Music Trades articles from December 2008

Music Trades archives from December 2008

Wall Street Journal highlights FTC music industry probe.(Industry Briefings)
December 1, 2008... The Federal Trade Commission's ongoing investigation into music industry pricing practices was the subject of a front-page feature in the October 23 issue of The Wall Street Journal. Although the FTC never specifically clarified the purpose of...

The Beatles Catalog teams with Rock Band.(Industry Briefings)
December 1, 2008... MTV Games has inked a pact with Apple Corps Ltd. to create a new special "Beatles" edition of its top selling Rock Band videogame. The agreement marks the first time the catalog of Beatles songs will be presented in an interactive game format....

A new marketing opportunity for the industry?(Industry Briefings)
December 1, 2008... The Las Vegas Art and Ink Tattoo Festival is inviting musical instrument companies to participate in its upcoming show January 23 and 24, 2009 at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. A spokesman stated, "The Art-N-Ink Festival will feature a...

Haunted piano in Scotland.(Industry Briefings)
December 1, 2008... A vintage piano, which reportedly plays itself in the middle of the night, is spooking guests and staff at a historic Scottish country home. The antique 19th century Pleyel piano, once played by Fredric Chopin, is housed in Lennoxlove House,...

The dangers of "Net Never" terms.(EDITORIAL)
December 1, 2008... "Never terms" is one of those wonderfully descriptive phrases that occasionally surfaces in the industry. Typically, it refers to those suppliers who are so desperate for extra business that they muzzle the credit manager, throw caution to the...

FCC rules against wireless mics in white space battle: manufacturers, retailers, and users ponder the impact of more handheld devices operating in the wireless spectrum, and how to cope.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... WIRELESS MICROPHONE makers and a broad coalition of wireless users including sports organizations, churches, schools, and theaters were dealt a setback on November 4 when the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow internet devices to...

Samick acquires Seiler piano.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... SAMICK MUSICAL Instruments acquired Seiler Pianofortefabrik GmbH & Co. on November 1. The Kitzingen, Germany-based piano maker will now operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Samick. Ursula Seiler, who headed the family-owned concern for the...

Alesis hosts NYC percussion showcase.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... TOP PERCUSSIONISTS and market influencers were on hand at a recent Alesis product showcase in New York City. Held at the renowned Studio Instrument Rentals facilties, the event served to introduce the growing line of Alesis electronic...

At presidential debates, bi-partisan support for SKB cases.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL debates, candidates disagreed on health care, foreign policy, taxes, and the judiciary. However they managed to agree on the utility of SKB's Studio Flyer 4U. The product was on the road this fall with Michael Abbott,...

Jupiter tapped by U.S. Army band.(FLASH)
December 1, 2008... JUPITER BAND Instruments, Inc., has been selected as the exclusive instrument provider for the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. In a partnership with SportsLink, the owner and producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jupiter...

Loud restructures, cuts 90 jobs, hires independent reps.
December 1, 2008... NEW LOUD TECHNOLOGIES CEO Ronald Olson has announced a corporate restructuring plan that will cut approximately 90 full-time jobs and realign the company's R&D and marketing staffs. In a memo to employees, Olson said, "Under the new...

Korg USA recovers stolen cargo container.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KORG USA was recently involved in a police case that could double as an episode of popular TV show COPS. During the summer, a cargo container full of new Korg products was stolen from a holding area after being...

New owner and factory: Calton Cases.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... IN JUNE 2008 Calton Cases Canada was sold to Jim Laffoley and a new company was formed to carry on the legacy of craftsmanship and quality in the manufacture of hand-laid fiberglass instrument cases for professional musicians. Calton Cases...

Kawai "Insiders" blog for owners.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... KAWAI AMERICA has launched the "Kawai Insiders" internet blog for Kawai digital piano owners. Hosted by "Barry the Blogger" (a.k.a. acclaimed Kawai concert artist Barry Baker), the Kawai Insiders blog will feature how-to articles, tips, and...

Bedouin Soundclash concerts sponsored: Godin Guitar.(FOREFRONT)(Concert review)
December 1, 2008... IN OCTOBER GODIN Guitars joined with Toyota and Exclaim magazine for the 2008 Exclaim Fall Concert Series featuring Toronto-based, Juno-award-winning rock-reggae band Bedouin Soundclash. A Godin Triumph electric guitar was given away live...

Emerson receives top Chinese hono: Hailun.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... GEORGE F. EMERSON, a leading piano designer in the United States and a member of the Hailun Dream Team, has received the highest honor China awards to foreign experts for helping advance the development of Chinese society, economy, technology,...

Gemstone to distribute Schreiber clarinets.(FLASH)
December 1, 2008... GEMSTONE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS has partnered with renowned German manufacturer Schreiber & Keilwerth for exclusive distribution rights of W. Schreiber clarinets in North America. "This is a strategic partnership for both companies," said Dr....

AIMsi integrated with Music-Search: Tri-Technical Systems.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... TRI-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS Inc., an industry leader in business and e-commerce solutions, has announced the availability of a direct integration between the AIMsi software and Music-Search. This development enables retailers to access the...

$100 Mill. music museum to open in 2010.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), a breathtaking new showcase of instruments from around the world, is on target to open in early 2010. At a recent reception at Steinway Hall, management from the museum introduced their vision for the new...

New piano delivered to Katrina survivor: Pearl River.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... THREE YEARS AFTER losing her Pearl River grand piano to Hurricane Katrina, Sylvia Palmer of New Orleans, Louisiana, finally has another Pearl River grand piano in her living room. Palmer, a beloved local music teacher, had made the final...

New York City commemorates C.F. Martin's first factory; Martin's first American home in lower Manhattan now a landmark.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A CROWD OF WELL-WISHERS gathered on the corner of Hudson and Vestry Street in New York City on November 7 to recognize the site where the world-famous guitar company was founded in 1833 and to witness the unveiling...

Steinway & Bruce Hornsby join to support fair housing.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRUCE HORNSBY, a 12-time Grammy nominee and three time winner with more than 11 million albums sold worldwide, has collaborated with Steinway & Sons to help support the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), a...

Share price of publicly traded industry firms.
December 1, 2008... SHARE PRICE OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E NOV. 11, 2008 RATIO Apple Computer Inc. $92.62 17.31...

Infor Award honors innovative ROA effort: Rodgers.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... RODGERS INSTRUMENTS LLC was among the companies honored for innovation at the annual Infor Excellence in Action Awards, which recognize customers for the use of technology to enhance business agility, drive innovation, streamline performance,...

BOSS reaches out to artist community.(FOREFRONT)
December 1, 2008... TOP ARTISTS in Los Angeles and New York were guests of Roland at two open house events in late October. Aimed at gauging the needs of artists and bringing Roland research and development specialists closer to the market, the "Gear Premiers"...

Correction & amplification.(FOREFRONT)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... A headline on page 26 of the November issue of Music Trades incorrectly named Yamaha as the Japanese distributor of Taylor Guitars. Yamano Music is in fact the Taylor distributor in Japan.

Sam Ash expands in Los Angeles: adds percussion location on Sunset Boulevard, adjacent to Guitar Center flagship.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CONSISTENTLY STRONG sales results have prompted Sam Ash to expand its outlet on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. By early December the retailer will have completed remodeling on an additional 3,500-squarefoot space,...

Music fresh start program hosted: Instrumental Music Center.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CENTER, a Tucson, Arizona, retailer that focuses on the school band market, has defined its concept of customer service by witnessing the needs of music students from the perspective of a middle school band director. ...

High-profile ad campaign supports Guitar Center proprietary lines.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guitar Center is backing its proprietary Laguna guitar and Raven amp lines with high-profile ad campaigns in the industry's most widely circulated end-user magazines. The Holiday issue of Guitar World, which was...

Physician talent show fundraiser: Steinway of Naples.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... ON OCTOBER 20, 15 physicians in Naples, Florida, took off their lab coats and played guitar, piano, and even a clarinet for the benefit of two local charities: the Neighborhood Health Clinic and the Steinway Piano Society. More than $20,000 was...

Bill's Music hosts Roland clinic.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... BILL'S MUSIC in Catonsville, Maryland, recently hosted Roland & Boss representative Richard Schatz who gave a superb two-hour clinic on the Boss line of guitar products and effects. Touching on technology, sales tips, and market trends, Schatz...

Industry veteran Peter Becker opens Noble Art Piano; housed in a landmark mansion, new Pennsylvania store caters to discerning buyers.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE HIGH-END PIANO universe, much stock has been placed in helping customers visualize the instruments in their living rooms. Peter Becker and his wife and partner Elizabeth Campbell took it a step further. Their...

Thirty-one new hires come aboard: Sweetwater.(RETAILER UPDATE)
December 1, 2008... SWEETWATER SOUND has expanded its staff with 25 new full-time employees and six part-time employees. Twelve new sales engineers were hired. The new hires bring total employment at Sweetwater to 350, up from 317 at the beginning of the year. ...

Dealing with customers you hate: when it comes to those incredibly annoying customers who drive you up a wall, forget the "Golden Rule" and apply the "Platinum Rule." It will help you weather the economic storm.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
December 1, 2008... Right now, most music dealers are doing their best to maximize every customer who comes in the door. Some are very easy to deal with, and it's a pleasure to have them in the store. However, very once in a while there s that customer who seems...

Measuring the global market: how big is the music products market worldwide, and where is the business being done? Why do some countries present rich sales opportunities while others don't? These are just a few of the pressing questions we wrestle with in our annual ranking of global markets.(GLOBAL MARKET)(Industry overview)(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... John Lennon caused an uproar in 1967 when he boasted that the Beatles and rock 'n' roll were destined to become more popular than Jesus Christ. Four decades later, his irreverent comments have some support in fact. The United Nations reports...

Ranking the 225 largest music products firms: the definitive ranking of the world's top players puts industry sales and performance into perspective and illustrates just how global the business has become.(GLOBAL 225)
December 1, 2008... The Apple iTunes site lists a staggering 1.3 million different songs available for download. Given such an incredible diversity of stylistic offerings, it should come as little surprise that the global roster of companies supplying music makers...

Behringer's first 20 years: having revolutionized the market by moving production to China, founder Uli Behringer reflects on how to maintain a competitive edge in a changing world.(GLOBAL 225)(Interview)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Over the past twenty years, Behringer has evolved from a small garage operation in Germany to a major industry supplier with global sales of $215 million. In the following interview, company founder Uli Behringer candidly discusses how a...

Clavia DMI AB: Swedish synth maker applies cutting-edge technology to achieve advanced features and vintage tone.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Founded in 1983 by Hans Nordelius, Clavia won worldwide acclaim for its digital drums marketed under the drum brand. In 1995 the company, based in Stockholm, Sweden, entered the electronic keyboards market, releasing the world's first...

Tycoon Music Co.: Thai percussion manufacturer expands globally.(GLOBAL 225)
December 1, 2008... Given that Siam oak is the favored wood for making congas and bongos, it takes no great leap of logic to see that the world's only percussion manufacturer that wholly owns a factory in Thailand enjoys an enviable advantage. Headquartered in...

Sara-Trans Engineering: pioneering Indian manufacturer redefines price value relationship with broad offering of cases & accessories.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Best known for its vast assortment of bags for the music, travel, and luggage industries, Sara-Trans Engineering is fast becoming a multifaceted powerhouse in manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Founded in 1989, the company employs a staff...

BG Franck Bichon: adding style and flair to mundane accessories.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded in 1985, Lyons, France-based BG Franck Bichon is noted for its ability to reinvent utilitarian musical accessories with a sense of high fashion and panache. Its more than 300 unique products are distributed...

Schulze Pollmann: Italian piano maker defies industry trends, posting strong sales growth.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Despite the difficulties faced by markets around the world due to the economic crisis, San Marino-based Schulze Pollmann, a manufacturer of hand-crafted upright and grand pianos, has experienced continuous growth through 2008. After 80 years in...

Adam Hall GmbH: from flight cases to distribution of a wide range of audio and industrial products.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded as a producer of flight case hardware and fittings, German-based Adam Hall GmbH eyed a broader scope in the music industry since its earliest days in operation. Over the years the company grew to become not...

Cherub Technology: cutting-edge digital engineering to create innovative metronomes and tuners.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Founded in 1998 by two aspiring engineers, Shenzhen, China-based Cherub Technology started small with a single line of tuners. Today the company is a leading designer and manufacturer of digital musical instruments, tuners, metronomes, pickups,...

M-Audio: celebrating 20 years of empowering independent musicians.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded in a small California garage in 1988, M-Audio is now a leading provider of creative tools for musicians and a part of multimedia powerhouse Avid Technology, Inc. Over the last 20 years digital technology has...

JA Musik GmbH: building on two centuries of tradition.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... The roots of the German horn manufacturer JA Musik reach all the way back to 1810 and the ancestors of current CEO Gerhard Meinl. Originally located in Graslitz, Bohemia, during the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy, the business grew steadily into...

Best Friend Music Company: serving the Chinese passion for high-end Western music products.(GLOBAL 225)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While cramped music stores stocked with low-end products dominate Shanghai s music retail scene, Best Friend Music Company represents exception to the rule. As one of China's premier music products dealers, Best...

Ningbo Orient Piano Corp.(GLOBAL 225)
December 1, 2008... As of stricter labor laws and rising materials costs changed the face manufacturing in China, Ningbo Orient Pianos Corporation stayed ahead of the curve. Already the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of piano parts, Ningbo Orient became...

Mel Bay Publications.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... In the years since Mel Bay Publications was founded in 1947, sales of its flagship Modern Guitar Method series are estimated to exceed 20 million. Prized for its depth of content, Modern Guitar Method established a standard in guitar...

Maxtone Musical Instruments: behind-the-scenes manufacturer serves global base of percussion customers.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Taiwanese entrepreneur Apollo C.H. Hsu founded Ta Feng Long Enterprise Co., Ltd. in 1970. Its primary business was export trading in musical instruments, hardware, machine tools, suitcases, luggage, stationery, and sporting goods. Seven years...

John Horby Skewes: U.K. distributor expands globally with Fret King guitar line.(GLOBAL 225)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... Since its founding in 1965, John Hornby Skewes has risen from upstart to powerhouse and is now the largest family-owned musical merchandise in the U.K. A double-barreled operation, JHS functions as a traditional distributor in its core domestic...

Chonwoo Case & Cover.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Chonwoo Corporation was established in 1986 to manufacture soft-sided cases and bags for musical instruments, guns, and sports equipment. Eight years later the company was licensed to invest and establish a...

Todomusica S.A.: nimble & resourceful, Argentinian distributor shows how to find the silver lining in a financial crisis.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... Next time you think your business environment is challenging, take a look at Todomusica's. Founded in 1984, Argentina's leading distributor sells to more than 900 businesses including music stores; home appliance stores; pro audio stores;...

Graph Tech guitar labs.(GLOBAL 225)
December 1, 2008... Two decades ago Dave Dunwoodie was mid-performance at a gig in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia. Hitting the tremolo bar on his first Fender Strat (he was a Gibson man) during a guitar solo, he was rudely introduced to the risk of...

Where to find them: a top 225 directory.(GLOBAL 225)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... A&T Trade www.attrade.ru A&T Trade represents over 100 music and audio brands, including Fender, JBL, Ibanez, Korg, Shure, Mackie, Alesis, Soundcraft, Tama, Zildjian, Digidesign, Martin Audio, Denon/Marantz, Martin Professional,...

Korg USA bolsters marketing staff to spur growth.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KORG USA, EXCLUSIVE U.S. distributor for Korg, Marshall, and VOX, has announced five appointments and promotions in the areas of marketing, brand management, and retail support. The announcement was made by Korg USA...

