Life Begins at 30 When Tascam Introduced the Portastudio in 1979, No-One Foresaw the Revolution That Was Being Sparked

No. 113 • OCTOBER 2009 • WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK PRINT • ONLINE • MOBILE

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS

Life begins at 30 When Tascam introduced the Portastudio in 1979, no-one foresaw the revolution that was being sparked

GUITAR BUYER MUSIC CHINA PLASA SELECTRON BARNES & MULLINS STRINGS & THINGS A NEW CLASS OF AMPLIFIER

Introducing the latest member of the Marshall family – the Class5. A tonally rich 5 Watt all-valve combo that exclusively features true class A circuitry from input to output, plus an abundance of pure Marshall tone, feel and response. Conceived in the wake of numerous requests from both professional stadium fillers and bedroom widdlers alike, this compact yet punchy 1x10" amp is the answer to your low wattage, big tone prayers!

Ideal for use at home, the studio, rehearsal or small gig, the Class5 is all-valve Marshall tone at its best – pure, audacious and inspiring!

To find out more about the Class5 contact: Marshall Amplification plc Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1DQ or visit the official Marshall website: www.marshallamps.com ISSUE 113 OCTOBER 2009 COVER STORY

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • TRAD 37 Believe it or not, there is nothing more dynamic in MI at the moment than the humble ukulele – we take a look at it and its cousins

THE HOME OF RECORDING 24 It was 30 years ago this year that Tascam introduced the Portastudio to the world. Since creating the market, the company has confounded competitors by remaining the vanguard. We find out how SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • HI TECH 28 Computers are where it is at these days, in the pro studios and the NEWS 6 bedrooms. We examine the boxes that turn analog into virtual Oyster buys MB titles, Peavey offers free membership, JHS licensing award, G&L goes to Go To

DRUM NEWS 12 RETAIL All the hot happenings for the MI Pro’s unique collection of news and interviews concerning the tub-thumping community business and work being done on MI’s front line

6 PLASA 14 Numbers down, but optimism up MUSIC CHINA 17 UK exhibiters gear up for October’s big Asia show

BPM 21 The DJ’s answer to PLASA? 52 54 55 NEWS 50 INDIE PROFILE 54 SELECTRON 32 MBF and LMN join forces to adopt a Gig Gear in Hertford enjoys the Clive Norris bares his soul musician, Korg product release, middle market 14 Vintage clinics, Chappells recitals, STRINGS & THINGS 34 NAMM University FRONT LINE 55 Wind up in Wales How training can help the pizza business

MORICO 43 PRODUCTS Barretta talks tiers BACKLINE & GUITAR 56 BARNES & MULLINS 46 DRUMS & TRADITIONAL 57 New management, new products RECORDING 59 PRINT 60

EDITORIAL

Working smart

here’s a lot to be said for keeping under the radar, but it’s something a lot of us find pretty hard to do T for some reason. In this month’s issue we talk to a couple of companies that have made something of an art out of keeping quiet. Strings & Things (page 34) distributes some of the biggest names in the industry, but it’s the names that we tend to think of, rather than the distributor. The article in this issue looks at the Picato string and accessory manufacturing operation in Wales – and very impressive it is, too, but this article could well be the first many people have heard of it. Likewise, Morico (page 43) is the distributor of arguably the most prestigious drumkit manufacturer in the world, DW, and hired a high profile sales director in the shape of Paul Barretta. The fact that this was a year ago, but it is only now that the flag is being waved, underlines the case that it is the work in the field that counts. In similar vein, PLASA’s managing director, Matthew Griffiths, described how this year’s PLASA Show (report, Working under the page 14) saw some of the biggest companies in the audio radar is, by its very and lighting businesses being forced by the pressures of the recession to limit the amount of space they booked definition, working for their stands at Earls Court. The result, he felt, was not smart. that less business was done, nor even that less product was showcased, but rather that these companies thought more carefully about how to use the space they had. There was an efficiency and a style in the image projected that made for more productive dealings. The fact is, when working in limited space and with limited time, our business – particularly and especially in an industry such as MI – boils down to the relationships we develop day to day. These conversations and deals that go on at trade shows or on the shop floor are not registered in sales reports target setting, but without them, there wouldn’t LATEST NEWS be many sales at all. Working under the radar is, by its very definition, STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE working smart and while one would hope to be proud of the company one works for, when representing a brand Bookmark us in your phone: we should put that brand before the company. Thinking like this and considering the number of brands MOBILE.MI-PRO.CO.UK dealers represent on a daily basis should encourage us take even more care in developing our relationships with our retailer customers. MI PRO CONTACTS

MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Andy Barrett ANDY BARRETT MANAGER [email protected] [email protected] HELEN FRENCH EDITOR AT LARGE [email protected] GARY COOPER PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE [email protected] XXXXXXXXXX ASSOCIATE EDITOR ROSIE MCKEOWN [email protected] ROB POWER [email protected] CIRCULATION DEPUTY EDITOR PAUL LITTLE [email protected] ROB HUGHES [email protected] PUBLISHER ADVERTISING MANAGER DAVE ROBERTS [email protected] DARRELL CARTER [email protected] MANAGING DIRECTOR -/, 1/ Ê Ê/ Ê1Ê Ê , Ê 9 DESIGNER STUART DINSEY [email protected] CLAIRE BROCKLESBY [email protected] /\ÊääÊ{{Êä®£{nÎÊÓÎnÇÓäÊÊ \Ê- -J,1° "

Oyster acquires its pearls Butterworth bows out as former MB titles now in the hands of Acoustic and Bass Guitar magazines’ publisher HERALDING A significant company is a genuine family realignment in the consumer MI concern with great vision and magazine market, Oyster House passion for the subjects and Media, publisher of the Bass markets these titles cover. Guitar and Acoustic magazines, “Since I have gained an insight has purchased Guitar Buyer and into their business development Drummer magazines from plan, I can say that the future Graham Butterworth’s looks very exciting indeed for the Davenport Publishing. new Oyster portfolio. It’s good “We are very excited about news for the industry that an the acquisition of these two independent publisher is making leading titles as it strengthens such great strides in these our portfolio considerably and challenging times.” affords us a superb cross-section The move strengthens Oyster of magazines dedicated to every House’s position in the MI genre and musical discipline,” market and follows a major said Oyster House’s publisher expansion at its Devon and managing director, Hugo headquarters and the successful Mongomery-Swan. transition of Acoustic and Bass “Negotiations with Davenport Guitar to monthly publication. Publishing began back at the Montgomery-Swan says the time of LIMS this June and since acquisition will give Oyster then we have moved swiftly and considerably greater bargaining without complication to strength within the news trade conclude a deal that both parties and offer a better deal for are very happy with.” advertisers. The two former Former owner of the titles and Davenport titles will remain MI industry veteran Graham based in Cambridgeshire for the Butterworth added: “I am time being and no staff changes delighted to have concluded the are planned. sale with Oyster House. The OYSTER HOUSE: 01884 266100 Duran Audio hires JHS wins licensing award Lindsay-Johnson Spongebob musical instruments recognised for original project JOHN HORNBY Skewes & Co and acquiring the worldwide product entry against the Lewis and Taylor also bolster sales team has scooped a prestigious rights to license SpongeBob criteria of the excellence of with focus on Axys award for its Spongebob SquarePants Real Musical design, innovation and Squarepants Real Musical Instruments is turning in to a originality; consumer targeting DURAN AUDIO has Instruments from the Licensing massive success for JHS, and quality of manufacture announced the addition of Source Book Awards in a domestically and in a growing and packaging. Max Lindsay-Johnson, Steffan ceremony held on September number of export markets, JHS: 0113 286 5381 Lewis and Andrew Taylor to its 10th at the Lancaster London including Canada, France, sales and marketing team. Hotel in Lancaster Gate, Germany – even Australia and Lindsay-Johnson joins London. The award was New Zealand, are going nuts Duran as international sales presented in the Innovation for The Sponge." manager following his recent, category and has been taken The judging for the short-lived post at by the Garforth supplier of product award Studiomasters. He will be general MI as vindication for its categories, for based in the company's new imagination in looking for ways which 4,500 R&D and production facility to encourage young people to products in Zaltbommel, Netherlands. take up musical instruments. were entered, Duran’s Steffan Lewis, who LINDSAY-JOHNSON: Based “The important word in the was has been with the company in the Netherlands Spongebob range is ‘real’,” said conducted by a since 2002, now takes on the he was an audio project a delighted Dennis Drumm. panel of retail role of technical sales for the manager. He will be working "These are not toys, they are buyers including those PA/AV market while Andrew in close association with Chris real musical instruments that from Amazon, Tesco, Taylor joins the company to Full, Duran Audio’s theatre we are putting in the hands of Bhs, Sainsbury’s, M&S, focus on technical sales for and touring consultant, to the youngest prospective Mothercare, Play.com, theatre and touring. grow the Axys brand. musicians in the UK – and Tammy, Hamleys, Taylor joins Duran Audio DURAN AUDIO: around the world. JHS’ leap of Waterstones and WHSmith. UK from Stage Electrics where 029 2076 3423 faith in creating the category The judges assessed each

6 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK NEWS

Peavey brings indies to the MIA MI and audio giant resolves to boost trade association’s small dealer membership and its own sales targets

PEAVEY HAS Announced an Clive Roberts, MD of Peavey auspices of, the association. incentive scheme to bring Europe. “Industry-wide “Peavey has long been a smaller retailers into the MIA. promotions such as Learn To Play prominent supporter of the Under the terms of the scheme, and Weekend Warriors, which industry – sponsoring the main the company will reward help drive customers into music stage and hosting the exhibitor qualifying dealers by paying for a shops, can only be run by a trade party at the LIMS show, for year's subscription to the association. The same applies to example – and we applaud this association. The company says finance schemes like Take It latest initiative,” he said. “The MIA naturally welcomes “We believe a strong MIA is important any move that increases our membership and allows us to for the future of the industry.” undertake more promotions that get people playing an Clive Roberts, MD, Peavey instrument. But just as importantly, we're sure that the promotion is ‘independent Away. So we're doing our bit to every retailer who joins the and sales-target based’. encourage more retailers to association as a result of Peavey admits it is hoping its become members and make the Peavey's initiative will see scheme will boost turnover, but MIA stronger and more tangible rewards." stresses that it is eyeing longer- representative, so it can continue Peavey said that details of the term benefits for MI as a whole. to promote music-making.” scheme, which came into “We believe a strong MIA – Paul McManus, CEO of the operation on September 1st, will where retailers have at least as MIA, welcomed Peavey's move, be explained to dealers by loud a voice as suppliers – is while stressing that it was an Peavey representatives as part of important for the long-term independent scheme, run with their normal call cycle. ROBERTS: future of the MI industry,” said permission of, but not under the PEAVEY: 01536 461234 Doing his bit Go To bags G&L Blackstar sets sights on United States US guitar brand joins UK Breedlove distributor G&L GUITARS, the final incarnation “G&L has a number of patents UK amp firm establishes standalone US of the legendary Leo Fender and that do not appear on any other operation through former ESP man George Fullerton guitar guitars, including magnetic field partnership, has been signed for UK pickups, which are louder, but have BLACKSTAR AMPLIFICATION distribution by Go To Guitars. much less background noise than has appointed Loren Molinare The brand, managed by leading other pickups, the saddle lock to head its latest venture – the US Audio firm BBE since Leo bridge, which vastly improves formation of Blackstar USA. Fender’s death in 1991, has sustain, the dual fulcrum tremolo, Blackstar USA has been flourished in the USA and some Tri-Tone circuitry, PTB tone launched to supplement other territories, but is regarded as controls and their own unique way Blackstar’s existing US never having achieved its full of inserting truss rods that again is distribution via Guitar Center, potential in the UK. Go To’s MD, a major improver of sustain.” the amp maker’s sales and Tony Owens, believes that will The Tribute series, which is made marketing director, Paul change – along with the fortunes in the Far East, has the same Hayhoe, told MI Pro. of BBE’s effects pedals, which Go patented parts and “Loren is a seasoned To will also be distributing here. features the same industry professional,” “We’ve been fans of both brands pickups used on the commented Hayhoe. “He was for a long time and were USA guitars – made in with Line 6 for a number of MOLINARE: Good connections introduced at Musikmesse in the Fullerton California years and has worked with and the number of UK staff Frankfurt to BBE executives Joe Custom Shop and major names like ESP Guitars. reached 15, following the Allrich and Rob Rizzo by Musik shipped to the production He’s been in a couple of high- appointment of a new Wien, who also distributes our lines overseas. profile signed bands so he has engineer, new accounts staff Fairclough Guitars in Germany,” “As with all our products, excellent artist connections.” and customer service agents. Owens told MI Pro. BBE effects and G&L guitars Hayhoe said the move “We doubled our turnover “Both of these lines are will be supplied on a level follows an exceptional period last year,” concluded Hayhoe. extremely successful in Europe and playing field. We ensure of growth for Blackstar, which “The new Series One is indeed the world. We have retailers that everyone buys at the now has 100 UK retailers. As a shipping and going down well who have no idea that George same price, whether big consequence, last week it and we have some new Fullerton, who designed the or small, all retailers are relocated to a considerably products ready, which we’ll be famous Fender guitars, and Leo treated the same.” larger facility at the business showing at NAMM.” Fender were the designers and GO TO GUITARS: park where Blackstar is based BLACKSTAR: 01536 312620 founders of G&L. 01925 444696

Musical entrepreneurs

Yamaha and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts awards for youth songwriting and marketing winners announced

YAMAHA AND THE Liverpool Institute for "I've been involved with MIBI from the Performing Arts (LIPA) have announced very beginning," said broadcaster Mark the six winners of the 2009 Make It Radcliffe. "One of the main reasons I'm Break It (MIBI) awards, acknowledging committed to it is because the songs are the UK’s most outstanding young taken very seriously. It's not about songwriters, with a judging panel headed fashion or the band or the production – by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. This year saw it's about the song.” new promotional partners EMI The winners each receive prizes publishing, HMV retail and XFM Radio. including an all-expenses-paid music The winners are: (Age 14 to 16) Alex academy at LIPA with a host of master- Cheatle, Cameron Maunder and Kirsty classes and an A&R meeting with EMI Keatch, and (Age 17 to 19) Joni Fuller, along with a recording session. Polly Mackey and Sarah Wood (pictured In addition to the winners’ prizes, the with sister and co-performer Rachel). contest also offers the winners’ schools a The six winners selected by the judges £500 prize of Yamaha equipment. On top will receive their awards and get to of that, the school with the most perform live with a session band in front applicants will receive an on-site of an audience of invited guests at the master-class crafted for that school by a 2009 MIBI Ceremony on October 31st in LIPA lecturer. the Paul McCartney auditorium at LIPA. YAMAHA: 01908 366700

PRS for Music caves to Youtube Reverb in Sheffield New licence ends a nine-month dispute, but the majors are only likely winners from the lump sum deal fades to a close THE PERFORMING Rights Society (PRS) a place where existing fans and new and Youtube have agreed a licence that audiences can discover their favourite Yorkshire store closes amid controversy over performance will allow music videos streamed via the content – whatever it might be,” added Youtube site (owned by Google) to be Patrick Walker, Youtube’s director of REVERB HAS closed its Sheffield store – seen in the UK for the first time since a video partnerships. one of the six stores the company dispute began in January. Which all sounds very nice, until one obtained following the closure of the The deal is reported to be backdated to discovers that there are more non- Sound Control chain in April 2008. January 2009, when Youtube’s previous disclosure agreements on this one deal The store was closed on September licence expired. As a result of the than most companies would see in a year. 1st by the Reverb management, owing to agreement, the PRS statement read: ‘the The reason, it would appear, is that the its failure to match up to the company's songwriters, composers and music PRS has agreed a single lump sum for the criteria laid out in its business plan. All of publisher members that PRS for Music licence, rather than the reduced the other five Reverb stores remain open. represents will be rewarded when their figure of 0.085p per stream it was “We are 12 months into the business music is used’. hoping for. now and many of the areas we are “It is important that those who are This means that songwriters and artists operating in, stores, website and so on, creating music – the writers and will receive less per song stream the more have all worked as planned,” Reverb's composers we represent – be rewarded those songs are streamed. The Guardian managing director, Andrew Landesberg, when their works are used,” commented newspaper revealed that the gagging told MI Pro on September 3rd. “The Andrew Shaw, MD of the broadcast and orders on the negotiators are such that Sheffield branch – our smallest branch – online division at the PRS. “This is an even the board of the PRS do not know simply didn't match our criteria.” LANDESBERG: Looking forward achievement for songwriters, the finer details of the deal. He also explained that the last of the composers and the Youtube community The real winners of the deal, then, payments to the Sound Control better, but the summer is behind us now alike and it reinforces the value of our would appear to be Youtube and the administrators, Deloitte & Touche, had and we are looking forward to things members’ work.” major record labels, which will take the been made recently. “We have just improving in the busy season that's “We are dedicated to establishing and healthiest of the cuts from the single cleared the last of our obligations to the coming. The indications are positive.” fostering relationships that make Youtube lump sum the PRS has been given. Sound Control administrators,” said The reasons Landesberg has given for Landesberg. “This was predominantly the the closure of the store have not been stock that the administrator owned and accepted by former management and insisted upon being purchased as part of staff at the store, who claim that the the deal to take over the stores. store was working well. Certain former- “Other than that, we are happy with employees are now looking at the the way things are going – and like possibilities of opening a new store in everyone else, we would like things to be the city to fill the vacuum.

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NEWS Focusrite focuses on retail Select group established for pro equipment and reps repositioned in UK and overseas

FOCUSRITE HAS been working with select professional equipment retailers to establish a network of UK pro dealers. These stores will be the only outlets in the UK where customers can purchase Focusrite's ISA range, the Red range, the Liquid Channel and the Liquid 4Pre. Since these premium product lines are concentrated on select retailers, participating stores will be able to demonstrate units, loan items to prospective customers, and will always have units in stock available for purchase. Participating stores are: Birmingham - Digital Village, Bristol – Digital Village, Edinburgh – Red Dog Music, Herts – Studioxchange, Leeds – AudioCooker Music, Liverpool – Dolphin Music, Liverpool – Studiocare Professional Audio, London Clapham – Digital Village, London L to R: Neil Johnston, Steve Beeston, Damian Hawley, Nick Venables Romford – Digital Village, London Soho – HHB Communications, Manchester – PMT, of those in the south. Neil Johnston charge of the north of the UK. Damian Newcastle Upon Tyne – Sounds Live, continues to maintain his responsibilities Hawley remains global sales manager. Poole – Absolute Music Solutions. in the pro and education sectors, while Nick Venables commented: “I enjoyed In other news, the Focusrite sales team also looking after the southern MI dealer my time looking after our northern UK has undergone a reshuffle. UK sales network. Nick Venables is now sales dealers and wish them all the success for manager Steve Beeston is now looking manager for Europe, the Middle East and the future.” after northern MI dealer accounts instead Africa (EMEA), having previously been in FOCUSRITE: 01494 462246 Essential Pro Tools Double dose Avid brings new recording trio of composition, editing for Elixir and production bundles to market Strings & Things alongside AVID HAS announced the release of a can then be remixed using the Vocal trio of new Pro Tools Essential bundles, Studio software. Westside to supply the UK under the M-Powered Essential Pro Tools Recording Studio includes moniker and bundled them with M- the Fast Track USB audio interface and Audio interfaces, including a library of is designed to allow music enthusiasts over 60 virtual instrument sounds. to record, dub, edit, mix and blend The M-Powered Essential software digital sound. Pro Tools Key Studio comes in three configurations: Pro allows the user to record a single Tools Vocal Studio, Pro Tools Recording keyboard track or create an orchestral Studio and Pro Tools Key Studio. The recording using the included M-Audio Pro Tools Vocal Studio will ship with Key Studio USB keyboard. the Producer USB microphone, Rob Ruccia, chief engineer of the designed to record vocals and software’s beta tester Uptown acoustically played instruments, which Recording Chicago, commented: “Pro ELIXIR, THE coated string and cable Tools Essential is the best way specialist, a sub-division of WR Gore, has for entry-level Pro Tools users told MI Pro that it has added Strings & to begin their path to larger Things as an official distributor of its and more feature-packed products in the UK. versions of the software”. This places Strings & Things alongside Compatible with Westside Distribution as a co-distributor both Mac and PC, of the brand and its products. the three bundles The details for both suppliers are listed will be available as follows. from mid- Westside Distribution, Unit C, 139 September at an Lancefield Street, Glasgow G3 8HZ. MSRP of £79. Westsidedistribution.com. More information Strings & Things, Unit 3, 202 - 210 can be found on Brighton Road, Shoreham by Sea, West the website. Sussex BN43 6RJ. Stringsandthings.co.uk. AVID: 01753 STRINGS & THINGS: 01273 440442 655999 WESTSIDE: 0141 248 4812

10 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK PROFILE • DISTRIBUTION

Becky Stanton talks to MI Pro about AVSL Group’s distinguishing features and its retailer relationships...

