Music Trades articles from June 2008

Music Trades archives from June 2008

Where are the first-time buyers?(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... Thanks for your great editorial on customer retention. You effectively convey what many of us are experiencing. I began to notice the year major manufacturers allowed brand names to be used on their big box entry-level guitars that our lesson...

Remembering Bill Ludwig.(LETTERS)(Obituary)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... I have nothing but fond memories of my friend Bill Ludwig. In the old days, when the Frankfurt Fair was a small show, only a few Americans would come every year. Among them were four of my favorite people, Remo Belli, Armand and Bob Zildjian,...

A new approach to music education?(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... Bill Scotti Jr., in his letter in the April Music Trades, suggested that the music lesson industry's potential customers are being distracted by iPods and video games. Perhaps one response might be to consider how the industry could take...

Thanks for the support!(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... Thanks for your coverage of Marty Albertson's endorsement of the Guitar and Accessory Manufacturers Association's (GAMA) long-running school guitar program and his $100,000 contribution to the program. As president of GAMA at the time of...

Correction.(LETTERS)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2008... In our May issue's Flashbacks we incorrectly referred to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in Houston, Texas. The Library is actually in College Station, Texas.

No single path to success: in wishing for a "magic bullet" we often overlook dozens of small opportunities to improve our businesses.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
June 1, 2008... "We need an iPod in our industry!" Have you found yourself thinking this as you've faced the challenges of our increasingly competitive business climate? Or have you heard a colleague or counterpart at another m.i. retail outlet say something...

Consumer spending slump triggers retail bankruptcies.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2008... Tightening credit markets and increasingly cautious consumers have taken a heavy toll on retailers in the past six months. The Sharper Image, Lillian Vernon, Levitz furniture, Wickes Furniture, Bombay, Fortunoff jewelers, Harvey Electronics,...

Congress considers sales tax on mail order purchases.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2008... There are two bills currently pending in Congress that would allow sales tax collectors to target out-of-state internet and mail-order retailers. Brick-and-mortar retailers who champion the bills are optimistic about their political prospects....

Personal income growth exceeds forecasts.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2008... Personal income rose and a key measure of inflation held steady in February, but consumer spending remained weak, according to a recently released government report. The Commerce Department said personal income increased 0.5% in February,...

Losing a $4 million violin.(Industry Briefings)
June 1, 2008... Grammy-nominated violinist Philippe Quint recently exited a minivan cab at New York's Battery Park, leaving an irreplaceable 1723 Antonio Stradivari "Ex-Keisewetter" inside. The violinist had spent the previous three months pleading with the...

If this trend continues ...(EDITORIAL)
June 1, 2008... Twenty years ago, South Koreans were proudly looking forward to hosting the Summer Olympics. For a country that had made extraordinary strides after a ruinous civil war in the early '50's, the Olympic games were seen as a "coming out' party of...

Yamaha Tenori-on ushers in a new way to make music.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YAMAHA CORPORATION of America has revealed its award-winning new music-making technology, Tenori-on, for the first time in the United States with launch events for the public and press in New York and San Francisco....

Wired magazine says guitar hero expands music market.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... A PROMINENT FEATURE In the April issue of Wired magazine asserted, "Guitar Hero is turning some gamers into actual guitar players." The article noted, "With more than 14 million units sold in North America since the video game's release in...

Redesigned packaging marks anniversary: Rotosound.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... IN CELEBRATION OF ITS 50th anniversary, Rotosound has radically redesigned the packaging on all of its major string lines with an emphasis on musicians and live music, plus Rotosound's unique dedication to British manufacturing. With a...

PRS factory expansion underway.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PAUL REED SMITH GUITARS has begun work on a major factory expansion project that will ultimately more than double the guitar maker's production capacity. A foundation for the 100,000-square-foot building has...

Sound Control, top UK M.I. retailer, in bankruptcy proceedings: ten of 25 stores closed, and 150 staff positions cut, while auditors seek a buyer.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... SOUND CONTROL, THE U.K.'s largest music retail chain with annual sales of 50 million [pounds sterling] ($100 million at current exchange rates), was placed under the administrative control of business advisory firm Deloitte by an English Court...

School of rock winner visits factory: Sabian.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... DRUMMER MICHAEL PITALE recently flew from his home in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to the Sabian Vault in eastern Canada for a day of touring the cymbal-making process, selecting a set of cymbals in the Vault, and getting some insight into Sabian...

SKB cases: when protection really matters.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: SKB LIKES TO BOAST THAT its musical cases offer the ultimate in protection and durability. However, the company's most compelling recent endorsement comes not from some touring rock band, but from the...

Eminence Tone Chamber aids speaker selection.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... LOUDSPEAKERS PLUS, one of the nation's premier distributors of professional audio and musical instrument loudspeakers, was scheduled to host the grand opening of The Tone Chamber, located in Manteno, Illinois, on May 17. The company has...

Parker Guitars back up U.S. military in Afghanistan.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... PARKER GUITARS BOASTS an impressive roster of artists, but one of the company's more unusual players is the band Out of Uniform. Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of them; the band comprises members of the Army's 101st Airborne Division and...

Argentinian reed maker celebrates 25th year.(Argendonax Reeds)
June 1, 2008... LOCATED IN THE FERTILE Mendoza region of Argentina at the foot of the Andes Mountains, Argendonax S.A., maker of Gonzalez reeds, is marking its 25th anniversary. The milestone year has also seen several of significant developments at the...

Expanded facility for expanding product line: Direct Sound.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... DIRECT SOUND HEADPHONES, maker of the Extreme Isolation noise canceling headphones, has moved to a new facility in St. Louis, Missouri. John Gresko, president, said that increased global orders prompted the move into a 50% larger building. The...

Hamm & Hartke on tour with Joe Satriani.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... WITH HIS INNOVATIVE style and commanding technique, bass virtuoso Stu Harem is a premier bassist who has performed with numerous world-famous musicians over the years. Among them is renowned guitarist Joe Satriani. Now this exceptional pair is...

Perry's classic components enhance Walter Pianos.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... THE ESTEEMED PERRY'S Piano Restoration Company has partnered with the Walter Piano Company to produce pianos of heritage-quality beauty. Concord, Virginia-based Perry's Piano is supplying intricately carved parts for Walter Heritage Grand...

Steve Shires consults on brass line: Eastman Winds.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... EASTMAN WINDS has consulted with Steve Shires of SE Shires Co. to build a world-class brass line. With staff trained in both the Beijing and Yianjin, China, workshops by Shires and his staff of master craftspersons, Eastman has been able to...

Award-winning convention booths: Billy Raygun Design.(FOREFRONT)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... HAVING SPENT THE last eight years working with well-known clients as varied as Texas Instruments and Time Warner Cable, Billy Raygun Design has also begun serving the music products industry. Based in Flower Mound, Texas, Billy Raygun Design,...

NAMM to open U.K. office.(FLASH)
June 1, 2008... NAMM IS SET TO open a U.K. office later in the year to better service the association's growing ranks of international members. The new branch, dubbed NAMM International, LLC, will be headed b Betty Heywood, the association's director of...

Leader Music guitars span full line, from entry-level to full U.S. custom models.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... LEADER MUSICAL Instrument Company Limited has opened a division in North America. Longtime industry veteran Jim Donahue has been appointed president of the new branch, Leader Music USA. Dedicated to supplying superior-quality fretted...

Chico Hamilton joins Vater artist roster.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... LEGENDARY JAZZ DRUMMER and bandleader Chico Hamilton has joined the Vater Percussion family of artists. He is playing Vater's Chico Hamilton model sticks, retractable wire brushes, and model T-4 mallets. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Los...

Samick dealers tour Indonesia factories.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TOP SAMICK DEALERS recently traveled halfway around the world to visit the company's piano and guitar manufacturing complex in Bogar, Indonesia. The week-long trip also included visits to many local attractions in...

Electric guitar string trial promotion: Elixir Strings.(FOREFRONT)
June 1, 2008... ELIXIR STRINGS, pioneer of long-life guitar strings, is giving loyal acoustic fans a chance to plug in with electric strings. During its Electric Strings Trial promotion, players will receive one complimentary electric set with the purchase of...

Holze music temporarily closed over sales tax issue: owner Rob Holze pledges that store will soon reopen, and "no one will get cheated".(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
June 1, 2008... THE NINE STORE Waco, Texas-based Holze Music chain has been shut down by the Texas State Comptroller's Office for late payments of sales tax. A spokesman from the State Comptroller's Office said that the company owed sales tax of $151,442 for...

Guitar Center's "Green" initiative.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
June 1, 2008... GUITAR CENTER HAS launched an ongoing "Green" initiative to reduce its carbon footprint and to conserve fuel and wood resources. In 2007 the retailer halted the use of wooden pallets when shipping product from its distribution center to all...

Willy Porter shines in performance/clinic: Cascio Interstate Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... SINGER-SONGWRITER-guitarist Willy Porter presented a great live performance/clinic at Wisconsin's Cascio Interstate Music on April 19. The event was co-sponsored by Cascio and Guild Guitars. Porter performed songs including "Available...

Pearl River exec. at PTG chapter meeting: Miller Piano.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... THE MILLER PIANO Company of Charlotte, North Carolina, recently hosted a special event for piano tuners and technicians in the area. The full-house gathering was conducted by Pearl River Factory Consultant and acting Service Manager, Dave...

Expanded location for Bethel Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... BETHEL MUSIC OF BETHEL, Connecticut, has doubled its size, moving to a new location on the well-traveled Greenwood Avenue. The larger facility has enabled the retailer to significantly expand its display of school music and m.i. products, and...

Performing MDs take center stage: Steinway Piano Gallery.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... PHYSICIANS FROM THE Madison area put down their stethoscopes and showcased their talents on April 5 at the second annual "DocStar: Behind the Mask" fundraiser. The event benefits Dean Foundation's Benevolent Specialists Project (BSP) Free...

Retiring Sam D'Amico honored by Tama Drums.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... AFTER RUNNING a successful drum shop since 1974, Philadelphia drum retailing icon Sam D'Amico reluctantly announced it was finally time to retire. "Sam D'Amico had brought so many people to the joys of drumming, we felt that we couldn't let...

Dietrich named executive vice president: Zeswitz Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... ZESWITZ MUSIC of Reading, Pennsylvania, has named Rick Dietrich its new executive vice-= president. A 16-year member of the Zeswitz team, he has served as a repair tech, shop manager, inside salesperson, school service representative and, most...

Nashville NAMM meeting set: Music Dealers Buying Group.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... MUSIC DEALERS Buying Group, Inc., an organization of independent retailers, will host a get together for both members and prospective members on Friday, June 20th, 2008 in Room 2002 of the Nashville Convention Center. Details of the Cooperative...

Sam Ash hosts Dante Roberson clinic.(RETAILER UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dante Roberson recently completed a brief Sam Ash clinic tour in the Los Angeles market. A Pearl endorsing artist, Dante maintains an active schedule in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, performing with Jamie Foxx,...

Just one more thing! How four simple words can more than double the gross profit on a sale. And if customers object, just tell them you're doing your job!(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
June 1, 2008... I bought a camera online last month. That in itself is no big deal, because it seems everybody looks for a cheaper deal on the internet today. I'm sure you get beat up with customers this way all the time. This was a Sony Cybershot that...

Back to Nashville! After a three-year absence, the NAMM Summer Session returns to Music City USA. Exhibitor turnout and pre-registration is already way up. With the theme "Celebrating the Community Music Store," NAMM is working overtime to make it an exciting show.(NASHVILLE PREVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's been three years in coming, but NAMM is finally returning its Summer Session to the city where it enjoyed its greatest past success: Nashville. Music City USA will again host the NAMM show on Friday, June 20...

How accessories can save your business! They're almost recession-proof, they offer better margins, and the appeal and breadth of products available has never been greater!(SMALL GOODS POWER)(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... Close to three decades ago, when Guitar Center was still a regional chain, then CEO Ray Scherr had a revelation of sorts: Fat margins from a well-stocked accessory department could help fund high-powered promotions, make it possible to be more...

Guitar straps as the ultimate fashion accessory: finding common threads between guitars and the fashion apparel industry could sew up significant profits for retailers.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... When it comes to sex appeal, what instrument competes with the guitar? Most honest observers would agree that it s aspects of the ck n roll fantasy--looking cool, attracting "attention"--that drives most boys and young men to take up the...

Delivering the perfect reed: Vandoren's vacuum packaging protects reeds from heat, dryness, and excess humidity, ensuring that every reed plays perfectly right out of the box. The new packaging is also supported by a new POP system.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'm concerned," Bernard--Vandoren told his U.S. distributor, "with where they re storing these reeds." A 2002 tour of U.S. dealers had taken Vandoren, third-generation owner of the reed manufacturer founded by his...

The best tuner is the one that's easiest to find! A futile search for a tuner provided the inspiration for the N-Tune system, a slick onboard tuner that's always there when you need it.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2003 Seth Demsey and Tom Lorimor were both working for Microsoft, but on this evening they were kicking back at Seth's house, where he was planning to give Tom a guitar lesson. Instead, they were ransacking his...

mPATHX's "Wall-Wart" alternative: "smart power" device is ideal for digital effects and anything else that runs on a battery.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... Public opinion has not been kind to the standard AC/DC transformer. General distaste earned the bulky, top-heavy plugs the nickname of "wall warts," while President Bush termed them "energy vampires" for their tendency to suck up power even...

Big bang gets "ahead" with innovative dealer training: sales of even the most "basic" accessories improve when retailers fully understand the products.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Selling drumsticks is pretty much a no-brainer, right? Drummers develop strong preferences for particular attributes--wood type, diameter, length, taper, weight, tip material--but these features typically only need...

Lava cable's custom strategy: founded by Army Major Mark Stoddard, the newest entrant in the cable market competes with a unique battle plan.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Across the street from the airfield in Kandahar, Afghanistan, there was an all-night coffee shop where the U.S. soldiers who'd brought their guitars on deployment got together for jam sessions on Wednesday evenings....

High fashion woodwind accessories: B.G. Franck Bichon founder Franck Bichon contemplated designing furniture or lingerie before introducing a line of woodwind products. The aesthetic sense shows through.(SMALL GOODS POWER)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If he weren't in the music industry, Franck Bichon muses, he would have found his niche somewhere in the world of art and design: "[Possibly] furniture," he says, "clothing... maybe lingerie." Instead he brought a...

Specialization efforts dominate RPMDA convention: in the age of the internet, print dealers narrow their product offering, focusing on special niches. "You can't be all things to all people" is the the new mantra.(RPMDA In Boston)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE HUB, Boston was the meeting point for nearly 290 members of the Retail Print Music Dealers' Association (RPMDA), which held its annual convention April 23-26 at the city's Seaport Hotel. Set on...

Communicating music's life-building power.(RPMDA In Boston)
June 1, 2008... AS ONE LISTENER LATER said of Brian Chung, senior vice president of Kawai, "If that was his subdued version, imagine what he's usually like." Chung, who arrived on crutches after surgery for a basketball injury ten days earlier, still brought...

Capitalizing on the growth in Christian music ... Who's buying it and how to reach them.(RPMDA In Boston)
June 1, 2008... RECENT SALES DATA REVEALS that Christian and gospel albums are outselling a host of higher-profile categories including Latin music, soundtracks, classical, jazz, and new age. Yet there are those in the industry still groping for answers to...

Best ideas in print!(RPMDA IN BOSTON)
June 1, 2008... COMPETITION WAS INTENSE as a record-tying 27 RPMDA members vied for top honors in the annual "Best Ideas" competition. As per tradition, each contestant paid up $10 for the right to talk for two minutes on a useful idea his or her store had...

Why you can't compete on selection & price anymore.(RPMDA In Boston)
June 1, 2008... "IT USED TO BE," George Hines told an audience of print dealers, "that you could differentiate yourself by offering a product or price your customer couldn't find elsewhere. It's not about that anymore. It's about the people in your company."...

Ed O'Donnell manages independent dealers: Hoshino.(MOVERS AND SHAKERS: PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... HOSHINO USA, distributor of Ibanez guitars, basses, and electronics, as well as Tama drums and hardware, has appointed Ed O'Donnell to the new position of national sales manager for independent dealers. "This is just one aspect of Hoshino's...

Susan Paris new HR director: Korg USA.(MOVERS AND SHAKERS: PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... KORG USA, a leading national distributor of musical instrument and professional audio products, has named Susan F. Paris as human resources director. In her new position Paris will focus on overseeing all aspects of the company's personnel...

Power Group taps Brose to head M.I./Pro Division.(MOVERS AND SHAKERS: PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... JAMES BROSE has joined Power Group Ltd. as the general manager of its Pro/MI Division. He was most recently the national sales manager at B&J Music Ltd. In addition to a strong business background and stints in senior sales and administrative...

Birenbaum joins marketing effort: Brady Drums.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... INDUSTRY VETERAN Rob Birenbaum has joined the Brady Drum Company of Australia as marketing and dealer relations consultant. He will work on Brady's efforts worldwide, but will focus on the company's North American business. Birenbaum is the...

Diaz heads rhythm band sales.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... RHYTHM BAND Instruments has appointed Edel Diaz as its new business development/sales manager. Previously Diaz had an 11-year run as a district sales manager for Jackson Guitars, including five years with the Jackson division of Fender Musical...

Mike Hoff joins electronic media team: Hudson Music.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... HUDSON MUSIC, a leader in educational drumming DVDs, has announced the addition of graphic artist and electronic media specialist Mike Hoff to the Hudson Music team. Hoff will be responsible for managing the company's website and electronic...

Michael Palmer joins Allen & Heath: American Music & Sound.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... MICHAEL PALMER has been named national sales manager for Allen & Heath Products in the United States, distributed by American Music & Sound. Palmer has more than 20 years' experience in the audio industry, having served as director of sales and...

Fender's new Elvis Costello signature Jazzmaster.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
June 1, 2008... FENDER HAS introduced a new Elvis Costello Signature Jazzmaster guitar, honoring one of the most recognized Jazzmaster players in music history. The iconic electric guitar, produced in Fender's manufacturing headquarters in Corona, California,...

Remo Black Suede drumheads.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
June 1, 2008... REMO IS APPLYING its unique suede texturing process to its popular Ebony Series drumheads to create its new Black Suede range of drumheads. Offered in Ambassador and Emperor weights, Black Suede drumheads provide focused warmth and enhanced...

Alternative 8 guitar pickup: Seymour Duncan.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... GUITAR TONES ARE getting heavier and heavier; it's just the state of modern rock music today. Seymour Duncan has responded with the SH-15 Alternative 8, the company's first production pickup to use an Alnico 8 magnet. The Alternative 8 starts...

Anthem music custom ABS stackable cases.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... THE ANTHEM MUSIC Group is now shipping Anthem instruments in its new custom ABS, stackable cases. Currently available for flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto sax, and tenor sax, Anthem cases feature durable 4mm ABS plastic and stackable ridges. The...

Secure reeds with no separate ligature: Jamms Musical Supply.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... FOR WOODWIND instrument musicians, finding the right ligature for their mouthpieces, and then keeping it from getting damaged or lost, can be a frustrating experience, whether the musician is a student just learning how to play or a seasoned...

Band pack wireless personal monitors: Galaxy Audio.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... SINCE THE BEGINNING of 2007 Galaxy Audio has had huge success with the Any Spot (AS-1000) wireless personal monitor system. Galaxy Audio now offers a Band Pack version of this system (AS-ALS-4) that includes one AS-1000T transmitter, four...

G&G's standard of quality.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... EVEN THOUGH QUALITY is nothing new to G&G Quality Case Company, after 30 years it has developed its own line of superior luxury cases at an affordable price. These cases boast rich-looking suede covering, beefed up plywood construction, supple...

Aluma P pickup released for Earth Day: Lace Music.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... THE NEW ALUMA P replacement bass pickup from Lace Music was released in honor of Earth Day for its low impact on Mother Earth. The unique technology the Aluma P shares with other Alumitone Lace pickups helps reduce the need for natural...

Buzz Feiten System tunes into dealer profits.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... WITH MORE THAN one thousand certified shops in more than 30 countries worldwide, the Buzz Feiten Tuning System has captured a significant share of the after-market guitar repair market, according to Allen Wald, CEO of Buzz Feiten Design, Inc....

New high-hat and ride join Vault series: Sabian.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... SABIAN HAS EXPANDED its Vault "experimental" cymbal collection with the introduction of 13-inch Vault Fierce Hats and the Vault Crossover Ride. Both new cymbals are handcrafted from Sabian's B20 bronze and feature the envelope-pushing desig-...

Hamilton amazingly portable mic stands.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... HAMILTON STANDS' Nu-Era mic stands offer unique lightweight table top and floor standing models that are well suited for home, school, business, remote location and A/V uses. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An innovative leg and brace design...

Power everything with Godlyke's new power supply.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GODLYKE, INC. HAS RELEASED the PA-9B Power-All Basic Kit, the world's first 1700 mA, single-outlet power supply designed specifically for guitar effect users. Designed to eliminate the need for batteries as well as...

Colorless raw sticks offer affordability: Hornets Drumsticks.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... HORNETS DRUMSTICKS introduced a new colorless line of sticks to its portfolio at the 2008 winter NAMM show. Dubbed "Hornets Raw Sticks," the new line offers a more affordable option in highly functional, ergonomic drumsticks without sacrificing...

Hal Leonard expands 'Real Books' series for NAMM release.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... HAL LEONARD CORPORATION will release four new Real Book publications at summer NAMM. A CD-ROM of the C Edition of The Real Book--Volume 1, Real Book Staff Paper, and low-voice versions of The Real Vocal Book--Volumes 1 and 2 will make their...

Ghost pickup system for Floyd Rose Tremolo: Graph Tech.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... THE GHOST LB63 from Graph Tech Guitar Labs is a new locking bridge pickup system for the Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System. Ghost for Floyd Rose electronics are designed to track as fast as the fingers of the famous tremolo's most prolific...

ChordSavers ClubSaver for larger applications.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... THE CLUBSAVER from Chordsaver Products USA is designed to protect and organize cables, cords, and wires for large-sized applications, or to serve as an ideal addition to other versions in the ChordSavers line of products. Each ClubSavers strip...

BLOWiT fans now shipping: Personal Cooling Concepts LLC.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... PERSONAL COOLING Concepts' BLOWiT fans literally blew away the NAMM crowd in Anaheim. Now, at last, the fans are shipping to retailers. Already endorsed by high-level artists including Daniel De los Reyes (Don Henley, Sheryl Crow) Tal Bergman...

Chop-Butter, Chop-Sticks for horn players: Liemar Technologies.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... LIEMAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC has introduced an all-natural lip care item made specifically for musicians in a unique low-wax formula called Chop-Butter. Deep conditioning plant oils and butters moisturize for up to eight hours, yet Chop-Butter can...

Next generation guitar straps: MONO Case Company.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL launch of its Hybrid case series for guitar, bass, and percussion instruments, MONO hits the stage with a new line of next-generation guitar straps. With their minimalist design, eye-catching materials, and rugged...

Ronny North Signature Guitar: Tregan Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... AT THIS YEAR'S summer NAMM show, T.G., Inc. will introduce the Tregan Guitars Ronny North Signature Guitar. Designed by Tony Guarriello, president of T.G, Inc., and Ronny North in collaboration with L.A. Guitar builder Greg Back; the Ronny...

PedalSnake tours with Foghat: Stage Magic Inc.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... STAGE MAGIC INC. recently announced that its patented and award-winning PedalSnake has joined the 2008 Foghat tour. Voted "Best Accessory" in Guitar Player magazine, PedalSnake is Stage Magic's patented "all-in-one" FX pedal cable. As a single...