and that’s where the synergy with RCF lies,” notes international sales manager Harald von Falkenstein. “With us having a very good R&D department for electronics and amplification and with RCF acknowledged as one of the world’s best speaker chassis manufacturers, we have synergies where we supply all the electronics for its active systems and in our more professional products, like the DVA range or the DVX range, we use RCF chassis speakers. Obviously, this gives us a good advantage over some of our competitors as it means we are doing everything in-house.” The DVA system has become dB’s most successful ever product, as it has brought the line array concept down to an affordable level for many who would otherwise have been confined to point source systems. It does this by using plastic housings with 420W of digital amplification on board, coupled to RCF neodymium speakers. The DVA system opened the door for smaller rental companies to be able to offer a usable line array system at an affordable price. DBTECHNOLOGIES.COM

CLASSIFIEDS: MINIMUM 12 MONTHS - ONE ANNUAL CHARGE QUARTER PAGE £1,295 74 miPRO JANUARY 2010

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MI MARKETPLACE ABROAD REPRESENTATION

ACOUSTIC DISTRIBUTION

For full dealership details contact your local area representative

IRELAND & N.I Walter Hennessy

087 2596183 SCOTLAND & NORTH EAST Steve Clinkscale

07958 351712 NORTHERN ENGLAND Chris Hind

07958 830072 SOUTH WEST CENTRAL ENGLAND & WALES Steve Preston

07554 454054 HC MUSIC DISTRIBUTION LTD

00353 5991 34268 sales@hcdistribution.com www.cort-guitars.co.uk www.myspace.com/cortguitars

ACCESSORIES AND GIFTWARE

LONDON & SOUTH EAST Ian Collins

07836 237337

AMPLIFICATION

To find out more about the JVM Series and other Marshall products contact: Marshall Amplification plc Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK11DQ www.marshallamps.com

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miPRO JANUARY 2010 75

MI MARKETPLACE DESIGN

DISTRIBUTION

GROUP

CLASSICAL GUITARS

Order online

A leading distributor within the Audio Visual, Sound & Light, Public Address and MI trades.

Friendly sales team

0845 270 2411 0845 270 2433

Over 4000 products in stock

sales@avslgroup.com www.avslgroup.com

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MI MARKETPLACE DISTRIBUTION

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…more than just a gig bag!

Saxy! Visit us online at www.fusion-bags.com Distributed by + 44 (0)1483 238720

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miPRO JANUARY 2010 77

MI MARKETPLACE GUITAR PARTS

The UK’s Premier Guitar & Bass Parts Supplier

Pick a part ...bridges, necks, bodies, electronics, frets, inlay dots, pickups, knobs, switches, pickguards, tools scratchplates, strings, screws, nuts, saddles, tailpieces ...and much more!!!

ABM, Badass, Bartolini, Bigsby, CRL, CTS, Danelectro, Earvana, Electrosocket, Fender, Gotoh, Graphtech, Hipshot, Hofner, Jim Dunlop, Lace, Leo Quan, Moses, Razor, Schaller, Sperzel, Sprague, Switchcraft & Wilkinson.

To order call 0870 442 3336

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Order online or find a local dealer @:

www.allparts.uk.com or email us: info@allparts.uk.com DISTRIBUTION

DISTRIBUTION

Your Box

Ready to Snatch 01525 850085

www.leisuretec.co.uk

Sound • Lighting • Special Effects - Established 1990 - Distribution Power Squared

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DISTRIBUTION

ETHNIC AND FOLK

GHANA GOODS WEST AFRICAN PERCUSSION WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PO Box 95, Fishponds Bristol, BS16 1AG Tel: 0117 9354132 ghanagoods@clara.net

www.ghanagoods.com

Call Tom Harrison on 01132 589599 or email - tom@440distribution.com WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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MI MARKETPLACE GUITAR AND ACCESSORIES