Polecastro new sales manager: Weber.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2008... WEBER FINE ACOUSTIC Instruments has appointed Tony Polecastro sales manager, the company's liaison to dealers and players. Bruce Weber, founder of Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments, stated, "Tony is perfect for our shop. Not only has he worked in...

Mantoan to manage international sales: Zero Crossing.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2008... ZERO CROSSING, MAKER of the N-Tune Onboard Chromatic Tuner, has appointed George Mantoan international sales manager. Mantoan will manage the worldwide development and distribution of N-Tune tuners. As the owner of MMS Inc., an independent...

Fender collaborates with Jimmy Eat World frontman to create new Tele.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FENDER AND JIMMY Eat World guitarist/frontman Jim Adkins have collaborated to debut the new Fender JA-90 Telecaster guitar. Based on Fender's distinctive double-cutaway TC-90 Thinline guitar, the JA-90 puts Adkins'...

Levy's leathers Little Kids Rock straps.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
December 1, 2008... NEW FROM LEVY'S are guitar straps featuring Little Kids Rock designs. These designs are printed on 2" polyester webbing and come with polyester ends and tri-glide adjustment. For every Little Kids Rock guitar strap sold, Levy's will make a...

Roland creates innovative electronic marching percussion.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... ROLAND'S NEW RMP-12 marching percussion instrument is now available in stores. This latest addition to the Rhythm Coach line of products offers enhanced playability, expressiveness, and versatility for practice and performance applications. ...

Wittner's "Fine Tune" pegs for violin and cello.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... "FINE TUNE" PEGS from Wittner GmbH present a new "non-slip" solution for the violin or cello player. These pegs retain the traditional hardwood appearance demanded by professional musicians while offering a unique internal gearing system that...

New Bullet Cable and connectors: Core One Creative.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... CORE ONE CREATIVE has introduced a new range of products targeting musicians who customize their rigs. The new Bullet Cable connector and bulk cable line represent an easy-to-use, dependable, solderless system with a card suit theme that...

New Olsen Audio mic clips.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... WINDTECH, A DIVISION of Olsen Audio Group, Inc., has released two new microphone clips designed to adapt to a variety of live sound and recording scenarios. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for larger handheld wired and wireless...

EleUke solid-body electric ukulele: Chesbro Music.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... THE ELEUKE IS a solid-body electric ukulele built to go from unobtrusive to in-your-face as the player's needs require. This uke comes equipped with an under-the-saddle piezo pickup and a 1/4" jack to plug into an amp, mix with effects pedals,...

That's Entertainment! Songbook: Alfred Publishing.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! is a special edition songbook that celebrates the glamour and elegance reflected in every musical produced during the glory years of MGM. This comprehensive collection features an in-depth history of the songs, the...

Dean Guitars teams with Buddy Blaze to create new ML model.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DEAN GUITARS AND famed guitar builder/designer Buddy Blaze have teamed up to create a very custom Dean ML guitar that every ML and Blaze fan will love. The Dean/Buddy Blaze ML has a unique "chrome flame" graphic and...

New models include first aluminum bass: Normandy Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... WHEN NORMANDY GUITARS introduced the first production aluminum archtop guitar at the 2008 NAMM Show, it won best in show honors. Normandy returns to NAMM in 2009 with three new instruments: a Flying V guitar, a hard-tail version of the archtop,...

Burriss Amps Royal Bluesman.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... NEW FROM BURRISS Amps and Effects Pedals is the Royal Bluesman, one of the world's smallest full-featured custom hand-wired tube amplifiers. Known for his line of full-sized tube amps--the Switch Master, Shadow, and dB Special--designer and...

Ultra-small right-angle plug: Lava Cable.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... LAVA CABLE has introduced the smallest DIY solder-free right-angle plug on the market. The new Right Angle Lava Plug enables guitarists to squeeze their pedals together tighter than ever before. This new revolutionary plug provides for matched...

New interface designed for easy navigation: Usedprice.com.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... USEDPRICE.COM HAS UNVEILED a new online interface. Usedprice.com's new design promotes a simplified navigation process for visitors searching for used product values on items to sell, buy, or trade. Users can simply select a blue book category...

Ace Products to distribute Rock-N-Roller Multi-Carts.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... INDUSTRY VETERAN Alan Poster, founder of Ace Products, has announced the company has acquired the distribution rights to Rock-N-Roller Multi-Carts, the largest-selling equipment dollies in the history of the music products industry. The...

Solid desk added to portable stands: Hamilton Stands.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... HAMILTON STANDS has improved its popular KB90 Traveler II and KB990BL portable stands by adding Hamilton's proprietary solid desk, which is used on all of the company's symphonic stands. The desk features durable steel construction with rolled...

GCX Guitar Controller: M&M Merchandisers.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] M&M MERCHANDISERS has introduced Guitar Controller Xtreme, or GCX. The GCX controller stands out from the rest because it is not a toy--it's a real electric guitar for true virtual rockers. The GCX is a real guitar...

Gloss Sauce available in 16 oz. bench bottle: Big Bends.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... BEST KNOWN BY MUSICIANS around the world for its guitar Nut Sauce lubricant, Big Bends has introduced a larger, economy-size version of its popular Gloss Sauce polish for use by professional guitar technicians. The original Gloss Sauce, still...

Memphis Pro guitar stand: Connolly Music.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... IN THE NEW MEMPHIS PRO guitar stand, Konig & Meyer has introduced a versatile, reliable stand suited not only to the studio but to the rigors of being used onstage. This elegant, foldable guitar stand has a patented self-clamping and...

Universal Percussion adds Tama hardware.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... UNIVERSAL PERCUSSION has expanded its selection to include the complete Tama line of drum hardware, pedals, and accessories. Now non-Tama dealers can obtain hardware that is legendary for its innovation and durability, while Tama dealers can...

Electro-Voice intros PL Series microphones.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... ELECTRO-VOICE'S NEW PL (Professional Live) Series offers exceptional price-to-performance value in microphones for professional live sound reinforcement and installed sound applications. Inspired by the PL legacy that began in the 1970s, the...

Now distributing ministar guitars: American Music & Sound.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... AMERICAN MUSIC & Sound has added Ministar to the AM&S family of brands. Ministar offers a full lineup of lightweight and portable guitars and basses featuring innovative patented designs. The ultimate in uncompromised efficiency, Ministar...

Yamaha Pocketrak CX now shipping.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of the Pocketrak 2G Pocket Recorder, Yamaha Corporation of America is now shipping its new Pocketrak CX. While the Pocketrak 2G fills the niche for an ultra-slim recorder with an omni-directional mic for recording...

Top drummers endorse BLOWiT cooling system: Personal Cooling Concepts.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... THE BLOWiT COOLING system, only recently introduced to the market, is already endorsed by leading drummers including Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall) John "JR" Robinson (studio legend), Zoro (Lenny Kravitz), Lome Wheaton (Neil Peart drum tech), Tal...

Jensen introduces electric Lightning: CE Distribution.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... THE LATEST ADDITION to the Jensen Jet series from Jensen Musical Instrument Speakers is the 12" 70-watt Electric Lightning. This speaker offers a straightforward and powerful tone with fat lows, throaty mids, and crisp, bright highs. A true "in...

"Green" valve oil and bags of Spain: Berps & Bags.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... BERPS & BAGS' new BerpBioOil is the first "green" non-petroleum, nonsynthetic biodegradable lubricant for the valves of brass instruments. BerpBioOil is a smooth, slippery, long-lasting, nontoxic lubricant made from canola oil, a renewable...

Sonor Special Edition drum kits in new finishes.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2008... THE NEW SONOR Special Edition (SSE) drum kits are now available in highly sought-after shell sizes and ship with high quality Sonor hardware. Like Sonor's top of the line S Classix series, the new SSE kits feature birch shells to provide...