Mi-Pro Issue 104 January 2009 by Intent Media (now Newbay Media Europe)

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INCORPORATING

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT EFFECTS PEDALS I TRADITIONAL I HI-TECH I ROCK I CLASSICAL I EDUCATION I PRINTED MUSIC

ISSUE 104 I JANUARY 2009 I WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Family values Marshall maintains a global brand by keeping it intimate

NAMM PREVIEW BUDGET ELECTRICS WESTSIDE SHURE YAMAHA ROLAND

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The new album A Sense of Purpose is out now! www.inflames.com

For more information about the JVM2 Series and other Marshall products contact:

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

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ISSUE 104 JANUARY 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

COVER STORY

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • EFFECTS PEDALS 29 Very few guitarists are happy with a simple guitar and amp set-up these days. We look at the stomp box market and the money that can be made there

THE FAMILY WAY

Marshall has been king of the guitar amp castle for over four decades now, but despite the continued global success it is still a family business, staffed by enthusiasts. Paul Marshall explains how it works

NEWS 6 Yamaha’s virtual California, praise for video games, Musical Future for Roland

DISTRIBUTION 10

Carlsbro shifts to Litelstructures in UK, JHS extends A&H network, Spector to First Line

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • BUDGET ELECTRICS 35

PIANO NEWS 12

The Christmas rush is over, but thousands of youngsters will have gift money burning a hole in their collective pocket. Here’s a run down of the best of the market today

TV shows proved to help sales, Secretary of State recital for HM The Queen

DRUM NEWS 14 PASIC report, Vinnie Paul to Ddrum, Mike Lee passes

RETAIL MI Pro’s unique perspective on the UK’s MI business with news, interviews and reports on all aspects of the country’s front line

NAMM 09 18 A run through of some of the launches at the Anaheim show

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY 40 12

Ancient guild takes new track to attract corporate members

DAVE BURRLUCK 42 Why does the name on the headstock make such a difference?

WESTSIDE 47

NEWS 57 Germaine walks away from Reverb, Edoru gives away websites, online sales up, but unlikely to hit MI, Mel Bay giveaways

A profile of one of the UK’s top suppliers

INDIE PROFILE 61 SKB 50 The top case brand changes hands again

John Gardonyi keeps his shop vibrant through a mix of customer service and by taking a hit from trade price increases

MIA 54 18

President Jon Gold looks back on first 100 days and ahead to 2009

10 Years soundly insuring the UK Music Industry

PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES 63 BACKLINE & GUITAR 65 DRUMS 69 RECORDING 70

t: 0121-327-1977 f: 0121-327-5139 info@covernotes.co.uk / www.covernotes.co.uk Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

miPRO JANUARY 2009 3

E L B A L I A V A W O N N O I T I DIGITAL ED ee website s

The Best Things in Life are FREE

Music Live431

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EDITORIAL

The art of survival

MANAGING EDITOR ANDY BARRETT mipro@intentmedia.co.uk

DESIGNER REBECCA ALMOND rebecca.almond@intentmedia.co.uk

nother year begins, then, but possibly not quite as we imagined it would when 2008 began. The grim prospect of mass unemployment is upon us, currency shenanigans are adding to the increasing manufacturing costs and companies that might have chugged along perfectly well during the 90s and noughties, but now the going is getting tough... One of the great things about the MI business calendar, though, is that it begins in January in California at the NAMM show. Yes, there is the warm weather, of course, but more importantly those attending get first dibs on the new kit hitting the market, benefit from the business and education sessions of the NAMM University and those allimportant networking opportunities. While most companies keep their NAMM cards pretty close to their chest before the show, a good number have given MI Pro the heads up on what will be on display, so check out pages 18 to 21 for a first taster. Another area where MI could be said to be luckier than many other industries lies in the very nature of what we do – the selling of musical instruments. Whatever the economy is doing, schools continue to teach music, radio and television continue to plug new artists and new songs, young and old continue to aspire to being musicians. However shrunken the GDP might become, there will always be people needing instruments, equipment and accessories, so there is always room for businesses to survive – or even thrive. Jon Gold (page 54), the president of the MIA, alludes to this in his first ‘industry address’ in the mag, as do Paul Marshall (page 20) and Dave Burrluck (page 42). It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it and do it well. Over the past eight or more years, MI Pro has established itself as the information vehicle for MI supply and the source of news for the MI retailer. Because of this, we have begun to specialise our news coverage to include areas of the business that stand out from the rest of the trade, with different issues, concerns and approaches. This month sees the continuation of the piano news section (page 12) and the introduction of a drum news page, sponsored by mikedolbear.com (page 14). We hope to extend this specialised news coverage to include brass, woodwind and orchestral string matters, as well, but this depends upon those working in those sectors. Get your news and opinions in to us and we will further our coverage to make sure MI Pro cements its position as the only B2B magazine the industry needs. To quote the cliché, it’s your mag, so make sure you are involved in some way.

EDITOR AT LARGE GARY COOPER gary@garycooper.biz

DESIGN ASSISTANT CLAIRE BROCKLESBY claire.brocklesby@intentmedia.co.uk

Andy Barrett mipro@intentmedia.co.uk

ASSOCIATE EDITOR ROB POWER rob.power@intentmedia.co.uk

CIRCULATION PAUL LITTLE mipro.subscriptions@c-cms.com

STAFF WRITER ROB HUGHES rob.hughes@intentmedia.co.uk

CONSULTANT GRAHAM BUTTERWORTH buttsie@mbmediagroup.co.uk

ADVERTISING MANAGER DARRELL CARTER darrell.carter@intentmedia.co.uk

PUBLISHER DAVE ROBERTS dave.roberts@intentmedia.co.uk

PRODUCTION MANAGER HELEN FRENCH helen.french@intentmedia.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR STUART DINSEY stuart.dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk

MEMBER

However shrunken the GDP might become, there will always be people needing instruments, equipment and accessories, so there is always room for businesses to survive – or even thrive.

LATEST NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE Bookmark us in your phone:

MOBILE.MI-PRO.CO.UK

MI PRO CONTACTS

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE ROSIE MCKEOWN rosie.mckeown@intentmedia.co.uk

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NEWS

Yamaha’s virtual California UK supplier to revive its virtual expo format during NAMM show for benefit of UK retailers not crossing the pond FOLLOWING the success of 2007’s ‘It’s not the BMF’ and 2008’s ‘Virtual Expo’, Yamaha is returning to its online trade show format sooner than expected with ‘V-Cal’ (virtual California), which will run concurrently with the NAMM show in Anaheim. The company insists, however, that it is not turning its back on the show, but is addressing those UK retailers that never travel to California in January. “We have tended to take something of an army to the NAMM show and that means that we end up ignoring those that stay behind in the UK,” explained Yamaha Music’s director of pro music, Richard Hodgson.

“This time, we will be sending some regional managers, but we will also be holding some back to deal with V-Cal. I can’t emphasise enough that our message is the same as it always has been: you should go to NAMM. But this year we want to give a little bit of love to those that don’t.” The website, which will follow the format of the previous online ‘shows’, with special deals, auctions of stock clearance items, as well as product news, demonstration videos and audio clips, will be going live on the morning of Monday January 12th and will run through to Sunday January 18th. Hodgson explained that the current economic climate has

meant that ever more people are questioning the need for dealers to spend so much money getting across the Atlantic Ocean and while there has been no immediate hit on

MI trading in the UK as yet, the vibe is very much erring on the side of caution. “The coverage these days – especially from the MI Pro website – means that dealers

can get a very good idea of what is going on without actually walking the show floor. This format has worked so well for us in the past – and it has worked well for the dealers, too – it just makes sense for everyone.” Despite the man hours involved in setting the special site and the work preparing deals, stock and logistics, Hodgson pointed out that such an effort is still far more efficient than organising Yamaha’s own physical expo. “On top of that, the effort creates such a united atmosphere among my staff – everyone gets involved and excited. It really bonds the division incredibly.” V-CAL.CO.UK

Report praises video games Kramer has Faith Rock music video games proving to be stepping stone to real instruments THE MUSIC education charity, Youth Music, has found that something like one in five kids that play a music computer game, such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero, have also taken up a musical instrument proper. “We have long known that young people are encouraged to take an interest in music if it is presented to them in a compelling way,” Andrew Missingham, the music industry expert who wrote the report said. “This research conclusively shows, for the first time, that young people are being inspired to make their own music by games that first piqued their interest.” The Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, where players sling a plastic guitar over their shoulder and ‘play’ along to rock songs, have sold almost ten million copies worldwide since their release and spawned several variations on the games, which include drums and vocals. MI suppliers and retailers have also noted the effect the games have had on sales and it would appear that requests for music lessons in schools have increased as a result. “In the last year youngsters keep coming to me asking to learn odd tunes,” said Danny Lamb, a music teacher of 25 6 miPRO JANUARY 2009

Legendary producer endorses acoustic brand FAITH GUITARS has scored a significant coup by adding legendary record producer Eddie Kramer to its roster of endorsing artists. Kramer has a CV that reads like a Who’s Who of rock history, having produced tracks and albums for Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Santana, Peter Frampton, Joe Cocker, David Bowie and The Beatles. According to B&M, Rob Chapman of Eternal Descent

years standing from High Wycombe. “You'll get an eightyear-old come in and want to learn Paranoid by Black Sabbath. Where did they hear that? Of course it’s from Guitar Hero.” Research in the US has also shown the same effect across the pond and experts put the connection down to the coordination of right and left hand movements to strict timing and rhythms that have made the step to music playing that much easier.

(formerly a member of The Black Hand) introduced Kramer to Faith Acoustic Guitars during a session at Abbey Road. Kramer then requested a pair of Faith models to use in his Californian studios – a Shadow Nanoflex equipped FSCE Saturn Cutaway natural and an FSCEHG High Gloss version. He is now actively promoting Faith Guitars to all his studio visitors – most recently, Joey Santiago of The Pixies. B&M: 01691 652449

Adam Easton of Music Ground, the owning company behind many of the shops on Denmark Street, commented: “Because getting a guitar is actually cheaper than buying a new computer at Christmas, when kids get influenced by these games and think they really want to play a guitar, mums and dads say, ‘great, I've got him off the computer at last. Here’s 200 quid, go buy yourself one’.” SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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NEWS

Musical Futures partners with Roland MI giant backs countrywide network of Champion Schools training courses to improve standards of music education MUSICAL FUTURES has partnered with Roland UK to establish a countrywide network of Champion Schools which will provide high-quality training for teachers and other education professionals, starting from January 2009. Musical Futures is a new way of approaching music teaching in schools. It brings the most modern teaching methods and informal learning into the classroom, encouraging a more personalised approach to studying music. Roland is supporting this innovative and pioneering scheme by developing a partnership with the Champion Schools to promote the use of music technology in a practical and creative way.

The methodology is known as ‘pupil centred learning’ and sees students working on broad projects, whether songwriting or recording, creating ring tones, or advert or film soundtracks. Teachers function as ‘directors’ to each group and then at the end of each session develop conclusions as to what was (or was not) achieved. The new training courses have been developed by innovative classroom teachers who have already adopted Musical Futures in their own schools. A range of training is available, from introductory sessions for those new to Musical Futures, to sessions that aim to build on and share good Musical Futures practice for existing participants.

A recent report by the Institute of Education shows that over 700 teachers are already implementing Musical Futures and are typically seeing improvements in student attainment, confidence, motivation and behaviour, along with an increase in independent learning skills. This has led to a rise in the number of students opting for GCSE Music courses. “You see now that primary schools everywhere are looking towards project-based learning, rather than discipline-based,” Roland’s education manager, David Barnard, said. “This maintains the role of teachers as experts, allows them to direct study and experiment, but leaves children to discover solutions for themselves.” ROLAND: 01792 702701

ABRSM consults FMS Associated Board to partner the Federation of Music Services THE FEDERATION of Music Services and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) have announced a new consultancy partnership. In 2009, Richard Crozier (pictured), director of professional development at ABRSM, will provide consultancy to the executive committee of the FMS at a strategic level. At a time of considerable change and challenge in music education, the consultancy will focus on professional development within music services. It will help local authority music services to ensure that the quality of teaching, learning and musical leadership is supported at all levels and it will be complementary to the self evaluation and peer moderation programme which is being rolled out by the FMS. “This partnership is a clear example of professional music education organisations working together and sharing expertise,” said John Witchell, chief executive of the FMS. “We are grateful to ABRSM for their support over many

Musicians Benevolent Fund names new CEO David Sulkin takes up the top job at MBF

years and believe that this exciting consultancy will help to improve the quality of music teaching and learning for the benefit of all young people.” Richard Morris, chief executive of ABRSM, added: “ABRSM recognises the essential contribution made by Music Services to the teaching

and learning of music across the country. We are delighted to increase our support to the FMS by making available our expertise in the field of Continuing Professional Development. I am sure that our combined efforts will give added impetus to this vital educational work.”

DAVID SULKIN, director of programmes at Youth Music, has been announced as the new chief executive of the Musicians Benevolent Fund. Sulkin will take up the post in January 2009. Sulkin has had a varied career in education, broadcasting and the performing arts, during which he has held a number of executive positions including founder and director of the Baylis Programme at the English National Opera, director of the Royal Court Young People’s Theatre and Associate Director of the International Janáek Festival in the Czech Republic. In 1999, he became a founder member of the senior team at Youth Music, which is the UK’s largest music charity for children and young people. “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to lead the Musicians Benevolent Fund in the next stage of its development,” said Sulkin. “I am pleased to be able to offer a strong background in music

SULKIN: “I am delighted and honoured to lead the MBF.” education as well as experience of artists in need. In both areas I have led innovation and development.” Richard Lyttelton, the MBF chairman, added: “I am very pleased that we have found an executive of David’s stature and experience to lead the MBF. His obvious talents when coupled with his experience in music, voluntary work and education make him uniquely qualified to take the MBF forward.” MBF: 020 7636 4481

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NEWS

Major appointment for TC and Artemis Former Future pair get new agency off to flying start with deals to co-ordinate pan-European ad campaigns TC ELECTRONIC has appointed the UK’s The Major Agency as its European media planning agency. TMA will be responsible for co-ordinating an advertising strategy for TC Electronic, TC Helicon and Dynaudio Acoustics across Germany, France, Spain and the UK. The Major Agency is owned and run by joint managing directors Adrian and Margaret Major, both of whom previously worked for Future Publishing. Adrian Major left Future to set up TMA earlier in 2008, having been the advertising director on various magazines and Future’s Music Radar website. All three TC companies are to unveil a wide range of new products at the forthcoming NAMM show later this month and TMA is aiming to ensure these launches are supported by the most appropriate advertising campaigns to target potential

customers both in traditional print media and online. “I have always enjoyed working with Adrian, with his integrity and enthusiasm,” said Allan Strand, TC’s international marketing manager.

“I am delighted to be working with TC Electronic after having worked with them at Future and extremely proud to be able to represent its brands and products,” added Major. In a separate announcement, TMA also revealed that it is to represent Artemis Music and its video tuition website, ilearntoplay.com. Mike Sheppard’s Artemis Music started life in 1998 and has developed a portfolio of thousands of music and musicrelated titles. Ilearntoplay is a website and music community offering a new way to learn to sing and play music. It offers a comprehensive range of free and premium video lessons for guitarists and singers and aims to produce the best music tuition videos on the web, with broadcast quality production values. TMA: 01453 756388.

“The experience and insight of TMA will help us target our customers effectively.” Allan Strand, TC “With the ever increasing complexity of media choices that are available these days, we are happy to know that we have the experience and insight of TMA to assist us in targeting our customers most effectively throughout Europe.”

MAJOR: “Proud to represent TC’s brands and products”

RCF names its new Cottle hits the north as Tascam celebrates 30 years sales manager Northern ASM brings 20 years experience to Teac’s pro music division TASCAM, the Teac UK professional music division, has appointed Richard Cottle (pictured) to the position of northern area sales manager. Cottle brings to Tascam over 20 years’ experience in MI, having worked in the retail sector at A1 Music and subsequently as northern area sales manager for both the Arbiter group and M-Audio. “We’re extremely excited about Richard’s arrival at Tascam,” said the Tascam division manager, Tony Gravel. “We see his experience and enthusiasm for the role as a positive force in support of our loyal northern dealer-base as we move into what will be a milestone year for Tascam in 2009 – the 30th anniversary of the Portastudio.” As part of that anniversary, Tascam has also recently launched its latest product under the Portastudio moniker, the DP004. Maintaining the Tascam

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“His enthusiasm will be a positive force in support of our loyal northern dealer base.” Tony Gravel

tradition of simple, hands-on recording, the DP-004 uses a set of dedicated knobs and buttons, and a variety of input options and USB connectivity. The new unit is smaller than a paperback book, taking the portability element of the brand another step forward. TASCAM: 01923 438880

Dean Davoile takes reins in the MI/Pro division RCF UK has announced the appointment of Dean Davoile as its new sales manager for the MI/Pro division. Working primarily in the MI and Pro Audio markets, Davoile will continue to grow RCF’s products in what the company considers to be expanding areas. He brings a wealth of experienced to this position, having previously worked with IAG UK, where he handled many international brands including, Wharfedale, Quad and Mission. “Following on from this year’s ProLight+Sound where we launched a number of high profile MI products, including the new ART 7 series, NX series and some new 4PRO speakers, it became evident that we needed to expand the MI/pro division,” explained RCF’s Phil Price. “We are planning to introduce several new product lines into the market, which are by their very nature, hi-tech audio. In doing so we aim to take RCF to new level within the MI marketplace. The

DAVOILE: “A great roster of products to offer the market” initial response to the products has been extremely positive and we are now looking to build on this initial success with Davoile’s appointment.” “I have to say that I’m really looking forward to working with Phil and the RCF team. They have a great roster of products to offer the market,” added Davoile. RCF: 0844 745 1234

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EMD invites you to discover a world of instruments and accessories at the best prices. )N BUSINESS WE EXPECT MAXIMUM CHOICE !T %-$ THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY %-$ OFFERS THE WIDEST RANGE OF MUSICAL PRODUCTS UNDER ONE ROOF

TAILORED FOR ALL AGES TASTES AND BUDGETS 7ITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF HIGH PROl TABILTY FOR YOU THE $EALER WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING YOUR l RST PORT OF CALL FOR ALL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES /UR EXPERIENCED AND DEDICATED TEAM ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FAST EFl CIENT FRIENDLY SERVICE BEFORE AND AFTER THE SALE !TTRACTIVE DEALS MOST FAVORABLE TERMS AND UTMOST INTEGRITY ARE UBIQUITOUS IN ALL OUR TRANSACTIONS EMD. Experience the standard.

United Kingdom: Unit1, South Lodge Court - Ironbottom, Reigate - RH2 8QG SURREY - Tel : 01293 862612 - Fax: 01293 863665

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DISTRIBUTION • NEWS

Carlsbro goes north JHS furthers A&H coverage UK amp brand moves to Yorkshire

Garforth supplier to distribute Allen & Heath mixers in Ireland

LITESTRUCTURES COMPLETED a deal in December 2008 to secure the distribution of Carlsbro products, which involves the wholesale relocation of the brand to the Wakefield distributor. The Carlsbro head offices near Nottingham will eventually close during the New Year, but Andrew Bishop will remain the owner of the amp and PA brand. “Like everyone, we have to do something different to survive,” commented Bishop. “Carlsbro is a global player and it has made the most of third party distributors around the world, but we have never got it right for the UK. This rationalisation ensures the company’s survival in the world markets in both pro audio and MI.” Echoing these sentiments, Litestructures’ managing director, Adrian Brooks, added: “Both companies have a longstanding commitment to the

JOHN HORNBY Skewes & Co has announced that it will be extending its distribution of Allen & Heath’s PA and Zed series of mixers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Leeds-based UK, MI distributor took on the distribution of the A&H products in England and Scotland earlier this year. The partnership proved profitable for both companies and JHS will take on the new areas as of January 1st, 2009.