INSURANCE AND BUSINESS

BRITAIN'S FINEST BOUTIQUE EFFECTS Rothwell effects pedals are truly hand-made here in the uk and built to the highest standards. The cases are hand polished and the electronics carefully assembled by skilled uk workers. The circuit design is innovative and original (we don't do clones, repros or mods) and the sound is the sound of classic rock guitar - pure tone. Our pedals are quickly gaining a reputation for superb quality and are being played on some of the world's biggest stages. The Hellbender (overdrive) and Switchblade (distortion) are currently being heard by thousands of fans on Justin Timberlake's world tour, played by Mike Scott (also Prince's main guitarist), who says "you make truly great, great pedals". Why not join our growing list of uk and international dealers and stock Britain's finest boutique effects pedals.

WWW.ROTHWELLAUDIOPRODUCTS.CO.UK 01204 366133 MUSIC PUBLISHERS

OCARINAS

tel: 01536 485 963 fax: 01536 485 051 email: sales@ocarina.co.uk

Making Music in Schools Since 1983 UK made rainbow ocarinas from Ocarina Workshop are easy to play and great fun to teach with. These pocket-sized instruments are popular with kids & well-tuned. Together with 'Play your Ocarina' music books, they are the key to successful music-making in many schools around the country. Make sure school ocarinas are on your counter-top and available when customers request them! Quote ‘MI Pro’ when you order 12 Ocarinas & 12 Books and be amazed at the ocarina’s potential... Trade orders are sent by return: free delivery & no minimum order

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PERCUSSION AND DRUMS

PERCUSSION

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REPAIRS

WIND INSTRUMENT

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MI PLANNER DATES FOR YOUR 2010 DIARY The full year of unmissable MI shows at a glance... JANUARY NAMM 2010 14th to 17th, Anaheim Convention Center, California

JULY SUMMER NAMM 17th to 19th, Nashville Convention Centre, Nashville, Tennessee SEPTEMBER PLASA 10 12th to 15th, Earls Court, London

MI MARKETPLACE GREAT ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

CONTACT DARRELL CARTER +44 (0)1992 535647

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MARCH MUSIKMESSE 24th to 27th, Frankfurt Messe, Germany APRIL PLASA FOCUS 27th to 28th, Leeds Royal Armouries, Yorkshire

OCTOBER MUSIC CHINA 12th to 15th, New Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai

JUNE JHS Event 13th to 16th, JHS Head Office, Garforth, Yorkshire

NOVEMBER MUSIC LIVE 5th to 7th, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK

DATES ARE BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT Please contact the organiser before booking any travel or accomodation

miPRO JANUARY 2010 83

D IN MI PRO THE L AST WOR MI Pro prides itself on bringing you hard-hitting news and analysis, but, we reckon you’d also enjoy seeing your peers in their more ‘off duty’ moments. So, we’ve expanded CODA to include a permanent pictorial spread of the month’s social highlights. If you have any snaps from an event you’d like us to include, please send them to mipro@intentmedia.co.uk...

RETRO

MARSHALL’S CHILDLINE AMP DECEMBER 10TH saw Dr. Jim Marshall presenting the NSPCC with a cheque for £25,000. The Guv'nor, who is well known for his contributions, having given literally millions throughout the years to charity, got the opportunity to meet Esther Rantzen CBE, who has been a trustee for the NSPCC since February 2006, and donate this generous amount from Marshall. The money was raised through the sale of Marshall’s limited edition Lead & Bass Fifty combo, which was custom built in collaboration with Paul ‘The Modfather’ Weller to celebrate his 50th birthday last year. Only 50 of these eye-catching amps were ever manufactured and all profits gained from the sale of these units were donated to Childline, a service provided by NSPCC. A big thank you goes out from Marshall to all those who bought one of these fantastic amps, with your help the amp maker was able to give such a worthwhile charity the money it needs to continue helping thousands of children.

