ARIA DISTRIBUTION STAGEWORKS GEAR LONDON MUSIC SHOW MUSIC EXCHANGE

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENTSBarnes & Mullins stays true to

its ‘indies only’ philosophy

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL � FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS

No. 122 • JULY 2010 • WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK PRINT • ONLINE • MOBILE

WITH THIS ISSUEAn in-depth guide to the first

MI Retail Conference & Expo

REGULARS: DISTIE PROFILE 9 I WOKE UP 26 RETAIL NEWS 52 LOCATION REPORT 55 PRODUCTS 44-50 CODA 64

FEATURES

ARIA DISTRIBUTION 20How one supplier changed its name to representa change of direction

STAGEWORKS 23How brave do you need to be to start up in MImanufacturing today?

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COVER STORY 15

ISSUE 122 JULY 2010

So, the MI Retail Conference & Expo is imminent,excitement levels are high and a constant stream of newsfrom the Event Partners is now coming through, revealing

what sort of deals, offers and initiatives they will beshowcasing. There’s going to be a lot to take in.

As is often the way, in the build-up, preparing this magazineand the official Show Guide, themes begin to appear and helpshape the way things unfold. Foremost of these themes is the‘keep it simple’ edict.

On page 15 you will see Barnes & Mullins’ co-MD, BrucePerrin, recounting how, during his ten years in retail, peoplesuch as Mark Barnes were able to have such a strong impacton the industry because they made life easy for the retailers.

Perrin calls it ‘the Barnes factor’ and says he never losessight of it. “If a customer’s got a problem with an instrument for

an end-user, it’s got to be solved – it can’t be forgotten,” he says –

and you can’t really argue with the logic.

In a completely separate conversation with another of the MI

Retail Conference & Expo Event Partners, another managing

director was describing how his business worked. It was a

refreshing statement in many ways. “We give our dealers musical

instruments and they give us money,” he said. “I sometimes wonder

why we try to make things more complicated when the basic

parameters are so simple. Sometimes it’s almost like trying to pull

the wool over people’s eyes.”

Many will point out that it is, in fact, a bit more complicated

than that. The distributor or manufacturer will have suppliers, too,

that need to provide goods and materials and be paid and the

retailers also have customers that want to be supplied before they

will have money demanded of them, but you see the point, I think.

I said in this column at the beginning of the year that 2008 and

2009 had been extremely kind to the MI industry generally, but

that 2010 would be the real test. And so it appears to be. Among

the many whispers I receive each week was one saying that at least

one MI retailer is closing up each week. If this is true, it is tragic,

but it underlines the fact that the rest of us need to keep sight of

the bottom line; to keep it simple. Let’s talk more on June 29th.

Andy BarrettManaging editor

NEWS

EVENTS

SECTOR SPOTLIGHTS

Since Brian Cleary rejoined

Bruce Perrin at Barnes &

Mullins, the company has

enjoyed a renewed sense of

optimism. This, coupled with

its ‘indie only’ approach,

helps B&M and its dealers

keep it real.

MAKING LIFE EASIER

MI RETAIL CONFERENCE, MUSIC

EXCHANGE BUYS HERGA, ZOOM

COMPETITION, LONDON MUSIC

SHOW, AUDIO TECHNICA

SUMMER SCHOOLS

JHS EVENT 11The 14th JHS Event kicked off on June 13th,showcasing new lines from the distributor’s manybrands, with all the expected deals for retailers

COMBOS 29A round up of what’s new in the all-in-oneamplifier market

STUDIO MICS 37Discovering keenly priced mics worth shoutingabout... or through, for that matter

6

20

52

RETAIL

BPM OFFERS TRADE PASSES 52Free trade entry available for fourth yearly DJ event

B&M CUTS SMALL ORDER COSTS Supplier lowers carriage charges for orders under £250

FIRST OF FCN SUMMER OFFERSRetailers can benefit from distributor’s seasonal deals

Themes begin to

appear, shaping

the way things

unfold. Foremost of

these is the ‘keep it

simple’ edict.

mipro@intentmedia.co.uk

ANDY BARRETT

EDITORIALCOMMENT

37

Dealers and suppliers flock to packed MI Retail

NEWS

The biggest names in retail, manufacturing and distribution support inaugural trade event � All sectors of industry, plus special

4 miPRO JULY 2010 SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

THE FIRST MI Retail Conference

& Expo in association with

Musikmesse takes place on

Tuesday, June 29th at The

Brewery in Central London –

and is now totally sold out.

As the name suggests, this

new type of retail-focused trade

event combines a multi-faceted

conference, a mini-expo plus

myriad meeting and networking

opportunities, including an After

Show Party.

Reaction from suppliers and

dealers has been extremely

positive and very nearly

overwhelming. All Event Partner

slots were taken in double quick

time and around 200 dealers

will be in attendance – meaning

the debut event is now

completely full.

As well as a headline

partnership with Musikmesse,

the Event Partners comprise

Audio Technica, Barnes &

Mullins, Casio, JHS & Co,

Marshall Amplification and

Sonic Distribution, as well as

Adam Hall, Allianz Musical

Insurance, D’Addario UK, FCN

Music, Intermusic, Kam, Line 6,

Mel Bay, Monacor, Strings &

Things, Studiomaster,

Tanglewood, Tascam, along with

Roland, which is hosting the

After Show Party and Numark

Alesis Akai, which is sponsoring

the cash bar during the event.

Among the confirmed retail

delegates are Academy of

Sound, Ackerman, Bonner’s,

Britten’s, Chas Foulds, Dawsons,

Dolphin Music, Hard To Find,

HW Audio, Music Exchange,

Musicroom, PMT and Sheehan’s,

with support from the UK’s

two buying groups, Euromusic

and Rocktronic.

The conference, meanwhile,

will feature a series of

presentations and panel sessions

that include exclusive new

market data from GfK and

discussions of hot topics such as

online selling and the collapse

of Sound Control/Reverb – with

input from all sectors. There will

also be a retail-facing update

from our industry’s trade body,

the MIA – and a headline slot

from campaigning singer

songwriter Billy Bragg.

There will be live updates

from the event at mi-pro.co.uk

throughout the duration of the

day and a full report will be

included in our next issue.

AFTER SHOWSPONSOR

GOLD PARTNERS

PLATINUM PARTNERS

EVENT PARTNERS

AND SPONSORS

”Reaction hasbeen extremelypositive. Around200 dealers willbe inattendance.

MI Retail Conference& Expo

An event

in association with

TOM HARRISON and Ben Slater, the

respective managing directors of 440

Distribution and Blue Rock, have scooped

the UK distribution rights for Godin

Guitars and its associated brands. Both

are now excited at the prospect of

championing the brand again, both having

experience of it from their days at

Westside Distribution.

“Ben Slater and I have been involved

with Godin for more than ten years and

we feel that together we can bring a

sharper focus to the brand, which we feel

it richly deserves,” noted Harrison. “On a

personal note, I’m delighted to be back

working with the Godin family.”

Ben Slater, whose company will also

carry 440’s catalogue of Baden and Yairi

guitars, DSL straps, and Bullet Cable in the

south – where 440 had previously been

under-represented – added: “This is a

great opportunity for us and we’re

honoured that Patrick Godin chose us to

represent Godin, Norman and LaPatrie in

the UK.”

“We are very happy to announce that

Blue Rock and 440 Distribution will be our

distributors of Canadian based Godin,

Norman and LaPatrie guitars in the UK,”

said Godin’s export sales manager, Patrick

Godin. “Previously working with both Ben

Slater and Tom Harrison, we’ve come to

know them as driven, hard working

professionals and we look forward to a

successful new relationship with them

moving forward.”

440 DISTRIBUTION: 0113 258 9599.

BLUE ROCK: 0845 388 1183

Specialist guitar suppliers enter into new partnership

for the distribution of Canadian guitar brands

Godin caught between

440 and Blue Rock

STENTOR HAS announced that its wholly

owned Stentor factory workshop in

China has achieved ISO9001

certification status.

Many governments and purchasing

authorities worldwide now demand this

internationally recognised standard for

product and quality assurance

management. The Stentor factory

underwent a strict assessment in order to

obtain its certificate.

ISO9001 involves an ongoing,

systematic evaluation of the system of

quality management and confirms to

customers and suppliers that Stentor’s

management systems conform to

world standards.

Achieving ISO9001 compliance further

demonstrates the service and quality

that Stentor provides to its customers,

both in the UK and to its network of

distributors worldwide.

“This is the result of much hard work

by the team and is a well-deserved

recognition of Stentor’s commitment to

high standards,” said Michael Doughty,

managing director of Stentor.