Adrian Brooks and Andrew Bishop shake on the deal

“As we predicted when we first took on the lines, Allen & Heath has proved to be a perfect complement to our other high end pro audio brands – HK Audio, LA Audio and Lab Gruppen,” commented JHS MD, Dennis Drumm. “As such, adding Northern Ireland and Eire to our A&H sales territory is the perfect way to capitalise on our work with the brand. “We look forward to generating similarly successful

results with the additional expansion of these areas to the JHS sales map.” A&H’s sales manager, Martin Daley, added: “The transfer of PA and Zed distribution to JHS has proved very successful and the sales teams have been enthusiastic and effective. We are certain the addition of the Irish territories will only strengthen our relationship and build on our achievements so far.” JHS: 0113 286 5381

business of music making. As a leading supplier of products and services to individual musicians and the performance industry in general, Litestructures is uniquely positioned to service and expand the demand and potential for Carlsbro.” The staff at Nottingham have been given the option to move with Carlsbro to Yorkshire. Carlsbro will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009. LITESTRUCTURES: 01977 659800

Henson wins Spector

Meinl goes direct in UK

Guitar specialist adds bass line to catalogue

Active Music and percussion maker improve service to Britain

JAY HENSON’S fast-growing First Line Distribution has scooped the UK distribution of the US premium bass guitar brand Spector. Previously handled by Arbiter, Spector follows close on the heels of First Line’s recent acquisition of Eden bass amps and marks a period of rapid growth for the Devon-based distributor. “We were absolutely delighted by how well retailers responded to Eden and sales have been tremendously good. We’re very encouraged by the strength of the bass market and are sure Spector will be a perfect fit. As always, we’ll be working with specialist retailers, who we have a great relationship with and who are best suited to sell these specialist products. We’re hoping to meet UK dealers at NAMM

ACTIVE MUSIC and Meinl have started shipping the entire catalogue of Meinl products direct to dealers in the UK. The basis of the change is to utilise Meinl’s new £10 million state-of-the-art distribution centre (pictured) in Gutenstetten, Germany. This will allow for all products to be shipped direct to UK stores, improving the speed and efficiency of continued stock supply, and stock holding levels. All sales, invoicing and credit control will continue to be

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and introduce them to both Spector and Eden. “It’s our plan to grow First Line into a worldclass company and this is a great step forward for us.” MI Pro understands that the Spector range will start at around £500, for Far-Eastern made basses and will reach up to around £1,500 for the top US-produced models. Stuart Spector said: “I'm delighted to be working with Jay Henson and First Line Distribution in the UK MI marketplace. First Line is a focused, medium sized company like Spector that is able to really work with customers on the sort of personal level that we feel is so important. “I’m looking forward to building the Spector line in the UK with First Line and reaching many more musicians that will now have access to our instruments.” FIRST LINE: 01626 830336

handled from Active Music’s UK office. In addition, Active Music will be recruiting a dedicated account manager for Meinl products to offer more focus in developing the brand further in the UK market. “This development marks a huge leap forward for Meinl products in the UK,” said Active’s Lee Worsley. “It also emphasises the importance of a UK-based company offering the local market knowledge needed by international brands. The real winner is the UK retailer, which is of particular

relevance for a large range of percussion products such as Meinl. Shipping from this large centralised stock will mean an improved service of stock and supply, with products being received within a few days of the order being placed.” Udo Heubeck of Meinl added: “We are very excited to be able to take advantage of our new distribution centre to further support our growth in the UK and still continue our increasingly successful partnership with Active Music.” ACTIVE: 020 8693 5678

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PROFILE • DISTRIBUTION

Ghana Goods is dedicated to spreading the music of one of Africa’s most culturally rich countries throughout the UK. Director Ben Lawrence shows us round... Year Established: 1992 Number of employees: Three

Lawrence teaches and performs to help get people familiar with the instruments of Ghana

Is business up or down compared to last year? Any particular reason? Generally up, as we operate in such a specialist market. Which are your best selling lines? Djembes, wholesale of percussion. Everything is hand made in Ghana, so there is no specific best selling brand as such, although certain types of percussion are more popular than others. Apart from your products, what are your strengths as a distributor? I teach and perform as well, so I get a chance to take the instruments out to the public and demonstrate what they are capable of. It’s not just about just selling the stuff. We also undertake repairs and have in depth product knowledge. Do you think its been a particularly tough year for retailers? I’m sure it has been a very tough year for retailers. For me personally, as I’m not a big importer and I’m so specialised, there has really not been too much of a noticeable difference. Is the internet the biggest challenge facing the industry today? I don’t really see it as a challenge, more an opportunity for people to find out more about what I do. I used to

CONTACT DETAILS Address: 52, Averay Road, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1BH Phone: 0117 935 4132 Email: ghanagoods@clara.co.uk Contacts: Ben Lawrence

spend a lot of time working to spread what we do via word of mouth. If you’re trying to sell specialist goods, it tends to be that people will need to come and see them, investigate them online, and find out the history, so I find the internet to be a hugely useful tool In a perfect world, what product lines would you add to your portfolio? I just do stuff from Ghana, but I’d like to expand into importing instruments from some other countries, such as the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. What are your aims for the next 12 months? We have been working on putting together a new website, which will have an educational base. It will also include plenty of information about the products and the company. As well as the pure selling aspect of it, there will be a lot more to the site. It will be going live at the end of January and can be found at www.ghanagoods.com

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PIANO NEWS

In black and white

MI Pro’s section dedicated to all the news and issues that directly concern the piano market in the UK and beyond. If you have any news, views or promotions that involves the manufacture, supply or retailing of pianos, send them in to mipro@intentmedia.co.uk.

TV proved to be good for you Retailers report piano market still healthy right up to Christmas thanks to ‘Fame’ styled TV and cinema series WHILE NOT exactly a renaissance, the piano market continues to thrive despite the economic downturn, with retailers and suppliers alike reporting healthy sales through November and into December. A report in the Manchester Evening News (December 11th) spoke to two retailers, Bolton’s Harker & Howarth, a Steinway dealer, and Forsythe Brothers in Deansgate, Manchester, with both citing films and TV shows such as High School Musical and Britannia High as important influences upon younger players. Harker & Howarth’s Adam Whittle told the Evening News

that sales were as good as ever, including Steinway, of which he had just sold a £99,000 Model D concert grand. “We sold about 14 pianos in a week, including the top model. There seems to be a real interest in making music, possibly fuelled by programmes like High School Musical.” He confirmed the general trend in piano sales, for £2,000 models as well as the highest end. “It’s not just a Christmas phenomenon, we’ve been very busy for a while,” he said. “We are selling to everyone, including young families buying a piano for their children – and they often decide to learn as well.”

He explained that people still see the piano as an attractive piece of furniture for the house as well. “They are a good investment. Pianos hold their price well and last a lifetime.” Emma Loat of Forsythe Brothers said her shop had not yet felt any pressure, with sales of £20,000 to £30,000 grands remaining stable. On top of that, the entry level appeared to be holding its own. “We have been selling more second-hand uprights at £500 to £2,000 and sales of cheaper instruments are also going well,” she said. “Perhaps it’s the feelgood factor – music is still good for the soul.”

Steinway’s credit crunched Ratings agency lowers manufacturer’s standing, despite record sales MOODY’S INVESTOR Services, the New York credit rating agency, has lowered Steinway’s rating because of fears that consumers will not be spending on ‘big ticket’ products in the deteriorating economy. The Massachusetts-based piano maker has been trading on a rating of ‘stable’ throughout 2008, but Moody’s dropped that to ‘negative’ on December 8th, citing “weakening capital markets and a dismal job environment that will likely make consumers shy away from big purchases such as grand pianos”. This is despite Moody’s admitting that Steinway had had a “relatively good” third quarter. The agency also added that Steinway has “good liquidity” – something in the region of $30 million. Furthermore, Moody's doesn't expect any covenant problems. Upon the announcement, the market (possibly seeing a

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Palace summons Yamaha for state performance Condoleezza Rice performs on S6 for HM The Queen during official visit

good short-term investment) rallied and Steinway shares rose eight per cent) to $20.19. In separate announcements, Steinway revealed it had closed its largest ever single order, with a fleet of pianos expected to arrive at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, reported MMR, after handing over $4.1 million for 165 pianos. “The idea is to help raise our profile in the conservatory world, where it is not always viewed as top rank,” said Douglas Knehans, the dean of

the conservatory. “It is a strong message of our seriousness.” Steinway in Germany has also bucked the trend of the doomsayers, as it recently completed the most expensive grand ever: costing $1.5 million. The instrument features inlays of 40 different woods, including ebony, ashwood, and rosewood. Bought by Guo Quingxiang the piano, named the Sound of Harmony, took four years to make. The lid of the model is decorated with a copy of a picture by celebrated Chinese painter Shi Qi.

A YAMAHA S6 piano was requested by (and subsequently delivered to) Buckingham Palace for a unique recital by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. Rice performed for HM The Queen and an audience of VIP guests including the Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, whose wife, Louise, accompanied the American politician in a piece by Brahms. The two were joined by musicians of the LSO.

The talents of Rice are well known and before entering politics she aspired to become a concert pianist. Yamaha’s senior director, Mike Ketley, explained: “We took a call from an agency representing the Palace with the S6 request and had to act very quickly indeed. Not even our on-site tuner could establish the identity of the mystery player. “This is the result of the exceptional service provided by our technical staff.”

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News beat

In order to cater to the UK’s drum retail fraternity better, MI Pro launches its second specialist news page, dedicated to the business of buying and selling drums and percussion. To get your news, views and promotions into these pages, simply contact us at mipro@intentmedia.co.uk.

Getting back to PASIC

ORBITUARY

Percussion show maintains steady attendance and international flavour

Michael Pearson (Mike Lee) 1967 to 2008

NOVEMBER 5TH TO 8TH saw over 6,500 percussionists from around the world gathering at the Austin Convention Centre in Texas to attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), setting the third highest ever attendance for one of the world’s premier drum and percussion events, Mike Dolbear reports. The convention was host to over 130 clinics, concerts, master classes and performances by some of the world’s most noted percussion artists, with events covering everything from drum kit and orchestral percussion to world percussion and marching. The highlights spanned a variety of topics over the five days and covered presentations and performances focused on the African influence in contemporary percussion music. The exhibition area is run in a very similar way to the UK’s own

Dame Evelyn Glennie was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame Drummer Live (LIMS) show, with a good spread of the majors, as well smaller companies. Retailing is to be had on the show floor, provided it is an item to carry out in a bag. Drum kits cannot be bought. This rule had some loopholes, however, as there were companies with $1,500-plus snare drums on sale. Manageable noise levels were maintained by staff on the stands and the convention centre’s noise police, which gave

any offenders a warning before an escort out of the arena and confiscation of badges on the second offence. Jazz artist and educator Roy Burns and solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie were inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame at a banquet on Friday evening. Next year’s show will see PASIC return to Indianapolis on November 11th to 14th and registration is open now.

Vinnie Paul goes to Ddrum Drum manufacturer signs metal icon and launches signature kit HEAVY METAL drummer Vinnie Paul, the man behind the drum kits of Pantera, Damageplan and, most recently, Hell Yeah, will be releasing a signature line of drums developed in collaboration with Ddrum. “I’m proud to announce that I am making the move to Ddrum,” said Paul, who had been a Pearl endorser for many years before this move. “This opportunity is giving me the chance to expand beyond playing music and bring my own line of kick-ass,

affordable drums to skin bashers around the world. “Simply put, these drums look and sound amazing.” "Vinnie Paul is the star in metal drumming, period. There is no doubt that this is a new day at Ddrum" added Ddrum’s CEO, Elliott Rubinson. The new line will be displayed at Winter NAMM 2009 in January where Paul will be on hand to sign autographs and help promote the new line. BILL LEWINGTON: 01268 413366

MICHAEL LEE, the English drummer who toured and recorded with, among others, the former Led Zeppelin musicians, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, died on November 25th. The cause of death is as yet unconfirmed, although the drummer had been suffering from a serious form of epilepsy for the past two years. Born Michael Gary Pearson, and like Led Zeppelin's drummer, John Bonham, Lee was associated with large drum sizes, something he attributed to his height. His bass drum was 26-inches in diameter, and his snare drum was a brass 14-inch by 14inch shell, not forgetting his characteristic 19-inch sticks. He also played as a drummer with Little Angels, The Cult, Echo & The Bunnymen and the reformed Thin Lizzy.

Most recently Lee toured and recorded with Jeff Martin. He also performed with The Cult founders Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury on their Ceremony tour and on Ian Gillan’s 2006 album, Gillan’s Inn. “He was a hard hitting powerhouse, a ‘British Don’ of backbone playing and timekeeping,” commented his friend, Stuie Ellerton on the Mike Dolbear website. “He influenced the many young rock drummers who aspire to be loud, hard-hitting players, and he will be missed by eveybody from all quarters of the music business.” His funeral took place in his hometown of Darlington in the first week of December.

Roland offers accessories for free TD-3KW buyers to benefit from limited offer ROLAND IS currently offering a deal on its new TD-3KW VDrums compact kit, giving purchasers of the kit a free MDS9 drum stand (a new design from Roland), a drum stool, a set of drumsticks and a tuition DVD. UK customers hoping to take advantage of the offer should send their receipt of purchase to

the Roland UK head offices: TD3 PowerPack, Customer Service, Roland UK, Atlantic Close, Swansea, SA7 9FJ. The offer runs from November 1st 2008 to January 31st 2009. Stool, sticks and DVD will be despatched within 28 days of receipt of claim. ROLAND: 01792 702701

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

VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. 14 miPRO JANUARY 2009

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Pro Music Division

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SHOW PREVIEW • NAMM 2009

Begin the year It’s that time again. The Winter NAMM show is just around the corner and, as ever, there will be a whole year’s worth of products and schemes launched to give the global MI trade its flu jab for 2009. Want to ward off the ailments promised by the economists? This is probably the best place to start…

ith Christmas and the New Year still to the fore (albeit possibly a little hazy) in the memory, we gulp down our Alka-Seltzer, loosen off the belt a notch and peer tentatively to the west and the forthcoming delights of the 107th NAMM Show. In last month’s MI Pro (December 2008, issue 103), NAMM’s president and CEO, Joe Lamond, outlined why the 2009 show is more important than ever in terms of keeping abreast of industry trends, keeping your business fresh and simply sharing experiences and plans with peers in order to keep the rumours and rumbles of the economic slow-down at the longest possible arm’s reach. All of this remains true and if you haven’t seen that article, I recommend you go back and take a look. It is all part of that priceless attitude that NAMM injects into the industry, whether through its projects and

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programmes, its domestic or international outreach, or its trade shows or ideas sessions throughout the business year. It’s not just a January thing – although few would attempt to diminish the value of the mid-winter shot in the arm that the Winter NAMM show has become. In short, the outlay required to get to Anaheim is bound to be repaid several times over, but not just in terms of sales made – there are many more unquantifiable assets to be acquired by being in and around the global industry for a few days in the sun… But then, we are preaching to the converted here, because by now you will already have booked your passage and your accommodation at the show. In which case, there is little to do other than let you know some of the goodies that will be on display in California from January 15th to 18th 2009 – or at least those we have been notified of.

JHS: HALL E, STAND 1310 SINCE THE ADVENT of Vintage Advance and the acquisition of Fret King, JHS has been a regular at the NAMM shows and this year will see a further step forward for the company and its North American distributor, Musical Instrument Distribution Canada, with considerable focus being placed on the entry-level instruments from the Garforth supplier. The man behind these guitar ranges, Trev Wilkinson, has now put his design to the new Encore Blaster electric guitar range and added subtle details that JHS hopes will set Encore apart. The Encore E6 Blaster, for example, a slinky twin cutaway model, has been tweaked by Wilkinson to be as ergonomic and balanced as possible. The E6 features a wuton tonewood body,

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Rotosound will be taking the endorser route to pulling the crowds again this year which is light, resonant, comfortable and ideal for the novice player. Those looking for an out-and-out rock and blues guitar might find themselves gravitating towards the single cutaway body and twin humbucker pickup layout of the E99 Blaster. Also on the JHS stand are Vintage guitars and basses and will be the first opportunity to see the new 2009 models. Vintage guitars have earned a reputation for high value, high spec fitments with extremely competitive price tags particularly the innovative Vintage Advance guitars. This year sees the introduction of all Vintage electroacoustics fitted with pickups and preamps from one of the top names in acoustic amplification: Fishman. Those interested in finding out more about the Wilkinson-designed Fret King Green and Blue Label guitar ranges will be able to ask Wilkinson directly as he’ll be there on the JHS stand throughout the show. This year will see the experimental STVDIO series Fret-Kings – so get along. Those lucky enough to have been invited into the Fret King lounge at the Music Live show in Birmingham in November might well have been given a peak at a Wilkinson innovation. NAMM will see this little technological gem given a soft launch and it will place Fret King in direct competition to one of the most technologically advanced guitars in the world. A must see. YAMAHA: MARRIOT HOTEL, CONVENTION CENTER WAY NAMM 2009 marks another big year for Yamaha guitars, the company tells us. Following major launches over the last three years, including the much lauded updates to the popular APX and CPX electro-acoustics in 2006, the revamp of the Pacifica 112 in 2007 and the unveiling of Yamaha’s latest flagship L-Series guitars in 2008, complete with the company’s proprietary ART pickup system and ARE pre-aged woods, it’s a tough act to follow.

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Details are thin on the ground as MI Pro goes to press, but the Japanese maker looks set to launch additions to the longrunning and highly popular FG range, as well as a number of new L-series models, expanding the company’s mid-range electro-acoustic offering significantly and, according to Yamaha, bringing in ideas that have come from working with artists like Jimmy Page, Brian May, Paul Rodgers and Joe Bonamassa. Yamaha’s new models will be in stock and shipping to UK dealers from February 2009. FENDER: BALLROOM E, THIRD FLOOR NO PRODUCT news from the guitar giant as yet, but dealers hoping to get a glimpse of the huge quantity of gear from the likes of Fender itself, Jackson, Charvel, Gretsch, Guild, Tacoma and all the other Fenderowned brands, should note that the familiar surroundings of Room 207 A to D on the second floor will no longer be housing the company’s displays and meeting rooms. Instead, this year Fender has relocated to the third floor’s Ballroom E, where you are promised ‘more entertainment, more meeting space, more cool exhibits, more cool guitars and amps’ – in short, more. ROLAND: HALL D, STAND 2672 AS EVER, Roland is being extremely secretive about its launches for the show, although this year, according to the company, there will be something a little bit special in the offing. Roland UK’s Tim Walter told MI Pro: “There have been many milestones during Roland’s history – from the D-50 and Jupiter-8, to V-Studios, Grooveboxes and more recently V-Drums. At NAMM 2009 we’ll reach a new milestone with a launch that has been many years in the making and truly represents a new chapter in the creative potential of technology. “We’re also announcing many substantial new products across the major categories of our business, all of which will

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SHOW PREVIEW • NAMM 2009

Just some of the new products to be seen at NAMM 2009 for the first time play a vital role in driving customers into music retailers during these challenging economic times. KORG: HALL A, STAND 6440 WHILE THE ORIGINAL microKorg is still loved and used by musicians around the world, Korg will be launching a new, advanced microKorg at the show. The synthesizer lets users generate their own sound, packing a cutting-edge sound engine and powerful effects into a compact, vintage-like body. This latest model incorporates Korg’s Radias/R3 derived Multi Modeling Technology, plus a powered-up vocoder. The updated ROM includes PCM data for recreating indemand vintage keyboards such as piano, electric piano, and clav. Externally, the unit has a new vintage design with a textured black body and industrial silver panel. The newly developed mini-keyboard is firm and responsive and, possibly surpisingly, the synth is battery-powered so it can be taken anywhere. Due in February, the new Korg LP-350 digital piano is aimed firmly at the home market with excellent sounds, of course, but also a stylish appearance. Less than 28cm deep, the styling of the keyboard is both space saving and efficient and when not in use, the thoughtful design leaves a smooth, flat top with no protruding hinges. This means that the LP-350 will easily fit into and become part of your room’s decor. Vox will be showing its second pedal made in conjunction with Joe Satriani, the dual-mode delay pedal Time Machine. The pedal has two delay modes, a hi-fi/lo-fi switch, a wide range of delay sounds, yet, the company says, remains remarkably easy to use. This new multi-function delay pedal delivers Satriani’s favourite delay sounds plus a host of time stretching, mindbending delay effects. ROTOSOUND: HALL B, STAND 5274 ONE OF THE stalwarts of UK manufacturing, the British string

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Hayden amps promising classic tones and avoiding the ‘all things to all men’ moniker manufacturer will be at the show with its new string sets and all new packaging. Visitors to the Rotosound booth will be able to get the heads up on the new Nexus coated strings, new electric guitar strings, as well as re-vamped signature bass sets. The new bass strings include roundwound sets aimed specifically at those players who de-tune. Named Drop Zone and Drop Zone+ these sets allow players to lower their tunings down to B and F# respectively. On a slightly more mainstream note the custom gauge FM66 set have been repackaged as the Funkmaster set. This name originally harks back to the 1980s, but was dropped from the range at the beginning of the 1990s. It really is a case of ‘does what it says on the tin’ with this set – they are perfect for snappy funk styles and higher register playing. Also, in keeping with the entire packaging and re-brand the custom Billy Sheehan set now comes in its own unique box – the contents, as always are Sheehan’s specified 43-110 roundwounds.