Year Established: 1998 all areas and organise our buying What are your criteria for customers would vote with their What would you say is the currency requirements to absorb selecting new products? feet if we weren’t delivering. biggest challenge facing the Number of employees: 47 any future exchange rate issues. We put a lot of store in simply Another key difference industry today? Clearly there is less money to listening to the customers. between us and some of our Clearly supplier pricing and the Is business up or down be spent and budgets have been Thankfully, MI retailers tend to competitors is that we operate effect of internet-based sales have compared to last year? trimmed, but if you offer what be a vociferous bunch and most on a strictly trade-only basis made running a retail outlet a very Our core business is up based on your market needs and offer the of the product suggestions come from a bonded warehouse with difficult proposition; the downturn like-for-like sales to date, right level of service both pre directly from them. We also have no trade counter or cash sales in the economy has compounded however, it has been noticeably and post sales then you will be new product meetings on a facility. We also deliver on all the problems faced by retailers much harder to sustain growth able to trade at good levels. weekly basis, which give us the orders received before 2pm. with hefty overheads to pay. compared to previous years. We We have not altered our plans opportunity to put these product We own our brands and as a have seen a gain in product in terms of long-term objectives ideas and suggestions to the How do you maintain a good result are able to control the route areas away from our more and have added new members sales, purchasing, technical and relationship with retailers? to market of all of the products traditional sales channels. For all of our customers, big or that we offer. We have a pricing Our range of music products small, our level of service is policy that we enforce within our and accessories has produced “For all our customers, big or small, our exactly the same and has a customer base and we do react in strong results and we intend to level of service is exactly the same and significant influence in ensuring the event of this being abused and expand our range before the end that the relationships we have we believe we do not suffer to the of this year. Following the has a significant influence in ensuring built with our customers are extent our competition has. We successful integration of the mutually happy. We are good at cannot afford to have our prices product portfolio of BCK Products relationships are mutually happy.” listening and reacting. compromised by any reseller and in 2008, we have added keyboard Our website provides all our we police the issue tenaciously. bags and covers, plus midi Becky Stanton, AVSL Group dealers with a method to access keyboards and accessories, to our all the products and services we What are your aims for the next existing music and PA products. to our team, who have brought marketing staff. Those that have 24 hours a day, seven days 12 months? Our stock availability has additional expertise and helped us survive are added to the range. a week and our account Firstly our brands need to mature been a very critical factor in our get a better feel for the MI market. customers have full access to all within the market place and we success over the past 11 years What distinguishes you from the website functions. will be much more proactive in and we feel that this is crucial. What are your bestselling the competition? Our technical helpline is promoting them. The second We consider our current level of lines, and why do you think Our business ethos is a very available to answer all queries objective is very simple: to 96 per cent availability on our they perform so well? simple one: give the customers and acts as a support service to continue to invest in new product entire range of 4,700 different We sell a lot of different product what they want. Although we are retailers who may not be and to help increase our market items is the minimum groups but our sound, light and relatively new to the MI trade, we familiar with all of our products share, we will recruit further staff acceptable level to ensure music ranges generate excellent offer a service that we feel features and technical in order to add expertise and that we can offer the service turnover. In fact, our products for cannot be matched in our sector. requirements. bolster our growing team. levels demanded. the MI retailer, following the Our feedback from the customers new additions, stands at almost is that they have been crying How has the current economic 1,000 lines, including a full range out for an alternative. CONTACT DETAILS climate affected business? of percussion instruments and a Our technical support is We realised in the middle of last new range of guitars. Our main excellent and our customer Address: Container Base, Barton Dock Road, Manchester M41 7BQ year that the economy was goal is to offer the retailer a services team will resolve any Phone: 0845 270 2411 about to become difficult in viable alternative to their current queries within the time our Web: www.avslgroup.com terms of growth, so we planned suppliers and a sensible margin customers expect. These things Contacts: Becky Stanton to get stock levels to our ideal in on a good quality range. are easy to say, but our

SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO OCTOBER 2009 11 DRUM NEWS Hull in Warwickshire Xtreme clinics World’s leading drum facilitator offers clinic and seminar for circle community Simon Edgoose to head up Yamaha UK pro music division seminars for users and prospective customers of its electronic drumkits ARTHUR HULL, the world’s best known ‘rhythm evangelist’ YAMAHA MUSIC UK has DTXtreme III will be covered, “I'm very much looking and responsible for much of announced the dates of the specifically its brand new brain, forward to sharing my the growth in drum circle DTXtreme III training seminars its sampling capability and experience and knowledge of activity around the world in for owners and prospective voice editing technology. the DTXtreme III through these communities, schools and owners. The in-depth, one day Yamaha's drum product events,” added Edgoose. “The organisations, will hold a drum sessions will be held at manager, Gavin Thomas, DTX can be used in a huge facilitators’ forum in Warwick Yamaha's Milton Keynes commented: “These sessions variety of situations and my on October 20th. headquarters between will prove invaluable to aim is that following the The forum will take place November 17th and 19th at a DTXtreme III owners and also sessions, delegates will have from 11am to 3:30pm and cost of £120. those people thinking about new knowledge and really offers facilitators the chance HULL: Innovator Led by session drummer buying a kit. The creative and begin to push their creativity to to meet and gain an insight Simon Edgoose, one of the UK’s technological capability of the new levels.” into the growing profession of Entrance for the event is leading exponents of all things instrument is so huge that For more information and drum circle facilitation. free, but with limited places; DTX, the sessions have been many people don't really get to booking details please visit the The forum will also be those interested in created following requests from the heart of the power of the Yamaha training website giving advice to those participating should contact users and carefully designed to system. It’s a great opportunity (training.yamaha-europe.com) interested in organising their Kandy Hobden at EMD ensure players are reaching the for players to get under the skin or contact Angie Wells on own drum circle, as well as a (Remo’s distributor in the UK) maximum capability of the of the kit and improve their 01908 369293. chance to see the latest Remo at the number below or by instrument. All aspects of the skills and sounds.” YAMAHA: 01908 366700 percussion products (Hull is a email at Remo endorser) and get some [email protected]. exclusive deals on the day. EMD: 01293 862612 Sabian practises with Jojo SABIAN HAS launched a new Drummer, which Sabian hopes practice pad, the Jojo Mayer will help boost sales. Edition 14-inch snare, in a pack The practice pad is a that also includes a set of Vic tensionable drumhead with a Firth Jojo Mayer signature sticks. hard rebound underlay, rubber The pack will retail at £83. Both feet and a metal snare hoop. The pad and sticks are the same as black or white pad is also those used used on Mayer’s available separately for a retail instructional DVD, Secret price of £73. Weapons for the Modern WESTSIDE: 0141 248 4812 Schulman in the Pink MARK SCHULMAN is currently on tour with Pink and a long- awaited DVD from is due for release, with the rather un- snappy title of A Day in the Recording Studio: A do-it- yourself guide to recording great drum tracks for drummers and all musicians. SCHULMAN: New DVD Schulman will also be holding several meet and greet November 1st: Meet and dates and a drum clinic while greet at The Drum Shop in the UK. (Newcastle) October 19th: Drum clinic More dates are expected to at Rhythm Base (Glasgow) be added in due course. Those October 24th: Meet and einterested should keep an eye greet at Manchester Drum on the news at Centre (Manchester) markschulman.net.

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY MIKEDOLBEAR.COM, THE LEADING ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING DRUMS. VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS.

12 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk

EVENT REVIEW • PLASA

All quiet on the western front? Possibly, but that can be seen as a positive just as easily as a negative. With DJ evolving in one direction and PLASA in another, the show is developing a very clear direction and identity these days and with the recession forcing an economy of scale, PLASA and its exhibitors are thinking smarter, too…

t’s easy to get blasé about annual their wares and services to a tad over show went this year and I think it will other stalwarts in the club installation events, particularly ones that you 11,500 visitors is missing a hefty slice result in noticeable growth next year – market rub their chins in a questioning Iattend every year. It’s impossible not to from the 400-plus stands and 13,500 and this isn’t just bullshit because of who I sort of way about the necessity of being start comparing it with previous years and visitors of last year, but the way the show work for. I genuinely believe this.” at the show, it is the markets where light then, after time, looking back to some has evolved means that this is far from Griffiths made the point that, because and sound meet in the most rose-tinted wonder era that we would do being any sort of hammer blow to the of the economic climate, exhibitors came complementary of manners, namely well to go back to. future of the event. in a very business focused frame of mind theatre and touring, where the new PLASA is no exception and while it’s Jen Barrett, a marketing officer with and the visitors came because they identity of the PLASA Show is emerging. easy to comment upon the slightly PLASA Events, was never going to play needed to be there. He was willing to put “The DJ element is not what it once compacted show floor this year with large down the show, but there was real his neck out and say that there was very was at the show, but that’s as much down sections walled off or the fact that DJ enthusiasm in her unofficial report to MI possibly more business done this year to the way the business has developed, as really isn’t what the show is about any Pro. “We are absolutely delighted that the than last. well as the way PLASA has developed,” more, it remains that the Pro Light And show had such a good dynamic this year,” “Yes, we are a show organiser and that said Griffiths. “There were DJ products at Sound Association’s annual bash is a world she said. “Both exhibitors and visitors hooks us into certain mind-sets regarding the show and we are still very aware of leader and arguably the best trade show came ready and willing to do business and floor space and visitor numbers,” he the DJ market. We might be looking to this little island has to offer the audio while figures might have been down, the explained. “But we are also a trade address this in other ways, maybe through (and to a lessening degree) MI industries. feedback we have received from across association and for me and my members, the PLASA Focus – but we are certainly In the end – and one can genuinely use the show floor has been incredibly the real buzz comes from doing a deal.” not saying we don’t want to know DJ.” the recession disclaimer on this one, as positive.” Griffiths sees every aspect of this year’s It was pointed out last year that the the audio business in particular has been Her words were echoed by PLASA’s MD, show in terms of opportunity – which is show is increasingly corporate and hit squarely in the wallet over the past Matthew Griffiths, who added an extra refreshing. While the DJ sector slowly companies such as Shure Distribution UK couple of years – it was a quieter show assurance to his point of view. “I’m (very slowly, in fact) withdraws from being continue to use PLASA as a meeting place this year. The 300-plus exhibitors showing genuinely encouraged by the way the central to the show and, linked to that, for its suppliers as well as for its

PLASA’s MD, Matthew Griffiths, felt that economic constraints led to stand design being more compact and more stylish this year – he could well be right

14 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk PLASA • EVENT REVIEW

EVENT: PLASA Show VENUE: Earls Court 1 and 2 DATE: September 13th to 16th EXHIBITORS: 310 VISITORS: 11,518 (pre-audited figure) VERDICT: Noticeably smaller than recent years, but the level of activity and business done seemed unaltered – which is impressive by anyone’s standards. Generally, visitors seemed very happy with what was on offer, while exhibitors, keen to do the deal, were even more happy with the quality of the visitors. That equates to a good show.

customers. This is a trend that will realise that they want to do business and continue and grow. this is the best way to do it.” “Quiet and colourful,” was how one MI Another element of the show’s visitor described it. When asked to define evolution, Griffiths believes, has been the word ‘quiet’ he referred to the reduced forced upon the exhibitors again this year. OUT NOW floor space, but then added: “But actually “Next year – and I haven’t spoken to the quiet, you know – there are lots of people team about this yet – but I see more of here, but you can hold a conversation the efficiencies of this year happening. The without shouting.” A point very much still bigger companies, because of financial worth making – PLASA is possibly the only constraints, were forced to think about Ableton Suite 8 show in the audio and MI world’s where their stands this year and they made them the venue’s noise police actually succeed. more compact, more efficient and, I think, Makes sense, really, with just about every a good deal more stylish. and Ableton Live 8 stand capable of producing organ “Many companies will see this as the dissolving sound pressure levels. way to go. You have to admit, it adds up. It “It’s true that it was once difficult to makes sense to do as much or more even hear yourself think at the show and business while spending less. This is why I For movies, more info and we decided a few years ago to stamp out think the show will grow next year. There a free 14-day license, visit: that sort of excessive noise, but the are plenty of negative people out there, exhibitors took that idea on board but a lot of positive thinking, too. The www.ableton.com wholesale and evolved it. Since the first 2010 show will be all about that – effort, we haven’t been actively clamping positive and efficient.” down on sound levels – the exhibitors PLASA: 01323 524120

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Socialising is always a big part of PLASA www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 15

MUSIC CHINA • SHOW PREVIEW

FACT FILE EVENT: Music China VENUE: Shanghai New International Expo Centre DATE: October 13th to 16th EXHIBITORS: 1,100 (over 1,400 including Prolight + Sound Shanghai)

Bullish in China’s shop The adage for thoughtless or clumsy destructive activity is fast developing a new meaning: growing your business in China. After seven years of testing the water, British companies are now fixing Music China (and Prolight + Sound Shanghai) as a must-attend event for those that want to maintain their Asia Pacific markets. The door to the domestic Chinese market is creaking ever wider, too…

s the US and the UK stagger, that they are) then China’s MI market is bewildered, from the global flat on a year ago, with a tad over 1,100 Arecession of their own making, the exhibitors covering five exhibition halls. Chinese economy is already getting back Add to this Prolight + Sound Shanghai’s up to speed and starting, once again, to increase of some 16 per cent to 358 set the pace for the rest of the Asia Pacific exhibitors from 15 countries (compared to market. The shenanigans of the 305 from ten last year) and the picture is predominantly western banks, it seems, quite easy to focus on. caused a brief slow-down in the Far East Among the big boys keen to flag up from the initial impact, but rather hastily, their activity prior to the show, Music the area has shrugged off its more costly China’s organiser has told us that Roland connections and has gone back to will be going big on its V-drums this year, business as usual. Korg will be making much of its Nano Whether the West will catch up again is series of controllers, Line 6 will be pushing open to argument, but of relatively little the new Spider IV amps, Taylor interest to the Chinese. There are still (celebrating 35 years in the business) will markets enough to exploit while the West be making much of its upgraded Solidbody gets its shop back in order. Classic electrics and Steinway will be The upside of this, as has been presenting no fewer than two new models, repeatedly touched on in Music China the Sapphire and Aquamarine pianos, previews and reports over the past seven adding to its Crown Jewel series. years, is that those sensible enough to Providing a little more regional interest have a foot in the door in the area also for the UK (which will have 20-odd Those sensible enough to have a foot in the door stand to benefit from the burgeoning companies and brands represented – not a market in terms of regional diversification. record, but indicative of the climb-back in the area stand to benefit from the burgeoning If the exhibitor attendance (and pre- since the high tidemark of 24 companies market in terms of diversification. registration visitor figures) are anything to in 2006) is a variety of market sectors, go by (and previous shows would indicate featuring both show virgins and veterans. www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 17 SHOW PREVIEW • MUSIC CHINA

STAND-BY-STAND Where you will find the UK exhibitors at Music China

Scalerail E1 C25

Music Sales E2 C32 Trinity Guildhall E2 D37 Faber Music E2 D39 ABRSM E2 D43 Music Publishers Association E2 D45 Ariel Music E2 D45 Edition HH E2 D45 Emerson Edition E2 D45 Must E2 D45 Phoenix Music E2 D45 Wild Woods Music E2 D45 Mel Bay Music E2 D47 Zone New Media E2 D49

Howarth of London E3 A28 Denis Wick E3 B29

Fusion Products E5 D30 Hiwatt Amplification E5 D45 JMI Amplification E5 D45 Tanglewood/EMC E5 D49

G7th Capo/IBC Trading E6 D32

Ashdown/Hayden/Lodestone TBC

The publishing market has been pretty publishing giant, and the recognisable are at every major show. We are always those wishing to take up the guitar, with a quick to get involved and (presumably), figure of Chris Statham. “It’s our first time looking for new customers and with Music ¾-sized classical guitar (the DBT 34), a with the grip on intellectual rights being out there and we’re hoping to open up a China you have the added benefit of the dreadnought (the DBT DLX D) and a folk tightened year-on-year in all aspects of new territory for the business. The country domestic market. There isn’t really any guitar (the DBT SF CE). All of them have business in the region, the publishers are seems to be sorting itself out distribution network for China, but there spruce tops with mahogany back and sides increasingly happy to get their products domestically, so we’re looking for are groups of retailers in Beijing, Shanghai and a mahogany neck. out there. publishers and distributors that can get and Hong Kong that buy in groups or Finally, the Evolution Exotic is a super ABRSM will be showcasing several new our products accepted out there, as well consortiums. This market is beginning to folk cutaway with a spruce top and very Chinese language publications, following a as any other potential markets in the Asia open up now – we started selling to them attractive flame maple back and sides and trial exam session in Shanghai that is Pacific region. last year.” a maple neck. being held as MI Pro goes to press. This These guitars take the keenly priced trial (open to very specific categories of Evolution series into new territory, offering Chinese citizens and generally to non- a classier look at an equally keen price. Chinese) will spark the release of Music Ashdown Engineering (aka Hayden and Theory in Practice (Grades 1 to 5), sample Lodestone) will be back at the show again Theory of Music test papers (Grades 1 to this year, only this time with a dedicated 8) and two volumes of sample aural tests stand, away from the UK entourage and (Grades 1 to 8) in Chinese. together with its Far Eastern manufacturer, Another old hand at the Shanghai game which has recently become its distributor is Faber Music – one of those companies for the area, Wuhan Eleca. “We use the that views Music China as an essential show to meet up with distributors we event in the trade calendar. Faber sees the don’t get to meet elsewhere,” said the show as the perfect location to maintain amp and guitar company’s sales director, its relationships with Asia Pacific Chris Bates. “We tend to see our Russian A show where cultures meet NAMM University sessions daily customers, most notably India and and Australian customers – even the Australia. “About two-thirds of our work at Polish one on occasions, but now we see any trade show is maintenance of “I’m very optimistic, I have to say. We Tanglewood will be introducing a few that the domestic market is opening up. relationships,” explains Faber’s Phillip are already wording a couple of new products at the show in the shape of We are looking to further that. We’ve been Littlemore. “But we love to find new agreements and I think we will see an new ukuleles, the new Discovery by dealing with China for a few years now, so customers and there is also the work awful lot happening out there for Mel Bay Tanglewood brand of starter guitars and this is something we want to continue. being done with publishers in the region and its third-party products.” the Evolution Exotic range, which takes Which all points towards one quite for Chinese versions of our products. Music Another veteran of Music China is Tanglewood models and spruces (sorry) significant development: the years of ‘toe- China has become indispensable for us Tanglewood, which has been at every them up with more unusual woods. dipping’ are over. China has proved its because a lot of the regional distributors Music China show at the New Shanghai The ukuleles comprise the all- strength by all but shrugging off the chilly simply don’t go to Frankfurt or NAMM.” Expo Centre. The company met its mahogany TU 1, the solid spruce topped, economic climate in the rest of the world Littlemore goes on to explain that, for Australian distributor at the show a few bubinga bodied and mahogany-necked TU and it is that climate, again, that is added marketing clout, Faber will be years back, with the market becoming one 2 and the starter TU 6. The TU 6 targets pushing western businesses to open up combining its stand with Trinity for a of its biggest in the intervening time. “You the younger market and is finished in a the door for its products to sell in the bigger presence this year. just never know when something like that variety of colours. largest potential market in the world. The Among the show first-timers is Mel Bay is going to rear its head,” points out The Discovery packs are acoustic starter chance everybody has been waiting for Limited, the UK branch of the US Tanglewood’s Tony Flatt. “That’s why we models that offer three alternatives to looks to be upon us at last.