The picture shows a recent visit to the

Stentor factory, where directors Michael

Doughty and Robert Bogin, together with

Luke Doughty, joined a factory outing of

Stentor factory staff and family

members, to Wushi.

STENTOR: 01737 240226

Stentor achieves ISO9001

Conference & Expo

NEWS

All Exchange for Herga

Win big with

Zoom’s Venom

Mini Cooper top prize

in cable competition

ZOOM UK has reincarnated its

prize draw car giveaway based

upon purchases of its Venom

cable range, which was last held

in 2002, having given away a

number of cars, as well as

other prizes.

This year sees the company

reintroduce its draw with a Mini

Cooper as the first prize, and a

road legal quad bike and £1,000

cash as second and third prizes.

Full details of the

competition are yet to be

revealed, but a brief statement

from Zoom indicates that the

competition will be limited to

just 100 entries and the prizes

awarded to trade buyers of

Venom cables. “This means that

entrants will have a three in

100 chance of winning, on top

of having some fantastic,

competitively priced guitar

leads in stock,” said the Zoom

UK statement.

Dealers wishing to get

further information on how to

be in with a chance of winning

one of these great prizes should

contact Zoom UK on the

number below or via

info@venomeurope.com.

ZOOM UK: 01462 791100

guests will contribute to wide-ranging conference

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MUSIC EXCHANGE, the sheet

music distributor and publisher

based in Manchester, has bought

Herga Music Gifts, a

manufacturer and supplier of

'gifts for the musically minded'.

Following the purchase, Music

Exchange has announced that it

is working to produce a new

catalogue and order form.

“Over the coming months we

plan to introduce many new

product lines and will insure that

we have the necessary stock

levels to maximise the expected

increase in sales,” said Music

Exchange’s Paul Connett of the

deal. "We have found over the

past two years that the sale of

musical gifts has steadily

increased. We have introduced

the gifts as part of our extremely

popular racking scheme, Music in

Store. With the acquisition of

Herga we plan to increase the

stock in the existing racking

stores and are hoping to recruit

some new shops to the scheme."

Irene McGregor, one of the

partners from Herga Music will

be working closely with the new

owner to help maintain the

continuity of the business, which

supplies a wide range of

novelties from pencil sharpeners

and candlesticks to tea pots and

stationary. "She is as excited as

we are at the prospect of taking

what was already a thriving

business under Herga Music to a

whole new level,” added Connett.

Stock is now live on the Music

Exchange system and is available

to order.

MUSIC EXCHANGE:

0161 946 1234

HEADLINE SPONSOR

”Dealers will havea three in 100chance ofwinning a reallygreat prize, ontop of havingsome fantasticguitar leads instock.

BAR SPONSOR

NEWS

6 miPRO JULY 2010 SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

AUDIO TECHNICA is to launch two

significant initiatives for MI dealers at the

inaugural MI Retail Conference & Expo on

June 29th. The event will see the unveiling

of Audio Technica’s MI Retail Summer

School programme, which will be

complemented by the introduction of its

new Centre of Excellence scheme.

Designed to

increase staff

knowledge of Audio

Technica products in

specific areas, the

Summer School is

open to all retailers

and can be tailored

to suit the needs of particular stores. The

topics from which retailers can choose

comprise Wireless, Live Sound, Studio

Microphones, Audio Basics and

Headphones. Training sessions (which will

be conducted in store) will be delivered by

Audio Technica’s training and product

support specialist Logan Helps.

The Centre of Excellence scheme has

been created to provide retailers with the

tools necessary to become ‘power sellers’

of Audio Technica products. In addition to

full product training, qualifying dealers will

gain marketing benefits, including featured

listings on Audio Technica’s online dealer

database and presence in end-user

advertising. Centres of Excellence will also

be able to purchase

their initial stocking

order at attractive

discounts, an offer

that will also

subsequently apply to

an annual CoE order.

Retailers can

become a Centre of Excellence in any or

all of three categories: Studio

Microphones, Monitor Headphones and

Live Microphones. To qualify, dealers must

have their own premises from which to

demonstrate Audio Technica’s range of

products, have completed the Summer

School programme and need to be able to

participate in the company’s First

Impressions trial scheme.

“Audio Technica is known for its

dedication to customer service and by

launching our Summer School and

Centre of Excellence schemes we’re

aiming to help retailers by improving

the service they can offer to their own

customers,” said Harvey Roberts, Audio

Technica’s senior UK marketing

manager. “Great customer service

ultimately leads to increased sales

and customer loyalty, so it’s an

important consideration in gaining an

advantage over competitors. We’re

very much looking forward to booking

retailers in for the Summer School

sessions at the MI Retail Conference &

Expo and working with them over the

coming months.”

More information is available at

audio-technica.com/coe and for

information on online booking for the

Summer School training program at

audio-technica.com/summerschool.

AUDIO TECHNICA: 0113 277 1441

Audio Technica ups its service ante

London Music Show shapes up

THE LONDON Music Show’s

organiser, Future Publishing, has

announced that Joe

Bonamassa, Newton Faulkner,

Dave Mackintosh, Ian

Matthews, Clem Cattini, Ash

Soan and Martin Ranscombe

will all be appearing at the

event, which takes place on

October 8th to 10th.

This news comes hot on the

heels of the announcement

that Fender will be exhibiting at

the show.

Joe Bonamassa will

be offering

guitarists the

chance to learn

from him first

hand at the

show on the

Friday (October

8th), with space

on his special

blues masterclass strictly

limited to 150 places at £30

each, with a signing session

afterwards. Other artists

appearing include the Brit

award-nominated

singer/songwriter Newton

Faulkner, who will also be giving

a lesson, this time in percussive

techniques for beginners, as

well as playing the Live Stage

on Saturday.

Kasabian’s Ian Matthews will

be bringing his talents – and

bass player Richie Blake – along

to the show for a masterclass in

rhythm section perfection.

Tuning master and self-

confessed ‘drum guru’ Martin

Ranscombe will also be on hand

to share his specialist

knowledge and lift the veil on

the dark art of drumming.

In addition, Mikedolbear.com

will present masterclasses with

session artists Ash Soan and

Clem Cattini, a legendary

player notable for appearing

on an astonishing 44 number

one singles with the likes of

Tom Jones and Dusty

Springfield, as well as

performing on Paul Weller’s

new album.

FUTURE: 01225 442244

Joe Bonamassa will

be there on the

event’s opening day

Big name artists confirmed and Fender confirms its attendance at event

Newton Faulkner will perform on the Saturday

Summer schools and centres of excellence to be introduced at MI Retail Conference & Expo on June 29th

A sound investment.

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SIGN UP FOR THE MI PRO NEWSFLASH SERVICE AT WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 9

DISTRIBUTION PROFILE

Year Established: HTD France 1988 – UK office

established 2007

Number of employees: France and UK – 20

Is business up or down compared to last year?

We are still a relatively new company in the UK so

we are continuing to grow and develop. Business

has been up and down, the last few months of

2009 and the opening months of 2010 sales were

slow, but have started to climb again. It’s an

indication of the MI industry as a whole right now.

How has the economic climate affected business?

Although many retailers are quick to point out the

downside I think this is a great chance now for the

MI industry to wake up and be part of the 21st

century. For a distributor like HTD, the economic

climate has been good and we have been advising

retailers that profit, not turnover, is essential to

maintaining the longevity of their businesses.

What are your best-selling lines, and why do

you think they perform so well?

We have just launched the Larson Brothers

acoustics. To be part of a brand so integral to the

very development of steel strung guitars is

extremely exciting indeed.

We have spent a lot of time assessing and re-

developing our RapcoHorizon business model and

with Vigier, we continue to grow the public’s

awareness of the brand.

How does High Tech feel the UK market differs

from other global markets?

The UK MI industry has such a rich history, but is

not that dissimilar to other territories. We have a

distinct advantage that HTD is a European

company and can assess the effects that different

markets are having. Of course each different

market faces its own challenges, but I think in the

last few years, possibly aided by the impact of the

Internet, the MI industry really is a global network.

What distinguishes you from the competition?

I think the very transparent, passionate and honest

way that HTD is set up helps retailers understand

that we want to invest in them. It is important to

know that most the HTD staff are active musicians.

As well as understanding the business, we have a

personal and hands-on experience. As a distributor

we have to be fair to our dealers – but MI is naive

with too many retailers giving away margin.

How do you maintain a good relationship

with retailers?

I like to visit my dealers on a regular basis, even if it

is just to see how business is progressing. I think

face-to-face interaction is a very important for

business. I can discuss any feedback the dealers

have in a relaxed atmosphere and gain a much

better insight into their business.

What would you say is the biggest challenge

facing the MI industry today?