Martin Ritter launched a new case and gigbag company earlier this year – and the company will be making its international debut at this year’s NAMM. The Madarozzo boutique range is a premier collection of individually designed wooden, ABS and lightweight cases, with items such as the MA-W010 and MAW020 wooden cases designed from scratch and featuring wooden multi-ply construction with a hardy textured outer cover, as well as chrome locks and hinges. All cases have a padded, luxury plush interior, a built-in accessory compartment, carrying handle and restraining straps on the lid. The Madarozzo series of boutique drum and percussion bags are a fusion of design, features and innovation, offering top notch gear protection. The compact range is available in a choice of chic colours and price points for stick bags, cymbal bags and drum bags and offers 600D water repellent polyester, soft nylon lining, comfortable handles and various functional accessory pockets and pouches.

MADAROZZO: HALL E, STAND 1805 MANY OF YOU might have noticed that

ASHDOWN: HALL C, STAND 4778 EXPECT THE usual cocktail of great new

products, exciting demos and major artist signings on the Ashdown booth this year. The British bass amp specialists arrive in Southern California with a new range of US series bass cabinets, built at Ashdown’s new Kentucky manufacturing plant, making Ashdown tone and performance affordable for North American bass players. Also new at NAMM is the perfect partner for a US Series cabinet in the form of the BTA 400 bass valve amp – a sledgehammer 400-Watt head that partners the feature-laden ABM EVO III preamp with an all-tube output section. Also on the stand will be the Hayden guitar amps and combos, carrying the philosophy that a great guitar amp can never be all things to all players. So like the classic guitar amps in history, each model in the Hayden range sets out to do a job and do it properly. Drawing on the classic valve amp designs of the past, Hayden adds just the features a modern guitarist needs, such as valve switching, pickup matching and the greater reliability that comes through refined circuit design, and leaves out the superfluous gimmicks that often stand in the way of great tone. The hand-wired Hayden combo range comprises of the Petite 2, Petite 5, Cotton Club 7/15, Cotton Club 15/30, Speakeasy and Classic Lead 80. The Speakeasy and Classic Lead 80 are available as heads, with a selection of 2x12, and flat and angled 4x12 cabinets. Hayden amps are hand-wired in England although for those players not yet ready for a hand-wired guitar amp, the Hayden Peacemaker 40 and 60 all-valve range draws on the UK manufactured designs to deliver Class A guitar amp tone at even more affordable prices. GODLYKE: HALL E, STAND 1580 A NEW NAME (mostly) to the UK, Godlyke is celebrating its tenth year in business and its 11th Winter NAMM appearance. The company will be premiering several new products this year, including the Guyatone Mighty Micro

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NAMM 2009 • SHOW PREVIEW

series effects, Power-All System Deluxe Kit, Ground-Hound ground isolator, Iso-Pump voltage converter, the new Emma electronic models and the debut of the Totally Wycked Audio (TWA) Little Dipper formant filter. MEL BAY: HALL D, STAND 3304 THE COMPANY is currently working on its New Issue Programme, which will be launched at the show this year. “It is one of the most flexible and generous in the print music industry,” explains Mel Bay’s Chris Statham. “I am really excited about the opportunities and plans we have for 2009. This programme will allow us to offer something for every one of our dealers. Additionally, we’ve handpicked an incredible range of new products for 2009, with volume and margins in mind for our trade accounts. There are lots of plans in the works at Mel Bay Music, with a lot more positive changes on the way.” More details can be extracted from Statham at the Mel Bay stand. As usual Mel Bay Music is offering its dealers an extra ten per cent discount on any orders placed in January over the period of the show. On top of that, all orders placed at the show will receive a free gift of a DVD wallet, which not only protects your DVDs and CDs in a road-ready organiser small enough to fit in a glove box, but it also includes DVD samplers of key Mel Bay series: The Murphy Method, Learn Roots Music and The Best of Mel Bay. INDIE GUITARS: HALL E, STAND 1320 ONE OF THE great success stories of the past couple of years, the UK’s Indie Guitars will be launching Indie Guitars USA at the show – and very nicely positioned right opposite the JHS stand, giving a cool British vibe to that particular section of the show’s Underworld: the popular Hall E. Keith Wilson, Indie’s founder and MD, told MI Pro that some 30 guitar models will be on show, essentially the core products of the manufacturer, but no amps as yet. Indie is still working on a new range of amps, so sight of those will be coming later in the year. “We’re really looking forward to it,” says Wilson. “We launched Indie in Canada earlier this year, but we deliberately saved the US launch for the NAMM show, there’s no better place to do it – and we’ll be able to see what leather jacket Dennis Drumm wears this year, too.” Should pull in the crowds.

guitar factory in southern China, with the aim of offering clients high-grade, solid-top and all solid acoustic guitars, crafted by a skilled team of luthiers in China. The factory will produce guitars on behalf of clients worldwide, using clients’ own designs or developing new concepts in conjunction with luthiers from the UK, USA and Europe. Examples of the models will be on the IBCT stand, which will be fitted with the latest Fishman OEM pick-ups, including the new Ion and Aero systems, which are receiving some acclaim in the market. Headed by Dave Ingham, the former production manager of Lowden/Avalon Guitars in Ireland, the new facility is now in full production, offering clients design, technology, quality and product management, rarely seen in China. “Limiting production to 2,000 units per month, means we can carefully control quality and offer both standard and highly customised instruments to our customers,” comments Ingham. IBCT has become a leading sourcing expert in China over the last four years, with offices in both Beijing and Guangzhou, as well as a team of over ten staff. The consultancy offers clients the ability to purchase consolidated containers of every kind of musical instrument, from its Chinese partners and advice on design and manufacture.

JHS’ Fret King guitars at the show alongside the latest Wilkinson innovations to the Encore and Vintage lines

IBC TRADING: HALL E, STAND 1640 IBC Trading has developed a new OEM high-end

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MARSHALL • COVER STORY

Generation next

While Jim Marshall is still very much a part of the brand he founded some 50 years ago, his children are now at the heart of what Marshall Amplification does these days. Gary Cooper talks to Paul Marshall about how the company works and why ‘family’ will always be central to what the company does…

rtist liaison is an important role in any MI business catering for the professional market, but nowhere more so than at Marshall. This is a company, after all, that grew from the demands of a group of young musicians in the early 1960s who frequented Jim Marshall’s Ealing music shop. They wanted a completely new sound to be played at undreamed of new levels and Marshall obliged by inventing the stack. The business was founded as directly as possible on giving musicians what they wanted. Subsequently, the Marshall brand rose to huge international prominence as those artists then carried the name around the world and, ever aware of the importance of that factor, the company has always played the closest possible attention to its ambassadors.

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For many years that role was handled by Jim Marshall himself, but in recent years it has increasingly been assumed by his son, the company’s artist and customer relations manager, Paul Marshall

as to who was doing what within Marshall. It’s inevitable with a company that has been so identified with one man for so long that it has left – justified or not – the impression of a vacuum.

“Jim Marshall is still very much a part of things. He’s still on top of what’s going on. When we have artists come over, they go out for dinner with him. In fact Zakk refers to him as ‘Dad’.” – particularly so, since his father’s health has made it difficult for him to travel as avidly as he once did. As Jim has increasingly handed day-today running of the business to others, there has been a some sense of confusion

There are a lot of questions for Paul Marshall, then, when we spoke, recently. We began by asking him about the company’s present management team. “The structure has changed and the reason has been due to Dad’s age and

health. My father would love to be able to go on travelling every day of the week if he could and all over the world, but his doctor’s advice is not to travel too far. “Victoria was our managing director, but with Dad not being able to travel so much, the company wanted to keep up the role that he used to fulfil, so she has now taken on an ambassadorial role for the company along with Terry Marshall. Terry knows a lot of people from Marshall’s past; he knows all about the earlier times and gets on well with artists, distributors and the dealers. He’s also tremendously enthusiastic about the products. What is more, he has a lot of knowledge and he’s a great musician himself, so to have him back involved in the company again is excellent – it’s a good feeling.”

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COVER STORY • MARSHALL

With Terry and Victoria Marshall now non-executive directors, the day to day running of the practical aspects of the business has passed to two long-time Marshall directors: Jon Ellery and Graham Young, who both have over 15 years experience with the company and who are now acting as joint MDs. “They work well together, they’re a good team and they’re doing a sterling job,” Marshall says. The point about Jim Marshall not being able to travel too far begs the question as to how involved the founder actually is. “He’s still very much a part of things. He comes into the office a couple of days each week and he’s still on top of what’s going on. When we have artists come over, like Slash and Zakk Wylde recently, they go out for dinner with him – so he’s still quite involved. In fact Zakk refers to him as ‘Dad’. “Zakk recently donated a guitar to our museum and it came with a handwritten note saying ‘to Dad’ – and that’s the way he’s thought of by so many people.” In terms of his own role, though, Paul Marshall is responsible for other areas, such as running the service department (a vital part of the Marshall profile, as we shall see). He is acutely aware of the importance close customer relationships have traditionally played in the business. “I see my role as maintaining that company ethos – finding out what people need and making sure they have it. Dad always instilled in me that the customer’s right, no matter what he says and that’s

and have it repaired while he waits. That level of service is vitally important. The word spreads and recommendations from satisfied customers can’t be bought. They have to be earned.” It was always true in ‘the old days’ that one of the many things that set Marshall apart was that when you called you were quite likely to have the phone answered by Jim himself – and not just in the early, Ealing days, either. It was equally as true when the company moved to Milton Keynes. That was the way Jim liked to do things and it’s heartening in these corporate times to see that ethos being continued today. This matters all the more to the health of the UK’s MI industry as Marshall is not just one of our few remaining homegrown companies (possibly the biggest), but it is one of the handful that still actively manufactures here and this, by one of those strange twists and turns of fate, means it is actually benefiting from the recent collapse of the pound against international currencies. While it has suffered in recent years from a strong pound (particularly in the vitally important US market) it is suddenly in the relatively happy position of finding its situation easing both there and in other export markets. Back home, meanwhile, rumours have been strong in the trade that Marshall was considering changes to its dealer

going to rationalise our dealership base to a certain extent, but the idea behind it is to ensure the customer receives the best level of support we can provide. It won’t be the same as the Gibson programme and we won’t be forcing dealers to stock certain items. We try to work with dealers and it’s really about that – working with them in a period of economic uncertainty. “Our view is that the customer is always best served by going into a shop and getting personal attention from someone who knows about the product and is very enthusiastic about it. Something we are trying to achieve with the new agreements is maintaining that level of service and commitment to the consumer. And in these cash-strapped times a good personal service could go a long way to turning a potential sale into a realised sale.” It is probably too early to tell how Marshall’s proposals are going to be received by retailers, but as ever, MI Pro’s letters page is open for any views readers may want to express.

One thing that Marshall dealers may have experienced in the past few years, has been the sense of fashion moving on – a concern that the company that invented the stack might have been destined to be stranded in a world of big hair and 80s guitar heroes at a time when Indie bands are coming to the fore. As it turns out, however, while the 80s rock gods still draw gigantic crowds at the Marshall stand for signing sessions, the company has also managed to sell its combos to artists for whom big really isn’t very beautiful at all. “Yes, we’ve not been moving away from the traditional side, so much as adding to it,” Marshall says. “On the X-Factor the other week there were a lot of Marshall amps on stage. We’re not just a rock icon now. At the V Festival this year half the acts there were using Marshall. “You have to remember that the stack wasn’t all Marshall was in the past, either. Another icon was Eric Clapton’s

“If a customer has an issue with an amp, we will go to the n’th degree to resolve it – whether the amp is three months old or forty years old.” Paul Marshall the philosophy I have, too. It’s right. Marshall has that reputation among musicians and it’s important to me that we maintain it. “It extends beyond customer relations, too, for example with warranty issues. If a customer has an issue with an amplifier (and it doesn't happen very often) we will go to the n’th degree to resolve it. We have customers coming to the factory all the time and that’s important for us, too. If a customer has a product that’s three months old, ten years old or forty years old, he can phone up, make an appointment, come and visit the factory

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agreements. Recently, some dealers have reported, negotiations have begun to put relationships on a new footing. Immediately, images of the seachange brought about by Gibson last year sprang to mind. Marshall quickly refutes that anything like that will happen. “We are looking at our dealerships and one of the reasons is that we want to ensure the Marshall brand has the best possible support. One of the consequences is that it is

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Bluesbreaker combo – that 1962 combo with such a wonderful sound. I think, for retailers, you really have to try to promote the whole brand and remember that there is that real heritage with combos and now increasingly with the bass side, too.” This is an area where Marshall has begun to make long overdue headway. For whatever reasons, bass players have traditionally tended to leave Marshall to the band’s guitarist, preferring to explore alternatives offered by amp manufacturers who specialised in bass alone. If one were being fair, this has had a lot more to do with image and fashion than technology as there is no mystery in making an amplifier suitable for handling bass and if a company as big as Marshall decided to make bass amps, it could do so as well as anyone – and has. But whatever the perceptions that might have hindered the brand in that discipline were, they have begun to shift, Marshall says.

The JMV stack is as popular as ever, but from its roots, such as the Eric Clapton Bluesbreaker (right), Marshall maintains its presence in the indie market

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”I get frustrated sometimes when people say, ‘oh yes, Marshall does guitar amps’ and when I point out we also offer bass, they look incredulous. But Oasis is out at the moment with two Marshall VBA stacks – they’re the most prominent things on stage. You’ve also got Slayer. It’s not just Kerry King and Jeff using their Marshalls, but Tom is using Marshall bass, too and so are Paul Weller’s and Amy Whitehouse’s bassists. People may not have recognised Marshall as a bass amp manufacturer in the past, but it is making some real headway in that market now. “One of the factors there, incidentally, has been our reliability. On that 18-month Oasis tour, using two bass heads and cabs, we just haven’t had any issues at all.” Another area where Marshall faced a challenge was from the burgeoning ‘boutique’ market, which is ironic given that Marshall was probably the original boutique valve amp, arriving in a market dominated by production products from brands like Vox and Selmer. So how does the company view the boutique sector? “One of the things I like to try to get across is just how passionate the people at Marshall are. It’s not just the family – although we are still very much a family business and that’s very important – but everyone who works there. “We’ve got people in the factory who’ve been here for 30 years. That’s quite unusual and it’s because they love the product in the same way we do. “So when people talk about hand-wired amplifiers, well, that’s what we do. It’s what

The Marshall family: still at the core of everything the company does we’ve always done, it’s what we are and what builds-up the brand loyalty that is so important. “We’re a very open company. Anybody can phone up and come and see us. When we take people around the factory and they meet staff that have been making our amplifiers for 30 years, they see what we are about. “As a result, when you buy something like our hand-wired 1974 combo, it’s an amazing product – the sound, the tone, the clarity, the whole thing is manufactured here in the UK and, as I say, the people who make it, who actually put

it together, have been doing it for many years and they are passionate about it. That is a boutique amplifier. There’s a lot of skill and passion in the product and then there is the quality factor. Every amplifier made in the Marshall factory is tested four or five times during production and then, finally, it has a guitar plugged into it and it is tested again. “I think that’s our answer to the other companies, really – our pedigree and our experience. We can still service amplifiers that we made in the 60s and we have people that really know what they are doing. That sort of experience and that sort of depth are pretty rare.” But no company, even one as steeped in rock heritage as Marshall, can spend all its time looking backwards. The forthcoming NAMM show, it is strongly rumoured, will see the debut of something really quite exciting from the Milton Keynes maestros. We tried to probe, but Paul Marshall and the rest of the team were being extremely cagey. Whatever it is they have up their collective sleeve, you would have to have a heart of stone not to wish them great success. At a time when this industry is, like all others, staring in the face of considerable difficulties, it is the power of myths and icons and dreams that can tempt customers to spend money they might otherwise leave in their bank – and that is where the premium brands are so important and where Marshall, one of the last great all-British musical icons, plays a flagship role. MARSHALL: 01908 375411 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Music Trades '08

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Peddle faster

From the esoteric to the everyday, guitar effects cover just about every conceivable need guitarists might think up. This in turn creates something of a headache for the dealer who needs to know what to stock from the thousands of units available. Andy Barrett puts his foot down on the stomp box market and finds a lot worth considering…

n researching this article, I came across no fewer than 40 different brands of effects pedals available on the market at present. A couple are direct sales from the US, another a German brand with little presence over here. That leaves 37 brands of guitar effects represented actively by UK suppliers. In a niche market (with perhaps the exception of the good old overdrive unit) that means some pretty serious choices have to be made on a regular basis. And that is just brands. Multiply that by at least half a dozen and the list of pedals available for stocking becomes unwieldy to say the least. It isn’t really a simple case of keeping the catalogue near to hand and ordering up models as and when a customer wants one, either (although that is certainly compulsory for some of the more esoteric boxes available on the market). With the exception of guitars themselves, there is nothing the guitarist likes to spend hours dribbling over more than a good selection of pedals – and while the average semi-pro axe man has half a dozen guitars, he will most likely have twice as many effects units, whether he uses them or not. It is a difficult area in which to achieve the right balance. The last thing you want is dozens of odd pedals cluttering up your displays or stock room, but catering to the

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seemingly perennial desire for overdrive units and having something a little leftfield to draw the eye of the guitarist means that stock holding is important. This is why brands such as Boss, Digitech, Dunlop and Zoom tend to be found pretty much everywhere. The ranges are huge, the build quality is reliable, the prices are, at worst, reasonable and they have a track record of selling through quickly. Brand such as these have become their own self-

Apart from guitars themselves, there is nothing the guitarist likes dribbling over more than a good selection of pedals. fulfilling prophecy and you can’t really go wrong with them. Talking to several retailers, it would appear that margins for guitar effects vary wildly between ten and 35 per cent, so while not being the biggest earners, there is certainly profit to be had. There are four reasons why a pedal will be stocked. Either the rep sells well, it is seen at a trade show, magazine reviews

rave about it, or a lot of customers ask after it, but whichever reason, the smaller the shop, the more difficult it will be to take on more than a handful of models. As is often the case, the benefit the smaller, specialist shop has is its ability to develop good relationships with punters who are willing to listen to suggestions, making the more esoteric effects and brands (and there a lot of them) a viable option. Guitarists love a good brand, like anyone, but there are those that eagerly seek out the exclusive – and a quirky effects pedal is as good as anything to start a conversation. BOSS (ROLAND) THERE ARE a lot of guitarists out there for whom Boss is effectively the one-stop shop when it comes to guitar effects. A quick perusal of the Roland website’s guitar room shows why – some 36 compacts, ten multieffects, eight twin pedals, two acoustic twins and four synth units… It is little wonder that Boss has made itself the number one selling effects brand. Ten million compacts (and counting) sold since the first OD-1 overdrive in 1976, with Roland stepping into the guitar synthesizer market in the 80s and pretty much making it an exclusive fiefdom, as well as the hugely popular twin pedals and multi-effects – there simply isn’t anything else like it.