JANUARY 2000 Cover Stars: Clive Morton talks about how Mad About Guitars grew into the Music Live show and how the move was seen as stepping up to heavyweight champion status News: Trace Elliot halves its workforce, Musical Connection retail chain closes, Bob Doyle replaces Davis Merrey as MD of Klark Teknik, Akai sells MI division to AMIC Features: AV at Prolight+Sound, 25 years of Schools Proms, Rotosound, Red Sound, Business budgeting by Alan Townsend, Soft synths, Rosetti, Marantz mass product launch Products: Cornford MKJ50H, Fender Jazzmaster reissue, Danelectro Hodad, HK Audio Elias, Sennheiser MKW-2 Gold, Shure Beta 91 & 98Tascam DA-78 HR, Yamaha GA-1 grand Number one singles: Westlife, I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun – Manic Street Preachers, The Masses Against the Classes – Britney Spears, Born to Make You Happy Number one albums: Travis, The Man Who

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PIC OF THE MONTH – THE PIKASSO In our efforts to bring every aspect of the musical instrument business to every musical instrument retailer, MI Pro will go to any lengths to dig out potential money spinners… This little beast, however, is unlikely to be a mega-seller, unfortunately. The Pikasso guitar has four necks, two sound holes, 42 strings and two access doors: one on the player's side and the other at the tail block. It is the work of master luthier, Linda Manzer, who made it for Pat Metheny (should have guessed, really). It took a year and four month’s in total to build (around 1,000 hours) and when the 42 strings are strung up to high tension, the Pikasso is under approximately 1,000 lbs pressure. There isn’t anything even remotely usual about this axe. The body is tapered (thinner at the top than the bottom) to give the player a better ‘view’ as the instrument leans

backwards (although this effect is nothing new to Ovation players). It has a custom piezo pickup system fitted as well as a hex pickup. Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series had one entry

concerning Slartibartfast’s desire to take up the octiventral heebie-phone. “A delightfully futile task, he knew, as he had the wrong number of mouths.” And then, fiction became fact… WWW.MANZER.COM WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE STARS AND THEIR GUITARS JONI MITCHELL

Not your average guitar hero, but not your average singer/songwriter, either, Mitchell is a unique artist, who has carved a niche all her own, never seeking commercial success over artistic advancement. Here are her weapons of choice… 1966 to 74

1992 to 96

The 1956 Martin D-28 that Mitchell bought from a marine captain had accompanied the officer to Vietnam. The guitar was in a tent showered by shrapnel and was the only thing to survive the blast. Mitchell always felt this event affected the guitar’s sound. She mourned its loss in 74 (an awful ‘lost luggage incident) like that of a friend. “I’ve never found an acoustic that could compare with it,” she said.

She adopted two Collings guitars – a D2H dreadnought and the 3/4-size Baby She referred to the latter as “the best acoustic guitars I've found since I lost my dear one.” (Referring to the 56 Martin D-28.) Despite this, it was the full-sized guitar that featured on the Turbulent Indigo album, with the Baby used for songwriting duties.

1975 to 85

Mitchell was one of few top artists to embrace guitar synthesis and for some years almost exclusively played an electric guitar made by Fred Walecki of Westwood Music in Los Angeles, which she used with the Roland VG-8. The guitar was a lightweight German spruce model, although information on this instrument is flakey, to say the least.

As Mitchell began to explore jazzier sounds, she turned to electric guitars and no less than five George Benson model Ibanez guitars, set up by Joel Bernstein and Larry Cragg and each with different string gauges and tunings. She claimed that the Roland Jazz Chorus amp she used was invented to replicate her Hejira sound in performance.

1985 to 92 Mitchell switched back to acoustic and Martin, using a D-45 and a new D-28, which were used on a couple of albums that many saw as Mitchell back at her best, the Grammy-winning Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm and Night Ride Home.

1966/74

1992/96

1975/85

1996/2000

1985/92

2000+

96 to 2000

2000 to present Taking the synth and effects route a step further (and her desire for ever lighter guitars), Mitchell switched to a hex equipped Parker Fly and Roland VG-88. Although her album output has been negligible in the past ten years, her occasional live performances see her looking very comfortable with her trusty Parker.