This refers to the point I made about retailers

throwing away profit for quick sales. There is a long

way to go to eradicate the prehistoric mentality of

giving away profits, though after a lot of high-

profile retailers have collapsed in the last 12 to 18

months, I think retailers are starting to think twice

before giving away margins.

What are your aims for the next 12 months?

The next 12 months will see a lot of changes

implemented to the way the UK’s MI industry is

run. The changes re-shaping the UK’s business now

represent the chance for dealers to adapt and

reinvent themselves. HTD is always listening and

reacting to change, so we are perfectly poised to

capitalise on these new challenges.

Ben Whatsley

HIGH TECH DISTRIBUTION

Ben Whatsley

reveals how

crucial pushing for

profits and not

giving away

margins is in

order for retailers

to survive…

Address: High Tech Distribution UK, 4 Clifton

Row, West Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7SJ

Phone: 01722 410002

Web: htd-uk.com

CONTACT DETAILS

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JHS & Co’s 14th Event easily maintained attendance

figures, despite doom and gloom elsewhere – and even

attempts by the rain to dampen proceedings…

Accentuatingthe positive

JHS � EVENT REVIEW

We’re delivering first class customer service. Are you with us? Be an Audio-Technica Centre of Excellence.

Our new customer service initiative is designed to equip you with the tools you need to become power sellers of our products, armed with our

award-winning customer service know-how and on going personalised training programs to keep you streets ahead of your competition.

Our Centres of Excellence will be split into three categories:

Studio Microphones - Monitor Headphones - Live Sound Microphones

Be a Centre of Excellence for just one, or all three.For more information visit www.audio-technica.com/coe

AT4080 AE5400BP892

ATH-M50

�Centre of Excellence

The 14th JHS Event at John Hornby

Skewes & Co’s Leeds headquarters

took place from June 13th to 16th

with crowds of dealers attending,

maintaining the numbers, despite the

unusual appearance of rain on the

opening day.

The JHS Event has become an integral

part of the UK’s MI calendar over the

years, as the distributor looks to

entertain, feed and water its dealers, as

well as offer a large number of special

deals, including extended credit terms

and end-of-line discounts. As such,

retailers look upon it as an essential

expo, taking the opportunity to get more

quality time with JHS’ area sales

managers and other staff members.

“The Event shows that, whatever the

economic climate, it is the proactive

businesses that make things happen,”

said JHS’ managing director, Dennis

Drumm. “When you have a proactive

distributor, such as us, getting behind

like-minded dealers, you find that any

situation can be turned to the positive.”

Of particular note this year was the

launch of the new Odyssey brass and

woodwind range, newly designed and

targeting the student and beginner

markets with the sort of quality normally

the claim of far more expensive models.

“I have always believed that students

should be given the best possible

instruments to learn on,” said the range’s

designer, Peter Pollard, an instrument

technician to many big names in the

brass and woodwind world. “We’ve spent

a lot of time designing and tweaking the

prototypes and putting them in the

hands of professionals. We’re satisfied

now that we have products that will

easily take players up to Grade 6 – a

couple of them beyond that.”

A couple of the new brass instruments

stood out, with a ‘baby’ French horn with

adjustable hand rest for younger hands

and a soprano sax in Bb, shaped like an

alto, again, giving younger children the

opportunity to take up the instrument

regardless of size and weight issues that

make it impossible for youngster to play.

Also of note is the new KG series of

combo amplifiera from Kustom and a

Vintage signature model acoustic, made

in collaboration with fingerstyle virtuoso,

Gordon Giltrap and his luthier, Rob

Armstrong. Again, quality belies the price,

with both the six-string and 12-string

versions coming in at under £500,

including a hard case and Fishman

electronics as added bonuses.

As well as representatives of the

distributor’s suppliers (including Manuel

Rodriguez, Fishman, Regal Tip, Facelift,

Dunlop and Kustom) there were a

handful of exhibitors at the event.

Among these were Music Exchange

(fresh from the news of its purchase of

Herga Music Services and its novelty

anmd gift products, which were also on

display on its stand), Future Publishing,

raising awareness for the London Music

Show and Retail Up, which was offering a

fascinating opportunity for dealers to add

a JHS page to their websites, while

maintaining their own branding.

JHS: 0113 286 5381

12 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

EVENT REVIEW � JHS

“It is the proactive businesses that make thingshappen. When you have a proactive

distributor, such as us, getting behind like-minded dealers, you find that any situation can

be turned to the positiveDennis Drumm

JHS managing director

JHS’ MD and SD, Dennis Drumm and Alan Smith Scott Lombardo of Fishman and Regal Tip’s Dick MarkusMike and Joe Hrano with the new Rory Gallagher ‘Facelift’

Manuel Rodriguez III alongside Alan Smith of JHSGerald Burns, Irene McGregor and Paul Connett on the Music Ex stand

Ask almost anyone in the UK’s MI

trade what they think of Barnes &

Mullins and the reply is very likely

to contain the phrase ‘really nice people’.

That isn’t idle flattery and it isn’t an

accident either. B&M might be one of the

country’s oldest distributors, (it was

founded in 1895) but while it is among

the most forward-thinking in its use of

modern marketing techniques, it has

simultaneously managed to hold onto a

very gentlemanly way of doing business.

After a short hiatus, during which he

spent some time with Tanglewood, Brian

Cleary has been back at B&M for a year,

re-united with joint managing director,

Bruce Perrin, the two having finally

managed to buy-out the family interests,

which had been holding the company

back. Since they took sole control it has

been business as usual for B&M, despite

the tough climate. We brought Messrs

Perrin and Cleary together for a ‘state of

the union’ interview and to ask why they

think being good people to do business

with makes very good business sense.

MI Pro: Though MI Pro has covered

Brian’s re-joining B&M, could we start

by asking how the past year has been

and how it feels to be ‘back home?’

Brian Cleary: Fantastic – it’s better than

it was before. Now, all Bruce and I have

to do is focus on buying and selling

musical instruments, whereas for a great

many years prior to that we had a lot of

shareholder issues that we were having to

deal with and that sapped an enormous

amount of our time. So it’s the best it’s

ever been, in that respect.

Bruce Perrin: One thing it has done is

Young Guns go for itRegardless of the changes that have gone on at Barnes & Mullins over the years, one thing has remained in the foundation

of the company’s philosophy: the dealer comes first. Gary Cooper quizzes the co-MDs about how they keep it real…

Yo

un

g G

un

s use

Faith

gu

itars

BARNES & MULLINS COVER FEATURE

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 15

given us an opportunity to sit

down and plan out our future, which

we've not been able to do before. To be

fair, we had a very good framework in

place before, but now we’ve been able to

move forward with the emphasis on

marketing our brands and trying to make

Barnes & Mullins as big a help for our

customers as we can be.

The phrase that comes to mind is ‘user

friendly’. When you talk with retailers,

that’s usually the impression you get,

that they find B&M easy to do

business with. But that can’t be an

accident – you must work hard at

that, presumably.

BC: The reason this works is because

we’ve worked together for a great

many years and we have, at almost

every time, seen eye to eye on

everything and we have shared

vision of how we want Barnes &

Mullins to be. The analogy we’ve

often used is we want our trade

customers to perceive us in

perhaps the same way people

perceive John Lewis or Marks &

Spencer. It’s not just that we

buy and sell musical

instruments, it’s that we also try

to offer the best level of service

that we can – and I have to admit it

sounds trite when I hear myself say that.

Well that certainly raises a point. If you

were to ask any distributor, they would

all say they aim to offer fantastic

service and that they are nice people to

do business with. In fact, it’s a

sentiment that appears in our pages

several times a month. But it can’t

always be true, can it? Some

distributors are better than others – so

how? And what is it that seems to set

B&M apart?

BC: It’s dead easy – there really is no

rocket science. It’s not what we say in

magazine articles, it’s what we do as a

company on a day to day basis that

counts. It’s what we do when a customer

phones up with a problem. That’s what

matters – not what we say.

BP: My experience in the music

trade – and I had ten years in

retail before I joined Barnes &

Mullins, during which they were

my main supplier – was that they

made life as easy as possible for me.

If you go back to dealers who were

setting up in the 60s, you couldn’t find

anybody who was more helpful to them

than Mark Barnes. He helped more

businesses start from the 60s to the 80s

than anyone and I’ve always wanted to

follow his lead – I call it the Barnes Factor

and I never, ever lose sight of it. His way

was always to be as helpful as possible, to

understand the customer’s problems

and make business as easy as

possible. If a customer’s got a

problem with an instrument

for an end-user, it’s got to be

solved – it can’t be forgotten.

