Music Trades articles from January 2008

Music Trades archives from January 2008

Pushy salespeople and other urban legends: maybe what customers perceive as a lack of aggressiveness is actually finely honed skill.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... In your November editorial, "Pushy Salespeople And Other Urban Legends," you cite your survey that reports that "64% of recent drumset buyers experienced absolutely no pressure from their salesperson." Your conclusion was that it "suggests...

It's not the economy, stupid!(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... Great editorial! (Why You Should Forget The Economy, December 2007). The way we think today is the creation of our future! There are too many in our industry that are focusing on the negative. We have a great future! Thanks for pointing it out....

Latest data points to winners and losers.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into the U.S. And From Where?)
January 1, 2008... THIRD QUARTER IMPORT data points to the products that manufacturers feel will be strong sellers during the important Christmas season. Judging from the latest data, manufacturers are betting that it will be a good Christmas for electric...

Thanksgiving weekend retail sales strong.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
January 1, 2008... Shoppers during the Thanksgiving weekend appear to have defied predictions, hitting stores with zeal despite worries about gas prices and the housing market. Nationally, retail research group ShopperTrak RCT Corp. reported that sales on Friday...

New York to tax Internet sales.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
January 1, 2008... New Yorkers going Christmas shopping online at Amazon.corn may find an 8.375% surprise at the virtual cash register, courtesy of Governor Eliot Spitzer, who is moving aggressively to collect internet sales taxes that have gone widely...

Arrest for obscene rap music.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
January 1, 2008... A man playing loud, expletive-laden rap music on his car stereo was arrested after a cop in Rotorua, New Zealand, took offense at the bad language. "They parked up at the Visitor Information Centre, threw open their doors and were listening to...

A proven way to grow the market.(EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2008... Economic headwinds invariably prompt calls throughout the industry for some type of concerted marketing effort to raise demand for music making, drive traffic into retail stores, and generally improve the fortunes of retailers and...

Why every retailer should go to NAMM ... Even if it means making their suppliers cry! Trust us on this one! With the industry awash in inventory, there will be deals aplenty at the upcoming NAMM show. But you can't take advantage of them if you're sitting at home. Make plans to attend today!(NAMM 2088 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Your mother probably told you at some point that you shouldn't take advantage of other people's misfortunes. While we re not trying to start an argument with dear old Mom, we'd like to add a slight qualification to...

Superstar John Legend headlines Yamaha's 2008 dealer concert at NAMM.(NAMM 2008 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... IT WILL BE NO ORDINARY night when Yamaha treats its dealers to another one-of-a-kind concert featuring five-time Grammy award-winning musical icon John Legend on Friday, January 18, 2008, during the Winter NAMM Show. Legend will be joined on...

Stars will shine at Roland exhibit.(NAMM 2008 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... IN ADDITION TO A VAST array of cutting-edge new technology, the Roland exhibit will host a stellar artist lineup. Over the last 25 years composer and pianist David Benoit has been a passionate musical innovator across genres, from classical...

Professional legends at Conn-Selmer display.(NAMM 2008 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... TOP ENDORSING artists from many musical genres will be at the Conn-Selmer display (#4800) throughout the show. International jazz soloist and conductor Jiggs Whigham will be among the artists at the display. Artists who perform on Bach, Selmer,...

Rock House hosts 2nd Annual "Wimbash".(NAMM 2008 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... THIS YEAR AT WINTER NAMM, Rock House will present the 2nd Annual Wimbash event at the Hilton's Pulse Lounge on Friday, January 18, from 7 P.M. to 1 AM. The event is presented in honor of legendary bassist Doug Wimbish and will once again...

Official NAMM exhibitor list.(NAMM 2008 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2008... Official NAMM Exhibitor List Compiled by NAMM as of December 7, 2007 3L International 5825 65 Amps 1652 A & S Case ...

C.F. Martin & Co. marks 175 anniversary.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Company overview)
January 1, 2008... THIS YEAR C.F. MARTIN & Co. celebrates its 175th anniversary as the oldest surviving maker of guitars in the world. Currently the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States, C.F. Martin is credited with creating some of the...

