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4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Fourth-Quarter Buying Guide A gallery of exceptional products that will attract customers and fire up sales usic retailers book approximately 32% of their annual revenue during the last three months of the year. That fleeting time frame accounts for an even larger share of annual profits, rising to 100% for more than a few operations. The outsized importance of the fourth quarter is captured in the phrase “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, so named because that’s when retailers’ bottom lines transition from red to black. With this year’s fourth quarter fast approaching, retailers in and out of the music business have more than just the prospect of holiday cheer to lift their spirits. The number of job holders is edging up, as is consumer con-

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fidence. The U.S. Department of Commerce also reported a 0.6% increase in retail sales for the first half of the year. Unemployment is also low, and consumer confidence is rising. These positive indicators are welcome, but not enough to ensure a successful fourth quarter. Fortunately, the industry’s suppliers are there to lend a helping hand with a mindboggling array of new and useful products that give consumers a reason to spend. Clever designers and manufacturers find ways to continually improve these time-tested concepts. In the following pages, we highlight their efforts with a gallery of products that are guaranteed to attract interest and bolster fourth-quarter results.

Fender “Strat Packs” Redesigned For Beginners Redesigned Bullet Strats from Fender Musical Instruments Corporation have been designed to better support beginners embarking on their musical journey. The Bullet Strat HT offers five different pickup positions and comes in four classic colors: Black, Brown Sunburst, Arctic White, and Fiesta Red. The Bullet Strat HSS HT has the benefit of a one humbucking/two single-coil pickup configuration. It’s available in Black, Brown Sunburst, and Arctic White. A smaller version of the Bullet Strat, the newly redesigned Mini, is the perfect guitar for beginners, travelers, and players with smaller hands. Features include a new thinner body and a slimmer, laminated hardwood neck profile for easy playability. Available in Black, Torino Red, and Pink, it comes with a 30-day free trial of the new Fender online lesson program. www.fender.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Record On The Go With Blue Mics’ Raspberry Recording goes mobile with Raspberry Studio from Blue Microphones. Backed by Blue’s illustrious studio heritage, the Raspberry microphone delivers studio-quality sound directly to laptops and mobile devices. With recording and mastering software from PreSonus and iZotope, plus a collection of quick-start templates, it’s easy to produce professional recordings on the go. The integrated stand and plug-and-play operation make it possible to start creating immediately. Pristine 24-bit audio lets users record and stream professional projects. And the included soft-suede carrying pouch and compact form factor make transport effortless. Inspired by studio-grade acoustic treatments, Raspberry’s patent-pending Internal Acoustic Diffuser (IAD) focuses the voice or instrument while minimizing ambient noise. Custom templates for music, voice-overs, and podcasts supply the tools for release-ready recordings. Automatic track setup and dialed-in sound processing ensure rich vocals and instruments. www.bluemic.com

Songs For The Season From Alfred Celebrate Christmas with two new entries from Alfred Music. The threebook Christmas Hits For Teens series brings together accessible arrangements. Titles include: (Book 1) “Away In A Manger” and “Feliz Navidad;” (Book 2) “Jingle Bell Rock” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful;” (Book 3) “The First Noel” and “O Holy Night.” In addition, Alfred is presenting Sunday Morning Christmas Praise Companion,” with 31 arrangements of Christmas praise songs for the late intermediate/early advanced pianist. Intended as a practical resource for church musicians, it includes modern classics, recent carols, country music, and Contemporary Christian hits. www.alfred.com

BandLab Link Analog Interface Social music platform BandLab’s new hardware division, BandLab Machines, debuts with a line of affordable, high-quality audio interfaces. The new Link series enables users to immediately start recording into their phone or computer without any hardware installation or setup required, facilitating high-quality, affordable music recording anytime, anywhere. The initial product lineup comprises three audio interfaces: the BandLab Link Analog (a single-input analog audio interface), the BandLab Link Digital, and the BandLab Link Digital Duo (digital USB audio interfaces with single and double inputs respectively). Prices start at $39.99 for the BandLab Link Analog. www.bandlab.com

