Music Trades articles from July 2004

Music Trades archives from July 2004

Pawn shops, Wal-Mart, and the shifting definition of who is "legitimate".(Letters)
July 1, 2004... Having been in the music industry for over 50 years, I smiled a bit when reading the letter protesting the "Company of the Year" choice. When I entered our great industry, one of its active business segments was pawn shops. In fact, the company...

Remembering Bill Zeswitz.(Letters)
July 1, 2004... This funny little industry just keeps shuffling along, adapting to new sources of supply and new products but on reflection, the customer and the retail store are little changed from 50 years ago. I keep wondering if and how the channel will...

Adding up the music industry.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Once again, I was elated to receive my copy of The Music Trades, in this case, the April "Adding Up The Industry" issue. Each year I rely on the information gathered in this important issue to use in my sales and marketing planning,...

School music challenges.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Thank you for your great coverage of the recent NASMD convention in Destin, FL. Your coverage was both timely and complete. You're right; the realities of the school service business are staring us in the face. Now it's time to learn how to...

Remembering Tony D'Angelo.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of Tony D'Angelo. I always felt he was working on our behalf, as opposed to just doing a sales job. I know such a loss will be deeply felt in your company, and I'm sure that in the daily course of business...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... In our coverage of the RPMDA convention (June 2004) we mistakenly referred to "Alfred Publishing's Chris Scialfa." Chris Scialfa works for Carl Fisher Music.

Deflation is Ebbing, sales look good, and is Wal-Mart getting cold feet?(Import tracker: what's coming into the U.S. and from where)
July 1, 2004... Import Track is a new addition to The Music Trades' ongoing effort to precisely quantify the size, scope, and most importantly, direction of the music products industry. Drawing on data from a variety of sources, we present a snapshot of the...

A stradivarius as a CD holder?(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2004... A Los Angeles nurse found a stolen Stradivarius cello worth $3.5 million next to a dumpster and planned to turn it into a CD cabinet until she discovered it was the instrument the whole town was searching for, her lawyer says. The "General Kyd"...

Record company steps up lawsuits.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2004... The Recording Industry Association of America has now sued 2,947 individuals since last September in an attempt to discourage people from copying songs through "peer to peer" networks like Kazaa and LimeWire. The trade group, which represents...

DJs complain about Apple iPod.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2004... Apple's iPod, the wildy popular pocket-sized music player, has got New York's DJ community up in arms. In a recent New York magazine article, DJ Jon Jon Battles said, "It's easy to be a DJ now. Downloading has rendered the lifelong vinyl safari...

German Vegetable Orchestra gets ovation.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2004... The sounds of 40 kilos of finely tuned cucumbers, leeks, potatoes, radishes, peppers, aubergines and marrows entertained a German audience at the weekend in a concert by the first Viennese Vegetable Orchestra. The nine-piece orchestra play...

World trade and what: it means to you.(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... The fact that we live in a global economy is hardly news to anyone who s glanced at a newspaper or watched a few minutes of television during the past five years. Aside from dominating the headlines, everywhere you turn there is ample evidence...

Can Fender trademark its top-selling body shapes? Move to trademark Stratocaster, Telecaster, and P-Bass body shapes unites competitors in challenge to Federal trademark board. They ask, "where do you draw the line between an illegal copy and a competitive product?".(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... FENDER MUSICAL Instrument's attempt to obtain Federal trademark registrations on the body shapes of the top selling Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass guitars has initiated a heated controversy in the normally collegial world of...

Fender stongly denies report of sale.(News Flash)
July 1, 2004... A FRONT-PAGE STORY in the June 9th edition of London's Financial Times carried the headline "Guitar Giant Fender Set For $500 Million Sale." The article stated that Westin Presidio Capital, a Fender shareholder, had retained Goldman Sachs to...

Newly formed DANSR to distribute Vandoren: long time D'Addario Exec. Skinner to handle marketing for famed reed line, no change in prices, terms, or wholesale agreements anticipated.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... DANSR CORPORATION, a new business launched by Michael Skinner, will be the exclusive U.S. distributor for the Vandoren line of reeds, mouthpieces, and woodwind accessories. For the last 18 years Vandoren products had been distributed in the...

Steinway sponsors "Lifestyle" mag.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... TAKING A LEAF FROM OTHER high-end product manufacturers, like Mercedes-Benz and Cartier, Steinway & Sons has licensed Faircount Publishing to produce a glossy Steinway & Sons magazine. The first 184-page issue contains a wide range of features...

SoundBrands parts with Canopus Drums.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... SOUNDBRANDS LLC has announced that its distribution agreement with Canopus Customized Drums has been terminated. Tom Malm, SoundBrands president said "It was hard for Canopus to compete for inventory dollars and market development funds with...

Lowrey probes organ market with Blue-Ribbon dealer panel.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... LOWREY ORGAN COMPANY recently held its bi-annual Lowrey Magic Organ Course Blue Ribbon Committee meeting in Hillside, Illinois. The Blue Ribbon team, composed of 12 dealer members and Lowrey staff, meets two times a year to review Lowrey's...

Korg's Vestax Tour draws consumers, boosts retail sales.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... KORG USA RECENTLY presented the "Vestax Tour '04," a nationwide dealer and consumer clinic tour in support of the complete range of Vestax DJ products. The tour, which ran from March through June, offered dealers the opportunity to raise...

BBE appoints U.K. distributor.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... BBE SOUND HAS appointed LAX Professional Products to handle all sales and distribution of its product line in the United Kingdom. These include the BBE Sonic Maximizer, stereo and mono crossovers, dual compressor, tube and non-tube bass...

Sales & net income surge at QRS Music.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... QRS MUSIC Technologies, Inc. announced on May 21 sales and net income for the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2004. Sales for the three months ended March 31, 2004, were $4,526,636 with net income of $443,371 (available to...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firms.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... SHARE PRICES OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E 52-WEEK RANGE JUNE 11, 2004 RATIO HIGH-LOW Allen Organ Corp. $53.49 43.95...

P&D's Active drumsets set sales records.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... P&D WHOLESALE Supply has reported that its new Active drumsets have set new company sales records since their introduction a year ago. Pete D'Addario, president, remarked, "The Active Energy and the Active Custom have been successful far...

Mackie Designs loss narrows.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... THE COMBINATION OF SHIFTING manufacturing to Asia and closing European R&D and manufacturing facilities, enabled Loud Technologies, parent company of Mackie Designs, TAPCO, and EAW to significantly narrow its net loss for the three month period...

Redwood Music moves to California.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... Redwood Music Corporation, formerly located in Sandy, Utah, relocated its offices and warehouse to Walnut, California, in February. CEO Julie Robinson explained the move: "Although the skiing was great, the business climate in Utah was not...

Conn-Selmer U. adds master's "degree".(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... A NEW CONN-SELMER University Master's Level program, introduced to provide continuing career development for current music educators, will be held July 27 through 30 in Cleveland, Ohio. The advanced curriculum is designed to build competencies...

Gibsons star at new "Guitar Town" at Country Museum.(News Flash)
July 1, 2004... GUITARTOWN, A PUBLIC arts project that will feature 50 ten-foot-tall fiberglass guitars--25 Gibson Les Paul and 25 Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen guitars--officially unveiled the two inaugural guitar sculptures at the Country Music Hall of Fame...

Ross unveils Vibeman Program: a new way to put Mallet Instruments in the hands of more students.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... ROSS MALLET INSTRUMENTS has introduced The Vibeman Program for drummers who want to also learn vibraphone. The American Music Conference estimates that there are currently over three million active drummers, and lower-priced drumsets are...

Allen & Heath mixers back sting.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... U.K.-based OSS Pro Audio provided the p.a. system for an exclusive music workshop at Newcastle College, held by the city's most famous celebrity, Sting. OSS selected Allen & Heath consoles to manage sound, with a 24-channel GL4 live sound...

New website for Allied Piano.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... ALLIED PIANO/WEBB Phillips & Associates has opened a new website, www.alliedpiano.com. As a distributor of supplies for pianos and to the general woodworking industry, the company has shown steady and sustained growth over several years....

Hal Leonard to distribute Boosey & Hawkes print.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... HAL LEONARD CORPORATION President Larry Morton and Boosey & Hawkes President Jennifer Bilfield have announced that effective July 1 Hal Leonard will become the exclusive distributor for the prestigious classical and educational music catalog of...