18 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk

Complete portable lighting system “The effects are literally The newly upgraded LED Parbar MKII is ideal dazzling, with a very effective for all performers from live bands to DJs selection of lighting effects available from 11 separate of It now has improved 20% more powerful LEDs preset internal programs that Each lamp has a newly designed lighter casing can be selected via the built-in LED covers for added protection on the road control panel” PlayMusic The whole kit now weighs in at only 16Kg! Sound controllable built-in programs “The Parbar is the complete Stand-alone operation for soloists set-up... A genuine all-in-one solution, the Parbar simply DMX 512 compatible / 15 channels screams convenience” iDJ Mag Each lamp has 108 RGB LEDs Individual lamp tilt and swivel “The LEDs far outstrip standard T-bar incorporates controller light bulbs and will boost your Stand height reaches 240cm presentation” Tim Slater Sets up in just 3 minutes! “The Parbar is a great way to Includes padded rig bag illuminate your band or show 4 pedal foot controller without costing a bomb. Damn Stand and stand bag near essential, we say” Pickup BPM • SHOW PREVIEW

Event: BPM Venue: NEC, Birmingham Date: October 3rd to 4th, 2009

Here comes the remix A new venue, a bunch of big name stars and a growing number of visitors make BPM one of the biggest and best up-and- coming shows in the UK. Rob Power finds out what’s playing on the wheels of steel…

ince its launch in 2007, the DJ show “The first show was really well received. We felt that was about as far as we BPM has gone from strength to Basically, the history of the event is that it could go at Donington and in order to get Sstrength with the sort of ease many is run by a small team including me and the numbers up even more we needed to events would struggle with. Aimed the other director, Mark. We have both move somewhere a little bit more central squarely at the DJ market, a sector of the been involved in the DJ side of the industry and high profile.” industry that has been somewhat previously and we felt that other shows With an already impressive reaction to overlooked of late with all the guitar- such as PLASA had moved away from the BPM, it is clearly catering towards the based indie boy posturing that’s gone on DJ side of the sound and lighting industry. needs of a section of the market that feels for the last few years. It’s a vibrant and There seemed to be a gap in the market a little unloved at the moment. With a increasingly important calendar date for those people who are more at home on decks than with a plectrum. “There seems to be a cycle where the cool thing to This year sees show organiser Marked Events ringing in the changes in a bid to do is either get a pair of decks or a guitar and now it keep the constantly growing visitor seems to be swinging back to the DJ side of things”. number moving in the right direction. “This is the third year for the show,” Eddie Short, Marked Events explains Marked Events MD Eddie Short. “We started in 2007 at Donington Park. We did two shows at Donington and this for somebody to seriously take on a show background in the DJ industry, Short has year is the first one at NEC. We just felt of that nature. At the end of 2006 all this been able to get inside the mind of the that we had grown as much as we could came to a head and we decided to go for average DJ consumer and give them a at Donington. It was the ideal place to it and put on an event in 2007. show to be proud of. start, but we felt like we needed a little “The first show was really well “My personal background is that I set bit more space and also we wanted to supported by a lot of companies within up a magazine for mobile DJs called Pro move somewhere a bit more accessible the industry, and we had just over 2,000 Mobile magazine, which we still have and and high profile. The NEC has better visitors, which was a very good start. The tie in with the show,” he explains.”I transport links, with a railway station and following year, we got a few other definitely think things are very strong in airport as well as good road links, so it companies involved that were wary early the market at the moment. If anything it makes a lot of sense. on and built the visitor figure up to 2,500. feels like it is coming back round to DJ. www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 21 SHOW PREVIEW• BPM

Of course, spinning the decks is where it’s all at No doubt there will be dancing too...

“There seems to be a cycle where the trade, so end users can from industry vets and those a bit wet learn about everything from Djing to cool thing to do is either get a pair of buy tickets to come along and we offer behind the ears are sure to come away promotion to music production to getting decks or a guitar and it seems to be trade passes to installers and retailers as with both valuable knowledge and a long tracks signed.” swinging back to the DJ side of things. well – although they’re looked after a list of new products to buy. Finally, a whole new area gives both DJs “We’re getting a lot of interest in the little differently.” On the marketing side of things, and those who want to be stood on the show and the great thing about it is that Alongside the obligatory exhibitor Marked Events has been making the most podium in years to come a chance to strut it’s aimed at everybody from a teenager stands from a range of names including of the current trend in social networking their stuff. “An important part of and is working on bringing a wide the show is the performance space, “The heart of the event is the exhibition of audience to BPM. “We’ve tried as much as which we call the Arena. This year it’s we can to raise the profile of the show,” going to be silent, so when visitors arrive equipment, but we also have a good programme adds Short. “We’ve done a lot with email, they are given a set of headphones and social networking sites and have can switch between two different of seminars, workshops and panels that offer advertising on Facebook, as well. The performance spaces. plenty of educational content for visitors.” heart of the event is the exhibition of “There’s a DJ set-up for up-and-coming equipment, but we also have a good acts that will be playing throughout the Eddie Short, Marked Events programme of seminars, workshops and day, and a main stage where bigger acts panels that offer plenty of educational will be on and visitors can simply choose who wants to become a DJ one day the likes of Allen & Heath, Numark and content for visitors. which stream of audio they want to listen through to venue owners, equipment Pioneer, there will be performances from a “We’ve not quite got all the panelists to. That allows us to get the Arena right installers, everybody. It’s a broad spectrum wide variety of both big names and confirmed yet, but we can say that there smack bang in the middle of the show and of exhibitors and visitors – we deliberately emerging talent. Seminars and regular are going to be some really good people make it a really exciting event.” set this show up to cater for end users and panels mean there will be plenty to learn at the event who will enable visitors to WWW.VISITBPM.CO.UK

Last year’s event was a success, but 2009’s event is set to be even bigger

22 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk GROUP HOT OFF THE PRESS!

NEW Product Catalogue NEW Website We have just launched our latest Our new look website has even more 700 page catalogue containing over features and functions to make searching 5000 diff erent products, covering all and ordering our products quicker and your audio, video, sound, light and easier. You can also see videos of our electronics needs. fantastic range of light eff ects in action! Open an account today and get your Visit www.avslgroup.com FREE catalogue by calling 0845 270 2411 COVER FEATURE • TASCAM

The pearl in the crown

As the Portastudio celebrates 30 years since it sparked the home recording revolution, its corporate inventor, Tascam, still maintains its presence at the forefront of the market. Gary Cooper takes a peep in the workings…

anaging the great leaps forward in MI and to have come out of it in exactly realm of dedicated hardware and onto the The product that most people that technology occasionally the same position with a fully digital line-up laptop. For a lot of top-end home and immediately associate with Tascam is the Mdelivers is one of the hardest tasks is extremely impressive. professional recording that prediction might Portstudio, celebrating its 30th anniversary that can face a manufacturer. It’s often the But perhaps even more impressive is have been right – but somehow Tascam has this year. While the market may not be time when a fresh-faced upstart can sneak that Tascam has fought a war on a second managed to make a range of products so quite what it once was when home into the market and steal your crown. But recording began to boom in the 1980s, it is occasionally, a company does it so still a phenomenally popular seller and seamlessly that it’s easy to overlook just Tascam has managed to make a range of Tascam has gone on to develop other what it is it’s achieved. Take Tascam, for markets, too – notably the hugely popular example. In 1979, when the Portastudio was products so intuitive to use, so affordable and guitar trainer sector and what has been the launched to an astonished MI world, analog liked, that musicians still buy and use them in surprise hit of the past few years – the recording wasn’t just king, it was the only digital stereo recorder. way you could record. And it stayed that preference to using a computer. Not only has the technology changed. way, though losing ground steadily, until the Tascam UK itself has changed a lot since new millennium, when digital finally front, too. With the almost ubiquitous use intuitive to use, so affordable and liked, that MI Pro last spoke with it, five years ago. triumphed, for all but a few die-hard analog of computers among music makers today, musicians still buy and use them, in During that time, Tony Gravel, who has fans. To have entered that transition as the many had predicted that recording would preference to doing whatever it is their now clocked up an impressive 22 years most successful recording equipment brand follow so many other pursuits out of the particular Tascam does on a computer. with the company, has become responsible

24 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk TASCAM • COVER FEATURE

for Teac (the parent corporation’s) Tacsam independents. They are about to be operation in the UK, as part of a replaced in the next few months, reorganisation which saw the relocation of incidentally – three new interfaces are on several Teac operations to Germany, so it’s the way, which will be launched at the AES him we turn to for an overview of where in New York and will be available before Tascam UK is today. Christmas.” We begin by asking about the current In fact, Tascam is currently on a launch state of Tascam’s UK market and where crusade because, in addition to the new Gravel sees sales opportunities for his USB interfaces, a new Portastudio is on many retail customers. the way, too, also destined to help boost retailers’ Christmas period sales. THE PRODUCT THAT KEEPS ON GOING But even a host of well-timed new “The first thing to say is that the market products isn’t a lot of use if retailers for the Portastudio is still very buoyant. can’t sell them and a make a profit and Though it’s smaller than back in the heady this area is one where Gravel has some days of 1979, the product itself is still particularly interesting revelations – not every bit as relevant to the end-user as it least about ways in which he and his was. In terms of the bang per buck it offers team have been working with eBay to and the appealing ease of use, it’s still a counter excessive discounting. very relevant product and the DP-004, our “Because we are a subsidiary of Teac, entry level unit, sells in phenomenal Tokyo, as is Teac Europe, it’s in our numbers. Importantly, it is also bringing a interests and within our capabilities, to lot of smaller stores back to Tascam.” work closely with our European colleagues This aspect of Tascam today – its desire to make sure there’s a level playing field. to work with and appeal to smaller stores Where you have different distributors in – is something Tony Gravel returns to different countries, it can sometimes be a several times in our interview. Where once bit of a bun fight, but we have to make recording gear might have seemed the sure that we’re not treading on one natural territory of high-tech stores, another’s toes and we can work very Tascam’s genius has been to make its closely together and help the dealers in products easy to use for those who still that way. don’t feel entirely comfortable with “This has real benefits when, for computers, or don’t find them convenient example, Gary Maguire and Alex or sufficiently portable. Happily, these are Farrell, our UK ASMs, go into shops, just the sort of customers who are more because they can show retail prices likely to patronise smaller shops, anyway – advertised, they can show the price particularly ‘empty nesters’ returning to we are selling to them and they can music making after a break and now with show that the retailer can make a disposable cash and fond memories of the margin. Slowly and surely that is a early days of multitracking. battle we are winning and it’s a “If you look at the DP-004, it doesn’t result of the amount of time that we cost much more than a USB interface, it have spent on this. runs on SD cards, it works with either electric or acoustic guitars, having two VERIFIED BY TASCAM microphones built-in – it has been a shot “As for other areas where we have been in the arm for us and it has helped show trying to help, eBay runs something called how relevant the concept still is today.” the VERO programme, which stands for the Another product that is making serious Verified Rights Owner programme, and we waves is the stereo recorder. Gravel admits have signed up to that. As to how it works, that this one caught many by surprise and if an eBay seller has used the Tascam that Tascam may have been late to market name, Tascam is our name and the rights with its take on the concept, but it now belong to Teac Tokyo. So if someone is has a full range. Though at first sight not a selling Tascam products and they are lot more than a very capable alternative to using our images from the web, or if a field cassette or MD recorder, these are they are using copy from our website finding countless applications, not least and selling products too cheaply, or with bands who want to record rehearsals even if they aren’t a registered dealer, and gigs and instantly share copies among we can take action. the players. Then, of course, there are “I was made aware of the VERO Tascam’s hugely successful guitar and voice programme a while ago and it takes trainers like the GT-R1 guitar trainer. Sales a lot of very time-consuming leg- of these are, he says, “phenomenal”. work. Basically, it allows you to log “That said, USB interfaces are also an offending item, following which selling tremendously well and have been eBay will look into it and if it agrees for years now – the US-122L and US-144 it conflicts with your rights, it will be are in an award-winnng range, which has removed. Some months ago, we came become a staple in a lot of music stores – across a seller who was offering virtually both bigger shops and smaller every product we had. He said he was www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 25 COVER FEATURE • TASCAM

selling bankrupt stock, but he wasn’t and in the DP-004 or the DR-07, that they see help them get to their goal as a player that shows you how much emphasis Teac is the end I managed to get the whole there’s real potential there. We try to make bit quicker and they will find the money putting on this market – from pro audio account closed down. It turned out he was it easy for them to get a representation of for it somehow.” through to MI.” bringing it in from a store in America. Tascam in their stores.” Beyond solely MI stores, Tascam UK has And if even that isn’t quite sufficient to “It’s a very effective programme and it In as much as some retailers need recently launched a dedicated sales and get the sales juices flowing, Tascam has yet does seem to work, but it is time leading to the realisation of Tascam support service for the professional AV another appetiser on the horizon. To consuming to operate. I do think the products’ potential, so do the end-users. sector in the UK, headed by Gary Maguire, celebrate the 30th anniversary of the majority of retailers are appreciative of the It’s when you actually play around with a and it’s worth remembering that for all its Portastudio, the fourth quarter of this year efforts we’ve taken to help them in this GTR-1 that the metaphorical light bulb success in the MI field, the company still will see a promotion to celebrate the birth way. That said, you do still get the odd starts to shine your head and all the things has a huge amount of business in the of this iconic product and point of sale one. Just recently one said to me ‘Right – you could do with one become apparent. professional arena – in some areas of material is on the way for retailers, which what is your company going to invest in us “Yes, for products like the guitar trainers, which the transition to digital is only now they will be able to get from their this year?’ I thought, well, apart from you’ve got to have them in the guitar area taking place. Tascam ASMs. spending thousands on product R&D, manufacturing, shipping that product to you, spending money on making the consumer aware of it, providing service and backup, so you can put it on your website, discount it and wait for the cash to roll in? Well, not a lot really!”

THE INDEPENDENT APPROACH Gravel is keen to stress how much importance Tascam UK places on smaller independent retailers and he feels the company has a lot to offer them. “We are being approached by more and more independents these days – and the buying groups, too – and we make it very easy for them. It’s almost on a ‘one to go, Left to right: Tascam area sales manager Alex Farrell; pro AV man, Gary Maguire; UK divisional manager Tony Gravel one to show basis’, with very generous discounts, so that retailers can have one of a shop, not in a glass cabinet. If you put “As far as Tascam is concerned, we are “I keep coming back to how out on demonstration. And we don’t hold those in the guitar section so people can try embracing solid state, using SD and encouraging it is to see the number of dealers to stocking one of everything – it’s them, they’ll sell and we’ll do all we can to Compact Flash with products from rack- small retailers coming on board,” says Tony down to what is relevant to the catchment help: our reps will help you secure them; we mounted install products to handheld Gravel. “We have a tremendous amount to area of that individual shop.” know they will get soiled, so we do a Portastudios, right up to networkable hard offer them and I’d hate them to miss out One problem Tascam does experience rotation system; we offer discounts on the drives and all sorts of alternatives to MDs because they imagine they were too small among smaller dealers is that some don’t demo models – this is something I’ve done and CDs. We see this continuing. Teac to interest us. Call the office, let us come realise they are being courted by what since day one. You’ve got to have the kit out Corporation has built a whole lot more out and talk with you about what might they perceive as a giant concern. so people can play with them and the resources into Tascam this year and we’re work for you and your particular business “I had a case of that recently, in dealers that have taken us up on this have seeing the benefits of that now in the new in your area. We are doing everything we Cornwall,” Gravel says. “I went to see a done really well with them. products that are coming along. can to work with and support retailers and retailer and he had just assumed he couldn’t “A lot of the people who’ll be drawn to “In the next half fiscal year we’ve got 28 we are certainly not prejudiced against the get the line. It’s not until you talk to them the gear are oblivious to the recession. new products on our road map - which smaller independents and specialists.” about the products they can easily sell, like They see a new bit of kit that’s going to means before the end of March. That TASCAM: 08451 302511

26 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk STOCK UP FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

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Home cooking The availability of affordable recording equipment has led to an explosion in home recording and a lot of tough competition in the marketplace. Rob Power takes a look at what’s flicking consumers’ switches at the moment…

few years ago, the idea of being M-AUDIO are reasonably priced and capable of able to record, mix and master a As the starting point for anyone looking to turning any bedroom into a top-notch Acomplete record without ever record in Pro Tools, M-Audio’s Mbox studio. The Profire 610, for example, having to leave the confines of a systems are a huge selling success that works with most major recording software reasonably sized bedroom seemed have come to epitomise the ease with and features 6x10 simultaneous ludicrous. With the advent of affordable which one can buy a simple set-up that analog/digital I/O, making it ideal for home computing, however, even those on won’t break the bank and begin recording mobile recording. Suitable for Mac or PC the smallest of budgets can afford a straight away. users, the idea is to provide a transparent couple of decent microphones, a computer The Digidesign USB range, which interface that will allow for honest and an interface to link them together. In includes the vast amount of the Mbox recordings without having to make any ever increasing numbers, musicians are family, gives users – depending on budget compromises in sound quality. In ever increasing numbers, musicians are TASCAM Tascam is a name that’ll be familiar to realising that running a simple home studio many musicians whose first exposure to home recording was a Portastudio. set-up is more than enough to bring dreams of That word, of course, has become superstardom to life. generic now – the Hoover of the MI business – and the mighty realising a simple home studio set-up is – the choice of one, two or eight inputs, Portastudio has been with us for more than enough to bring dreams of and comes with ProTools 8 LE, alongside a 30 years (see cover feature, page superstardom to life. huge amount of bundled software. 24). Years ahead of the market Of course, more home recording means It couldn’t be simpler to operate and then, Tascam has not failed to increased demand for mics, cables, all the ProTools itself, having become the industry move with the times and still miscellany of the recording studio, as well standard, is a user-friendly interface that remains a big player in this area as the interafaces and programs that make allows musicians to get really stuck into of the market. the whole thing work. Hard disk recorders recording without resorting to pulling hair Bringing itself bang up to date also allow for quick and easy recording. out or throwing things across the room. with a range of interfaces that With this in mind, now is the time to take a The Mbox range aside, M-Audio is also includes the recently upgraded look at what’s on the market and pricking home to a number of FireWire interfaces US144 and 122, Tascam still has up the ears of the home recording masses… that allow for high definition sound, which plenty to offer DIY musicians.