MONO’s Must-Have Stick Bag Whether you need a stack of 5Bs to plow through your set or a range of sticks for versatility, the M80 Studio Stick Bag keeps you armed and dangerous. The M80 offers a slim profile packing smart features and rugged materials that feel as good as they look. Weighing just 17oz, it holds about ten pairs of sticks comfortably. www.monocreators.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Ben Woods Signature Flamenco Guitar Ortega Guitars has teamed with Ben Woods, one of the most successful and popular modern flamenco guitarists, to create a signature model that plays fast, reacts fast, and is easy to handle on stage. The guitar features a solid red Western cedar top in gloss finish with Indian rosewood back and sides. The neck is mahogany with an ebony fretboard. It’s finished with rosewood fretboard binding and bridge. All models of this limited run feature the same specifications as Ben Woods’ personal version, including the scratch plate and the Fishman Clásica Blend pickup system. Being a classical flamenco guitar, it is manufactured in Spain. There will only be 66 models available worldwide. www.ortegaguitars.com

Take A Ride On The Super Jet The new JodyJazz Super Jet Alto is a contemporary sounding mouthpiece developed specifically with smooth jazz, Latin, contemporary jazz, rock, and funk players in mind. It is free-blowing with enough bottom end to make it more versatile than many small chamber mouthpieces. Crafted from silver-plated brass, it’s available in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 tip openings and comes with a Rico H ligature, cap, and pouch. MSRP/MAP $350. www.JodyJazz.com

Electro-Harmonix Expression Pedal The Electro-Harmonix Dual Expression Pedal has a dual-output design for hands-free control of two devices from a single source. Each expression output has independent range and reverse plus a polarity switch for maximum compatibility with a wide range of gear. Better yet, the pedal features the company’s advanced polymer construction, resulting in a roadworthy but lighter-weight pedal. www.ehx.com

ZOOM LIVETRAK L-12 LIVE MIXING, RECORDING FOR MUSICIANS, PODCASTERS Zoom North America’s new LiveTrak L-12 is an all-in-one digital mixer that lets musicians, bands, and podcasters mix live performances and record up to 12 discrete channels. It also provides five individual custom headphone mixes. The L-12 is equipped with the quietest and most advanced mic preamps Zoom has ever offered. Musicians and podcasters can capture high-quality audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz WAV format and store projects directly to an SD card to remix on board or transfer to a DAW for further editing. Analog-style controls make it easy to adjust parameters with precision. There’s also a three-band mid-parametric EQ for each channel and 16 built-in send effects. Up to nine different scenes with fader positions, EQ, pan, and mute settings can be saved for automatic recall with the push of a button. A full-featured digital audio interface for a computer or iOS device, it features a 14-in/4-out USB connection, so DAW output signal can be assigned to an L-12 stereo channel and sent to the master out, allowing users to play backing tracks while mixing and recording. $599.99 MAP. zoom-na.com/LiveTrak

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Red Label Pearl Violin Strings Super-Sensitive’s Red Label Pearl nylon-core strings were created for the advancing violin student. Their warm-sounding nylon core combines with a carefully selected collection of windings for a tonally balanced set. Copper eyelets further enhance the dynamics. The result is a warm and smooth tone with balanced and clear projection for a presence that’s natural and pleasant. www.supersensitive.com

Care Products For All Instruments From Sound Synergies comes the Multi Zone Application Technology (MZAT) gear maintenance product line that includes eight high-quality care products. SoundSynergies eliminates the need for a shopping cart full of various care products, tackling the specific needs of guitars, electronic gear, percussion, and brass and wind instruments with versatile targeted formulas that provide great value with easy, low-cost, long-lasting applications that go beyond typical single-purpose care products. Sound Synergies keeps instruments and gear ready to perform at their peak potential. www.SoundSynergies.net

