w w w. m m r m a g a z i n e . c o m
July 2011
21st Annual
Profile American Music Dealer of the
New Orleans Takes a Beating, but the Music Continues Show Report: 2011 MIAC/PAL Summer Buyer’s Guide to New Gear – Part II NEW, DIGITAL VERSION: www.mmrmagazine.com
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Contents JULY 2011 VOL.170 NO. 7
26 Spotlight: New Orleans Takes a Beating, but the Music Continues
MMR checks in with three retailers in New Orleans, a city that in recent years has weathered (literally) a devastating hurricane, fallout from the BP oil spill, and a still challenging economic climate. Cover design by Laurie Chesna
18 Show Report: MIAC/PAL 2011
A summary of Canada’s annual MI trade show, this year held May 15-16 in Toronto.
38 Webwise: The Top 5 Ways to Promote Your Website 42 21st Annual Profile of the American Music Dealer
For the first time in quite a while, MMR’s dealer count is on the rise, with a total of 8,084, compared to 2010’s 7,993…
In every issue: 4 6 16 70 74 80
Editorial Upfront People Supplier Scene Classifieds Advertisers’ Index
48 Summer Buyer’s Guide to New Gear – Part 2
A review of product introductions coinciding with this summer’s NAMM Show in Nashville.
www.mmrmagazine.com MMR Musical Merchandise Review® (ISSN 0027-4615) founded in 1879, is published monthly by Symphony Publishing, LLC, 21 Highland Circle, Suite 1, Needham, MA 02494 (781)453-9310, publisher of School Band and Orchestra, Choral Director, Music Parents America and JazzEd. All titles are federally registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Symphony Publishing, LLC. Subscription Rates: U.S.A., US possessions, one year $32; two years $40. Canada one year $80; all other countries one year $159. Single issues $5 each. May Supplier Directory $35. Periodical-Rate Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER/SUBSCRIBERS: Send address change to Musical Merchandise Review, P.O. Box 8548, Lowell, MA 01853. Periodicals circulation is directed to music dealers and retailers, wholesalers and distributors, importers and exporters and manufacturers of all types of musical instruments and their accessories, related electronic sound equipment, general musical accessories, musical publications and teaching aides. The publishers of this magazine do not accept responsibility for statements made by their advertisers in business competion. No portion of this issue may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright ©2011 by Symphony Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved. Printed in USA.
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Welcome to the pad.
Meteor Mic meets iPad meets GarageBand. Unlike other USB mics that require a powered USB hub, Meteor Mic plugs right into your iPad with Apple’s USB connector. It’s never been easier to start recording… © 2011 Samson | facebook.com/samson | iPad, GarageBand and Apple are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
®
Editorial Sidney Davis
Volume 170 Number 7 July 2011
Lessons Learned
PUBLISHER Sidney L. Davis sdavis@symphonypublishing.com
NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino has made the organization’s Oral History Project his life’s work and, as such, has taken upon himself the task of chronicling the passing of the old (and unfortunately sometimes the new) guard. There is a strikingly similar tone to the early beginnings of dealers past as noted by Dan in a recent e-mail regarding the passing of Joe Campana: “Joe established Campana Music in 1947… the store began offering music lessons and repairs along with musical instruments…” Fast forward to present day and the same business plan prevails for new dealerships. This past March, Frank Moran opened Finely Tuned Music in Wharton, N.J., as reported in the local newspaper, “We sell new and used guitars, accessories…we also offer lesson packages and we repair and rebuild guitars…” In another example, Second String Music made its debut in Quincy, Ill., primarily selling guitar and related products but with an emphasis on lessons as part of the mix. In reviewing the numbers within this issue’s 21st Profile Of The American Music Dealer, fully 90 percent of brick and mortar stores (in numbers not revenue) are single or two unit dealerships. Anecdotally, several of our past surveys (Chicago, July 2010; California, July 2009) among others report a majority of stores as lesson providers. Most recently, Guitar Center, in a reversal of previous policy, is now opening units with rehearsal facilities, lesson plans and repair services. When dealers are looking to differentiate themselves from Internet sellers, lessons and repairs are a strong reminder of what a service based business offers. This month’s “lessons learned” also covers School Band And Orchestra’s11th annual student essay contest. To-date our sister publication has awarded more than $220,000 in scholarship funds and matching music products from our co-sponsors. We are enormously grateful to NAMM for both their guidance and support along with charter co-sponsors Alfred Publishing and Yamaha Corporation of America and, more recently, Sabian Ltd. and Woodwind & Brasswind. In the past 11 years, more than 100,000 essays have been submitted from music students throughout the United States and several foreign countries. For many schools districts the scholarship essay contest has become a class project coordinated through the English and music departments. Ten $1,000 scholarships are awarded to students in grades four to 12 and the winning students’ music program received an equivalent amount of matching music products. In recent years we have expanded the program to emphasis the importance of the local music dealer and working through NAMM this year’s recipients received their awards from George’s Music (Pa.); Music & Arts (Conn.), Ted Herbert’s Music (N.H.), Bringe Music (Fla.), Schmitt Music (Minn.), Music Instruction Studio (Tenn.) Eckroth Music (Mont.) and Kennelly Keys (Wash.). In the Chicago area Mike Skinner, DANSR, Inc. presented the award to a Morgan Park High School winner. Several of the students have moved on to receive college degrees in music performance and education. This year we received a letter from Truc Pham, a recipient of a 2010 scholarship who wrote how she used the funds to accompany her school to perform at Carnegie Hall. “My parents did not have the two grand that was needed to pay for the trip… the SBO scholarship allowed me to go on the Carnegie trip, the trip of a lifetime… I am so grateful to have received this opportunity… from the bottom of my heart I thank all those at SBO that have played a role in giving me the experience of a lifetime…” Keep the lessons flowing… We welcome your scholarship support. E-mail sdavis@symphonypublishing.com for further details… and see you in Nashville!
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Rick Kessel rkessel@symphonypublishing.com EDITOR Christian Wissmuller cwissmuller@symphonypublishing.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS Eliahu Sussman esussman@symphonypublishing.com Matt Parish mparish@symphonypublishing.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chaim Burstein, Dennis Carver, Kevin Mitchell, Dick Weissman ADVERTISING MANAGER Iris Fox ifox@symphonypublishing.com SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Jason LaChapelle jlachapelle@symphonypublishing.com CLASSIFIED & DISPLAY AD SALES Maureen Johan mjohan@symphonypublishing.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Laurie Guptill lguptill@symphonypublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laurie Chesna lchesna@symphonypublishing.com Andrew P. Ross aross@symphonypublishing.com CIRCULATION MANAGER Melanie A. Prescott mprescott@symphonypublishing.com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Popi Galileos pgalileos@symphonypublishing.com SYMPHONY PUBLISHING, LLC Chairman Xen Zapis President Lee Zapis lzapis@symphonypublishing.com Chief Financial Officer Rich Bongorno rbongorno@symphonypublishing.com Corporate Headquarters 26202 Detroit Road, Suite 300, Westlake, Ohio 44145 440-871-1300 www.symphonypublishing.com PUBLISHING, SALES & EDITORIAL OFFICE: 21 Highland Circle, Suite 1, Needham, MA 02494 (781) 453-9310 Fax: (781) 453-9389 www.mmrmagazine.com
sdavis@ symphonypublishing.com
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Upfront Even More Tornadoes in Midwest, Northeast… The deadliest tornado in more than six decades tore through the center of Joplin, Missouri in May. With the death toll now up to 142, with over 900 individuals listed as injured, and many still unaccounted for, the tragedy has the unpleasant distinction of being the most destructive single event in a season already characterized by unprecedented natural disasters in the South and Midwest. We made periodic attempts to reach our MI retailer friends in Joplin to see how they, their business, and the community are doing. “We were very lucky and didn’t actually get any damage,” said James Parks of Ernie Williamson Music. “The tornado probably hit about two blocks away from us. Three-quarters of a mile right in the middle of town has been basically destroyed. It’s so bad. We’ll have to wait
and see how it all pans out and, until then, pray for the community.” The violent weather tearing through the Midwest and South this spring hit closer to home in early June as tornadoes touched down in portions of Massachusetts, only miles from MMR’s offices. As only the most recent victims of an unprecedented tally of twisters this year, we now count Springfield, West Springfield, Brimfield, and Monson, Mass., among those who’ve suffered millions of dollars in property damage and record loss of life. The storms, rare for this part of the country, wrecked over 200 buildings and killed four people, with 200 more reported injuries, according the Boston Globe. As we did following the recent tornado that hit Joplin, MMR reached out to MI stores in the region affected by this most recent event to see how folks were doing.
Bill Buoniconti, who owns Music Cellar in West Springfield, says he was in the middle of music lessons at the shop when the storms hit: “We were down in the studio working at the time, but we’re okay. We were close to it all, but not right in the line of fire.” West Springfield’s Daddy’s Junky Music also reported minimal damage. Across the Connecticut River in Springfield on Boston Road, Music World’s Jim Sampson also made it through without many problems. “I know there were a lot of houses damaged, trees lost and pools lost,” he says. “But we were okay. We heard about it on the radio and saw cruisers rushing down the street, and we got a downpour of rain.” All of us at MMR extend our deepest sympathies to the Joplin and Springfield areas and our hopes for a speedy recovery.
NAMM Members Lobby for Music Education, Battle Counterfeiting This spring, a record 40 NAMM Members traveled to Washington D.C. and held more than 103 meetings with Members of Congress to address key music products industry issues of stopping counterfeiting and strengthening music education. NAMM’s annual Advocacy Fly-In was four days of education, training, meetings and special events to further the industry’s interests. On Tuesday of the Fly-In event, NAMM and the Department of Education hosted a ukulele and drum circle event celebrating and supporting national school music programs called “Strumming and Drumming for Music Education.” DOE policy leaders Jim Shelton, Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Innovation and Improvement; Peter Cunningham, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach; as well as former U.S. Sec. of Education Richard Riley and jazz guitarist/New York Yankee great Bernie Williams were on hand to welcome 6 MMR
the NAMM delegates and jam along to a fun ukulele-driven rendition of “This Land is Your Land.” The event concluded with a performance by music students from George Fox and Lime Kiln Middle Schools reminding the NAMM Members and DOE staff of the importance of reaching their goal. On Wednesday, after a day of Congressional meetings, NAMM, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and Do-
Something.org co-hosted a reception at the U.S. Capitol Building celebrating and supporting national school music programs. Multiple Grammy and Emmy-award winning artist Tony Bennett, founder of Exploring the Arts which provides support for the arts in NYC Public High Schools and the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens was on hand to discuss the importance of school music and art programs.
JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 518
Upfront Vic Firth Honored at Musikmesse Vic Firth Company received two prestigious awards for the best products in their chosen category at the 2011 Frankfurt Musikmesse. The first was the PPVMEDIEN Leser Award, which recognizes the best instruments and equipment of the year based on various readers polls in magazines such as Soundcheck, Keys, Tastenwelt, Drumheads and Guitar. This year, the PPVMEDIEN Lesser award was presented to Vic Firth in recognition of the Vic Grip Extreme 5A.
Vic Grip is an eco-friendly, water based urethane that is extremely durable and an ideal choice for players who prefer an enhanced grip on their drumsticks. The Vic Grip line was recently expanded to include the Extreme 5A and Extreme 5B models. During this year’s Musikmesse event, Vic Firth Company was also awarded the Musikmesse International Press Award (MIPA) in recognition of the Vic Firth Kinetic Force stick. By adding a more dense material to the butt end of the new
Vic Firth with Messe Awards
Kinetic Force sticks‚ they can be played longer and harder with less fatigue. The Kinetic Force drumsticks are offered in 5A and 5B sizes.
Hartley & Mary Peavey Deliver Commencement Addresses at MSU Hartley and Mary Peavey encouraged the nearly 2,400 spring graduates of their shared alma mater, Mississippi State University, to live with passion and give back during separate commencement addresses on April 29 and 30. “Success is not about money, it’s feeling good about what you do,” said Hart-
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ley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation, to Mississippi State University’s class of 2011 graduates. “The truth about entrepreneurs is that we have to approach every day with enthusiasm, a willingness to learn from mistakes and the desire to innovate, and trust that those traits will
guide us to success. My only advice to you is never quit.” As the leaders of Peavey Electronics Corporation, Hartley and Mary Peavey head one of the world’s largest and most diversified manufacturers and suppliers of musical-equipment and professionalaudio products, with distribution into
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Upfront more than 130 countries. Hartley founded the company after graduating from Mississippi State in 1965. “Peavey is successful because we all have great passion for what we do,” said Mary Peavey, president of Peavey Electronics Corporation. “It is self defeating to live without passion for your work. I
encourage all of you, if you can’t find the job you want right away—and in this economy you may not—consider taking another job in the same industry. ”When you do get that job,” she added, “I hope that you will give back by donating your time and leadership through mentoring young people.”
Peavey, a board member of the national Afterschool Alliance, stressed the importance of education, leadership and afterschool programs in the lives of the nation’s youth. “More than 15 million kids today go home to an empty house, and those hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are crucial.” To find out more, visit www.peavey.com.
Zildjian’s New UK Artist Facility The Avedis Zildjian Company hosted a UK Artist Session and celebrated the offi-
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cial opening of its new artist facility at Cato Music Ltd, London, on April 1, 2011. Approximately 130 Zildjian Artists from all over the UK were treated to demonstrations of over 100 new Sound Lab Prototypes, cymbals that are not yet in production by Paul Francis, Zildjian’s director of research & design/quality, An addition to the UK Artist Session this year was Zildjian’s new digital divi-
sion, Gen16. Artists got a firsthand look at Zildjian’s new electronic sound technology, including the Gen16 Digital Vault and Gen16 AE Cymbals, which won two MIPA awards at this year’s Musikmesse. The opening event was also attended by James Laney, Lindsay Harvey, and Andy Sadowski from Headstock Distribution Ltd (Zildjian’s UK distributor) as well as Johnnie Allan, Yard Gavrilovic, Nick Simms, and Jamie Henry ( John Henry Enterprises). For more information, go to www.zildjian.com.
JULY 2011
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Upfront NAMM Members Present SBO Music Student Scholarships School Band and Orchestra, MMR’s sister publication in the music education field, recently completed its eleventh year of awarding scholarships to middle and high school students. Ten students each received $1,000 scholarships for their winning essays on the topic, “How My Music Teacher Has Influenced Me And My Goals In School.” The scholarship program, which is cosponsored by NAMM, Alfred Music Publishing, Sabian Ltd., Woodwind & Brasswind and Yamaha Corporation of America has awarded a total of $220,000 in funds and matching music products. The scholarship money was distributed by NAMM members, several of them at school assemblies or within dealer stores with classmates, school officials and parents in attendance. The participating NAMM members included
Schmitt Music, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; Music Instruction Studio, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Kennelly Keys, Lynnwood, Wash.; Bringe Music, St. Petersburg, Fla.: DANSR, Chicago, Ill.; Eckroth Music, Bozeman, Mont.; George’s Music, Berwyn, Pa.; Music & Arts, Vernon, Conn. and Ted Herbert’s (Music & Arts), Manchester, N.H. The Essay Judging Committee were Andrew Surmani, Alfred Music Publishing; Michael Skinner, DANSR, Inc.; Joe Lamond, NAMM; Michael Butera, MENC; Nick Petrella, Sabian Ltd; Vic Firth, Vic Firth, Inc.; Jenna Grisham, Woodwind & Brasswind; Roger Eaton and Jay Schreiber, Yamaha Corporation of America. Winning students were from the following schools; Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn.; Clearwater Fun-
damental Middle School, Clearwater, Fla.; Calvary Christian Academy, Philadelphia, Pa.; Hudson Memorial School, Hudson, N.H.; Tyee Middle School, Bellevue, Wash.; Morgan Park High School, Chicago, Ill.; Hixson High School, Hixson, Tenn.; Coventry High School, Coventry, Conn.; Sultan High School, Sultan, Wash. and Bozeman High School, Bozeman, Mont.
I am writing in behalf of the Morgan Park High School Band Boosters Association. We just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the $1,000 in products that the band will receive. Further thank you so much for asking Mr. Michael Skinner to come and make the check presentation to our student. Mr. Skinner was so gracious with his time by sharing his experiences and offering advice to our students. Ms. Shemeka Nash, Band Director; Ms. Althea Billins, Band Boosters President.
Scott Backus, music director, Tyee Middle School, Bellevue, WA.; essay winner Briannah Yee; and Tom Van Duzer, educational services, Kennelly Keys Music.
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Jon Colston, MusicInstruction Studio, Chattanooga with Sarah McGill, Hixson High School, Hixson, Tenn.
Lynn Weigand, Bringe Music; Haunnah Hewett and Clearwater Fundamental Middle School band director Calista Zebley.
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There was a huge crowd that filled the high school auditorium (400 to 500 people) when we made the presentation.
Lynn Weigand, Bringe Music Darrell Benjamin, band director, Calvary Christian Academy; Widchard Faustin, 7th grade winner; and George Hines, Georges Music.
Band director Ned Smith, Valerie Stickles and Christina LaRosa of Vernon Music and Arts.
Shemeka Nash, band director, Morgan Hill High School, Chicago; Althea Billins, essay winner’s mother; Adam McLendon and Michael Skinner, DANSR, Inc.
Sherry Linnerooth (Eckroth Music), Renee Westlake (Supervisor of Music – Bozeman Public Schools), Caleb Carr (essay scholarship winner), Kelly Berdahl (director of bands – Bozeman High School)
Thank you for your support of music education and for giving us Montanans the opportunity to show off our fine music programs, educators, and students. Sherry Linnerooth, Eckroth Music
Teacher Mike Seckla, scholarship winner Emily Walker, Justin Wright of Ted Herbert’s Music, and educational rep Don Goldstone.
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Matthew Marsolek, band director, Minnnehaha Academy South Campus, Minneapolis; Alex Wilson, scholarship winer; and Tom Schmitt, president of Schmitt Music.
Terry Freeman, Kennelly Keys educational services rep,; Ryan Fox, essay winner and Jill Sumpter, music director, Sultan High School, Sultan, WA.
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Upfront Yamaha Launches P.A.R.A.G.ON Yamaha Corporation of America recently introduced P.A.R.A.G.ON, a new dealer tool that allows for increased efficiency, accessibility and measurement of online and social content. P.A.R.A.G.ON (Product And Resource Asset Galleries ONline) provides a suite of user-friendly resources that make it easy for dealers to add Yamaha content to their websites, including content that integrates with mobile devices, and measure the impact of their marketing efforts on Facebook and Twitter – all free of charge.