28 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • HOME RECORDING

US-122mkII and US-144mkII feature a SCV SONIC 8 A well designed brushed aluminium pair of XLR microphone inputs with The London-based distie has plenty on offer A number of affordable and incredibly interface, clearly set out in an easy to phantom power for recording condenser in this area of the market, from the simplest user-friendly options from ART are understand configuration and tough mics into a computer. Balanced line inputs one-input interface up to a great range of currently making plenty of home enough to withstand any accidents, the and a guitar level in are also provided. Fostex multi-track recorders. First up is the recordists very happy thanks to the I/O is a lesson in well designed, perfect for MIDI in and out jacks allow for synthesizer Centrance AxePort Pro, a USB-powered little combination of rugged build quality and use technology. Even the biggest luddite and control messages to be passed to the unit that allows guitarists to record on the easily understood features that around wouldn’t be intimidated by its computer, and the unbalanced line go with the minimum amount of characterise the range. easy layout and as it comes bundled with outputs connect to studio monitors. equipment. It features a loud headphone The ART USB Dual Pre packs a lot into a Cubase LE, all that is needed to get going The US-144mkII has digital I/O, for a output and software-controlled wet/dry mix tiny bundle. A two-channel audio interface is a computer and, ideally, some talent (or total of four channels and a dedicated that allows for zero latency monitoring at for Mac or PC, both inputs are XLR or jack at least a bit of determination). headphone level control means you don't one end of the scale, plugins and effects at with analogue and headphone monitoring The I/O 2 is, as you might expect, a need to switch off your monitors when the other or a mix of both, and is and phantom power. The USB Phono Plus two-input interface, whilst the I/O26 recording on phones. A copy of Steinberg's compatible with both Windows and Mac. is a handy little gadget for DJs looking to ramps things up a bit with eight inputs. 48-track Cubase LE4 is included to begin Slightly more sophisticated is Fostex’s take the RIAA output from a deck and Both use FireWire, are compatible with PC recording right away. extensive range of recorders. The MR8HD convert it into WAV or MP3 files. Again and Mac and, somewhat unsurprisingly, featuring a USB output and Mac and PC are big hitters in this area of the market, compatible, this is a pair of highly providing an awful lot of bang for the A number of affordable and user-friendly options useful units. average buck. Finally from Sonic 8 is the ART Voce from ART are making plenty of home recordists Channel, a discrete Class-A microphone YAMAHA preamp which provides clean quiet gain With products of note in just about every very happy thanks to the combination of rugged while maintaining transparency. A corner of the market, the world of build quality and easily understood features. powerful dynamics processor controls recording interfaces is yet another area transients and noise of the most that Yamaha has not only an interest, but demanding sources, whilst the eq a serious top quality offering. Portastudios are still an important part is an eight-channel digital multi-tracker Channel’s semi-parametric eq offers wide First up are the highly portable digital of Tascam’s business and the DP-02 Digital with an awful lot of goodies stored on tune-ability and can be patched before or recorders in the Pocketrak series, which lay 8 Track Portastudio makes the old board. A 40GB hard drive accommodates after the dynamics processor. claim to being the lightest and smallest on favourite very contemporary. Dedicated over 15 hours worth of eight-track digital Separate insertion jacks allow home the market, allowing users to record pretty controls for level, pan, effects send and eq recording at CD quality, while a users to patch up external signal much wherever they want. Recording time means that those familiar with the old straightforward operating system makes it processing gear immediately after the mic in excess of 20 hours is undoubtedly an tape-based Portastudios will not be easy to get to grips with. preamp and before the eq and dynamics impressive feat, and USB charging means dazzled by an unfathomable interface. Features such as four-track simultaneous processor, and there is also the benefit of there are no bulky external power supplies A 40GB hard drive and a pair of XLR recording, full track bouncing to a new song a wide range of outputs including straining the extension leads. inputs with phantom power, alongside a and a USB port for easy file transfer to PC balanced analog output, 44.1 KHz to 192 Also of note is the Audiogram range of multieffects processor, stereo reverb, make it incredibly versatile, while a string of KHz AES/EBU, S/PDIF, ADAT and USB. interfaces. Simple to use, and compatible internal metronome (with a bar/beat in-built effects and mic simulations mean with Cubase, the idea is to provide a display for indicating song position), that users who can’t afford racks of gear ALESIS 'studio in a box' solution for Mac and built-in tuner and a dedicated stereo can still get excellent results from using Alesis’ I/O packages illustrate how easily Windows users. Based on the Yamaha MG channel, make it a highly usable piece of what comes pre-packaged. The range one can become self sufficient regarding series of analog mixing consoles, the kit that’s easy to link up to a computer. includes a 16-track version, as well. recording needs. Audiogram series has already found itself

30 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk HOME RECORDING • SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

popular with educationalists as well as The BR600 is a well designed, incredibly laptop based musos. neat and slim-lined eight-track that, like Finally, the Yamaha N series, which its little brother the BR, packs an awful lot includes the N12 and the N8, features of punch for its relatively small size. With firewire compatible digital mixers that eight simultaneous playback tracks and 64 carry mulitrack ausio to the host V-tracks, it also features a versatile guitar computer. With Cubase included, this is and effects processor (which includes again a one stop shop for musicians vocal effects and a pitch corrector), an looking for a direct and simple method of on-board drum machine, built in stereo digitalising multitrack recording, with mic and USB connectivity. It’s a stylish Yamaha proud of the fact that it takes little recorder and an impressively 'about five minutes' to set up the system powerful one for its size. There are no on any Firewire computer. Impressive stuff. fewer than five units in the BR series.

ROLAND LINE 6 The Boss BR range of recorders has long There’s plenty on offer from Line 6, a been a popular choice and with its various company that was quick to realise the different configurations and simple to potential of easy-to-use home recording operate functionality it’s easy to see why. interfaces. Its POD Studio line combines The Micro BR, only slightly bigger than the widely used POD with USB interfaces an iPod, has become an important creative to give Line 6 fans everything they need to tool for many musicians working in record their masterpieces at home. confined spaces. The three models, the GX, UX1 and UX2, Essentially a compact four track, it has each come bundled with the POD Farm four simultaneous playback tracks software bundle, giving users access to an alongside 32 virtual tracks and can count awful lot of handy plugins that cover a MP3 compatibility, onboard multi-effects, broad range of options. built-in rhythm patterns, a tuner, USB Each model features a USB hardware connectivity and an SD card slot among interface, amp and effect modeling. and its features. A mighty punch for a such a also include Ableton Live Lite eight track small unit. recording software and Reason Adapted. CONTACTS M-AUDIO ...... 01753 655999 TASCAM ...... 01923 438880 SCV LONDON ...... 020 8418 1470 SONIC 8 ...... 08701 657456 YAMAHA...... 01908 366700 ALESIS ...... 01252 341400 ROLAND...... 01792 702701 LINE 6 ...... 01327 302700

www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 31 INTERVIEW • CLIVE NORRIS

The thoughts of chairman Clive Clive Norris, Selectron’s MD, retired at the end of August. With 40 years in the trade to back his opinions, he reflects on life, the universe and the MI trade while talking with Gary Cooper…

ne of the pleasures of being a “You know the one thing I haven’t so he decided to appoint a marketing journalist in this industry is the done?’ he opened with when we met. “I manager. Which he did. A bloke from Ocharacters it brings you into was a pro bass player at 21, session Pretty Polly nylons. contact with – and few come more musician – you name it, I’ve done it – but “After a week or so I was called to a characterful than Selectron’s Clive Norris. the thing I haven’t done is the boats. meeting. They said: ‘We don't think this Rarely does a major industry event take Concerts, pit work, TV, radio, sessions, but commission scheme is fair. So we’re going place without him offering a sharp, incisive never the boats.” to double your hotel expenses, buy you a (and sometimes controversial) view, Like many in the industry, the need to better car and give you five grand a year usually fortified by background ensure a regular income once his family and bugger-all commission’. information of the highest calibre. began to arrive brought Clive Norris in KNOWLEDGE IS PRICELESS “I was sitting there writing something “I was a pro bass player at 21, session musician – down and he thought I was making notes. I was actually writing my resignation you name it, I’ve done it –but the one exception which, when he’d finished talking, I duly is boats. Concerts, pit work, TV, radio, sessions handed to him.” Six weeks later, Norris received a call but never the boats.” from said marketing man, saying he’d quit the job with Carlsbro, unable to take the rough and tumble from retailers. But when the phone rang a few weeks from a life on the road and, in 1971, using “You see, that’s what happens when an ago, instead of hearing Norris rail against the sales expertise he had gained as an outsider comes in with all his marketing the latest threat of German discounters or architectural representative, he joined qualifications. This is a speciality sales counterfeiters of the ESP or EMG lines, Carlsbro – then riding high as one of the job and you need to know what you’re with which Selectron has done so well, he UK’s top amp makers. talking about.” had an entirely different kind of point to “It was the first time they’d ever met a That lesson behind him, Norris then make – he was retiring at the end of southerner, I think,” he laughs. “I did a went freelance, selling the Dutch-made August. For me, the chance to get his bomb for them, but so much so that it Novanex amp range across the UK. After views down in print before he began to pissed poor old Stewart off and he that he was poached by Davoli, then LEM enjoy a life of leisure was irresistible. thought I was earning too much money, and, when Italy ran into political and

32 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk CLIVE NORRIS • INTERVIEW

financial problems, he moved sideways into MI retail, to sell your products. Cheaper and cheaper product is managing a shop in Gillingham: Medway Organs. not the way to go. There’s some idiot I’ve heard about Retail proved as amenable to Norris’s fluent patter as down on the Kent coast at the moment, who is buying repping had been and in 1976 he was offered the in 12 and a half quid Strats, saying people haven’t got chance to buy out the rock n roll side of the shop, any money. That’s so wrong – it’s untrue. Our top-end which he duly did. sales with ESP have never been better.” “I did extremely well with that, until Maggie shut the How does he see the state of the industry generally, dockyard, at which point the entire area collapsed. I as he gets ready to bow out? “I think the 80/20 rule is didn't go broke; I liquidated the business, went selling becoming more obvious. In many respects the business Everest double glazing for about six months (I hated it) has become more professional, but there’s too much and then I was head-hunted by John Weatherly, who product chasing too little business and it’s less fun wanted to open a proper distribution company, which he now.” did, called Rhino.” That professionalism extends across the business, of Rhino was what they call in the theatre ‘a qualified course. Not only are the best retailers better at their success’. Norris puts it down to the company spending jobs today, but so are the best distributors. Candidly, £2 for every £1 it earned, but either way it was closed Norris admits that when Sound Control collapsed, it in 1987. cost Selectron 55p, because he simply avoided supplying “Across the road from us was PM Tubes, who we were them. He reels off a list of collapsed chains and buying tubes from and repackaging, so I went there, told business, with whom he simply avoided doing business them what was happening and the lines I could bring with in the past, because he didn’t believe the hype. and that was the birth of Selectron.” Does that mean he is sceptical about chains in That breadth of experience, coupled with Norris’ eye principle? “Yes. I have seen the chains and central for a good line and ability to sell the proverbial ice to buying thing fail so many times over here. It just the equally proverbial Eskimo, ensured Selectron’s doesn’t work. What sells in Bolton doesn’t necessarily success. But it did more than that. It gave Norris a 360- sell in Leeds. degree view of the industry, which has led to some very “The bottom line is if you treat your dealer right, forthright opinions about where we have been and make sure he makes a profit and deal with any where we might be going. problems efficiently, you’ll do well. Of course, you need the right product to do that.’ THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY But why is he retiring? Is it a reflection of the state of WORDS OF WISDOM the industry? “Possibly. I haven’t actually made my mind So, has he got any distilled words of wisdom that he can up about that yet. There’s a lot going on that makes it dispense about the trade? “Well, I think the big very difficult to remain an ethical salesman. For example, corporations should get their heads around what a people trying to force discount levels that are customer actually is,” Norris replies. “He is not merely a unsustainable in the UK, but work in Germany.” number in a computer, he’s a living, breathing human The problems caused by German discounters have being. But at the end of the day, the big corporations are been a major issue with Norris for years. Indeed, his only looking after number one and that is wrong. was one of the loudest and most persistent Number one priority should always be your dealer and voices before shifting exchange rates his customer. took at least some of the heat out of “Then there are stores – and some quite big ones – the conflict. that are not computerised and have no web presence. A But recently, Norris says, he has heard while ago I said to one of them I’d make a new sign for some rumours that the situation might be his door: ‘No website – closing in two years’. Some of due to change for the better. “According to them are still refusing to take the internet on board. what I have recently been told, there’s a “The other thing the industry needs to do is get its chance that a Minimum Advertised Price’ head out of the ‘cheaper is better’ idea. That is so wrong. policy could be on the way from the EU. ‘We can make less money more quickly than you’. Also, there could be clearly defined There’s too much cheap product.” territories for distributors. I’ve no Is he looking forward to retirement? “Oh yes. It’s documentary evidence for this, but bittersweet but it’s like looking forward to the school it’s what I’ve heard. holidays where you haven’t got to go back, or get a “Then again, whether it would bloody job at the end of them. What sums me up is the make any difference is hard to saying I heard the other week: ‘inside every older person say, because the Germans will is a younger person wondering what the fuck happened’ probably ignore it anyway. But I’ve got lots of things I want to do – including Look at the terms of trading nothing. I’m still playing bass and playing pretty well and of... (he names a major I’ll keep on doing that.” German web discounter). The With Clive Norris departed, Peter Watson (PM’s MD) terms on his website are all also becomes MD of Selectron, Joanne Smith takes over illegal – every single one. But as sales manager and Norris will continue to act as a has anybody sued him? Has director and consultant for the company. “I’ll still go into anybody tried to stop him?” the office. I’ll still be problem solving for them.” “I’ve run a successful retail Controversial, frequently outspoken, but always on the business and can see both sides side of the retailers and the angels (not necessarily very clearly, which is why it’s always the same things), Clive Norris will be much always been my ethic that if the missed as one of the MI industry’s great characters. dealer’s making good money he wants SELECTRON: 01634 840500 www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 33 COMPANY PROFILE • STRINGS & THINGS

In all but name It’s quite likely that, while you have heard of (and very likely stock) strings and accessories from the Picato family, you are unaware of the extent of product made here on British soil. Andy Barrett delves deep into the Rhondda…

ooking around British manufacturing Since then, Strings & Things has been bought up names such as Concertiste (as MI Pro did in August this year) it is adding string and accessory brands, nylon strings and Klondyke straps and Lall too easy to miss the smaller building up to the current modest-but- established accessory brands that have players of the MI sector, but we were impressive set-up. become the staple of many a retailer. intrigued by a phone call from Strings & Considering the work that Strings & Arguably the most impressive of Things’ Pete Lunney that pointed out that Things does in the UK with the mega- Picato’s developments over the years, we had overlooked a pretty big player in brands Ernie Ball, Music Man, Dunlop and however, is the rather niche area of the strings and accessories market – Hercules, it is fascinating to see the double bass strings and the Innovation namely the Picato operation in the obvious affection that Lunney holds for brand. Quietly, with the absence of any Rhondda Valley in Wales. the small, anonymous Welsh factory. fuss, this string brand has grown to be something of a cult obsession among jazz and rockabilly players, particularly in the “We have developed this business with the same States, but with significant (and still people for over 20 years. We work for each other growing) sales throughout the rest of the world, too. in the same way a family business would” It started in 1994, when Lionel Davis, a jazz bassist with a background in R&D Pete Lunney at home in the Welsh office Pete Lunney engineering, came to Picato with the idea of creating a bass string with the reliability There was nothing to do but get along “We don’t make a big song and dance of steel core strings, but the preferred there and see what was going on. of it publicly, but in terms of string tonal qualities of gut. It turns out that there has been a string making, you’ll find us everywhere – you’d Together with Tony Roberts, Picato’s manufacturing business in the Rhondda be surprised.” As, indeed, I was. master string maker and Lunney’s for decades, initially under the moniker of Lunney, having joined the UK supplier successor as the factory manager, and GMS, a company that was bought from at around the time the company was later (as Davis became increasingly the liquidator by Strings & Things in 1984, moving Picato to its present location, reclusive), Michael Moore, a jazz bassist of merged with Nashville Music Strings (in found himself moving to Wales to manage unimpeachable pedigree, the team came which the company already had an the manufacturing business in 1987 – a up with a non-metallic core and a winding interest) and then moved to its current position he held for the next 11 years. In process that fitted the bill. industrial premises (from a Victorian gas that time he oversaw the development of Aimed at the jazz player, the strings showroom, no less) a year later. a bewildering amount of string products, immediately began to impress players on Finishing off an Innovation string

34 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk STRINGS & THINGS • COMPANY PROFILE

both sides of the Atlantic and with added the big thing for us is classical guitar input from the then assistant principle of strings and the OEM work we do. It’s not the National Orchestra of Wales, Norman something we can talk about, but if I Mason, adaptations were established could, you’d find that we supply strings to making sets that worked just as well for lots of ‘name’ brands, as well as for bowed (or arco) playing. retailers that want their own brand name Two sets were developed initially, the on the packets.” 140H for the predominantly pizzicato jazz “We are quite unique in that we can do players, with a brighter, edgier sound, and what the big manufacturers can’t,” adds the 140B for orchestral bassists, Stone. “We have real expertise in making predominantly playing arco. strings for bowed instruments and Which might very well have been the classical guitars. Our competitors will end of the story, but as is so often the often pass customers on to us with orders case with valuable innovations (pun that they simply can’t handle. If we have unavoidable), the most unexpected the measurements and the details, we can markets are attracted. usually do it.” “I’d never really paid much attention to The company’s own Concertiste range rockabilly music, let alone considered of nylon guitar, violin and cello strings what the market was like,” explains adds further to this steady turnover. Lunney, “but once these players got hold Beside the string business, the ‘Things’ Above and below: The leather department of Innovation strings, they just loved aspect of the company is also covered at Below: Quality control them. It opened up a whole new area for the Picato factory, with a small team sales and that led to the strings coming to working on cutting, sewing and printing the attention of the psychobilly players. I the leather for the Klondyke range of have to admit, I don’t think I’d even heard straps and there is a healthy trade for the of it before, but when I started to check it Big Boy woven straps, as well. out online and search through some of Lunney takes it upon himself to the forums, I saw that psychobilly is consider and research this area of business simply huge.” to find the best way to keep the design The result of the rockabilly injection elements of this most fashion-led of was a series of strings (five basic sets, no markets up-to-date. “There’s always less) aimed squarely at the market and something new to consider, although in including silver windings to further such a competitive market, it’s very brighten the sound, making the strings difficult to come up with something ideal for the ‘slapping’ technique adopted original,” he says. “You’ll have an idea and by many of the players. then see that someone else is already As MI Pro goes to press, Strings & doing it. I think we do all right, though.” Things will be launching a new set, Strings & Things is a company that has that works for each other in the way any desinged to directly target the psychobilly gone from strength to strength over its family business would.” And Lunney’s ‘slap’ market. 30-plus year history and all of it without a affection for the business has obviously With the rockabilly strings having great song and dance about what it is up grown from this. turned full circle and attracted a lot of to, preferring, as with any good supplier, to With much of its work in the realm of jazz players, who knows where the let its products do the talking. One could OEM and the remainder distributed into psychobilly strings might lead. use the term ‘old school’ if that phrase the world through the Strings & Things While most definitely a success story in hadn’t become so unfairly interpreted as a sales and marketing machine, there is no every sense of the phrase, Innovation negative thing in recent years. real need for the company to make a strings is but one corner of the Picato The Piacato operation, very much a great fuss about the industrial unit in factory, overseen by Roberts (and ably British manufacturing case study, in many Treorchy – although the value of the story assisted by Gaynor Stone and Jayne ways epitomises the attitude of the to UK manufacturing in MI stands up to Rosser) with Lunney (now general greater company. the greatest scrutiny. With certain supplies manager of the entire Strings & Things “This is a family business,” says Lunney coming from France and Argentina, the operation) occasionally making the trip up of the Rhondda factory. “Although there is bulk of materials are also from the UK. from Shoreham to keep in touch with no family name attached to it, the fact “I try to keep it in the UK wherever goings on. that we have developed this business with possible,” says Lunney. Rather like keeping “Innovation is a really important brand, pretty much the same people for over 20 it in the family. of course,” explains Lunney, “but I suppose years means that we have a team here STRINGS & THINGS: 01273 440442