Durable Cymbal Case With Splash Pocket MONO’s M80 Cymbal Case is super durable yet super light. It can be worn backpack-style or hand-carried, with its straps tucked in. A hardwearing sole and piping made of Hypalon, rock-solid, industrial webbing handles, bar-tack stitching, and steel rivets ensure exceptional durability. Powdercoated steel zipper pulls with self-healing nylon zippers are standard on all compartments. Five discrete, padded slots keep cymbals protected right up to the rim. Dedicated pockets for hi-hats and splashes keep them safely separated. www.monocreators.com

Breedlove Sets New Price Standard The Breedlove Discovery Concert Sunburst, with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, delivers well-balanced tone when played fingerstyle, as vocal accompaniment, or at a full strum. With a street price of just $299, the Discovery Concert Sunburst is the launching point for distinctively crafted sound in Breedlove’s best-selling body shape. This easy-to-play instrument is ideal for entry-level players who want access to the renowned balance, clarity, and sustain of a Breedlove guitar with a great new Sunburst finish. www.breedlovemusic.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

New And Improved Bluetooth Page Turner AirTurn’s new PEDpro Bluetooth wireless foot switch allows for hands-free page turning for any tablet or computer. More than 100 software apps support the use of the new foot pedal to do everything from turning pages to scrolling lyrics or managing effects. The PEDpro is also equipped with a rechargeable battery that gives 150 hours of continuous use between charges. www.airturn.com

Great Start For Aspiring Acoustic Players This acoustic/electric pack starts with Epiphone’s acclaimed PR-4E acoustic/electric guitar and adds everything a beginner needs to start playing live. The guitar is complemented by the Epiphone Studio-10C 15watt acoustic amplifier with both instrument and mic inputs as well as chorus. Also included are a tuner, gigbag, strap, cord, picks, and online lessons. Estimated U.S. street price $199. www.epiphone.com

A Must-Have For Drummers A perfect accessory for any drummer, the Rhythm Tech’s Drum Kit Pack includes a top-selling Rhythm Tech tambourine, a 5" studio quality cowbell, and mounting hardware to attach both to a drumset. The pack’s mountable tambourine is the first of its kind designed specifically for the drummer and mounts securely to any stand, or on the top rod of a Hi-Hat. The Studio Series Cowbell features the Rock Lock mounting system with a unique eyebolt and wing nut design to ensure no slips while playing. www.kmcmusic.com

Vandoren Mix Cards For The Holidays Maple Capo From Kyser Kyser’s top-selling Quick-Change capo is now available in solid maple. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, the maple capo offers bright tone, strong sustain, and exceptional durability. Kyser’s Max Linter says that because maple is so widely used in guitar construction, it made perfect sense to use it for a capo. Street price $24.99. www.kysermusical.com

Vandoren’s extensive line of mix cards provide the perfect opportunity for the holiday season. A profitable and fastmoving stocking stuffer, they give customers a simple way to try all the different Vandoren cuts. Classical Mix Cards are available for Bb clarinet and alto and tenor saxophone. Jazz Mix Cards are available for soprano, alto, tenor, and bari sax. www.dansr.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Figured Maple Adorns New Ibanez Basses Two new Ibanez Bass Workshop models feature figured maple tops with ash/figured maple bodies: the five-string BTB1805E and its six-string companion, the BTB1806. Both also feature the newly designed contoured body for superior comfort and a longer upper horn that connects to the body at the 18th fret for improved stability. Neck-through construction, a two-octave fretboard, and a super-deep cutaway deliver sleek playability and enduring sustain. Other notable features include: BTB wenge/bubinga/maple nine-piece neck-through design with graphite reinforcement rods; rosewood fretboard with stainless steel frets and Premium Fret Edge treatment; Aguilar DCB pickups; Ibanez Custom Electronics three-band EQ; Mono-rail V bridge; Gotoh machine heads; Neutrik locking output jack; gold hardware; and a gig bag. www.ibanez.com