Henry Steinway & Les Paul received arts medal in White House ceremony.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... HENRY STEINWAY, retired chairman of Steinway & Sons, and Les Paul, the iconic electric guitar pioneer, were among the 2007 recipients of the National Medal of the Arts. The awards honor artistic and scholarly achievements. President George W....

Fender opens high-end Tokyo guitar showroom.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FENDER SHOWCASE TOKYO, an elegantly appointed high-end showroom, celebrated its grand opening on September 4 in Tokyo. The showroom is only the second of its kind in the world and caters to dealers, special guests,...

Yamaha poised to acquire Bosendorfer for $21 million Vienna factory to be maintained.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... AS THIS ISSUE WENT to press, Yamaha Corp. appears to have edged out the Joseph Brodmann Piano company in a hotly contested bidding war to acquire the famed Bosendorfer piano business of Vienna, Austria. Full details have not yet been made...

Industry veteran Mike Belitz relaunches Ultimate Support.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... THROUGHOUT THE COURSE of its 30-year history, Ultimate Support Systems has established itself as a premium accessory choice of the pros, dealers, and consumers alike. Offering a wide range of user-driven, innovative designs backed with...

Tama Dayz clinics pack retailers nationwide.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... DRUM ARTISTS Joe Bergamini and Les Cleveland wowed drummers and drum enthusiasts at "Tama Dayz," more than two-dozen full-day summer and fall drumming events at authorized Tama retailers across the U.S. Along with clinics led by either...

Bourgeois Guitars at Vietnam vets memorial.(FLASH)
January 1, 2008... BOURGEOIS GUITARS was represented during a special ceremony at the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Rounder Records duo Dailey & Vincent joined singer/songwriter and former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune for a moving...

Town Hall meetings planned for 2008: NAMM.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... NAMM RECENTLY ANNOUNCED its plans for a four-state NAMM Town Hall Meeting tour in 2008. The sessions allow the organization to meet face-to-face with industry retailers, manufacturers, and reps to discuss the changes and issues facing the...

Steinway sales & net up, members vote on decertifying union.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... A 14% INCREASE IN BAND instrument sales led to a 9% increase in third quarter sales for Steinway Musical Instruments. For the three-month period, ended September 30, the parent company of Steinway & Sons and Conn-Selmer posted sales of $99.2...

Sales decline causes third-quarter loss: Loud Technologies.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
January 1, 2008... SALES AT LOUD TECHNOLOGIES, the parent company of Mackie Designs, EAW, and the former St. Louis Music Corp., declined .7% to $53.1 million for the three-month period ended September 30, compared with $53.4 million for the same period a year...

15% sales gain drives MakeMusic profits.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
January 1, 2008... MAKEMUSIC, INC., best known for its Finale Software Program, posted revenues of $4.6 million for the third quarter, a 15% increase over last year's revenues of $4.0 million. For the first nine months of the year, the software maker booked...

Auditors quantify success of GAMA guitar workshops.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... IN AN EFFORT to further quantify the results of the Teaching Guitar Workshop Program, GAMA, The Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association, has retained the services of an independent auditor, Dr. Robert Horowitz, PhD, of Columbia University....

Kaman sales up in third quarter.(FLASH)(Financial report)
January 1, 2008... KAMAN MUSIC CORP., soon to be acquired by Fender Musical Instrument Corp., reported operating income of $3.7 million for the third quarter of 2007, versus $3.8 million for the same period a year ago. Sales for the quarter were $57.1 million,...

International dealer program introduced: Graph Tech.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... GRAPH TECH GUITAR Labs has introduced its first international dealer program providing first-rate customer service and product buy-back options to its network of dealers and distributors in over 27 countries worldwide. "Providing the...

Vater sticks star in Rock Band video game.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... VATER PERCUSSION is featured in the new Rock Band game created by Harmonix, developers of the blockbuster Guitar Hero franchise. Rock Band is an all-new platform for gamers to experience music, giving them the chance to rock in the shoes of the...

Mapex world record pursuits benefit charities.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MAPEX RECENTLY co-sponsored two events organized to break world records and raise money for very worthy causes. The fifth annual Woodstick event in Seattle was hosted by Destination Mapex dealer Donn Bennett Drum...

Dealer service hours extended permanently: Conn-Selmer.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... CONN-SELMER has announced that dealer service hours will be extended on a permanent basis, effective immediately. The customer service department will be available until 7 P.M. Eastern Time Monday though Friday and from 10 A.M. to 2 RM. Eastern...

Sabian honors three percussion icons at PASIC.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... SABIAN LTD. HONORED Gary Cook, Chester Thompson, and Ian Wright with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 32nd Annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). In a ceremony held in Columbus, Ohio, the three industry icons were...

Kentucky boy gets piano of his dreams: Hailun.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... BRAD HOBBS HAS been dreaming about a piano--a real piano--for years. Now a concerted effort by Hailun Distribution LLC and their dealers has made his dream come true in the shape of a new 123 fully agraffed upright. Hobbs, a young man from...

New website launched: Musicorp.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Website overview)
January 1, 2008... MUSICORP, A LEADING distributor and manufacturer of musical instruments, lighting products, and accessories, has launched a new, sleeker, and easier-to-navigate website, www.musicorp.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This new site will...

Retail up! Website service improves dealer sell-through.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Website overview)
January 1, 2008... RETAIL UP! MUSIC is introducing a music industry first at the winter NAMM show: a two-pronged website solution for music products suppliers and dealers. Music Market Up is a new cooperative website that merchandises suppliers' brands and...

Anaheim to host PTG Convention: Piano Technicians' Guild.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... THE WORLD'S LARGEST piano technology gathering is headed to the Golden State as Anaheim hosts the 51st Annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention and Technical Institute. Dates for the events are June 18-22, 2008. The educational part of...

Ethan Farmer joins EMG endorsers list.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2008... EMG HAS WELCOMED a new endorser in Ethan Farmer, bassist with Christina Aguilera. Long respected for his skills on the instrument, Farmer, who powers all his Fender basses with the EMG-J set, has also played with Janet Jackson, Brandy, and...

Steinway of Naples hosts physicians talent showcase.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)(Sound recording review)
January 1, 2008... MORE THAN 300 cheering fans paid $75 per ticket for the Third Annual Steinway Piano Society's Physicians Talent Showcase. Society founder and Showcase producer and music director Greg Billings, CEO of Steinway Piano Gallery of Naples, hosted...

Guitar Center's Laguna guitar line now in stores.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... PROMINENTLY PLACED ads in catalogs and in-store flyers have signaled the introduction of Guitar Center's new Laguna private label guitar line. Including four electric models and three acoustics, retailing between $299 and $699, the instruments...

Limited-edition Gibson robot guitar: Bill's Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... BILL'S MUSIC OF BALTIMORE, Maryland, is now offering the world's first self-tuning robot guitar by Gibson. For as long as the guitar has existed, guitar lovers have had two choices: live with a temperamental and out-of-tune instrument or make...

DrummerFest showcases world-class talent: Cascio Interstate Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... CASCIO INTERSTATE MUSIC in New Berlin, Wisconsin, held its seventh annual DrummerFest event on Saturday, November 10, 2007. DrummerFest has grown into a nationally recognized showcase for world-class drum artists. This year's DrummerFest, held...

Memphis Drum Shop marks 20th with blowout party and sale.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... MEMPHIS DRUM SHOP, one of the nation's leading percussion products retailers, recently celebrated 20 years in business. On October 19, Memphis Drum owner Jim Pettit hosted a vendor appreciation reception, welcoming representatives from top...

Lomascola performs on Million Dollar Piano: Piano Gallery.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU SEE a piano worth $1 million, but visitors to the Piano Gallery in Dallas did just that last fall. In a concert sponsored by the Piano Gallery and the Baldwin Piano Company, international pianist and Baldwin artist Lomascola...

CD raises funds for children's hospital: Sweetwater.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2008... SWEETWATER, THE FOURTH-largest musical instrument and pro audio retailer in the world, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, radio station Majic 95.1, have combined forces to issue Majic Miracle Music, Volume II, a compilation CD of new recordings by...

Going where your competition isn't! The key to profitability is finding untapped market niches where you don't have to compete with everyone on price. A few thoughts on how to find them.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
January 1, 2008... I had a very interesting conversation a, few weeks ago with Don Middleton, owner of Don s Musicland in Peoria, Illinois. I had seen his website which included some information about his store. In the "Info about us" section, it read: "Elvis...

The year in review: economic headwinds, combined with unexpected shifts in consumer tastes, made 2007 a challenging year. Sales growth was tepid and profits were under seige, but that didn't get in the way of some of the biggest buyouts in history. Herewith, a comprehensive recap of the past 12 months.(THE YEAR IN REVIEW)(Cover story)(Financial report)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Weighing in at about $7.5 billion (sales), the humble music products industry is so small that it amounts to less than rounding error against the backdrop of the gigantic, $13 trillion U.S. economy. You'd think that...

Creating new customers one at a time: for the past five decades, a vibrant education operation has been central to Falcetti Music's success. At their five stores, teaching creates store traffic, improves sales, and best of all, contributes to the bottom line.(RETAIL PROFILE: FALCETTI MUSIC)
January 1, 2008... "You're gonna find that making music is the most exciting thing you've ever done! You're gonna absolutely love this!" Sam Falcetti, founder of Falcetti Music, is on stage in the auditorium of his Springfield, Massachusetts, store, exuberantly...

Anthem Music Group ... A business plan built on retail profits: David Kilkenny's new band instrument venture offers a full line of high-value instruments, plus a marketing program that places retail profits first.(COMPANY PROFILE: ANTHEM MUSIC GROUP)
January 1, 2008... David Kilkenny was trying to focus on exploring new employment opportunities, but his telephone kept ringing. School music retailers who had known him as the president of Sonare Winds, which he left in February 2007, or previously as vice...

Small package huge potential! M-Audio's MicroTrack portable recorder will appeal to anyone who needs to capture high-quality audio, in the studio or in the field, creating great market opportunities for retailers.(CUTTING EDGE)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AN OTHERWORLDLY SCREECH pierces the night, jolting you from slumber. If you're like most people, you pull your pillow over your head and try to get back to sleep. But if you're Academy Award-winning sound designer...

A remarkable record of resilience: how Samick has managed to sustain a heady growth trajectory by consistently adapting in the face of adversity, overcoming everything along the way from domestic market turmoil to currency crises.(SAMICK MUSIC: MARKS 50TH YEAR)(Company overview)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visitors to Seoul, Korea, today are dazzled by a sea of prosperity. Lavish high rises, luxury cars, and evidence of affluence can be found in every corner of the city--quite a contrast from 50 years ago when Seoul...

France's Algam music: economic reality forces focusing on the high-end.(GLOBAL PROFILE)
January 1, 2008... HOW DO YOU SAY "music products" in French? Practically speaking it could be "Algam," thanks to the high profile the Paris-based company has forged through clever, forward-thinking marketing and a focus on customer service. Algam serves roughly...

Reunion Blues creates new retail profit opportunities; pioneering gig bag maker celebrates 30th anniversary with stepped-up sales and marketing effort, helping dealers effectively merchandise high-end leather goods with an opportunity to "sell the best!".(SHORT TAKE)(Company overview)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOUNDED IN 1976, Reunion Blues literally created a market niche with the development of a line of high-end, extremely durable gig bags. With more than 70 models available for fretted, brass, woodwind and percussion...

Amadeus flutes: "made by us, not for us!" When Eastman Music set out to offer a step-up flute, the couldn't find a factory in China that could meet their quality standards. So, they set up their own factory.(NEW PRODUCT)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IN A VILLAGE OUTSIDE Beijing, China, hundreds of bicycles circle around the modern U-shaped factory where the Eastman Music Company makes its instruments. Inside, 80 specially-trained Chinese workers are building a...

A whole new way to make music: the radical harpejji marries the logic of a keyboard with the expressive capability of a fretted instrument in an effort to push the creative envelope.(NEW TECHNOLOGY)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tim Meeks was a keyboardist who wished a piano would play like a guitar. "If you give a guitarist one string and ask him to make a note sing," says Meeks, "he can do it. If you try to do that on a piano, choose that...

Bruce Mariano and Ric Forero promoted: C.F. Martin & Co.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... C.F. Martin & Co. made two new appointments within the Marketing & Sales Division of Martin Guitar, naming Ric Forero to director of international sales--Far East and South America; and Bruce Mariano to director of international sales--Europe...

David Fournier to head product development: Fishman.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... Fishman has promoted David Fournier to director of product development. Fournier joined Fishman three-and-a-half years ago as product manager and has been involved in the development of several new amplification and toneshaping products, such...

Phil Glenn new Young Chang service mgr.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... Young Chang North America has announced the return of Phil Glenn as National Service Manager. Glenn has been involved in piano technology since 1974, when he started a successful piano service business in Orange County, California, that he ran...

Don Rhodes new E.M. Winston president.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... E.M. Winston band instruments of Boston has appointed Don Rhodes to the position of president. A 34-year industry veteran, Rhodes is best known to the dealer community for his 15 years as vice president of sales for Musicorp and most recently...

Bob Jones signs on as consultant: QRS.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... QRS MUSIC Technologies, Inc., has signed a contract with Bob Jones to consult in the evolution of the Story & Clark piano line. "QRS has always been a technology leader and innovator," said Tom Dolan, president and chief executive officer of...

Yamaha PAC Division promotes DeManty, creates "content division".(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2008... Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division (PAC), has announced several personnel moves, along with the creation of a new marketing content team. Cliff DeManty has been appointed sales and marketing manager for the company's...

Fender VG Strat gets rave reviews, expands electronic guitar market.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... IN 2007, FENDER'S NEW VG strat earned widespread consumer admiration and seven international awards including NAMM's "Best In Show." Modeling technology may be nothing new, but blending the sophisticated technology with the elegant simplicity...

Guitar/bass protection better than a stand: GrabAxe.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... HAVE YOU EVER leaned your axe against your amp? Ever had it crash to the floor? Ever left your guitar stand at home, by mistake, or because it's just too much of a hassle to pack and carry? Wish you could keep your axe safe, secure, and...

Levy's Leathers offers Platinum Collection.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... LEVY'S LEATHERS has created the most luxurious line of guitar straps in the company's history. Each strap in the new Platinum Collection is fashioned with premium leather, foam padding, and soft leather backing and features a median braid....

Phantom power acoustic pickup: Schatten Design.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... PHANTOM POWER in an endpin jack preamp is now a reality! Schatten Design has unveiled its new Artist II endpin jack preamp, whose unique patent-pending design allows this new preamp to run from a nine-volt battery or from phantom power. A...

All-in-one Roland HD-1 drumkit creates new product category.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... ROLAND'S V-DRUMS are the most popular electronic drums in the world, but not everyone has the room or budget for a full V-Drums kit. The company's new HD-1 V-Drums Lite kit was forged from the same technology as its predecessors, but it's much...

CAD Pro unveils signature Mic packs at NAMM.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... CAD PROFESSIONAL Microphones will launch its Signature Series Mic Packs, the Joe Satriani Amp Mic Pack and the Al Di Meola Acoustic Mic Pack, at Winter NAMM in January. The Joe Satriani Guitar Amp Mic Pack comes equipped with one Trion...

Eastwood issues replica of Buzzcock Pete Shelley's "Starway guitar".(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... THIRTY YEARS AGO PETE Shelley retired his storied Starway guitar. Now Eastwood has teamed up with the Buzzcocks frontman to create a reproduction of his famous guitar. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1976 the Buzzcocks recorded their Spiral...

Hohner offers new Rockstart guitar pack.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... NEW FROM HOHNER, INC. is the "Rockstart" acoustic guitar package aimed at the entry-level market. The Rockstart package includes everything a beginner needs to get started, including Hohner's popular HW350 acoustic guitar (featuring a spruce...

Denis Wick heritage trombone mouthpiece: DANSR.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... THE NEW HERITAGE trombone mouthpiece from Denis Wick is designed to incorporate the best of the old designs from the turn of the 19th century with CNC, state-of-the-art manufacturing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Heritage trombone...

Beast headphone amp, new Ministar models: Codel Enterprises.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... MINISTAR WAS A HIT with dealers at the summer NAMM show in Austin, where it introduced its Ministar guitar and Minijazz bass. At the winter NAMM show in Anaheim Ministar will unveil two new models: the Minicaster, featuring three single-coil...

Wyman debuts breakthrough Pianoforce CD2 player system.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... WYMAN PIANO COMPANY will be showing its new Wyman/Pianoforce CD2 factory-installed player piano system, with breakthrough technology, at the upcoming winter NAMM show in Anaheim. "By installing the Wyman/Pianoforce CD2 player piano system at...

Red Witch introduces Empress Chorus: Dana B. Goods.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... RED WITCH, the New Zealand-based designer/manufacturer of high quality analog effect pedals, has reinvented the chorus with its Empress Chorus. Red Witch, distributed exclusively by Dana B. Goods in the U.S., is always striving to create pedals...

Bari sax mouthpiece completes DV series: Jody Jazz.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... WITH THE NEW DV Baritone, Jody Jazz has completed its highly acclaimed DV series of saxophone mouthpieces. With effortless playing, strong projection, and a rich, fat, throaty baritone sound, the DV is suited to all styles of playing. Also new...

New Yamaha CVP 400 combines tone with accompaniment features.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... YAMAHA'S NEW CVP400 Series of digital pianos is designed for beauty and elegance as well as the meticulous craftsmanship the Clavinova line is known for. This series also provides the capability to record fully orchestrated performances, with...

Phaser PH9 effects pedal: Behringer.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... BEHRINGER'S NEW PHASER PH9 produces effects from warm 90[degrees] phase shifts to wild spacey warbles. A variable rate control sets the speed of the effect, and the swirl switch selects between classic and modern sound. The PH9 features rugged...

Verve Speaker Systems to launch at NAMM: FBT.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... FBT-its new powered Verve Series Speaker Systems at Winter NAMM. The series consists of ten models: five two-way systems, three floor monitors with coaxial drivers, and two subwoofers. All Verve speakers feature Italian-manufactured B&C...

New stick bags with practice pad: Pro-Mark.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... PRO-MARK CORPORATION has added two new drumstick caddies to its line. Each new Pad Bag incorporates a practice pad permanently affixed to the bag's exterior. This eliminates the need for a drummer to carry a separate pad in addition to his/her...

Specially designed fan keeps musicians cool: Personal Cooling Concepts.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... OFFERING A LEVEL of comfort and convenience that has previously been available only to top professional touring and recording artists, the new Blowit Personal Cooling System from Personal Cooling Concepts is specially designed to help drummers,...

New Arbor guitars to launch at NAMM: Musicorp.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... MUSICORP WILL introduce three new Arbor electric guitars and one electric bass at winter NAMM 2008. The new Arbor guitars and bass will be on display at Musicorp booth #5420. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The new models enhance the Arbor...

Guitar line makes U.S. debut at NAMM: Rollins/Magnetics USA.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... ON THE HEELS of overwhelming success in the Latin American and Caribbean markets, Miami-based Rollins Guitar is introducing its line of acoustic, electric, and bass guitars in the U.S. The line, which features 15 models of low-cost,...

Paisley pattern guitar straps: Get'm Get'm Wear.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... "ALL YOU NEED is love, peace, and Get'm Get'm"--least that's the message behind the California guitar strap manufacturer's new hippy-era-inspired Vintage Paisley pattern line. Available in blue, pink, and gold with heavy-duty hardware and...

"Learn to play ..." DVD titles released: Mel Bay.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... MEL BAY'S PARTNERSHIP with the U.K.'s Lick Library continues with additional DVD titles. New offerings include the "Learn to Play..." series featuring note-by-note demonstrations by Jamie Humphries, Danny Gill, and Andy James of such classic...

SHS Olinda classical guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... SHS INTERNATIONAL is introducing its new line of Olinda classical guitars at NAMM The line includes three models: OC-100, OC-200, and OC-300. The OC-300 features a solid cedar top, rosewood back and sides, and ebony fretboard and bridge. The...

Fury Electric with QTX: Hutchins Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... THE FURY ELECTRIC guitar from Hutchins Guitars features QTX, the industry's most innovative electronic tone control system. QTX enables the player to change from fusion to heavy metal sounds with a click of the QTX rotary switch. Triple Retro...

Pok to be introduced at winter Namm: X-Tempo Designs.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2008... X-TEMPO DESIGNS will introduce their flagship foot controller, the Pok, at winter NAMM in Anaheim. The pok is a wireless control surface pedal board that allows musicians, DJs, producers, live performers, and other DAW users to remotely...