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www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 35 INCREASE YOUR SALES AND PROFIT WITH HAL LEONARD’S PLAY TODAY! SERIES

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SUPPLEMENT YOUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALES WITH THE PLAY TODAY! SELF-TEACHING BOOKS, CDS AND DVDS FOR ALL AGES TRADITIONAL MI • SECTOR SPOTLIGHT Bully for uke

Despite consistent growth over the past ten years, it is still hard for many to think of the folk and traditional instrument market as being dynamic, but Andy Barrett discovers that while the corduroy remains the same, the song indeed has no ending…

t might sound a bit tautological, but the folk bodhrans, there are a lot of people out market appears to be maturing. I say that there not only wiling to give playing a shot, Left to right: Sutherland’s Alan Townsend, Iwith my tongue somewhat in my cheek, of but also to take it a step further to get Kala’s Mike Upton and Joe Brown all course, considering the vibrant nature of the folk their hands on some quality kit. And that’s worked together to make Joe Brown ukes scene at the moment, with no end of where you come in… youngsters appearing on stages at a growing number of folk festivals through the year. What I GREMLIN mean is that the toe-dipping epitomised by Say ‘folk’, think ‘Gremlin’ – certainly in the surges in the entry-level market is now growing UK. Even the company’s guitars have a into enquiries after higher-priced, better quality distinct ‘duelling banjos’ aura about them. instruments. The Sussex-based company has really This is good news for the retailer. Entry- carved out an impressive chunk of the folk level instruments sell well, but margin tends market on these islands and can be used as to be squeezed, whereas the £250 to £400 a good gauge as to trends and swings in price point often achieves the optimum the folk industry. With many of its staff and ratio of unit sales to acceptable margin. management playing the folk circuit, there While it might be difficult for some really isn’t much that Gremlin misses. dealers to find the relevance of traditional A nice side effect of this is that the instrument sales, one thing seems to be company supplies a good deal of very certain: if you do, you’re going to find an unusual instruments that many of us don’t exciting and various market with almost even know about, let alone sell. New in the unlimited stocking options. warehouse this year this year is the As with the overview MI Pro ran a year Portuguese Fado guitar and a pear-shaped ago or so, the boom element is very much Uke with F-holes. Other oddities that are The company says it always tries to mahogany) bodied tenor guitar at £349 – the ukulele – given yet another shot in the proving to be favourites include the Gu buy within the UK wherever possible these should also be in before Christmas. arm this year by the Ukulele Orchestra of Zheng, Er Hu, Xaphoon, the Cuatro de and this year it has brought in the excellent Gremlin reports that the new Scarlatti Great Britain playing the BBC Proms at the Puerto Rico and Bombarde. hand-made mandolins, octave mandolas, melodeons and concertinas are selling very Albert Hall and having some 2,000 uke Gremlin is working on a new professorial bouzoukis and citterns from Tom well. It has four models: the Nero (D/G), players in the audience, instruments in range of ukes made in its factory in the Far Buchannan. Rosso (B/C), Wooden (D/G) and a three- hand, playing along with a rendition of East and a mid-priced range of mandolins, Due to the success of the Ashbury Tenor row (A/D/G). They are all Chinese made, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. octave mandolas and bouzoukis. The ukes guitar at £199, Gremlin’s own general but with Italian reeds, so players get But whether it is mandolins, ukuleles, should be in stock by Christmas and the manager, Chris Rudd, has designed a competitively priced melodeons that are, banjos, or even low whistles, fiddles and mandolin instruments at the start of 2010. vintage-style all-solid rosecherry (similar to Gremlin assures us: ‘far better than

www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 37 SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • TRADITIONAL MI

anything else on the market with a higher as good as it sounds price tag’. An impressive list of players has picked The whistle market is still as strong as up – and stuck with – Ozark. XTC’s Andy ever for Gremlin, with the top selling brands Partridge recently bought a Deluxe 3135 Chieftain, Kerry, Dixon, Susato, Clarke, parlour guitar: “It felt really good in my Waltons and Howard making it real one- hands, with an easy friendly feel to the stop-shop for the instruments. Dixon has fretboard and, best of all, kept a sweet just brought out a new inter-changeable tuning right up to the octave, a basic Irish flute/whistle combo, which is perfect essential that is sadly missing in a lot of for the smaller handed players. acoustic guitars ten times the cost.” The Ozark 3135 retails at £300. OZARK Ozark mandolins, banjos and bouzoukis Stentor’s Ozark brand has plenty to offer also lay claim to excellent quality and more trad players with its quality range of value. The instruments range from models fretted traditional instruments, including such as the 2250 Army/Navy Special with a (launched at LIMS this year) a new tenor solid mahogany top (£162) up to the 2255 guitar. This small-bodied cutaway 3372C F model (played by Chris Leslie of Fairport electro-acoustic (£365) is proving popular Convention, no less) with solid spruce top with many players for its bigger, richer and solid maple back and sound, thanks to a solid spruce top with an sides (£405). oval sound hole. This is an impressive Mahalo ukuleles are, Stentor tells us, instrument for the price, with the attention greatly in demand and the UK supplier to design one has come to expect from this stocks every type from soprano and range. It has a rosewood fingerboard and is concert to tenor and baritone, with prices fitted with an Artec transducer, four-band from just £37.50. Mahalos even come in LP eq unit and endpin jack preamp. The scale and TC shapes in different colours and in length is a comfortable 580mm. With its electric and acoustic versions, starting at attractive sunburst finish, this guitar looks £32.50.

38 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk TRADITIONAL MI • SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

KALA slim-bodied Travel instruments, the Joe Sutherland carries a wide range of Brown signature series in either koa or traditional stringed instruments. It has its mahogany and the U-bass bass ukulele – a own Countryman range of bluegrass baritone uke sized instrument with acoustic guitars, resonator guitars, polyurethane strings tuned to bass guitar mandolins, bouzoukis, mandolas, banjos and tuning. banjo ukes. And even the Crafter guitar The Joe Brown ukes are of particular brand has a bowl-back mandolin with an interest, having been brought about as the active preamp. result of talks between Sutherland’s Alan The instrument that’s made a huge Townsend and Joe Brown, co-ordinating difference to Sutherland’s turnover this with Kala to produce a wide-ranging series year, however, is the ukulele. It realised the of the diminutive instrument. All of the potential of the instrument three years ago features – woods, fingerboard and side and now has a thriving division of uke position marks, purfling, action, choice of brands, namely Kala, Makala, Lanikai, Eleuke tuners – were decided by Brown, with him solid body electrics and (on the accessory preferring the uke to be simple rather than side) the string brand Aquila Nylgut. fancy and he felt very strongly that the Sutherland wants to be recognised as the product must be ‘quality’. Kala analysed a complete ukulele company, even down to vintage ukulele, identical to the one that accessories. Joe has used throughout the years, to The company tells us that at least one reproduce the lightly braced, ultra thin top. container of Kala instruments is brought There are two ranges: one all solid into the UK every month. The bulk of these mahogany and the other with solid spruce are low cost Makalas, which are popular top and solid koa back and sides. Each with schools, but the emphasis is shifting range consists of a full set of soprano, monthly towards the more expensive Kala concert, tenor and baritone sizes and each models. It has recently released a range of instrument has a unique serial number.

www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 39 SECTOR SPOTLIGHT • TRADITIONAL MI

SAVANNAH fingerboard and bridge, Grover machines £800 and above with the Professional and than many might care to imagine, but it This comprehensive line of mandolins, and lots of mother of pearl and abalone. Soloist models (starting at £799.99). All of was not until the company acquired the available in the UK through Westside, This one tops the scale with a penny these instruments have a three-ply maple long established UK supplier, JL Music, that spreads itself nicely across the entry-level change from 600 quid. rim, Mastertone-style flange and tone ring, it came to the notice of many more high mid-priced markets. The range opens with dual co-ordinator rods and ebony street retail companies. the Lynchburg ‘A’ style mando. This sub-£80 PARIS SWING fingerboard. Acoustica has some pretty prestigious model is a good starting point for those This is a really attractive collection of half import lines such as Eastman mandolins, a wishing to have a go without having to fork a dozen mandolins, all clocking in at the STAGG good example of which is the MD504LA A out more than a good night out. Next is mid-£400 price range. They each have a If it’s MI, then you can bet your last dollar style, oval hole, lacquered antique the Oval Hole model with an extended, 24- ‘Gypsy Jazz’ flavour, solid sitka spruce tops that Stagg does it – it’s no different with mandolin that is modelled after the classic fret fingerboard (£90) and the Madison, and triple A grade flamed maple back, sides the trad and folk markets. The brand is instruments of the 1920s. This fully hand- much similar to the Lynchburg, but with a and neck. definitely moving a considerable distance carved solid mandolin is crafted with an pickup and preamp. There are three models: the Parisian, the upwards in terms of its entry-level aged spruce top and maple back and sides. Things start to get serious for Savannah Nuage (inspired by Django Reinhardt) and reputation and the BJM30G is a good The maple neck is finished with a solid with the £149.99 Lousville model (in a the Samois. All of them come in either a example of this. Clocking in at a retail price ebony fingerboard and an ebony fronted range of finishes), which has a solid spruce vintage sunburst or natural blonde finish. of £235, the six-string guitar-banjo has a headstock. Fittings are nickel-plated. top, solid maple back and sides and Gotoh mahogany resonator, 30 flat-type bracket There are also hand crafted guitars by machines. Topping off the range is the F RECORDING KING hooks, an 11-inch Remo head and a nato Czech Republic makers BSG and Tribal model. It’s a similar spec to the Louisville, Aside form the resonator mando neck. The Stagg banjo range also includes Planet gigbags to name but a few in the but with an extended fingerboard and a mentioned earlier (and an equally unusual five-string G, and left-handed G models. Acoustica catalogue. Acoustica’s catalogue lightweight hardcase. resonator ukulele) Recording King really On the mando front (also available in a is further strengthened by the inclusion of Westside also has the intriguing comes into its own in the world of the leftie version) the M20LH is an entry-level own-brand good profit margin lines resonator Nickel Silver Bell mando from banjo. With a nod to the mid-priced Blugrass mandolin with a basswood top, Tonewood and Heartwood which include Recording King, with a brass body and a market, courtesy of the £350 Songster back and sides, nato neck and open gear five-string and Irish tenor banjos, flame maple neck and the Loar 1920s-style five-string and a classic, open-backed nickel machines – all for £79. mandolins, tenor guitars, ukulele banjos Homage mando, with premium spruce top, California model (at £539.99), the No one is missing out on the uke and a whole host of hard-to-find quality highly flamed maple back and sides, ebony rejuvenated US brand then jumps up to market these days, of course and Stagg is traditional musical instruments. no exception. The US40S soprano retails at We are reliably informed that there is a £48 and has a solid mahogany top, back, team of sales agents covering the country, sides, and neck, nato headstock and so there is bound to be one near to you. rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The Stagg uke range starts at £20 and rises to TANGLEWOOD £140, including electro-soprano, concert Tanglewood has been slowly but surely models, a tenor and baritone models. compiling a full line of folk and traditional instruments, working in conjunction with ASHTON designer Steve Noon, one of Britain’s banjo Ashton’s entry-level ranges include plenty and mandolin experts. Two ranges, Union of items to fill this category, flagging up and Cove Creek, have been designed to the ‘summer campfire singalong’ for its meet all features and price points, ukulele – which is a valid selling point. Easy highlighting, the company says: ‘both value to transport and as easy as a guitar to for money and professional hardware and learn the basics, the uke is perfect cosmetics’. These new lines are now all in impromptu accompaniment. Its Hawaiian- stock, ready to grace showrooms style ukes come in seven different colours nationwide. (with matching bag) and have sturdy Starting off with the entry-level Union geared machines. A mere 19 quid will buy series, the raft of ukuleles include the TU6, your punters one. a soprano instrument with guitar style Ashton has a couple of mandolins, too, machineheads in an array of gloss finish namely the MDN100 and the MDE100 colours. The range climbs up to the £99.95 (£139 and £149 respectively). These little TU1, a cutaway soprano electro. The Cove strummers have a grade A spruce top, Creek uke is the TU2 solid spruce topped sapele back and sides, maple neck and instrument with figured bubinga back and rosewood fingerboard and bridge and sides and a hi-gloss finish and a hardshell chrome geared machines. The MDE model case, retailing at £119.95. is an electro version. Both ship with case. Tanglewood also has half a dozen mandolins, three in each series, ranging ACOUSTICA from £159.95 to £339.95, meaning that Acoustica has been around for more years there is a little something for everyone. CONTACTS GREMLIN ...... 01903 203044 STENTOR ...... 01737 240226 SUTHERLAND ...... 029 2088 7333 WESTSIDE (SAVANNAH, PARIS SWING, RECORDING KING) ...0141 248 4812 EMD (STAGG) ...... 01293 862612 MUSIC FORCE (ASHTON) ...... 01780 781630 ACOUSTICA ...... 01274 855432 TANGLEWOOD ...... 01937 841122

40 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk Just a few of our Leading Brands...

News: SK120 Rated ‘Exceptional’ in Acoustic Magazine. “A wonderful little amp designed by people who understand what Blueridge have taken America by storm with musicians need”. Also Guitar & Bass have their authentic vintage style guitars, and now just awarded the SK60 a massive 82%. we have made them available in the UK. This We distribute these ShireKing Acoustic Amps range, renowned for spectacular value for along with Headway’s very popular pickups money, continues to receive excellent reviews for acoustic instruments, including the Snake in all the best known guitar press, including 3andSA1pickups,andthe ‘Band’ violin and Guitar & Bass, Guitarist, Guitar Buyer, Acoustic cello pickups. Magazine...

FortheGypsyinyoursoul! These beautiful guitars pay homage to the Selmer and A competitively priced range of Maccaferri guitars of the early student squeezeboxes, includ- 20th century. They have solid tops, ing Piano Accordions from 12 are a joy to play, and look and to 120 Bass, B/C, D/G and sound like the real thing, right Cajun one-row melodeons, and down to the excellent reproduction of the orig- Anglo and English concertinas, inal tailpiece. More to the point, they are very all ideal for beginners. affordably priced.

The best selling aluminium whistles in The leading brand of resonator guitars, with a the UK. Renowned for their clear sound, long US heritage, available in the UK exclu- they appeal to whistle players of all stan- sively from Gremlin Music. Saga Music, have dards. Though ideal for beginners, they applied the same dedication to quality to these are professional instruments and are guitars as they have to the Gitane and used on stage by many leading players. Blueridge guitars, and the results are spectacular.

The Kentucky mandolins are the pinnacle A professional quality range of Acoustic of affordable bluegrass instruments, and Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos & Fiddles, Basses, offer exceptional quality at excellent cases, electrics and more. This is the largest prices. These mandolins are a very wel- range of mandolin family instruments, banjos come addition to our growing section of and ukuleles in the UK, and the Ashbury great quality bluegrass instruments, name is associated with high quality and which includes mandolins, banjos, excellent value. dobros, guitars and more.

As well as being the first point of call for all the hard to find traditional musical instruments your customers are asking you for, Gremlin Music is a one stop shop for any musical instrument retailer. We can supply a massive range of acoustic musical instruments, spares, accessories, strings, books and DVDs. Become a Gremlin Dealer and give your customers a better choice! We pride ourselves on the personal touch - you can always reach us by phone during working hours, and we’ll always send your order as fast as possible, no matter what the size. If you’re a dealer, you can browse our website for prices (retail and wholesale), contact us by email, and place orders online! We’ve been in the business for over 25 years, and can offer you an experienced, friendly and professional service. www.gremlinmusic.co.uk [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1903 203044 (9.30 - 5.30 Mon - Fri) | Unit A, Easting Close, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8HQ

MORICO • COMPANY PROFILE

Education, education, education Morico is one of those lucky suppliers that has a world renowned brand on its books in the shape of DW. But that’s not to say that dealers can’t learn anything else from the drum distributor, Paul Barretta tells Gary Cooper…

hile some MI firms like nothing talking with Kevin and Geoff since LIMS talking at the show and something just “Initially, I sat down with Geoff and better than climbing onto the 08, having taken a year out of the clicked between us. Kevin to see what their business plans Wroof to shout their latest news business for family reasons after leaving “They were at a point where they were were and fairly quickly started suggesting to the world, others seem to take an Shuttlesound and then deciding I was making some changes to the way their some changes to the business model, altogether more laid–back approach. ready to come back in. company operated, so I joined them, which they were very receptive to and Take, for example, Morico – distributor which I’m pleased to say are bearing fruit. of some of the most prestigious products “What I found when I went out on the in the drum world – including DW and its You might suppose that, having been joined by road during that first year was that it was associated family of brands. You might the former MD of one of the major UK pro quite unstructured. There was no dealer suppose that, having been joined by the plan, no dealer programmes and discounts former managing director of one of the audio distributors, Morico would have gone in to customers were also unstructured. One major UK pro audio distributors, it would of the first changes I’ve brought in is a have gone in for some serious flag waving. for some serious flag waving. tiered structure. A dealer can now choose That wasn’t what happened almost a year his discount from three levels. This means ago, when Paul Barretta, previously MD of “I’ve been playing drums for over 30 aiming to bring my experience from the that even those that want to put just a Shuttlesound, joined as sales director. years and have been using DW pedals and pro audio side of the industry and what I toe in the water with a few pedals and “It hasn’t actually been a secret that I hardware as a gigging drummer for the know about MI, combining that with my some hardware can still get a discount joined Morico, but we didn’t make a big past ten years – always very impressed knowledge of drummers and what they from us. The more drum-orientated shops fuss about it,” Barretta says. “I’d been with their quality and reliability. We got and dealers want. that have the potential to buy larger