Levy’s Aura Guitar Straps The vibrant hand-brushed suede colors in Levy’s Leathers’ new Aura guitar straps, model MS317AUR, are the first thing you notice in these straps. Available in purple (PRP), seafoam (SEA), yellow (YEL), emerald (EMR), and fuchsia (FCA), they are 21/2" wide and feature a teal colored border stitch thread and pin and adjustment ladder reinforcement. They’re fully adjustable from 41" to 57". www.levysleathers.com

Fast Fun With Remo Rhythm Lid Versatile Remo Rhythm Lids are pretuned drumheads designed to fit most five-, six-, and sevengallon U.S.-made buckets. Fit them on the bucket and they produce amazing professional drum sounds. The Rhythm Lids are available in four types; Bright Skyndeep (10 mil), Medium Skyndeep (15 mil with Clear Dot), Dark Skyndeep (20 mil with Black Dot), and Warm Comfort Sound Technology. To create a snare drum, add the Rhythm Lid Snare Kit, which sits on the inside of the bucket rim with the Lid placed on top. www.remo.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Guitar Care Kit Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Gig Performer Plug-In Host Great For Live Performance

The guitar care kit from Mick’s Musical Accessories includes a 4oz bottle of Emerald Isle polish & cleaner, a 2oz bottle of #394 fretboard conditioner, and a logo-stamped cotton polish cloth, presented in a unique tube package that can hang on a merch hook or stand alone on a shelf. The product is available from stock now at a price point comparable to what others charge for a single bottle of polish.

Called “the most bulletproof, flexible, easy-to-use, and CPU-friendly plugin host on the market,” Gig Performer by Deskew Technologies allows musicians to take their favorite plug-ins on the road. Distributed by ILIO, it’s great for keyboard players with a huge virtual piano-synth rig, guitarists with multiple massive effects racks, and front of house engineers running sound through an array of compressors and EQs. Its Rackspaces let users load many dozens of plug-ins simultaneously with customizable and MIDI-learnable controls, create multiple Rackspaces, and switch between them instantly with zero glitches in the sound. Cutting-edge features allow the user to control multiple instruments, layer sounds, and employ authentic effects easily, with little power usage, on both Mac and Windows computers.

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Versatile Matrix Scarab Tuner The Matrix Scarab 3D chromatic tuner features a versatile clip that works with guitar, bass, bowed and wind instruments. The color-changing 3D display is easy to read, fast, and highly accurate with a tolerance of +/- 1 cent. It’s powered by a 3 volt CR2032 battery. www.kmcmusic.com

Vic Firth Unveils Benny Greb Signature Stick Vic Firth Company’s new Benny Greb Signature Stick is similar in diameter to a 5B but features some unique adjustments that optimize feel and sound. A medium taper places the shoulder of this stick in an ideal spot for durability. To get a little more response than a medium taper typically offers, additional length is “borrowed” from the neck by moving the tip further up the stick. While increasing response usually requires changing the taper or length of a stick, Greb’s signature model does it all within a well-balanced 16". www.vicfirth.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

ProCo Sound Gets Creative With Colormark ProCo Sound, an RHC brand, has expanded its Custom Metal Marking series with ColorMark, a custom process that allows customers to engrave their existing equipment with full-color, photo-quality images. This new process allows images to print from edge-to-edge in full color with a semi-gloss coat finish for extra durability. ColorMark is available for products up to 24" wide, 19" long, and six” tall. Two other options in the series include: LazerMark, a laser engraving process, great for fine print, for up to 40" per second and 1200 dpi on any grayscale logo; and ScreenMark, a screen printing process with up to two spot colors for a one-time setup fee per new logo or project. Both processes work great on rack panels, devices, and snakes. www.procosound.com

