Music Trades articles from January 2009

Music Trades archives from January 2009

Correcting the Global 225.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... I am writing to correct an error on your Global 225 Ranking that appeared in the December issue. You incorrectly list the EKO Music Group SpA at 116th place with annual turnover of $27.8 million (USD). Our total turnover in 2007 was exactly...

Thanks to a great industry.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... Three months before last year's NAMM show, my lymphoma, in remission for over four years, resurged with a vengeance. My only viable survival option involved a brutal in-patient chemotherapy program, known as 'salvage' chemo, followed by a...

Remembering Henry Steinway.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... An excellent tribute to Henry Steinway. You really captured the man and his spirit. He'll be missed by all who had the honor to know him. Paul Murphy M. Steinerts Boston, Massachusetts

An inspirational interview.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2009... It was simply great to hear the story behind and the strategies of Behringer from its founder. Uli seems to be one of the smartest managers in any industry I can think of. What an inspiring interview! John Amaral Director US...

Correction.(Correction notice)
January 1, 2009... The Global 225 ranking of the largest music products companies that appeared in the December issue inadvertently omitted C.Bechstein Company of Germany. The Berlin-based piano maker had sales of $40 million (USD) in 2007 and 198 employees. The...

Surprising strength: Black Friday sales up 3%.(Industry Briefings)(Financial report)
January 1, 2009... Strong discounts brought U.S. consumers to the stores on "Black Friday"--the traditional first day of the holiday shopping season--with estimated sales rising 3% from last year, according to industry analyst ShopperTrak RCT Corp. ShopperTrak...

Mysterious piano appears.(Industry Briefings)
January 1, 2009... Was it a theft? A prank? A roundabout effort to bring some holiday cheer to the police? Authorities in Harwich, Massachusetts, are probing the mysterious appearance of a piano, in good working condition, in the middle of the woods. Discovered...

Consumer confidence rebounds in November.(Industry Briefings)
January 1, 2009... Consumer confidence rose in November amid receding gas prices and dispiriting headlines. The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday its Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 44.9, up from a revised 38.8 in October, which was the lowest...

Musical astronauts bring music to space.(Industry Briefings)
January 1, 2009... A recent AP report notes that a surprising number of astronauts are also musicians who love to play in space. Astronaut Carl Walz, who lived on the International Space Station for 196 days, entertained himself on board with a portable keyboard....

When assumptions go out the window.(EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2009... The news has been filled with disheartening stories over the past six weeks. A stock market sell-off of epic proportions stripped Americans of a few trillion in net worth. There were more bailouts than anyone could hope to keep track of with a...

Go to NAMM! Why the ancient ritual of traveling great distances to see people and stuff makes more sense than ever.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... Between BlackBerries, iPhones, and web cams, everyone is so wired, why do they still bother observing a ritual that dates back to the Middle Ages? We're referring here to attending trade shows. Seven hundred years ago, when trade shows were the...

Fender moves to bigger & better NAMM display.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... Fender Musical Instruments will be moving its NAMM exhibit to the expansive ballroom E on the third floor of the Anaheim Convention Center. The move will provides extra space for an improved live performance stage and a more effective showcase...

Alfred "Music Hall" set for NAMM.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S Alfred Publishing NAMM booth is the "Alfred Music Hall," complete with a stage for top industry artists from every genre to deliver in-booth product demonstrations throughout the show. Visit Alfred at booth #4822. The...

Musicorp hosts violinist Tracy Bonham.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... TRACY BONHAM will be demonstrating Barcus-Berry violins at Musicorp's NAMM Booth 5420 on Friday, January 16th at 2:00. After officially signing an endorsement agreement with Barcus-Berry, Bonham stated, "I have been using the s a m e...

Internet retailers to address guitar manufacturers.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... GAMA, THE GUITAR and Accessories Marketing Association, has arranged for a panel of web-based musical instrument dealers to be featured at its upcoming annual meeting. The panel will consist of Noah Herschman of Amazon.com, Jim Hovey of...