Shure Europe to handle Middle East & Africa.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... SHURE EUROPE HAS assumed responsibility for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Shure Europe will provide sales, marketing, service, and applications support to the 20 independent distribution companies in this region. "We are looking...

Industry suppliers join in support of music camp: Atlanta summer camp schools beginners in basics of rock.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... FOR MANY KIDS SUMMER vacation usually brings thoughts of biking, swimming, hiking, or just hanging out, but for a group of lucky Atlanta youngsters, summer means getting a taste of the music industry and "rocking out." Currently in its...

Genz Benz Marks 20th year.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... IN 1984 JEFF GENZLER began building bass cabinets and sound reinforcement enclosures in his garage in Meza, Arizona. What he lacked in sophisticated machinery and marketing muscle he more than made up for with a keen understanding of the needs...

Clarkson & Aiken perform with Audio-Technica.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... KELLY CLARKSON and Clay Aiken have captivated a nationwide audience, a fact reaffirmed by the overwhelming success of their recent joint tour. The American Idol superstars struck out on their own for what was dubbed the Independent Tour 2004,...

Kid Rock's Krause signs with B.C. Rich.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... Jason Krause, the fiery guitarist for Kid Rock's band, is now playing and recording with B.C. Rich electric guitars. Krause has been an integral part of Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker band since 1997. Since then he has performed on the...

Jon Finn endorses BBE Sonic Maximizer.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... Jon Finn, guitarist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, is the latest artist to endorse the BBE Sonic Maximizer, a unique device that adds improved clarity, definition, and punch to live and recorded sounds. As well as fronting his own Jon Finn...

Shanghai show draws 400 exhibitors; space to top 300,000 sq. ft.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... WHETHER OR NOT THE Chinese market is a viable one for foreign instrument manufacturers has been hotly debated over the last few years, but exhibitor participation at Music China in Shanghai seems to suggest that it is, with manufacturers the...

Sabian offers Neil Peart Poster.(Industry Forefront)
July 1, 2004... Sabian Ltd. has added a new Neil Peart Paragon Poster Unit to its line of in-store point-of-purchase materials. The unit comes with 24 individually rolled and wrapped 36"x26" Neil Peart Paragon posters. The unit is a versatile in-store piece...

President Reagan and Mark Spiwak: how the leader of the free world came to call West L.A. Music's sales manager a trusted friend.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... LOCATED IN SANTA MONICA, blocks from the beach, West L.A. Music bills itself as the store "where the pros shop." So one busy afternoon in 1992 when three grim-looking men sporting dark glasses, crew cuts, and ear pieces walked in, it was...

Gruhn Guitars tapped to sell historic Maybelle Carter guitar: price set at $575,000 for 1928 Gibson L-5 used by influential country artist.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... IN OVER 25 YEARS of dealing with unique and vintage fretted instruments, George Gruhn has seen just about everything, but the retailer is still somewhat awestruck at having Mother Maybelle Carter's 1928 Gibson L-5 on display at his Nashville...

Judge slams Biasco for deceptive advertising: 41-point injunction prohibits Chicago piano dealer from engaging in confusing or misleading promotions.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... A DUPAGE COUNTY Circuit Court judge has issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Biasco Piano from running advertisements that five of its local competitors claimed were deceptive. The five retailers--Cordogan's Pianoland, Hendricks Piano,...

Good economic indicator--Steinway sale grosses record $4 million.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... AS FURTHER EVIDENCE of the growing strength of the economy, Steinway & Sons annual Factory Certified Pre-Owned Piano Event grossed a record $4 million over the May 14-16 weekend. The company sold 126 pianos at the factory showroom in Long...

Guitar Trader holds Roland Clinic.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... GUITAR TRADER, located in San Diego, California, staged a meet-and-greet informational event with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth on April 24. Roland sponsored the event, and more than 125 people attended, met with Mustaine. and watched guitar...

Five-Star dealers visit Kaman.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... AS PART OF an ongoing program to forge closer and more productive relationships with key suppliers, a delegation of Five-Star Drum Shop dealers recently paid a visit to the headquarters of Kaman Music Corp. in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Kaman...