Affordable Ultralight Capo From G7th The G7th UltraLight Capo provides first=time players with an affordable accessory that works equally well on acoustics and electrics, backed by a lifetime warranty. For more experienced players, it delivers fast, accurate capoing and exceptional durability. Available in black, blue, or red, its sleek, eye-catching design makes it stand out on the accessory counter. Classical guitar and ukulele models are also available. Street price $11.99. www.g7th.com

Turn Holiday Sales Up To 11 With Spinal Tap Book More than 30 years ago the “rockumentary” This Is Spinal Tap exploded as a work of genius that would rock on for decades. Consistently cited as one of the funniest movies ever made (and often spoken about by rock stars as one of the most frightening movies they’ve ever seen), This Is Spinal Tap has achieved cult status around the world. New from Hal Leonard, Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book will bring to the public, for the very first time, the fully authorized story of the band with words, pictures, and removable facsimile memorabilia in a fitting hardcover book that musicians and music fans will proudly display on coffee tables in basement rec rooms everywhere. MSRP $40. www.halleonard.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Light Up The Holidays With AIM Lamps AIM Gifts has expanded its “Hot Selling” line of Acrylic, Color Changing, 3D Lamps to now include over 35 different musical designs. Each lamp is approximately 10" x 4.5" on a base with rotating colored lights. Offer your customers something new, something different, and something exciting. A great gift for any holiday. www.aimgifts.com

Package Deals From Amahi Ukuleles Amahi Ukuleles is celebrating the holidays with two promotional packages. The first package includes 15 soprano sized student ukuleles: five UK120 mahogany ukuleles, five DDUK patterned ukuleles, and five colorful Penguin ukuleles. Dealer price is $359, saving retailers $45 on dealer net. MAP is $725. The second package includes 24 student ukuleles, ranging from soprano to tenor size: eight patterned DDUKs, eight colorful Penguin ukuleles, and eight mahogany Penguin ukuleles (three sopranos, two concerts, one tenor, one peanut, and one pineapple). Dealer price is $599, saving retailers $198 on dealer net. MAP is $1,376. All packages include free shipping, matching bags, and colorful Amahi Ukulele/Penguin tote bags. www.amahiukuleles.com

Nell Music Delivers For Drummers WingMan Effects Pedal Foot Controller Winner of the Best in Show Award at Summer NAMM in the Accessories & Add-Ons category, Option Knob’s WingMan is an effects pedal foot controller designed to replace any factory knob and allow the player to change effects parameters with a foot while playing. WingMan is the company’s first universal solution that comes with two shaft inserts, enabling it to fit both classic and boutique-style pedals. Its more compact wing design gives it an even smaller footprint on the pedalboard, and its glow-in-the-dark material makes it visible on dark stages. MSRP $9.95. http://optionknob.com

Nell Music is featuring three new drum products in time for the holidays. A collaboration between British and Brazilian design teams has yielded the Nell Pure, a striking, high-end drumkit available in pure birch or maple nine ply, 7mm shells and a choice of die-cast or 2.3mm power hoops. In addition, Nell is now offering its new Williams Drumheads brand designed and tested by the Nell team in the U.K. Lastly, Nell is showcasing its newly refined TC Series drum kits, designed for the church market. Upgraded through investments in Nell Music’s new shell department, they’re now at the high end among entrylevel kits. www.nellmusic.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Floyd Rose Wireless Sport Earbuds New from the Floyd Rose Audio Collection, the Pro Series Wireless Sport Earbuds with Inline Microphone offer an ergonomic design, tangle-free cord, integrated volume control and microphone, and superb sound quality. Using Bluetooth version CSR 4.0, they work up to 33 feet from the sound source and deliver a 20Hz20KHz frequency response. With a charging time of 1.5 hours, they provide 4-6 hours of continuous play per charge. Sweatproof and water resistant, Floyd Rose Pro Series Wireless Sport Earbuds are available in a choice of white (FR360WH) or black (FR-360BK). A Power Bank charger, deluxe carrying case, and extra small, medium, and large eartips are included.