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www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 43 COMPANY PROFILE • MORICO

volumes of gear can get a much higher “One thing that I’ve always placed a lot review recently. level of discount, of course. of emphasis on is education. Educate These are hand-crafted, “The upshot of this is that with people about the product and give them direct from Turkey.” recommended prices and street prices the confidence to sell a high cost item. So Of course, the cymbal business being very consistent, it means the small what we are going to set up at Morico is has been the graveyard for so many guy as well as the big guy can make very lots of workshops, lots of education brands that haven’t come from one of the good margins.” sessions where we can bring dealers and Big Four. No-one who knows anything Being able to hold price levels against their drum sales guys to central locations, about them doubts that plenty of other educational the tide of discounts is a nice trick – but it or in store if that’s better, where we can companies are capable of making great side to the business, isn’t always in the gift of distributors, as really give these guys the knowledge they cymbals, but it is never easy to turn the that has really helped them Barretta agrees. “It’s our dealers that are need to be able to say ‘yes, it’s 50 per cent head of a player who believes he can only through the tough times, because they holding the price levels for us,” he says. more expensive, but this is the reason use Brand Y because of a lifetime’s have 100 to 200 guys coming through the “I’d like to think common sense has finally why; this is what you’re getting for exposure to their intense marketing. shop for lessons. But for the guys that begun to prevail in this industry. We are in your money’.” “It’s a difficult area.’ Barretta agrees. “If I haven’t got that side to their business – business to make money – we’re not And the response from DW retailers to had a magic wand, I would say put a some of them have found it very tough. charity cases. We’re the only industry I can the change appears to have been positive. blindfold on, take a drumstick, then So no, don’t think drums stores have think of where we beat ourselves up to be “Yes, they are delighted with the tier choose your cymbal. Buy it for its sound. weathered the storm any better than the cheapest, then moan that there’s no structures, in fact. Any dealer can now Buy it for how it sounds to you – then be anyone else. surprised when you see what the ink “Having said that, the word on the stamp on it is. In some cases you’ll be street is that things are starting to pick up. “The upshot is that, with prices being very surprised. What’s most important is that when the very consistent, it means the small “But again, that comes down to consumer has money in his pocket and he education. Even if a young drummer is wants to buy something, he is able to buy guy, as well as the big guys, can make tied into competitive brands, it’s it there and then and take it home. He important that he knows there’s a doesn’t want to have to place an order very good margins.” plethora of things out there that are as and wait. The retailers that are doing well Paul Barretta, Morico good, if not better. are those that have good stocks, because “The other brand we have that really they’re the ones that will win that sale deserves a mention is Baskey. This is an every time. margin in the products that we’re selling. I approach us and choose what level of independent company producing “I understand the risk from the retailer’s can’t think of any other industry that does discount they want to be on and that’s Ruggluggs and Matmarkers. Basically, the point of view, but that’s where our tier that – but it is changing. about putting the choice back with the idea being that every time you set your structure comes into play, because they “It’s partly from having the confidence dealers. I want to get it to the position drum kit up, every stand, every tripod leg, are getting good discounts and because you get from selling the class of product, where we have good partners in the field every bass drum spur is going to exactly it’s to do with a stocking commitment. like DW, where you can say ‘yes, it is that have a good cross-section the same position, so you get a very fast “We can almost guarantee the end user expensive but it’s that expensive, because representation of all the brands that we and perfect set-up every time. Baskey is that if he goes into a Morico dealer, he it’s the best’. Dealers that have been carry, so that I can recommend where starting to sell very well through the will find what he’s looking for. working with Morico certainly understand end-user customers can go.” shops – a lot of people are getting into “Morico wants to grow. We want more those factors and realise that there’s a It’s not only DW at Morico, of course. the concept.” dealers and we want to get across to good margin opportunity there. It may “We do the PDP range of drums, which is A recent MI market analysis that MI Pro them that they can do good business with take them longer to sell a DW pedal over selling very, very well – helped by some caught sight of suggested that the drum our brands. There’s stability there now and a competitor’s brand, because they have great reviews recently. Then there’s Gon sector had been largely untouched by the seven days a week the mobile is on. If to go through the features and benefits to Bops, where the Alex Acuna cajon also just recession. At the time (based on our own dealers ring us, we’ll visit or talk it explain why it’s better and worth the received a great review. We’ve got retailer and distributor feedback) we were through. There are margin opportunities extra, but it’s worth doing because they’re 3drumsticks, which is great for younger sceptical. Morico’s experience seems to right across all the brands and in my earning more money from selling it.” players on tight budgets – again, with a fall somewhere in between. opinion as a drummer, they’re the best Which is good in theory, but calls for superb margin for the dealers. “I wouldn’t say this sector has escaped. brands in the industry. Come and talk to some quality selling on the part of staff. “Outside the DW family, we’ve got TRX Some of our retailers have suffered quite us. We can put serious money in your till.” Barretta believes Morico is able to help. cymbals, which again have had a fantastic badly, in fact. Where dealers have a good MORICO: 01992 461089

44 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk

COMPANY PROFILE • BARNES & MULLINS

All change What with new ownership and an impressive new addition to its lines, this has been a hectic time for Barnes & Mullins. Rob Power finds out how things are going as the dust is settling at this most distinguished of distributors…

o say it’s been a busy few months when Bruce Perrin and Brian Cleary known amplifier manufacturers around. “It’s going very well so far. We’ve sold a for Barnes & Mullins would, to be undertook a management buyout that “We’ve taken on the partnership lot of product, both to stores that have Tfrank, be a huge understatement. saw the pair installed as joint managing distribution with Line 6,” Mew confirms. stocked Line 6 before and to those that A management buyout, alongside the directors of the venerable firm. “Just this “The company approached us a little while haven’t. Online pricing on Line 6 is very addition of Line 6 to its ever-impressive year, Bruce and Brian bought the ago, saying that it wanted to be able to keen, as with all big brands. However, portfolio and a huge number of new company, managing a near 100 per reach more customers and deal with the customers can now get hold of Line 6 products, has meant that the Shropshire- cent buyout.” ones it already had more effectively. Being amplifiers where perhaps they couldn’t based distributor has had its work cut out Although the buyout signals an obvious the big brand that it is, Line 6 didn’t have before, as they are more widely available. for it, in what has proved to be a colourful change in leadership and a change in the physical means to service everybody This gives retailers a chance to build a 2009 so far. direction in the way the company is as it wanted to. relationship with new customers, so there As one of the biggest distributors in the managed, so far things have remained “It has kept hold of a certain number of are many positives here. It’s good for country and with a huge number of remarkably steady. its largest dealers, so it can work with Barnes & Mullins as well – it’s a brilliant products and coverage across almost the brand and we’re very pleased with it.” entirety of retailers, Barnes & Mullins is in an undeniably enviable position. “Now customers can get hold of Line 6 amplifiers BAGS OF BONUS BRANDS “We deal with pretty much every store where perhaps they couldn’t before. This gives Line 6 aside, there are still plenty of other in the country, with probably 99 per cent brands keeping Barnes & Mullins busy, one coverage,” says marketing manager Alex retailers a chance to build new relationships.” of which is French guitar brand Lag. Mew. “This is because we are a very “Over the last six months we’ve set up general distribution company and sell Alex Mew, Barnes & Mullins a number of Lag master dealers. These are pretty much everything anyone could ever specialist stores that will stock specialist need to run a music store. It means that “Things are carrying on as they were. them to get displays and promotions handmade Lag guitars, built in France by we deal with an awful lot of people, from It’s very early days since the buyout, but correct. Unlike any other big amp brand Michel Lag and his team. What we’re small independent stores, which are the I’m not aware of anything major that’s that I’m aware of, however – because we doing here is providing people with a core business, through to chains. We still going to change,” adds Mew. “What’s can now sell to anybody else – any shop chance to try these really very posh don’t deal with catalogue stores and important is that we all concentrate on in the country can now stock Line 6. There guitars and the stores that have signed up supermarkets – we’ve made a big point what’s best for the company.” will be no minimum quantities on orders are benefiting from having some great in the past of staying true to The second big piece of news to hit or anything like that. stuff in their store, with good margins on independent music stores and we’ve Barnes & Mullins this year was at the “There are no special prices for anybody. the product. held that viewpoint.” beginning of August, when a new deal was It’s straightforward – people want to buy “There will be a significant marketing There was an important change at the struck with Line 6, arguably one of the Line 6 amps and previously, stores would campaign concentrating on the Master top of the Barnes & Mullins tree in July biggest and certainly among the best- rarely see Line 6 reps.We’ve changed that. series in the very near future, which will

46 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk BARNES & MULLINS • COMPANY PROFILE

Bruce Perrin (left) and Brian Cleary (right) are the joint Alex Mew sees B&M’s strength in its managing directors at Barnes & Mullins variety – nopw added to through Line 6

focus on listing the dealers and drive proving of particular interest to Barnes & Mullins in the interest in the brand.” student area of the market: A Charles Hedger Cradle Of Filth “Höfner make its instruments in Germany and with signature model due for the end of The Alfred Stingl brand it has used a number of its top the year indicates another new luthiers to set up a factory just outside Beijing where development for Lag, which will be they make these products, so they are built the German swiftly followed up with a signature way. The range covers every size you would need as a model for Phil Campbell of student in affordable packs. The quality control is Motörhead, as well. extremely high.” Faith is another guitar brand in the company’s stable that has proved a HI TIME FOR VIOLINS consistent seller and it’s rapidly gained a Also well worth a look, especially at this back-to-school loyal following. time of year, is Hidersine. “This is another owned brand “Faith was started by Barnes & Mullins with and is the most popular rosin in the world. Its bowed the desire to make genuinely good, high-quality, solid- instruments are built in a small workshop just outside of topped guitars,” Mew comments. “Working with Patrick Shanghai, which is a workshop in the traditional sense James Eggle, Faith is selling better and better. The Faith and not a factory. Iit produces a small range of entry Venus has done particularly well and has become its level to mid-range instruments, particularly violins. own guitar with its own reputation.” The Piacenza violins and cellos are now offered with fine tune pegs fitted, which have had a lot of press SIGNATURE STYLE recently and are a huge innovation in this particular The marketing for Faith is moving forward a pce, too. area of the market.” “We’ve launched the Faith Signature series, which With so much happening over such a small period of was initially a limited run of 30 and featured Patrick’s time, there can be no doubt that Barnes & Mullins is a signature inlaid into the headstock. They are hand-made distributor very much on the move. A well established in the Czech Republic and are of very high quality. In the name in the British MI industry, its recent changes and next couple of months we’re going to release another acquisition are sure to only cement further the signature series, which will be similar, although not company’s sterling reputation amongst UK dealers. limited edition. They will be still made in the Czech BARNES & MULLINS: 01691 652449 Republic, but will retail at around £1,500.” Thanks to its Beatles connections, Höfner remains one of the best known brands on the planet, but its bowed strings are

www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 47 MIA NEWS an update from your industry trade association Time to Take it Away

The Arts Council’s interest-free credit scheme for the musical instrument industry hits its second anniversary. MIA CEO Paul McManus takes a look back and forward…

aving just passed its second enabled them to buy a more expensive of the Secure Trust Bank, which has 50 anniversary in MI, now seems a instrument than they’d planned, it’s years’ experience in retail banking. This Hgood time to update everyone on helping to drive new customers straight means that we are not dependent on the Take it Away scheme. The Arts into our shops and make a purchase they funding from the money markets that has Council’s interest-free loan scheme might otherwise not have made. seen other lenders withdraw from the launched in 2007 and many of you “Take it Away doesn’t seem to have consumer market. In addition to the Take reading will have come across it either as been negatively impacted by the it Away scheme we offer consumer loan a retailer offering Take it Away through recession,” says Mary-Alice Stack, products via music retailers and we are your store, or as a customer. development manager for Take it Away. “In looking to grow our relationship with During its two years, over 26,000 fact, take up has continued to rise, which is retailers and suppliers alike.” customers have made use of a Take it great news for retailers and musicians who The new partnership between Arts Away loan for the purchase of almost are able to take advantage of the scheme”. Council England and Moneyway for the £18m worth of instruments and There have been a number of changes delivery of Take it Away will strengthen the accessories. The impact that this has had to the scheme recently, which can only scheme’s position within the industry and on our industry, particularly in these help to strengthen its position in the MI help enable more people to continue to ‘credit crunch’ times, should definitely not trade. A move to new banking partner benefit. These are exciting times for Take it be underestimated. As one of the Moneyway has seen increased investment Away and I hope you will all continue to Mary-Alice Stack and David Nield overseeing a participating retailers comments: “It’s a in new online systems to make the see the benefits our industry is reaping recession proof scheme very easy-to-use, simple to understand scheme more attractive to retailers and from this very welcome investment. scheme for both staff and customers, customers. David Nield, Moneyway’s head You’ll see more of Stack and Nield at which has given our business a real of asset finance and lending, explains: the MIA Awards in October, where bottom-line boost.” “Our significant investment, particularly Moneyway will be sponsoring the Best With over half of all those customers in our online system, should show Large Supplier category. Or you can reporting that they would not have been suppliers, retailers and customers that we contact Music Finance directly. able to buy their instrument without Take have a desire and capacity to support the MONEYWAY: 0845 111 7109 it Away and three-quarters saying it industry into the future. Moneyway is part MIA: 01372 750600

48 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk PROFILE

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING NEED NEW STAFF?

Put your company at the forefront of the market and attract the best candidates from professionals already working within the MI industry!

For print and web recruitment positions please contact [email protected] or telephone 01992 535647

SIMON FRASER-CLARK Laney/Headstock Marketing Manager Every day’s a busy one, but Friday’s are a special chip day for Laney/Headstock marketing manager Simon Fraser-Clark. MI Pro finds out how he fills his hours at the office...

y alarm goes off at 6:15 am but I design team about ideas for marketing press snooze until 6:30 or so. materials and adverts, and looking after the MOnce I’m up, I get ready as work flow through the department. quickly as possible, as by this time the four After a coffee I pop down into the sales ladies of the household – my wife and our office and chat to sales managers and three daughters – are now up and the product specialists to get information as to bedlam that is the school run is starting. what’s going on in the market. Packed lunch in hand, kisses from Lunchtime is usually a sandwich in the daughters and wife obtained, I set off for company canteen, but if it’s Friday then work. The office is a 45-minute drive away, it’s a special day – chip Friday! which I find very useful as it gives me time As a marketing manager and a player, to go through the things I have to do one of my important roles is to act as an during the day and make a mental tick list. interface between the R&D department and Similarly, on the way home the drive gives the sales environment. So in the afternoon I me enough time to wind down a little and might spend a bit of time in the R&D prepare for home life. department discussing ongoing projects, I arrive at the office at about 8:15 (M5 looking at market opportunities, trends and depending) and get a coffee from the the like and generally making a bit of noise. machine, plug my laptop into the server, During the afternoon I’ll put a call in to pick up my emails and sort out my desk our A&R manager, who is normally out on and diary for the day. Once I’ve dealt with the road seeing bands and artists and see the flurry of the immediate issues presented how his day is going. by email I can get down to a few more I leave the office around at around five strategic tasks within the department. in order to make it home to eat with the Since the marketing department deals family and take care of the domestic side with marketing support requests on a global of life. Then hopefully I find some time to scale for Laney products and on a UK scale disappear into my little music bolthole and for Headstock’s brands, which are Laney, do a bit of playing. Finally, I like to spend Ibanez, Tama and Ritter, there is always a some quality time with my wife before constant stream of requests for materials heading up to bed. and info that needs to be satisfied. One of the most appealing aspects to I spend the next couple of hours my job is the fact that no two days are the organising what materials need to go to same. We are a dynamic company that’s which magazines, checking where we are been around for 42 years. We’re serious with trade shows and clinics, reading our about what we do, but we don’t take brands’ product reviews and talking to our ourselves too seriously.

www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 49 RETAIL NEWS, OPINION, DATA

NEWS NEWS BEHIND THE COUNTER INDIE PROFILE Korg’s second NAMM Pizza profits Gemma Kilby global launch, University now climb when the pops into town Vintage clinics, online, Yamaha MI sales to see MI Pro’s Chappell recitals DTXtreme clinics assistant gets local store trained up

Charities combine to ‘adopt a musician’ Musicians Benevolent Fund and Live Music Now call to the public for the chance for younger musicians to perform to the elderly and infirm, who might otherwise never experience live music again

THE MUSIC charities Live Music Now (LMN) and the Musicians Benevolent Fund (MBF) have come up with a scheme to further their work to enhance the lives of young and old musicians with an appeal to the public to adopt a musician. The scheme is timed to coincide with the Government’s Older People’s Day, Full of Life initiative, on October 1st and will lead into celebrations of St Cecilia (the patron saint of music) on November 18th. Public donations will allow LMN and the MBF to ‘adopt’ gifted young performers to play for older people, including talented retired musicians who thought they would never experience live music again. Both charities hope that the initiative will enhance the lives of thousands of older people living in restricted circumstances. Involvement in live music brings proven benefits to health and wellbeing together with sheer enjoyment for people in care settings. LMN is a charity that arranges for young people to perform to the disadvantaged and the MBF supports retired or infirm musicians, while the MBF Simon Callow (centre) at one of the Live Music Now performance sessions has supported LMN’s work for some years now. The charities combined in this latest especially when they’re playing for retired LMN will stage many activities around musicians again and to be able to initiative, which simultaenously benefits musicians, people for whom music and Older People’s Day, which will highlight ‘breathe’ music once more. The visitors did musicians and those who would find it performance have been a driving force and the benefits of live music. There will be a a good job. The event was full of fun.” impossible to enjoy live music for are now cut off from the joy and special commemoration on November Alison Lee, the proprietor of the whatever reason. inspiration of live music. In my view, this is 18th at St Paul’s Cathedral and The Woodlands Residential Home in Surrey, The LMN’s ambassador, the actor, one of the finest initiatives in classical Guildhall with the MBF to celebrate St who recently hosted an LMN performance writer and director, Simon Callow said: music for a long time.” Cecilia’s Day. for residents, said: “I have never, in all the “Musicians who work for Live Music Now David Sulkin, chief executive of the It costs £400 to ‘adopt-a-musician’ and 30 years of running care homes, seen my must be not only hugely talented, but also MBF, said: “The Musicians Benevolent Fund to send outstanding, specially trained residents, so quiet, so entranced, so still have powerful gifts of direct has been supporting LMN for many years performers to play in a day centre, and so emotional. communication. Performing for the smart and is completely behind what the residential home, hospice or other settings “It gave the residents a chance to have audiences at the Royal Opera House or organisation aims to achieve – the for older, inform or special needs people. some professional music-making which the Festival Hall is one thing, but making benevolent work that has such high value All donations are welcome. many thought was something they would their way to people who can no longer get for older professionals and helping Richard McLaughlin, an accomplished not experience again in their lifetime.” out and about and who may be failing in talented young musicians get to grips with professional composer, pianist, organist, Contributions can be given via both their focus is quite another. the role of music in social settings. The harpsichordist and a Musicians Benevolent charities’ Just Giving pages at “It’s deeply moving that so many of Adopt-a-Musician initiative will no doubt Fund beneficiary, who lives at Compton www.justgiving/adopt-a-musician and them are eager to do this. The fact is that have a profound effect on both young and Lodge Residential Home in London said: www.justgiving/adoptamusician. they find it moving and re-charging, older musicians.” “How marvellous it was to be among MBF: 020 7239 9100

50 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk Own the dream.

