Music Trades articles from June 2004

Music Trades archives from June 2004

First Act ... A fitting choice for Company of the Year?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... In our April issue, we named First Act Company of the Year. The decision was not an endorsement, but rather an acknowledgement of the significance of the First Act's move to sell band instruments to Wal-Mart. For 50 years, school music has...

The forces driving guitar prices down.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... The April 2004 Music Trades article "Adding Up the Industry" contains a wealth of valuable information. It should be a major concern for all participants in our industry that per-unit selling prices of guitars, pianos, electric keyboards,...

Tony D'Angelo ... A quiet giant.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Please accept my very sincere regrets to the family of the always classy, always positive Tony D' Angelo. Tony was one of the best things I looked forward to at trade shows. He was a mentor to me, a very, very positive, yet quiet force in...

Musician's union contests technology.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2004... Earlier this year, the Opera Company of Brooklyn ignited a heated labor dispute by hiring Realtime Music Systems to provide a simulated orchestral backup for a production of The Marriage of Figaro. The Opera Company says that the Realtime...

Shipping rates force up price of Chinese goods.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2004... Economists are predicting that the major world economies will grow simultaneously over the next year. This growth means that the demand for container capacity will continue to oustrip the supply of new shipping vessels coming on the market,...

Musicians at risk for skin conditions.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2004... Contact with instruments can cause a variety of skin problems for musicians, according to a new report issued by Dr. Thilo Gambichler, a dermatologist at Oldchurch Hospital in London. The results of the review are published in the journal BMC...

Musician philanthropist flees to Cuba.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2004... A philanthropist who sold millions of dollars worth of prized musical instruments at a discount to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has fled to Cuba to avoid tax fraud charges, authorities said Wednesday. A federal judge issued an arrest...

Is Wal-Mart a real threat?(Editorial)
June 1, 2004... The musical instruments appearing on the shelves of Wal-Mart, Costco, and other mass-merchants have been a source of growing industry concern. A widely asked question is, "Will these retail behemoths, with their vast buying power and marketing...

Samick & Young Chang merge U.S. operations: formerly arch rivals, Korea's top piano makers combine as young Chang relocates sales & marketing to Samick's City of Industry Headquarters.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... JUST WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING 46 percent of Young Chang, Samick (SMC) Chairman J.S. Kim has announced a series of sweeping changes aimed at assuring a strong future for his family of companies both here and in markets around the world, including...

Merrill Lynch becomes music advocate.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... MERRILL LYNCH, the world's largest brokerage house, has been blanketing the New York area with a series of print ads advocating music education. Under the headline, "The Earlier They Start The Easier It Is To Learn Another Language," the ads...

41-foot PRS guitar graces Tampa Hard Rock Cafe.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... AFTER MONTHS OF negotiations, a 41-foot neon replica of a PRS Hollowbody guitar was installed outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Tampa, Florida. The decision to use a PRS model guitar was arranged between Rick Sconyers, Hard Rock Cafe's director of...

Summit Guitar Pack available at Kaman.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... SUMMIT GUITAR PACK'S three most popular products are now available through Kaman Music Corp. Jory Kahn, Summit president, sees great advantages to the new relationship. "We believe that the availability of our best sellers through the largest...

QRS opens European office, second non-U.S. location.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... QRS MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES has opened a European office/warehouse in Oeffelt, The Netherlands. Last fall the first non-United States location was opened at the Baulkham Hills Business Centre near Sydney, Australia. Tom Dolan, QRS president and...

Washburn honors Erikson Music.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... RUDY SCHLACHER, owner and president of U.S. Music Corporation, recently visited Erikson Music in a newly expanded facility in Baie D'Urfe, Quebec, and presented the company with an award for its outstanding sales of Washburn/Oscar Schmidt...

Soulfly's Cavalera uses Crate head.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... Max Cavalera, founding member of the acclaimed Brazilian hard rock band Soulfly, has been playing Crate cabinets for a number of years. When Crate unveiled its BV300HB at the NAMM show in Anaheim, Cavalera was one of the first artists to start...