Teton Dreadnought With Beveled Arm Rest The new Teton STS105NT-AR acoustic guitar combines advancements in guitar manufacturing with classic design and tonal appeal. Featuring a beveled rosewood arm rest for playing comfort, its dreadnought body and solid, rarefied Western red cedar top provide warmth and clarity. Players will love the STS105NT-AR’s exceptionally musical response, dynamic volume range, and affordability. MSRP $599.99. www.tetonguitars.com

www.floydroseaudio.com

Radial Studio-Q Talk-Back/Cue System

J&B Gitar Quick Pick Keeps Picks Handy

Radial Engineering’s Studio-Q is a super-compact, desktop talkback/cue system. A simple cue switch turns on the built-in microphone or the “producer” mic XLR input. Each mic has an individual trim control along with a master mic volume. These can also be remotely activated with a JR1 mute footswitch, routing the signal to the studio headphone system and automatically shunting the program to the desired level. The program signal path is balanced for easy integration with any console and features a fully variable level control on the front panel. When the band is full-on, a remote output may be used to send a dry contact to a beacon to attract attention. Street price $259.99.

The Gitar Quick Pick from J&B Partners clips onto a guitar strap, much like a money clip, and holds a supply of picks at the ready for whenever the player needs one. Currently available in two versions for acoustic and electric guitar. “Picking up a dropped pick is a nuisance, and the Gitar Quick Pick is an easy-touse solution,” said Bruce Paterson, the inventor. “If you drop your pick, you can reload in about a second. You never miss a beat.” Attractively designed in a guitar shape and made from anodized aluminum on a urethane base, the Gitar Quick Pick can hold two picks.

www.radialeng.com

www.gitarquickpick.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Pint-Sized Overdrive From Amptweaker Amptweaker’s new Fuzz Jr series offers popular overdrive tones in a pint-sized “Phase 90” style package. The series includes four models: TightFuzz Jr, Bass TightFuzz Jr, BluesFuzz Jr, and Bass BluesFuzz Jr. An EQ switch delivers even more fuzz and enables the pedals to work with a broad range of rigs. All of the pedals use true bypass switching, operate from 9 to 18VDC with varying dynamics, and have battery access with no tools required. www.Amptweaker.com

RockSTAND by Warwick Multiple Corner Guitar Stand Rockstand by Warwick provides a very stylish way to display and stow guitars with its Multiple Corner Flat Pack Stand. This multi-stand makes a great addition to any studio, practice room, etc. by staying out of the way, tucked in a corner, freeing more real estate for recording and music making. Foam-padded for extra protection, it securely holds five or seven guitars or basses. Street prices start at $119.99. http://www.warwick.de/en/Home.html

Strap Jack Keeps Guitar Strap In Place Players know that putting a strap on an acoustic-electric is difficult because the endpin jack is bigger than the strap hole. Since the strap fits poorly, it can easily slip off, which is dangerous when you’re playing unplugged and there’s no instrument cable to catch the guitar. Strap Jack solves this problem and protects your guitar by keeping your strap securely in place. Unlike other strap locks, it doesn’t require making any modifications to the guitar. It’s not permanently attached and is easy to install and remove. Simply attach the guitar strap to the endpin jack of your acoustic-electric guitar and plug Strap Jack in. It will keep the strap securely in place while you play your guitar unplugged. www.strapjack.com

Versatile On-Stage Multi-Function Mount Need to mount multiple microphones, a portable recorder, and a tablet on a single stand, in a tight space? Two new “Multi-Function Mounts” from On-Stage are the perfect solution. Sleekly designed, they can put every imaginable accessory at a performer’s fingertips, while looking like a custom-designed stand. Perfect for solo guitarists with a number of effects. www.on-stage.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