It’s all about service and I

know all our competitors say

the same thing, but I really

think the experience both Brian

and I bring to this company is

different. I had many years

with Mark Barnes, while

Brian had many years with

John Skewes, so we have

probably both been trained

by two of the more

successful entrepreneurs of our industry.

BC: Actually, the background that Bruce

had and the background that I had were

quite different in some ways and we often

bring different things to a conversation as

a consequence. My background with John

Hornby Skewes was very much sales led,

so I’ve always got that vision in mind...

BP: And my experience was always from

having that retail background and having

originally been employed by Barnes &

Mullins to run their retail store in the

Charing Cross Road, so I’ve always brought

that understanding of the retail side to

the table.

You’ve both been a part of this

industry for many years and seen a lot

of changes, such as the Internet and

the rise, fall and rise again of the guitar

as a key instrument for retailers. What

else stands out as a major change do

you feel?

BP: The supply chain and the values have

changed a lot. When I started at Barnes &

Mullins in 1977, our cheapest Fender-

esque guitar was £80, retail. Our

equivalent now is probably £70 retail and

we don’t actually sell any more now than

we did then. The demand isn't any greater.

Then there are the changes in the supply

chain itself. You have overproduction and

you have distributors that are retailers and

retailers that are distributors and the

buying groups – this has changed a lot.

Then there are all the changes the retail

sector has had to face due to the

introduction of Argoses, the Amazons –

and the internet in general, of course. But

perhaps the biggest change for retailers is

that they have had to evolve into being

more than just a dealer waiting for Joe

Public to walk through the door. They’ve

had to stimulate business in their areas by

running music schools, for example, and

there has been a huge change in the way

music is taught in schools, with so many

peripatetic teachers today. To be in the

music industry now, you have to be very

proactive to be successful. If a dealer is

proactive in his area, talking to teachers,

running workshops, getting out there

and waving his flag, he can compete, but

you can’t exist if you’re just going to do

it on price because there’s no margin to

be had.”

The question of margins is getting very

critical, isn't it?

BC: Yes and I can’t think of a period where

it has ever been tougher to be a retailer.

We know just how hard they are having to

fight to do business right now and that’s

the premise of a lot of the decisions we

make. It’s the reason why we don’t make

our products available to the big, non-

specialist chains. It’s not that we’re against

that sort of business, it’s that 100 per cent

of our customer base is individual music

shops and we don't want to do anything

that undermines them. We’re very careful

where we place our products. We don’t

want our products to fall victim to being

slaughtered on the internet. We’re always

mindful that the retailer has to make as

good a margin as possible.

Every few years there seems to be a

flap about ‘the role of the distributor’

and the doom-sayers predicting their

demise. Yet distributors still seem to be

here and are as much a part of the

industry as ever. But has your role

changed? Is it that you now support

smaller manufacturers, or is the drive

now to build your own brands – as you

have done with Faith guitars?

BC: I don’t think it has changed greatly.

There are a lot of significant brands out

COVER FEATURE BARNES & MULLINS

16 miPRO JULY2010 WW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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there that don't want to be their own

distributors. There are greater demands

on us as a supplier than there were

before though. Manufacturers look around

and choose the best distributor for the

territory in question, but they want that

company to do a full marketing job and

that’s a big overhead. It’s one we're

prepared to take on, however.

Looking at Barnes & Mullins from

outside, it does seem as if you spend a

lot on marketing – considerably more

than the average at a guess?

BP: Yes, and if you take a brand such as

Rico, for instance, there’s any number of

workshops we’re doing, summer schools

we’re sponsoring – helping the dealer

promote the product. This is something

that we perhaps didn’t have to do ten

years ago. The whole concept of

marketing has moved forward greatly and

you also have a situation where Joe

Public wants more information and there

are more opportunities for him to go to

workshops, so these have to be done. As

Brian says, some manufacturers can’t do

their own distribution, so therefore they

will work with a professional company

that will promote the product and that’s

what we have to do.

You work harder distributing other

people’s products, while building your

own brands as well? In your case, that

has primarily been Faith, so how is that

going at the moment?

BC: Faith really has been a huge amount

of fun. It’s very rare that you have the

opportunity to do something with a

brand that is completely as you want it

to be. We make absolutely no

compromises on it in any shape or form.

Whether people agree with what we do is

another matter, but obviously enough do

for it to be selling very well. But another

nice thing about Faith is that it is a part

of Barnes & Mullins, so we can take our

time to get the details right, do things

that other companies that are wholly

dependent on one brand can’t do so

easily. It's part of our strategy. We strive

to have a mixture of house brands and

international brands and I think that’s

what our customers, the retailers, want –

a mix of both.

How do you feel the MI trade is doing

at the moment?

BC: I think the retail trade is having one

of the toughest times in a very long while

and if our customers are not selling, then

they’re not buying from us. We’ve been

very fortunate at Barnes & Mullins so far,

but we are very aware how tough things

are for our customers. This is why Bruce

and I recently sat down and planned out

what we have, with tongue in cheek,

called our ‘manifesto’ for this summer.

Essentially, it’s a three-point plan. We've

launched a three-month summer deal,

with some exceptional prices on some

strong-selling products, with extended

terms. Then, we’ve just announced that

we recognise retailers need to be buying

small quantities and regularly, so we’ve

really cut our carriage charges to the

bone to accommodate that. The third

thing, which we’re launching at the MI

Retail Conference & Expo, is what we’re

calling The String Gallery. This is a scheme

that will introduce general music shops

into the world of selling orchestral string

instruments. It’s going to give them all

the tools in product, sales skills, internet

backup – everything we can think of, so

they can engage in that market.

How big a boost do you feel this could

really be?

BC: For Barnes & Mullins, what we do in

orchestral strings is a significant part of

our business and we genuinely believe

that a lot of our customers could be

doing a lot more in that area, but that

they are scared of it for one reason or

another. So we’re going to be trying to

put together a project that will make life

very easy for them – and that's what

we’ll be launching at the Conference.

BP: I remember from my retail days how

you’d see people looking in the shop

window because they were scared to

come into the shop, because they were

scared of making a fool of themselves

and I think we are still like that. Lots of

mums and dads know what a guitar is,

but if a youngster wants a violin, the

easiest thing to do is go to a catalogue

shop and buy something that will, in fact,

put the child off. The idea is for the String

Gallery to be an information site that

tells everyone everything they need to

know. This was an idea that came out of

regular meetings we had with dealers,

who, when asked what they were doing

with bowed instruments, tended to say

‘well, we don't really do that area

because we don't now much about it’.

There’s a considerable amount of

business out there that the general

retailer is missing as a consequence.

Back on the rock side, your

relationship with Line 6 has been

unusual hasn't it – sharing distribution

with the manufacturer? Obviously, it

enables smaller retailers to have easier

access to a top brand, but how has it

been working for you?

BC: Line 6 was looking to sell as much as

it could, obviously. The company had two

people on the road and recognised that if

it sent one of its people to a shop in a

remote town that bought two amplifiers,

it couldn't really justify that cost. But we

have six area sales managers covering the

whole of the UK and Ireland and if our

customer in the middle of nowhere can

add a couple of Line 6 amplifiers to his

Barnes & Mullins order, it works well for

everyone involved. It’s a very interesting

model and all the parties concerned are

very happy with the results.

Any final thoughts you'd like to get

across to our readers?

BC: We understand how difficult business

is for retailers at the moment and we are

wholly committed to giving them the

best help we can.

BP: Yes, we're on their side. The sun’s

shining, the World Cup is underway,

not a lot of people are coming through

their doors, but we are wholly

committed to giving them the absolute

best support we can.

BARNES & MULLINS: 01691 652449

COVER FEATURE BARNES & MULLINS

18 JULY 2010 miPRO WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

“I can’t think of a period where it has ever beentougher to be a retailer. We know just how hard they

are having to fight to do business right now andthat’s the premise of a lot of decisions we make

Brian ClearyBarnes & Mullins co-managing director

B&M’s joint MDs. Left: Brian Cleary, Right: Bruce Perrin

COMPANY PROFILE ARIA DISTRIBUTION

20 miPRO JULY 2010 WW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Few UK distributors could lay claim to

being any closer to the geeky heart of

the guitar business than Aria UK – or

should we say, to give the company its new

name, Aria Distribution. The change took

place a few months ago to more accurately

reflect the way the business has evolved

from being the UK distributor of the Aria

guitar range, to a more general supplier.

“The change of name is something

we’ve gradually been working on and we’re

very much focused on using that brand

logo and colours in everything we do now,”

says Aria’s Martin Hartwell. “As and when

we have any point of contact with the

customer – in this case a trade customer –

we’re using that brand now. It moves away

from being just Aria . ‘Aria Distribution:

leading MI products’ better reflects what

we are today. But, of course, this refers to

trade branding. If we do any advertising to

consumers, then it will be under Aria,

Seymour Duncan or the product logos.”