MI ICON

Autoharp

mainstay of US folk and bluegrass since well before rock n roll was even dreamt of, the autoharp is an intriguing instrument that has found its way in the hands of some of the biggest US country stars and has more than earned its place among our list of MI Icons. While there is some conjecture about the origins of the strange looking 36 stringer, what is known for certain is that it first came to prominence in the latter part of the 19th century and by the roaring 20s was becoming a regular fixture in the hands of folk and bluegrass enthusiasts across the US. Often seen in the hands of Grand Ole Opry star Cecil Null, it was widely popularised by the Carter family (of June Carter-Cash fame), the singing sensations of the country scene at the time and who were widely known and respected throughout America.

LATEST NEWS While something of a rarity in the public eye nowadays, there is a strangely alluring quality about the instrument. Strung with anything from 36 to 46 strings, it is essentially a chorded zither that can be used as

either as a rhythmic or melodic instrument. With its ease of playing and ringing sound, the autoharp certainly has enough history and prestigious players to sit comfortably among the rest of our MI Icons.

STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE

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miPRO JANUARY 2010 85

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SOUNDALIKES U2

MI SPACE

Current holders of the 'biggest band in the world' tag, U2 fills out stadiums with ease, and having just been confirmed for Glastonbury 2010, is sure to be everywhere this year. Here's the kit the members make their noises with...

David Rushworth The Rushworth name, of course, will forever be associated with the famous Liverpool shop where David’s father, James Rushworth, then chairman of the family firm, regularly sold to the Fab Four. Once, he even had a shipment of Gibson 145 guitars flown in from Chicago especially for them.

Bono: vocals – lucky late 70's mic stand, various microphones The Edge: guitar – Gibson Explorer, various Fender, Gibson, Fernandes, and Rickenbacker guitars (up to 20 per night), Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe Tweed, Fender Blues Jr, Roland JC120, Boss FV-300L volume pedal, Dunlop Cry Baby, Digitech Whammy WH-1, Skrydstrup SC-1, Lovetone Meatball, Lovetone Doppelganger, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PI, Ampeg Scrambler, Ibanez TB-9 Tube Screamer, Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer, Boss CS-2 Compressor/Sustainer, Boss PW-2 Power Driver, Boss FA-1 FET Amplifier, Skrydstrup Bufferooster, Sobbat DB-1 Drive Breaker, Kay Fuzz.

Company/job title: Director/Intermusic Years in the industry? It's been 47 years First single bought? That would have been Travelling Light by Cliff Richard Favourite album? I think I'll say... Abba, Best Of – To sing along (very loudly) in the car on the M62

Adam Clayton: bass – Various Fender Precision and Jazz basses, Lakland Darryl Jones signature bass, Ashdown BM C410H500 combo, Ashdown ABM 900.

Currently listening to? Faure Requiem (very therapeutic)

Larry Mullen Jnr: drums – Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau kit - 14x10" rack tom, two 16” x16" floor toms, 14” x7" Brady Sheoak Block snare, 24” x16" kick drum. Pro-mark 5A Japanese oak drumsticks. Paiste Signature cymbals - 16" power crash, 17" power crash, 18" power crash, 18" full crash, 22" power ride, 14" heavy hi-hat.

Favourite musician? I'm going to go for Paul McCartney on that one Which instruments do you play? I play the piano Are you currently in a band? Yes, I am part of a choral singing group the international monthly magazine for music instrument professional and everyone in the MI business

Managing Editor

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Circulation

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Editorial Production Manager

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NEXT MONTH

The fullest NAMM report you could hope for and in-depth looks at the wireless microphone market and all the latest on the budget acoustic guitar scene. EDITORIAL: ANDY BARRETT mipro@intentmedia.co.uk ADVERTISING: DARRELL CARTER darrell.carter@intentmedia.co.uk