ATV aDrums Artist Electronic Drums New from ATV, aDrums artist electronic drumsets deliver new sensing and extended dynamics technology, ease of use, immediate playability, and pristine drum sounds to drummers looking for an acoustic playing experience. Representing a great balance of old-world artisan workmanship and forwardthinking technical design, aDrums artist kits will be available in two configurations: aDrums artist Standard aD5 Kit and aDrums artist Expanded aD5 Kit, shipping Q3. Non-drum module configurations and, in Q4, aDrums individual drum pads, cymbals, and hardware, will also be available. www.atvcorporation.com

Generation 2 Batson Acoustics The “Generation 2” Batson acoustic boasts improved playability, perfect intonation, and enhanced cosmetics, thanks to a new high-gloss finish, satin neck finish, and the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. Handcrafted in Korea, each guitar receives a thorough inspection at the Batson workshop in Tennessee. With production in full swing, new dealers are being sought. www.batsondealers.com

New Stage Piano From Korg Korg has served up a new entry in the stage piano market with the all-new Grandstage, which incorporates five legendary grand piano voices, a new upright, and hundreds of must-have sounds. Available in either 73- or 88note models, this made-in-Japan keyboard is equipped with Korg’s flagship RH3 graded keyboard action. A straightforward user interface puts all controls at the user’s fingertips and includes an easy-to-read OLED screen. www.korg.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Vic Firth Offers Cajon Market Products

Graph Tech, Yamaha TUSQ Out Limited-Release Guitar

Vic Firth Company is addressing the new breed of creative percussionists with two tools for use on the traditionally hand-played cajon. The new Cajon Bru-llet marries elements of a brush and a mallet to brilliantly translate both slap and bass tones to the cajon. It has a hickory shaft with medium-stiff plastic bristles and a 1-1/2" mallet head made from XLPE foam. The new VKB4 is a spherical foam rubber head that produces a warm, full bass tone on cajon with just the right amount of attack.

Yamaha’s Limited Release Billy Corgan Signature Acoustic Guitar will feature Graph Tech’s man-made ivory TUSQ nut and saddle, open back machines heads, and Corgan’s signature Zero logo on the headstock. Yamaha will only ship 400 guitars worldwide—150 with domestic U.S. Engelmann spruce tops, and only 50 with brown sunburst finish for the United States. Yamaha wanted to design an affordable handmade limited release acoustic guitar that everyone could afford. Yamaha Guitars Global Marketing Manager Julian Ward commented, “We’ve used Graph Tech and TUSQ components on a variety of Yamaha guitars...and have always been really happy with the sound and reliability. When we started working with Billy on his limited-edition Signature L-Series acoustic, we felt TUSQ was a natural fit to complement the tone and build he was looking for.”

www.vicfirth.com

www.graphtech.com

Alvarez Debuts Signature Accessory Packs Alvarez has unveiled two new accessory packs: The Artist Accessory Pack and the Masterworks Accessory Pack. Each is presented in full-color, compact packaging and features a spectrum of tools that will aid any player in their day-to-day guitar needs. The Artist Accessory pack comes complete with an Alvarez-branded tuner, capo, and polishing cloth and retails for $40. The Masterworks Accessory Pack also features an Alvarez-branded aluminum folding stand, tuner, capo, and polishing cloth and retails for $70. www.alvarezguitars.com

New Rock and Roll It Rainbow Piano Mukikim LLC follows its 2016 Astra Best Toy Award-winning Rock and Roll It Classic Piano with the Rainbow Piano. Made of silicon rubber, it’s affordable, flexible, and portable—it can be rolled up and carried in a backpack. It features 49 keys, a built in speaker, record and playback functionality, multiple tones, and demo songs. A wonderful learning instrument, The Rainbow Piano includes a songbook with six easy-to-learn songs and colorcoordinated notes that correspond to the keys. MSRP $59.99. www.mukikim.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