BJ's Southside Music wins Musicorp's prize.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... BJ'S SOUTHSIDE MUSIC of San Antonio, Texas, has won the grand prize in Musicorp's 25th Anniversary Vacation Giveaway promotion. The first place prize went to Music World of Hobbs, New Mexico. Karl and B.J. Moore of Southside Music received...

Satriani packs American Music.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... LEGENDARY GUITAR virtuoso Joe Satriani demonstrated his new co-designed Peavey JSX guitar amplifier to a packed house at Bellevue American Music, in Bellevue, Washington. Store owner Reese Marin, said the clinic was a "tremendous success"...

Bill's Music holds George Lynch Clinic.(Retailer Update)
July 1, 2004... Bill's Music House, Baltimore, Maryland, recently hosted a clinic featuring guitarist George Lynch, of Lynch Mob and Sacred Groove, and also well known for his guitar playing in Dokken, which earned a Grammy nomination in 1989 for Best Rock...

Looking big on a small budget: the right merchandise mix, display fixtures, and promotional strategies can enable independent retailers to successfully compete out of a small storefront. Want to make more money in a small store? Read on.(Bob Popyk On Selling)
July 1, 2004... Nashville NAMM is coming. It's going to be the last time the summer show will be in Music City, USA for a while. For the past few weeks I've been in the process of putting a couple of panels together for the Friday and Saturday sessions. One...

NAMM leaves Nashville with a bang: after 12 great years in Nashville, NAMM is planning to relocate the summer show to Indianapolis ... But not without staging one last Music City, USA extravaganza. Don't miss it!(Nashville NAMM)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... Twelve years ago, a severely chastened NAMM management team threw the doors open for the first Nashville Summer Session, crossed their fingers, and hoped for the best. In the previous five years, the association had watched its long running...

Peavey partners with Jack Daniel's.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... PEAVEY ELECTRONICS Corporation has become the exclusive licensee of the Jack Daniel's brand for musical instruments, amplifiers, and accessories. Peavey will unveil its debut Jack Daniel's guitar at the summer NAMM show in Nashville. The...

MDA to hold "Show & Tell" in Nashville.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... THE MUSIC DISTRIBUTORS Association will hold its second annual Summer Show & Tell Day just prior to NAMM in Nashville. The event will take place from 8 A.M. to 12 noon on Thursday, July 22, in the newly renovated Capitol Ballroom of the...

Dave Mustaine to appear at ESP booth.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... DAVE MUSTAINE, famed guitarist and founder of celebrated metal band Megadeth, will be appearing at the ESP Guitars booth (#2006) at Summer NAMM in Nashville on Saturday, July 24 (time to be determined). Mustaine will sign autographs, show off...

Art by BigHeart Slide's Tatum honors Jazz & Blues Legends.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... A REMARKABLE series of paintings and sculptures by Luther Tatum, owner of BigHeart Slide Company. will be showcased in a special Nashville exhibition during NAMM. "The Art of Music" will be on display July 17 through August 12 at The Arts...

Visual Sound to host evening with Johnny Hiland at NAMM.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... VISUAL SOUND, known for its effects pedals Jekyll & Hyde, Route 66, and H2O, as well as the 1-Spot power supply, is hosting an evening with Johnny Hiland at 6 P.M. on Saturday, July 24, at Second Fiddle on lower Broadway in Nashville. Guitar...

Official Nashville exhibitor list.(Nashville NAMM)
July 1, 2004... A.I.M. Gifts/Albert Elovitz 813 Ableton 234 Access Products 1612 Account Management Solutions ...

The right product, the right place, the right time: the 40-year story of how Martin Cohen and Latin Percussion pulled Latin music into the mainstream and created a rich new market.(Latin Percussion's 40th Anniversary)
July 1, 2004... It was around 1976, Latin Percussion founder Martin Cohen recalls, when he spotted a huge chimpanzee in the front yard of a New Jersey home near his own. An avid photographer, he stopped his car and immediately began taking photos of this...

Are your rental contracts a legal landmine? Aggressive trial lawyers see poorly worded instrument rental contracts as a great opportunity to take you to court. "I was helping kids get into music" won't serve as a defense. Rental expert Ellison Crider explains how you can avoid a costly legal nightmare by getting your contracts in compliance with the law.(Retail Management)
July 1, 2004... As long as anyone can remember, rent-to-own transactions have been a fixture in the school music business. Surveys conducted by The Music Trades indicate that as many as 80 percent of all instruments intended for school programs are placed in...

Yamaha opens NY artist center: Fifth Avenue building, steeped in music heritage, houses piano selection room and band & orchestral atelier, signaling Yamaha's bid to forge closer ties with top professionals.(Industry Marketing)
July 1, 2004... An elegant new artist services facility on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue is part of a corporate-wide effort at Yamaha to strengthen ties to the world's top professional musicians. Housed in the Elizabeth Arden building three blocks from historic...

Call it fate, call it a coincidence ...: how Yamaha ended up in the building that symbolized the golden era of player pianos.(Yamaha Artist Center)
July 1, 2004... When Yamaha began looking for an artist services facility in New York City, Terry Lewis, senior vice-president, spelled out some rough location and size parameters for a real estate broker and then waited to see what was currently available. In...

Fishman's latest acoustic revolution: unprecedented "aura" uses proprietary imaging technology to capture studio-quality acoustic sound in any live performance setting.
July 1, 2004... Twenty-four years ago Larry Fishman was searching the music stores of his native Boston, looking for a device to amplify his acoustic bass. To his chagrin, every pickup or mic system he tried either sounded terrible or was plagued by chronic...

The unconventional Music Go Round: can a franchise operation specializing in used product compete effectively and still provide profits for the franchisees?(Retailer Profile)
July 1, 2004... Got a traded-in faux Strat collecting dust on the top (unreachable) row of orphaned guitars? Or a student model trombone, abandoned after the first semester of band, lodged in the cranny behind those stacked-and-forgot-ten drumsets? Do you buy...

Blue Skies continue for Chinese piano industry: 200,000-sq.-ft. Jinbao plant the latest in ongoing expansion of production. Output targeted almost exclusively for domestic market.
July 1, 2004... Chinese piano production has been growing at over 20 percent a year for the past five years and shows no signs of slowing down. Evidence of the continued dynamism of the local market can be found in the new 200,000-square foot Jinbao plant,...

DJ pioneer Gemini turns 30: how the Cabassos created a big new product category by persuading M.I. dealers to carry DJ products. After three decades of growth, they say, "the best is yet to come.".
July 1, 2004... In the m.i. industry, most success stories usually include a healthy dose of good fortune, whether in the form of a well-timed artist endorsement or a sudden change in musical tastes. For Ludwig Drum Company, Ringo Starr and the Beatles doubled...

Peak music: time-tested manufacturer launches a new line of stands.(Company Profile)
July 1, 2004... When a major U.S. stand company moved its production from China to Malaysia, the OEM factory that had produced its products was faced with a momentous decision: begin searching for another brand to supply, radically reduce its output, staffing,...

Yorkville Group steps up U.S. sales push: with an expanded product line covering all price points and segment and a genuine commitment to making retailers profitable, a restructured.(Company Profile)
July 1, 2004... Shortly after Yorkville Sound celebrated its first anniversary in 1964, a grinning electronic component salesman sauntered in to founder Jack Long's office and said, "I've made a lot of money off your account." A somewhat perplexed Long...

Still made in North America.
July 1, 2004... WHILE MANY North American audio manufacturers have relocated production to lower-cost factories on China. Yorkville Sound continues to invest in its plant in Pickering, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Plans are in the works to add an additional...

Romans piano: fresh out of college, Brandon Romans opened a piano store. Two years later he says, "I sort of fell into the business ... but I love it.".(Short Take)
July 1, 2004... Like many recent college graduates, Brandon Romans had options, but no clear path to his future. His only signposts were a desire to own his own business and his hobby/avocation, plied throughout high school and college, of tuning, restoring,...

Yamaha promotes Sumner, Shearer & Madsen.(People)
July 1, 2004... IN A SERIES OF MOVES calculated to strengthen dealer service and make the best use of personnel, Yamaha Corporation of America has announced new titles for several employees with strong track records of success within the company. Tom...