For an article such as this, however, it makes it impossible to know where to start, so, diving in almost at random… The OD-1 is now long gone, but the OD-3 maintains the heritage and leads the way among an impressive selection of overdrive and fuzz boxes Boss has. A simple, functional unit, the OD-3 is based on a dual-stage design and offers variable drive and tone controls create overdriven sounds from mild to extreme with almost endless sustain. There are also the OS-2 overdrive and distortion blender, the SD-1, which emulates the overdrive of a tube amp through asymmetric overdrive circuitry, thus remaining sensitive to picking styles, and going a step further the Dyna Drive makes it possible to get a transparent clean output sound by playing softly, or a powerful, heavy overdrive sound by picking aggressively. As well as the panoply of standard overdrive, distortion, chorus, flange and digital delay, the compacts also include the Fender collaborations for the 59 Bassman and 68 Deluxe Reverb amp simulators, a mini loop station (RC-2), an auto wah (AW-3), a compressor sustainer (CS-3) and a whole lot more from effects through to eqs and line selectors. On the twin pedal front there is the universally useful Space Echo (the RE-20) with its simulations of analog tape echo

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The Cool Cat range increases the pedal options from Danelectro and reverb – with a lot of more modern sounds, too – and the ‘Fripp in a box’ DD20 Giga Delay, whch provides up to 23 seconds of digital delay. But the headliner at the moment is the new SL-20 Slicer – a kind of digital arpeggiator for guitarists that offers a huge selection of rhythmic and harmonic patterns to bring a whole new palette to axe wielders. The Slicer is probably the only Boss effect that doesn’t feature in the array of multi-effects available from Boss (as yet), which each take the circuitry of the smaller pedals and package them in a sturdy floor unit (or, in the case of the GT-Pro, in a rackable box). This opens up the capabilities of blended effects, the creation of user patches and all sorts of connection variations. Of particular note among these is the ME-50, now on the market for some years, but a real coup in terms of getting the most techno-phobic guitarist into multi-effects with its hands-on, real time knob control and simple on/off functions for the four effects banks included. Special mention, though, has to go to the remarkable RC-50 loop station – a seven-pedal control unit that enables three independent, multi-layered loops with undo and redo function and a mass of connection possibilities that put a whole new angle on the one man band. DUNLOP JHS OFFERS a wide selection of guitar fx from the expansive catalogue, including the highly respected Jim Dunlop ranges. Dunlop’s line-up includes a number of variations on the legendary Cry Baby wah, with various signature wah pedals available from some of the biggest names in electric guitar, including Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buddy Guy, Dimebag Darrell and Zakk Wylde. Dunlop is also responsible for the acclaimed MXR series. This highly regarded range of pro pedals has been a

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stalwart of pedalboards for many years, providing definitive effects such as the Phase 90, Phase 100 and Distortion +. Newer additions to the range include the excellent Carbon Copy analog delay, the El Grande bass distortion unit and the Eddie Van Halen flanger. Dunlop has also brought Jeorge Tripps’ reputable Way Huge brand back to the market. These boutique-style overdrive pedals offer great tone and quality and the (as yet) unexplained food-based names, such as the Swollen Pickle MkII Jumbo fuzz, the Fat Sandwich harmonic saturator distortion and last but not least, the Pork Loin soft clip injection overdrive. Apple sauce, anyone? Or possibly a Shark Sandwich? Dunlop continues to maintain a close and valued association with the

The Cool Cat range joins existing Danelectro pedal options, including the Fab units and, you will notice, more cryptically fast-food-themed mini pedals. TONEBONE NEW TO the Shure Distribution catalogue is Radial’s Tonebone series of effects – essentially a collection of boxes making the most of Radial’s high-end DI box and preamp technology. The best place to start is the Tonebone Classic, a 12AX7 valve driven overdrive with true bypass, ultra-low noise and a very useful eq section. The Classic is based on ‘vintage’ overdrive sounds and has a variable drive control from ‘slight’ to high-gain saturation and everything in between. The benefit of valve overdrive is that

Boss’s headliner at the moment is the new SL-20 Slicer – a kind of digital arpreggiator for guitarists that offers a huge selection of rhythmic and harmonic patterns to bring a whole new palette to axe weilders. Experience Hendrix estate and recently re-issued the most accurate representations to date of Hendrix's most famous pedals: the Wah, the Octavia and Fuzz Face. DANELECTRO STICKING with JHS, Danelectro's latest competitively-priced Cool Cat pedal series is already making a bit of a splash in the music scene. Nine Cool Cat pedals with metal cases and true bypass operation cover many classic tones from the 60s (Vibe) to the present day (Metal II). A smart guitar casestyled pedalboard case holds five Cool Cats and comes complete with PSU and all patch and power leads, which is a great add-on for that extra sales push.

turning the guitar down cleans up the overdrive naturally – and being Radial, there is no noise, hum or buzz and every note remains distinct at even the highest volumes. Taking a leap forward from the Classic, the Trimode has everything its precursor has, but adds a rhythm distortion mode and a sustaining lead distortion mode – oh, and an effects loop I/O on the lead channel for good measure. Trimode has three settings: true bypass for the natural guitar tone, rhythm mode with the unique ‘Interstage’ drive between the gain and volume to precision-tune the distorted mayhem, and solo mode with mid boost for ‘days of sustain’. A step away from overdrive, but closer to Radial’s core is the Tonebone PZ Pre

acoustic instrument booster and preamp. This is right up there with the best acoustic preamps and DIs, aimed at guitars, of course, but also banjos, mandos, violins, cellos, double basses – you name it. The magic of the PZ Pre lies in the combination of high performance discrete Class A piezo boosters, an ultra-quiet preamp that will adapt to any pickup system and a host of connectivity options. A warm sounding semi-parametric eq and a host of feedback eliminating controls combine with independent input channels (for two instruments or tone blending) and three outputs, straight to amp, pre-eq XLR or post-eq XLR. If your acoustic doesn’t sound good with this, it’s probably time to buy a new acoustic. DIGITECH AS WITH Boss, the Harman-owned Digitech brand has created a reputation as a universal guitar effects manufacturer, with compacts, twins and multis enough to create just about any sound combination that any guitarist could dream up. Alongside the 20-odd compacts and the three ‘speciality’ pedals, Digitech spent much of 2007 launching the series of excellent modelling pedals, based upon the guitar sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Brian May and others. An ingenious idea, giving players access to precise ‘copy’ sounds, but also, being in the pedal format, the option to manipulate those tones for personal taste. Apart from the signature pedals, there are also the CF-7 Chorus Factory, the DF-7 Distortion Factory, which model classic pedals in those categories, and the marvellous EX-7 Expression Factory, which combines overdrive and wah models, as well as some tasty flange, rotary speaker, vibrato and synth swells, all with ‘heel-toe’ switch variations. 2008, however, has been the year of the Hardwire series of compacts. Six pedals covering all of the stomp box bases, from a handful of overdrive and

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distortion pedals to a chorus, a delay/looper and a stereo reverb. Touting the new range as ‘extreme performance pedals’ the design of these (as with so many compact pedals around today) nod towards Boss, but the insides are pure Digitech. More than sturdy craftsmanship, topnotch technology and clear innovation, the Hardwire range would appear to have got every detail right. All of them have true bypass and high voltage operation, as well as a slew of innovative attributes utilised with the guitarist very much in mind. Digitech also excels in the area of multieffects, from the rack unit GSP 1101, which is simply stuffed with models and effects, to the budget RP-50, which includes a quite staggering amount of processing and quality for a sub-£50 pedal. Digitech has gone a step further than other pedal makers through its workstations, namely the GNX-4 and 3000, which take the multi-effects format and add mic inputs, an eight-track recorder and a programmable MIDI drum machine. Perfect for the bedroom player/composer, but also useful for the increasing number of solo performers around today. GUYATONE HEADING OUT to the leftfield (if you consider the US to be to the left) and some pedals little known outside Stateside from a small supplier called Godlyke. Based on Guyatone’s award-winning Micro Series effects, the Mighty Micros offer exceptional sound quality in an ultra-compact, lightweight chassis that, the manufacturer assures us, is 33 per cent smaller and 50 per cent lighter than the average stompbox. There are four pedals in the Mighty Micros series, the HDm5 Hot Drive with gain sculpting, the MDm5 Micro Digital

Delay with 2.6 seconds of delay and a a hi-frequency roll-off control, the WRm5 Wah Rocker with a ‘dry blend’ control that makes the wah suitable for keyboards and/or bass, and the VTm5 Veri-Trem tremolo with a neat selectable sine/ triangle/square oscillator waveform. For the low frequency pushers (or bassists to you and me) Godlyke offers its Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer analog bass synthesizer. Godlyke is touting the Octavius as the world’s first analog/digital hybrid bass synth to be housed in a compact stompbox format. With an analog audio path that features a variety of synth, octave, fuzz, and filter effects and a digital preset system that allows constant reconfiguration of the audio signal path and storage of parameter settings as well as an on-board tuner and tap-tempo metronome, the Octavius Squeezer is a pedal that could well be making ripples in 2009. T-REX A COOL two dozen pedals from the Danish effects maker that cover all the essentials for added tone value, but, as with a number of small, independent, pedal-only companies, the root of T-Rex’s success is in quality – whether in design, components or construction. The phrase ‘bomb-proof’ is often used by PR and advertising agents (much to the chagrin of any self-respecting journalist) when describing electronics in metal boxes, but the ability of a T-Rex box to take the hammering of a hobnailed, clinically obese guitar man is nothing short of remarkable. These things are built to last. Beyond that, the circuitry inside is nothing short of perfection, allowing stage-ready, studio-quality signals. These are specialised pedals that do what they say on the tin, thus the nine distortion/overdrive models, all tailored for specific functions. As well as the grunt buttons, T-Rex has a great collection of modulators, compressors, delays and, most recently, a phase shifter designed together with Creed’s Mark Tremonti. Tremonti was, we are told, looking for a phaser to add to his onstage arsenal, turned to T-Rex and the company did what it does best – delivered exactly what one would expect from a phaser and added a little extra. The Stage switch lets the user choose between a raw, vintagesounding effect or a richer, more modern swirl. The ingenious Bite knob adds a sexy overdrive edge to any setting. MORLEY MORLEY, as with T-Rex, is distributed in the UK through Westside – and as with anything the Glasgow-based

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distributor takes on, you can be sure it is a world leader in its field. While T-Rex concentrates on overdrive, modulation and delay, Morley has made its name with wah pedals. Interestingly, Morley, too, has a Mark Tremonti signature box, which is an interesting take on the traditional wah format. It uses electrooptical circuitry (as do all Morley wahs) to avoid that dusty-pot syndrome, is switchless – just put your foot on it and it activates – and it has up to 20dBs of boost. One of Morley’s most popular pedals to date is the Steve Vai Bad Horsie model, with the same circuitry as the Tremonti wah, but instead of the boost control, the Bad Horsie has been designed together with Vai to maintain the exact tone Vai was after in his pedal and has a ‘clear tone’ buffer which maintains the signal level whether in bypass or activated. The Pro Series II combo combines wah with volume and distortion. Wah and volume are alternate, while distortion control is independent with drive, level and tone controls. Morley pedals are hand-made in the US and, according to the PR are (ahem) bullet-proof. MARSHALL MARSHALL has eight classy pedals on the market, all with a stylish art deco design – and all utilising the valve and circuitry knowledge that has made it the world’s most famous amp manufacturer. This is perhaps best illustrated with the Bluesbreaker II pedal, a combined overdrive and clean boost pedal. The ‘Blues’ overdrive mode is reminiscent of the old Marshall non-master volume control amps of the 1960s (such as the Bluesbreaker combo), while the boost section gives a clean boost, which naturally overdrives the player’s amp. Both are delightfully natural sounds and can be as subtle or aggressive as the player wants. For those after something even more aggressive, however (as with today’s hi gain junkies) the Jackhammer pedal contains the sounds of the most extreme overdrive of later Marshall amps. The Jackhammer also has a ‘contour’ section for scooping out the mid-range tones, making the creation of that elusive ‘personal voice’ all the easier. The Marshall range also includes a flanger, a reverb unit, an analog echo and a compressor – all designed to add the most natural sounding colours to a guitar’s tone.

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SEYMOUR DUNCAN ANOTHER EIGHT pedals, this time from Seymour Duncan (distributed in the UK by Aria) and, like Marshall only different, the manufacturer has used its know-how in its core products to expand into effects – in this case, of course, pickups. From the delightfully simple, yet extremely effective SFX-01 pickup booster – a pedal that works together with the pickups in a guitar to achieve optimum gain and resonance – to the Lava Box hi gain effect. The Lava Box is another pedal that reacts (as with the Marshalls), to use of the guitar’s volume control. Of note is Aria’s launch of the Seymour Duncan Stompbox Dealer Programme, which loans an authorised Seymour dealer a mains-powered demo board. Other benefits include increased dealer margins, point of sale catalogue, exclusive website listing, customer referrals and flexible opening order payment terms. DAMAGE CONTROL RELATIVELY SPEAKING, the new kid on the block still, despite the fact that the

company is now owned by Peavey and thus gives it commercial clout and sales networks way beyond many of its competitors. Damage Control was set up by a group of Line 6 engineers who wanted to get back to basics – and the results are pretty special. Being valve-based units (even the Time Line delay unit) the sounds are warm and ‘real’, but with the experience of putting together Line 6 products, there is a good knowledge of where the technology is today. As well as the distortion units and the Time Line delay, there is the Glass Nexus modulation effect, with reverb, rotary effect, tremolo and, of course, chorus, this unit demonstrates the so-called Natural Number Processing Damage Control uses. This is natural sounding algorithims reproducing the organic feel of the desired effect. For things like univibe and phaser, the company says, this means re-creating the analog warmth of vintage pedals, whereas for reverb, this means capturing the essence of a natural space without electronic artefacts – that’s modelling to you and me, but effective, nonetheless.

CONTACTS ROLAND (BOSS) .....................................................................01792 702701 JHS (DUNLOP, DANELECTRO) ............................................0113 286 5381 SHURE (TONEBONE) ............................................................01992 703058 SOUND TECHNOLOGY (DIGITECH) ...................................01462 480000 GODLYKE (GUYATONE, CHUNK) ......................................+1 973 777 7477 WESTSIDE (T-REX, MORLEY) ..............................................0141 248 4812 MARSHALL ..............................................................................01908 375411 ARIA (SEYMOUR DUNCAN) ................................................01483 238720 PEAVEY (DAMAGE CONTROL) ............................................01536 461234

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Rocking on a shoestring With consumers feeling the pinch, the budget electric guitar market is more important than ever. Rob Power takes a look at what’s out there for beginners on a budget…

t’s impossible not to be aware that the credit crunch is all around us at the moment. With the government all a fluster and media hype making sure that everyone knows that now is the time to start tightening the belts, it’s a tough time for retailers keen to keep customers snapping up that stock. The lower end of the electric guitar market is therefore a crucial battleground in the war to keep consumers spending, and ensuring that music stores across the country stay in business. With economic hard times ahead, and folks looking for ways to save money and stay indoors, taking up a musical instrument is a great way to keep indoors and count those pennies – but anything too expensive is starting to look out of the question for most. Thankfully, the last few years has seen a rise in both quality and choice at the bottom end of the market, as companies have fought to retain possession of market share in what is a hotly contested area. There has never been a wider array of shapes and configurations on offer for new guitarists keen to start their journey

on the long road to guitar playing nirvana, and thanks to improved quality control in the Far East and a concerted effort on the part of manufacturers to make value for money the number one priority, the current crop of starter electrics are perhaps better than they have ever been.

In these tough economic times, the lower end of the electric guitar market is a vital battleground. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the key contenders, and find out which guitars will be keeping frugal hands busy in the coming months. ASHTON PERFORMING exceptionally well across the board at the moment, Ashton has

carved itself out a large share of the lower end of the market that can be put down to a number of factors – positive marketing, a raft of excellent reviews, some great new product and a growing reputation for quality instruments at an affordable price. One need only look at a selection from its current offering to understand how the company has become so successful in recent months, but now with the addition of Sparrow Guitars, a new direction has opened up. Sparrow offers five guitar models in seven hand-crafted finishes and various styles of pin-striping and flames with names like Big Daddy, Rat Rod and Twang Master. The models are made in Asia, but Sparrow takes them, dismantles them and then puts them back together with startling designs and quality hardware. If you haven’t had a chance to look at them yet, get on the phone to Ashton and arrange a viewing or visit. A bit special these ones.

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YAMAHA YAMAHA'S sub-£250 electric guitar offering is significant, to say the least. By far the biggest share of the company's sales in this market go to the Pacifica 112 – in actual fact the company's most successful electric guitar ever. Not only does it represent a good chunk of business for Yamaha, it is also largely responsible for the massively increased quality in this sector in the last 15 years. Launched in 1993, the Pacifica 112 had a different focus to that of most guitars in its price range. The pickups were wax potted, the electronics used high-grade components, the setup was consistent and, possibly most importantly, the body was solid wood. Unchanged for 15 years as the 112, 2008's model, the 112V, retains all of the key specs of the original, but adds custom wound Alnico V pickups (with coil tapped humbucker as standard), a new upgraded tremolo, new finishes, upgraded hardware and the original Pacifica 'short' scratchplate that sees the humbucker mounted on the body and the single coils mounted on the scratchplate for optimum tone for each pickup type. Backing up this upgrade to the product, and carrying on the theme of treating the Pacifica 112 like a top-end model, Yamaha have produced a 'Play Harder' advertising campaign to promote the fact that Pacifica 112V allows you to do just that. The campaign includes a rich media mini-site at play-harder.co.uk and artist-backed print adverts carrying the message that Pacifica is the best guitar at the price, from Yamaha players including Status Quo, Kevin Roentgen (Orson) and Bill Kelliher (Mastodon). The latest additions to the range are the 'CX ' models, featuring matching headstocks, lacquered necks and either vintage white/tortoiseshell or black/black colour options – available now. However, the Pacifica 112 isn't the only sub-£250 guitar from Yamaha; there is also the single cut Pacifica 120S, the more modern, rock-styled RGX121Z and the entry level models of Pacifica 012 and ERG121. All in all, an impressive line up. ARIA AN ESTABLISHED brand that continues to be popular amongst beginners, Aria has a good spread of starter models that make it plainly obvious why it has maintained such a steady presence in the market for so long. The PE Studio, for example, is a stripped down contemporary take on what has become a classic 1970s design from Aria. A body designed by the manufacturer and echoing familiar patterns whilst retaining a sufficiently individualistic edge for those who want something a bit different from the crowd, it features a heel-less neck, patented PE bridge and tail piece, a maple carved top body and neck, chrome hardware and a sufficiently ball breaking humbucker.

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JHS WITH A sterling reputation for keeping the lower end of the market stuffed to the gills with quality product, JHS has an excellent range of budget electrics that continue on the company’s tradition of proving that you don’t need to break the bank to own a guitar that you can be more than proud of. There are a number of excellent guitars on offer from JHS in this price range, including the Encore Blaster electrics, that often find their way into the hands of the new player, while almost everything in the Vintage, Vintage Advance and excellent Vintage Icon range comes into the range of the budget buyer. Even the Fret King Eclat, from Trev Wilkinson’s much lauded new range, is up for grabs at a sub-£500 price point, so there is undoubtedly plenty to choose from here.

Even the Fret King Eclat from Wilkinson’s much lauded brand is up for grabs at a sub£500 price point, so plenty to choose from.

why such a broad reaching brand has become such an institution among first timers eager to get their sweaty mitts around their first axe.

build quality. A stalwart of P&R Howard’s offering for some time now, there are many guitarists out there who started on a Westfield and never looked back.