Orchestral Pickup From Kremona For violin and viola players who need volume control from the stage, Kremona North America has a solution in the noninvasive KNA VV-2 pickup. Backed by Vladimir Hranov and his 60 years of industry experience, the VV-2 offers pure tone and simplicity with the ability to adjust output volume on the fly. The KNA passive piezo sensor is encased in tone wood, allowing it to install at the instrument’s bridge by friction. A potentiometer is built into a polished wooden jack housing, which mounts safely to the instrument via cork-lined, fully adjustable barrel clamps and accepts a typical 1/4" instrument cable. Players can adjust volume during performance using the unobtrusive knob on top of the housing. Handcrafted in Europe using the finest electronics and ethically-sourced tonewoods, KNA pickups are distinguished by superior fit, finish, and sonic response. MSRP $149, MAP $129. www.KNApickups.com

Composite Acoustics Go-Anywhere Guitar Carbon fiber guitars from Composite Acoustics have always been an ideal travel guitar. Impervious to climate, they stay in tune and retain a precise set-up in any kind of weather. The new Cargo model that easily fits in airline overhead compartments takes mobility to an entirely new level. The carbon fiber bridge provides maximum sound transfer, while the optional L.R. Baggs Active Element pickup system offers easy and clear amplification. www.compositeacoustics.com

Rockboard by Warwick N, S, And Z-Connectors A new series of connectors from Rockboard by Warwick facilitate the shortest possible distance between two pedals. At a minimal 12mm, the N and Z-Connectors are made for offset-mounted jacks, while the S-Connector makes a straight connection at an extraordinary 10mm. Street prices start at $2.99. http://www.warwick.de/en/Home.html

iOrbit Universal Tablet Stand The new Triad-Orbit iOrbit is a versatile stand system that uses clamping jaws that can adapt to the shape and size of any tablet or smartphone. A stainless steel ball swivel in a cast alloy housing provides a smooth 360° range of motion. The iOrbit ball swivel also features a proprietary Triad-Orbit IO hex mounting head. “Users told us they were tired of buying new support hardware every time the next generation of tablets and smartphones were released,” said Ryan Kallas of Triad-Orbit. “The iOrbit universal tablet/smartphone holder solves that problem.” www.triad-orbit.com

drumdots Control Ring, Deliver Natural Tone drumdots are engineered to control a drum’s overtone ring without sacrificing its natural tone. The secret is a proprietary Vtem polymer that “sticks” without being “sticky.” It allows the drumhead to vibrate more like an “open” drum at the crucial strike moment, when the tone is created. drumdots come in two sizes, Original and Mini, and can be used on any drumhead, cymbal, or cowbell. They’re also easily removable and reusable. www.drumdot.com

4TH QUARTER BUYING GUIDE

American Recorder Secures The Stage Keep wires, cables, lighting, and props secure with industrial-grade gaffers tape from American Recorder Technologies. Designed with the entertainment and music industries in mind, this heavy-duty 12 mil vinyl-coated cloth tape uses a special natural rubber adhesive formulated to leave no residue once the tape is removed. Available in 50-yard, full-sized rolls and handy eight-yard mini rolls. Offered in seven colors—

New XSR Models From Sabian Launched about a year ago, Sabian’s pro-level cast B20 XSR cymbal line has been expanded with three key new models: 17" and 19" XSR Fast Crashes and a 22” XSR Ride. The Fast Crashes are hammered and feature an enhanced profile and a bell shaped to deliver a quick explosive response with penetrating definition and power. Superbly versatile, the new 22" Ride offers a tasty balance of stick definition and tonal wash, and a mid-size bell that’s ideal for playing solid grooves. XSR is not a “budget” series, but rather a line of smartly priced cymbals designed to better fit within the average drummer’s cymbal budget. www.sabian.com