Aria is, by any standards, an increasingly

significant distributor of guitar related

brands, as a quick totting-up of the

company’s roster shows. In addition to Aria

itself, it represents Seymour Duncan, Rat,

Garrison, Pignose, Fusion, Bespeco and a

host of guitar refinement accessories, which

represent a useful profit opportunity for

retailers. But the company’s acquisition

path hasn’t ended yet, by any means, as

Hartwell reveals two new lines that are

likely to ring quite a lot of cash registers in

the coming year or so.

The first is ZT amplifiers. Do we

pronounce that like good British English

speakers – 'Zed-Tee', or in the American

'Zee-Tee' way, I asked.

“Zed Tee,” Hartwell says emphatically.

“They have Bob Harrison, as export sales

agent for Europe, the Middle East and Africa

and he’s both English and based in the UK,

so we’ve got very familiar with referring to

it in that way. The agreement with them

came together at Frankfurt and our first

stock was received in April, so we’re only

about eight weeks in.”

The innovative – not to say diminutive –

ZT amp range has created quite a stir

among players and journalists, but where

does Hartwell see the market for it?

“The first ZT product was the Lunchbox

and that’s very much the most compact of

the range – though the Lunchbox Acoustic

is the same physical size. The Lunchbox is

aimed at guitarists who want all the tone

of a 200-Watt RMS, 135dB at 1 metre

specification, but from a tiny amp. Loud

and small appeals to a wide range of

guitarists. We’ve heard of people using

them to drive a stack but anybody who

wants compact size, lots of tone and

output – well, that’s a wide market.

“The ZT Club takes the same concept,

but incorporates a 12” speaker in a cabinet,

which is actually not much bigger than 12

inches. We’ve found sales of that model

going to jazz guitar players, who have said

it is something that really works for them.

“There’s a really good artist roster that

goes with ZT too, including Billy Gibbons.

The take-up from the trade has been really

well received – that much output from that

size has generated a lot of interest.”

While ZT looks set to be one of the

more interesting newcomers, Aria has

another trick up its sleeve with the

magnificently named ‘Two Old Hippies’

guitar brand, which it is just about to

launch in the UK and Ireland.

This is a new acoustic guitar venture

which has gained considerable interest in

its native USA. Founded by a music

industry veteran, business

millionaire Tom Bedell, it has

already received extensive coverage

in Music Trades. To cut a long story

short, Bedell started in the guitar

trade in 1967, veered off to create a

$500-million fishing tackle business and

has now returned to his first love

with two new guitar lines: Bedell

(they will range in price from

around £600 to £2,000) and

Great Divide (£200 to £600).

Both are Chinese

manufactured, but noises

emanating from the USA say

that both the instrument lines

and the innovative marketing

being employed by the company

are creating significant interest.

“It moves away from being just Aria. ‘AriaDistribution: leading MI products’ better reflects

what we are today.Martin HartwellAria Distribution

What’s in a nameThough it hasn't shouted the news from the rooftops, Aria has been undergoing some evolutionary changes in the way it

operates in the UK and recently changed its name – it’s now Aria Distribution. Martin Hartwell explains the shift of

emphasis to Gary Cooper and trails two important new lines...

The Aria Distribution team,

with Tom Bedell (third from

left) and Martin Hartwell

(third from right)

“We spotted what was happening with the Two Old

Hippies brand last year. It breaks into three parts – the

Two Old Hippies store in Aspen, Colorado and then the

wider two brands – Great Divide and Bedell. We met

them at January NAMM, we’ve kept in touch since and

then at Messe we concluded everything. What appeals

is not just Tom Bedell’s background, but the effort that

they’re putting in – particularly in terms of marketing.”

The latter includes some daring stuff, particularly

TOH advertising in Forbes and Rolling Stone, appealing

to a wealthy potential market that might be wanting a

nice guitar, but won’t be reading Guitar Player. Hartwell

admits that a similar approach to advertising in the UK

might be beyond his reach, but understands the idea

behind it. All the same, some might still be thinking

‘just what I need – another acoustic line’. So what

makes Hartwell and his team think TOH can succeed in

such an overcrowded market?

“It's the brand’s strength that we will benefit from.

They have a fantastic team in China, including Jeff

Moore, who is an industry veteran and has worked for

people including Fender, and Dan Mills, who was

involved with George Gruhn for a long while.

They’ve gone from a standing start to half

their target dealers in the USA already and

have five distributors on board. Tom Bedell

spent four days with us recently and the UK

dealers I took him to received us really well.”

If habitual MI cynicism might be some people’s

reaction to another acoustic guitar line, what about

guitar bags? Last year Aria signed-up with a new

instrument bag brand, Fusion. This not only proved to

be a success, but has taken Aria into new territories,

such as brass and woodwind retailers, who were quick

to seize on Fusion’s extremely wide product range.

“The strength of Fusion is the depth of products –

bags for guitars, ukuleles, keyboards and DJs. It might be

unusual territory for us, but some brass players have

come out of the woodwork as a result. Our main

expertise may be in guitars, but we don't need great

expertise to sell gigbags for brass and woodwind. We

just need to know about the product, because we can

demonstrate its benefits just as well as we can to a

guitar dealer.”

Meanwhile, Aria itself is far from dormant, having

scored the winning goal with FIFA, introducing the

limited edition 2010 Gold Rush solid bodied travel

guitar and a host of other new models, including more

all-conquering ukuleles.

Hartwell and his small team have been putting a lot

of effort into consumer marketing their products too,

with a greatly expanded online presence.

“We’ve put quite a lot of effort into developing the

web 2.0 side of marketing,” he says. “It’s important

enough to make the effort and invest in it, but in

terms of return of investment, it’s a difficult area. How

much is coming through because of it? It might be

easier for a retailer to calculate, but it’s harder for

distributors. That said, I’m quite happy with the return

we’ve had for the level of investment into this kind of

marketing. Where you can tie all the marketing

together, that’s when you see the benefits. I think to

do it in isolation, it may be hard to see the benefit.”

The next 12 months will see how well Aria can

establish its new brands, as well as maintain the

impetus for its established lines. One thing seems

certain – despite a noticeable lack of ballyhoo, Aria

has been one of the UK’s more successful MI

businesses and it shows no signs of slowing down.

ARIA DISTRIBUTION: 01483 238720

ARIA DISTRIBUTION COMPANY PROFILE

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 21

The Fusion gigbag team at

Musikmesse this year

Though now might seem a strange

time to be launching an MI venture,

there’s a strain of business logic

that says a recession is the best point to

unveil new ideas. Of course, you need

great products and a strong sense of

what you are doing, but both of those

apply to a newcomer to our side of the

music industry (though not the music

industry as a whole) – The StageWorks

Gear Company.

StageWorks burst onto the scene just a

few weeks ago with a triple layer non-slip

mat for effects pedals - a simple idea, but

like many simple ideas, a clever one.

Many guitarists (not to mention

keyboard players these days) lug around a

patch of carpet to stop their pedals

skidding around the stage – not an ideal

solution – while a non-slip mat, is.

It turns out that this is just the first of

what is set to be a range of innovative

problem-solving products from this new,

British company.

So who is StageWorks Gear and what

are its plans? The company’s Matt

Chambers explained that it isn’t exactly a

stranger to the music scene.

“The focus of what we’re developing is

niche and unique solutions to common

problems faced by musicians, both live on

stage and in the studio.

“My background

has been in live

events and we are

constantly

involved with

professional

gigging and touring

musicians – working

musicians who spend a lot of

time on the road. My brother,

Rick Chambers, who’s the other

half of the StageWorks Gear

company, is a professional

drummer and he began to realise

that some of the simplest things

cause the biggest problems

for musicians.”

Additionally, the Chambers

brothers are also active in artist

management, with their own company

planning to launch three new acts this

year. So, not only does the company’s

team have a rock solid base in the music

industry from which to source ideas and

make sure they are needed, but it has the

business sense and experience to get new

products off the ground, develop them

and bring them to market.

“This first product, the StageWorks

non-slip mat, came about as the result of

a conversation with a friend of mine, the

producer Andy Murray, who’s also the

keyboard player for Ellie Brooks,”

Chambers explains. “He was complaining

because when you’re on tour these days,

you only have a finite amount of time to

get your rig set up and he was having to

use tons of gaffer tape to fix his pedals

to the floor. Then, if you need to move

your keyboard around, they’re stuck to

the floor. Similarly, on recording sessions,

he’d find that some of the studios have

got really expensive wood flooring and

they don’t want it ruined by tape.

“We started developing a product

from that and it went to three or four

prototypes as we worked out the best

combination of materials we could use.

When we looked into it, we realised

that it was a simple solution, but nobody

else was doing it. That then encouraged

us to look around and see what else we

could come up with that fulfilled a

similar function.”

Although their non-slip mats are just

starting to reach music shops now,

StageWorks Gear has its next idea almost

ready for launch, Chambers says.

“Our next product, which we’ve just

put on patent, is for drummers, to give

them access to a set of sticks if they

drop one while they’re playing. Again,

this came out of experience, when my

brother was on tour supporting the Irish

band, The Script. Their drummer was

keeping his sticks in a pair of DM boots

by the side of his kit. Again, there are

drum stick holders out there, but they’re

not very practical for use, particularly if

you’re in the middle of playing and drop

a stick. So that’s our next product and

there’s a load of other ideas and products

being developed beyond that. They’re all

developed out of necessity, to make

musicians’ lives a bit easier.”

Though the mats, which will retail at

£14.99 for a pack of two, are produced in

China, Chambers is insistent that as far

as possible, the company plans to make

as much as it can in the UK. Indeed, the

mats are packed here, into cartons that

are also made and printed in the UK. As

far as possible, it’s a philosophy they

intend to stick to, he says, despite

having his eyes firmly fixed on the

export market, which he believes could

“We started developing a product and it went tothree or four prototypes as we worked out the bestcombination of materials we could use. When we

looked into it, we realised that it was a simplesolution, but nobody else was doing it.

Matt ChambersJoint founder of StageWorks

Treading the boardsWe tend to cock a curious eyebrow whenever

someone decides to enter the MI manufacturing

fray, even more so in these troubled times.

Gary Cooper asks StageWorks Gear why it has

chosen now to come to market…

STAGEWORKS COMPANY PROFILE

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 23

be considerable.

At the moment, there is a degree of flexibility

about how the company’s products will be

distributed. The initial, direct-to-the-public launch

was via the Stageworksgear.com website, but

discussions are being held with a number of

interested UK distributors which are keen to add the

products to their ranges.

Which distributor to choose is difficult for a

newcomer. Based on the mats, the temptation might

be to go with a guitar-orientated firm – but would

they necessarily have the right contacts with drum

specialists as well?

“It is a bit difficult,” Chambers agrees. “In the

meantime, we already have quite a number of

dealers who are interested and we are very keen to

have a good retail base selling our products.

“We work on the philosophy that a lot of

musicians like to try before they buy. You buy some

stuff over the internet, unseen, but a lot of other

products you want to see and test before you

purchase them and we’re very keen to support music

shops – they’re a lifeline for a lot of musicians who

go to them to find out about new products and try

them out. Because of that, we’ve come up with

some special introductory deals for retailers.”

So MI Pro readers who are interested should

contact StageWorks direct?

“Absolutely. We can arrange supplies direct to

stores while we get distribution set up. We don’t

know who we’ll go with at the moment and it’s a

difficult choice – a smaller company appeals, as you

don’t get lost in their catalogue, but you also need

the coverage. We’re working closely with MI Pro on a

mail shot to dealers in Scotland and Ireland, for

example, where we can’t get to see them all

personally at this stage – so we’re exploring so many

options as we can. One of the issues is that a

product like the mats cross over into at least four

different areas – you have guitar pedals but also

electronic drums and keyboards.

“I think it’s possible that we may end-up with a

distributor who does some of the products and

maybe some of our own reps as well, but it’s too

early to say for sure yet.”

Already, Matt and Rick Chambers have the

products put on trial with professionals and are

starting to assemble useful quotes, which will be

used in advertising, he says.

“Robbie Williams’ pedal steel guitar player and

Ricky Wilde are just two, so far, who’ve been very

supportive and given us some great quotes to use.

Ricky, in particular, was saying how great they are,

especially when you’re flying around on tour and

you don’t have the time to have a big rig to get

assembled on stage. He says the mats are perfect

there, because you can just take them out of your

bag, put them on the floor, stick your pedals on

them and know they’re not going anywhere.

“Obviously, we’ll be using those quotes on our

website, but we also have a full programme of

consumer advertising for the rest of the year with all

the major magazines: Drummer, Rhythm, Guitarist,

Acoustic – it’s an expensive business, but if you’re

going to do it, you’ve got to do it properly.”

And finally, even better news for the retailer

whose customers take to the StageWorks mats: they

don’t last forever, so could well become a

consumable item, offering repeat business. Though

the company says they are sturdy enough for say,

two months full-scale professional touring, they will,

eventually, wear out and it’s not hard to imagine

them needing to be replaced due to losses.

New products, well packaged, nicely priced, with

easy to understand sales pitches are just what the

industry needs right now. So, if the mats really are

the beginning of a flow of similarly useful ideas, it

looks as if StageWorks might be here to stay, which

is good news for all kinds of musicians.

STAGEWORKS GEAR: 01438 730 540

COMPANY PROFILE STAGEWORKS

24 miPRO JULY 2010 WW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Matt Chambers, along with

his brother Rick, hopes to

establish their company as

an MI problem solver

PROFILE

I WOKE UPTHIS MORNING

Some time between seven and half

seven is when I’ll get up on a

normal day, and take the dog for

a walk. Then it’s a nice cup of coffee

when I get in, followed by a walk down

to Woolwich station, before catching a

train to London Bridge.

We’re attached on to Terminal

studios, so it’s always worth having a

look at who’s recording that week and

maybe heading down when someone

interesting is there. There are tie-ins as

well, because some of the artists might

be endorsing our bass strings, for

example. Then I’ll check my e-mails,

which takes a while because we supply

Brian May globally, meaning we’ll get

mail from places in different time

zones at all times of the day and night.

When that’s done, I’ll get on the phone

and start talking to all the UK dealers

and do a bit of selling.

We start at ten, but I’ll get there at

around quarter to, in order to open up

the office and warehouse. It might

seem later than most, but it is rock n

roll after all so no one’s up earlier than

that in our industry anyway. Although

we deal mostly in bass and guitar

related products, we do also deal with

violins and cellos, so there is a bit of

variety in there. We also do a lot of our

own brands, particularly bass and

strings. I spend a lot of time building

up relationships with dealers and

ensuring they have our products on the

wall as well.

Outside of work, I’m a huge football

fan. I hold season tickets for both

Tottenham and Leyton Orient. I am a

bigger supporter of the latter, but most

people will probably think that’s the

wrong way round. My wife is a

producer on Radio Five Live’s 606

phone-in show, so she’s also mad

about football. I’ve probably got the

only wife in the country who asks if we

can watch Match of the Day. I also do

a lot of DJing at cheesy discos,

weddings and those sorts of places. I

play a lot with bands as well.

I’ve always worked here, from back

when the Bass Centre, which we’re

joined on to, was based in Wapping,

but I spent a short period of time at

the Academy of Sound in Norwich. I

moved back to London just as it

became Sound Control and have been

here since.

I don’t have a set time when I get

home, because one of the many

benefits of being in London is there’s

always people wanting to go for a

quick drink or some other social

meeting after work, which means I

never get home at the same times

from one day top the next.

House Music’s Dean

Mitchell maintains a

subtle balance of MI

distribution and

football. What he

doesn’t know about

Brian May guitars

and ‘The Mighty Os’

isn’t worth knowing...

House Music – Sales manager

DEAN MITCHELL

www.daddario.co.uk/inkedWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

”I’ve got the onlywife in the countrywho asks if we canwatch Match ofthe Day.

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 29

COMBOS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

When thinking about how the

best guitarists achieve their

unique sound, the first thought

that springs to mind is the instrument

they use. If the most successful musicians

neglected the importance of their amps,

however, they would never have achieved

that full tone, shuddering power or

delicious effects that make up their ‘voice’.

Our April edition featured a section on

the best heads and cabs, so now it’s time

to see what’s in the combo market.

As well as being a series aimed at any

novice guitarist, Fender’s G-Dec 3 range

goes one step further by allowing players

to create and store their work and upload

to a PC, as easily as you would a digital

camera, for example.

Fender’s Super-Sonic 60, with its

enhanced bass response and ‘fatter’ tone,

incorporates long-spring reverb and a

professional effects loop with level

control. Its vintage channel contains pre-

gain tone controls and the burn channel

comes with post-gain eq and two-stage

cascading preamp controls.

Vast is a huge understatement when

describing the number of Marshall amp

products on the market, but the MG series

is certainly one worth highlighting.

Ranging from a compact 10-Watt model,

the MG series also features classic

Marshall styling and that unmistakable

overdrive that the British manufacturer

has become known for.