Fender celebrates Strat 50th with aggressive rebate campaign: consumers can save up to $100 on select models.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... CONTINUING WITH its year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) has announced a new rebate program that invites dealers and consumers to join the party. As part...

Kaman partners with Tri-Technical Systems.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... KAMAN MUSIC HAS FORMED a partnership with Tri-Technical Systems (Tri-Tech/AIMsi), launching an electronic ordering module giving customers the ability to send purchase orders to Kaman electronically. Kaman's partnership with Tri-Tech and...

New book celebrates 30 years of Taylor Guitars.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... TAYLOR GUITARS: 30 Years of a New American Classic represents a milestone of sorts for Taylor Guitars and is a fitting way to launch the company's 30th year in business, chronicling its rise from obscurity to its status as a major innovative...

Talk about product placement! Tom Clancy touts D'Addario strings in latest best seller.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... D'ADDARIO STRINGS' latest endorsement comes not from the ranks of top guitarists but instead from the pen of best-selling author Tom Clancy. In Changing of the Guard Clancy's master spy Natadze is also an accomplished guitarist who is equally...

MBT completes move to larger Dallas warehouse.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... MUSICORP RECENTLY completed its move to a new Dallas Distribution Center to accommodate additional products and provide better support for its customers in Texas and the surrounding eight states. The new facility includes over 50,000 square...

Ampeg establishes Sales Training Program.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... AMPEG RECENTLY unveiled its new Sales Training Certification Program and video, designed to educate floor salespeople about the benefits and specifications of Ampeg's most popular equipment. The five-part training modules cover Ampeg's five...

VeriSonic celebrates 44th anniversary.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... VERISONIC, INC., is celebrating its 44th year of manufacturing aluminum drumsticks and brushes. Founded in 1960 by Albert and Helen Robba, VeriSonic patented the original aluminum drumstick and later expanded its line to include a full range of...

Pearl River Piano stars on ABC's extreme makeover.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... A PEARL RIVER GRAND piano was part of the makeover on the April 25 installment of the ABC-TV hit reality show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The show has a viewing audience of over 10.9 million. The show's producers invited The Pearl River...

Zildjian wins two MIPA awards.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... THE AVEDIS ZILDJIAN company was again recognized for its outstanding craftsmanship and innovation by being awarded two prestigious MIPA awards at this year's Frankfurt Musik Messe in Germany. The MIPA, or Musikmesse International Press Award,...

New endorsers for Black Diamond.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... MATT DESPAIN and Paul Priest of the Dean Osborne Band are the newest endorsers of Black Diamond strings. Despain plays the Black Diamond N780 resonator set, and Priest uses the Black Diamond N600M phosphor bronze medium gauge.

Steinway net up 25% on 9% sales gain.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... STEINWAY MUSICAL Instrument Corp. posted a 25% increase in net income and a 9% gain in sales for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2004. Sales advanced to $90.0 million for the period, compared with $82.5 million a year ago, a net income was...

Peavey Rotor guitar stars in new comic series.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... FROM "LARA CROFT: Tomb Raider" to "Witchblade," Top Cow Comics has had an enviable track record of launching top-selling comics with strong female characters. The company's latest offering, "The Proximity Effect," features Lisa, a vagabond...

Harman Pro sales advance 16%.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... HARMAN INTERNATIONAL Industries reported record results for the three- and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2004. Net sales for the third quarter were $690.4 million, a 25 percent increase over net sales of $554.5 million a year ago. Net...

Singing machine settles shareholder suits.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... SINGING MACHINE CO. has settled class-action and derivative lawsuits filed against the company last year. Shareholder activists had charged that the company overstated the value of its inventory and accounts receivables in public filings. ...

Kaman music sales up 17%.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... KAMAN MUSIC CORP posted a first-quarter operating profit of $2 million. compared to $1.9 million in the period a year ago. Sales for the quarter were $40.3 million, compared to $34 million a year ago. Notwithstanding the increase in sales, the...

QSC amps power Grammy's funk segment.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... THE PERFORMANCE of the "Funk is Back" segment of the live Grammy Awards telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles relied upon a sound reinforcement blueprint designed and implemented by ATK Audiotek of Burbank, California, utilizing QSC...