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© 2009 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Avid, M-Audio, Digidesign, Pro Tools, Studiophile, 003, Axiom and HyperControl are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Product features, speciﬁcations, system requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. RETAIL • NEWS

Korg announces raft of new products Hi tech and amp products released to market in September KORG HAS launched no fewer piezo pickup for translating the that same tone in a new sturdy than five new products under subtle nuances of how the head but affordable design. the Korg and Vox brands in its and rim are played. This means Adding to the imaginative second globally co-ordinated that individual playing styles Amplug range, Vox has now launch on the weekend of will produce different sounds, introduced an acoustic version September 12th. depending upon how the head of the headphone amp. The First up is the Korg Micro and rim are played and how Amplug Acoustic plugs into any Sampler (pictured), the latest in pressure is applied pressure to electric guitar, but provides the Micro series of products. the head, among other modelled acoustic guitar The Micro Sampler is a full- techniques. sounds. Two distinct sounds are featured sampler and loop The Korg SV-1 is a stage available using the fat/bright sequencer with internal effects ‘vintage’ piano that offers the switch and a blend function – all with an intuitive interface biggest compendium of electro- combines the acoustic tone that's designed for realtime mechanical, transistorised, tape- with the original signal for just performance. driven, analog and early digital the right mix. Second is the Japanese keyboards ever available in a Following a similar unified manufacture’s answer to a single instrument. launch from Korg earlier in the direct competitor in the shape From Vox, the V845 wah-wah year, as well as similar launches of the Wavedrum, touted as ‘a pedal is a new version of the from other Japanese dynamic percussion famous Vox original. Based on manufacturers, this sort of synthesizer’. The Wavedrum is a the specifications of the pedal activity is likely to be a hand-played percussion unit developed by Vox in the 60s, common event in future. with a pressure sensor and the V845 wah offers guitarists KORG UK: 01908 857100 JHS holds guitar clinics Classic lunch Gav Coulson to share product knowledge and give performances Chappel of Bond Street and Yamaha reintroduce piano recital series in store PRODUCT DEMONSTRATOR confirmed for Sheehans in and artist liaison manager for Leicester and various Digital JHS, Gav Coulson, is to present a Village stores. Dealers series of guitar clinics at venues interested in having Coulson and dealers across the UK. host a guitar clinic at their store The clinics will involve should call JHS, although product knowledge flexibility will be called for in with question and suggesting and accepting the answer sessions, dates that are available. as well as JHS: 0113 286 5381 performances. Most of the Coulson will be hosting the JHS electric clinics on the following guitar related dates. products are to be SEPTEMBER 13TH: Chappells’ impressive premises covered, such as Fret Leeds/Bradford Guitar Show King, Vintage, Italia, SEPTEMBER 24TH: Birds YAMAHA HAS announced that October 8th: Aizhana Danelectro, Kustom and Music Show, Bexhill On Sea its seventh series of recitals at Nurkenova (RAM) – Bach, Dunlop. OCTOBER 15TH: Street its Chappells retail outlet in Rachmaninov, Liszt Appearances at the Music, Bridlington Soho, London will include October 22nd: Jonathan Leeds, Middlesborough OCTOBER 18TH: students from the Royal Wilson (GSMD) – Haydn, and Merseyside guitar Middlesborough Guitar Northern College of Music in Granados, Ravel shows are confirmed as Show Manchester, The Royal Scottish November 5th: Johannes well as the regular on- OCTOBER 24TH & 25TH: Academy of Music and Drama Mnich (TCM) – Beethoven, booth demos at Music Mansons Guitar Show, in Glasgow, as well as the usual Liszt, Prokofiev Live. JHS dealers such as Exeter London conservatoires. November 19th: Olga Paliy Bridlington’s Street OCTOBER 29TH: Guitar and The lunchtime showcases (RNCM) – Bach, Tanayev, Music, Ware’s Play Son, Stafford will feature pianists from Mendelssohn Something and NOVEMBER 9TH: across the country as a result December 3rd: Sylvia Jen Mansons in Exeter will Stompbox, Northwood of the Yamaha Artist Services (RSAMD) – Scarlatti, be hosting the guitar NOVEMBER 19TH: Europe and Soho’s Chappells. Beethoven, Chopin, Vine clinics, which are set to Intersound, Dursley The recitals are free to enter It is advisable to book seats take place between NOVEMBER 21ST: and can be found in the Piano in advance by calling the September and November. Playsomething, Ware Hall at Chappells, 152-160 Chappells store. Further appearances are in NOVEMBER 29TH: Wardour Street from 1pm on CHAPPELL: 020 7432 4422 the process of being Merseyside Guitar Show the following dates. YAMAHA: 01908 366700

52 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 www.mi-pro.co.uk NEWS • RETAIL

NAMM Breakfast online International association uploads trade show education sessions on to new website feature, making hours of seminar information available NAMM, the trade association of the international music industry, has announced that it has launched some of the popular NAMM University material online, offering a full and varied library of videos, articles and interviews that supplement the live Breakfast Sessions and Idea Centre sessions at both the January and July NAMM trade shows. valuable learning opportunities at depth discussions featuring Members visiting the no cost – right to their computer industry insiders sharing thoughts, association’s website can learn screens to access any time they ideas and strategies for doing about key business topics want,” said Ken Wilson, director of business in today’s market. including finance, lesson professional development, NAMM. The Idea Centre sessions are programmes, retail ideas, sales and The NAMM U Online library short, focused ‘How to’ technology. All course content is will continue to grow as new presentations that take place on provided by NAMM members and modules are developed later this the show floor every 30 minutes experts, including Alan Friedman, year and into 2010. NAMM during the events. They are hosted George Hines, Pete Gamber, Nick members can also leave by industry experts and designed Rail and Kevin Cranley. comments and discuss the ideas to allow visitors to drop by and “Complementing what we’ve they’ve learned, creating more explore best practices without been able to do with the NAMM interactive content for site visitors. taking too much time away from University at the trade shows, NAMM’s Breakfast Sessions are the business of the day. NAMM continues to help its scheduled every morning of the The online content can be members during these difficult NAMM trade shows before the found at the address below. times by bringing them these show floor opens. These are in- NAMM.ORG/NAMMU Xtreme drum clinics Yamaha UK pro music division announces Simon Edgoose-led seminars for users and prospective customers of ‘all things DTX’

YAMAHA MUSIC UK has The seminars will cover voice announced the dates of the editing, sound stacking, DTXtreme III training seminars for performance mode, sampling, owners and prospective owners. controller assignments and an The in-depth, one day sessions will introduction to Cubase. be held at Yamaha's Milton Keynes YAMAHA: headquarters between November 01908 17th and 19th at a cost of £120. 369293 Steered by session drummer Simon Edgoose, one of the UK's leading exponents of all things DTX, the sessions have been created following requests from users and carefully designed to ensure players are reaching the maximum capability of the instrument. All aspects of the DTXtreme III will be covered, specifically its brand new brain, its sampling capability and voice editing technology. Places are still available for the clinics and further details can be found at the Yamaha training website (training.yamaha- europe.com). Interested parties should contact Angie Wells of at the Yamaha Music UK The DTXtreme III – a lot of headquarters number below. processes to be learnt www.mi-pro.co.uk miPRO OCTOBER 2009 53 INDIE PROFILE • RETAIL GIG GEAR HERTFORD

Gig Gear is an MI store doing its utmost to succeed. Gemma Kilby goes to the Hertford branch to speak with manager Clint Roberts…

Is business up or down holds a lot of clinics, especially and loyal customers. We still get We try and keep loose guitar How can the industry do more compared to this time on the drums. There’s the local a lot of regulars coming back parts in stock, which is good for to support retail? last year? press and we get posters in the here, despite the opening of our customers looking for bits and The main thing is the discount It’s roughly the same. We’ve windows. We’ve got a Gig Gear Harlow superstore three years pieces. The minor details take structures that companies put in entered the back to school Twitter page and there are RSS ago. The Harlow store has let us more work but they help keep place. Over the past couple of period so people are buying the feeds on the website, too. do more top end gear, such as that regular custom. years it’s got better, but there half-size or three-quarter-size Gibson. This store has tried to are still firms that do deals for pieces now. It’s been a quiet How do you compete with the keep it a little more beginner and What’s be the one product certain shops. However, I think summer, but it seems to picking online competition? intermediate and we’re backing it that you couldn’t live without? the recession period has up again. With the recession and We’ve aimed to compete in up with good service. A lot of Probably the Roland Cubes. The changed the way companies the import rates fluctuating, a previous years, but this year in the schools pass parents on to us Line 6 Spider series is always a look at how they supply smaller lot of pricing has been unsteady particular we’re trying to tie the and we do in-store lessons. good one for us and Fender as retailers. It’s become a fairer and that’s scared people off, but store and the website together – well. They’re the big ones, but market for retailers and online they’re starting to even out now they’re a lot more linear. We’re How do you ensure a good the Microcubes really stand out pricing has become more even thankfully. We’re trying, as we trying to pass on whatever level of customer service? – they’ve been a great seller. across the board. always do, to be as competitive savings we can. We use the We try to fulfil customer needs as we can, but a lot relies on the same pricing in store as online. and give friendly advice. FACTS & FIGURES market and cost prices. Everyone working here is a What do you consider to be musician – we’re quite obsessive Address: 5/6 Post Office Walk, Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1DL How do you market the shop? your main strengths and over the instruments we play, so Phone: 01992 500 976 We have the website and we do weaknesses? we have a good knowledge. We Owner: Brian Hart, Russell Dodd a lot of promotional mailshots We’ve been here for 20 years so have good staff and we make Established: 1989 through that. The Harlow store we have a very good reputation sure everyone gets looked after. Employees: Eight

54 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK BEHIND THE COUNTER • RETAIL Training, tantrums and triumph Our undercover reporter finds that there are benefits to studying outside his comfort zone – and not only free pizza...

his month, to the eternal surprise of (or at a stretch five) piece rock and roll nearly everyone involved and the band. That’s what we all play in, that’s Tmonetary gain of one very happy local what we know, and that, unfortunately, pizza place, the entire staff of my much-loved was beginning to have an effect on the emporium of musical delights discovered the shop. benefits of Customers searching for a bit of viola in-house training. And they weren’t entirely advice or a friendly ear to discuss pizza related. saxophone purchasing choices were met It had been on the cards for a while. with at best a bemused smile and frankly Mutterings in dark corners and the the time had come to pull our collective constant rumble of rumour turned into head out of our rock n roll oriented real-life, unalterable fact when the backsides and open our minds to the announcement was made that yes, wider world. It’s scary at first, but let me monthly meetings would be taking place tell you that it really is very much worth

We’re all, bar none, strictly guitarists. All the different types of player are here. But it limits us when it comes to selling an oboe, for example.

and that training would be of prime the time investment. importance in said meetings. Right from the first night’s training, To us mere musos, cowering behind which covered PA and classical strings, our re-stringing prowess and ability to things have been looking up. Suddenly, we impress shop newcomers with a bit of the all know what to do when someone asks old razzle dazzle, training has rarely been about the intricacies of the humble violin. top of the priority list. Trainers, perhaps, We know the tunings, can name the parts but training? Certainly not. – hell, all that’s left is to learn how to The problem in our little slice of MI play the damn things and then we’re nirvana lies in the fact that we are all, bar really motoring. none, strictly guitarists. Acoustic, electric, The confidence in store, that invaluable bass, classical – all the different types of feeling that comes with the sure player are ticked off on our staff rota, but knowledge that you will be able to deal of course that somewhat limits us when with anyone who walks through the door, it comes to selling has rocketed and all for the price of a few an oboe, for example. Or, in fact, anything large pizzas and an extra night in the shop from outside the realms of a working four every month. Who’d have thought it?

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO OCTOBER 2009 55 NEW PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES BACKLINE BASS & GUITAR DRUMS PRINT

PRODUCTS • BACKLINE & GUITARS

RANDALL LINE 6 BOSS GUYATONE KH75 KIRK HAMMETT SPIDER IV AMPLIFIERS FROM FRV FENDER REVERB MIGHTY MICRO STOMP BOXES SIGNATURE COMBO £373.75 £90.85 STOMP BOX £115 $POA They say: Built using the same tone They say: Many fresh features, innovations They say: A classic reborn – the They say: The second batch of pro-grade circuit as Hammett’s powerful signature and updated highlights from its best-selling legendary sound of the 1963 features and exceptional sound quality in MTS head. predecessor. Fender Spring Reverb returns as a an ultra-compact chassis. For: Guitarists For: Guitarists modern stompbox. For: Guitarists Range: Randall Kirk Hammett signature Range: Line 6 Spider series For: Guitarists Range: Four additions to range: analog Spec: Two-channel, three-mode, 75-Watt Spec: Six models in range (five combos, one Range: Boss/Fender modelling chorus, compressor/sustainer, slow volume, combo with signature clean, rhythm and head):15 (£90.85), 30 (£182.85), 75 effects & transistor fuzz. All with cast-aluminum lead tones, 12” Celestion Seventy 80 (£274.85), 120 (£378.35), 150 (£424.35), Spec: COSM-based modelling of 63 chassis, top-mounted, no-tools battery speaker, spring reverb, FX loop, HD150 (£378.35). 16 amp models, 20 Smart Fender Spring Reverb combo, Dwell, compartment with ‘smart screw’ and footswitch, eq section with contour FX. Combos with three-quarter closed-back Tone, and Mix controls, metal battery ‘load scope’, mechanical true control for mid scoop. cab and Celestion speakers. construction casing. bypass, three-year warranty. From: Sound Technology 01462 480000 From: Barnes & Mullins 01691 652449 From: Roland 01792 702701 From: Godlyke +1 973 777 7477

VINTAGE OZARK LEFTIE ELECTRICS FROM 3372 TENOR GUITAR £259 FROM £275 They say: The exciting news that They say: An electro-acoustic that more Vintage electrics are now is proving popular with many available in – hooray – left hand players for its bigger sound. format. For: Guitarists For: Leftie guitarists Range: Ozark tenors Range: Vintage electrics Spec: Solid spruce top, oval sound Spec: New models include: LV100 hole, rosewood fingerboard with Cherry sunburst (£289), LV6MR pearl dot inlay, adjustable truss rod Icon Boulevard black (£339), LV6 (access from sound hole), Artec Icon Sunset sunburst (£279), LV6 transducer, four-band eq, endpin Vintage white (£259), LVJ96MRJP jack preamp, sunburst finish. Icon fretless sunburst (£289). From: Stentor 01737 240226 From: JHS 0113 286 5381

TANGLEWOOD DISCOVERY DELUXE ACOUSTIC PACKS £129.95 They say: Now beginners can start acoustically with one of the best brands around. For: Guitarists Range: Tanglewood star packs Spec: Spruce top, mahogany back & sides, mahogany neck, rosewood bridge & fingerboard, chrome die-cast machineheads, natural gloss finish. Pack contains gigbag, strap, picks and DVD tutor. From: Tanglewood 01937 841122

56 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK DRUMS AND TRADITIONAL • PRODUCTS

WORLD RHYTHM PERCUSSION ROLAND FIBREGLASS DJEMBE PACKS FROM TD-4KX V-DRUMS £1,179 £528.99 They say: Takes the best of the They say: Get back to school bargains with past and spices it up with new our new fibreglass djembe packs. 6.5-inch mesh pads. For: Percussionists For: Drummers Range: WRP fibreglass percussion Range: Roland V-drums Spec: Fibreglass bodies, natural goatskin Spec: 6.5-inch mesh high heads, both steel tuning lugs and rope-strung toms, PDX-8 floor tom, heads, available in 12” and 9.5” sizes, cloth adjustable tuning & finish inspired by West African Bogolan muffling, cable harness patterns. Drum and case options available. and DB-25 connector, TD- From: World Rhythm Percussion 4 sound module. Kit 01242 282191 includes three toms, snare, three cymbals, kick trigger pad, hi-hat pedal. SHAW From: Roland CHOPS STICKS £6.75 PER PAIR 01792 702701 They say: One of the UK's oldest music companies has announced the launch of a brand new range. For: Drummers Range: New Shaw range Spec: Budget range, American hickory, black or white finishes, non-marking wood tips. 2B, 5A, 5B and 7A models (further sizes and matched pairs later in 2009). From: MSC 01562 827666

STAGG M20LH LEFTIE BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN £79 STAGG They say: The left-hander catered for with a fantastic BJM30LH LEFTIE BANJO budget instrument. £215 For: Leftie mando players Range: Stagg traditional instruments They say: Aimed specifically at the Spec: Laminated basswood top, back and sides, stained valuable minority that is the south maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. paw player. From: EMD 01293 862612 For: Leftie banjo players Range: Stagg traditional instruments Spec: All cast metal alloy pot, mahogany body, nato neck, rosewood fingerboard, Remo 11" coated resonant head. FUSION From: EMD 01293 862612 F1 ALTO SAX BAG £89 They say: Exudes quality, style and function. For: Alto sax players Range: Fusion gigbags ROLAND Spec: 30mm high density FR-7X V-ACCORDION foam padding with water £4,499 resistant rip-stop material, They say: The first instrument of its music and accessory pockets, kind to provide digital modelling in a rear lumber supports, air- traditional accordion design. vents, padded backpack For: Accordionists straps, available in orange & Range: Roland V-accordions black and lime & black. Spec: Fast response and high From: Aria 01483 238725 sensitivity, bellows pressure-sensor circuitry, French, Bayan and Italian classic accordion sounds, 24 orchestral sounds and organ sounds, USB, bellows resistance regulator knob, percussion sounds. From: Roland 01792 702701

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY MIKEDOLBEAR.COM, THE LEADING ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING DRUMS. VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. NEW PRODUCTS • RECORDING

BOSS VE-20 VOCAL PERFORMER £199 They say: Who says stompboxes are just for guitarists? For: Vocalists Range: Boss stomp boxes Spec: Vocal FX incl harmony (up to three-part), double track, dynamics and reverb, realtime pitch correction, phrase looper, phantom power, battery or mains powered. From: Roland 01792 702701

BOSS NATIVE INSTRUMENTS EBAND JS-8 AUDIO KONTAKT 4 £320 PLAYER £339 They say: The fourth generation adds They say: The ultimate musical powerful Authentic Expression companion for bedroom guitarists Technology and much more. has arrived. For: Producers, computer musicians For: Guitarists, musicians Range: NI Kontakt Range: New Boss product Spec: Authentic Expression Technology Spec: Imports and plays Wav and sampling for accurate dynamics and MP3 files, pitch and tempo control, vowel morphing controls, sample guitar/mic input, custom-tuned compression, extended sound library, new speakers, COSM preamp, over 100 database system. effects from Boss GT-10, EZ Tone From: 2 Twenty 2 0845 299 4222 function, 300 loops, record function. From: Roland 01792 702701

ROLAND PROPELLERHEAD ROLAND SP-404SX SAMPLER RECORD £229 JUNO DI MOBILE SYNTH £339 They say: A whole new take on £549 music recording. They say: An exciting leap They say: A traveling musician’s For: Producers, computer forward. dream. musicians For: Producers, musicians, DJs For: Synth players Range: Propellerhead production Range: Roland samplers Range: Roland Juno software Spec: Built-in mic, battery Spec: Over 1,000 instruments, Spec: Unlimited audio tracks, power, 29 DSP effects, three intuitive user interface, battery effects bank, mixing gear, built- control knobs, 12 trigger pads, operation for mobile use, USB in virtual Line 6 Pod, virtual rapid repeat trigger sub pad, memory playback, mic input, console modelled on SSL 4000K, pattern sequencer, 1GB SD card vocoder, PC/Mac editor software. also available as Record Reason included, import from computer, From: Roland 01792 702701 sample assign. Duo Student/Teacher Edition. From: Roland 01792 702701 From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

ROLAND GW-8 V2 WORKSTATION £689 They say: Lets you edit the styles as well as create your own interactive backing tracks. For: Keyboard players Range: Roland keyboards Spec: 128-voice sound engine, interactive backing styles (focus on world-music genres), style composer, 16-track sequencer, USB memory player, centre cancel feature, note to arranger function. From: Roland 01792 702701