Official NAMM exhibitor list.(NAMM 2009 PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... Official NAMM Exhibitor List (Compiled 12/2/2008) 2box AB 2430 3BDIO 1835 3L International 5825 65 Amps...

U.S. Band & Orchestra buys St. Louis Music wholesale; deal with Loud Tech. includes Knilling violin division and Austin guitar brand.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2009... U.S. BAND & ORCHESTRA Supplies has acquired the SLM Marketplace Division and its Austin guitar brand as well as the Knilling Stringed Instrument division from Loud Technologies. The transaction rounds out U.S. Band & Orchestra's school music...

Gibson "Dark Fire" on parade.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GIBSON IS BILLING its new Dark Fire Guitar as the "Most Remarkable Guitar in 50 years." Befitting such hyperbole, the first public viewing of the new instrument was on a float in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day...

Mojo Musical Supply acquires Custom Wound pickup line.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... MOJO MUSICAL SUPPLY has acquired the Custom Wound line of pickups. Already the exclusive distributor of Custom Wound pickups, Mojo will not only continue to carry the line but has acquired all manufacturing operations at Custom Wound's Burgaw,...

Yamaha restructures sales & marketing.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] YAMAHA CORPORATION of America (YCA) has realigned its core marketing and sales structure to better serve a changing market. "Having concluded an exhaustive, five-month review of our company's structure and...

Stentor names Kaman U.S. distributor.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... STENTOR HAS APPOINTED Kaman Musical Instruments to be its new distributor in the U.S. Established in England in 1895, Stentor produces violins, violas, cellos, and basses for musicians of all levels. Stentor Student I and Student II...

Roland drawing spurs interest in HandSonic percussion.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... ROLAND IS GENERATING consumer interest in its unique family of HandSonic electronic hand percussion instruments with a consumer drawing highlighted by top percussionists Luis Conte, Richie Garcia, and Brad Dutz. The contest celebrates the...

Popular Science calls Moog Guitar "Best of What's New".(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... The distinctive Moog Guitar has won a 2008 "Best of What's New Award" from Popular Science magazine in the Recreation category, competing against thousands of new products reviewed by the magazine's editors. To win, a product must represent a...

Major capital investment enhances Rico Reeds quality and value.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICO REEDS HAS engineered and installed five automatic blanking machines to replace more than two dozen previous-generation blanking units used to produce the world's most popular reeds. Rico presently produces more...

Triple platinum artist Taylor Swift performs at Taylor Guitar plant.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... TRIPLE-PLATINUM COUNTRY music sensation Taylor Swift debuted her second album, Fearless, at the Taylor Guitars factory in El Cajon, California on November 5. Performing in the company's acoustically designed auditorium, she dazzled the audience...

Grand sets tone for Olympics & Paralympics: Heintzman Piano Company.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... A NINE-FOOT WHITE concert grand piano from the Heintzman Piano Company was selected and built for the opening ceremonies of the this summer's Olympic games in Beijing, China, and was later used in performances to open the Paralympic games....

Army rehearsal space a splash in Iraq: Auralex.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... AURALEX ACOUSTICS recently supported the United States Army's 10th Mountain Division Band in Iraq. With approximately 40 members, the 10th Mountain Division Band was deployed to Camp Victory, Iraq earlier this year. Auralex Acoustics took on...

Jazz guitar maker wins export award: Benedetto Guitars.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... BENEDETTO GUITARS has emerged as the winner of the second annual Georgia Featured Export Product Award which recognizes small and medium-sized Georgia businesses for their efforts to develop innovative products that will find success in export...

Mouthpiece maker faces jail term for fraud.(FLASH)
January 1, 2009... DAVE GUARDALA, who manufactured saxophone mouthpieces that were the choice of Branford Marsalis, has pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud and agreed to pay back $1.1 million to those he defrauded. A native of Long Island, Guardala...