The JMD:1 range is a hybrid amp,

combining traditional valve technology

with the benefits of modern digital

gadgetry. Some 16 sounds from the rotary

preamp control are available through four

groups – clean, crunch, overdrive and lead.

The inclusion of ten entirely adjustable

effects, make this series worthy in any live

or studio situation.

A substantial selection of over 500

presets is on offer with the Spider IV 75

from Line 6. These include settings

perfected by a number of renowned artists

and several based on hugely popular

songs. Up to eight effects can be played at

once with the optional FBV MkII foot

controllers, including pitch glide, echoes,

tremolos, delays and more.

Another member of Line 6’s Spider

family is the Valve MkII. This 40-Watt

model is made up of two 12AX7 preamp

tubes and two 6L6 power tubes. An

expandable effects palette allows for a

great deal of experimentation, especially

with the added advanced effect routing

and adjustable boost function.

Roland still seems to come in under

the radar for many, but the company’s

Cube series fights its corener well,

particularly the smaller amp combos.

Its best seller in this field is the

Microcube. This funky little noise-maker

weighs just a few pounds and is about as

easy to transport as an amp can get.

Representing the middle of the Cube

range is the 20X. A Power Squeezer allows

for maximum sustain, even at lower

volume and acoustic simulation that first

appeared on the Boss AC-3. Its 20-Watt

output and onboard tuner makes it a step

up from the Microcube, but it remains in

an undoubtedly affordable price point.

Peavey has released its popular 6505

series for the first time as a 1x12 combo.

Aimed at the heavier market, this range is

claimed to function well, whether in clubs,

rehearsal rooms or studio settings.

Delivering 60 Watts, this new 6505

comes with a formidable set of features.

“If musiciansneglect the

importance of theamp, we will never

know theirsignature ‘voice’.

Another sector that remains fairly stable while others fluctuate radically, amp combos provide noise-making joy to

beginners and pros alike. Adam Savage has a look at what’s out there…

Led by the noise

Line 6 Spider IV £280.83

The Spider IV provides 75 Watts and a

1x12” Celestion custom speaker gives

some serious kick, as well as

sophisticated touch response, complex

distortions and a number of features

that are comparable to classic vintage

tube amps.

Fender G-Dec 3 15W £279.99

This 15-Watt model, loaded with

an eight-inch speaker, features an

onboard chromatic tuner and

phrase sampler, with overdub and

export functions. USB connectivity

allows for user programming and

audio recording output.

Marshall MG series £317

This solid-state lineup

includes models ideal for

beginners all the way up to

professionals and features

four customisable, storable

channels and various digital

effects, including reverb,

chorus, delay and flange.

Five 12AX7 preamp tubes and a couple of 6L6GCs, along with Peavey’s

Resonance control tweak provide the tonal foundations. The separate

channels for lead and rhythm provide an independent three-band eq. An

MSDI (microphone-simulated direct interface) allows users to direct the

signal straight to a recording device or mixing console.

Peavey 6505 1x12 £499

Six DSP effects, COSM amp modeling and a

digital tuning fork are all included in a package

that costs just under £100. The option of running it on battery power

enhances its practicality even further, which will appeal to those

wanting to have a quick jam in more unusual settings.

Roland Microcube £97.07

ANDY JOHNSPRODUCER/ENGINEERSELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

LED ZEPPELIN2, 3, 4, PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (ENGINEERED & MIXED)

THE ROLLING STONESSTICKY FINGERS, GOATS HEAD SOUP, EXILE ON MAIN STREET,

IT’S ONLY ROCK & ROLL (ENGINEERED & MIXED)

FREETONS OF SOBS, HIGHWAY, HEARTBREAKER, FREE LIVE

(PRODUCED, ENGINEERED & MIXED)

ERIC CLAPTONCROSSROADS (PRODUCED, ENGINEERED & MIXED)

VAN HALENFOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (PRODUCED, ENGINEERED & MIXED)

JOE SATRIANITHE EXTREMIST (PRODUCED, ENGINEERED & MIXED)

CHICKENFOOTCHICKENFOOT (PRODUCED, ENGINEERED & MIXED)

www.haydenamps.com

“ONE OF THE BEST GUITAR AMPS I’VE EVER RECORDED”

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 31

ACOUSITC GUITARS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

This collection of solid state combos

ranges from a compact ten-Watt

model with volume and eq control, up

to a 30-Watt version with twin input,

switchable lead and rhythm channels,

built in chorus, reverb and delay, as

well as an FX loop, all delivered

through two 12-inch speakers.

Kustom KG series From £59.99

Having been one of the amp giants for

over four decades, there is of course a

plethora of other Peavey products in this

category. The Vypyr 120 utilises 32-bit

floating point SHARC processors,

ensuring accurate likeness to the amp

emulations.

Debuting at this year’s JHS Event was

the new KG series from Kustom, which

encompasses a 10-Watt practice model

to a 30-Watt option.

The Kustom catalogue also features

the mightier Defender valve amp,

delivering 50 Watts of power and a

switch that enables users to select either

classic British or American tones. With a

12-inch speaker and Duo-Mod preamp

circuitry in an all-pine cabinet, the

Defender represents the higher end of

the Kustom scale.

Orange’s new Rockerverb II series,

which includes the 50-Watt 1x12 combo,

features several updates and changes to

the original Rockerverb range, including

enhanced reverb, FX loops and front

mounted controls.

Other combo offerings from Orange

include the Tiny Terror, which was hugely

popular in head form, the Rocker 30C,

with its 12-inch Celestion Vintage 30

loudspeaker and the AD30TC, a two-tone

channel switching amp that represents

the higher end models from this

particular manufacturer.

The Vox Valvetronix series has been

bolstered with the arrival of the VT range,

which features sounds that accurately

mimic that of numerous famous

guitarists. This selection of 22 models

ranges from high-gain types to boutique

and vintage amps and a variety of

effects, ensuring that multiple styles of

guitar playing are covered.

Another offering from Vox comes in

the form of the VR series. Whether tube

or solid-state, modern or old-school,

clean or dirty, this line is also one with a

wide target market. The AC30VR and

AC15VR also incorporate Valve Reactor

gadgetry and produce authentic and

satisfying tone.

Representing the higher end of the

scale is Mesa Boogie, which has the

Mark V combo, a unit that functions as

an all-in-one collection of amplifiers

from the company’s 40 year history.

Mesa’s Electradyne, like the Mark V, is

Simul-Class powered and features a

switch for easy changing between 45 and

90-Watt output.

An all-tube long spring reverb is

included, with auto reverb defeat switch,

for hi and lo mode selection.

The Electradyne offers the same

versatility of a multi-channel amp but

with single-channel simplicity

(achievable by a two-button footswitch

with three modes).

A completely transparent sound is

achieved via the new valve FX loop

and another addition is the middle

control function on the clean

channel. Reverb tone has also been

improved and this model comes

with two EL34 valves and front

mounted controls.

Orange Rockerverb II 50 £1,399

Four output choices are available,

as well as 66 presets, to help even

novice guitarists find a suitable

sound immediately. With

everything covered from entry-

level right through to units

suitable for professional stage and

studio scenarios, the VT series is

certainly a complete one.

Vox Valvetronix VT series £176

32 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Its 20-Watt output is certainly

enough to fulfill its requirements as

a small practice model. Equipped

with a 6.5” speaker, it also has a

three-band eq with mid sweep and

inputs for a CD or MP3 player.

Stagg MOB20 £183.95

Aria ZT Lunchbox £269

This is a contender for the highest

power to size ratio on the market, due

to all this noise coming from such a

small box, with its 6.5-inch speaker.

Ultra low latency circuitry suitable for

all styles and formidable frequency

range means there is more to this

combo than just immense grunt.

The first channel provides a clean to light

crunch gain range and the second is

capable of going from medium crunch all

the way up to full overdrive. A pair of both

EL34 and 6L6 valves are built in, the first of

which producing a warm, British sound and

the latter emitting a more American tone.

Hayden Speakeasy Combo £1,499

Mesa Mark V £2,699

From the pioneering Mark I, this

product offers nine built-in patents

and a footswitchable five-band

graphic eq. The Mark V includes

three fully independent channels

and a Simul-Class power amp with

Multi-Watt and Duo-Class

technology, all enclosed in a robust

aluminium chassis.

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT ACOUSITC GUITARS

BlackheartHandsome Devil £361

A dual power mode allows for

either seven or 15-Watt output

and separate master and level

controls mean plenty of tweaking

for those seeking the perfect

sound. This hand-built unit

includes a 16-gauge steel

chassis and 12-inch 1216B

Eminence speaker.