P&R HOWARD THE SCOTTISH distributor has been providing an excellent selection of entrylevel instruments with its Westfield brand, and has built a solid share of the market due to its diligence in dealing with retailers and a canny eye for what will prove popular among first time buyers. The Westfield range covers every major shape, from S-type to SG and is a consistent seller thanks to the highly playable nature of its guitars and high

INDIE WELL ON THE WAY to becoming one of the leading lights in this area of the market, the Oxfordshire based Indie has been putting out plenty of high-spec, eyecatching guitars for a while now. With a summer festival lined up next year, as well as a US launch, there is lots more in the pipeline for the company, which, thanks to its application of thorough marketing, combined with an excellent standard of instrument

The old fella with the new kid on the block. Fender’s Squire (left) and Ashton fight it out for market share

FENDER KEEPING the Fender flag flying on the budget side of things, the Squier range is still one of the best options out there for starters who are looking to replicate as closely as possible Leo Fender’s greatest legacy. The Squier Standard Stratocaster and Telecaster models are massive sellers, that look, sound and play the part. Another big innovation from Squier is the Vintage Modified range – check out the Vintage Modified Tele – which combines classic and modern stylings for a nicely original take on classic designs. EMD ANOTHER budget specialist, EMD and its Stagg range has been providing the building blocks for many a budding Jimmy Page for some time now and continues to be the first choice for a huge number of retailers who are safe in the knowledge that Stagg products have regualr deliveries and great margins. Covering off all the familiar shapes, as well as a few more unconventional ones, Stagg has a huge selection of instruments available, and thanks to its reputation has become an obvious choice for many a shop assistant suggesting a costeffective first instrument that will look the part, play well, and not turn fingers into lumps of sliced flesh at the first given opportunity. Stagg has a huge variety in its electric guitar range, and it is obvious

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SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • BUDGET ELECTRICS

manufacture, has experienced significant growth in the last year. Take a look at the souped-up Tele stylings of the Super T, which has both great looks and a classic feel that will no doubt appeal to players looking for something that looks and plays a whole lot better than the lowly price tag might suggest. HOUSE MUSIC THE HOME to the Red Special, the Brian May look-a-like guitar, House Music has fulfilled the dreams of many a big-haired

wannabe Queen guitarist. The Red Special is instantly recognisable to pretty much any guitarist and at an affordable price means that even first timers are able to channel their inner Bohemian Rhapsodist. A range of colours are available, including the classic vintage cherry, honey sunburst, black, white, baby blue, gold and three tone sunburst and while these guitars aren’t quite handmade by the man himself – as the original – they are still as close as you can get without robbing the May household.

Great looking and capturing the essence of Queen’s distinctive guitarist with ease, these are great guitars that are pleasing on the eye and raise an eyebrow – and not just from passing Queen fans. PEAVEY PEAVEY’S prime contender in this area of the market, an area in which they have always traditionally performed well, is the brand new PXD Tomb which will be finally available in January. The guitar is the entry level option from the PXD range, a new breed of extreme electric guitars that aims to capture the aggression and attitude of modern metal players, who like nothing better than making a nice bit of loud, angry noise. Supercharged active pickups and a mahogany body, the guitar is designed to compliment the Peavey 6505 series guitar amplifiers – a series that has made its way into the backline of bands like Trivium, In Flames, Bullet For My Valentine and Machine Head, which should give you a fair idea of just where the market for the PXD Tomb lies. A small guitar with a big future.

FREESTYLE THE RECENT revival of the Eko brand has led to a lot of interest for Freestyle music from players attracted to its distinctive Italian looks. The Eko Kadett SL1 features a linden body, maple neck, Wilkinson trem and HS-S pickup layout for a bit of flexibility. Available in black, natural and metallic red, it’s sure to prove a success with the growing legion of Eko fans out there. Also available is the Cobra 2HHB Vintage Reissue, with basswood body, maple next, and a pair of growling humbuckers. SO, whilst the scaremongers continue to whip the public into an economic frenzy, there is still lots to be hopeful about. As more people stay indoors, wondering what the hell to do on those long winter nights taking up the electric guitar has the potential to look like a better money saving option than it has done is quite some time. The staggering amount of choice on offer, combined with low prices across the board for really very good guitars indeed could, for the switched on retailer, ensure that the hard times ahead aren’t nearly as difficult as they could be. Whether a quirky Eko (left) or a sleek Fret King Eclat, the budget market has never been healthier

CONTACTS ASHTON: .................................................................................01780 781630 YAMAHA: ...............................................................................01908 366700 ARIA: ......................................................................................01483 238720 JHS: .........................................................................................0113 286 5381 FENDER: ....................................................................................01342 331711 EMD: .........................................................................................01293 862612 P&R HOWARD: ........................................................................01355 236621 INDIE: ......................................................................................01635 579300 HOUSE MUSIC: ....................................................................020 7357 7703 PEAVEY: ..................................................................................01536 461234 FREESTYLE: ...........................................................................01924 455414

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COMPANY PROFILE • THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY

Pastmasters of the guild – a fine ambition behind the fine robes

The worshipful

corporates After 700 years of focusing on the interests of the musician and all things musical, the Worshipful Company of Musicians is opening its doors to corporate membership. Gary Cooper discovers the benefits for the whole industry…

s the only one of the London’s City livery companies associated with the performing arts, The Musicians’ Livery Company (Worshipful Company of Musicians) enjoys a unique position with its charitable work – encouraging music not only in the City of London, but throughout the UK. With its origins deep in the mediaeval guild system, it might seem like an anachronism in this day and age, but in fact it supports a wide variety of musical styles, from vocal, orchestral and chamber music, to military, brass band and jazz and does so with the active support of quite a few individuals from the MI industry. Membership of the company has hitherto been on an individual basis, but the company’s immediate Pastmaster, Andreas Prindl, has seen an opportunity both to further the company’s charitable work (it gives away around £150,000 annually) and provide an opportunity for companies in the music industry to join on a corporate basis.

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“We have about 400 liverymen – full members, all individuals – we have about fifty or so freemen who are waiting to be liverymen and then we have 100 yeomen, who are young prize winners, and we follow them for a number of years, trying to help them, promoting their concerts and their future careers. “The idea of corporate members was to try to get us closer to the music industry. We have many people in the company who are organ builders, piano makers or sellers, publishers or whatever, but they are liverymen in their own right. I got the idea for corporate membership from the Stationers Company – which is the only other one that does it – and the point is if you have ‘members’ from the industry widely defined, you get closer to the industry you support and better contact with the executives, who in turn might consider joining us over time. We would also hope that the younger staff of the corporate members would also come along to our events. I know that was what Boosey & Hawkes was looking for when it became a corporate member.

The benefits (besides the knowledge that corporate members are helping foster the art form from which we all derive our livings) can be subtle, but are not to be underestimated.

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THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY • COMPANY PROFILE

PRINDL: “Corporate membership is a brand new idea and I think it’s the correct one” “So far we have two corporate members: Boosey & Hawkes, as mentioned, and Summerfield and we now have a campaign to get more. The scheme began this year and we’re looking for members who are interested in working with and supporting the company – not in a big way, but making a small contribution to our work. “They sign-up for three years and come to our events and become part of the company’s wider activities. We think they and their staff will learn from and enjoy the experience and we will become closer to the industry as a result.”

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Given the financial climate, one might be forgiven for thinking the Worshipful Company is being a tad optimistic, but in fact the sums of money involved are relatively small, Prindl reveals, amounting to just £2,000 a year for three years. “I don’t think that’s a lot and they would get access to all of our functions, as well as being part of the company. It’s a brand new idea and I think its the correct one. It widens our catchment area and we think we’re quite an attractive company as we’re the only one in the City dealing with the performing arts and has done so for over 700 years. “We have no particular size of company in mind - in fact they could be quite small, as some of the printing and publishing companies are.” The benefits (besides, of course, the knowledge that corporate members are helping foster the art form from which we all derive our livings) can be subtle, but are not to be underestimated. Prindl points out there is an obvious benefit of associating with younger musicians at the start of their careers. “Members are very close to knowing who the next generation of superstars are and not only the classical ones, but also the new jazz ones and brass stars, too. It’s a way of tying in closely to what’s percolating down there with the best musicians coming out of the conservatoires and the jazz movement. “Corporate members might also feel that it’s worthwhile to help people that don’t otherwise have the chance to hear good music. For example, we have an outreach programme where we send these 100 young yeomen, out to schools and handicapped hospitals to play for people who’ve never heard good music. If a person wanted to join as a Corporate member and direct their £2,000 towards that, we would be delighted - so it’s not just a fee, they can actually say where that fee can go.” THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY: 020 7496 8980

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DAVE BURRLUCK

Dave Burrluck is the Gear Reviews Editor of Guitarist magazine. Guitarist, the UK’s leading magazine for serious players, is published by Future Publishing – 01225 442244

A hard sell?

That’s it! Our mild mannered guitar specialist has blown a gasket. Stand back…

he question of value is at the core of all our businesses. “I’m not paying for that magazine. It’s not worth it.” Now that’s a comment you’d hope a reader might make after having at least thumbed through the publication. In the world of the electric guitar, however, things are rather different and I must say I’m getting bloody angry at the number of distributors and dealers I meet who say, “that guitar is too expensive.” Have you played one, I ask? “No.” Electric guitars aren’t known for their technological prowess: in fact, the closer they are to some piece made in the fifties the better. We don’t perceive value by increased megapixels or gigabytes. So how do we attach value to an instrument? Well, we play it don’t we? Er, not always. What our industry does so well is apply various criteria to the instrument sometimes based on ‘experience’, other times on complete and utter lack of it. So, let’s take an imaginary electric that outwardly looks a little similar to the 50year-old Gibson ES-335. Let’s call it the Oxo. Rule number one: the standard ES335 sets the perceived value of the Oxo. If the Oxo actually costs more there’s a sharp intake of breathe. If the Oxo isn’t made in the USA, but Japan, another sharp in take of breath. To compete with the ES335, the Oxo must cost less, otherwise the distributors won’t bother to try to sell it and dealers will show no interest. But the Oxo is only being made in very limited numbers, it’s exclusive. A magazine has given it a great review and more than one of the magazine staff wanted to buy one. The UK distributor of the Oxo couldn’t

42 miPRO JANUARY 2009

What would you pay? even be bothered to get back to said journalist/musician with a ‘mates’ price. But what if the Oxo is one of the most extraordinary new electric guitar designs we’ve seen for a little while? It looks classic but is made from solid woods not the plywood of the ES-335. It features unique pickups specially designed for the guitar that give a lot more sounds than an ES-335 (which is hardly a slouch in the versatility stakes). It weighs a lot less than a current ES-335 and is more resonant with it – rather like a late fifties/early sixties ES-335 actually – and how much do they cost?

But no, the dealers who are making the decision not to stock the guitar, and thereby missing out on a fine electric guitar that numerous of their discerning customers would buy, are often forming their decision on a picture and a price. Of course, there is an understandable brand issue. Oxo, a name applied to a long-standing amp line was previously used on guitars made, most famously, in the sixties. An ‘old’ brand making a new guitar? It would seem that the laws of General Musical Instrument Disinterest dictate that no one will be interested. The computer says no.

So, how exactly are we going to allow new guitars and new designs to market? Looking back over the past months of Guitarist we’ve given space to a lot of ‘nohopers’. Why? I’d like to think that while our audience loves its Fenders and Gibsons, they’re a little more openminded than some distributors and dealers and would at least read a story and/or review on something a little new, especially if it’s an FGG (that’s a Fucking Great Guitar – keep up). But I’m beginning to think we should focus on the big five or six ‘easy-to-sell’ brands and stick a couple of fingers up to the rest: you want to be in Guitarist? Well, take out an advert. But we don’t work like that and I sincerely hope we never do. I’ve lost count of the reviews I’ve written over the years, but I still start virtually every one with a sound test. I don’t want to know anything about the guitar. I’ll fire up my amp with a couple of similar style instruments I know well, then plug in the newbie. In a few minutes my thoughts about weight, neck feel, set-up, sound, versatility, function etc have been formed; the more ticks the better the guitar. Then you factor in the price. It’s good, but it’s not that good. But if it gets me grinning like a Lotto winner – irrespective of price — I know it’s an FGG. Okay, higher priced, less known brands are going to be a harder sell. Paul Reed Smith is a good example. Never cheap, the brand started slowly, but look at it now. Oxo could do the same – given a chance. The craft of the luthier in creating a wonderful musical instrument should never, ever be forgotten in favour of the easy, lazy sell. Whatever happened to salesmanship? WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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WESTSIDE • COMPANY PROFILE

Westside’s story

With an ever-growing reputation for great products and some of the most recognisable brands on the high street under its wing, Westside is one of the major players on the UK distribution scene. Rob Power finds out about the brands that have propelled it into the limelight…

ince its formation in Glasgow at the end of 1994, Westside has slowly but surely become one of the leading lights in UK distribution circles. Looking after the likes of Martin and Mesa Boogie, not to mention a broad spectrum of other well-known names, the company has carved itself out a considerable chunk of market share thanks to one central and straightforward idea – that excellent products speak for themselves. Beginning with not much more than a few accessory and string brands, the first well known, established name that the company became associated with was Levy’s straps, a line now familiar to retailers across the country. As a sales, marketing and logistics specialist, Westside set out to build a distribution company based on friendly service and the sort of products that stand out a mile in any MI store. Perhaps the most important aspect of Westside’s approach to distribution is its attitude towards the companies it works with. The

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emphasis, whether with Chris Martin IV at Martin, Udo Roesner at Aer or Harvey Levy at Levy’s Leathers, is on passionate people working with a product that they are actually care about. Ensuring that the companies it works with subscribe to the same central ideas as Westside itself has meant that the company has attracted market-leading brands without having to compromise. Establishing what was to become something of a running theme for Westside, Levy’s had two key aspects to the way it did business that ran parallel to the distributor’s own aspirations. First and foremost, Levy’s placed (and indeed still places) a huge amount of emphasis on the quality of its products, from innovative, forward thinking design through to quality construction. As we all know now, Levy’s is renowned for its huge range of products, from simple £5.99 webbing based straps all the way up to £50 tooled leather variants. It is a company that is constantly looking for something new and individual to bring to

the market and as such it made perfect sense for Westside to take on Levy’s. Additionally, Levy’s has a passionate, forward thinking approach to its entire operation, making it the sort of company that will continue to push things forward in its own field. The large presence that Levy’s has among retailers now is no doubt down to the fact that the company has continually strived to place unique and, importantly, profitable product on the shelves. This combination of forward thinking and quality product soon lead Westside to take on a selection of lines that would not only change the market’s perception of the company but also elevate it to the status of real contender in the distribution sphere. As the company’s reputation spread, Westside found itself in the enviable position of inking deals with some of the biggest and certainly most respected names out there. San Francisco amp specialist Mesa Boogie was one of the first major brands to get onboard with Westside, giving the company a significant boost in reputation

that showed the rest of the industry just what it was capable of. Another company to see the benefits of Westside’s personal and engaging approach to distribution is Aer, an acoustic amplifier specialist run by Udo Roesner that has been causing ripples in the market thanks to its, quite simply, superbly constructed amplifiers. Exploiting a gap in the market for dedicated acoustic amplification, specifically tailored towards the exacting requirements of professional acoustic players, Aer and Westside have forged a successful relationship that has seen the brand grow significantly. Further bolstering its lineup with the addition of Tom Anderson’s Guitarworks reinforced the Westside ethos. The high-end guitar company, famed for its impeccable hot rod instruments, is a good example of the perfect Westside company: a manufacturer that applies itself to creating market leading instruments that are out of the ordinary and run by a relatively small team of hugely passionate individuals.

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COMPANY PROFILE • WESTSIDE

With a growing product portfolio, perhaps the biggest name that Westside has become closely associated with over the past few years is Martin. That such a respected company, which has a massive worldwide profile and is probably the most instantly recognised acoustic guitar brand out there, chose Westside, at the time one of the specialised distributors on the UK market, to look after its sales, marketing and distribution needs this side of the pond speaks volumes about Westside’s dedicated approach. Once again, Martin, although a bigger company than some of the other brands Westside represents, ultimately is an excellent fit with Westside. Certainly one of the most commercially successful acoustic guitar manufacturers out there, Martin’s heritage demonstrates a constant drive to put the best instruments out, combining advances in technology with time honoured building techniques. The dedication and drive of Chris Martin IV in taking his family’s company into the 21st century indicates a personality that links in nicely with Westside’s own. With Martin on board, Westside has been able to cement its place as one of the top distributors in the UK and its continued effort to work with manufacturers that reflect the best in innovation and quality has led to some impressive further additions. Coated string specialist Elixir, which has taken the string market by storm with its scientifically formulated long life products, fits the Westside mould perfectly and has

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proven to be a huge success. Its expansion into the guitar cable market recently was also warmly received, in the main part thanks to the company’s obsessive attention to detail and scientific approach to problem solving. T-Rex, the boutique guitar pedal brand, boasts hand made effects units that are rapidly growing in popularity and has undoubtedly benefited from Westside’s exposure of the products in the UK. Following the trend for unique guitar companies, another Westside coup was

specifically caters for a small chunk of the market and does so in style. Another Westside product to have become an instant design classic upon its release is the G7th capo. Distinctive from any other capo on the market thanks to its ultra modern looks and reliability, the G7th has become an industry standard capo and continues to sell strongly. Axl is another Westside brand to have continually grown its market share and demonstrated an ability to bring new ideas to a market that can often seem like

Westside’s emphasis remains focused on passionate people working with products that they actually care about. Duesenberg, the German manufacturer that has turned more than a few heads with its striking designs and wonderfully playable guitars that have been picked up by some big name players including Joe Walsh of the Eagles. Making switching easier for musicians has set up Lehle as a leading light in its field, yet another innovative manufacturer under the Westside fold, while Morley has been making significant noise for some years now with its whammy pedals and continues to do so in the UK with Westside’s help. Guitar hardware specialist Tone Pros again represents a Westside brand that has made an impression on the market with high quality, detailed product that

it is full of recycled product. Its Recording King line is a case in point – authentic looking and sounding pre-war styled acoustic solid tops that manage to achieve at a reasonable price point that which many manufacturers struggle to at three times the cost. The most recent addition to Westside’s portfolio is renowned cymbal manufacturer Sabian, representing Westside’s intention to further broaden the company’s appeal to retailers. With innovative product built to exacting standards, in-depth marketing programmes and a raft of high profile and influential artists alongside hugely enthusiastic leadership, Sabian perfectly

suits Westside’s style and is the latest in a series of big brands to be picked up by a distributor that is clearly hitting its stride. Allowing the products to do the talking is the key aspect of Westside’s modus operandi, and something that has allowed the company to build up what is without a doubt an impressive array of brands. The Westside approach consists of the central idea that the market will always react positively to well designed and constructed products and by building a portfolio of brands that share these key aspects, the company has gone from strength to strength. Whether with the boutique effects pedals of T-Rex, the top-end acoustic amps of Aer or the hand made hot rod guitars of Tom Anderson’s Guitarworks, all of Westside’s brands are forward thinking, innovative and built on a foundation of constant re-assessment and improvement. Westside fuses this approach to product with a sense of what is important to retailers – namely, profitability in what is an increasingly difficult market. It is this dedication to product and profitability from both the manufacturers and the distributor that has seen Westside reach the position it has today and with such a sure fire methodology it looks as though we will be hearing a lot more from the company in the coming months and years.

0141 248 4812 WWW.WESTSIDEDISTRIBUTION.COM INFO@WESTSIDEDISTRIBUTION.COM

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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COMPANY PROFILE • SKB

A case for SKB

Taking on the UK distribution of the renowned case manufacturer SKB has meant a step in a slightly new direction for Shure Distribution UK. Rob Power investigates the whys and wherefores…

s one of the foremost distribution names in the British Isles, Shure Distribution UK has built itself a reputation based on a canny knack for keeping customers happy, mainly by getting the basics right – good product, supplied on time, with an excellent backbone of support staff making the process nice and easy. The company’s latest addition to its swelling catalogues is US cases manufacturer SKB, which signed up for exclusive UK distribution with Shure in September. Picking up the brand from Sound Technology which, in the wake of its Harman deal, found itself pressed to cope with the demands of the premium case manufacturer, Shure has certainly found itself an excellent new range to add to its portfolio. Expanding the company’s remit into previously untouched product sectors, SKB represents a significant step for Shure as it demonstrates a willingness to take on an increasingly diverse range of products. “SKB approached us,” explains MD Dennis Harburn. “It is very close to QSC, both physically and in terms of contacts and it asked who was doing its distribution in the UK. “We’ve been looking after QSC for about 18 years now. SKB then called us, and we said we might be interested. SKB is

50 miPRO JANUARY 2009

a brand leader in cases worldwide, so we looked at the price and looked at the product and it all seemed to fit. Most of the products we sell are 19-inch rackable, or are wireless and need protection when they’re being shipped out, so it seemed like a good fit with everything that we do.