58 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

NEW PRODUCTS • PRINT

BOOK OF THE MONTH Author: Jessica Hopper The Girls’ Guide to Rocking Target: Aspiring girl rockers Hopper bangs in with the first of her own through advice on buying an instrument Comment: Make no mistake, for all its myths (avoid electric violins unless you (be it guitar, bass, keys or drums) and admirable bravery in broaching a subject are in a jazz-fusion band) and continues how to get the best sounds from them. that has never been (surprisingly, in this through the book in much the same vein. Girls are told they can follow their age of Daisy Rock guitars, The Bangles Never mind. For all its nonsensical and dream and the book is peppered with and the like) attempted before, this is a inglorious attempts to impart ‘a deeper quotes and anecdotes from successful flawed book. Within a couple of pages the knowledge’, what Hopper does do is women in the business. However cringe- premise is set: a lot of myths that need speak to young girls in their own worthy it might be to old-fart men such busting in the rock business have been language, cover vast areas of music as many of us, this book should hit the created and maintained by men (and making, marketing, managing a band and mark for many young girls. boys). Fair enough. A few pages later, recording techniques. She also runs MELIA PUBLISHING: 01483 869839

EDUCATION Author: Richard Harris (arr) Blues & Ragtime Artist: Various (Bruce & Series: Essential Collection Wells: ed) More Time Target: Piano Comment: Targeting intermediate Pieces for Cello (1 & 2) players, this is a handy compilation to get Series: Time Pieces that syncopation, counterpoint and Target:Cello general dexterity up to speed. It’s a broad Comment: Two further collections of selection of mostly well-known numbers arrangements and original compositions for from the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Duke learner cellists. Pieces are laid out chronologically Ellington and, of course, Scott Joplin – and include some from the new ABRSM cello there are a good couple of dozen songs syllabus (valid from 2010). More Time Pieces to get your teeth into. now takes the learner from Grade 1 to 7. FABER: 01279 828989 ABRSM: 020 7636 5400

Artist: Pam Wedgwood Artist: Christopher Norton Blues, Rags & Boogies Microswing Target: Beginner piano Series: It’s Never Too Late to Play Comment: Norton returns with more of his Target: Piano original compositions, targeting the learner Comment: Another book using blues and rags while being aware that even beginners like to to up the general learning curve, this time have something to get their teeth into. He also with Pam Wedgwood adding repertoire to her realises that it helps if that something is a little popular It’s Never Too Late tutor aimed at the more interesting than the bulk of the fare lapsed player or adult learner. Suitable for that’s usually served up to learner pianists. In those who have been at the keys for around a this wee tome, Norton delivers 20 new tunes year, the songs (both classics and newly aimed at developing the swing technique penned) come with playing notes and a and style. backing/demo CD. FABER: 01279 828989 FABER: 01279 828989

Artist: Various Series: ABRSM exam repertoire Artist: Various Cello exam pieces – Target: Cello Comment: The complete set of cello Spectrum for Violin complete syllabus repertoire for the ABRSM grade exams Series: Spectrum from 2010 to 2015 are now available Target: Violin from the Associated Board, covering Comment: The Spectrum series has been Grades 1 to 8, with one CD each for commissioning new works for a variety of Grades 1 to 5 and two each for Grades instruments since 1996 and now opens up the 6 to 8. These performances bring the world of contemporary music for violinists. This pieces to life, providing a reference and book contains pieces suitable for each of the inspiration for teachers and students. Grades (1 to 8), offering variety and challenges in Each piece is doubled up, playing the playing style, with each piece on the pieces as cello with piano accompanying CD (played by Wood, the compiler, accompaniment and as on violin and Thalia Myers, the founder of the accompaniment only for more series, on piano). A lot for the learner to get his or intense practice. her teeth into. ABRSM: 020 7636 5400 ABRSM: 020 7636 5400

60 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK G9H!9J7A>C H6I(D8I &%Vb"+#(%eb HJC)D8I &&Vb"+eb

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>CHIGJB:CI6ALDG@H=DEH6C9B6HI:G8A6HH:HL>I=>G:A6C9ÉHA:69>C<BJH>8EGDH lll#i]Zbjh^Xh]dl#^Z THE PLACE FOR BUSINESS MI MARKETPLACE TO ADVERTISE ON THESE PAGES CALL DARRELL CARTER ON 01992 535647 MARKETPLACE INDEX 440 DISTRIBUTION ...... 01132 589599

A ALLPARTS...... 0870 442 3336

B BILL LEWINGTON ...... 01268 413366

C COVERNOTES ...... 0121 327 1977

F FOCUS MERCHANDISE ...... 020 8245 9035 FCN...... 01892 603730 440 DISTRIBUTION ...... 0113 258 9599 FUSION ...... 0113 320 0304

G GHANA GOODS...... 0117 955 8668 GUITARRAS DE ESPAÑA ...... 0117 973 3214 SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT H HC DISTRIBUTION ...... 00 353 5991 34268 HERGA MUSIC SERVICES...... 020 8861 1590 HOT ROX ...... 0115 987 3163

J JAM PERCUSSION ...... 0151 494 1492 The dock of the Bay L LEED REPRESENTATION ...... 01243 378050 LEISURETEC ...... 01525 850085 Mel Bay has made much of itself over the past three years in the UK – now with a raft of third party M MADAROZZO™/CBAC LTD...... 020 8816 8368 catalogues on its books, it is hoping to make a whole MARSHALL AMPLIFICATIONS . . . WWW.MARSHALLAMPS.COM lot more… MCELLAND/GREMLIN MUSIC...... 01273 491333 MELBAY ...... +44 (0)20 8382 8010 el Bay Music Limited has all in stock and available – and MUSIC SHIPPING CO...... 01562 827666 always prided itself on being customers are reminded to note that Mthe driving force in music Mel Bay also distributes the Waltons O education and instrument instruction & Mallys catalogues and is the OCARINA WORKSHOP ...... 01536 485963 and now the company is selling and exclusive distributor in the UK of the ORANGE ...... 020 8905 2828 distributing live and direct in the UK, AMA Verlag Musik catalogue, AMPD & extending its superior products and Sasha Music catalogues (Australia), P efficient customer service to you – very recently it aquired the RGB Arte PIANO LOGISTICS ...... 020 8561 4321 the trade customer. Visual catalogue and is now pleased Mel Bay Music now offers you its to announce the Voggenreiter R full range of music books, CDs, DVDs, catalogue as well. ROBERT MORLEY ...... 020 8318 5838 deluxe pocketbooks and manuscript – So, what are you waiting for? Pick ROTHWELL AUDIO ...... 01204 366133 in short, everything that a dealer can up the phone and take advantage of sell for the keen musician! Mel Bay today… S Boasting a UK-based warehouse, Trade benefits from a UK freephone SAXOPHONE UK ...... 01892 662 533 Mel Bay can guarantee a fast and number. 0800 432 0486 SOAR VALLEY MUSIC ...... 0116 230 4926 effective delivery service (on average, STEVE CLINKSCALE ...... 01573 225 885 a 48 hour service) to all its UK trade customers. So whether it’s that urgent T customer order you need in a hurry or TEAC...... 01923 438 880 the large stock order, essential for TOM & WILL ...... 08450 945 659 replenishing your shelves, you can count on Mel Bay Music to get it to V you on time. VARSITY...... 0131 557 4310 The company offers competitive UK retail prices, attractive trading W terms and boast over 4,000 lines – WIND PLUS ...... 0116 243 1698

CLASSIFIEDS: MINIMUM 12 MONTHS - ONE ANNUAL CHARGE QUARTER PAGE £1,295

62 OCTOBER 2009 miPRO WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK MI MARKETPLACE

ABROAD REPRESENTATION ACESSORIES AND GIFTWARE

ACOUSTIC DISTRIBUTION AMPLIFICATION

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CLASSICAL GUITARS DISTRIBUTION

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DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION GHANA GOODS WEST AFRICAN PERCUSSION WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PO Box 95, Fishponds Bristol, BS16 1AG Tel: 0117 9354132

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GUITAR ACCESSORIES INSURANCE AND BUSINESS

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Rothwell effects pedals are truly hand-made here in the uk and built to the highest standards. The cases are hand polished and the electronics carefully assembled by skilled uk workers. The circuit design is innovative and original (we don't do clones, repros or mods) and the sound is the sound of classic rock guitar - pure tone. Our pedals are quickly gaining a reputation for superb quality and are being played on some of the world's biggest stages. The Hellbender (overdrive) and Switchblade (distortion) are currently being heard by thousands of fans on Justin Timberlake's world tour, played by Mike Scott (also Prince's main guitarist), who says "you make truly great, great pedals". Why not join our growing list of uk and international dealers and stock Britain's finest boutique effects pedals.

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MUSIC PUBLISHERS OCARINAS

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Making Music in Schools Since 1983

UK made rainbow ocarinas from Ocarina Workshop are easy to play and great fun to teach with.

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Quote ‘MI Pro’ when you order 12 Ocarinas & 12 Books and be amazed at the ocarina’s potential...

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PERCUSSION AND DRUMS PIANOS AND HARPSICORDS

MORLEY ert Co ob Lt R 020•8318•5838 d Grand & Upright Pianos by Elysian, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein, Monington & Weston and other famous makers

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NASHVILLE ACOUSTIC GUITARS ...... £50.00 retail ...... £27.50 trade ex vat NASHVILLE ELECTRIC GUITARS ...... £99.95 retail ...... £54.97 trade ex vat ARK HEAVY DUTY MUSIC STAND...... £18.50 retail ...... £10.18 trade ex vat DOLMETSCH DESCANT RECORDER ...... £6.99 retail ...... £3.84 trade ex vat STEINHOFF 108B UPRIGHT PIANO ...... £1795.00 retail ...... £987.25 trade ex vat RAVEN STUDENT TRUMPET OUTFIT ...... £140.00 retail ...... £77 trade ex vat NASHVILLE ELECTRO ACOUSTIC BASS ...... £125.00 retail ...... £68.75 trade ex vat STERN VIOLIN OUTFIT...... £75.00 retail ...... £41.25 trade ex vat MAXTONE BONGOS ...... £29.95 retail ...... £16.47 trade ex vat NASHVILLE 5 STRING BANJO ...... £99.95 retail ...... £54.97 trade ex vat

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WIND INSTRUMENT

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THE LAST WORD IN MI PRO

MI Pro prides itself on bringing you hard-hitting news and analysis, but, we reckon you’d also enjoy seeing your peers in their more ‘off duty’ moments. So, we’ve expanded CODA to include a permanent pictorial spread of the month’s social highlights. If you have any snaps from an event you’d like us to include, please send them to [email protected]... RETRO HOW DID THEY DO THAT?

(NO PUSSYFOOTING) FRIPP & ENO, 1973 AN ALBUM that was released against the wishes of the Island record company in 1973 to howls of derision from the music press and utter indifference from the buying public might have been expected to fade and sink without a trace. It is, then, a considerable tribute to two of the most innovative exponents of modern music that (No Pussyfooting) sells better now than it did when released. The album, widely considered the first ever ‘ambient’ (or atmospheric) album, features two tracks: The Heavenly Music Corporation (nearly 21 minutes) and Swastika Girls (over 18 minutes), both amorphous and constantly shifting drones and harmonies with Fripp’s savage Les Paul soloing over the top. Fripp and Eno defied the critics The album has gone on to with (No Pussyfooting), which is influence the work of many popular still selling today OCTOBER 2006 artists since (most notably Vangelis and U2), but its origins lie in machine’s left wheel, driven Cover Stars: An education special. MI Pro takes a modern classical music of the ‘50s from the right machine’s right look at the retail market for the UK’s schools, the and ‘60s. wheel. Thus the distance of aids to learning that were available and there’s an Terry Riley, a graduate of one machine to the next in-depth interview with Music for Youth’s Larry composition from the University of would dicate the length of the Westland, where he announces his imminent California and a leading exponent in delay – up to about six retirement for the first time introducing Indian music to the seconds. He crossed the left West, developed a method of tape machine’s left channel output to the add modulation and further News: The OFT closes its case investigating looping as early as 1957, feeding the right machine’s right channel input, mangling (particularly on Swastika Yamaha’s pricing structure, acknowledging that Girls) with his trusty VCS-3 face-to-face sales indeed warranted more generous The album might have been expected to synthesizer. The result was a discounts, Vintage guitars in shop windows, soundscape of startling beauty over Fender’s Bill Schultz dies, Darrell Carter joins MI Pro fade and sink without a trace, but it sells which Fripp then soloed in conventional manner once the Features: PLASA report, Yamaha Expo, the drum better now than when it was released. looped tape was played back. market, FCN company profile, starter guitars, PMT All of this can be done with profiled, Pam Wedgwood, BEIRG signal from one tape machine into the right’s right output to the left’s considerable ease using digital delay these days, with Fripp now Products: Burns Sonic, Vintage Advance series, the next and back again. He used left input and then invited Fripp to employing a couple of Eventide Zoom B1 bass multi-FX, Korg Tomeworks AX5G, the system at his all-night concerts, his home studio in September 1972. delay units that offer minutes of Yamaha CLP 265 and 296 grand pianos, Yamaha when he would initiate the tape Fripp played a note into the delayed playback, although he did H01 Modus piano machines playing layers of Revoxes, which then played back a saxophone lines shortly before he few seconds later, but with the tour extensively with his Revoxes in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Number one singles: Razorlight – America, My took a break to keep the music going obvious tape decay. Thus layers of Should the appeal of (No Chemical Romance – Welcome to the Black in his absence. guitar were piled one on top of the Pussyfooting) continue to grow into Parade, McFly – Star Girl Eno applied the technique to two other, with the most recent notes Revox stereo reel-to-reel recorders, playing loudest and adding to the the future, it should top the charts some time around the year 2100. Number one albums: The Killers – Sam’s Town placing the reel on the left decay of the earlier notes. Eno would

72 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LAST WORD IN MI PRO

THE STARS AND THEIR GUITARS ERIC CLAPTON

The first man ever to have a signature Fender is now widely associated with just one guitar, but Clapton’s playing career has seen him bring a number of models into the limelight. Here are the most notable of his axe choices…

1964/65 1969/74 With the Yardbirds and John Mayall, Clapton Inspired by Buddy Holly and Buddy Guy, Clapton played a number of guitars, including a Fender often had his eye on the Fender Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, a Gretsch 6120 and a Gibson but it wasn’t until he saw Stevie Winwood ES-335, but it was his red, 64 Telecaster that playing one that he made the switch himself. first had the crowds hollering: “Give God a solo”. “Steve had so much credibility,” he said later. “I By mid-1965, however, he set up camp thought, ‘oh, if he can do it, I can do it’.” Clapton exclusively in Gibson’s territory, when he bought dubbed his guitar ‘Brownie’ because of the aged his first Les Paul. sunburst his guitar had. 1964/65 1965/67 1965/67 1974 to present Clapton bought his sunburst 1960 Les Paul In 1970, Clapton bought six Strats and gave Standard from a local shop in London and three to his friends, Winwood, Pete Townsend was immediately enamoured by the and George Harrison. From the remaining three slim-profiled neck. His first Les Paul was stolen, he began to construct a hybrid 56/57 Strat that but he went on to buy an almost identical was to become his trademark: Blackie. Since model from Andy Summers, no less, and Blackie, Clapton has played a variety of Strats, continued the bulk of his work with Cream on including the Fender Custom Shop limited the single cutaway. edition Blackie copy. The original Blackie was sold at auction for Clapton’s Crossroads charity, 1967/69 raising all but $1,000,000. 1967/69 1969/74 Taken by the even slimmer neck of the Gibson 1960s to present SG, Clapton switched again in 1967 and shortly before Cream’s first appearance in the While switching backwards and forwards over the States, he (and the rest of the band) had his years, there is one brand that Clapton has stuck instrument painted by the Dutch psychedelic art with throughout – Martin. For many years, he had collective, The Fool. The 64 SG, along with his 1939 000-42 model by his side and this was Ginger Baker’s bass drum head, became the guitar he played on the multi-platinum, MTV- inseparable from Cream’s image. During this inspired Unplugged album. This guitar was also time, Clapton also started playing the 335 again auctioned off for nearly $800,000. Today, Clapton and a Gibson Firebird. plays a Martin custom 000-ECHF model. 1974/present 1960s/present

MI ICON Hammond B3

t's the name that has come to Unveiled in 1954 as an organ for define what an organ should sound use in homes and churches, the B3 Ilike: the Hammond B3. A highly initially found a home amongst distinctive, widely used and massively gospel, jazz and blues players, as well versatile instrument, which has been as in any number of theatres where it used on countless records spanning was used as the house organ. rock, pop, gospel and pretty much any By the time the sixties rolled other genre you could name, the B3 is around, the B3's distinctive tone – without a doubt the definition of an derived from its combination with iconic instrument. an external Leslie cabinet speaker – The solid walnut-housed organ had caught the ears of many players featured two 61-note keyboards and a outside of its traditional market, number of built-in effects including and the organ designed for the chorus, vibrato, adjustable attack and Lord was commandeered to play the decay and a number of percussion devil's music. effects that made it capable of Rock bands such as Deep Purple The Hammond B3 organ started off in pumping out a vast array of sounds. and Pink Floyd championed the B3, LATEST NEWS homes and churches, but was soon 18 draw bars and a two octave set of alongside the likes of Santana, commandeered for rock n roll, too foot pedals and a volume pedal make Emerson Lake and Palmer, the STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE the B3 an intimidating beast to get to looking machine that players kept Grateful Dead and the Spencer Davis grips with. It is testament to the on returning to it time after time to Group, leading to its association with Bookmark us in your phone: incredible sounds that can be add its distinctive sound to countless gritty, swirling sixties rock and pop wrenched from the complicated- records. that it has never shaken off. MOBILE.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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MI SPACE PIC OF MONTH

ASSOCIATED SANCTIONS We’ve seen these chaps before, only last time on a Beatles-cum-Queen- esque poster. This time we see them in action. Yes, it’s the MIA’s very own CEO, Paul McManus sporting his rather fetching blue Rickenbacker bass with his band, The Sanctions. The band plays predominantly charity gigs, but does the odd pub slot, too, playing punk and post-punk hits, as Richard Webb well as a few classic rock numbers thrown in for good measure. But why Company/job title: is it that it is always the smallest Intermusic/Chairman bloke in the band who struggles away with the biggest instrument? Answers Years in the industry? on a postcard, please… 48 years

First single bought? That would be Hound Dog by Elvis Presley. SOUNDALIKESMUSE

With a new album about to land, expect the world to go Muse mental once again. Larger than life purveyors of all things prog-metal-glam-pop, Muse is one of the biggest bands in the country. Here's how they make their post-apocalyptic noise...

Matt Bellamy – guitar and vocals – Silver custom Favourite album? Manson guitar with built in Z.Vex Fuzz Factory and Kind of Blue by Miles Davis MXR Phase 90, Digitech Whammy IV, Korg Kaoss Pad, Diezel heads, Marshall Mode Four cabinets, various Currently listening to? Line 6 effects. Very little! Chris Wolstenholme – bass and backing vocals – Favourite musician? Rickenbacker 4003, Fender Jazz, Electro Harmonix Big Andre Previn Muff, Ampeg SVT amps, 1x18, 2x10 and 2x12 cabs. Which instruments do you play? Dominic Howard – drums – Tama Starclassic Mirage kit, Piano, organ and guitar Zildjian K Custom Special Dry 14" Hi-Hats, Zildjian K Custom 18" Fast crash, Zildjian K Thin 19" Dark Crash, Are you currently in a band? Zildjian 11" FX Oriental Trash Splash, Zildjian K Custom 22" No Medium Ride, Zildjian 18" FX Oriental Trash China, Tama Roadpro hardware, Tama First Chair, Chrome Tama Iron Cobra single pedal Tama Iron Cobra Lever-Glide Hi-Hat Stand, Pro Mark Dominic Howard Autograph Series sticks.

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74 miPRO OCTOBER 2009 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK