Music Trades articles from April 2007

Music Trades archives from April 2007

Mixed results for imports in 4th quarter.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into The U.S. And From Where?)
April 1, 2007... Imports of school music instruments and electric guitars led the list of gainers in this latest installment of Import Tracker. For the quarter ended December 31, electric guitar imports reversed five consecutive quarters of declines with a...

Formidable new competitor for teen's attention?(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2007... Based on unexpectedly strong sales, a Merrill Lynch analyst is forecasting that the Nintendo Wii gaming console is destined to become a household fixture around the world. Yoshiyuki Kinoshita is predicting that by the year 2011, nearly 30% of...

Good news for school music--state spending surges.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2007... After five years of spending restraint, states across the country are proposing budgets that outpace inflation and population growth and far exceed the 1% increase in domestic outlays proposed by the Bush administration. The two biggest...

Classical musicians suffer for their art.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2007... Pain and disability are commonplace aspects of a life in sports. But for musicians, who are, according to pianist Leon Fleischer, "athletes of the small muscles," physical ailments are equally common. Fleisher, a well regarded classical...

Consumer confidence at five-year high.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2007... The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index hit a five-and-a-half year high in February, according to the Conference Board. The CCI stands at 112.5, up from 110.2 in January. "Consumer confidence now stands at a five-and-a-half year high, as improving...

Guitar hero tops gaming list.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2007... In the after-Christmas period, the Guitar Hero video game has gathered momentum, rising to the number two position on the NPD sales charts, trailing only Lost Planet. Total video game sales for the month of January and February topped $1.25...

Where are all the first-time buyers?(EDITORIAL)
April 1, 2007... The most unsettling trend line in our annual compilation of industry sales data is the precipitous drop in entry-level guitar sales. Unit sales of acoustic guitars in the under $350 price point decreased 12% from last year s levels. Sales of...

$11 million plant expansion hikes Zildjian capacity by over 50%.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE AVEDIS ZILDJIAN Company has broken ground on an $11 million plant expansion at its Norwell, Massachusetts, headquarters facility. When finished, this expansion will add more than 15,000 square feet of cymbal manufacturing space and increase...

California pledges $105 mill. to support arts in the schools.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE has passed a bill that will provide $105 million in funding for visual and performing arts education in public schools throughout the state. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has authorized additional one-time funding...

Saving Sitka spruce: guitar makers support Greenpeace Musicwood campaign.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... IN AUGUST 2006 Nick Colesanti, director of supply chain management at C.F. Martin, joined Rob Stangelini of Fender, Dave Berryman of Gibson, and Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars on a one-week trip to the Tongass National Forest, part of the...

New relationship with North Bennet School: Pearl River Pianos.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE NORTH BENNET STREET School in Boston has been teaching fine craftsmanship, creative problem-solving, and expert trade skills since 1885. The school is one of the premier institutions in the world offering intensive Piano Technology courses,...

Kjos acquires "Three Cranky Women".(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE NEIL A. KJOS Music Company has purchased the catalog of Three Cranky Women, also known as TCW Resources from its founders, Kathleen Lloyd, Laura G. Zisette, and Charlene Zundel. The TCW Resources catalog includes popular games,...

Reward offered for capture of "Sharp Axe" guitar thief: who made off with the ten-foot-tall guitar?(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE AUSTIN GUITARTOWN sculpture called "Sharp Axe," on display at 315 Congress Avenue, has been stolen. Thieves dismantled the guitar off of its locked and welded base. Gibson Guitar, the presenting sponsor of the citywide Guitartown project,...

Young Virtuoso wins prestigious contest: Perzina Piano.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... OUT OF MORE THAN 200 contestants competing in her age division of the prestigious Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Vevina-Anne Swanson won first prize on a Perzina grand piano and was invited to New York City to perform on...

AKG acoustics names Hanoud Associates Rep of Year.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... HANOUD ASSOCIATES OF Rehoboth, Massachusetts, was awarded AKG's Rep of the Year award for 2006 in a ceremony held during the Harman Pro Group representative and distributor meeting in January. "Hanoud Associates has demonstrated not only an...

Artists win big at Grammy Awards: Fishman.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE 49TH GRAMMY AWARDS, held February 11th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, proved to be a rewarding night for a variety of Fishman artists. Winners included Fishman artists such as The Dixie Chicks and their band members, including...

G&L musical honors Phyllis Fender.(FLASH)
April 1, 2007... IN APPRECIATION FOR all the support she has shown G&L since the company changed ownership, G&L presented one of its limited edition 25th Anniversary Guitars to the company's honorary chairman, Phyllis Fender, on the opening day of the recent...

Industry veterans form sales & marketing firm: Audio Agent.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... INDUSTRY VETERANS David Christenson, Erik Hanson, John Hart, Jeremy Stappard, and Justin Marx have formed Audio Agent LLC, an integrated sales and marketing agency with capabilities extending far beyond traditional distributors. The company is...

Proel Group acquires Turbosound assets.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... PROEL GROUP HAS acquired the assets of Turbosound, Ltd. Proel will benefit from the strengths and reputation of Turbosound, an internationally renowned company that for 25 years has specialized in the design and manufacture of high-end sound...

Hartley Peavey featured in Mississippi national image campaign.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... MUSIC INDUSTRY MAVEN Hartley Peavey is the latest Mississippian chosen for a national image-building campaign designed to combat negative stereotypes about his home state. "Mississippi, Believe It!" is a public-service advertising...

Audix endorser "Tenacious D".(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... CRAIG OVERBAY handles front-of-house duties for Tenacious D. He is an enthusiastic endorser of Audix micro phones and recently answered a few questions about them. Q: So how you first get introduced to Audix mics? I've been using them...

Donates "Just Right" jungle kit to youth: Sonor.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... FOLLOWING UP last year's donation of a brand-new drumset to a youngster displaced to Washington State by Hurricane Katrina, Sonor has again helped out a young deserving drummer. The company recently donated a Force Jungle Set to six-year-old...

Conn-Selmer labor strife causes loss at Steinway.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... AN ONGOING STRIKE at Conn-Selmer operations in Elkhart, Indiana, resulted in a loss at Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006. Sales for the period were $384.6 million, down 1.0% from last year's level of...

Dobro Virtuoso Douglas on D'Addario website.(FLASH)
April 1, 2007... DOBRO PLAYER JERRY DOUGLAS recently stopped by D'Addario for a visit. He spent the afternoon chatting with the staff about new products and toured the string production facility. In spite of his busy schedule, Jerry even found the time to shoot...

Software donation promotes music technology: eMedia Music.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... eMEDIA MUSIC CORP., through a donation of music software, has enabled the Rock School in Kirkland, Washington, to promote music technology and further music education in the community. The donation allows Rock School to teach guitar, bass, and...

Loud Technologies to acquire Martin Audio.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... LOUD TECHNOLOGIES INC. has entered into an agreement to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of Martin Audio Limited of the UK. For between $33 and $35 million, depending on a financial formula to be calculated at the time of closing....

PC/Poll Software acquisition extends capability of Tri-Tech Systems.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... TRI-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, a leader in retail software with users in more than 1,300 retail locations, has announced the acquisition of PC/POLL Systems. Established in 1984 (the same year Tri-Technical Systems was founded), PC/POLL Systems is...

Blow-out concert marks 20th year of ground-breaking JEM guitar: Hoshino USA.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... IBANEZ BUSSED HUNDREDS of retailers from the Anaheim NAMM show to West Hollywood's famed Key Club to see guitar god Steve Vai headline a virtuoso-studded January 20 concert. Staged to thank Ibanez dealers for their long and ongoing support, the...

New company offers Planetone Harmonicas: Tribal Planet.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... A NEW BRAND of harmonica is being launched by two former Hohner employees to fill a gap in the market for a high-quality range at attainable prices. Tribal Planet, based in Birtley, England, has launched the Tribal Planet Harmonica Company to...

New distribution arm offers Petersen stand: Hal Leonard.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... HAL LEONARD PUBLISHING has reached an agreement with musician and inventor Tod Petersen of Petersen Designs, Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, to distribute the innovative Petersen Music Stand. The agreement was negotiated by Herman Knoll, Hal Leonard...

Lobbying the FCC to protect wireless mic frequencies: Shure.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... SHURE INCORPORATED President and CEO Sandy LaMantia recently praised Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) for introducing H.R. 1320, The Interference Protection for Existing Television Band Devices Act of 2007. The legislation allows fixed,...

Distributor of the Year announced: Regal Tip.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... REGAL TIP ANNOUNCED its 2006 North America Distributor of the Year award to Dynamic Music Distributing of New Berlin, Wisconsin. Regal Tip Director of Sales and Marketing Mark March presented the award to Dynamic Music Distributing Drum Buyer...

NAMM advocates for benefits of music in Washington, D.C.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2007... ARMED WITH EXTENSIVE data documenting both the educational benefits of music study and the depth of public support for music programs, a group of NAMM representatives spent two days on Capital Hill making the case for music education before...

Seoul convention set for June 14-16: music Korea.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... MUSIC KOREA, a major Asian music products trade show scheduled for June 14-16, promises to be a dynamic event for the global music products industry. Organized by Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea International Trade Association and Korea...

Trade show promises unique experience: Meet Milano.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE ITALIAN ORGANIZATION EXPOCTS has scheduled the first year of a planned annual music and entertainment technology extravaganza. Dubbed MEET Milano and slated for September 21-24, 2007, MEET Milano will comprise two main shows: the Music...

Publicly traded industry firms.
April 1, 2007... PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF MAR 7, P/E 2006 RATIO Apple Computer...

Conn-Selmer sues Bamber for $3.5 mill.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... CONN-SELMER INC. has filed suit against Dennis Bamber, founder of The Woodwind & The Brasswind, for more than $3.5 million. The suit contends that under the terms of a 1992 dealer agreement, Bamber was personally liable for monies owed to...

FTC investigates entire industry to determine if MAP policies are "anti-competitive".(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
April 1, 2007... THE FEDERAL TRADE Commission served the music industry's major suppliers with a 17-page subpoena on March 12, as part of a vaguely defined investigation to assess if minimum advertised price programs represent an unfair method of competition....

Guitar Center takes $73 mill. write-off on Music & Arts: write-down reflects ongoing losses in B&O Division. Management says it remains "committed" to Music & Arts. Slow guitar sales impact other divisions as well.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... GUITAR CENTER'S FOURTH quarter was marked by a $73.2 million after-tax write-down of goodwill associated with the Music & Arts division, reflecting ongoing financial challenges at the school music operation. For the quarter, the company posted...

Bud's Band Box opens in Great Falls.(FLASH)
April 1, 2007... Bud Nicholls has opened a school music outlet, Bud's Band Box, after his daughter and her husband, Marni and J. Constantino, closed their Great Falls, Montana, business, JMar Music, last month. Nicholls, who had 25 years of experience at both...

Specialty shop tops in electric bowed sales: Electric Violin Shop.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... ELECTRIC VIOLIN SHOP in Durham, North Carolina, is proving that doing one thing and doing it well is still a recipe for success. The small specialty shop has gone toe-to-toe with internet catalogs as well as brick-and-mortar superstores with...

Winter Recital at Bill's Music House.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... MORE THAN 75 STUDENTS at Bill's Music House in Catonsville, Maryland, took the stage during the Winter Recital to perform the songs they had been practicing for months. The recital was held in the new "Bill's Cafe," which is now home to...

Rayburn Music opens Selmer Pro Shop in NYC.(RETAILER UPDATE NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... LOYAL CUSTOMERS, instrument rental students, and virtuoso musicians were among the guests attending the inauguration of Rayburn Music's New York City store as a Selmer Paris Pro Shop. Rayburn CEO Ronni Ginott, President Laurie Orr, and New York...

DW'S top independent dealer award. Cascio Interstate Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... CASCIO INTERSTATE MUSIC of New Berlin, Wisconsin, was named Drum Workshop's "National Independent Dealer of the Year" at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim. "This is a very significant award for Cascio Interstate Music, from one of our top...

Percussion Team visits Vic Firth: Guitar Center.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... GUITAR CENTER'S Percussion Team recently visited the Vic Firth manufacturing plant in Newport, Maine. GC's Jay Wanamaker, Mark Nelson, Jeff Lorenz, and Tim O'Neal spent the evening with Vic Firth's management team discussing all phases of the...

Piano donation program announced: Cordogan's Pianoland.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... CORDOGAN'S PIANOLAND of Geneva, Illinois, has designed a program to pair piano donors with not-for-profit institutions in need of a piano. For qualifying pianos, Cordogan's will pick up the piano at Cordogan's expense and provide the donor...

Sweetwater named top Eventide dealer.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2007... SWEETWATER SOUND OF Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been named Eventide's Dealer of the Year for 2006. Ray Maxwell, Eventide's vice-president of sales and marketing, presented the award to Chuck Surack, Sweetwater founder and president, who...

Sales reps ... The good, the bad, & the ugly: retailers sound off about what they need, what they want, and what they won't stand for in a sales rep.(RETAIL Q&A)
April 1, 2007... THIS PAGE DEBUTS A NEW series of articles representing the retail perspective. Presented in a roundtable format, each article will focus on a single topic relevant to successful music retailers' sales volume, operational efficiency, and/or...

Are you set at "full speed ahead?" Think laterally when you reach the "end of your rope." Don't just try to climb back up, try swinging to another rope!(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
April 1, 2007... At the past NAMM show in Anaheim I talked to a lot of dealers who were optimistic about the coming year. Some had a dismal past few months and had already seen a pick-up in business. Others were forecasting a strong spring and summer. Some...

Simple steps for accelerating inventory turnover: faster inventory turns means more money in your pocket. Herewith, some tips on how re-merchandising, saying no to enticing deals, and using discounts judiciously can improve your financial health.(CREATIVE RETAILING)
April 1, 2007... There's no doubt that buying great new products is one of the true joys of music retailing, but no matter how carefully you select, purchasing inventory isn't without risk. Inventory is one of the biggest investments a retailer can make, so...

The music industry census: everyone agrees the 2006 was a down year, but why? In the following pages, we sift through reams of conflicting and downright contradictory data, measure sales in 55 key product categories, and analyze exactly why sales slowed last year and what to expect in the next 12 months.(2007 MUSIC INDUSTRY CENSUS)(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... In the 15 years since we have been tabulating the performance of the music products industry, there have been only two years where sales actually declined from the previous year. Last year was one of them, as the aggregate sales of instruments,...

Ranking the industry's biggest players: the definitive ranking of the 125 largest suppliers of music and audio products, a diverse roster that combines the hi-tech, the low-tech, and everything in between.(TOP 125 Music & Audio Suppliers)
April 1, 2007... The 125 largest U.S. suppliers of music and audio gear are a diverse lot. The list includes enterprises like Steinway & Sons, which bills itself as the keeper of an illustrious, 150-year-old piano making tradition. It also includes companies...

Hal Leonard Publishing: the combination of teamwork, talent, and organization have delivered 60 winning seasons and bode well for a bright future.(Company Of The Year)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... Six decades ago in the small town of Winona, Minnesota, three one-time professional musicians had a brainstorm: If you arranged popular songs for marching and concert band, you could recruit more kids into the program and make concerts more...

Mike Matthews: how the industry has benefitted from his unique combination of engineering brilliance and toughness.(Person Of The Year)
April 1, 2007... In a career spanning nearly four decades, Mike Matthews has emerged as one of the primary architects of contemporary electric guitar tone. With a string of ground breaking products starting with the LPB-1 power booster (1969), the "Small Stone"...

Portable digital recorders: Roland, Sony, and Zoom unveil immensely successful small recorders that are technologically dazzling and wonderfully simple.(Product[s] Of The Year)
April 1, 2007... There must be some truth to the old saying, "great minds think alike," because in 2006 three high-profile industry players simultaneously hit home runs with remarkably similar products. The same muse apparently visited the R&D departments at...

Standout performances! 2006 was a tough, perplexing year for most segments of the music products industry, but a number of suppliers found ways to generate impressive sales gains. The following pages provide some insights into how these companies, in effect, swam against the tide.(THE TOP 125 U.S. MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIES)
April 1, 2007... A majority of last year's fastest-growing suppliers reported significantly increased international sales. This was partly due to suppliers' redoubled efforts to reach new markets as domestic fields proved less fertile. Also, while the dollar...

Where to find them: a directory of the top 125 suppliers.(THE TOP 125 U.S. MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS)(Directory)
April 1, 2007... Akai Professional Tel: (401) 658-4032 www.akaipro.com Alesis Corp. Tel: (401) 658-5760 www.alesis.com Alfred Publishing Company Tel: (818) 891-5999 www.alfredpub.com Allen Organ Company Tel: (610)...

Froker to head marketing & development: Line 6.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... DAVE FROKER HAS JOINED Line 6, Inc., as chief marketing officer and senior vice-president of business development. He will be responsible for all of the company's marketing functions worldwide and will also lead the company's initiatives in...

Hernandez heads U.S. sales & marketing: Bluthner Pianos.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... Alexander Hernandez has been named sales and marketing director of Bluthner USA. Dr. Christian Bluthner-Haessler, president of the German piano manufacturer, announced the appointment. Hernandez, sales director and manager of the Classical...

Conn-Selmer expands international staff.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... CONN-SELMER, INC. has appointed Chad Hoffman vice-president for international sales. He will be responsible for all customer contact and sales for all areas except the United States and Canada. Hoffman's previous experience includes similar...

Smith named DM for high-tech products: Yamaha Pro Audio.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... DONALD W. SMITH has been named the new district manager for high-technology products at Yamaha's Pro Audio & Combo Division. He will be responsible for high-tech sales in the upper Midwest states including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska,...

Wyman Piano's Tim Laskey weds.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... TIM LASKEY AND MINDY ZHANG were married on January 28 in Reno, Nevada. Laskey is the president of Wyman Piano Company. The wedding took place at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno in a ceremony attended by friends and immediate family....

Sales divisions reorganized: Fishman.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2007... AS FISHMAN CONTINUES to experience dynamic growth in its retail and OEM sectors, the company is reallocating its resources to better service the company's two major sales divisions. As part of this higher level of service and support, Rob Ketch...

Yamaha Drums marks 40th year with Washi Drumset.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... TO COMMEMORATE its 40th anniversary, Yamaha Drums introduced 40th Anniversary Washi Drumset at Winter NAMM 2007. Wrapped with washi paper (a type of Japanese paper used in traditional Japanese arts), the limited-edition drumset's artwork...

Saga Master F-Model mandolin.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... SAGA'S NEW MASTER F-MODEL MANDOLIN was designed in response to a challenge from the folk, bluegrass, and acoustic music communities. Discerning players and collectors demanded fine mandolins that duplicate the qualities and features of the best...

K230 grand completes concert trilogy series: Schimmel.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... AFTER SIX YEARS of development, Schimmel has finally completed both of its Concert Trilogy series of grand pianos. Schimmel's K 280, K 256 and K230 grand models represent the Concert Trilogy I group while the smaller K213, K189, and K169 grands...

The Music Link intros retail marketing aids.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... THE LATEST VERSION of The Music Link's popular dealer-minded marketing tool is now available. Marketing Essentials 2007 is a CD-ROM filled with valuable content to drive sales and provide dealers with creative methods to advertise the best of...

Peg-Ultra & Peg-Shaper unveiled at NAMM: Wittner.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... WITTNER UNVEILED its new composite "Peg Ultra" and a "Peg Shaper" at the Winter NAMM Show. The company spent more than four years in R&D plus field tests to find the right material composition that would meet all users' requirements. The...

New configurations for Saturn Series: Mapex Drums.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... MAPEX USA HAS introduced three new configurations in its Saturn Series drums. The Plus Bass Fusion Pop 22 (SW7287U) is a new seven-piece configuration designed specifically for R&B players. The configuration includes a 22x20 bass drum;...

Gator's new "Extreme" economy gig bag series.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... GATOR HAS ADDED to its Economy Gig Bag Series. The new GBE-Extreme-1 fits extreme-shaped guitars such as the Flying V, the Explorer, the Dean ML, the Warlock, and many others. The Extreme is constructed of a rugged 600-denier nylon exterior...

New vocal effects floor processors: DigiTech.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... DIGITECH HAS INTRODUCED two new professional-quality vocal effects processors: the Vocalist Live 2 and Vocalist Live 4 vocal harmony and effects floor processors for performing guitarists. Utilizing DigiTech's proprietary MusIQ technology,...

New Tesla Active Humbuckers: JT Musical.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... TWO NEW PRODUCTS under the Tesla brand were introduced by JT Musical, Inc., at the recent Winter NAMM Show, the Tesla AH-1 Active Humbucker pickup and the clip-on Vibration Dampener. JT Musical President Scott Johnson reported that in several...

VCI-100 DJ MIDI controller: Vestax.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... THE VCI-100 DJ MIDI controller from Vestax is USB-based and features two jog wheels with sensor and control technology from Vestax's industry-standard turntables, The VCI-100 provides professional DJs and producers with the "feel" of hardware...

Great new saxophone finishes: Antigua Winds.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... ANTIGUA WINDS recently introduced stunning new finishes for its PRO Power Bell line of saxophones. Each finish makes the horn's beauty as impressive as its sound and feel. Introduced at winter NAMM were the Sand Blast finish and the Antique...

New packaging debuts at NAMM: Rapcohorizon.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... THE RAPCOHORIZON COMPANY debuted new packaging for its cable and connector lines at the Winter NAMM Show. The updated and improved casing is among several initiatives introduced in conjunction with the company's unified commitment to enhancing...

Muriel Anderson guitar strings: GHS Strings.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... GUITARIST MURIEL ANDERSON has joined with GHS Strings to bring her own style to guitar strings. She is known for both her playing ability and her relationships with the world's best known guitarists. The GHS Muriel Anderson Signature...

New professional-level concertmaster bows: Palatino.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... TWO NEW STYLES of bows have been added to the professional-level Palatino Concertmaster Series; they were designed by Master Ming-Jiang Zhu, one of the world's greatest violin builders. The Peccatte-style bow (BV-970) for full-size violin...

Mechanically Tuned Freestyle Djembe: Toca.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... TOCA'S NEW Mechanically Tuned Freestyle Djembes begin with a new bowl shape that produces awesome bass tones and penetrating highs. A low-mass tuning system and various other patented features make these instruments perfect for drum circles,...

RacketBlaster noise canceling headphones: Nady Systems.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... NADY SYSTEMS has introduced the RacketBlaster Series of noise-canceling stereo headphones. The new QH-30NC and QH-50NC feature state-of-the-art noise canceling circuit designs that eliminate virtually all background ambient noise for quiet...

New Roto-X Cymbal Vault: SKB Corporation.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... SKB CORPORATION HAS rolled out a new item for cymbal protection. The SKB-CV24W Roto-X 24" Cymbal Vault is what drummers requested to accommodate larger cymbals, with wheels and an extra strong pull-out handle for easy transport. ...

Godin Guitars re-releases A-series basses.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... GODIN GUITARS has re-released its popular A-series semi-acoustic basses with an added feature: 13-pin capabilities. The new A4 & A5 Synth Access basses have Custom Godin electronics and a 13-pin output jack to access a multitude of 13-pin...

Boston Music launches Beginning Piano Series: Music Sales.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... THE BOSTON MUSIC Division of The Music Sales Group has launched the new Beginning Piano Series. Eight titles comprise the series, which includes music from the Classical, Romantic, world, and boogie & blues genres. All books in the series serve...

Solid acoustic/ portable double bass: Clevinger.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... CLEVINGER'S SOLID ACOUSTIC portable double basses with resonant floating spruce top give bassists dazzling sonic detail and rich woody tone. One model has two pickup systems: the Clevinger Arco Virtuoso bridge pickup and the Clevinger Holosonic...

Ellipse Aura preamp for acoustic guitars: Fishman.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2007... THE ELLIPSE AURA combines Fishman's most sophisticated onboard preamp with the power of the company's patented Acoustic Imaging Technology for exceptional accuracy and true-to-life sound when amplifying acoustic guitars. Up to four Aura...