Mason & Hamlin Piano stars at U.S. Embassy in Paris.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MASON & HAMLIN TOOK center stage in a November 13 recital by renowned pianist Jay Gottlieb at the U.S. embassy residence in Paris, the last such concert scheduled under Bush-appointed Ambassador to France Craig...

Vandoren artists present master classes: DANSR.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... VANDOREN ARTISTS Jon Manasse and Otis Murphy recently held master classes: Manasse at the University of North Texas College of Music, and Murphy at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he also performed a recital. Murphy, a professor...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firms.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... SHARE PRICES OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E DEC. 5, 2008 RATIO Apple Computer Inc. $89.86 16.78...

APX "Show No Mercy" Tour rocks USA: Sabian.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... IN SUPPORT OF Sabian's APX series of high-decibel cymbals, drummers Ray kuzier of Korn, Chris Pennie of Coheed & Cambria, and Seven Antonopoulos of Opiate for the Masses have been touring the United States. The popular drummers demonstrated for...

Online training helps retailers sell pickups: Seymour Duncan.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... WITH HUNDREDS OF different guitar pickups available, how do you match the right model with the customer? Pickup pioneer Seymour Duncan is offering help in the form of a new online training program, now available to authorized Seymour Duncan...

Liszt Bechstein piano comes to America.(FOREFRONT)
January 1, 2009... FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, Bechstein piano serial #576, originally delivered to Franz Liszt on March 17, 1862, has arrived in New York. The piano was on display at the Bechstein America corporate headquarters on 58th Street in Manhattan. Ongoing...

Premier Pianos sells 165 Steinways to University of Cincinnati Conservatory.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN ONE OF THE SINGLE largest institutional sales in Steinway & Sons history, Premier Pianos of Cincinnati concluded the sale of 165 new pianos to the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati....

Downtown teams with local library to spread the joy of music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
January 1, 2009... LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS to spread the joy of playing music, Joe Blumenthal of Downtown Sounds in Northampton, Massachusetts, recently donated a ukulele to the local public library. Any library card holder in sixth grade or higher can check out the...

Johnson to succeed Eastman as CEO: Musician's Friend.(RETAILER UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... AS MUSICIAN'S FRIEND celebrates its 25th anniversary, company founder Robert Eastman will step down from day-to-day operations and assume the role of chairman emeritus, effective January 1, 2009. Craig Johnson will take on the position of chief...

Medley Music to close.(RETAILER UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... AS THIS ISSUE WENT to press, Medley Music of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, had initiated a going-out-of-business sale with plans to suspend operations by year end. The store had been a landmark in the greater Philadelphia area for 54 years. Gerson...

Retailer named top arts supporter by BCA: Sweetwater.(RETAILER UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... SWEETWATER SOUND was placed in elite company when it was named as one of the ten best companies supporting the arts in America by the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA). Direct response retailer Sweetwater shares honors with Fortune 500...

Benefit concert aids Angola school.(Gand Music)
January 1, 2009... GAND MUSIC AND SOUND of Northfield, Illinois, recently teamed up with RISE International to help raise money to build an elementary school in Angola. Owners Joan and Gary Gand organized a $50-per-ticket concert featuring their rock 'n' roll...

"Musical Innovations" leads staff training: Creative Music Center.(RETAILER UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... WHEN LIZ REISMAN OPENED Creative Music Center in 2002, she knew she wanted her store to be an attractive, comfortable place for her customers to spend time. This year Reisman decided to take her staff to the next level with training in product...

Music & Arts adds five Texas stores, opens 17,000-sq.-ft. distribution center.(RETAILER UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... STEPPING UP THE PACE of its Texas expansion, Music & Arts has opened five new stores and a new 17,000-square-foot distribution facility in Dallas County. The moves are part of an effort to strengthen the Guitar Center division's position in the...