Kawai restructures manufacturing: tough market conditions in Japan and opportunities in China simultaneously prompt plant closings and openings.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... CONTINUED SOFTNESS IN the Japanese piano market, increasing competition, and growth opportunities in China have prompted a major corporate restructuring at Kawai Musical Instruments, based in Hamamatsu, Japan. As part of a three-year business...

Roland supports Christian music market.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... DEMONSTRATING ITS firm commitment to the Contemporary Christian Music market, Roland exhibited its complete line of Roland and BOSS musical instruments at the Gospel Music Association trade show held April 24-28 at the Nashville Convention...

NAMM solicits funding proposals: stepping up investment in market-building programs, association asks for ideas from in and out of the industry.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... NAMM, THE International Music Products Association, has announced its intent to invest the largest dollar amount in the association's 102-year history back into the music products industry in the form of new market-building programs and...

Conn-Selmer opens new Accessory center.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... Conn-Selmer has opened its new Accessory facility in Elkhart, Indiana. All band instrument accessories are now warehoused in and shipped from this location. The most popular Conn-Selmer accessories are staged in a "quick-pick" line allowing for...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firm.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E MAY 12, 2004 RATIO Allen Organ Corp. $47.45 30.88 Avid Technology $46.45 30.88 (Divisions:...

PAS vs. ESPN drummers group gets apology from sports network.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... ON APRIL 19, 2004, ESPN ran an ad in USA Today promoting ESPN's Junior Golf Academy at the Walt Disney World Resort. The ad's headline read: "Your kids could learn how to play drums--but then they would know how to play drums." Percussive Arts...

Geneva International & Petrof forge closer relationship.(Industry Forefront)
June 1, 2004... HEADING INTO THE 20th year of partnership, Geneva International and the Petrof Company have intensified their already strong business relationship. Following recent talks Geneva purchased the trademark rights in the United States for the Petrof...

J.W. Pepper acquires Malecki music: merger of two largest print retailers creates a $70 million (sales) company with 15 locations nationwide.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... J.W. PEPPER'S April 30th acquisition of Malecki Music has joined the nation's two largest print music retailers, creating a business with estimated annual sales of $70 million and 15 locations nationwide. Pepper, headquartered in Valley Forge,...

Sonor honors top U.S. dealer, Bentley's drum shop of Fresno.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... Bentley's Drum Shop of Fresno, California, was recently honored by Sonor Drums & Percussion as its U.S. Independent 'Dealer of the Year 2003. The store was recognized for superior sales and merchandising of Sonor products. Owner Dana...

Small business group names Faulhaber "champ".(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... THE WISCONSIN CHAPTER of the National Federation of Independent Businesses has presented its Small-Business Champion award to Michael ("Mick") Faulhaber, owner of Ward-Brodt Music Co. The NFIB Small-Business Champion award program...

Banner 1st qtr at Guitar Center: sales and earnings surge at GC stores and Musician's Friend; American Music Group remains in the red.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... COMPARABLE STORE SALES gains of 11 percent, a 28 percent sales gain at the Musician's Friend direct response division, and a sharp reduction in interest expense combined to produce a record quarter a Guitar Center. For the three-month period...

New Steinert's opens in West Hartford, CT.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... STEINERT'S, headquartered Boston, Massachusetts, has opened a Connecticut showroom at 29 South Main Street in the West Hartford Center in West Hartford. M. Steinert and Sons was originally established in the 1860s in New Haven, Connecticut. The...

Daddy's rock star clinics draw publicity avalanche.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... DADDY'S JUNKY MUSIC finished a run of clinics in April with some of the industry's most well respected players. First, Daddy's, in conjunction with Remo, Tama, Shure, Vic Firth, and Ampeg paired for the first time ever the legendary drummer...

Promotions at Jacobs Music.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... JACOBS MUSIC OF Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has named Chris Rinaldi its president and CFO. He will report to Chairman and CEO AI C. Rinaldi, who announced the appointment. The company has also promoted Robert Rinaldi and Mark Love to senior...

Steinway opens showcase stores in Connecticut and Miami.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... STEINWAY & SONS recently completed grand opening celebrations at two new company-owned locations in Westport, Connecticut, and Miami, Florida. Company management has stressed that the new company stores are two unique opportunities and not a...

Heid Music named Wisconsin's top Family Business.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... HEID MUSIC of Appleton, Wisconsin, was the Grand Award Winner of the Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award in the medium business category (50-99 employees). Ten family businesses were honored in the first annual awards banquet held May 6...

Cooper Music opens Wellness Center.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... Cooper Music's Music and Wellness Program for senior adults has been introduced to residents of Roswell, Georgia, with the opening of its newest center. Cooper Music, the exclusive dealer for Lowrey home organs in the Atlanta metropolitan...

Steinway Gallery opens in Tucson.(Retailer Update)
June 1, 2004... STEINWAY PIANO GALLERY of Tucson, southern Arizona's exclusive dealer for Steinway & Sons pianos, hosted a slate of receptions, lectures, and performances April 22-24 to mark the opening of its 5,000-square-foot showroom located at 2850 East...

Why small is beautiful: smart retailers in every line of business realize that accessory items are the biggest profit producer. The margins are good, they turn fast, and with a little effort they can transfrom your bottom line from good to great!(Bob Popyk On Selling)
June 1, 2004... I remember when Polaroid practically gave their cameras away, just so they could sell film at high-margin prices. Years ago Gillette decided it was worth selling razors at a loss so they could make it up on highly profitable blade sales. The...

What went wrong? Despite a start-studded entertainment lineup and a $100,000 advertising blitz, NAMM's first consumer show in Minneapolis failed to draw traffic. Although exhibitors were disappointed, they gave NAMM credit for taking a gamble on a new concept. Now it's back to the drawing board to plot the next step.(NAMM's First Consumer Expo)
June 1, 2004... Remember the first time you swung a golf club or went ice skating? Did you pull off a few eagles or triple axels that day, or did you spend much of your time in the rough or... well, you know? NAMM's first-ever attempt at producing a public...

The radically new Babicz guitar: a patented neck design, a new approach to bracing, and a unique bridge set this instrument apart from everything else on the market. Designer Jeff Babicz is convinced that powerful benefits will overcome musicians' aversion to change.(New Technology)
June 1, 2004... As one of the original employees of Steinberger Sound, the company that pioneered the radical composite "headless" bass guitar, Jeff Babicz learned firsthand just how difficult it is to persuade musicians to embrace new designs and...

Must have accessories! In a nationwide poll, retailers list the accessories that you need to maximize the performance of your small goods department.(Accessories)
June 1, 2004... From the store owner on down to the part-time cashier, it's no secret that small goods are the biggest profit generator in music retail. Exquisite guitars, slick technology, and hot-rod sound systems may generate more excitement in the...

A more satisfying musical experience! Harnessing the latest in CD technology, Hal Leonard creates a new play-along book series that makes it more fun for anyone--from beginner to pro--to play.(Accessories)
June 1, 2004... In 1970 Hal Leonard Publishing embraced a revolutionary technology to create an entirely new concept in print music. The technology was the audiocassette, the first durable and fully portable medium that delivered decent sonic quality at a...

Why American drumstick makers remain on top: preferred indigenous woods and major capital investments in efficiency give domestic stick firms a unique competitive edge in the global market.(Accessories)
June 1, 2004... American manufacturers complain of being "hammered" or "squeezed" by the Asian invasion, but in one product category homegrown goods have remained largely unscathed. Drumsticks manufactured in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas...

Meet drumstick pioneer Joe Calato: the inventor of the nylon-tipped drumstick reflects on a changing industry.(Accessories)
June 1, 2004... Joe Calato, one of the percussion industry's venerable elder statesman, turned 83 in March 2004. Despite having earned considerable laurels over the years, the inventor of the nylon-tipped stick is hardly resting on them. Last year he...

15-year-old Nick Ravagni's innovative learning aids: entrepreneurial prodigy created first product at age 6 and is now developing a new computer based learning system.(Accessories)
June 1, 2004... Can you remember what you were doing when you were six? Depending on your generation, it likely involved G.I. Joe or Barbie, Hot Wheels, and/or PlayStation. Aside from the handful of modern-day Mozarts among us, most so young weren't making...

Print music ... More important than ever! A new-found appreciation for the profit power of print music resulted in record turnout at the 28th annual Retail Print Music Dealer convention in Philly.(Report From RPMDA)
June 1, 2004... Perhaps it was the tact that the show was held on the East Coast for the first time in nearly two decades. Or maybe it was because hard-pressed retailers have gained a new appreciation for the profit potential of print music. It could also have...

NABIM seeks to bolster membership: amidst a challenging market, band instrument association re-evaluates goals and mission.(Association News)
June 1, 2004... LEADING BAND AND orchestral instrument manufacturers convened in Scottsdale, Arizona, for two days in early May at the annual National Association of Band Instrument Manufacturers' annual meeting to address initiatives aimed at expanding the...

Dr. Peavey! Hartley Peavey receives honorary degree from MSU.(People)
June 1, 2004... MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY bestowed upon Peavey Electronics Corporation founder Hartley Peavey an honorary doctorate during its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 8, in Starkville, Mississippi. Peavey also delivered the keynote address to...

Mucha named Hohner interim CEO.(People)
June 1, 2004... HORST MUCHA, chairman of the board of M. Hohner GmbH in Trossingen, Germany, has been named interim CEO of Hohner USA, following the resignation of Robert Cotten. Mucha had served as CEO of Hohner USA from 1984 until 2000. Mucha is leading...

Lyndle Volz joins Dynamic Music.(People)
June 1, 2004... Lyndle Volz has been appointed director of sales for Dynamic Music Distribution. Headquartered in Milwaukee and owned by Mike Castle. Dynamic was launched in 1986 as a wholesale company that sells in all 50 states and represents three...

Keith Gard to succeed Gabe Ireland at Jupiter.(People)
June 1, 2004... R. GABE IRELAND, CEO of KHS America and Jupiter Band Instruments, has announced that Keith Gard, the current chief operating officer, will succeed him as president on June 1, 2004. In preparation for the change, Wu Hsieh, chairman of KHS...

Robert Sandell new Taylor Guitar V.P.(People)
June 1, 2004... INDUSTRY VETERAN Robert Sandell has been named senior vice-president at Taylor Guitars. With more than 30 years in the musical instrument industry, Sandell has a extensive knowledge of U.S. and overseas markets. His career includes stints with...

James Brown to manage Kustom engineering.(People)
June 1, 2004... JAMES BROWN has joined Kustom as engineering manager. He will oversee the design and manufacture of Kustom products and supervise the company's engineering departments. For the past 17 years Brown was employed by Peavey Electronics, most...

Beth Mickel joins Audio Biz.(People)
June 1, 2004... MANUFACTURERS' REP Audio Biz has added Beth Mickel to its sales staff. Randy Stenson, a company principal, announced Mickel's appointment and commented, "We're happy to welcome Beth to our staff. Her strong background in the audio industry...

Hal Leonard expands board of directors.(People)
June 1, 2004... HAL LEONARD Corporation has added Larry Morton, Mary Vandenberg, and Tom Fritsch to its corporate board of directors. They join Keith Mardak, chairman and CEO, and Dan Bauer, senior vice-president/finance, to complete the expanded board. ...

Levi Oliphant promoted at Music Link.(People)
June 1, 2004... LEVI OLIPHANT has been promoted to national sales manager at The Music Link. He will manage a team of sales reps, handle custom OEM orders, oversee MAP issues, and work with the industry's Top 200 Accounts. He will provide training sessions for...

Anthony "Tony" D'angelo: 1929-2004.(Tribute)
June 1, 2004... ANTHONY CARMINE D'ANGELO, The Music Trades account manager and director of circulation, died on April 16th after a valiant four-month struggle with lung cancer, he was 74 years old. Although diagnosed in November, he continued to come to work...

MTNA honors Kawai's Brian Chung.(People)
June 1, 2004... BRIAN CHUNG, senior vice-president of Kawai America, was recently honored by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Foundation Fund as an MTNA Foundation Fellow. The award was presented at the 2004 MTNA National Conference Foundation...

Roland adds to V-Drum line.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... ROLAND HAS ADDED the V-Compact series TD-3S series to its V-Drums line. This expandable kit includes the new TD-3 Percussion Sound Module with high-quality sounds, outstanding expressiveness, and new dual-trigger pads and cymbals, plus an...

Johnson guitars adds Fishman pickups.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... JOHNSON GUITARS, from The Music Link, has added Fishman pickups to its flagship line of acoustic guitars. The Fishman Classic 4 will now adorn the popular Player, Player Deluxe, Thinbody, and Songwriter series of acoustic/electric guitars. ...

Case core offers Black Kross cases.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... BLACK KROSS IS A NEW LINE of guitar and drum accessory cases from Case Core, maker of the incredibly successful Coffin Case. Black Kross products feature innovative designs including a patented aluminum cross plate finish made popular by...

Godlyke distributes Jacques Stompboxes.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... GODLYKE IS NOW distributing the Jacques Stompboxes line of compact analog effect units for guitar. A rising force in the underground boutique pedal circuit, Jacques hand-built units have received high praise from players and from the European...

Special dealer incentives from BigHeart slide.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... BIGHEART SLIDE Company, one of the world's premier guitar slide manufacturers, now offers six special dealer packages that include free bonus items. Dealers who order more than one starter package get an additional half-dozen Bottleneck slides...

Zoom's MRS-1608 recorder.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... THE NEW ZOOM MRS-1608 and MRS-1608CD recorders feature 16 tracks and 160 V-Takes 40 GB hard drive, eight simultaneous inputs, a fully-programmable drum and bass machine, and a 12-key touch-sensitive chromatic scale input pad. The pads on...

NY-2A compressor from Electro-Harmonix.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... ELECTRO-HARMONIX'S NY-2A stereo studio compressor utilizes hand-selected, ultra-linear, low-noise, unique vacuum tubes manufactured at New Sensor's military tube factory. It also features Lundahl transformers, scaled VU, magic eye ballistic...

Mel Bay releases Finger style Method.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... AUSTRALIAN GUITARIST Tommy Emmanuel has always presented a unique style of playing, and in his new book from Mel Bay, Tommy Emmanuel: Fingerstyle Guitar Method, presents four fingerstyle exercises plus two signature compositions: "Mister...

Seymour Duncan's JB Model still going strong at 30.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... IN 1974 A 20-SOMETHING American blues guitarist named Seymour W. Duncan was burning it up in London's bars and clubs by night. During days, he performed guitar repair for Ivor Arbiter at the Fender Sound House on Tottenham Court Road. It was...

Smart new POP from Fred Kelly.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... IN AN EFFORT To help dealers sell scads of its acclaimed instrument picks, Fred Kelly Picks has created an eye-catching new POP display box designed to stimulate impulse purchases. The clear 17" x 13" box provides a tempting view of the diverse...

SharkTooth Crossover Picks get A+ from music teachers.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... SHARKTOOTH CROSSOVER Picks, manufactured and distributed by Strum 'N Comfort Picking Systems, are establishing themselves as an indispensable teaching tool with endorsements by a diverse group of prominent music teachers of guitar, banjo, steel...

AIM Gifts ready for summer NAMM.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... AIM GIFTS, THE WORLD'S largest manufacturer and distributor of music gifts accessories, will be showing its newest music gift accessory line at Summer NAMM in Booth #813. Visitors to the booth will receive a copy of the company's new gift...

Gator's wireless mobile pack.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... GATOR'S NEW WIRELESS mobile pack allows in-case field operation. The GM-1W as designed for the single wireless unit to be used in the case. It features a group of front-load compartments for lavaliere, receiver, and wireless mic with the...

Patron music offers Academica student horns.(Product News)
June 1, 2004... PATRON MUSIC'S ACADEMICA line of student band instruments now includes flutes, trumpets, clarinets, trombones, and French horn, all designed with the performers in mind. Patron Music recognizes the problems faced by students who acquire...