P.A.R.A.G.ON consolidates content and functionality from The Hub multimedia portal, Yamaha Online University and the 4wrd.it URL shortening tool, which lets dealers track the effectiveness of their social media efforts and generates a QR code, enabling them to integrate their online and offline marketing efforts. QR, which stands for Quick Response, consists of square bar codes that can be scanned by smart phones and mobile devices, instantly bringing interested parties directly to a Web site or other online marketing material. With this new tool, dealers can get a quick snapshot showing the proportion of users that are viewing content on mobile devices so that they can use QR codes more strategically. P.A.R.A.G.ON’s core component makes it easy for dealers to add downloadable and embedded HTML5 images and video galleries to their websites. The embed feature lets dealers deploy track-able content for mobile devices.
Coding experience is not necessary and there’s no need to run Flash to see the content. Yamaha Online University will also migrate to P.A.R.A.G.ON and includes a tablet-optimized interface with rolebased reporting and tracking for store owners and managers. Paragon is accessible through dealers’ current EasyPass credentials, the same system used to access The Hub video portal and Yamaha Online University. For more information, visit www.yamaha.com.
Steinway Eliminates Dual Class Voting Structure
On June 2, Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (NYSE: LVB) announced that the previously disclosed sale of its Class A common stock has been completed. Upon the sale, Steinway’s dual class voting structure was eliminated.
Trade Regrets: Arthur Griggs of Griggs Music in Davenport, Iowa passed away on May 29, 2011, less than four months shy of his 100th birthday (September 26). His father established the Griggs Piano Company in 1903, where Arthur would later spend every Saturday and summers sweeping the store until he was old enough to run it. Arthur recalled that, “during the Depression, we sold everything we could get our hands on. In fact, we were the first in the area to sell electric refrigerators.” Recently, Arthur took part in the 100th Anniversary of the store, which is now called Griggs Music of Davenport, Iowa.
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Clem Frak worked for King Musical Instruments for 35 years and, as vice president of sales, Clem was well known by many of the veteran dealers for his integrity. Retailer Bob Menchey stated, “Clem’s word was all I ever needed. If he said he could get the product to us in time, it would arrive – no question.” When Frak began working for the company it was known as H. N. White and Company, but due to the strong popularity of their King band instrument line, the company name was changed.
Clem passed away on May 3, at the age of 94. Donald Broman passed away at the age of 96 on May 12, 2011 in a nursing home in Kenosha, Wis. Broman was a longtime veteran of the music products industry. When he joined the Lyon & Healy company in 1937 the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, yet Don worked hard with the staff to keep the company above water. As he had said, “we stayed until the job was done.” He stayed 38 years until Baldwin Piano Company offered him a job as Vice President in 1975. Don remained at Baldwin until his retirement in 1984.
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People Ashly Audio Inc., a division of JAM Industries, has promoted Mark Wentling from director of R&D to the position of president & CEO. Wentling succeeds David Parse who will re- Wentling main with Ashly Audio in an export sales management capacity. With a long history in the audio marketplace, Mark has held engineering positions with MXR Innovations, Music Man, Inc., Ernie Ball, Inc., Fender Musical Instruments and Yorkville Sound/ Applied Research and Technology. He holds degrees in Electronics from SUNY Morrisville, Tri State University, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Along with his engineering background, Mark has extensive sales and distribution experience as a co-owner of E&E Exports, Inc. for over fourteen years. Audio-Technica has announced the appointment of Michael Edwards to the position of vice president Professional Markets, reflecting the company’s continued dedication to Edwards meeting the needs of all of its professional market segments. The announcement was made by Audio-Technica U.S. president and CEO Philip Cajka. As leader of the company’s professional division, Edwards will have considerable responsibility for the way Audio-Technica develops and positions its professional products. He will oversee A-T sales, marketing and product development efforts in the pro audio, M.I., broadcast and installed sound markets.
Latin Percussion recently appointed Victor Filonovich to the position of director of Product Management for LP and Toca Percussion. His responsibilities include research and develop- Filonovich ment of new products and the management of existing products. Filonovich has served as the product manager for Toca Percussion for six years and has been with LP for a total of 20 years. He will continue to work out of the company’s offices in Garfield, N.J. D’Addario has announced the appointment of Eric Fremont to its Board of Directors. Mr. Fremont will provide strategic guidance with regards to D’Addario & Company Fremont technology, IT and e-business development needs. Fremont is an experienced telecommunications and technology executive who served as senior vice president, IT Strategy and Planning at Verizon Communications from 2007 to 2011. He brings over 25 years of experience in information technology including software development, IT architecture/infrastructure, strategic planning, and operations. Prior to 2007, Mr. Fremont held various senior level and technology positions at Verizon Communications, Bell Atlantic, Sprint Communications, and EDS, including SVP IT Verizon Partner Solutions, AVP IT Service Delivery at Bell Atlantic, and Senior Director of Software Engineering & Architecture at Bell Atlantic.
Breaking News! Find it in the Hot News section of MMR’s Web site, www.mmrmagazine.com
HOLY CHINA
See us at NAMM Booth 710
Show Report:
MIAC/PAL 2011 Though the weather was dismal (nonstop rain, very windy, and hovering in the 40s and low 50s the whole weekend – thanks for the head cold, Toronto!) and numerous road closings (two major marathons in the metro area) gummed up traffic significantly, there was a decent amount of activity and generally positive attitudes were on display at the 2011 Music Industries Association of Canada/Pro Audio and Lighting (MIAC/PAL) Trade Show. Most we spoke with estimated that the gathering, held May 15-16, was smaller than 2010, but officially reported numbers indicate a 2 percent increase in dealer and industry representative attendance, with roughly 2,900 showing up to this year’s MIAC/PAL Show. Additionally, there were some previously absent “big names” who exhibited in Toronto in 2011 and the overall vibe was lively and optimistic. Topics of discussion centered
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(of course) on the still-struggling (though improving) global economy, U.S./Canadian trade relations, and how the newly elected Conservative majority Canadian government might affect both of those areas. Voices from the Show Floor “It was great to see Fender back in the show and I’m sure that created a positive buzz among the dealers.
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“I always have a difficult time gauging attendance from year to year. Our sales reps were busy early on Sunday and were kept busy until about the last hour and a half of the Monday, so we were pleased. “The attitude was upbeat, which was a continuation of the upbeat mood of Winter NAMM, so the positive vibe seems to have some legs. “2010 was a slight improvement over 2009 and so far 2011 is ahead of 2010,
1. Fender’s Joe Reynoso, Alan Waite, Layne Kurr, and Allen Abbassi. 2. Levy’s Leathers: Glen Booth, Garth Giesbrecht, and Harvey Levy. JULY 2011
so we are trending in the right direction. I believe the weakness of the U.S. dollar will contribute to a slower than hoped for recovery, but we are on our way back. “With the recent election of a majority Conservative government in Canada, I think we can see trade relations with the US continuing to improve. The Canadian business community is essentially conservative and the stability of four years of majority rule (the conservatives ruled with a minority government the last four years) will be seen as a positive. Trade relations with the U.S. have always been quite good, but Canada/U.S. relations and border security are high on the new government’s list.” Harvey Levy Levy’s Leathers “The show was smaller than last year, but has been very productive for C.F.M. [MIAC] is a small event in a very productive market for C.F.M. We have established relationships in Canada and exhibit to support those relationships. Business started slow at the beginning of 2011, but appears to be correcting. We’re looking forward to a good year.” Bruce Mariano C.F. Martin Guitars “It [MIAC] was pretty small this year, many distributors were missing – SF marketing, TASCAM, Wescan Music. And there weren’t many smaller or new distributors. “The economy seems to be picking up some momentum here in Canada, but it seems very fragile as disposable income for the luxuries of high end audio, musical instruments, and music lessons continues to be eroded by decreasing disposable income due to higher taxes, record high indebtedness of Canadian families, and soaring gas and fuel costs. Furthermore, one has a sense that with the record high debt of both the U.S.A. and several European countries, that a crash and recession/depression might hit at any time. Just look at the debt clock of U.S.A. and many other countries... it all seems completely unsustainable. “My comment on trade relations between the United States and Canada would be that we really do not have free trade. Many Canadian list prices still are well above the American list prices. I think that some distributors play on this. JULY 2011
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1. The D’Addario Canada Crew: Larry Davidson, Mark Cavarzan, June Doyle, Chris Rettino (back), Rob Gooding, Suzanne Simon. 2. Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.’s Larry Mansbridge. 3. Steve Parr of Taylor Guitars. 4. DR Strings’ Anthony Corona. 5. Roland Canada Ltd.’s Carl Langevin. 6. Brendan Mathieus of Hal Leonard Corp. 7. Retail Up’s Gordon O’Hara with musician and author Steve Parton. 8. Jay Morrissey and Kurt Samson of Córdoba Music Group. 9. C.F. Martin Guitar: Larry Lawlor, Duane Robar, Bruce Mariano, Tony Manzi, and Ray Kopko.
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This is a total disadvantage to Canadian retailers who dare to compete in the Global marketplace.” John Horrocks Darkhorse Musical Productions, Inc. “Although attendance has not been stellar, I still feel it is important to support our Distributor (Erikson Audio) and their dealers at this show. It is extremely beneficial to meet with all of their retailers and installers, and to keep them up to speed on all current products and
happenings. I receive more and more inquiries each year on our Installed Sound products like the SpectraPulse UWB wireless system, Engineered Sound podium and boundary mics, as well as overall Wireless systems and components. “This year’s show was similar to last year in terms of attendance, and the new venue in downtown is better than being at the airport’s International Center. I’ve been to Winter NAMM in Anaheim and Breakforth in Edmonton so far this year. The Winter NAMM Show is always the
most attended show, by both manufacturers and dealers. Breakforth is an end-user show geared towards the church market, and brings awareness to our brand and offerings overall. I would place MIAC as #2 so far this year. “Due to the number of inquiries for boardroom installs and conference room settings, we expect our SpectraPulse UWB wireless system to take off along with our ATCS-60 wireless Infrared Conference system in the months to come.
A Few Words with MIAC Executive Director Barbara Cole MMR: Can you talk about the organization’s genesis? Barbara Cole: The founding members of MIAC launched the Association some 40 years ago as a result of a small group manufacturers and distributors renting hotel space and staging their own exhibit displays. At the time it made sense to form an Association and host the industry’s trade show.
MMR: How has MIAC evolved in the past four decades? BC: Over the years the Association has been faced with many challenges and weathered many storms, including the decline of its cash reserve and several failed initiatives. However, the Association has endured the test of time through the unwavering support of its members and the commitment of its Board of Directors. In the fall of 2006, MIAC moved its daily operations from the outsourced service model after some 35 years to a staff managed model. It is evident that MIAC’s Board of Directors is not content to preserve the status quo, but recognizes that change and adaptation must be constant.
MMR: How is MIAC aiming to serve and work with the Canadian MI community in the present day? BC: Now operating in the 21st century with a modest equity, its own headquarters, and a small and efficient staff that is entrepreneurial and reactive, the desire is for MIAC to be a member service Association rather than a trade show producer.
MMR: Any special events or initiatives on tap in 2011 to mark the 40th anniversary?
MMR: How do you feel the 2011 Show compares with last year’s? BC: The show was smaller than in 2010 in terms of exhibitor space, but the quality and quantity of attendees, especially in such challenging times, was unprecedented
MMR: Thoughts on U.S./Canada trade relations, especially as it pertains to MI? BC: The trade relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the staggering volume of bilateral trade – the equivalent of $1.5 billion a day in goods – as well as in peopleto-people contact. About 300,000 people cross the shared border every day. The United States accounts for roughly 76% of exports and 65% of imports. Although Canadian music products companies are performing extremely well, the United States remains the largest North American producer of musical instruments while China is the largest source of imports.
“MIAC’s Board of Directors is not content to preserve the status quo, but recognizes that change and adaptation must be constant.”
BC: We decided to celebrate our 40th Anniversary by hosting two first class receptions, including the launch of the 20 MMR
MEA Awards Program, and to offer our members a robust conference program.
MMR: Thoughts on the Canadian economy? Any predictions or expectations for the coming months?
BC: Canadian consumers appear to be reining in spending after a post-recession spree that saw some Canadians rack up high levels of debt, prompting warnings from government and bank officials against people spending beyond their means. It is expected that Canadian retailers will face a tough year as they struggle to convince cash-strapped customers to spend on anything other than staples amid rising food and gas prices while also fending off competition from an influx of U.S. retail giants. JULY 2011
“As the value of the dollar has become more stable between U.S. and Canada, we should continue to see more consistent street pricing. This should help our Canadian dealers to have more competitive pricing when their customers search online.” Brian Strong Audio-Technica “I was somewhat surprised to see Fender on hand, but pleasantly surprised. It’s nice to see another large manufacturer presence, as it adds viability to the show. The only other trade show I attend is the Winter NAMM Show, so it wouldn’t be fair to compare MIAC to [Winter NAMM]. I thought attendance was down a bit this year – we were still busy, just not as busy. “Our new products; the GS Mini and our Double Cutaway Solidbody Guitars, are picking up steam. Overall, Taylor continues to do well in Canada, and I don’t expect that to change. A strong Canadian dollar has really
allowed dealers to ‘buy strong’ from American manufacturers, which is good for everyone’s business.” Steve Parr Taylor Guitars “There did appear to be a decline in the number of exhibitors and, in speaking to some of those who were there, one of the main reasons seemed to be the idea that Canadian dealers seem to be very cautious about spending money at the [MIAC] show. As a result, some exhibitors just could not instantly justify the investment. “That said, we left the show feeling pretty optimistic on several key areas and that just might be as a result of the changing nature of the show and it’s perhaps more focused attendance. From our perspective, it seemed that many of the dealers who were in attendance had more of an opportunity to spend time with us and therefore were able to learn about our brands on a more one-on-one basis for future follow-up. Of course we did also do our best to open up few new dealers while at the show as well. Speaking for Saga, we were certainly glad to be at the 2011 MIAC and to be able to
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support all Canadian dealers and distributors in any way that we can. “Though the past few years were difficult for most in the industry, we have seen and experienced some interesting positive trends in several different sales channels and brand categories. This allows us to be optimistic as we move forward. For example, in addition to our long existing distribution network focus as a company in Canada, business with Canadian retailers and online entities continue to grow. Another exciting trend is that this year, more than in previous years, we have noticed a significant increase in ukulele interest, as well as our mandolins and banjos, too.” Lilliana Urosevic Saga Musical Instruments “I thought that the show was good, but seemed a bit smaller than last year. Our booth was steady both days, whereas last year the second day was a bit slower than the first. I think that sales will be good this year since people are showing a lot of interest in our products. I can’t comment on sales trends since I don’t get to see the forecasts or any other numbers. “I think that a ‘Public Day’ would be good for the show. This would allow us to educate the public directly about our products and answer any questions the end consumer may have. They need information to make choices and sometimes the dealer can’t give it to them. Just a thought there...” Kevin Laskey Sabian
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Spotlight
New Orleans Takes a Beating,
but the
Music Continues Three Three Retailers Retailers Recount Recount Their Their Challenges Challenges from from Katrina Katrina to to BP BP
“Hi neighbors. Like so many of you we took a hard hit from Katrina and survived...”
So states the website of Allied Music, one of the area’s MI stores most affected by the hurricane that hit the Crescent City on August 23, 2005. Six years after Katrina, the recovery process continues. And along the way? There were a few other challenges thrown into the mix… 26 MMR
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“Katrina was harsh, and then the economy hurt us, but the oil spill is what really broke everyone’s back,” Ray Fransen says. “At that point there was a psychological aspect to what was seemingly like a Biblical series of disasters to us – what was next? A plague of locust?” He pauses before adding: “Was it going to rain frogs?” Fransen owns Ray Fransen’s Drum Center, and he suffered $20,000 worth of damage from Katrina. Others fared worse. “Yeah we got flooded,” says Allied Music owner Carlos McInerney. “And we lost $70,000 worth of equipment.” Lance Lafargue confirms that while locals had money for insurance, they didn’t always spend it to replace their pianos. Either they had other priorities or perhaps didn’t play the ruined piano that much to begin with and spent it on that extra big TV. But like all the other instrument technicians in town, he too did a lot of work on Katrina-damaged instruments through his store, Lafargue Pianos. “Yes, I saved a lot of instruments.” He also drove around giving over 200 estimates on damaged pianos for insurance claims. Also for Lafargue, it was the BP oil spill that negatively affected his business more than Katrina. “That was just a kick in the stomach, coming after Katrina and the economic downturn,” he states, shaking his head. Not just for him, but for his neighbors: “So many were already just living day to day, and the fact is these people still haven’t been compensated for the loss of income and for everything they’ve been through.” Yet, to the visitor, the incredibly vibrant live music scene does not go unnoticed. There are a lot of festivals, and not just the internationally renowned Jazz and Heritage Festival that takes place in April. Earlier that month, there’s the growing French Quarter Music Festival which has impressive stats: four days, 20 stages, 280 local and regional acts. Then there are the usual bars and clubs on Bourbon Street with live music pouring out their doors. Fransen says the city bounced back quickly on at least one level after Katrina: the “powers that be” made sure the music was flowing. “They put a lot of emphasis on the feel-good stuff,” he says. “People wanted regularity in their life.”
“ My service work is strong, but I will never again stock products at the level I once did because I just don’t see the foot traffic.”
Allied Music Allied Music was one of the few metro stores actually flooded and, of those, the only still around – though it was certainly touch and go for a while. “I had to wait
Jeff JULY 2011
Allied Music MMR 27
six months for power, and another six months for phone services,” he says, adding that AT&T took especially long because the company used the opportunity to rewire the city with fiber optics, so as to be less susceptible to future storms. And his store being mostly inoperable “was unfortunate because when the ‘free’ money started pouring in [via grants and charities], I couldn’t take advantage of it because we didn’t have phone service, didn’t have the ability to process gift cards, et cetera.”
Despite the fact that his store’s zip code was deemed off limits and closed to the public, McInerney kept sneaking in. At first he was getting kicked out, but eventually state troopers would merely wave when they saw him. “But it was truly a disaster,” he sighs. “Everybody around the country was used to the images on TV and in the papers, but there’s one thing that only those here had to deal with: the smell. You could not relate to it. I know what the people in Japan are going through now, at least at that level.” He
“ Immediately after Katrina, I did think, ‘Man, is it worth it to do it again? Starting from scratch?’ But just the psychological support [from the industry] really helped.” After the hit, it took six months for McInerney to get going and, “in hindsight I should have stayed closed because every neighborhood that I service was literally underwater.” None of those areas are 100 percent today, and some are gone for good.