Dan Vedda discusses how the credit crisis affects music retail.(Q&A)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... As this issue went to press in the days following Black Friday, retailers were bracing for a holiday shopping season shadowed by the tightest credit in recent memory. Hanging in the balance were questions of how inventory could best be juggled...

How to handle the "neo-hagglers": there's nothing like a tough economy to bring out the larceny in consumer's hearts. Some thoughts on how to avoid giving away the store when customers come in looking for a special deal.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
January 1, 2009... Today there are so many discount stores, wholesale clubs, and regular weekend sale ads, (not to mention e-Bay, Craigslist, and Amazon.com), that it seems nobody pays retail anymore. I know of no furniture stores in our area that sell at retail....

The year in review: when the dust settles, 2008 will be recorded as a year with a split personality ... before the financial upheavals of October and after. A look at events that shaped the year; the people, products, and companies driving events; and what the coming 12 months may hold.(2008 In Review)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once when asked about an upcoming opponent's fight plan, Mike Tyson responded, "Everyone has a plan... until they get hit." The former pugilist was discussing the fine points of boxing, but his observation has...

Creating a single Yamaha: how high gas prices helped bring the disparate Yamaha divisions together around common goals: spurring retail sales and burnishing the crossed tuning fork emblem.(INDUSTRY MARKETING)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yamaha's top management in Japan recently issued the "One Yamaha" policy, a corporate-wide initiative to better coordinate the company's far-flung divisions. This is no small undertaking given the exceptionally broad...

PASIC 2008 a tale of two shows: exhibitors ponder tough market while drummers revel in the annual celebration.(REPORT FROM PASIC)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE STAGE WAS SET for the 2008 Percussive Arts Society International Convention ,tot being among PAS's biggest. Prices for gas and air tares were peaking around the time many people were deciding whether to attend....

The Petrof piano saga: an amazing story of courage, endurance, and a family's extraordinary commitment to an exemplary piano building tradition.(PROFILE)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... The piano industry, small in size, collegial in character, and populated with individuals who are motivated by a genuine love of the instrument, is rarely a source of high drama. Boardroom showdowns, bare-knuckle tactics, corporate espionage,...

Ashton from "down under" finds fans "all over": a product line with Australian design cues and Chinese production offers a feature retailers understand worldwide: profit potential.(PRODUCT STRATEGIES)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1999, Ashton Music has been gradually expanding its global reach beyond its native Australia. A division of the Sydney-based Australis Music Group, Ashton now sells products in more than 30...

Making music fun: "today's kids aren't satisfied learning to play 'Little Brown Jug' or 'Autumn Leaves.' The innovative Rock House Method gives them the artists and the methods that turn them on to learning.".(NEW CONCEPTS)
January 1, 2009... Much thought has been devoted to engaging today's budding musicians, especially the coveted 13-25 year-olds who set market trends. Capturing their attention requires understanding the source of their inspiration to play. Kids who listen to...

Jupiter president Tabor Stamper's strategies for suceeding in a changing market.(Q&A)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... Last July KHS America appointed a new president, school band sector veteran Tabor Stamper. KHS America divisions include Jupiter Band Instruments, Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion (formerly Ross Percussion), and Altus Flutes. In addition...

King of the downstairs: how Irwin Natman has turned a downstairs location into a thriving shopping destination by doing what his competitors can't, or won't.(RETAIL STRATEGIES)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Between a place called the Green Cactus Mexican Grill and the sushi restaurant next door, there's just enough room for a doorway and a sign for All Music. Just inside, a stairwell lit by neon arrows and plastered...

Finder's fees: how to honestly and fairly manage paid referrals.(RETAIL Q&A)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... BY ANY NAME--referral fee, spill; or finder's fee--the remuneration music retailers pay to non-employees for customer referrals isn't rare, but for some it's a touchy topic. In the school band business, where school music educators' influence...

Finder's fees in M.I. stores?(RETAIL Q&A)
January 1, 2009... CHRIS STANLEY, president of Richmond Music Center in Richmond, Virginia, concedes, "We might be losing out on some sales by not padding the hand that sends us customers, but there's something sketchy about paying for people to recommend doing...