If a buckle breaks on a piece of SKB kit, they will replace it. That’s a big mark of confidence. “Having said that, we are shipping a lot of it from the UK and the Far East, so there was a lot we had to go over in terms of freight costs, but it all worked out.” Once the deal was done, Shure quickly realised just how much business a wellestablished, widely known and respected brand like SKB is capable of generating “It’s been very encouraging,” says Harburn. “To begin with, all we had was the Sound Technology stock, so it was a nice clean break. We were able to sell bits and pieces while we had that stock and then had to wait for a couple of containers to come in from the US and China. Now that has come in, we’re doing

well with it. “A lot of customers have been looking for a distributor that would carry it properly and fulfil their needs. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a popular product, and it covers a wide area of business that we sell to, including MI stores, the installation market and PA rental companies.” Looking to make the most out of its new brand, Shure will be applying its tried and tested techniques for providing the full ‘Rolls Royce’ service for SKB customers in the UK. “We will carry the full range and we’re looking to improve our website in the future, which will help us sell products and provide information through the website a lot easier,” continues Harburn. “Obviously we have a huge network of dealers, and most of them will be aware of SKB already. When you think of cases, it’s one of the first companies that comes to mind. They’re known for making good cases. We visited the factory while we were at a QSC seminar a few weeks ago and that really confirmed everything positive we’d thought about the company. “SKB advertises a lifetime warranty and means it, which was good to see. If a buckle breaks on a bit of SKB kit, it will replace it for the customer. That’s a big mark of confidence. It makes cases for the

US military, so it’s all very high spec stuff that is not going to break in a hurry. In the beginning, it started with the plastic type cases. “They have roto-moulding and other manufacturing processes that ensure the cases are of the highest quality. There are so many things that attracted us to SKB. They’re nice guys, with a family business and a great pedigree in the industry.” SHURE: 0208 808 2222

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PROFILE

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING JAMES DOVE Brand Manager, Ashton

Heading up the push behind Canadian brand Sparrow is only part of the story. There’s also Ashton’s own products, plus the newly signed Mariner range...

verything is so hectic at the moment it’s hard to say what a normal day entails. I live in St Neots, which is about 45 minutes away from where we are based in Peterborough. I normally have to be in at work for about nine, although with things as busy as they are at the moment I often have to be in a bit earlier. As soon as I get in, I have to try and get through the barrage of emails that normally welcomes me in the morning. I’ll have to deal with reps and our dealers, and as I am brand manager for Sparrow, I’m often liaising with our Canadian friends, as we’re just getting into promoting Sparrow at the moment.

Mariner is a new line that Ken Achard has just brought out. I’ll be working closely with him on marketing, promotion and PR for the brand. It’s only been the last couple of months that we got the deal, and we have a few other lines as well, but it’s something we’re going to be concentrating on more and more now. So I’m in charge of it all in terms of the marketing, the promotion, the advertising and the website – I’m updating the UK website and the Myspace page today, as well as processing orders from dealers. I’m also spending time looking for prospective dealers, sending out packs to them and ramping up a bit of interest. I look after endorsements as well – obviously a lot of bands contact us looking WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

for endorsements, so I have to forward the bands I like to Sparrow. They’re a Canadian company, so I’m often talking to them on Skype or via the phone or emails. They’re a few hours behind us, so I often find myself staying late in order to speak to those guys as they get into work in the morning. We’re just starting our media onslaught with Sparrow. We’re advertising in more magazines, getting plenty of reviews done, and looking at endorsers, which will pick up in the new year. We’re also going to be running a few competitions for our dealers, with some decent prizes up for grabs. We’re working very hard at the moment, as we have Ashton as well, so we’re processing all the orders from our Ashton dealers. We’ve had a recordbreaking couple of months with everything going really well and keeping us really busy. I’m also getting involved with Mariner, which is a new line of acoustic guitars that Ken Achard has just brought out. I’ll be working very closely with him, doing a similar thing to what I do with Sparrow – the marketing, promotion and PR for the brand. I’ve been here for a year, so not long at all and it’s been non-stop, but a really good experience. I’ve got Jon Gold as my boss, so I never get a quiet day. I’ve got a lot of different hats here, I’m also the events co-ordinator, and designed our stand for LIMS this year. It’s very busy at the minute. Outside of work, I play in a couple of bands and have been on a couple of support tours. I play in London a lot and keep myself pretty busy. I’m sure it’s a typical story for anyone in this industry. miPRO JANUARY 2009 53

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Three months is a long time MIA president, Jon Gold, describes his first 100 days at the helm of the UK’s MI trade association and looks back over the big issues that have arisen and forward to the challenges as the industry moves into uncertain times...

o much has happened both within our industry and world business in general since I became president of the MIA three months ago, I felt it would be worthwhile sharing some of my observations, while giving you an insight into some of the work that the MIA is doing for its members and the industry. Without doubt these are some of the most difficult times we have ever had to trade in and whether you are a retailer, a manufacturer or distributor or a member of the media, the challenges are the same. The devaluing pound, rising prices, rising manufacturing costs, the internet, supermarkets, discounting, charity shops and a lack of customers are just some of the subjects people have commented upon during my time in this role. There must be some positives, I hear you ask. I sincerely believe there are, but they must be of our own making and we must be prepared to be flexible, embrace changing situations and seize opportunities as and when they present themselves. Just as importantly, it is a time when the whole of the industry needs to unite and work in harmony to ensure it has a sound future. There are actually signs that this is already happening in many quarters. One of my first roles was to host the MIA Awards and what a fabulous occasion that was. Next up, I was very fortunate to attend the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, run by Music for Youth. The MIA has sponsored and supported this event for 35 years and to witness the incredible talent on show over the three evenings and the thousands of people in the audience who came to enjoy and appreciate these outstanding performances is something that will stay with me for a long time. If anyone has any doubts as to the future of our industry, I would urge them to visit next year’s event or any of the other regional festivals staged throughout the year by Lincoln Abbots and his team. We are also extremely excited about the prospect of working with MfY at 2009’s London International Music Show (LIMS), where it will stage the Education Day on the Friday. As you are probably aware, the MIA has taken a majority share of LIMS and many hours have been spent finalising this by a dedicated MIA team, which has been

54 miPRO JANUARY 2009

John Gold addressing the MIA Awards ceremony in October 2008

I want the MIA to be transparent, accountable and seen to be delivering on its promises – especially those that create more music makers. working to ensure that we have a show that the industry can truly be proud of. It’s worth remembering that, apart from the office staff (two of whom are part time), all the work carried out by the MIA is done voluntarily. Please remember that this is not a closed shop affair and you don’t have to be on a committee to have a say – it is your association and as such we actively encourage your feedback and input. Feel free to converse with me or the CEO, Paul McManus, at any time. Possibly the biggest topic I have had

raised time and again on my travels and perhaps the most misunderstood, has been that of ongoing price increases and why they are happening. Clearly this is not something any of us would want, especially in the current climate, but it is inevitable and unavoidable. Manufacturing price rises in Far Eastern goods have been well documented and are the result of tougher employment laws and increased labour and fuel costs. Add to this the effects of the devaluing pound and we have an industry that is facing unprecedented price increases when

it least needs it. It is what it is, however, and it’s the same for everyone and not one distributor or manufacturer I know is enjoying this anymore than the retailer. The work involved in adjusting systems and prices alone is costly and time consuming to any business and not one of them is making any more profit as a result of this. One of the main factors is the lowering of the interest rates by the Bank of England and while it’s designed to give the consumer more money to spend, in reality it is devaluing the pound, which means goods bought in dollars and yen (pretty much everything) cost more. This puts prices up further, thus negating the effect it was meant to have in the first place. I know that there are many in the industry that understand all this, but there is an overriding opinion I have received from retailers, pointing out the lack of communication and the inconsistency of information from different suppliers regarding this. All I can do is urge everyone to work together to make the process as harmonious as possible. In truth, our industry has probably been undervalued for years as we have operated on cheap foreign manufacturing and strong exchange rates. As I outlined at the start of my presidency, I want our the MIA to be transparent, accountable and seen to be delivering on its promises, especially those that create more music makers – of any age, background and ability. This is easier said than done, especially in the climate we currently all find ourselves in, and I’m not so naïve to believe we can change things overnight. We can’t – but with your help and support we can make great inroads, so please continue to contact myself or Paul McManus with your ideas, suggestions and constructive opinions. It’s been a challenging but ultimately rewarding first three months and I feel that we have come to decisions and agreements that will benefit the industry and those that work in it in the long term. If you are not yet a member of our wonderful trade association, I would urge you to join us now and belong to something you can believe in – and where you can make a difference, too. Jon Gold President Music Industries Association

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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DEALERSHIPS AVAILABLE How Indie dealerships work… 1. You choose any 8 guitars from the range, any price point. 2. 4 of the 8 are supplied as free issue guitars and 4 are invoiced, you choose. 3. We only invoice free issue guitars after they are sold by you. Pay 30 days later. 4. You choose free issue replacement guitars and we send them free of charge. 5. You replace your purchased guitars only after you sell them. 6. We will exchange any guitars that do not sell, no need to discount as nothing sticks! You can share in the success of the fastest growing guitar brand in Europe… …with the confidence that all indie guitars are unique and non competitive to any other brand. There is no catch… We simply believe in working with you to help sell great guitars. You can visit the showroom to view our guitars or we will bring them to you…

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RETAIL NEWS, OPINION, DATA

KORG

MEL BAY

INDIE PROFILE Raft of new products, including Satriani-influenced digital pedal from Vox, unveiled ahead of NAMM

2009 is underway and the fastestgrowing print company in the market has a year of deals for you

We’re off to Ealing to visit Gardonyi’s, a growing store that puts customer service at the top of its agenda

Germain quits key Reverb post Former Sound Control man leaves retail chain, but Landesberg claims it’s still on course to be number one by the end of 2009 PAUL GERMAIN, sales director at Andrew Landesberg’s six-strong Reverb retail chain, has left the company, citing ‘personal circumstances’ as the reason for his departure. Germain, formerly a senior management figure at Sound Control, who joined Landesberg’s team when it acquired six of the former stores, said: “I am very grateful to both Andrew and our partners in the trade for all their friendship and support over the last six months. I am also confident that Reverb will become the leading player in the MI retail sector over the coming years.

“We will continue our quest to be the number one MI retailer by the end of 2009.” Andrew Landesberg “The passion to succeed from all sides is outstanding. Andrew and I have had a fantastic working relationship, but unfortunately my personal circumstances require me to be based in the Leeds area, especially over the next few months.”

Andrew Landesberg said: “Paul has been absolutely fantastic during this first six months. His commitment and endeavour have been relentless. It is a real shame that due to Paul’s personal circumstances he can no longer continue in his role. We wish him every success in the future”. Following Germain’s departure, Reverb will restructure its management, the company said. The buying team will be expanded, with Denise Horton being

promoted to purchasing manager, while Glasgow-based John Buchanan will take on the role of northern area manager for the Glasgow, Stockton and Sheffield stores. Landesberg, personally, will assume a more active role and will be working ‘extremely closely’ with the Birmingham, Bristol and Leicester stores. In a statement to MI Pro, the company said: “We have comfortably achieved our goals for the first six months of trading

and have established extremely strong relationships within the trade. We have upgraded and expanded the in-store offering as well as launching a cutting edge new website. While the last three months have seen difficult times within all retail sectors, Reverb has continued to stabilise and grow its business.” Landesberg added: “While we are more than happy with the first six months of trading, there are still many areas that need improving. Our in-store offering and our website continue to grow and expand on a daily basis. The commitment of all our staff both in-store and at head office has been magnificent, and we will continue our quest to be the number one UK musical instrument retailer by the end of 2009.” Landesberg stepped in to buy the six Reverb stores, following the demise of the 26-strong Sound Control chain in June 2008. The following six months has seen an extensive re-branding of the stores, as well as the creation of a major web presence. The purchase raised a number of concerns with retailers and suppliers alike, as Landesberg is also the owner of the UK distributor, Arbiter Group. The clear differentiation of the two companies over the second part of 2008, however, would appear to have assuaged industry worries. REVERB-STORE.CO.UK

Edoru to revolutionise retailers’ websites Three retailers win top commercial online packages and ongoing support following MI Pro competition EDORU offered MI Pro readers a free Storeware website, six months of hosting, a custom colour template and up to five email aliases in a competition running in November’s issue of the magazine and the winners have now been announced.

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They are: (First prize) Karl Wilcock of the Music Academy for Schools and Communities, and (Second prize) John Hulke of The Firm and D Macgregor of Modern Guitars. The runners up received half-price set-up on Storeware.

Unlike most solutions, Storeware is tailored specifically for the end user. No prior web or IT knowledge is required – it’s as simple as filling in forms. The websites are also on a 30-day rolling contract, so if you wish to cancel at any time, just give

30 days’ notice and there is nothing else to pay. Edoru also offers bespoke systems for the established business with larger budgets and more precise requirements. It has a history of working with clients in the MI sector,

including Freestyle Music, Tim Atack and Thechairworks.co.uk, to name but three, and the company is also in the process of redesigning the Hiwatt amplification website. EDORU.CO.UK STOREWARE.CO.UK

miPRO JANUARY 2009 57

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RETAIL • NEWS

E-tail on the up this Christmas Growth in MI purchases expected, but general trend unlikely to impact heavily on in-store seasonal sales RESEARCH COMMISSIONED by Ivobank suggests 81 per cent of those with internet access will turn to e-tail for their Christmas shopping. “Convenience is coming in ahead of lower prices” this Christmas, according to market researchers at Ivobank. Consumers were surveyed ahead of the buying season and showed that 88 per cent (29 million people) confirmed they plan to buy at least one Christmas gift online. Additionally, more than 25 per cent are planning to buy over 11 gifts online. “The fact that so many people throughout the UK are planning to buy at least one if not all of their Christmas gifts online this Christmas represents a huge opportunity for UK online retailers," said Martin Peterlechner, director of commercial development at Ivobank. Research giant GfK has found that the UK has 33 million online adults. This figure accounts for 68 per cent of the UK’s 48.61 million adult population, but although figures for online purchases are growing,

MI is still an area where the majority of sales continue to take place in the shop. A major factor to consider is the Ebay website, which now makes for the bulk of second-hand sales and this figure needs to be included when considering something like ten per cent of MI sales online. The main problem is that there are no direct figures for MI as yet. “Online sales in key indicator categories such as digital cameras, laptops, LCD TV and so on are continuing to grow ahead of offline sales for October,” said Matthew Gibbs of GfK. “Online volume sales of digital cameras are up seven per cent this October, compared to a drop of nine per cent offline. In areas such as LCD TVs, however, the growth has slowed as the price difference between online and instore has become smaller. Our research shows that price, or ‘absolute saving’ is the key stimulus for online purchasing. “Regardless of category, online sales focus on ‘mid-range’ price points. Above and below this store sales increase.”

Gibbs went on to point out that a figure of around ten per cent online sales for MI is generally accurate, although the trend so far this year has been for online to grow share from one to two percentage points on the same period in 2007. “As a final point, sectors such as CE,

DIY, and domestic appliances are having a poor fourth quarter so far, but MI value performance stands out as being quite resilient currently,” conluded Gibbs. “MI is therefore at this point in time one of the best performing retail sectors and this is driven by both in-store and online selling.”

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www.londonmet.ac.uk/teach

485 COURSES. INFINITE OPPORTUNITIES.

58 miPRO JANUARY 2009

MI Pro special insert in December issue a saviour for dealers THE DECEMBER issue of MI Pro magazine featured the annual wallplanner and this year, the wallplanner has been sponsored by Mel Bay Music – and the UK publisher has taken the format a step further with monthly deals for dealers to take advantage of by quoting the code on the first Monday of each month. Any Mel Bay customer using the special offers each month can very easily raise their trade discount to an average of 55 per cent. “It might be a tough year next year – then again, it might not be, but either way the Mel Bay wallplanner is going to be something of a saviour for those who make the most of their printed music stock,” said Chris Statham, Mel Bay Music’s MD.

Aside from the wallplanner offers throughout 2009, Mel Bay is also offering a wide range of ‘show-only’ deals at the NAMM show in Anaheim later this month. This comes on top of other special offers that ran for UK dealers through December. MEL BAY: 020 8323 8010

Korg launches 2009 models Hi-tech and Vox debutantes revealed prior to NAMM KORG HAS stolen a march on its rivals by pre-announcing the new model line-up for 2009 to debut at NAMM in January. First up is the battery-powered microKORG XL. It incorporates Korg’s Radias/R3 derived MMT Multi Modeling Technology, plus a powered-up vocoder.

Due in February, the LP-350 digital piano is aimed at the home keys market. Finally, Vox launches the Vox Time Machine pedal, designed with Joe Satriani. The unit has two modes and a switch, for vintage and modern delay sounds. KORG: 01908 857100

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

#24649 - Ashdown Trade Ad 09

17/12/08

180-Watt b 5-band EQ ass combo with , built in c ompresso classic As ra h Choice of down illuminated V nd U. 12" or 15 "A BlueLine™ speaker. shdown Electric B lue 12-18 0 EVO II £259 Electric Blu e 15-180 EVO II £ 31

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A range of three, high performance bass pratice amps with headphone and extension speaker outputs, and tilt-back cabinets.

All prices RRP inc VAT

£89 £125 Five Fifteen (100W/15") £169 After Eight (15W/8")

Perfect Ten (30W/10")

A complete range of dedicated bass effects pedals, plus an affordable powered pedal board with carrying bag.

£89 Chorus Plus Pedal £55 Drive Plus Pedal £55 Sub-Octave Plus Pedal £55 Envelope Filter Pedal £55 James LoMenzo Drive Pedal £69

Pedal board / bag

st dedicated The world’s fir for bass players. em wireless syst

£169

GET YOUR SLICE OF THE ACTION WITH BRITAIN’S HOTTEST BASS AMP BRAND

Visit: www.ashdownmusic.com / Call: 01245 441155

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INDIE PROFILE • RETAIL

GARDONYI’S EALING them down, so our margins have been squeezed a bit. Do you advertise locally? Yes, sort of. The biggest thing we do is run a stall at the Ealing Jazz Festival, that’s probably the biggest bit of advertising we do. Do you have a web presence? Yes we do. We don’t sell through it yet, but we will soon. We find it pulls people into the shop.

FACTS & FIGURES Address: Gardonyi’s, 84 St Mary's Road, Ealing, London, W5 5EX Owner: John Gardonyi Established: October 7th 2004 Employees: Two

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Is business up or down compared to last year? Turnover is up, but profit levels are about the same. The fact is, we try not to pass on price increases to our customers. With everybody trying to compete online with older products (we don’t hold a lot of old stock), when newer products come in with price increases, we’ve tried to keep

What is your main strength? Customer service, that’s what we aim at all the time. The idea is people leave saying, ‘I like it in there.’ What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your time in the business? It could be buying the right stock, which may sound pretty obvious. Also, that there is still room for a small, local music shop and that it can grow. We’re growing,

and although we are having to compete quite hard, there are loads of opportunities out there. I’ve always been a strong believer that people buy from people. They like to feel comfortable about where they’re buying an instrument from. What is the biggest challenge facing you today? Growth, really. I think we can survive, but it’s growth and getting profitable enough to be where we want it to be in the light of current conditions. Given the power, what one thing would you change about the industry? Greater policing from suppliers. If a company sells something to me at 20 per cent discount of the retail price, and everybody decides to sell it at less than that, then we’re not going to stay in business and neither is anyone else. Everything could work better with stronger policing and better agreements between suppliers and retailers.

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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.