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was able to run an extension cord from a neighbor to have enough light to do repair work, which he had plenty of. Allied Music opened its doors in 1963 as a repair center, catering mostly to other music stores. McInerney says that by 1966 they started to do some retail and by the
1970s were even doing some manufacturing of PAs and amplifiers. By 1976 they were strictly retail and repair. Today they also have onsite drum and guitar lessons. “There was a lot of free money going around right after the storm, but it was tough to get,” McInerney says. But he ended up with none of it and is frustrated by that. He had no insurance help either: Allied Music is on a ridge that was thought safe from large storms, so his insurance company didn’t demand that he pay that coverage. “I had to throw $70,000 worth of equipment out.” But McInerney points out that its not that everything was rosy in the area prior to Katrina and, in fact, the city has been losing population since 1985. “Once people move to the suburbs, they don’t come back to shop usually. We literally had seven [MI] stores around here at one time, and on Saturdays it looked like a parade as musicians came down to circulate. Now I’m the last one still in this neighborhood.” He acknowledges the local music scene is vibrant during festivals, but offers that if a visitor comes during an off week, he or she finds a different scene. “Yeah, we got a lot of action at times, but
JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 1226
French Quarter Music Festival.
come when none of that is going on and you’ll find under-paid musicians and fewer venues to play.” What is heard is traditional jazz, but the days of hearing fusion or other variations of the jazz genre are mostly gone. “Business has pretty much flat-lined,” he adds. “The thing is, there’s no growth
potential. It’s great that you’re at the point where you’re making just enough every month, but there’s no way to increase business. My service work is strong, but I will never again stock products at the level I once did because I just don’t see the foot traffic. I’ve had loyal customers leave town, and when they come back to
visit they come by and say hi, glad you’re still here, but…” His voice trails off. He says his immediate competition is pawnshops doing inexpensive type entrylevel sales, and their local Best Buy, who “thought they wanted to be in this business for some ungodly reason – I’m sure they are kicking themselves for that decision!”
Ray Fransen’s Drum Center Ray Fransen owns the oldest, largest drum store in Louisiana. He’s active as a teacher, performer, and supporter of the music scene. Impressively, he just celebrated his 26h year providing all the drums and cymbals for the mammoth Jazz Heritage Festival, and a few weeks before that, all the drums and cymbals for the French Quarter Music Festival. “New Orleans is interesting, because the integral part of many business dealers is Lagniappe – ‘a little bit more,’” says Fransen. “So any sort of commerce has this lagniappe aspect, as in ‘Now that we cut a deal, can you give me something extra?’” For Fransen this means supplying the Yamaha and Mapex drums, Remo heads and Sabian cymbals to these big festivals for… free. (But the promotional aspect, the support he gets from these companies, and his ability to sell these slightly used products after make it worth his while.) “We’re grateful for the advertising these companies provide us.” He graduated with a degree in music from Loyola University New Orleans and was a working drummer and teacher when he realized that he was just selling his time, and there was only so much of that he had and only so much he could sell it for. So he opened up a small shop in 1983, and snagged the Yamaha dealership early on. In 2007, he moved into a 4,500 square foot space in a “high rent district,” he laughs. Today 165 students come through, of which 55 are taught by him. His manager has been with him 28 years, and the next “newest” guy has been with him for 15. The operation is a member of the Five Star Drum shop group. When Katrina hit, his previous store was also in an off-limits zip code. But he pulled some strings and got in. When he wasn’t managing the store by himself, he was driving around helping with insurance claims and in the schools he services helping band directors clean their rooms up. He had $20,000 worth of roof and inventory damage. In the ensuing years, in addition to the other calamities the city suffered, he experienced a special one all alone: “What was really funny was shortly after Katrina a woman in her late 40s fell asleep driving, drove across several lanes and a parking lot right into my store – that did $18,000 worth of damage!” he laughs because… well, what else can he do? His store’s workbench was also plenty busy after the hurricane. “A lot of it JULY 2011
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MMR 31
was nostalgic, but people would bring in drums that were soaked and asked if we could do anything, and usually we could clean them up and rehabilitate them.” Fransen says several manufacturers really stepped up and supported him and the drummers of New Orleans. He called manufacturers and asked what they could do, and several reduced their prices for him – one so much as to go below cost on some occasions to ensure Fransen made his margins. Also, his friends from the Five Star Network chipped in with a generous donation and that allowed him to pay his work-
lasting damage – “we’ve been warned forever that it was coming” – it was the reaction by the local, state, and federal government or more accurately the lack thereof. “We were caught off guard by the human element. Inspectors weren’t inspecting. Important safeguards were done on a shoestring. Leadership was horrible. Nobody had a plan. The problem is with those things, you only know how bad they are when it fails.” Yet buoyed by the extra business from 2006, he made the move in 2007 to that bigger “high rent” store only to be con-
“ And now they are talking about things like coastal erosions!” ers their salaries while they were waiting for the all’s clear sign to return to the shop. “It was a community attitude, and as it worked out for everybody,” he says. “Those who were generous ended up getting rewarded for it though obviously that was not their motivation.” Fransen confirms that it wasn’t so much the storm that’s done the most
fronted with the un-natural disaster that is now known as the Great Recession. “I was biting my nails,” he states. “But ultimately it worked out fine.” Fransen, as a NOLA insider, acknowledges the often-parlayed statistic that the city has lost 25 percent of its population since Katrina, but there are other even more revealing stats, like this one: 57
percent of all professionals in the medical field left. In addition to the dire strain on the general population, that’s a lot of affluent people no long spending money in town. Also, recently it came out that the city lost 42 percent of all those 18 and under. “When you see statistics like that, the ’25 percent’ one doesn’t seem so bad.” Looking forward, Fransen sees a slight ray of hope. He says the ultimate problem is the city hasn’t had a good, broad economic base for a long time. “We’ve had no major industry but refiners, and that’s subject to boom-and-bust times,” he says. “There hasn’t been anybody in a leadership position who took a broad view. The current mayor [Mitch Landrieu] might do that … and there are little bright spots here. The city is pretty resilient.” NOLA needs a more contemporary approach, he says. Yes the antiquity/ charming aspects need to be maintained, but a balance of the old with the new can and needs to be done. “It’s been done in Montreal and Quebec, and the same people settled all three places.” But he takes it all in stride. “I’m on the board of the Five Star drum store group, and everybody has their cross to bear: Those in the Northeast had a terrible winter. The Midwest just suffered all those tornados.” He pauses, reflects, and adds: “I just want to emphasize how incredible the Five Star guys were and some of my key manufacturers were,” he says. “Immediately after Katrina, I did think, ‘Man, is it worth it to do it again? Starting from scratch?’ But just the psychological support [from the industry] really helped.” Lafargue Piano It’s not the post Katrina scene you’d imagine, or certainly see recreated on “Treme”: A middle-aged woman walks into a piano store with a fist full of cash. “My husband is a roofer, and we’ve always wanted a piano!” Cha-ching! Yes, immediately after Katrina, there was actually an up-tick in business for Lafargue Piano as insurance money and grants flowed in and pianos needed to be replaced, though, “it wasn’t as much as you might expect,” Lance Lafargue says. Interestingly, it was people who had long wanted one and now had the means because of all the extra work – like carpenters and roofers – who came in to buy new pianos. “That was more common
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JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 1319
than those who needed to replace instruments that were damaged by water.” The BP oil spill spurred the noticeable down tick. It froze the local economy and a lot of the white-collar people in town worked in the oil industry or related fields. Also, the long-term psychologi-
cal affect of so much hardship that has weighed heavily on the populace. “And now they are talking about things like coastal erosions!” Lafargue explains that one of the challenges New Orleans has faced throughout its history is its geography. The city and
its sister towns are hemmed in and unable to physically expand beyond long-established borders of water, be it river, lake, or the gulf. “I just got back from my home town of Lafayette, 130 miles away, and any time they want to grow they just build a new neighborhood a little further out,”
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he says. “But here there is no land. North of us is Lake Pontchartrain, where they built the longest bridge in the world in the 1950s, but that is a 22-minute drive.” (Lafargue’s first store was actually on that north shore, opened in 2004, but as his operations grew he realized that while those living in the bedroom community are certainly willing to drive across into the city to spend their money on things big and small, those in the city aren’t predisposed to use the bridge for the same reason in the other direction.) Lafargue’s history is an evolution, from technician in the early 1990s, to selling a few reconditioned pianos out of his shop, to sharing a small storefront with a pianist who ran a teaching studio, to eventually moving from the north shore to its current location in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. The Lafargues had committed to the new larger location in 2008 right after Katrina. “I didn’t have any doubts about the move,” he says. “Economically, we hadn’t seen anything bad yet. And I had so much repair work backed up before Katrina, plus steady sales, that we felt good about the move.”
Today he runs the operation with his wife, Brenda, who handles much of the business side and oversees their new sheet music department. Lafargue started out as a Charles Walter dealer in 2005 and the next year added Mason & Hamlin pianos, eventually getting the Kawai line in 2007. When the Yamaha dealership became available post-Katrina (2008), he happily took that on and shortly after let the Kawai line go. How the Yamaha line became available is a Katrina-related story itself: It was long a line of the famed Werlein’s Music Store, which has a history in NOLA dating back to 1853. But by the dawn of this century, owner Bitsey Werlein Mouton had moved out of the large iconic building on Canal Street to a smaller store where she sold, among other things, Yamaha pianos. The store was flooded about a foot, and though it was not insurmountable, Mouton, who had other interests, was unsure of what to do. It was in a state of limbo for three years and then she finally closed that chapter of the city’s music history. “Yamaha stayed loyal to her until she made
Lance & Brenda Lafargue.
up her mind, and I admire that,” Lafargue says. Lafarge Pianos today is expanding with a new sheet music department and building on a lesson program that targets adults, having success with Debra Perez’s Music Moments program. “We’re going after the adults who always wanted to play.” He has a different perspective on the live music scene, and he says there’s a lot of talk of it coming back, of restaurants and clubs having combos and bands again, but he’d still like to see more.
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Through the Eyes of a Musician, and Founder of NOMRF Jeff Beninato grew up in NOLA playing music on Bourbon Street, produced several albums for regional stars, and was the bass player for the acclaimed indie pop band, the dBs. After the hurricane, he founded the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. The organization works to get affected musicians and music students money, clothing, and instruments.
MMR: Tell us about your organization, and what it’s up to today. Jeff Beninato: Since so many other tragedies have happened after Katrina like the oil spill and the Japanese earthquake, we feel like emergency funds should go to those people in need. That’s why we decided not to do a Jazzfest season benefit this year. So many countries reached out and helped New Orleans musicians when emergency grants were helping get them home. More recently we have been accepting donated musical instruments to repair and get to worthy New Orleans musicians, especially gifted students just starting their music careers. We were lucky enough to deal with music companies like Conn Selmer just after the storm to purchase new instruments for professional players who lost their second, third, forth or even their main instruments. Many people were lucky to escape with their lives.
“Business is a rollercoaster – but it’s very slowly picking up,” he says. “Last month it significantly picked up. We’re also doing more marketing, focusing on the Internet and also expanding into TV.” They have other plans, too: “We plan to reach out to the community more this year now that we have added a full time person to handle sheet music and some of what Brenda and I do. “This will allow us to go out more, be proactive, meet people and see where we can plug in and foster a stronger music community. We are
MMR: Are you looking for any instruments specifically? JB: In this economy, we’re happy to get donated instruments or overstock, any quality instrument is appreciated.
MMR: How has the local music scene changed since Katrina? JB: Well, most of the larger rooms are back strong as ever. There are still neighborhoods struggling to come back that had smaller venues that may never come back, but there are areas like Frenchmen Street on the edge of the Quarter that are doing very well and remind me of Bourbon Street when I played there as a kid.
MMR: How were the city’s music stores affected? JB: Most of the city’s stores, like those in the French Quarter or Uptown, didn’t get much water. However small stores in areas like Midcity, the Ninth Ward and Lakeview suffered total losses and had to close.
MMR: It seems that immediately after there was an effort by officials to keep the music playing, and that purchase of instruments, particularly pianos, was up – is that your experience? JB: New Orleans as we all know is probably the most musical city in the U.S. or maybe the world. I would say hundreds, maybe thousands, of homes in New Orleans had a piano. So yes the piano dealers did especially well as families, churches, and musicians replaced their instruments.
MMR: How is it for professional musicians today? JB: Tourism in New Orleans is at an all time high, but people aren’t necessarily spending as much cash going to concerts as they used to. So it’s as hard as ever to make a living as a professional musician, especially in South Louisiana areas affected by the oil spill.
MMR: Where does your organization get instruments for musicians? JB: We’ve bought from the Music Exchange, and also great donations also come in. Taylor Guitar sent in about 10,000 guitar strings that took forever to sort. Any instrument donation is appreciated, from a grand piano to a kazoo. After all, music is music. For more information on Jeff and his organization, and to see how you can help, go to nomrf.org. 36 MMR
building a strong rental fleet to loan and rent pianos for events so that any venue can have a really good instrument, not just what the house or venue has. As an example, we are renting ten pianos for the New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp again in early June, which is drawing musicians from all over the world. This is held in a historic hotel in the French Quarter and was really well attended last year.” They have a smart showroom, an ear to the community, and a respect for the unique culture that is NOLA. “Southeast Louisiana has a different footprint, a slightly different population and feel, but music is one constant, like you’d see if you attended our French Quarter Music Festival. We want to promote that and do what we can to provide not just a piano, but a well prepared, great instrument. “I believe that if we sell music, and fun first, pianos sales will naturally follow.” JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 1236
Webwise Kevin M. Mitchell
The 5 Top Ways to Promote Your Website …and is your website cell phone friendly?
“For the local MI retailer, the first task is to get people to walk in the door,” Ralph Wilson says. “The second is to keep them walking through the door.” While the Internet is “worldwide,” the local retailer needs to focus on his or her neighborhood. “You don’t have to market yourself nationally – the Guitar Centers of the world are doing a good job of that.” So are you minding your p’s and q’s (or more accurately your s’s, your e’s, and your o’s) and growing your site’s traffic? Wilson is an e-commerce consultant and editor of Web Marketing Today. He has been in the Internet marketing business since its breaking dawn, starting in 1995. “I could see the potential right away, so I started building small business websites for clients,” he says. He founded Web Marketing Today that same year. Conveniently for us, he also knows his way around a music store. Wilson is a guitar player, owning a Martin, a Baby Taylor, and he’s waiting on his new Taylor GS Mini to be delivered. (He’s also a minister, and can often be found strumming from the pulpit.) He has boatloads of more information and tips, but I asked him to give just five points to promote your website and improve traffic. Some of these – as he is 38 MMR
the first to admit – you’ve heard before. Then again, you didn’t keep cleaning up your room after the first time your Mom yelled at you about that. And believe me, the stakes are much higher when it comes to your store’s website... 1. Get on the map As written about previously, Google, Yahoo, and Bing have all recently been restructured to emphasize local geography. So when someone searches for “Martin Guitar Chicago” the first nonad that comes up are three local stores and a map of where they are. (The first pay-per-click ad is also a local store… more on this later.) “You want to make sure you show up on the map,” Wilson urges. The catch is that time needs to be taken to make sure all three of those resources have the information from your store to do that for you. This is free and JULY 2011
done by going to google.com/places. After filling out the simple form, Google will confirm you are who you are and where you are. The other search engines are set up similarly. (For Yahoo, it’s Yahoo! Local: local.yahoo.com; for Bing, it’s Bing Local Listing Center: ssl.bing.com/ listings.) “The more information you can provide, the more instruments and services you specialize in, the better.”
3. Pay-per-click ads There was a time when pay-per-click ads were met with healthy skepticism, but Wilson feels that in today’s market it’s a critical way to get attention and move customers through your door. By thoroughly listing your key brands and services with the correct keywords, it can be cashier-ringing effective, especially when you include the area you want to reach like, say, a 50 mile radius of your store. 2. Be there for people on “Now we’re talking about a the run. new advertising expense,” he Wilson also recommends admits, but gives a clue to where you take into consideration how that money can come from: your people are searching these days. Yellow Pages ad or other tra“We’re seeing less searches from ditional ads in publications (if the desktop, and more searches you’re even still there). “While Robert Wilson from mobile devices like iPhones, you’ll be featured with mail orAndroids, and Blackberries. der and Internet operations too, This is important because searches from you have the advantage of being right mobile devices are usually done by peothere – they can drive over and get the ple on the run trying to find something instrument immediately. You just have right away.” to convince them that you have what Take a hard look at your website and they want and they can just walk in your make sure it’s easily viewed on these dedoor.”
“We’re seeing less searches from the desktop, and more searches from mobile devices like iPhones, Androids, and Blackberries. This is important because searches from mobile devices are usually done by people on the run trying to find something right away.” vices. “It may be that if your site was built three or five years ago, it doesn’t show up very well on these smaller devices and phones.” Make sure your home page isn’t too busy, the graphics aren’t overwhelming in size and take a long time to download, and your most basic information – phone number, hours, e-mail – are front and center. Cramp your style too much with the fancy home page you now have? “You or your designer can actually set up your site so that it senses if it’s being looked at on one of these devices, and shows a simplified version of it suitable for those smaller screens,” he says. “This isn’t a second website, just a second template. But making sure your site is mobile-friendly is very important.” JULY 2011
4. Keep SEO at its peak Search Engine Optimization is preached constantly, and for good reason. Wilson suggests having a professional go through the site and make sure its set up for titles, that the keywords are thought through carefully, and you’re consistently showing up high in the organic results. “Short term, it will cost a little money for a qualified consultant to set this up, but once that’s done, it’s easy for a store manager to learn,” he says. It’s important to learn it because it really needs to be updated often. “Ultimately long term its one of the least expensive things you can do.” He adds that there is a big difference between “website builders who are great at making things look pretty,” and a SEO See us at NAMM Booth 322 MMR 39
marketing consultant who understands the nuances. Make sure you know the differences too. 5. Keep building that e-mail list, and keep customers enticed
There’s no doubt that you have already gave your employees a pep talk about collecting e-mails, but it’s something we all need to be reminded of and stay vigilant with. Police this constantly. A lot of times the gal buying that new
“The days of setting up a website and forgetting about it are long over, so reminders of old ideas and encouragement to try new ones is critical to successful MI retailing today.”
set of strings will say “no” though. Wilson says you need to make it worth their while. Once or twice a month, deals need to be emailed out and it can’t just be blowing out unpopular stock – it needs to be worth their while and a real deal with mass appeal. Programs like iContact and Constant Contact make it easy, and the cost is as little as $20 a month. And getting out the word about your workshops, visits from a manufacturer’s rep, it all builds loyalty. Wilson makes the strong point that while the marketing buzz has been all about the social media, about the Facebook and the Twitter, that e-mail list should not be abandoned. I agree with him – on a personal level I’m so overwhelmed with the constant barrage of tweets from manufacturers and some retailers I find myself ignoring it. It becomes white noise. But I have a secondary e-mail account just for “ junk” – as in things I’m kind of interested in, like signing up for details from companies and stores – and while I check it only once a day, I do check it and I do read e-mails from companies I’m interested in. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. The days of setting up a website and forgetting about it are long over, so reminders of old ideas and encouragement to try new ones is critical to successful MI retailing today.
Breaking News!