Executive leadership changes announced: Rodgers.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2009... RODGERS INSTRUMENTS PRESIDENT Lloyd Robbins will retire at the end of 2008, and Rodgers Chairman Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder and special consultant of the Roland Corporation, will assume the role of president at that time. Additionally, Vice...

Appointments expand artist relations dept: Korg.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
January 1, 2009... KORG USA has restructured its artist relations department and hired Matt Ferguson as West Coast entertainment relations manager. Ferguson brings more than 15 years of artist and entertainment relations experience to Korg USA, having most...

Co-ceo resigns; Raup named ceo: MakeMusic.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... MAKEMUSIC INC. has announced that John Paulson has resigned from his positions as co-chief executive officer and director. Paulson will serve as a consultant for the company for a transitional period. The board of directors has unanimously...

Menrath heads Behringer global business development.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR industry veteran and admitted "gear-obsessed musician" Tom Menrath has been appointed to the newly-created position of Behringer vice president, global business development. "We believe that Tom is the perfect person to...

QRS "Pronto" enables one-touch control.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2009... QRS MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES has upgraded its Pianomation controllers, Petine and Ancho, with the release of its free configuration files that enable integration of all Pianomation functions to the Philips Pronto TSU9400 platform, providing...

Kawai ES6 portable digital piano.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
January 1, 2009... THE NEW ES6 PORTABLE digital piano from Kawai offers upgrades including state-of-the-art sound technology, improved graded-hammer action, and a powerful six-speaker system. This newest member of the popular ES Series offers outstanding tone and...

Encore E Series from JHS designed by Trev Wilkinson.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "GUITAR GURU" Trev Wilkinson, designer of Fret-King and Vintage guitars and creator of many now-standard guitar innovations, has designed into JHS's new Encore E Series electric guitar range the features and subtle...

Kala Ukulele's new striped acacia ukes.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... KALA UKULELE has added three new models made of solid wood striped acacia to its already extensive line. Features include a rosewood bridge; ebony fingerboard, nut, and saddle; custom abalone swan fret marker inlays; rosewood binding with...

DJ Tech's USB equipped guitar amp offers record, playback.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... DJ TECH LIMITED has introduced the new UBM Solo USB Band Monitor. This integrated USB stereo monitor and software device allows the user to not only play with the sounds of dozens of legendary amps and effects, but also to record and practice...

Levy's expands gig bag line, adds wristband pick holder.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... LEVY'S LEATHERS' new Pro Series gig bag features 1" foam padding, a neck-stabilizing system, and strap pin suspension shock absorbers that result in the best protection possible in a gig bag. Other features include a rain cape, hideaway...

Zzyzx to showcase new products at NAMM: Jodavi.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... ZZYZX, INC., A SUBSIDIARY of Jodavi, Inc., will launch several innovative Snap Jack and Zzyzx products at NAMM. Snap Jack wireless system cables are designed for players who are using wireless systems but want a pro-quality Zzyzx Snap Jack...

New concepts meet time-honored tradition: Hora.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... BASED IN REGHIN, Romania, sometimes known as the city of violins, Hora Musical Instruments is the largest manufacturer of bowed instruments and guitars in Europe. Founded in 1951 by master luthier Roman Boianciuc, Hora produces more than 50,000...

Hal Leonard new releases for piano and guitar.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... HAL LEONARD CORPORATION has unveiled a broad range of new titles for NAMM 2009. Since the company introduced its first FastTrack music instruction book/CD packs in 1997, this popular method has taught and entertained millions of budding...

From Canada, with attitude: Guerilla Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... CANADA'S GUERILLA GUITARS offers a full line of handmade electric guitars and basses featuring exceptional construction quality, premium materials and features, and distinctive body designs and finishes. Based in Laval, Quebec, Guerilla Guitars...