News: SK120 Rated ‘Exceptional’ in Acoustic Magazine. “A wonderful little amp designed by people who understand what musicians need”. Also Guitar & Bass have just 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

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NEW PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES • NEW PRODUCTS DUNLOP ERGO BASS STRING WINDER £5.49 PROTECTION RACKET UNIVERSAL HARDCASE £51.99 They say: Protection Racket has been inundated with requests to produce a lightweight, slim line, hardware case. For: Musicians, vocalists, engineers Range: Protection Racket cases Spec: Designed for mic stands, hi-hat stands & boom stands, 42” length, two internal straps, adjustable shoulder strap, abrasive resistant base, two-piece selfgripping handle, lined with Racketex. From: Protection Racket 01208 815055

They say: Okay, so wimpy guitar players have enjoyed the convenience of stringwinders for many a year now. For: Bassists Range: Dunlop accessories Spec: ABS plastic, ergonomic design for minimised wrist fatigue, bulkier handle, stronger axle and pivotal shaft. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

GATOR ROLLING SUBWOOFER BAG £129.95 They say: An easy way to move heavy bass bins around. For: Gigging musicians, engineers Range: Gator cases Spec: Fits many subs, nylon exterior with built-in caster plate, four wheels, adjustable, removable nylon strap tow handle, four reinforced lift handles, two nylon web handles, two external accessory pockets. From: Freestyle 01924 455414

GUITAR TECH MAKEOVER PACK £9.99 BOSCHMA ART RANGE 19” COLOURED CASES FROM £80 They say: The ultimate protection for your equipment – and in a choice of colours. For: Touring, gigging, musos, engineers Range: Boschma cases Spec: Polyethylene moulded, heat-treated construction, 19” rack size, available in 2U, 4U, or 6U format, black, deep purple, mellow yellow or cosmic green finishes. From: Adam Hall 01702 613922

GATOR SPEAKER BAG £47.95 They say: Look after your speakers at an affordable price. For: Gigging musicians, engineers Range: Gator cases Spec: Non-wheeled carry bag designed to fit popular molded speakers, structured foam bottom for speaker cradling, 600 denier nylon construction with tenmillimetre side foam. From: Freestyle 01924 455414

They say: One of the quickest, easiest and best ways to change the look of your S-type guitar. For: Guitarists Range: Guitar Tech accessories Spec: Matched colour sets of plastics, single volume & two tone knobs (labelled), pickup selector tip, three pickup covers, vibrato arm tip, rear vibrato springs cavity cover. Available in black, white, cream and green. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

GATOR METRO SERIES BAND CASES £39.95 They say: Style, elegance and protection. For: Brass and woodwind players Range: Gator cases Spec: 600 denier nylon covered EVA exterior, plush covered EPS foam nest, exterior pocket with iPod section and ear bud grommet, shoulder strap and carry handle, key chain holder, available in black, pink & red. From: Freestyle 01924 455414

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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BACKLINE & GUITAR • NEW PRODUCTS

BLACKSTAR HT-5 SERIES AMPS AND COMBOS FROM £219 They say: A new series of innovative fiveWatt amps and combos, the ultimate for studio and practice. For: Guitarists Range: New Blackstar range Spec: Five-Watt combo and head, ECC83 and 12BH7 valves, push/pull power amp, two channels, Infinite Shape Feature, speaker emulated output. Combo with 10” Celestion speaker (£249). From: Blackstar 01536 312620

MARK BASS NY604 BASS CAB £817

CORT CH4 & CH5 BASS GUITARS £299.95 & £329.95

They say: The latest miniature miracle from Italy's bass specialist. For: Bassists Range: Mark Bass cabs Spec: 600 Watts RMS (AES standard), 3.5kHz crossover frequency, 45Hz to 18kHz frequency response, 100dB sensitivity, 22lbs weight. From: Proel 020 8761 9911

They say: Aimed at the modern rock bassist. For: Bassists Range: Cort basses Spec: Mahogany body and bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, two MBA Alnico humbuckers with individual volume and tone controls, wo-band active eq, boost switch. From: HC Distribution 07923 573759

DISNEY BY WASHBURN HANNAH MONTANA GUITARS £89.99 & £119.99

PEAVEY MSDI MIC SIMULATED DI £110

They say: Based on the worldwide success of the Hannah Montana franchise. For: Young beginner guitarists Range: Disney by Washburn Spec: Acoustic and electric 3⁄4-sized guitars. Acoustic: hardwood back & sides, rosewood fingerboard. Electric: lipstick single-coil pickup, volume & tone, rosewood fingerboard. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

They say: The sound of a miked guitar cabinet in live performance and studio recording. For: Guitarists Range: New Peavey product Spec: Connects between amp head and cab, balanced XLR output to FOH, passive mic emulation circuit, tone switch for HF response, high cut and boost. From: Peavey 01536 461234

For the first time in the UK, the Disney-licensed Hannah Montana guitars by Washburn

DIGITECH RP1000 EFFECT SWITCHER £499 They say: Works with guitarists’ favorite gear so they do not have to compromise their personal tone. For: Guitarists Range: Digitech RP series Spec: 160 internal stompboxes, effects, amps and cabinets, heavy-duty cast metal chassis, 14 metal plunger switches, 20-second phrase looper, amp/cab bypass. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

MARK BASS MARCO 08 LIMITED EDITION £609 They say: Best Bass Head and Best All-Round New Product in Bass Player magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. For: Bassists Range: Mark Bass bass amps Spec: Spec as Little Mark II head, but only 500 will be produced, 25 allocated to the UK, price maintained at same as regular Little Mark II, each amp tested, approved and signed by Marco De Virgillis. From: Proel 020 8761 9911

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BACKLINE & GUITAR • NEW PRODUCTS

ROCKBASS BLACK HAWK STREAMER BASS £379 They say: Don't give up hope - the Blackhawk bass is now available separately. For: Bassists Range: Warwick Rockbass Spec: Carolena wood body, bolt-on maple neck, passive MEC MJ/MM pickups, one-piece Warwick bridge/string mount, Just-A-Nut III nut, black hardware, black highpolish finish. From: Warwick 0161 839 0666

EKO 700 ELECTRIC £299.95 They say: Original Italian design re-issued from the 1960s model – ideal for that retro look. For: Guitarists Range: Eko electrics Spec: Basswood body, maple neck, die-cast chrome machineheads, two humbuckers, three-way toggle, BB vibrato, available in gold, blue & red sparkle finishes. From: Freestyle 01924 455414

The quirky, but appealing Eko electrics (left) now back in the UK through Freestyle

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FRESHMAN APOLLO 2 SERIES £349.95

VINTAGE VS6 VW ELECTRIC £199

They say: The most incredible value for money available on the market today. For: Guitarists Range: Freshman Apollo Spec: Solid AA grade sitka spruce top, rosewood back & sides, maple binding & back centre, rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Grover gold machineheads, Fishman Ion 301 system with built in tuner. Available in grand auditorium (various finishes) & dreadnought shapes. From: AAA 01355 228028

They say: Makes for a guitar that looks great and is really easy to get on with. For: Guitarists Range: Vintage electrics Spec: Contoured & edge-chamfered solid mahogany body with slim neck, gold hardware, cherry red & vintage white finishes. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

GIBSON DARK FIRE LES PAUL £2,500 They say: Embracing the spirit of innovation that inspired the original Gibson Robot guitar in 2007. For: Guitarists Range: Gibson Robot guitars Spec: Gibson Les Paul with improved ‘Robot’ capabilities, digital/analog switch, LED fitted master control knob for tunings, pickup & coil adjustment, two P90 & single Burstbucker 3 pickups, piezo bridge pickup, nitrocellulose finish, Robot Interface Pack with stereo 1/4” & headphone.

VINTAGE V100 UPGRADES FROM £239 They say: A real blues-rock favourite, fitted with precisionmanufactured Wilkinson hardware. For: Guitarists Range: Vintage electrics Spec: Solid mahogany body with maple top, set mahogany neck, Wilkinson hardware. New finishes: Arctic white (£249), flamed honeyburst, flamed iced tea. From: JHS 0113 286 5381

FENDER JIM ADKINS, JA-90 TELECASTER £TBC They say: The JA-90 puts Adkins' personal spin on a classic model. For: Guitarists Range: Fender signature models Spec: Single-cutaway, semi-hollow ash-body, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard, Seymour Duncan Custom SP90-3 & Vintage SP90-1 soapbar pickups, three-way toggle, Adjusto-Matic bridge with stop tailpiece, crimson red & ebony transparent finishes. From: Fender 01342 331700

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1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4. 4. 2009 live for the music

The world of music is coming to Frankfurt am Main again in 2009. Visit the Musikmesse show from 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 April to find out about the most important product innovations and new developments in the industry. Musikmesse is the leading international trade fair for musical instruments, music software, computer hardware, sheet music and accessories. With a complete range of musical instruments from the classical spectrum through to electric guitars, keyboards, brass instruments and electronic equipment, our exhibitors give retailers, trade visitors and music fans alike an insight into the latest trends. Make valuable contacts and successful business links here. Discover the most recent technical innovations and try out the latest instruments. Plus, there are professional product presentations from famous musicians to enjoy at this top insider event. Tel. +44 (0) 17 84 41 59 50 info@uk.messefrankfurt.com www.musikmesse.com

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DRUMS • NEW PRODUCTS PROTECTION RACKET DRUM MAT BAG £12.99 They say: Like any equipment, the drum mat needs protection, be easy to carry and store and secure when packed up. For: Drummers Range: Protection Racket cases Spec: Made from abrasion resistant nylon, two sizes: single bass (2m x 1.6m) and double bass version (2.75m x 1.6m – £13.99), white panel for contact details. From: Protection Racket 01208 815055

PRO MARK SYSTEM BLUE £POA They say: Two new marching snare drumsticks added to the new System Blue line. For: Marching drummers Range: Pro Mark System Blue Spec: Two models in range. TXDC51W: 16” x 0.68”, modified barrel-shaped wood tip, ‘Comfort Flare’ shaft design. TXDC52W: 16" x 0.63“, ball-shaped wood tip, designed for smaller hands. Both made of American hickory. From: Rosetti 01376 550033

They say: Good-looking and great sounding additions to any set-up. For: Drummers, percussionists Range: Natal percussion Spec: Industrial lightweight aluminium chequerplate hi-hat jingles, two models: Double Chequer and Single Chequer, fit on hi-hat push rod. Also function as hand-held tomborines. From: MSC 01562 827666

YAMAHA STAGE CUSTOM BIRCH SNARES FROM £107

Yamha extends its Stage Custom Birch range of snares

NATAL CHECQUERPLATE PERCUSSION EFFECT £13.99 & £24.99

They say: A wealth of sounds to complement almost any playing style. For: Drummers, percussionists Range: Yamaha Stage Custom Spec: Three new snares in range. Sixply, 100 per cent birch shells, include 14" x 5.5", 12" x 5", 10" x 5", smaller sizes with tom mount. From: Yamaha 01908 366700

GATOR DRUM HARDWARE BAG £99.95

PROLOGIX DAVID ELLIS HYBRID SIGNATURE PRACTICE PADS $POA They say: Designed by snare drum extraordinaire David Ellis and Jason Edwards of Prologix. For: Drummers, percussionists Range: Prologix pads Spec: Double-sided practice pad, 13" diameter, replicated rubber rim, miniquint tenor layout, 3" centre spot, blue nylon surround for third practice surface, Baltic birch base. From: Prologix: +1 330 715 1515

LUDWIG COREY MILLER SIGNATURE KIT £1,149 They say: With a sound as dangerous as their look. For: Drummers Range: Ludwig Element series Spec: Shell designs by tattoo artist Corey Miller, on pre-aged White Marine Pearloid wrap, 22"x22" bass drum, 14”x7“ snare, 12”x8” rack tom and 16”x14” floor tom. From: Active Music 020 8693 5678

They say: For the hard-working mobile drummer. For: Drummers, percussionists Range: Gator cases Spec: 600-denier nylon drum hardware bag, 25mm steel construction cart, 100 pound capacity in line-style wheels, exterior accessory pockets, removable bag section. From: Freestyle 01924 455414

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 2009 69

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NEW PRODUCTS • RECORDING & HI TECH

The full rack deal from Digidesign (left) and a handy way to control your DAW from ESI (below)

ESI KEY CONTROL 25 XL £50 They say: A new and versatile plug n play device. For: Studio, live Range: ESI controllers Spec: 25 semi-weighted key controller, USB connection & power, MIDI out, sustain pedal connection, two data wheels, single fader, optional power supply. From: Time+Space 01837 55200

DIGIDESIGN: 003 RACK + FACTORY £825 They say: Comes with everything needed to compose, record, edit, mix, and master right out of the box. For: Studios, producers Range: Digidesign 003 Spec: Pro Tools LE 7.4 loaded, comprehensive plugin package, eight mic pres, various I/Os incl MIDI and digital. Free upgrade to Pro Tools LE 8 available immediately. From: Digidesign 01753 655999

ESI U46 XL INTERFACE £110 They say: Now has improved analog circuitry improving the audio quality. For: Studios Range: ESI interfaces Spec: Four channels: Two stereo line inputs, XLR mic in with phantom power, HiZ in, six channel analog output, separate mix output, bus powered, 48kHz input quality. From: Time+Space 01837 55200

NORD ELECTRO 3 £1,399 & £1,599 They say: The legacy of the original Electro and the knowhow of other Nord models have been combined. For: Keyboard players Range: Nord keyboards Spec: New organ, piano and effects sections, Nord sample library access, sample memory of 256MB, 126 program storage, three amplifier simulations, three-band eq. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

70 miPRO JANUARY 2009

AUDIO EASE ALL IN BUNDLE £799 The follow up to the impressive Stage keyboard, Nord’s Electro 3 (below) looks to set a new standard

They say: Audio Ease bundles all its plugins and adds Snapper – with massive savings. For: Studios, producers Spec: Bundle includes Altiverb, Speakerphone, Periscope, Riverrun, Deep Phase Nine, Orbit, Follo and Roger. Usual retail price of £1,110. From: Unity Audio 01440 785843

IK MULTIMEDIA T-RACKS 3 £348

SSL 4000 E MODULES £546.38

They say: The flagship high-end mixing and mastering suite has now evolved into the next generation. For: Computer studios Range: IK Multimedia studio software Spec: Suite of nine analog-modelled and digital dynamics/eq processors, A-B-C-D compare options, up to 12 parallel/series processors, built-in metering section, high-fidelity oversampling. From: IK Multimedia 01223 234414

They say: Reproduce the legendary sonic signature of an early 80s classic – the SSL 4000 E. For: Studios, cinema, broadcast Range: SSL processors Spec: Eq modules with Black-242 & Brown-02 twin design, bell curve options, fully parametric LMF and HMF with Q. Dynamics modules with compressor/limiter, expander/gate, SL 611E channel strip, Class A VCA replication. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

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Hellborg Preamp Audiophile quality bass preamp with 72 dB gain, transformer balanced input, 4 Band Eq with inductor based mid bands, effects loop operating on -10 or +4 dB level, transformer balanced DI out. All transformers and coils are studio grade and housed in mu metal casings. Hellborg Mono Power Massive 250 and 500 Watt Bipolar Power Amps with over dimensioned output stage. Transformer impedance matching between amp and speaker. Advanced circuit protection. Hellborg Hi Cab 212 Bass reflex cabinet loaded with 2 twelve inch Celestion drivers. Frequency response from 50 Hz – 8 kKHz with focus on midrange clarity. Rated at 200 W RMS.

aw ard ed

www.viktorkrauss.com www.warwick.de/Hellborg Warwick UK: Headquarters: Branches:

Warwick Music Equipment Trading (Manchester UK) Ltd. • 75 Bridge Street • Phone 0044 - (0) 161 - 8390 - 666 • Fax 0044 - (0) 161 - 2146 - 161 • Warwick GmbH&Co.Music Equipment KG • Gewerbepark 46 • 08258 Markneukirchen Dübendorf / Switzerland • Praha / Czech & Slovakia Republic • Warsaw

Manchester M3 2RH / Great Britain E-Mail: info@war wickbass.co.uk / Germany • E-Mail: info@warwick.de / P o l a n d • S h a n g h a i / P. R . C h i n a

Visit us on the World Wide Web: www.warwickbass.co.uk • www.warwick-distribution.co.uk & join the WARWICK BASS FORUM: www.warwick.de/forum

Hellborg Big Cab 215 Direct radiating band pass cabinet loaded with one 15” coaxial full range speaker and one 15” Bass driver. Extended low frequency response. Rated at 500W RMS.

J anuary

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NEW PRODUCTS • PRINT

BOOK OF THE MONTH Author: Maurice J Summerfield Barney Kessel A Jazz Legend Target: Guitar, jazz Comment: An obvious labour of love from veteran MI distributor, publisher and guitar lover Maurice Summerfield, this book is surely the definitive guide to the man who was, for many, the definitive jazz guitarist. Born in 1923, Kessel’s career spanned a vital era in the development of jazz, but his talents were by no means limited to the jazz guitar of which he was an undoubted master. Perhaps less well known is his role as a session player, arranger and producer

(he produced Ricky Nelson’s first hit record). In that capacity, the array of artists with whom he worked is astonishing. Almost at random, you could name Henry Mancini, the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presey, Phil Spector (he was a key ingredient in the ‘Wall of Sound’) and Barbra Streisand. Ultimately, it was jazz guitar that was Kessel’s first love and the book traces his career through the many jazz artists with whom he worked. Kessel’s eminence didn’t

go unrecognised, as throughout his career he won almost every US magazine poll. With a full biography accompanied by many photographs, the book also has a section on the instruments and equipment he used and comes with what must be one of the most exhaustive discographies available, occupying almost half the book. This will become the standard biography of Kessel. A gift for any lover of jazz guitar. ASHLEY MARK PUBLISHING: 0191 414 9000

GENERAL

Author: Geoff Nicholls The Drum Book Target: Drummer, enthusiast, general Comment: The second edition of Nicholls’ history of the rock drum kit – some 11 years after the first – with 48 extra pages and 80 new images, this is a book that will sit comfortably on any coffee table (although in drummers’ front rooms a little better). Starting from the 1920s and jazz kits from the likes of Slingerland, through the rock monsters by Ludwig and competitors, to the Yamaha Washi kit of 2007, this is drool material for drummers, as well as being a fine read for anyone with an interest. BACKBEAT: 020 7720 3581

Author: Tony Bacon Million Dollar Les Paul Target: General, enthusiast Comment: Less defined than The Black Strat, but a geek’s book nonetheless, Bacon takes us through sunburst Gibson Les Pauls made between 1958 and 1961. These are some of the most revered models in the world of the electric guitar. From Keith Richards and Eric Clapton, through Peter Green and Jimmy Page and beyond, the remaining ‘Bursts’ are examined in more detail than that associated with the average embryologist. JAWBONE: 020 7720 3581

EDUCATION Artist: Mike Ihde The 333 Book Target: Guitarists Comment: A book that guitarists below a certain level should have. Not a book to work through methodically, but one to dip into when feeling short of inspiration. It has an even-handed way of dealing with licks for rock, bluegrass, jazz and more, placing styles in front of players across genres and instantly bringing down the barriers of isolated techniques. Over 300 excellent little snippets. MEL BAY: 020 8323 8010

Author: Steve Lodder Classic Hammond Organ Series: Keymaster Target: Hammond organ players, general Comment: There has never really been anything quite like the Hammond organ, that (seeming) ton or more of wood and wheels that has graced the stages of gospel, jazz, blues and rock since 1933. A roadie’s dread and a pianist’s nightmare, but for the select bunch of organists who have embraced it over the years there is nothing to compare. This book looks at the history, some of the key players and a section of tips and tricks for the playing. Delightful. BACKBEAT: 020 7720 3581

72 miPRO JANUARY 2009

Artist: Lee Drew Andrews Mandolin Scales Chart Target: Mandolin players Comment: Does pretty much what it says on the tin: provides the most used and needed scales for mandolin on fretboard diagrams. The whole caboodle is laid out on a double page spread on very heavy paper, so that it can either stand or be stuck up on the wall for ease of use and includes major, minor, pentatonic, harmonic minor and dorian scales. With the mandolin still growing in popularity, this is a great add on to any instrument sale or a good stocking filler for impulse buyers. MEL BAY: 020 8323 8010

Author: Carlos Arana Bossa Nova Guitar Target: Guitar Comment: Here is a book targeted at competent guitarists, but perhaps with little knowledge of jazz and Latin musics – or even more accomplished players looking to expand their palette. This book takes the player through the core elements of harmony, rhythm, right hand technique, chords and other patterns and builds up to estrablish a strong command of this widely used style in the world of jazz. HAL LEONARD (MUSIC SALES): 01284 702600

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

MS 693 MI Pro HLE Advert 315x230:Layout 1

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WHAT DO ALL OF THESE HAL LEONARD PUBLICATIONS HAVE IN COMMON?

JANUARY STOCK OFFER NOW RUNNING

THEY ALL INCLUDE SONGS SELECTED FOR THE NEW ABRSM SINGING SYLLABUS ORDER 24 MIXED TITLES FROM OUR SINGING SYLLABUS PROMOTION* AND GET 5% EXTRA DISCOUNT! MUSIC SALES TRADE SALES HOTLINE: +44 (0)1284 705050 EMAIL: ORDERS@MUSICSALES.CO.UK

*CONTACT YOUR MUSIC SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF TITLES INCLUDED IN THIS PROMOTION. OFFER ENDS 31.01.09.

INCREASE YOUR SALES AND BOOST YOUR PROFITS BY STOCKING THE HAL LEONARD VOCAL PUBLICATIONS THAT YOUR CUSTOMERS NEED NOW!

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NEW PRODUCTS • PRINT

Artist: Max Charles Davies Latin Themes Series: Master Play-along Target: Brass, woodwind, strings Comment: A collection of 12 tunes generally labelled ‘Latin’, laid out in gradually increasing complexity. Full backing with a ‘live’ Latin band on the enhanced CD, as well as printable piano accompaniment music. The book is available for just about any traditional instrument, including the soprano and alto recorders. A must for school classrooms and orchestras. SCHOTT: 020 7534 0744

Author: Hal Leonard (pub) Guitar Chords Deluxe Target: Guitarists Comment: No fewer than 1,680 chords with chord boxes and photographs showing finger placements… That pretty much says it all. Very little missing from this A5-sized volume, especially as chord theory and fingering principles are also included. Each key is dealt with in order, from C to B, major then minor and so on. Not, perhaps, one to take in your guitar case (although there’s no reason why not), but certainly one to sit next to your music stand at home. HAL LEONARD (DE HASKE): 01536 260981

Author: Lodder/Mason/Reid/et al Keyboard Bible

Artist: Mary Cohen Scaley Monsters Series: Mary Cohen’s Superseries Target: Cello Grades 1 & 2 Comment: Mary Cohen continues her crusade for all things cello with her ‘scales without tears for young cellists’, taking the well worn ‘dinosaur route’ to making practice routines more enjoyable for the younger learners. Dinosaurs provide help with rhythms and step out the patterns for scales and arpeggios. Solo pieces accompany each key and learners are invited to attempt their own compositions at the end of each lesson. FABER: 01279 828989

Series: Jawbone Totally Interactive Target: Keyboard players, general Comment: Another contender for Book of the Month, the latest in the Totally Interactive series. This one seems weightier than the previous two because of the need to cover the history of the piano and players as well as the arrival of the electronic keyboards and synths. As with the other ‘Bibles’, the music education material opens out into its own ‘music stand’ for ease of use when the player’s hands are busy with the instrument. JAWBONE: 020 7720 3581

POPULAR & JAZZ Artist: Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Series: Pro Vocal Target: Vocal Comment: The series that touts itself as ‘better than karaoke’ – now on volume 33, no less – comes up with a selection of eight songs made famous by the great Holiday. The backing CD is also enhanced for use on computers, where the tracks can be pitch altered to suit. Whatever the aim, a serious collection for the serious singer. HAL LEONARD (MUSIC SALES): 01284 702600

Artist: Scott Joplin 3 Ragtimes Target: Violin/cello Comment: Mention ragtime and most think immediately of Scott Joplin. Here Wolfgang Birtel has adapted three of Joplin’s great compositions for violin and for cello: The Entertainer (which Birtal admits could not be left out due to popular perceptions) and two lesser known, but no less stylish: The Easy Winners and Ragtime Dance. Full piano accompaniment is included, as is the removable notation for the solo instrument. A concise, simply bound, no nonsense publication that will open ragtime to string players. SCHOTT: 020 7534 0744

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Artist: Astor Piazzolla Play Piazzolla Target: Guitar Comment: The Royal College of Music’s professor of guitar, Gary Ryan, has adapted 13 of Piazzolla’s tangos for easier solo guitar, enabling younger players to get into the work of the tango nuevo master. The blurb says ‘easy’ guitar, but one has to ask ‘easy for whom?’ While some pieces are clearly accessible, others will need a deep breath and an awful lot of structured practice before mastery. For many this will be at least half the fun, but beginners beware the label. BOOSEY & HAWKES (SCHOTT): 020 7534 0744

CLASSICAL Artist: Paul Henry (ed) Concert Spanish Masterpieces Target: Guitar Comment: An unusual book. These are classic Spanish pieces, but beneath the notation sits the tablature. If the hope is that more rock and pop oriented players will give it a go – well, let’s hope so. An awful lot to get one’s teeth into here, but those who love a challenge will take this one home with relish. HAL LEONARD (MUSIC SALES): 01284 702600

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MI MARKETPLACE

THE PLACE FOR BUSINESS

MI MARKETPLACE TO ADVERTISE ON THESE PAGES CALL DARRELL CARTER ON 01992 535647 A ALLPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0870 442 3336 B BILL LEWINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01268 413366 BARNES & MULLINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01691 652 449 C COVERNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0121 327 1977 F FOCUS MERCHANDISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8245 9035 FCN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01892 603730 G GHANA GOODS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0117 955 8668 GUITARRAS DE ESPAÑA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0117 973 3214

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H HERGA MUSIC SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8861 1590 HOT ROX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0115 987 3163 L LEED REPRESENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01243 378050 M MADAROZZO™/CBAC LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8816 8368 MARSHALL AMPLIFICATIONS . . . WWW.MARSHALLAMPS.COM MCELLAND/GREMLIN MUSIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01273 491333 MELBAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0)20 8382 8010 MIDI (IRELAND) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 003531 6779004 MUSIC EXCHANGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0161 946 1234 MUSIC SHIPPING CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01562 827666 O OCARINA WORKSHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01536 485963 ORANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0208 905 2828 P PIANO LOGISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0208 561 4321 R ROBERT MORLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8318 5838 ROTHWELL AUDIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01204 366133 S SOAR VALLEY MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 230 4926 STAINER & BELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8343 3303 V VARSITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0131 557 4310 W WARWICK BASS GUITARS . . . . . . . . . . . . 0049 3742 255 5100 WIND PLUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 243 1698

The past was bright, the future’s Orange

he journey of the ‘brand on which the sun never sets’ has been one that has taken founder Cliff Cooper from an almost derelict shop in London’s West End in 1968 to an Enterprise Awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace hosted by Her Majesty The Queen. It all began for Cooper back in 1960s swinging London when he opened the Orange musical instrument shop and recording studio during the summer of 1968. Legend has it that in the very beginning not only did Cooper work all hours to make his business successful, but any sleep that he did manage to get took place in the shop itself and with the luxury of a plastic Vox speaker column cover used as a sleeping bag. Fast-forward nearly forty years to the summer of 2006 and, as CEO of the Orange Music Electronic Company, Cooper was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, given to Orange for its contribution to international trade. Summer 2006 saw the launch of the 200-Watt

Thunderverb amp, which represents a new and unique concept in valve amps, being both a bass and lead amp all in one. The design features ETR (extended tone range) with bass bandwidth going down to 30Hz without distorting. January 2008 saw the 40th Anniversary Custom Shop Limited Edition and the Anniversary OR50 head attracting massive interest when they were launched at the Winter NAMM Show. In addition to these models, the Tiny Terror Combo and AD5 Combo were launched at Musikmesse in 2008. More to come from Orange at the NAMM Show later this month.

CLASSIFIEDS: MINIMUM 12 MONTHS - ONE ANNUAL CHARGE QUARTER PAGE £1,295 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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ABROAD REPRESENTATION

ACCESSORIES & GIFTWARE

AMPLIFICATION

CLASSICAL GUITARS

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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MI MARKETPLACE DISTRIBUTION

DISTRIBUTION

Made in the same factory that makes Jensen musical instrument speakers in Italy, Sica Speakers are the finest replacements available for your bass amplifier or PA system.

Utilizing modern materials and designed by engineers who care about tone, these speakers will bring new life to your speaker cabinet.

For a brochure or details please contact

UK Distribution Hot Rox UK Tel/Fax: 0115 987 3163 www.hotrox.com Email: sales@hotrox.com Unit 6, Millview Court, Newark Street, Nottingham NG2 4PS

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MI MARKETPLACE DISTRIBUTION

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

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MI MARKETPLACE GUITAR PARTS

The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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,

To order call 0870 442 3336

Schaller, Sperzel, Sprague, Switchcraft & Wilkinson.

Low call rate 0845 345 5951

Order online or find a local dealer @:

www.allparts.uk.com or email us: info@allparts.uk.com ETHNIC AND FOLK

GUITAR ACESSORIES

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 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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MI MARKETPLACE INSTRUMENT FORUM

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MI MARKETPLACE MUSIC PUBLISHERS

PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE

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OCARINAS

PERCUSSION AND DRUMS

MSC ONLINE www.musicshipping.co.uk

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

Extensive Product Information Secure Dealer Only Section

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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Public & DEALER Forums Online Ordering

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MI MARKETPLACE PIANO MOVERS

PIANOS AND HARPSICORDS

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Grand & Upright Pianos by Elysian, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein, Monington & Weston and other famous makers John Morley Clavichords, Spinets, Harpsichords, Virginals & Celestes

Antique, Modern & New, Rental, Repairs, Sales lists & colour brochures on request.

Robert MORLEY & Co Ltd. Piano & Harpsichord Makers Established 1881

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WHOLESALERS

TOP 10 BEST SELLERS NASHVILLE ACOUSTIC GUITARS . . . . . . . . . . . . £50.00 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £27.50 trade ex vat NASHVILLE ELECTRIC GUITARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . £99.95 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £54.97 trade ex vat ARK HEAVY DUTY MUSIC STAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . £18.50 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £10.18 trade ex vat DOLMETSCH DESCANT RECORDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . £6.99 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £3.84 trade ex vat STEINHOFF 108B UPRIGHT PIANO . . . . . . . . . . £1795.00 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £987.25 trade ex vat RAVEN STUDENT TRUMPET OUTFIT . . . . . . . . . £140.00 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £77 trade ex vat NASHVILLE ELECTRO ACOUSTIC BASS . . . . . . . £125.00 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £68.75 trade ex vat STERN VIOLIN OUTFIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £75.00 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £41.25 trade ex vat MAXTONE BONGOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £29.95 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £16.47 trade ex vat NASHVILLE 5 STRING BANJO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £99.95 retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £54.97 trade ex vat

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MI MARKETPLACE WIND INSTRUMENTS

To advertise call

DARRELL CARTER +44 (0)1992 535647 ADVERTISERS INDEX

Adam Hall..........................25

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S.Johnson............................3

Allen & Heath ...................34

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Sherwood..........................68

Anglo Spanish Guitars......5

JHS .....................................27

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Aria...................................5,31

Lamba ................................22

Sound Tech...........................1

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Marshall ...........................2,15

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Aston Music ......................49

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Westside ....................11,21,37

Barnes & Mullins ..........19,51

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Music Sales .................52,55

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PRO THE LAST WORD IN MI 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

JANUARY 2001 COVER STARS: John Booth of Roland UK gives a frank account of how his company had been investigated by the Office of Fair Trading. It turned out a couple of blokes posing as an internet trader had tried to get hold of stock, but were refused on account of not fulfilling the Roland dealer agreement. A complaint was made, but Roland eventually prevailed. NEWS: Andrew Bishop buys Carlsbro, Fred Friedlein and Mark Gooday combine forces, APRS and PLASA abandon merger talks. FEATURES: Music education exam parity, Pearl UK, Portable PA, Celestion, Sound Ranger, Chameleon, Wembley PA Centre. PRODUCTS: Trace Elliot Boxer 65, Dean Mach 5, Moon Model 1, Alesis AirFX, Sabian Groove hats, Propellerhead ReasonRoland VA-3, Yamaha 500, 600 & 700 flutes. NUMBER ONE SINGLES: Bob the Builder – We Can Fix It, Rui Da Silva – Touch Me, Jennifer Lopez – Love Don't Cost A Thing. NUMBER ONE ALBUMS: The Beatles – 1, Texas – Greatest Hits.

DARK FIRE OF LONDON THREE OF London’s most iconic landmarks: The Tower of London, St Stephen’s Clock Tower (which contains the bell, Big Ben – honestly, keep up) and Battersea Power Station were used as the backdrop to mark the worldwide launch of the new Gibson Dark Fire guitar. The Gibson Dark Fire, claims Gibson, ‘is the world’s most technically advanced guitar in the history of musical instruments and is set to become this Christmas’ most wanted product’. Well, we shall see. What we do know is that the selftuning guitar will eventually be available worldwide from a limited run of only 2,000 and once the guitars are sold, they will not be reproduced. Although the original December 15th date was put back to sometime in January 2009.

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THE LAST WORD IN MI PRO

THE STARS AND THEIR GUITARS NEIL YOUNG 1967 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins His main guitar during the Buffalo Springfield years, this remained by Young’s side before his lifelong favourite Old Black was snapped up a couple of years later.

1967

1969

1975

MI ICON

1969 Gretsch White Falcon

1969

Young picked up this White Falcon as Buffalo Springfield was drawing to a close. Young was able to set his hands upon a stereo version of a Falcon and it was to become a guitar that featured prominently in a lot of his early solo work such as Southern Man and Alabama, as well as some CSNY tracks. It was also to become Young’s guitar of choice during the hugely successful Harvest album.

1970 One of the leading lights in the American alternative scene since his first rise to fame, Neil Young has been many things. From Buffalo Springfield to Crosby Stills Nash and Young, to Harvest and Prairie Wind.

1969 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Known as Old Black, this has been Young’s main guitar for some time and, thanks to its stand-out tone, has become a key part of his sound. Originally gold, an amateur paintjob turned it black, and it acquired its nickname from there. Adding a Bigsby vibrato in 1969, Young also installed a

mini humbucker from a Gibson Firebird in 1972. Featured on a number of classic Young records, including Rust Never Sleeps, it has been a staple of his tours.

1970 1927 Gibson Mastertone A six stringed banjo that was tuned as a guitar, this old Gibson has made its way onto a number of Young recordings, where he has favoured a more roots-based, acoustic sound. Some of his best albums, including After the Gold Rush and Harvest, were graced with the presence of this plucky little banjo. It was also played by James Taylor on Old Man.

1975 Martin D-28 Called ‘Hank’ thanks to its previous owner, Hank Williams, this guitar came into Young’s ownership after Hank Jr had swapped it for a shotgun. The guitar was bought by Young from Tut Taylor and quickly established itself as a favourite of Young, who has toured with the trusty Martin for 30 years. Featured in the film Neil Young: Heart of Gold, the D-28 was also Young’s guitar for the personal Prairie Wind album, written about his father.

Rickenbacker Frying Pan

s the first ever electric guitar product, Rickenbacker’s strange looking and even more strangely named Frying Pan has a guaranteed place in the history books. Created by George Beauchamp in 1931, the Frying Pan was initially developed as a solution to the volume problem inherent in un-amplified acoustic guitars. With Hawaiian-style music a major craze in the US at the time and the guitar beginning to gain prominence as a lead instrument, Beauchamp – himself a keen player of Hawaiian – took things into his own hands and started building what was to become the most important musical innovation of the 20th century. Mounting a pickup on an acoustic guitar and being greeted by wailing, uncontrollable feedback, Beauchamp went back to the drawing board and pulled the Frying Pan out of the air. Designed to be used as a lap steel, the instrument was made of cast aluminium and had a horseshoe pickup to amplify the sound and give guitarists a chance to make an altogether louder noise.

Bringing on board Adolph Rickenbacker to help bring the newborn electric guitar to the market, the Frying Pan was launched with a loud fanfare, but was greeted by a somewhat confused world. The great depression was at its height at the time and meant that spare cash for extravagant new devices was not widely available.

Wary guitarists were unsure of how to treat the new instrument and the initial reaction was perhaps somewhat muted. The first rumblings of what was to become a revolution in popular music, however, were already beginning and as popular music moved forward the Frying Pan provided the template for countless guitarists to make a room shake.

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THE LAST WORD IN MI PRO

MI SPACE

HOW DID THEY DO THAT? HEROES

Betty Heywood Company / Job Title: Director of International Affairs with NAMM Years in the industry: Eight First single bought: Singles were sort of out by the time I had enough money to buy music, but when my sister bought Mungo Jerry’s In the Summertime, it did get a lot of play... She’d be so embarrassed now.

With Ziggy Stardust and the white soul stylings that saw him named the ‘Thin White Duke’ already behind him, Bowie’s Berlin period ushered in a whole new set of rules for pop’s top chameleon. With the experimental Low recorded in 1976, Bowie decamped to Berlin’s Hansa Ton studio to record the second of the Berlin Trilogy. The title track from Heroes was to be an international hit thanks to its mind boggling guitar and synth sounds and biting vocal and left many Bowie students wondering how the hell he’d managed to create a wall of sound like nothing before.

With Tony Visconti and Brian Eno on hand to flesh out Bowie’s idea for a more upbeat take on Low’s Krautrock influenced nuances, a three-phase approach to recording was used. Bowie’s stable backing band, headed by Carlos Alomar, joined Bowie on piano and jammed a basic arrangement that he and Eno had conjured up. Reaching the stage where the backing was done, it was the introduction of King Crimson’s main man, Robert Fripp, that combined with Eno’s efforts, provided Heroes with its distinctive guitar part. Using an innovative method of making his guitar

S E IK L A D N U O S KINGS OF LEON Morphing from southern tinged indie the rockers into stadium slaying beasts, the family Followill has become one of biggest bands on the UK scene. Here’s how to get the sound…

Favourite album: Impossible to say, but any of Al Green’s albums. My friend Sandy’s daughter’s first album Urban Legacy – her name’s Julia Jordan (plugging the album shamelessly here, I know).

Caleb Followill on 325, Vox AC-15, Vocals and rhythm guitar: 1972 Gibs Studio Medium D’Addario Chrome 12’s, John Pearse picks. Nathan Followill Full Hi-Hat, 22” Drums: DW kit, 14” Reflector Heavy 24” 2002 Crash, Reflector Heavy Full Crash, 8” Splach, Fast Crash (Paiste). 14” h, Cras 22” Power Ride, 19” Power Matthew Followill 1971, Epiphone Lead guitar: Epiphone Les Paul Custom o Amp, Micr MXR , Sheraton II, Ampeg Reverbrocket delay, rb, reve us vario e, rdriv Route 66 American Ove . 11’s datio D’Ad ls, peda drive over octave and Jared Followill , D’Addario Bass: Gibson Thunderbird, Gibson EB-0 cabinet, Boss 10” 8x and sic Clas SVT eg mediums, Amp roElect eler, TR-2 tremolo, Line 6 DL4 Delay Mod . Amp o Micr 3 M13 Harmonix Big Muff Fuzz, MXR

Currently listening to: Alison Kraus and Robert Plant. Always a lot of World Music: Baaba Maal, Oumu Sangare, Nuru Kane, Zakir Hussain. Favourite musicians: Al Green, Led Zep, Les McCann, Joni Mitchell – it’s really hard to keep this short! What instruments do you play: I’m one of those sad, lapsed players who used to play. One of these days… Are you in a band: I’m with the NAMM staff band, doing backing vocals. I can ‘shoobedoo’ with the best of them. We perform once a year at Summer NAMM. It’s a hoot.

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feedback in the right key (which basically consisted of him moving around the room to pre-set points), Fripp’s guitar was then fed through Brian Eno’s EMI synth. The suitcase-sized synth, lacking a real keyboard and looking like something from Star Wars, gave Eno the ability to mangle Fripp’s guitar signal. With Bowie leaving the lyrics until last (recording vocals to three mics set up nine inches, ten feet and 50 feet away from him), the finishing touches were added to what is arguably the highlight of one of the most fertile stages of Bowie’s everchanging career.

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NEXT MONTH A full report on the Winter NAMM show, secotr spotlights on the sheet music market and radio mics, the most comprehensive overview of the acoustic guitar market ever and, of course, the now famous MI Pro retailer survey. EDITORIAL: ANDY BARRETT mipro@intentmedia.co.uk ADVERTISING: DARRELL CARTER darrell.carter@intentmedia.co.uk WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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