IAG taps Sehi Marketing.(People)
July 1, 2004... IAG AMERICA has named Sehi Marketing of Davie, Florida, as its sales representative for the state of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Mobile, Alabama. Sehi will handle sales of Wharfedale Pro, Wharfedale Systems, Diamond Series studio reference...

Robert Caputo Casio division head.(People)
July 1, 2004... ROBERT CAPUTO has joined Casio, Inc. as general manager of the company's Calculator, Music, and TV divisions. He is responsible for sales at the three divisions and for interfacing with Casio R&D efforts in Japan. He will report directly to...

Greg Zeller joins HSS/Sonor.(People)
July 1, 2004... INDUSTRY VETERAN Greg Zeller has joined HSS as part of the Sonor Drums & Percussion management team in the newly created position of merchandising and promotions manager. With more than 25 years of diverse music experience-as a performer,...

Lonny Brooks joins Taylor Guitars.(People)
July 1, 2004... LONNY BROOKS has joined Taylor Guitars as special events coordinator. He will represent Taylor at music festivals and events such as IBMA, MerleFest, and the Walnut Valley ("Winfield") Festival. He will also write for Taylor's quarterly...

Kaman veteran Porter retires.(People)
July 1, 2004... AFTER 42 YEARS OF service to Kaman Music, Everett Porter retired from his position as materials manager for Ovation Instruments and Hamer Guitars on May 7. During his lengthy career Porter forged close ties throughout the music industry....

Pearl River Piano names Bednar & Rooksby to new posts.(People)
July 1, 2004... PEARL RIVER PIANO GROUP America Ltd. has named Joseph Bednar to the position of national sales manager of Canada and appointed David C. Rooksby its district sales manager for the Northwest Territory. A 39-year veteran of the piano business,...

Blueswoman Block and singer-songwriter Paxton honored with Martin Signature editions.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... MARTIN GUITAR IS HONORING blueswoman Rory Block and legendary singer-songwriter Tom Paxton with two limited-edition signature guitars. The road is one of the blues' most powerful images, and Rory Block's new Martin OM-40 Rory Block...

Crate unveils new Tour Pack.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... Crate Amplifiers has announced a whole new way to give new electric guitar players everything they need, all in the convenience of a retail-ready package that sells itself on the floor. The new Crate Tour Pack is a complete starter package,...

SKB's Side Kicks bags.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... FOR PERFORMERS WHO want the protection of a hardshell case combined with the convenience of outer pockets and pouches associated with soft-sided cases, SKB's new Side Kick bags are the answer. Available in two sizes--21-1/2" x 16-1/2 and...

New Metal Master display boxes From B.C. Rich.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... B.C. RICH HAS enhanced its best-selling "Metal Master Guitar Pack" to attract even more attention on the sales floor. The guitar and amp combo now features bold artwork from noted illustrator Don Shank, best known for his outrageous custom car...

Concerto No.1 expands bow line.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... CONCERTO NO. 1 MUSICAL Instruments, Inc., manufacturer of a full range of quality musical instruments, has introduced two new series of bows for 4/4 violin and cello. The White Shell Frog Pernambuco is a bow of rare elegance and impressive...

Jodi Head goes Hollywood.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... JODI HEAD, THE New York-based manufacturer of fine and funky guitar straps and attire, has been receiving some very high-profile plugs throughout the entertainment world. On the small screen, rocker Chris Isaak and his bassist, Rowland Salley,...

Taylor's 30th Anniversary guitars.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... TAYLOR GUITARS IS celebrating 30 years of success with the release of a complete line of 30th Anniversary Commemorative Limited Editions. For a limited time every steel-string guitar Taylor makes in the 300 through 900 Series (along with a Koa...

Pro-Mark adds drumstick models.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... PRO-MARK HAS ADDED three new models to its extensive line. The Dave Lombardo Autograph Model was designed by Slayer's long-time drummer and is perfect for hard-hitting drummers who want a little extra length, it is made of premium American...

FretLord to unveil LightBeamZ in Nashville.(Product News)
July 1, 2004... FRETLORD MUSICAL Instrument Lighting Systems will unveil its LightBeamZ at the NAMM show in Nashville. LightBeamz are a magnetic LED micro lighting accessory that grips to most standard-sized electric or acoustic guitars and basses. LightBeamZ...