Acoustar & minicoustar travel guitars: Ministar.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... MINISTAR'S NEW ACOUSTAR series of "no-compromise" travel guitars are designed to play, sound, and feel like any good quality instrument, except they have a few secrets. Available in both cutaway and non-cutaway styles, these 25-1/2"-scale...

Dunlop revives '76 vintage Dyna Comp and "way huge" pedals.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE MXR DYNA COMP stomp box processor that was produced in 1976 has long been prized for the way it "tightens up" a guitar signal, raising the volume of quiet notes and leveling offpeaks to create rich, full bodied...

Remo's earth-friendly festival Djembes.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... REMO PLAYERS CAN now look for the company's new ECO-Seal, which certifies that Remo's proprietary U.S.-made Acousticon drum shells are environmentally friendly and made from 100% recycled wood fibers. As a leading drumhead specialist, Remo...

Aldon's "Pack A Stand" for clarinet and trumpet.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... ALDON ENTERPRISES' "Pack A Stand" for trumpet and clarinet is the only stand on the market that folds to store in the instrument's bell and fits in the case. With its light-weight, durable design, Pack A Stand opens easily and locks into place....

Audix CabGrabber mic holder provides creative solution.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... NOW SHIPPING from Audix Corporation is the CabGrabber, an innovative accessory for the pro audio market. Simple, elegant, compact, and easy to use, the CabGrabber enables sound engineers and musicians to conveniently place a microphone on a...

Bookmark, timer & metronome in one: Mark-My-Time.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... THE MARK-MY-TIME for Music digital metronome is a versatile product designed to facilitate practice sessions by combining a bookmark, digital timer, and metronome into one easy-to-use product. Music students can record their practice time at...

New entry-level and mid-priced pianos: C. Bechstein.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... AT THE 2009 winter NAMM show C.Bechstein will unveil new series of entry-level and middle price point pianos. Bearing the W. Hoffmann brand name, these pianos are being manufactured at the Bechstein Europe factory in the Czech Republic. New...

Hand-built Concord Amp now in stores: ValveTrain.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... JUST RELEASED FROM ValveTrain Amplification is the new Concord Amplifier. Retail priced at $499, the Concord features all point-to-point hand wiring and delivers a blistering six watts RMS through a custom-designed 10" speaker. The Concord...

New iStand from Hercules: Kaman Music.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... THE NEW HERCULES iStand is a marvel of innovation, form and function. Compact and lightweight, the iStand fits in most gig bag pockets. Its durable injection-molded construction will withstand years of abuse. It sets up and tears down...

Ovation adds value to Standard Balladeer.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... OVATION'S 2009 STANDARD Balladeer offering delivers the outstanding value of a professional-level guitar at a modest price. Select tone woods, Ovation's famous OP Pro preamp, and lightweight GS composite bodies are just some of the features...

Hutchins Guitars now offered by C & J Distributors.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] C & J DISTRIBUTING and M & D International recently joined forces to expand distribution of Hutchins Guitars in the U.S. In 1996 U.K. guitar maker Gary Hutchins envisioned a series of guitars that would marry...

Jensen introduces electric lightning: CE Distribution.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... 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 raids, and crisp, bright highs. A true...

Limited-time control processor offer: Moog.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008, Moog Music is offering a free CP-251 control processor ($399 value) with the purchase of any Minimoog Voyager, Old School, or Little Phatty synthesizer from an authorized Moog dealer. Details are available at...

Hans Hoyer descant horn RT 91/92: JA Musik.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS JA Musik GmbH worked to develop a completely new Bb/high-F descant horn for its renowned Hans Hoyer French horn line. The horn was first suggested by Rick Todd, principal French horn of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and...

Classic badges, new finishes: Gretsch.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2009... GRETSCH USA is replacing its current "Since 1883" Square Badge with the "DropG" Gretsch Stop Sign badge for all USA Custom drums. The "Since 1883" Square Badge will still be available for add-on drum matching. Interior shell labels will change...