Visit us at Summer NAMM Booth # 1707 40 MMR
Find it in the Hot News section of MMR’s Web site, www.mmrmagazine.com JULY 2011
21st Annual
Profile American Music Dealer of the
Storefronts Pass 8,000 Mark, First Time Since 2004…
MMR’s annual dealer count produced a modest gain of 91 storefronts, bringing the overall number to 8,084. While that tally is significantly less than the 10,000 units reported when the first Profile report was launched 21 years ago, the approximate 8,000 count has remained steady for the past decade. On a state-by-state count 31, states registered a gain and 14 showed a net loss of storefronts. This is compared to last year’s report when only 21 stores had an increase, as compared to 27 states with a loss. Five states and the District of Columbia had the same net store count as last year. The largest gains were in California, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas. States with the largest number of net losses were Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Caro42 MMR
lina, and Wisconsin. Our Top Chain report (December 2010) showed a net loss of one dealership dropping below the 3-unit mark (68 total) with a total branch count of 767, three units less than 2009. Traditionally each year marks the closing of some veteran dealerships, and the past 12 months was no exception. Among the casualties were Al Corey Music Center, Waterville, Maine; California’s Ontario Music (50 years); Caldwell (N.J.) Studio of Music
(60 years) Madison, Wisconsin’s Goodn-Loud (35 years); Fergus Music (Minn.); Fred Myer Piano and Organ, Ft Wayne, Ind. (58 years); and Ezzy’s Music Shop, Van Buren, Maine (62 years). On a positive note, several dealers have expanded their selling area, either through expansion of an existing location or moving to larger quarters. Daddy’s Junky Music moved from a 4,000-square-foot store in Dedham, Mass. to a 7,500-squarefoot location in the same town. This past JULY 2011
Profile of the American Music Dealer month the Music Center of St. Louis tripled the size of its Kirkwood (Mo.) to 15,000 square feet in a new location and the PM Music Center (Aurora, Ill.) doubled its size to 8,500 square feet in a free standing building formerly housing an audio outlet. Another example of maintaining the “status quo” is the recently opened Second String Music, Quincy, Ill., which opened in the same location as the former Vegas Music after the previous owner passed away. During the past year Music-Go-Round opened its first new franchisee in three years with a Natick, Mass. location. Guitar Center has revived its opening program with ten units slated for 2011. Most recent openings were in Huntsville, Ala., Louisville, Ky., Sarasota, Fla., Omaha, Neb., and number 218 in Stevenson Ranch, Calif. The new units are offering rehearsal facilities, music instruction and repairs, areas and services that were not part of the GC original format. In another area, it remains to be seen what Best Buy has for the future of its MI business. Although the company maintains about 100 music product “departments,” recent plans include downsizing their new stores and moving more aggressively into the cellular phone market with mobile phone outlets. Internet sales have become an important component of the retail picture (A Tale of Two Dealers, see second column) as the sales gap between brick and mortar and the web narrows.
8600 8400 8200 8000 7000 2001
2002
+2.9%
2003
-0.4%
2004
+0.1%
2005
-3.7%
2006
+1.4%
While less than 15 percent of the total storefronts are headquarters or branches of the 68 chains (767 units); 20 percent of the store fronts are specialty stores having 90 percent or more selling one of the major music product categories. Fretted instruments continue to be the number one item carried by both specialty and full line dealers, with 60 percent of all outlets stocking these products. There was an overall decline in the number of specialty stores in all product categories while only sound reinforcement and fretted instruments showed an increase within full line dealerships. A Tale of Two Dealers As reported in the American Statesman, two Austin, Texas music dealers are moving in opposite, but similar directions: “After 50 years in business, Strait Music Co. is jumping on the e-commerce bandwagon.” The report notes that the owner Robert Strait plans to open an on line shopping site this month to accom-
2007
2008
2009
-3.2% +.029% +/-.0%
2010
2011
+1.3%
pany his retail outlet. “Entrepreneur Suman Singh is going in another direction.” In 2005, Singh opened an online site, Austin Bazaar, which sells musical instruments through online sites such as Amazon.com and Ebay.com, in addition to a company web site. He is now planning to open a retail outlet. Austin Bazaar was formed after Singh, a former Dell, Inc. engineer, and his wife, Seetha, a violinist, started selling music products from their garage. According to Singh, he started with 10 instruments and now has a 4,000-unit inventory. The company has an 80,000 square foot facility that includes an office and warehouse and the soon-to-open 4,000 square foot store. Strait Music is a family owned business that dates back to 1963. Robert Strait said he is “not opening an e-commerce store to compete with national chains; I would like to get people into our store and play the instruments, but a lot of people like to buy online now. We want to give them that option.”
% of Stores Selling Category
% Change
Change
2011
2010
8084 Stores: What Do They Sell?
Keyboard/Piano/Organ
4312
4065
-247
-5.7%
50.3%
Band and Orchestra
3446
3393
-53
-1.5%
41.9%
Drums/Percussions
3772
3684
-88
-2.3%
45.6%
Sound Reinf/rec’g
3676
3869
+193
+5.3%
47.9%
Fretted Ins
4785
4891
+106
+2.2%
60.5%
Print Music
3742
3681
-61
-1.6%
45.5%
JULY 2011
Fretted instrument dealers continue to constitute the largest segment of the dealer market place and one of only two categories that demonstrated an increase in the number of stores carrying the products. For the second consecutive year, the largest gain in product categories were dealers adding sound reinforcement/pro audio equipment to the mix. Keyboard products were sold in 247 fewer outlets in the past year, according to the Profile survey. MMR 43
Profile of the American Music Dealer
Percentage Shares by Product Type Sell Keyboard/Piano/Organ
Sell Sound Reinf./Recording Equipment
2007 52.9%
2007 43%
2008 53.22%
2008 43.82%
2009 53.6%
2009 42.6%
2010 54%
2010 46%
2011
50.3%
2011
47.9%
Sell Band & Orchestra Instruments
Sell Fretted Instruments
2007 42.3%
2007 58.9%
2008 41.63%
2008 60.79%
2009 42.2%
2009 58.6%
2010 43%
2010 60%
2011
41.9%
2011
60.5%
Sell Drums/Percussion
Sell Print Music
2007 48.72%
2007 46.5%
2008 47.94%
2008 44.79%
2009 46.2%
2009 45.7%
2010 47%
2010 47%
2011
46.7%
2011
45.5%
44 MMR
Keyboard/Piano /Organ
432
344
311
Band & Orchestra
360
350
343
Drums/Percussion
193
175
164
Sound Reinforcement/Rec’g.
431
367
354
String/Fretted Inst.
909
816
735
Print Music
115
100
92
2011
2010
Within the total store count of 8,084,1,999 are classified as “specialty operations.” According to the Profile Survey the number of specialty stores continues to decrease yearly. However they still constitute approximately 20 percent of the total retail outlets. A closer view of these stores indicate a continuing trend toward an expansion of categories with an emphasis on sound reinforcement and accessories.
2009
Specialty Stores 2011
JULY 2011
Profile of the American Music Dealer
Total Stores 2010
Total Stores 2011
State
Total Stores 2010
Total Stores 2011
Unit Change
Alabama
127
125
-2
Montana
33
35
+2
Alaska
23
25
+2
Nebraska
53
55
+2
Arizona
131
137
+6
Nevada
48
52
+4
Arkansas
89
84
-5
Nebraska
54
54
0
California
1022
1040
+18
New Jersey
215
216
+1
Colorado
134
136
+2
New Mexico
53
53
0
Connecticut
125
128
+3
New York
497
497
0
Delaware
16
17
+1
North Carolina
224
231
+7
Dist.Of Columbia
3
3
0
North Dakota
26
27
+1
Florida
402
408
+6
Ohio
327
323
-4
Georgia
237
246
+9
Oklahoma
96
98
+2
Hawaii
40
41
+1
Oregon
132
137
+5
Idaho
49
53
+4
Pennsylvania
372
373
+1
Illinois
353
342
-11
Rhode Island
27
30
+3
Indiana
191
195
+4
South Carolina
110
104
-6
Iowa
86
87
+1
South Dakota
19
22
+3
Kansas
94
95
+1
Tennessee
191
189
-2
Kentucky
135
129
-6
Texas
440
454
+14
Louisiana
100
96
-4
Utah
78
83
+5
Maine
42
41
-1
Vermont
29
29
0
Maryland
112
122
+10
Virginia
196
201
+5
Massachusetts
201
205
+4
Washington
199
197
-2
Michigan
235
234
-1
West Virginia
50
51
+1
Minnesota
157
157
0
Wisconsin
166
172
-6
Mississippi
70
65
-5
Wyoming
21
19
-2
Missouri
163
171
+8
TOTAL:
7993
8084
+91
JULY 2011
Unit Change
State
State-By-State Breakdown
MMR 45
Profile of the American Music Dealer
â– Increase â– Decrease No Change
State Gains 2011
State Losses 2011
Even
Gainers (31)
Decliners (14)
Even (6)
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyvlania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
District of Columbia, Minnesota. New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Vermont.
Biggest gains by number of units were California, Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Missouri and North Carolina
46 MMR
Biggest losses by number of units were Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin
District of Columbia, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York and Vermont
JULY 2011
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2
BAND & ORCHESTRA The Charlie Parker Legend Series As a result of extensive planning and labor intensive meetings, the Legend Series Mouthpiece project has added one of the most recognizable mouthpieces and names in Jazz. The Charlie Parker Legend Series Mouthpiece is the latest model to pay tribute to one of America’s most prestigious
Barcus-Berry’s Passion Pink Vibrato Violin Barcus-Berry’s Passion Pink Vibrato Acoustic-Electric Violin is a traditional-style violin with a not-sotraditional finish. The Passion Pink (P) violin is available in addition to the other five eye-catching colors of the VibratoAE™ Series Acoustic-Electric Violins, including Natural Finish (V), Barcus-Berry Blue (B), Red-Berry Burst (R), Metallic Green Burst (G), and Piano Black (BK) (Retails for $799.00). All Barcus-Berry Vibrato Violins have a hand-rubbed lacquer finish and are crafted in Romania and installed with authentic Barcus-Berry electronics. Barcus-Berry Vibrato Acoustic-Electric violins are made from fully carved and graduated select seasoned Carpathian Maple and Spruce wood. Each is set up to MENC standards and includes Ebony fittings, Super Sensitive Red Label strings, four Wittner tuners and a color-matched Glasser bow. The violin comes in a BarcusBerry embroidered soft-shape case with detachable shoulder strap and full cake dark rosin. www.barcusberry.com.
48 MMR
Mouthpiece from RS Berkeley and Drake mouthpiece added to the series. Legend musicians. “With the support and confiSeries Mouthpieces are handdence of Charlie’s daughter, Kim made in the USA by Drake Parker, we are able to bring a and combine state of the art piece of Charlie’s history back for technology with hand finishall to enjoy,” stated RS Berkeley ing tradition to create a precipresident, Les Silver. sion reproduction of Charlie’s “Upon opening Charlie original mouthpiece. Drake is Parkers saxophone case, I felt as the first mouthpiece maker to if we had found the Holy Grail,” utilize ceramic material to enaccording to Aaron Drake. hance the acoustic properties “Highlighted by Parker’s King of his mouthpieces. Drake mouthpieces alto saxophone and famous white mouthare revered for their accurate, immediate piece, we tried to carefully document our response and their incredible intonation findings, which we plan to show in the stability and projection qualities. near future,” mentioned Silver. www.drakemouthpieces.com The Charlie Parker Legend Series www.rsberkeley.com Mouthpiece is the first alto saxophone
Pearl D3000-TC Timpani Throne The new D3000-TC Timpani Throne by Pearl provides a new level of adjustability and stability to the concert percussionist or anyone else needing a tall seating solution. Featuring a heavy duty hydraulic-lift cylinder, the player can adjust the seat over a range from 23” to 33” tall. The full size padded cloth seat is 17.5” wide, accompanied by a full size adjustable back rest for maximum user comfort over long periods of use. An easily adjusted foot ring uses a spin-lock clamp system to provide versatile foot positioning over the entire length of the center cylinder, requiring no tools for adjustment. The solid cast 5-leg base gives this throne a stable platform, and features one height adjustable foot pad to accommodate for uneven surfaces. Retail price: $415 www.pearldrum.com
FRETTED GEAR New Pedals from T-Rex Engineering The Danish guitar effects pedal manufacturer T-Rex Engineering is introducing an array of new pedals this summer, including brand new boutique style pedals and additions to their “Tonebug” line of stripped-down stompboxes. New offerings include the Gull Triple Voice Wah (Retail $329/Street $249), which offers a low and high filtered voices plus a dual-filter “yoy-yoy” effect, along with controls for level boosts and effect onset. The Hobo Drive ($379/$279) JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 works basically as a 2-stage preamp with “Preamp” and “Master” controls, but also features customizable overdrive tone control and a separate “Pre/Post” switch to boost the input signal before it even hits the preamp, allowing for extra drive that maintains a warm, vintage sound. Finally, an update on a classic: The SpinDoctor-2 ($799/$599) maintains all the features of the first version (four programmable channels, a full set of tone controls, and motorized knobs), but this version boasts a warmer, tube-driven overdrive tone than its predecessor. A new power regulator provides more internal power, resulting in more headroom and greater dynamics. The pedal can be plugged directly into a power amp or send a signal from its speaker-simulation output to a studio mixer or AD converter
Flaxwood’s HYBRID Guitars Finnish guitar company Flaxwood is announcing the new HYBRID series of guitars to their roster of instruments.The new guitar line introduces a patented NFC (Natural Fiber Composite) bolt-on neck combined with a European Alder body - a combination which offers players the same sustain, responsiveness and stability that have become trademarks of Flaxwood guitars. Flaxwood is now the first production guitar company to employ NFC injection molding technology in their manufacturing process. Using recycled Northern Spruce fiber as the primary ingredient, the NFC composite is truly “green” in that no trees were cut down in order to manufacture the material, and it is also completely recyclable. Available initially in two versions, featuring either three single-coil or two humbucker Seymour Duncan pickups, both HYBRID models will ship with steel tremolo bridges. HYBRID guitars retail at $1299. www.flaxwood.com JULY 2011
connected to your computer. Meanwhile four new stomp-boxes bring new effects to the “Tonebug” line of pedals, which combine T-Rex tone with intuitive, uncomplicated controls at affordable prices. New pedals include the Booster (a level booster, Multi-item_Ad_Mar11 4/1/11 12:55 $125/$99), the Fuzz (a hyper-distortion
pedal with three tone knobs, $125/$99), the SenseWah (an auto-wah effect with “Sense” and “Range” controls, ($185/$149), and the Totenschläger (an extreme distortion with metal and industrial sounds in mind with level/gain controls as well as a graphic equalizer, $125/$99). PM Page 1 www.t-rex-effects.com
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J.Navarro
Gladiator
Gold Star
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Kentucky
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•
MMR 49
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 Fender Pawn Shop Guitars Fender recently introduced the new Pawn Shop Series guitars—the Fender ’51, Fender ’72 and Mustang® Special. These instruments draw inspiration from the eccentric and sometimes wildly innovative Fender creations of the mid-’60s to mid-’70s era that sometimes found their way to the outside world and into the more esoteric pages of Fender history. The Pawn Shop Fender ’51 melds Fender elements from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s into one truly distinctive-looking, dynamic-sounding guitar. It has a Stratocaster® body and a C-shaped Telecaster® neck, with a single-coil Texas Special™ neck pickup, Fender Enforcer™ humbucking bridge pickup and an early-’50s Precision Bass-style dual-knob chrome control plate. Other features include a maple fretboard with modern 9.5” radius and medium jumbo frets, master volume control with push-pull coil split function to get single-coil tone from the humbucking bridge pickup, three-position rotary pickup selector knob, ’70s-style hard-
offset Mustang body imparts a sleek 1960s vibe, and its 24” short-scale maple neck with a ’60s-era C shape is comfortable for those accustomed to vintage-style instruments. Other features include a rosewood fretboard with modern 9.5” radius and medium jumbo frets, dual Fender Enforcer humbucking pickups with ’70sstyle covers, pickup toggle switch, threeway coil selector slide switch for each humbucking pickup (enabling 18 different tonal options), mint green pickguard, ’70s-style hard-tail Stratocaster bridge, vintage-style tuners and strap buttons, and deluxe gig bag. www.fender.com
tail Stratocaster bridge, vintage-style tuners and strap buttons, and deluxe gig bag. The Pawn Shop Fender ’72 presents an unusual combination of classic Fender design elements, not the least of which is its semi-hollow Stratocaster body with an f hole. The result is a truly distinctive instrument with a huge sound, with other features including a U-shaped Telecaster neck, rosewood fretboard with modern 9.5” radius and 6105 frets, Fender Wide Range humbucking neck pickup and Fender Enforcer™ humbucking bridge pickup, early-’50s Precision Bass-style dual-knob chrome control plate with master volume and center-detented pickup blend controls, ’70s-style hard-tail Stratocaster bridge, ’70s-style Fender “F” tuners, mint green pickguard, bullet truss rod, three-bolt neck attachment and deluxe gig bag. The Pawn Shop Mustang Special is a classic in everything from a venerable Fender model name to its sleek amalgam of design elements and matchless tonal versatility. Its modified
V-Hawk Elite from Fernandes Inspired by the grandiose North American bird of pray, the Japanese-made V-Hawk Elite, features an ultra-thin neck, unique Chameleon finishes that change color with viewing angle, EMG 81, Gotoh tremolo and tuners, a smooth heel joint and a lower body cutaway to provide full access to higher frets. All enhanced by the patented Fernandes Sus-
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JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 tainer. Available in Chameleon Purple and Chameleon Green finishes (color changes with viewing angle).
The V-Hawk Elite features: a mahogany body; mahogany set neck through; rosewood, 25 ½” scale fingerboard; 24 jumbo frets; abalone off-set dot inlays; Gotoh locking 1 5/8” nut; Gotoh die cast tuners; a Gotoh Floyd Rose-licensed tremolo system; a Fernandes Sustainer neck pickup; and EMG-81 bridge pickup. The new V-Hawk trademark shape is also available in Deluxe and X guitar series. www.fernandesguitars.com SKB’s FootNote Pedalboard The 1SKB-FN-8 FootNote takes a standard pedalboard design and adds a built-in
5W combo amp a 6” Eminence® speaker. The injection molded pedalboard features a 9” x 12” mounting surface which is sloped for easier access to the rear pedals. The FootNote can power up to (8) 9VDC battery powered pedals with the supplied power cables. Additionally, the FootNote features a 1/8” AUX/MP3 stereo line input for external audio playback and incorporates the same cable tester found on the 1SKB-PS-55 StageFive Professional pedalboard. Included is a Headphone Output for monitoring or silent practice as well as a Line Out. A separate Speaker Out allows the FootNote to drive an external 4 ohm speaker load. The FootNote can run on AC with the supplied thermal protected power supply or DC power using 6 D-Cell batteries. A rolling soft case will be available as an accessory. The FootNote is available in mid-August, 2011, with a retail price of $179.99. www.skbcases.com
Traveler Guitar TB-4P Bass Traveler Guitar’s new TB-4P Bass is designed for musicians on the go. The 32”-scale electric base has a built-in headphone amplifier and a 1/8” aux-in jack for jamming with an mp3 player. The bass weighs just 6 lbs. 8oz, measures 35 ¼” long, and fits into airline overhead compartments. Traveler calls it he most portable full-featured travel bass on the market. The bass’s Eastern American Hard Maple neck with Rosewood fret board is bolted onto an Alder body fitted with a P-51 split coil pickup. There are two designs available—the bass is molded in a classic double cutaway shape and sports a stylish three-ply pick guard, which comes in either white (over the black model) or tortoise shells (over the sunburst edition). Both come with a deluxe gig bag. www.travelerguitar.com
ASTEROPE SUPPORTS DEALER MARKETS, PROMOTING BOTH ON & OFFLINE. WE OFFER DROPSHIP, AFFILIATE & TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS. DRIVE ACCESSORY SALES WITH HIGHER MARGINS & A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. CABLES MATTER! “I was skeptical and apathetic about yet another cable. I plugged in my favorite cable and thought this sounds great. Then I plugged in the Asterope and was like... you’re kidding me! This cable really encompasses the things that I look for sonically in a guitar and an amplifier. I could easily hear a big difference. Asterope simply helps me get where I want to be. Congratulations on a great product.” - David Grissom
www.asterope.com
JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 548
MMR 51
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 Musicorp Adds Blue Amplifiers to RMS Line Five new blue amplifiers for guitars and basses, have just been added to Musicorp’s popular RMS line of amps. The outer cases of these high-quality, durable amps are an attractive, midnight blue color with a distinctive retro feel. The striking blue RMS amps feature controls and inputs conveniently mounted on the top, including 3-band (bass/ mid/high) EQ controls as well as additional controls and inputs, depending on the model, and all are U.L. listed. Available models include three guitar amplifiers, each with overdrive control, in 10, 15 and 30 watts, and two bass amplifier models available in 15 and 30 watts. Retail prices range from $ 79.00 to $159.00. www.musicorp.com ThunderDrive Deluxe Overdrive Kit Effects pedal kit manufacturer MOD Kits DIY has a new ready-to-build over-
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drive pedal called the ThunderDrive Deluxe. Mod Kits pedals are designed to give novice and advanced electrical hobbyists easy-to-follow instructions to build great-sounding effects pedals. Users need only provide their own hand tools, soldering iron and solder. The latest kit, the ThunderDrive Deluxe, provides a strong clean signal boost in the early gain settings and smooth distortion at maximum gain settings. Volume and gain controls offer a wide variety of tones in spite of its simple construction. The Turbo switch gives an additional boost in volume and less internally generated distortion. The pre-painted black enclosure, red control knobs and red LED indicator give the ThunderDrive Deluxe an understated attractive finish. The pedal is capable of overdriving the preamp section of your guitar amp or adding its own layer of distortion at lower volume. The current draw of this pedal is very low at 1.3 milliamps, allow-
ing for long battery life. The effect pedals operate on a 9V battery; for a longer lasting option, a 9-volt adapter can be purchased separately. Price: $39.95 www.modkitsdiy.com Lava Cable’s Para-Strap VII The Para-Strap VIITMis adjustable from 44” to 54” and features thick, durable leather tabs, two-inch, Type 24 military parachute webbing; 22 inches of quarter-inch thick padding covered by two-inch tubular nylon; a dual-direction wireless unit holder and a Velcro retainer, which serves as two-point cable secur-
ing system. It currently comes in eight colors: Blue,Orange, Yellow, Silver, Sage Green, Black, Tan and Coyote Brown. It is a super comfortable strap and is ideal for bass guitars and heavy guitars such as Les Paul’s.
JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 ThePara-Strap VIITMis made in the U.S. to mil-spec standards and can be purchased from Lava Cable dealers and direct for $49.95 on Lava Cable’s website. www.lavacable.com. Kent Armstrong M-Bucker Pickups The “mother” of all dual blade pickups, the M-Bucker packs four coils into one humbucker. Even when cut it in half, it still a high output rail pickup. Options are
plenty with the M-Bucker – with the 2x4 core leads, users can wire each coil individually, have everything on all at once, in phase, or out of phase-the switching. Available in hot or cool versions and in a 7 string model. Recommended hot for bridge and cool for neck positions. Retail price: $98.56 wdmusic.com Schaller LockMeister® Tremolo The new LockMeister® Tremolo offers a second to none C45-steel ground plate, forged and hardened in Germany, resulting in improved sound and sustain as well as superior tremolo performance and intonation. New technologies enabled Schaller to craft all components in unprecedented tolerances for long term quality. Intense care went into finding the perfect choice for everything tremolo springs to pivot screws. In order to avoid the corrosion that all burnished surfaces seem prone to, all studs, inserts and screws on the LockMeister® Tremolo now feature blackzinc and black-chrome finishes for improved look, touch and durability. www.schaller-electronic.com Kremona Piezo Pickups Kremona Trade has just introduced newly upgraded versions of their best-selling piezo pickups for guitar, ukulele, violin/ viola and cello/bass. A simple and affordable pickup solution for nylon string guitarists that sounds great and requires no modification, Kremona UPPB-4 piezo pickup fits virtually any classical or flamenco guitar. When changing strings— JULY 2011
or with an existing set loosened—the guitarist places the pickup on the tie block with the input facing down. The strings loop around the bridge and tie block holding the pickup in place after being tuned to pitch. The supplied cable can connect the guitar to an amplifier, sound board or recording device. Kremona’s ukulele pickup works the same way, fitting on the bridge of most all sizes of ukulele. Now ukulele players can quickly and affordable amplify their instruments, without modifying or drilling any holes. The saddle-mounted design also avoids the sometimes troubling task of installing a pickup through the sound hole of a ukulele. The violin/viola and cello/bass models feature a clip design that mounts under the bridge. Like their guitar and ukulele counterparts, they require no modification to the instrument and can be installed or removed at any time. Retail price: $79 (Guitar/Ukulele/ Vioin/Viola), $149 (Cello/Bass). www.kremonausa.com Perri Ink. Guitars Nick Perri, lead guitarist for such bands/ artists as Shinedown, Perry Farrell, Silvertide, Matt Sorum, and his own recently assembled, SINAI, recently announced that his company, PERRI INK. LLC, will start selling boutique, handmade guitars under the brand name, Perri Ink. Guitars. Drawing on his own personal experience, Perri has personally designed both the Protostar® and Solostar® models with features he’s both enjoyed and desired as a rock musician for more than a decade. Each guitar is handmade and builtto-order. Furthermore, Perri has consulted with top musicians, engineers and other designers to create a product line that is unique, classic and well-suited for any guitarist across the professional or amateur spectrum. perriinkguitars.com
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND HEAR!
A Great Sounding Student Sax Mouthpiece
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Professional Quality Tips, Rails, and Finish
Available in Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone.
www.bariwoodwind.com
www.myspace.com/bariwoodwind Bari Woodwind Supplies, LLC A Division of the Cavanaugh Company
MADE IN THE USA MMR 53
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 VHT’s New V-Drive Pedal From clean boost to creamy-smooth sustain to raging harmonic complexity, the new VHT V-Drive overdrive pedal’s unique controls offer an amazingly wide range of tones and textures at an awesome value. In addition to standard Drive and Volume controls, the VHT V-Drive offers four more unique controls: Select, Texture, Depth, Tone, and Voltage. Like a box full of pedals in one, the VHT V-Drive “introduces the next chapter in the quest for the ultimate overdrive.” The new VHT V-Drive pedal has a MAP of $99.99. www.themusiclink.net Guitar Pro 6 Fretlight Ready Optek Music Systems Inc., makers of the Fretlight® guitar and Arobas Music, creators of the Guitar Pro™ guitar tab software, recently announced the release of Guitar Pro 6 Fretlight Ready™. For the first time, guitar players can view tablature using
Guitar Pro 6 Fretlight Ready while watching the fingering positions light-up on their Fretlight’s fretboard. Players can now download a limitless number of guitar songs all of which can light up a Fretlight Guitar. Millions of guitar songs, known as “tabs”, are available online from dozens of web sites, such as Ultimate Guitar and 911 Tabs. Simply download the file, connect your Fretlight to your PC or Mac, and watch the song come to life on the guitar’s fretboard. The lights showcase the exact fingering position on the guitar while the software displays the tab notation on-screen so that you always have a reference of where you are in the song. Use the Fretlight footswitch to be hands-free and control playback features such as slowing down the tempo, pausing playback, looping a desired part and more. Guitar Pro 6 Fretlight Ready is available in 18 languages and includes the following key features. • •
Compatible with six different guitar tab file types Light-up tablature in tab, chord diagram or scale mode
•
Light other instrument parts on the Fretlight, such as bass or piano • Connect the Fretlight dual footswitch for a hands-free experience • Facilitate learning or composing a piece with the power score player • Create and edit scores quickly and easily • Includes chord and scale libraries, digital tuner, virtual fretboard and keyboard • Download and share thousands of guitar songs in a variety of file formats • Export tablature as a MIDI file Convert ASCII into tablature or Guitar Pro files into an audio file www.fretlight.com/guitarpro Morley’s TWIN MIX The TWIN MIX from Morley is a handy switching device that allows the user to route two input devices to two output sources. Each input has an independent Level control and each input has its own footswitch to engage or mute the signal. When using only the channel 1 output, the TWIN MIX combines both input sources to channel 1 output destination. When using both channel 1 & 2 outputs, each input is automatically routed to its own output channel (channel 1 input goes to channel 1 output, channel 2 input goes to channel 2 output). The TWIN MIX is manufactured in solid cold rolled steel housing and can be powered from one 9V battery or optional Morley 9V adapter. It comes equipped with LED indication and our TrueTone Bypass buffer circuit to maintain signal integrity & tone quality. Although the TWIN MIX was designed with guitarists in mind, it can be used anywhere in which an easy-to-use and cost-effective switching system is needed. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price is $129. www.morleypedals.com EBS Titanium Nickel & Stainless Steel Strings EBS Professional Bass Equipment announces the release two new strings
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See us at NAMM Booth 1420
JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 for bass—a new improved version of their Titanium Nickel strings and a complete new Stainless Steel string based on a core of Swedish steel of finest quality. The EBS Titanium Nickel strings have a soft surface due to the tight wiring and special coating that provide extra playing comfort and durability. They are based on a high quality steel core made of American steel. The EBS Stainless Steel strings offer a classic steel string with exceptionally good sound quality and tuning abilities. The Stainless Steel strings are based on a hexagon steel core made of the finest Swedish steel. Both models use long scale to fit most bass models and for approved tuning abilities and are available in four models sets of gauges. EBS Titanium Nickel is shipping from Sweden now. EBS Stainless Steel Strings estimated to start ship in July. The new strings are delivered in new recyclable boxes. www.bass.se Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature Hollow Body Guitar Gretsch honors original-era hit maker and true rock ‘n’ roll innovator Duane Eddy with the introduction of the G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature Hollow Body guitar model. The instrument is a single-cutaway beauty with classic styling and full, resonant sound that combines features based directly on Eddy’s original 1957 G6120 model with modern Gretsch features that all together pay fitting tribute to the undisputed King of Twang. On a string of late 1950s and early ’60s instrumental hits, he used dramatic single-note melodies on the lower strings of his guitar, pronounced tremolo and vibrato, and liberal doses of echo on distinctive hits including “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road,” “Cannonball,” and “The Lonely One.” The G6120DE’s bound single-cutaway hollow body has three-ply maple back, sides and arched top, with trestle bracing and bound oversized f holes. The three-piece bound maple neck has a brass nut, lacquer finish and slim profile JULY 2011
based on Eddy’s original 1957 G6120, and is topped with a bound headstock. Other features include a 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium frets and hump-block pearloid inlays; dual DynaSonic™ single-coil pickups with three-position switching; gold plexi pickguard bearing Gretsch logo and Eddy’s signature; modern Tru-Arc™ bridge and Bigsby® B6CBDE vibrato tailpiece with Duane Eddy-style “DE” handle and extra-long string-retainer pins; gold
G-arrow control knobs and gold-plated, chrome and polished aluminum hardware; gold-plated Grover® V98G StaTite™ tuners; Dunlop Straplok® system; Western Orange Stain lacquer finish; and deluxe hard shell case. www.gretschguitars.com Eastwood Guitars introduces the new Airline Bighorn Guitar Second in a series of new Airline models slated for 2011 is the Airline Bighorn.
Meeting the Needs of Students for More Than 30 Years ... Our Best-Selling SV-175 Cremona Violin! Cremona bowed instruments have set the pace for the vibrant student and rental markets for over 30 years. Strict adherence to international sizing requirements, domestic educational set-up standards and continuous quality improvement have made Cremona Violins, Violas, Basses and Cellos proven sales leaders. Our best-selling, ebony fitted SV-175 Cremona Premier Violin Outfit has recently been upgraded to include the J.LaSalle LB-13 Octagonal Bow and the TL-33 deluxe rectangular Travelite case.
Cremona SV-175 Violin Outfit: •All-solid carved, graduated construction •Seven sizes from 4⁄4 to 1⁄16 •Long lasting ebony fittings •Finetuner tailpiece for precise, easy tuning •Rugged TL-33 Travelite case •Well-balanced J.LaSalle LB-13 bow with ebony frog
249
$
Suggested Retail
SV-175
See us at NAMM Booth 1100
[800] BUY-SAGA www.sagamusic.com Dealer inquiries invited.
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 This new model draws inspiration from the original Montgomery Wards student guitars of the 1960s,
re-imagined as a rofessional grade modern instrument. At first glance, the Bighorn appears to be a short scale guitar, but the neck is a full Fender scale length of 25 ½”. The stripped-down Bighorn features the popular Airline Argyle Diamond pickups, 3-way switching, dual volume/tone controls and a fixed adjustable bridge. Its simple design has a solid basswood body and a maple bolt-on neck with the raised metal Airline logo on the headstock. It is available in Green, Red and Sunburst. Deluxe AIRLINE hardshell cases are also available. Retail price: $399. www.eastwoodguitars.com Miami Audio Presents Strinberg Guitars Stringberg Guitars, a longtime favorite manufacturer of guitars and basses in
Brazil, are now available for distribution in the U.S. through Miami Audio Music Corp. (M.A.M.). Strinberg has a complete line of electric guitars and basses, acoustic guitars, classical guitars, wireless systems, digital tuners, metronomes, string sets, straps, ABS cases and nylon bags. M. A. M. took over distribution of Strinberg for Latin America and the Caribbean Islands in 2004 and is now expanding its business to the United States. www.strinberg.com
LIGHT AND SOUND American DJ Nucleus Pro American DJ takes another step forward with in LED centerpieces with the unveiling of the all-new Nucleus Pro, a showpiece club effect that’s even brighter than its predecessor and creates more vibrant, stunning colors through the addition of white LEDs to the RGB mix.
The innovation of the original unit (the Nucleus LED) is still here: By replacing the traditional halogen lamp with solid-state LED technology, ADJ brought clubs and DJs the best of both worlds: the “old-school” appearance and scanning action of a traditional centerpiece; and the RGB color-mixing ability, long life, cool running temperature, and energy efficiency of LEDs. Powered by six huge, super-potent 10-watt LEDs, the Nucleus Pro delivers three times the brilliance of the original. What’s more, each of these LED sources features advanced Quad-Color Technology, being comprised of 4 different-color LEDs (red, green, blue and white) to provide superior RGBW color mixing -- red, green, blue, purple, yellow, cyan and of course, white are all available. The Nucleus Pro also includes the addition of barrel-shaped scanning mirrors, resulting in a choice of either flat
Reach 10,000 music dealers, suppliers and wholesalers
with a click of the mouse! Check out the classified advertisement link on the MMR web site (www.mmrmagazine. com) and place your on-line and/or print advertisement . Within minutes your message will reach more than 8,000 music dealers, 1,000 plus suppliers and hundreds of wholesalers, distributors and sales representatives throughout North America and with our expanded international e-mail list major markets in Europe, Asia and South America. Whether you are selling a product or service MMR’s classified pages are the largest, most well-read of all music publications.
You are a click away from promoting your instrument rental program; buying vintage products, hiring a keyboard specialist, obtaining a sales representative in the Mid West or purchasing that one-of-a-kind part. Send your message today, sell your product or service tomorrow!
www.mmrmagazine.com or call Maureen at 800-964-5150 ext 34 mjohan@symphonypublishing.com 56 MMR
See us at NAMM Booth 230
JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 or rounded beams. The mirrors are controlled by high-quality 1.8° Stepper Motors for smooth scanning movements. There’s a color strobe effect and built-in programs right out of the box. In addition to having a low heat production, the powerful LED sources are also very energy efficient, drawing at maximum just 155W of power. Rated at 30,000, the long-life LEDs rarely burn out. The Nucleus Pro can be run in three operational modes: DMX-512, Master/ Slave (linkable via a three-pin cable) and Sound Active. When in Sound Active Mode, it can simply be plugged in and run using built-in programs. For those who prefer to use a DMX controller, there are three DMX modes: 4-, 18- and 22-channel. A 4-button LED digital display makes for easy navigation through the DMX menu. Another easy control option is to use American DJ’s remote UC3 controller (sold separately) via a 1/4-inch input on the unit. In-Out IEC Power Connections (Daisy-Chain Power) are yet another feature. Although great for permanent installations, it’s also lightweight and compact enough for mobile entertainment, measuring 22.75”L x 10.5”W x 26.5H/ 577x263x670mm, and weighing 28 lbs./ 12.7 kg. Switchable voltage is available from AC10-240V (50/60HZ) via an IEC plug. Suggested retail price: $1,199.99. www.americandj.com
Numark NS6 DJ Controller Numark’s new NS6 is a 4-channel Digital DJ controller with complete built-in mixer and four decks of software control. This dual-platter system borrows from the popular designs of Numark’s award-winning NS7FX and V7 controllers and delivers substantial new features including the most responsive, highest-resolution touch-activated platters ever produced in a DJ product. The wheels on NS6 deliver 3600 ticks of resolution per rotation. In addition to high quality control functionality, NS6 contains a fully functional four-channel digital mixer that can be used with or without the computer. NS6 adds position indicators to Numark’s Strip Search technology that allow the DJ to always know track position. Bi-Color LEDs also surround the wheel, providing both an indication of the Deck in control and also a Deck’s playback status. Effects can be instantly accessed by channel. Features include mouseless Serato library navigation, Key Lock, complete Pitch Control, manual and instant Looping, Hot Cues, direct access to beat grid controls and beat skip, which allows DJs to juggle the track inline with the beat so that it never loses sync. NS6 includes a professional 24-bit audio interface and a full array of inputs and outputs are present, (XLR outs, Headphone out, two mic ins, two phono in, four line-level ins, and USB for Mac or PC).
NS6 comes with Serato’s ITCH DJ software and tightly integrates with ITCH thanks to close collaboration between Serato and Numark. NS6 also employs the proven, cutting-edge control technology invented by Numark in NS7, in which turntable and control information are communicated between the hardware and software at more than ten times standard MIDI resolution. This massive data stream creates the rock-solid, latency-free control for which DJs worldwide have hailed NS7. Because NS6’s communication is based upon MIDI, DJs can use it with a variety of MIDI software, and NS6 comes ready to be MIDI mapped for both Traktor® and Virtual DJ®. www.numark.com Radial Engineering Workhorse WR8 500 Radial Engineering announces a new rack-only model of their popular Workhorse mixer. The Workhorse WR8 is an 8-slot 500 series mixer that is 100% compatible with all standard 500 se-
ries modules. Individual XLR inputs and outputs are complimented with parallel 1/4” TRS connectors and ProTools compatible 25 pin D-Subs. This
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 enables any of the 8 module slots to be easily integrated within the framework of today’s popular digital workstation environment. A special feed function also enables modules to be connected in series without having to hard patch using a cable. Should the user wish to add the optional Workhorse 8 channel mixer section, Radial offers a a stepby-step mixer installation slide show at their website. Retail price: $799. www.radialeng.com
Two New All-White LED Lights from MBT MBT Lighting has introduced two new white LED par lights, the LEDWPAR64 and the LEDWPAR64PRO. The LEDWPAR64 projects a bright white beam with 200 bright white 5mm LEDs, and comes with 3-pin XLR connections for master/slave linking, full-on, strobe and sound-active strobe modes. It features 2-channel DMX control for manual brightness and strobe speed con-
trol. The LEDWPAR64 weighs only 5 lbs, and its compact 8” x 8” x 10” design makes it great for mobile applications, but those looking for permanent installation applications such as worship and school lighting customers will be excited about this light as well. Retail price is $199.00. The LEDWPAR64PRO houses 36 ultra-bright white 1-watt LEDs arranged to project a stronger, more intense beam of white light. With 3-pin XLR connections for master/slave linking, full-on, strobe and sound-active strobe modes, and 2-channel DMX control for manual brightness and strobe speed, this is an ideal choice for venues looking for an efficient all-white lighting option. While the LEDWPAR64PRO also has a convenient, portable design, weighing only 8 lbs, and measuring 8” x 8” x 10”, it is also ideal for permanent installation needs as well. Retail price is $559.00. www.mbtlighting.com. Lexicon Offering Digital Streaming For Apple iPad On the heels of the launch of Apple’s iPad2 and GarageBand for iPad, Harman’s Lexicon has announced the Omega Desktop Recording Interface’s capability for digital streaming and recording to Apple’s iPad. Lexicon’s Omega allows musicians to record directly with any audio recording app, including the newly released GarageBand. The high-quality audio streaming capability of Omega allows musicians who record at home and on the go take further advantage of the increasing number of recording applications for musicians available from the Apple App Store. The Omega contains all the necessary components to transform an iPad into a professional 24-bit recording studio. For the first time, a user can record, edit, mix and publish high quality audio using an iPad and the Lexicon Omega. The Lexicon Omega is designed and built around the same model as largeformat recording consoles. An 8-input, 4-Bus, 2-output USB I/O mixer with inserts, instrument input, MIDI I/O and complete metering and monitoring functions gives you the freedom to record up
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 to four tracks at once and mix without the need for additional mixing hardware. www.harman.com Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro from American DJ American DJ has introduced its two most advanced, powerful and feature-rich DMXcompatible LED fixtures to date: the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro, a moving head and scanner respectively. Running on a high-output 50-watt LED source (6,500°K), the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro are “2in-1” hybrid effects that set new standards in performance, professional features and efficiency. Each of these fixtures can function as either a spot or wash effect, thanks to a variable Frost Filter that can be applied to transform the unit’s hard-edge spot beam into a diffuse wash of color, making these two of the most versatile entertainment lights around. Their powerful 50-watt LED casts incredibly brilliant beams on dance floors, stages, walls, and ceilings, yet each of these energy-efficient units consumes only 130 watts of electricity at maximum use. What’s more, their long life LED source is rated at 60,000 hours. And because LEDs produce very little heat, stage performers and club patrons will always remain cool and comfortable under the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro’s ultra-bright rays. The Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro each includes 8 dichroic colors + white, and 7 rotating interchangeable gobos (5 metal, 2 glass) on separate color and gobo wheels, allowing for a vast number of combinations. For still greater variety, or when customized designs or messages are called for, the gobos can be easily replaced, thanks to the units’ SLOCK™ Slide Lock gobo changing system, which makes removing and installing gobos faster and easier. A separate Prism Wheel with 3-facet and Infinite prisms adds even more exciting visual possibilities. Featuring a 13° beam angle, the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro also include a Gobo Shake effect, Gobo Scroll mode, Strobe, Frost effect, 0-100% dimming, Remote JULY 2011
Focus and Auto X-Y Repositioning. Flicker-free operation makes them ideal for stage and production applications. The difference between the two effects is that the Vizi Spot LED Pro is a moving head, while the Vizi Scan LED Pro is a scanner. The Vizi Spot LED Pro can pan 540° standard (630° optional), and tilt 270°. The Vizi Scan LED Pro pans 540° standard (630° optional) and tilts 35°. Both units utilize high-quality stepper motors with micro stepping for
fast, accurate movements. Both the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro can run in 4 operational modes: DMX, Master-Slave, Stand Along and Sound Active. When in DMX Mode, users can choose between 12- or 14-channel operation. A 4-button menu system on the rear of the unit provides easy, userfriendly access to DMX settings. Featuring multi-voltage operation (100-240V, 50Hz/60Hz), the Vizi Spot LED Pro and Vizi Scan LED Pro in-
See us at NAMM Booth 629
MMR 59
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 clude 3-pin XLR In/Out and a hanging bracket. The Vizi Spot LED Pro measures 12”L x 10”W x 16.75”H/ 303 x 253 x 422 mm, and weighs 23 lbs./ 10.4 kg. The Vizi Scan LED Pro measures 11.75”L x 12”W x 22.25”H/ 297 x 301 x 563 mm, and weighs 17 lbs./ 7.5 kg. The MSRP of the Vizi Spot LED Pro is $1,799.95. The MSRP of the Vizi Scan LED Pro is $1,599.95. www.americandj.com FirstMix from Gemini Gemini recently unveiled the FirstMix USB DJ Controller for aspiring DJs. FirstMix connects via USB and allows users to DJ using their iTunes or other music library. FirstMix ships with Cross LE DJ software from MixVibes and is also compatible with Traktor, Virtual DJ and Algoriddim’s DJAY and other popular DJ software. Other key features include the ability to seamlessly mix songs together, spice up tracks with effects, play music in reverse, adjust bass and treble output and record your set. Priced at $79.95, the FirstMix is the newest addition to Gemini’s Digital DJ Controller line. www.geminidj.com
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Gemini Enters the Portable PA Market with MS-USB The MS-USB is an all-inclusive portable sound system with a USB memory port and SD card slot, allowing direct playback of media files from thumb drives and memory cards. For added convenience, a stereo RCA input also lets you connect a CD player or iPod. Ideal
for speeches, assemblies, tradeshows, parties, outdoor events and even mobile music applications, the MS-USB offers a great sounding, supremely portable PA solution. The MS-USB boasts a highquality built-in amplifier, which supplies 100 watts of peak power (50 watts RMS) to its enclosed 8-inch speaker. For maximum portability, the MS-USB provides up to twelve hours of continuous operation with a ultra-efficient rechargeable battery. For easy navigation through files
and folders stored on your USB sticks and memory cards, the MS-USB features a large LCD display and a rotary Search knob. The system also includes a prograde dynamic microphone, along with a ¼-inch line input that lets you plug in a guitar or keyboard and play along with backing tracks. www.geminidj.com The New SKB Gig Rig and Expansion The fourth generation of SKB’s Gig Rig provides more versatility than any previous model of SKB’s ongoing popular rack casing equipment. Rotomolded of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), the 1SKB19-R1208 Gig Rig has a uni-body construction that is extremely durable. The seven-degree angled top steel rails are 12U rack spaces with extra room in the back for cable connections. The lid provides enough space for cables to stay connected as well as, space for the optional 1SKB-AV8 retractable shelf. The front-facing 8U steel rails provide enough space for amps or outboard gear. Rear rack rails are included for additional mounting storage and support. The lid can also be used as a pedestal for the 1SKB19-R1208 Gig Rig. By placing the lid on the bottom wheeled skid and locking down the Gig Rig on top, the mixer height has perfect performance position. The 1SKB-R1208 Gig Rig includes two injection molded extra-long handles, (one per side) for easy lifting in transport. Four heavy-duty locking castors complete the new Gig Rig. SKB has also just introduced the upgraded 1SKB-R1906 6U expansion rack for SKB mixer/rack combination cases and SKB Gig Rigs. The 1SKB-R1906 expansion rack replaces the 1SKB-1906 Roto Roller. Molded in the same LLDPE, the expansion rack has a uni-body construction designed for ultimate strength and durability. The 1SKB-R1906 provides expanded rack space and heavy-duty casters to convert mixer/rack cases into rolling systems. The rack case features 6U front and back threaded steel rails and a custom top surface that will securely fit the 1SKB-R104/R106 rack cases or the new R1208 Gig Rig. The JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 1SKB-R1906 is backward compatible to allow the 1SKB-R1006 Mini-Gig Rig or the 1SKB-R1010 Gig Rig to fit as well. Both full size lids feature recessed SKB patented TSA locking trigger latches. The 1SKB-R1906 includes two side injection molded, extra-long handles (one per side) for easy lifting in transport. Retail price $399.99 (Gig Rig), $279 (Expansion Rack). www.skbcases.com Pearl Precision Drum Monitors PDM-250 The all-new Precision Drum Monitors from Pearl are professional studio-quality isolation headphones engineered for drummers. Featuring an over-the-ear noise-canceling design, the monitors are designed to give drummers crystal clear, full bodied sound for the supreme listening experience. Based on the highly acclaimed Beyer Dynamic DT770 Pro, the PDM250 has been custom engineered as the ultimate drum monitoring headphone for recording studios, post production, or broadcasting situations. Extra attention has also been paid to comfort—these headphones will stay comfortable and cool. A rugged, adjustable soft-padded headband and Velour circumaural ear pads are designed for extended use with a natural feel so comfortable you might forget you have headphones on. Precision Drum Monitors protect your hearing by filtering damaging external frequencies that might come off your cymbals, snare, or from other musicians. Without all of the external noise, you can listen to your headphones mix at safe levels and enjoy creating music without sacrificing your hearing. The monitors feature 250 ohm drivers with a gold plated 3.5 mm stereo jack and 1/4” inch adapter, making them suitable for use with almost all headphone amplifiers. Lightweight, only weighing 270 grams, these headphones can isolate ambient noise up to 35 decibels. Retail price: $299 www.pearldrum.com Waves Audio MPX Master Tape Plugin The MPX Master Tape plugin is modeled on an Ampex tape machine—the final JULY 2011
link in legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer’s Olympic Studios signal chain from the 1960s. Developed in association with Kramer himself as part of an ongoing series of collaborations, the MPX Master Tape plugin is modeled on a rare machine that combined an Ampex 350 transport and 351 electronics. With adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow and flutter, along with noise parameters, the MPX provides comprehensive control over the contours of any sound. To top it off, Waves has added a flexible slap
and feedback delay, ideal for rock, dance, dub and countless other styles. For recording, mixing, mastering and more, MPX brings the richness and warmth of real tape saturation to any DAW setup. Kramer’s original Ampex 350 and 351 valve tape machines were mainstays of the recording industry and were used for literally thousands of hit albums and singles over more than two decades of recording. Waves tracked down a perfectly maintained machine (owned by veteran
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 mixer/engineer Eric Schilling), and began the long, complex modeling process. Waves used 3M Scotch 206/207 tape for the modeling, as it was considered an almost ideal match for this machine. Retail price: $200 Native/$300 TDM, free to owners of Waves Mercury with current Waves Update Plan coverage. www.waves.com Roland’s Cube-XL Bass Amplifiers Roland is now shipping the new CUBE-XL BASS Amplifier series updating the bass amp segment of the million-selling CUBE amplifier family, designed for high quality portable and affordable amplification. The three models in the CUBE-XL Bass Amplifier series—the CUBE-20XL BASS, CUBE-60XL BASS, and CUBE120XL BASS—range in power from 20 to 120 watts for everyone from bedroom jammers to gigging professionals. Features include a high-performance DSP engine for superb tone, multiple COSM® amp models (including the new Super Low amp on the CUBE-120XL BASS and CUBE60XL BASS), updated effects (including the new Drive and Poly Octave), onboard phrase looping (CUBE-120XL BASS and CUBE-60XL BASS), and Power Squeezer (CUBE-60XL BASS and CUBE-20XL BASS) and SOLO functions. Cube-XL amps are built for durability with high-grade plywood cabinets, full-
length corner guards, and metal grilles for the ultimate speaker protection. Additionally, the amps are equipped with custom-designed speakers (including two-way coaxial speakers on the CUBE120XL BASS and CUBE-60XL BASS) and custom flared ports (CUBE-120XL BASS and CUBE-60XL BASS) for a tight, punchy sound and superior deep bass performance. Retail prices for each model are $765 (120XL), $596 (60XL), and $305 (20XL). www.rolandus.com LexiconPCM Native Effects Plug-In Bringing the sounds of its PCM96 Stereo Reverb/Effects Processor to more users than ever before, the software package makes all the effects processing of Lexicon’s acclaimed PCM96 available as a plug-in that adds a wealth of unique effects to a user’s DAW. The PC- and Macintosh®-compatible PCM Native Effects Plug-In Bundle is designed to work with popular DAWs like Pro Tools®and Logic®, as well as with any other VST, Audio Unit or RTAS-compatible host. The PCM Native Effects Plug-In Bundle incorporates all the capabilities of the PCM96 hardware unit including Dual Delay, Random Delay, Chorus/ Flange, Resonant Chords, Pitch Shift and Multivoice Pitch Shift.
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The PCM Native Effects Plug-In Bundle adds to these effects an all-new Stringbox algorithm, which provides the user with 88 virtual strings resonating according to the audio in. Several tuning and panning options are available, along with a virtual keyboard and randomizer, giving users the ability to create never-beforeheard chords, melodies and room sounds. The Lexicon PCM Native Effects Plug-In Bundle is Native only, and requires iLok2®authorization and is available for digital download at lexiconpro. com and at participating Lexicon Dealers. www.harman.com Zoom’s R8 Portable Multi-track Recorder Zoom’s all-new R8 model 8-track recorder combines four production tools in one compact, versatile device. In addition to being an 8-track playback/2-track simultaneous recorder that utilizes SD memory, the R8 works as an audio interface, a control surface and a pad sampler. With a sampler function that consists of eight voices, the R8’s built-in drum sounds can be triggered using eight pads to assign sounds to each track and create loops.The unit’s drum machine can create original backing beats, or simply output a metronome for tempo control. Not only does the R8 offer over 500 drum patterns to work with, it also includes a 2GB SD card containing 500MB of drum loops recorded by Big Fish Audio. The R8 comes with a 2GB SD card and supports up to 32GB SDHC cards for a maximum of 100 track hours. Using SD media for recording makes the R8 lighter, more portable, and more reliable–a crashing hard drive is no concern here. In the studio, the R8 can record additional tracks using its USB audio interface, while its control surface capabilities can be used to manage each function of any compatible DAW software. The unit comes with 140 built-in studio effects and pro-quality mastering effects. www.zoom.co.jp Audix Micro-HP Drum Mic Building on the success of their Micro-D miniature rim mount drum mic, Audix JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 has announced a similar product for hand percussion instruments—the Micro-HP. Attaching to the drum using the flexible gooseneck design of the DCLAMP, the Micro-HP’s tiny design keeps the mic out of the way of the player’s path and eliminates the need for a bulky mic stand on stage. Despite its size, Micro-HP has the ability to handle very high sound pressure levels without distortion, to isolate the sound of each instrument in a percussion ensemble, and to minimize gain before feedback for live stage applications. The Micro-HP utilizes a cardioid polar pattern to capture the attack of the head as well as the tonality and transients of the instrument.A special rubber shock mount and protective anodized aluminum ring provides maximum vibration control. The Micro-HP is designed to produce a natural, accurate sound right “out of the box” with little or no EQ. The Micro-HP has a 6’ integrated cable and is supplied with a phantom power adapter, windscreen and DCLAMP-Micro for lug nut mounting. Available from authorized Audix dealers in a matte black finish at a suggested retail price of $255. www.audixusa.com Galaxy ESS Low Profile Single Ear Headset Microphone The Galaxy Audio ESS is a Super Lightweight Omni Headset Microphone that is highly sensitive, with a wide frequency response for crisp, clear sound. Its single ear loop “Auriform” design allows the ESS to fit the right or left side of anyone comfortably, including those who wear glasses.
lets introduces several new products for 2011, including a series of keyboard mallets from vibraphonist and composer Joe Locke. Among Locke’s three new models is the Quick Fly, a smaller sized head designed for quick, articulate attack and bursting Mike Balter Mallets Joe Locke tone for solo lines in any fast passages of Series and More MMR iPadmanufacturer ad 6_2_11 FINAL_Layout 6/2/11 6:30 PMAlso Pageincluded 1 music. is the Crossover, a US mallet Mike Balter 1MalDetachable cables are available to use the ESS with transmitters made by Shure®, Sennheiser®, AKG®, Audio Technica®, and Galaxy Audio®. It can also be custom wired for most brands. Retail price: $299.99. www.galaxyaudio.com
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Precision German engineered premium quality stands by K&M are the trusted choice for unparalleled quality, durability and design. The cable attachment is hidden behind the earlobe and the inconspicuous 1.5inch mic boom length, 4mm microphone capsule and hands-free design are ideal for vocalists, coaches, teachers, or anyone who uses a microphone while speaking or performing. The ESS is available in Black, Beige, and Cocoa colors. This microphone is compatible with many of the wireless transmitters available. JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 510
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 medium-sized head that is fast ro respond while providing a lot of impact for a great all-around vibe sound. Finally, there’s the Deep Tone, a large mallet head with a full-bodied, warm tone over the entire instrument. The Deep Tone produces a big sound with great definition that should work well for ballads and expressive lines. Mike Balter also introduces the new Tony Miceli mallets, which are allaround mallets made for jazz vibes. These produce a warm sound with full ariculation and depth at all dynamic levels, and their lighter heads allow performers to move deftly through fast melodic lines. Finally, a redesign has given the Mike Balter Chime Mallets a better sound, better performance, and better quality, boasting a new construction of high-impact material. These Chime Mallets come with a lifetime guarantee. www.mikebalter.com Brady Drums’ ‘Walkabout’ Series The Walkabout Series is the personal project of Brady Drum Company founder,
Chris Brady. Chris travels deep into the remote deserts and forests of Australia to hand select small volumes of rare, indigenous timber species’ previously never seen in the drum industry which are then handcrafted into limited editions, rarities and one-of-akindsnare drums. The Australian continent has a land mass of7.6 million square kilometers (almost 3 million square miles) and has diverse growth environments and climates.These “walkabout” excursions allow Chris to hand-select an individual tree from any location, while evaluating theunique characteristics of each species and their different growth environments and, in turn, how that effects or impacts its use in a musical instrument. By employing unconventional “hands on” methods totailor both the sound and look of the instrument while in the wilderness,the Walkabout Seriesbrings extraordinary elements to Brady’s exceptional drum range. This rare line will also include occasional limited edition exotic veneers for Brady’s ply shellsnare drumanddrum kitrange.Traveling for daysin some of the most isolated land in the worldfor such small quantities of any given species guarantees that availabilities in the Walkabout
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Series will constantly change. To start off 2011, Brady has announced the following introductions: • 5 Goldfields Gimlet (EucalyptusSalubris) Block Snare Drums • 1Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus Cladocalyx) Block Snare Drum • 1 Wandoo (Eucalyptus Wandoo) Ply Snare Drum • 1 Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus Maculata) Block Drum. www.bradydrums.com.au. Adams 4.0 Rosewood Xylophone After more than two years of research and development, Adams presents the Artist Series Rosewood Xylophone. Featuring 4 octaves of wide, uniform-width, Honduras Rosewood bars and nickel plated steel resonators, this instrument speaks clearly and fully. The precisely crafted Adamsbar geometry and hand adjusted tuning method provides a brilliant voicing and an effortless playing experience. The Artist Series xylophone has a tone reminiscent of vintage American instruments, with a presence designed to project to the back of the hall in solo or ensemble playing. The Artist Series Xylophone features the patented Adams Voyager frame, Oak rails, noise free welded steel resonators, drop cover, and mallets.The retail price is $7350. www.pearldrum.com Gon Bops Reissues Classic Mariano Series Drum Line Gon Bops is proud to announce that Mariano Series Congas and Bongos are back. Named for Gon Bops founder Mariano Bobadilla and constructed from sustainable Durian hardwood – virtually identical in performance properties to the original Philippine Mahogany – the new line uses the same traditional counter hoops, side plates, reinforcing metal hoops, and authentic Gon Bops cowhide heads as did the original classics. The natural heads and superb build quality make for a full bodied, authentic sound – from cutting slaps to big resonant bass tones. Mariano Series drums are available in 4 traditional sizes (Quinto, Conga, Tumba and Super Tumba) and Bongos are professional size 7” Macho and 8.5” Hembra. www.gonbops.com JULY 2011
NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 Pearl Reference Pure Snare Drums The new Reference Pure Snare Drums are now available to accompany Pearl’s Reference Pure drum kits, designed to all the specs of their original Reference Series Drums. The 6 ply shell construction consists of 2 inner plies of Birch, giving these drums a bright, resilient crack; and 4 outer plies of Maple provide warmth and resonance. A 45 degree bearing edge creates a tightly focused shell contact area for extreme sensitivity and maximum volume. The Reference Pure snare drums achieve superior tuning by employing Reference STL swivel lugs, which allow for perfect tension rod alignment and head seating. Each snare comes equipped with the new 1.6mm Fat Tone hoops. Resonance is increased by the hemmed and welded edge that adds strength at the point of contact for remarkable rim shots and cross sticking. All Reference Pure snare drums feature Pearl’s SR-1000 Glide-Lock Strainer, which includes a locking throw-off lever and tension knob that won’t loosen no matter how hard you playOn the bottom head, the UltraSound SN-1420D Graduated Tension Snares gives you extended dynamic range and sensitivity. Matching your snare to your kit is possible, as these snares are offered in 33 unique finishes. Retail price: $1330 (13”x6.5” and 14”x6.5” models), $1465 (14”x6.5” model). www.pearldrum.com
corder, which lets pianists capture performances, document and store piano lesson material or record original compositions on high-quality WAV files. Yamaha’s Intelligent Acoustic Control function automatically adjusts EQ tone control according to the volume you set, assuring that these instruments maintain a full, rich sound with balanced highs and lows at all volume levels. Each model offers Ya-
maha’s outstanding Graded Hammer 3 action, but the CLP470 and CLP480 debut a new Graded Linear Hammer feature, which replicates the nuance of a traditional piano with 88 levels of gradations from top to bottom. Other models include the CLP430, CLP440 and the CLP465GP, which provides grand piano looks at an upright piano price. www.yamaha.com
PIANO & KEYBOARD Yamaha’s Clavinova CLP400 Series Yamaha’s Clavinova CLP400 Series of digital pianos, featuring enhanced technologies and elegant piano craftsmanship, are now shipping. The new line is perfect for in-home use due to its superior sound and weighted piano-style keys that are perfect for building and maintaining proper finger technique. Sporting completely redesigned cabinetry with front legs and a more powerful sound system, the CLP400 models feature a new Panel Reveal Key Cover that discreetly hides all panel buttons, removing any visible sign of technology, giving the console models a more classic, acoustic upright look. Key new features shared by all models in the CLP line include a USB audio reJULY 2011
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 PRINT AND VIDEO Vocal Essentials for the Pop Singer (Hal Leonard) This new book/CD pack by Teri Danz— a seasoned performer, accomplished recording artist, and premier Los Angeles vocal coach—is designed to help aspiring singers become the best pop vocalist possible. Vocal Essentials for the Pop Singer is a complete guide to helping aspiring artists develop and manage their voice, learn solid techniques for successful pop singing, and improve their stage presence. It also provides an overview of music theory and reading, and indispensable tips for forging a singing career. Topics covered in the book include: posture and breathing, vocal resonance and projection, vocal health and maintenance, various singing and musical styles, theory basics, ear training; performing live and in the studio, and working with microphones.
The accompanying CD includes a full set of warm-up exercises for daily use, as well as vocal and musical examples of each of the concepts presented. Teri Danz is a professional singersongwriter and recording artist with numerous recording credits, reviews in national press, and more than 15 years of recording and performance experience. She is endorsed by Sennheiser and Crate (Loud Technologies), and she holds degrees in speech pathology and education. Retail price: $14.99 www.halleonard.com
CASES & STANDS Kaces Razor Mobile Producer Bag Kaces adds yet another product offering to their expanding Razor series with the Mobile Producer bag, designed for musicians, DJs, mobile recordists, and portable studio enthusiasts. The bag featuresa padded compartment capable of accommodating a laptop computer up to 17” with a separatelarge interiorspace designedto hold head-
phones, audio interfaces, hard drives, Serato®,or other equipment. Multiple pockets and pouches on the inside are strategically located for easy storage and quick access to cables, adapters, cartridges, CDs, iPod®, cellphone, and otheraccessories. A padded, messenger-style shoulder strap is also included, along with a soft but sturdy carry handle that comfortably conforms to your hand. The entirepackage is protected with a durable water-resistant ballistic black nylon exterior sporting the popular Kaces razor slash design. Retail price: $89.95 www.kaces.com Ac-cetera EZ03 iPad 1 Clamp This universal locking clamp will attach to any microphone stand, music stand, pole or shelf up to 2 inches wide. The attached arm adjusts an additional 180° for multiple viewing positions. The ball & socket connection enables both portrait and landscape viewing with tilt options and a 360° rotation.
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NAMM Buyers’ Guide Part 2 The attractive custom fit grip is padded and securely holds an iPad® while allowing access to all connections & ports. All angles can also be attained if desired for table top use due to our unique design. Retail price: $75. www.ac-cetera.com Rock Solid Guitar Stands New York State-based Rock Solid introduces their line of guitar stands built to store and showcase six acoustic, electric, or bass guitars. The “Classic 6” stands are built with a lightwood core with heavier wood veneer that comes in a variety of finishes (Honey, Dark Cherry, and Ivory). The stands utilize adjustable floor risers and the neck slots and bottom rail are covered in soft neoprene foam. Price: $199. www.rocksolidguitarstands.com On-Stage Stands Guitar Cases On-Stage Stands has just introduced three new models in their line of guitar cases: The GCE6000S snakeskin case (the latest addition to the 6000 series) and the GCLP7000 and GCSG7000, first in the company’s brand new 7000 series. Each model is built to handle the road and designed to store and transport the most popular guitar body styles. The GCE6000S is a rectangular case with a new brown faux snakeskin exterior. The GCE6000S is constructed of durable plywood and vinyl, and features solid brass hardware. Tough piping reinforces all edges and brass feet provide stability. The plush-lined universal interior is especially suited for flat top guitars
like Stratocatsters™ and similar body styles. A large interior compartment provides storage for strings, picks, straps, whammy bars, music, and more. The overall dimensions of the GCE6000S are 42.5” x 14.5” x 4.125”. The GCLP7000 is contoured for arch-top electrics like the Les Paul™. It is constructed of plywood, covered with black leather-patterned PVC, and features chrome-plated hardware. Its plush-lined interior is molded for a snug fit and provides
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New Wheeled Bags For Mobile DJs and Entertainers Keep Profits From Rolling Out The Door DJ equipment has entered a new era of convenience and mobility – jockeys can fit music that used to live in crates and crates of records on their keychain and mixing can all be performed on a single laptop. But for the aspiring pro DJ, there will always be power amps, cables, lights, and maybe even turntables to lug from gig to gig. Arriba Cases’ Brian Dowdle says that, as with guitars and basses, buying a case for new DJ equipment should be second nature. “When a DJ or mobile entertainer buys new light or audio component at your store, chances are they’re going to need a sturdy, convenient bag that they can carry it around to gigs in,” he says. “This means that many of your lighting and pro sound customers may be actually ‘pre-sold’ on the idea of buying a bag. If they don’t buy one from you, they may get it somewhere else. So if you don’t have an affordable, sturdy and easily transportable gear bag to show them, you are essentially letting sales get out the door.” This creates a big opportunity for dealers to ring up secondary sales of road bags and cases to their mobile entertainers customers. Luckily, there are exciting new options available. Arriba Cases, for one, has just introduced a new series of stackable wheeled cases that allow entertainers to “roll” their equipment to and from events conveniently and securely. Just like the suitcases that travelers pull through airports, the new Arriba Stackable Rolling Series Cases feature high-quality wheels and a pop-up handle. Entertainers on the go can effortlessly wheel their lighting fixtures, sound system, cables and other essentials, without having to carry heavy equipment over great distances – and possibly risk dropping a bag and damaging their valuable investment. “Everything about the Arriba Stackable Rolling Series was designed to meet the needs of entertainers on the go,” adds Dowdle. “Many of these same features also make the bags very easy for dealers to stock and sell.” Dowdle says that each Arriba Stackable Rolling Case comes with two movable padded dividers, so its interior can be configured to hold a variety of lighting fixtures, audio products, cables, microphones and other electronic equipment. Not only does this flexibility make the bags more universally appealing, it also means that dealers don’t have to stock a lot of SKUs to cover their customers’ needs, since each individual bag can be configured to meet a wide range of gear requirements. Available in three different sizes, each wheeled unit has a corresponding same-size stackable top case (sold separately) that can be mounted on top of it via a rear strap and “piggy-backed” on the bottom bag’s wheels. This allows entertainers to expand their transport and storage space if needed – and dealers to “bag” extra sales. “Customers may wind up buying both the bottom wheeled and top stackable cases,” says Dowdle. “Or they may return to the store at a later date to purchase the top unit if they acquire additional gear. Either way, the stackability feature results in more sales.” Each top and bottom Arriba Stackable Rolling Case is available in the following sizes: 16”x10”x14”, 19”x12”x14”, 22”x12”x15”. Suggested retail prices on the top stacking units range from $49.95-$69.95, and on the bottom wheeled units from $69.95-$89.95. When the Arriba Case line was first introduced in 2005, it was positioned to fill what was then a gap in the market for very affordable, lightweight, yet rugged soft bags for DJ and mobile entertainers’ lighting systems. As its sales grew, the company expanded into bags for specific products such as speakers, truss, computers and lighting fixtures of all sizes from a wide range of manufacturers. The Arriba Stackable Rolling Series is the latest in this line of innovations. “We’ve come out with a bag on wheels that makes it even easier for entertainers to transport their gear,” says Dowdle. “And for dealers to roll up extra sales.” www.arribacase.com JULY 2011
See us at NAMM Booth 836
Supplier Scene
Left to right: Chris Basile, South Jersey Music; Jeff Nixon, Instrumental Music and Sound; David Hall, VP Sales Pro-Active Websites; Bill Walzak, President, Pro-Active Websites; Jim Destafney, Blue Angels Music; Lulu Orozco, Matt’s Music; Gordy Wilcher, IMSO President/ Owensboro Music; Matt Franscioni, Matt’s Music; Steve Olsen, Blue Angels Music; Robin
iMSO Gets Pro-Active with Generator System At Winter NAMM 2011, the Independent Music Store Owners (iMSO) announced they have signed an agreement with ProActive Websites and their sister company Cutting-Edge Solutions to provide the iMSO with the “Generator” Product Information Management (PIM) system. The Generator will enable the entire iMSO membership to “unify” through the use of the system powered by CuttingEdge Solutions as a true buying group. This unique system will enable iMSO dealers to utilize a new iMSO dealer only eCommerce website where they can shop and purchase the best deals on the latest products from all of the preferred vendors within the group in one central, easy to use website. The Generator’s unique “one-time entry of product data” design repurposes this data in a variety of sales and marketing tools allowing the iMSO to promote vendors, brands and specials to their members through catalogs, flyers, price lists and email marketing. Simultaneously, the Generator can directly send the product and promotional data out to dealer websites built by ProActive Websites. Dealers can choose to fill orders from their store stock or, with one click forward the order to preferred vendors within the network who will drop-ship on their behalf complete with their store’s own packing slip. Vendors appreciate the ability to update their product data on their own and include sale items and special deals that are only available to the iMSO members. 70 MMR
For more information on iMSO, visit www.MusicStoreOwners.com. Countryman Type 10 on Tour with Underwood and Hallyday Cam Beachley, monitor engineer for five-time Grammy® Award winner Carrie Underwood and French rock ‘n roll icon Johnny Hallyday. Bouncing between Underwood’s ‘Play On Tour’ and Hallyday’s European tour, Beachley counts on his collection of Type 10 and Type 10S direct boxes from Countryman Associates. Long cable runs from the instruments on stage to the splitter box that ultimately supplies feeds for the FOH and monitor consoles, as well as recording and broadcast stems, can wreak havoc with the quality of the signal—resulting in RF interference, hums, loss of fidelity, and other less than desirable sonic qualities. This was very much the case for a number of acoustic guitars, fiddle, and bouzouki used during Underwood’s concerts and similar instruments on the Hallyday tour. Armed with six Countryman Type 10 DI’s and a pair of the stereo Type 10S direct boxes, Beachley has resolved these challenges.
“Prior to the Type 10 and Type 10S DI’s,” Cam reports, “We had been using another popular line of direct boxes. The moment we switched to the Countryman Type 10’s, the instruments sounded much more open and natural. It was literally a night and day difference. As far as design and reliability goes, the Type 10 and Type 10S have been bulletproof. We’ve encountered no issues whatsoever. These direct boxes are two more examples of rock solid Countryman product designs. They are extremely clean and clear sounding. After working with these, I can’t imagine using anything else.” www.countryman.com. Jarrell Guitars Named 2010 “Manufacturer of the Year” The Music Industries Association of Canada presented Jarrell Guitars last month with their esteemed “Manufacturer of the Year” award. The award recognizes extraordinary accomplishments and contributions of member institutions and individuals
identified through peer nomination and selection process. Jarrell instruments are handmade with the finest tone-woods, Seymour Duncan pick ups, Sperzel Tuners, Tone Pros Bridge and tail piece, according to Phillip Jarrell’s personal specifications. These modern classics embody years of painstaking design, experimentation and refinement into a focused group of guitars and basses ready to rock yet refined to meet the expectations of the most accomplished players. Jarrell Guitars appear onstage in the hands of remarkable players including Monte Pittman, Jean Beauvoir, Mac McAnally, JULY 2011
Mike Wead, Peter Mayer, and Steve Cooke to name just a few. This is the first year that the Music Industries Association of Canada has awarded their MIAC Excellence Awards, designed to celebrate institutional excellence, individual achievements and contributions to the Canadian music products market and music making. www.jarrellguitars.com Supernatural Cymbals Teams with Orange County Choppers Supernatural Cymbals joined forces with Orange County Choppers (OCC) to create a one of a kind cymbal-themed chopper featured on the 2011 season premier of Discovery Channel’s hit TV series American Chopper Senior vs. Junior. In honor of the “Marriage Made in Metal” between Supernaturals and OCC, Supernatural Cymbalsmiths hand-crafted a limited edition Cymbal Series appropriately named “OCCtane,” designed to appeal to a wide variety of players.
Tim moved to New York City to perform and teach. He has shared the stage with many world-renowned musicians such as Richie Cannata (Billy Joel), The NYPD Jazz Ensemble, Jake Hertzog (The Naked Brothers Band), Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow), Marc Ford (Black Crowes), and stick player Steve Adelson. Tim also plays frequently with actor Danny Aiello as a featured soloist, including an appearance on The Mike Huckabee Show for the FOX News Network. Tim currently plays extensively throughout the New York City area and around the nation with a number of different groups. He also teaches music at the White Plains Public Schools, ranked nationally as one of the “Top 100 Schools in Music Education” by the NAMM Organization and is a “National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.” www.lasaxophone.com
RB Continental Ukulele Case
Lightweight, Upscale, Affordable
EMG Releases James Hetfield Signature Set Pickups EMG has gone straight to the source for their newest Signature Set pickup design – with specs from James Hetfield’s longtime favorite setup. The Metallica singer/guitarist contacted EMG with the challenge to create a stealth-looking set of pickups that captures the clarity RBTUK Tenor RBCUK Concert
The Supernaturals custom Chopper and the “OCCtane” Cymbals will be cruising through the U.S. and stopping at authorized Supernatural Drum Shops along the way. The first stop on the tour is at Summer NAMM. To become an authorized dealer, visit www.supernaturalcymbals.com Tim Veeder Joins the L.A. Sax Family The L.A. Sax Company recently announced the addition of saxophonist Tim Veeder to its list of endorsing artists. Tim Veeder is a professional saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist, composer, arranger and educator based in the New York, N.Y. area. years as a staple of the Albany, N.Y. music scene, JULY 2011
and punch of a passive pickup and still retains the legendary active tone that molded a generation. The answer is the JH Set, which features black nickel plated caps and EMG’s Solderless Installation System™. The set consists of the JH-N (neck) and the JH-B (bridge). Both pickups were patterned after the pickups Hetfield has used for 30 years but the end result, says EMG, was
• Outperforms wood and plastic • Shock-absorbing Flexoskeleton walls • Neck brace suspension system • Zero-G Palm-contoured handle www.REUNIONBLUES.cOm
Call 800-950-1095 and ask about our free freight deal See the drop test at: www.reunionblues.com/Video_Gallery.asp
MMR 71
Supplier Scene a completely different animal. The JH-N has individual ceramic poles and bobbins that feature a larger core and are taller than the 60, designed to produce more attack, higher output, and fuller low end in the neck position. The JH-B uses the same type of core but has steel pole pieces, unlike the 81 that uses bar magnets. This produces the familiar tight attack with less inductance for a cleaner low end. www.emgpickus.com
Ampeg Teams with Guitar Superstar 2011 Ampeg has announced its title sponsorship of Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar 2011. This will be the first public live performance for Ampeg’s new GVT all-tube guitar amps, as well as the culmination of a Facebook contest, which will award one lucky band the chance to open the event with their winning performance.
The finalists and grand prize winner of Ampeg’s Facebook contest will win an all-expense-paid trip to Nashville, a performance at the Superstar event at Summer NAMM with a full stage of
Ampeg backline, and free Ampeg gear including the new GVT52-112, GVT52112EW and a Portaflex bass rig. www.ampeg.com Taylor Swift Chooses Deering New Studio and Live Videos Showcase Country Star’s Favorite Banjo Millions of fans to date have already seen Taylor Swift playing her Deering 6-string Acoustic/ Electric Boston banjo in the new video for her song “Mean.” The song’s first live performance was during the televised American Country Music Awards show this year, where Taylor Swift won Performing Artist of the Year. Though Deering’s 6-string banjo has long been part of the Taylor Swift Band’s performing instrumentation, this is the first time that Taylor herself has played the banjo live. Both videos have become wildly popular YouTube clips. www.deeringbanjos.com BOSS’ LOOP STATION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2 Top U.S. Looper to Win $3,000 in Gear and a Trip to Frankfurt, Germany BOSS® Corporation has announced the BOSS Loop Station World Championship 2, the second annual search to find the world’s top looping artist. Guitarists, bassists, beatboxers, vocalists, violinists, drummers, keyboard players, and looping musicians of all 72 MMR
JULY 2011
sorts are invited to start by submitting a video performance using any BOSS RC-series looping product. Ambitious musicians can win a trip to the U.S.
finals in Hollywood, Calif., where the top looper will earn $3,000 in BOSS gear and a spot in the international championship at Musikmesse 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. The competition is open until August 31, 2011. Participants are asked to upload live performance videos under five minutes long to YouTube and fill out an entry form at BOSS’s website. All entries will be judged and selected by BOSS, who will evaluate the creativity, musicianship, stage presence, and technical skill of the looping performances The top six entries from the Open Competition will be flown in to compete at the BOSS U.S. Loop Station Finals 2 at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Calif. The winner of the U.S. Finals will then be flown to Frankfurt, Germany to challenge winners from around the globe in competitions judged by a panel of music industry insiders. For full information: www.BossUS. com/LoopStation Tommy Emmanuel Takes Heil Sound On The Road Finger picking legend Tommy Emmanuel has spent most of 2011 touring the world, performing concerts in Europe, Asia, and even Russia. Best known for his energetic performances and percussive effects on the guitar, he’s currently bringing his high-energy show to the US for a series of summer dates. Along for the entire voyage has been a full package of Heil Sound microphones. The show uses a total of 30 inputs and all but a handful—keys and acoustic guitars are on DIs—take a Heil mic. The JULY 2011
drum kit uses a combination of PR40 on kick, PR22 for snare top, PR31 on snare bottom and toms, PR 30s on overheads and a PR20 for the high hat. Guitar cabinets are mic’d with PR31s as is the bass cabinet. Vocal mics are all PR35s. And while a PR35 stands downstage center for the star, to describe it as a “vocal” mic doesn’t fully explain its use. Tommy likes to hit it with his hand, head, drumsticks, and brushes, all to incredible percussive effect. Once in a while he sings in it too. Tommy Emmanuel’s tour continues through 2011 and into 2012 with dates in
classes. “Advocacy for music education was really at a standstill when the first cuts came down,” said Clark. “We saw that, while advocacy was building, there was real need for some temporary funding so that the programs could continue. State law prohibits private enterprises from funding teacher salaries but, through the PTA and educational foundation, there was an opportunity to provide assistance and support the program in a significant way.” Clark created the SMART Foundation (School Music/ART) to play a specific role. As a non-profit, the Foundation can work with the PTA and a school’s educational foundation directly. It can create a partnership with the school through the PTA, provide music education advocacy, parent training and school administration consulting. Contact Chris Clark at chris@smartfoundation.org
Europe and a return to the US. www.heilsound.com SMART Foundation Uses Excess Instruments to Fund School Programs For the past ten years, a non-profit foundation in California has combined parent advocacy programs with instrument rentals in a winning combination to help save and restart music programs. This combination of parent and PTA support, along with temporary funding, has given the SMART Foundation a winning combination for music education programs as it seeks to establish “music education for ALL children.” The SMART Foundation is supported by business organization such as the Boeing Corporation, the CPA firm of Haskell & White, and the Rutan & Tucker law firm to create a self-sustaining model that grows and restarts music programs in line with national standards. As a former music dealer, the founder, Chris Clark, saw the need for a nonprofit model when his children’s school was forced to cut back on music and arts See us at NAMM Booth 1006
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Classifieds ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛
RATES: Classified Display: $30 per column inch for text only. $40 per column inch, 1 color, logo, graphics. $50 per column inch 4 color. PAYMENTS: ALL ADS ARE PREPAID. Charge on Mastercard, Visa or American Express. SEND YOUR ADVERTISEMENT TO: 21 Highland Circle, Suite 1, Needham, MA 02494 • mjohan@symphonypublishing.com. QUESTIONS? Call Maureen Johan at 800-964-5150 x 34 • mjohan@symphonypublishing.com.
Accessories
Business Opportunities
Manufacturer Seeking Independent Reps for our NEW iPhone, iPad, Smart Phone & other Hand Held Products Holders. Many territories available for what could be the hottest product catagory in 2011! Email name, address, phone #, & territory to info@ac-cetera.com or Fax 412-344-0818
Breaking News!
Find it in the Hot News section of MMR’s Web site, www.mmrmagazine.com 74 MMR
Visit the Classifieds on the Web: www.mmrmagazine.com JULY 2011
Business Opportunities
Music Man is a family owned and operated Band and Orchestra dealer located in West Palm Beach, FL with over 30 years’ experience serving the music education community of South Florida. Seeking: Educational Sales Representatives who are friendly, knowledgeable, professional, creative and dynamic to build and maintain long-term relationships with existing customer base through the use weekly sales visits. 2+ years of sales experience or instrumental music related degree desired. Repair Technicians w/ 5+ years of repair experience or degree from an accredited Band Instrument Repair program desired. Salary: Negotiable based on experience All inquiries will be kept confidential. Send resumes to: John Jarvis Music Man 2309 N. Dixie Hwy West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or via email to john@musicmaninc.com
Breaking News! Find it in the Hot News section of MMR’s Web site, www.mmrmagazine.com www.mmrmagazine.com JULY 2011
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Business Opportunities
NAMM Booth #818
Merchandise
Over SIX MILLION Unique Visitors That’s right, Piano World received over six million unique piano loving visitors last year.
And that is just one of the reasons you should be advertising on Piano World. You really should take a minute to see the other reasons.
Visit www.PianoWorld.com/advertising ... Today! PianoWorld.com The World’s Most Popular Piano Web Site Home of the world famous Piano Forums
PORCHBOARD BASS The UCL-S PorchBoard Bass offers analog, clean bass rhythm with the tap of a foot. Durable passive magnetic sensor system and 3-way frequency response switch eliminates low-end feedback and delay. Features both 1/4 inch and XLR outputs. No batteries, wall worts or external power supply required. Includes carry bag. $299.95. www.porchboard.com (608) 752-2229
www.mmrmagazine.com 76 MMR
JULY 2011
Business Opportunities Are You Tired of Trying to Climb the Corporate Ladder?
is a multi-store, family owned and operated full-line retailer based in Metro Atlanta. Ken Stanton Music has over 60 years’ success and customer satisfaction.
Seeking: Band & Orchestra Division Manager, Certified Band/Orchestra Repair Techs, Print Music Manager, Store Managers, Sales Associates in the following departments: Guitars, Pro Audio, Drums and Percussion, and Band/Orchestra.
OWNER RETIRING
MUSIC SCHOOL for SALE (in operation since 1986) Housed on its own PRIME REAL ESTATE property in a beautiful, affluent suburb of Houston, TX
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2009, 2010 & 2011 Recognized as HOUSTON’S BEST by the US Commerce Association
Looking for friendly, customer service oriented, self-motivated, proven closers with good listening skills and 2+ years experience. Availability for flexible scheduling a must. Bi-lingual a plus.
Call Owner at 832 445-5668
We feature: Competitive non-commission based pay, medical/ dental coverage, 401(k) plan, vacation/holiday/sick time, and room for advancement.
Real Estate and Music School operation can be sold separately
Complete application online at: www.kenstantonmusic.com By mail:
Via email:
Ken Stanton Music Attn: Scott Cameron, General Manager 119 Cobb Parkway North, Suite A Marietta, GA 30062 scottc@kenstanton.com
• Band and Orchestra Rentals • New and Like New Educator-Approved Brand Name Instruments • Personalized Rent-To-Own Program • No Franchise Fee or Inventory Investment • No Shipping Costs • High Commissions Paid the 1st of Every Month • Exceptional Service
www.kingwoodmusicschool.com
Merchandise
Merchandise
ACCORDIONS, CONCERTINAS, & BUTTON BOXES new, used, buy, sell, trade, repair, tune, CASTIGLIONE DISTRIBUTING CO. 13300 E 11 MILE WARREN, MI 48089 PH # 1-586-755-6050 WWW.CASTIGLIONEACCORDIONS.COM
JULY 2011
MMR 77
Merchandise Hunter Music Instrument Inc adds in an accordion line. From button accordion to Piano accordion, from Kid’s to adult, from entry level to professional, from solid color to combo, we have a wide selection for the accordion player.
718-706-0828 www.huntermusical.com
Band Instruments Below Dealer Cost For Example: 75 Vito Flute OPEN HOLE W/INLINE “G”
dealer cost $675
sale each $356
Our inventory has Soprano Saxophones, Alto Flutes, Alto Saxophones, Flutes, Tenor Saxophones, Clarinets, Trumpets, Mouthpieces.
equatone@earthlink.net
YAMAHA–KAWAI
CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PIANOS Japanese High Quality
GUARANTEED You get what you pay for!
1-800-782-2694
North American Music 11 Holt Drive Stony Point, NY 10980 Fax: (845) 429-6920
78 MMR
FINANCING AVAILABLE
Alto Saxophones: 29 Selmer Alto Sax AS230CC CARGO CASE
$1855
9 Vito Straight s7133 Soprano Sax
$795
$997 $645
37 Selmer Alto Sax SILVER & GOLD LTDA1SG $2435
$1250
26 Selmer Alto Sax GOLD LACQUER LTDA1LQ $2255
$997
Call or email for complete list 978-745-5255 • dominicsax@gmail.com
Repair Tools
BOW REHAIRING Expert Bow Service
Order forms,Pricing and Shipping label at:
www.bowrehairing.com Violin bows as low as $10.00 per bow in quantity incl. shipping (see website for details.) Large inventory of replacement parts both new and vintage. IRA B. KRAEMER & Co. Wholesale Services Division
“An industry leader since 1967” 467 Grant Avenue, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 Tel: 908-322-4469 Fax: 908 322-8613 e mail: info@bowrehairing.com
FAST TURN-AROUND ON STOCK REPAIRS NATIONWIDE NAPBIRT member, 28 Years Experience Contact: Dan Rieck, 801-733-4243 dan@utahwoodwindrepair.com
www.mmrmagazine.com JULY 2011
Repair Tools
Sales Reps Wanted
Wanted To Buy
STRAVARI ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS (www.Stravari.com)
WE, BUY, SELL, TRADE
is hiring dynamic independent sales reps for the US and Canada. High commissions paid on fantastic, quality instruments. Line established in 1991. Now being sold through independent music retailers. Send resume to sheilar@stravari.com
Sales Reps Etros Music, exclusive US distributor of Brazilian made Giannini Guitars is looking for Sales Reps. Contact Georges at info@etrosmusic or 954.746.2777 to check available areas.
and ship worldwide. Written APPRAISALS available. GRUHN GUITARS, 400 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 256-2033
fax (615) 255-2021
www.gruhn.com
Wanted USED TUBAS ANY CONDITION-CASH PAID THE TUBA EXCHANGE 1825 CHAPEL HILL RD. DURHAM, NC 27707 1-800-869-8822 WWW.TUBAEXCHANGE.COM
Vintage Instruments
Visit the Classifieds on the Web: www.mmrmagazine.com
Services
SHIPPING YOUR PIANO
with Lone Wolf Trucking Sales Reps Wanted
is a “grand” idea!
An independent, long-distance Mover specializing in coast-to-coast residential Relocation.
1-800-982-9505
www.lonewolftrucking.com Alamogordo, New Mexico. 88310
ICC MC-256289
Store For Sale For Sale Brand new air conditioning and lease. Store and/or inventory. 25 year reputation Studios, full line $500 k in stock $185,000 cash/takeover/partner Call Bruce in the PM at 321 725-3047 JULY 2011
Guitar Show Operators
Promote your show dates and reach every guitar dealer in the US through the classified pages of MMR. Call Maureen 800-964-5150 ext 34 MMR 79
Ad Index COMPANY NAME
E-MAIL/WEB ADDRESS
PAGE
A/B Ace Products Group A.I.M. Gifts/Albert Elovitz In Al Cass Allparts Music Corp Amati’s Fine Instruments American DJ Supply Inc. American Way Marketing LLC Asterope
www.cadaudio.com www.connollymusic.com www.CooperStand.com
39 63 64
www.extremeheadphones.com www.dreamcymbals.com
22 16
D Direct Sound Headphones Dream Cymbals And Gongs
E/F EMD Music Inc. EMD Music Inc. EMG Inc. Executive Systems West Floyd Rose Marketing
www.staggmusic.com www.staggmusic.com www.emgpickups.com www.quickhornrinse.com www.floydrose.com
47 37 33 50 59
www.galaxyaudio.com www.gci-technologies.com www.graphtech.com www.grotro.com www.halleonard.com
50 61 31 31 29
J/K Jarrell Guitars LTD. Kawai America Corp. KMC Music, Inc Kyser Musical Products Inc.
PAGE
NAMM National Educational Music Co. NS Design
www.namm.com www.nemc.com www.thinkNS.com
24-25 69 58
O/P OnBoard Research Corp. Peavey Electronics
www.tuners.com www.peavey.com
28 5
R/S Roland Corp. U.S. Sabian Ltd. Saga Musical Instruments Saga Musical Instruments Saga Musical Instruments Samson Technologies Corp. Schaller Electronic GmbH SHS International
www.rolandUS.com www.sabian.com www.sagamusic.com www.sagamusic.com www.sagamusic.com www.samsontech.com www.schaller-electronic.com www.shsint.net
cov4 17 15 49 55 3 57 62
Shubb Capos Sierra Guitars SKB Corp.os String Swing Mfg. Inc. Super-Sensitive Musical String Co. Supernatural Percussion Inc
www.shubb.com www.sierraguitars.net www.skbcases.com www.stringswing.com www.cavanaughcompany.com www.supernaturalcymbals.com
68 41 21 9 53 30
www.tkl.com www.theStringCleaner.com www.tycoonpercussion.com
1 40 35
www.StLouisMusic.com www.StLouisMusic.com
66 34
www.wdmusic.com www.tjflutes.com www.yamaha.com
54 67 23
T
G/H Galaxy Audio GCI Technologies Graph Tech Guitar Labs Grover Hal Leonard Corp.
E-MAIL/WEB ADDRESS
N www.kaces.com/www.reunionblues.com 71 www.aimgifts.com 10 60 www.allparts.com 68 www.Amatis.us 65 www.americandj.com 7 www.americanwaymktg.com 56 www.asterope.com 51
C CAD Audio Connolly & Co. Coopercopia LLC
COMPANY NAME
www.JarrellGuitars.com www.kawiausl.com www.kmcmusic.com www.kysermusical.com
32 cov2 52 72
TKL Products Corp. ToneGear Tycoon Percussion
U U.S. Band & Orchestra Supplies U.S. Band & Orchestra Supplies
W/Y W.D. Music Products Inc. West Music Yamaha Corp. of America
L/M Levy’s Leathers Ltd. Miami Audio Music Corp.
80 MMR
www.levysleathers.com www.miamiaudiomusic.com
29 8
JULY 2011
RESERVE YOUR EXHIBIT AT
THE 3RD ANNUAL
LOUISVILLE, KY
JEN CONFERENCE January 4-7, 2012 Developing Tomorrow’s Jazz Audiences Today! Created by and for the Jazz Education community, the JEN Conference delivers industry leaders in an intimate, cultural setting – making this one of the most engaging jazz events of the year. This past January in New Orleans, over 2400 attendees were brought together with top educators, marketers, presenters, performers and industry leaders to identify and discuss trends, share techniques, and leverage promotional opportunities. Nearly 100 exhibitors took advantage of this amazing interaction – sign up now to reserve your sponsorship for the conference in Louisville, KY If you’re a Jazz Educator, performer or simply want to support America’s true art form, JEN is the “Must-Attend” event for key industry professionals and market influencers like you.
Reach the highly influential audience of:
t $PMMFHF )JHI 4DIPPM .JEEMF TDIPPM KB[[ FEVDBUPST t 1SPGFTTJPOBM +B[[ .VTJDJBOT t 4UVEFOU .VTJDJBOT t .BOZ PUIFS BMMJFE UP UIF mFME
Exhibit space is limited, so go to the JEN web site and reserve your space today www.jazzednet.org The Jazz Education Network
is dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences. For complete membership information/benefits please visit us at: www.JazzEdNet.org
YOUR
POWER UP SALES BR-800:
eBand速:
Checkpoint 18:
Checkpoint 24:
Super Checkpoint:
8-track recorder showcased as a stand-alone or slat wall display
Irresistible POP for ultimate jam along sales
Retail ready display featuring 18 BOSS pedals
24 BOSS pedals with room for an amp below
Finally, a display as durable as the products on it
MERCHANDISING SOL UT I O N S See your BOSS/Roland District Sales Manager about getting one of these retail-ready displays in your store or call 323.890.3772. See us at NAMM Booth 900