FENDER 01342 331700MARSHALL01908 375411PEAVEY01536 461234WESTSIDE (MESA BOOGIE)0141 248 4812JHS (KUSTOM)0113 286 5381KORG (VOX)01908 857100LINE 601327 302700BARNES & MULLINS01691 652449LOUD TECHNOLOGIES(BLACKHEART)01494 557398FREESTYLE (HIWATT) 01924 455414LANEY0121 508 6666ORANGE020 8905 2828ROLAND01792 702701EMD (STAGG)01293 862612HAYDEN01245 441155ARIA (PIGNOSE, ZT)01483 238720

The wonderfully branded Blackheart

range has the Handsome Devil combo,

also available as a compact head. This

amp emits a vintage tone, not unlike the

old classic models from the 1960s.

It’s younger brother, the Little Giant

may be only a five-Watt amp, but it still

packs a punch, as its name suggests. A

combo consisting of an EL84 power tube

and three band eq, results in a product

that offers excellent output options and a

range of tone up to a shuddering

overdrive, for those that way inclined.

The versatility that has been the basis

for Hiwatt’s success is evident with the

G50 CMR. This twin channel model now

includes a variety of switching tones,

from classic and modern styles.

Next is the Hi-Gain SER 50W. This

combo blends the old with the new,

based on the custom DR series and

including a new Hi-gain channel. It also

features Accutronics reverb, FX loop and a

variety of settings on the clean channel,

similar to those on the custom series.

Laney’s LC30-112 offers great tonal

flexibility with gain and drive controls on

each channel, along with independent

equalisation and a switchable spring

reverb. The LC30-112 is also fitted with

premium ECC83 preamp valves and EL84s

for the output and delivers 30 Watts of

punchy, tone-drenched sound.

Laney’s Cub 12R provides half the

power of the LC30, but for half the price.

Three ECC83 preamp valves and two

EL84s in the output stage help create

British tone when pushed to the limit.

A good choice for those who want a

standard amp without all the bells and

whistles that are unnecessary to some, is

the Stagg 60 GA R. Featuring a clean and

overdrive channel with separate volume

controls, this 60-Watt combo includes a

three-band eq, effects loop and spring

reverb, with the option of DSP effects for

a little extra cost.

The MOB20 is one that Stagg describes

as a busker’s amp, due to its portability

and onboard 12 Volt battery. The rest of

Stagg’s offerings consist of amps for

basses, keyboards and electric drum kits,

all falling in the £100 to £150 bracket.

Many will remember the Pignose P7

100, which was famous for being small

enough to fit, actual size, on a magazine

advert page. It’s now been re-released

through Aria distribution, in its iconic

brown pigskin tolex attire. Like the

Microcube, it can operate on either mains

power or via batteries and includes strap

buttons and an internal lead storage

feature. The Hog 20 and 30-Watt models

are also available from Pignose, with their

rechargeable battery power sources.

Also obtainable through Aria is the

staggering ZT 200-Watt ZT-Lunchbox

combo, which can deliver almighty power

through its 6.5-inch speaker.

The Speakeasy Combo from Ashdown’s

sister company Hayden is a 50-Watt two

channel valve model with a 12” Eminence

Governor Red Coat driver.

Hayden also has the Peacemaker, a

hand wired amplifier that provides Class A

tone at an affordable price. Modern

specifications are featured along with its

vintage style, including reverb, digital

chorus and effects loop and a four-way

footswitch is even thrown in as standard.

CONTACTS

A 1x12” high performance speaker

can be added to with the new

extension output and there is an

optional footswitch for channel and

reverb. Also, at a snip over 200 quid,

the price will appeal more to the

masses than high-end guitarists.

Hiwatt G50 CMR £204.95

With a 12-inch Celestion driver, it

produces vintage valve tone and

high quality reverb. The <1W input

socket also allows the guitarist to

drive the amp to extreme levels

with heaps of compression, due to

the 0.75-Watt output available

from this setting.

Laney CUB 12R £279.95

CASIO Electronic Musical Instruments

To experience the innovative and true expressiveness of Casio’s new pianos, visit www.casiomusic.co.uk

Or call 0208 208 7826 for your nearest stockist.

The model shown is the elegant AP-420. The Celviano range starts at £769.99

www.casiomusic.co.uk

With an outstanding heritage of musical instruments, the Celviano range from Casio

offers an authentic playing experience with a classic, inspired appearance. With

remarkable sound quality, 88 keys, authentic AiF sound source and hammer action

keyboard that replicates the true feel of an acoustic instrument, let the magnificent

sound of the Celviano range fill you with classical inspiration.

Celebrating 30 Years

of Musical Instruments

YE

A

R WARRAN

TY

Smart. Sweet. Powerful.

The new

TLM 102

Georg Neumann GmbH • Ollenhauerstraße 98 • 13403 Berlin • Germany

www.neumann.com

m.i.p.a. Award 2010 Tech Award 2010 KEYS Award 2010

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 37

STUDIO MICS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

Sometimes plagiarism is simply

unavoidable, thus, it is a truth

universally acknowledged that when

there is a job to be done in the studio or

on the stage, there is a microphone for

that job – and no single microphone can

be married to all applications.

For decades now, studio boffins have

been collecting microphones – dozens of

them, each filling different roles within the

recording process. However, in this age of

almost unlimited access to recording

technology, there are a lot of keen

amateurs out there somewhat confused by

the sheer variety of choice, ranging from

several thousands of pounds to a few quid.

As with most things relating to MI

manufacturing, price is becoming less of an

issue for those that fall within the

‘hobbyist’ category, as Far Eastern

production brings ever increasing levels of

quality for the sort of money that would

have bought you a virtually unusable mic

from Woolworths 30 years ago (not that

there is any such thing as an unusable mic

– another truth universally acknowledged).

The budget-priced mics available to the

end user are plentiful, so apologies for the

lack of space in this article. Here’s our run-

down of items of note…

Superlux was one of the first names to

be associated with keenly priced studio

mics and today the £99 CM-H8A offers a

large diaphragm condenser microphone

solution with studio optimised cardioid

patterns and ‘super buffered’ ultra-low

noise electronics. A step down from this is

the CMH8K/HUO pencil condenser mic

set, which offers no less than three

capsules, set with omni, super cardioid, and

uni direction for a mere £88.

Stagg offers a wide range of affordable,

quality microphones for the studio, with

some rugged enough for live situations. In

the CM series there is the CM5050, a

cardioid condenser for ambient recording,

great for overheads and cymbals (£33) and

the CM5060 – a hypercardioid condenser

ideal for drums (£38). Also the CM7050, a

cardioid condenser all rounder (£61).

Continuing the PGT series is the PGT70,

a cardioid condenser with 10dB pad, low

cut filter switch and shock mount. Ideal for

most applications (£86).

Sontronics has a bewildering array of

top quality studio mics that not only begin

at surprisingly budget prices, but maintain

incredible value right the way up its range.

The Saturn, which was launched at the

NAMM Show in January is a good case in

point. For a mere £699 there is as much

quality as many users will ever need. A

genuine, pro level mic, designed in

collaboration with producers, those extra

months of saving will be well worth it.

On top of that, there are the STC-10 (a

cardioid condensor for under £100), the

STC-1 (an instrument condensor, again

under £100) and the STC-80 – a vocal mic

that is also rugged enough for live

applications – and again, less than a ton.

Shure’s PG studio mics are also

available as XLR versions, but beyond that

the Shure X2U adapter is a modular

accessory that connects any XLR mic to a

“For decades now,studio boffins have

been collectingmicrophones –

dozens of them,each filling

different roleswithin the

recording process.

With state of the art microphone technology reaching ever more widespread corners of the manufacturing world, there

has never been a better time to build up a good mic collection. Prices are getting lower, discovers Andy Barrett, but the

quality is holding fast. It’s good news for home studios and dealers alike…

Budget report

Behringer C-1 condenser mics£45

The C-1 Condenser Mic is an affordable,

high-quality studio tool. Thanks to its

cardioid (heart-shaped) pattern, the C-1

microphone picks up your source signal,

while rejecting off-axis sounds that can

ruin an otherwise perfect recording.

With its excellent transducer and gold-

plated XLR output, the C-1 is very

neutral sounding and truly delivers on

the promise of noise-free transmission.

A die-cast body, foam-padded carrying

case and a swivel stand mount round

off a neat package..

Audio Technica AT 2050£219

The versatile AT 2050 provides

consistent performance in

switchable cardioid,

omnidirectional and figure-of-eight

polar pattern settings. Its dual large

diaphragms are gold-vaporised and

aged to achieve optimum

characteristics over years of use.

Equipped with a switchable 80Hz

high-pass filter and 10dB pad, the

microphone is ideal for studio and

live sound use on vocals, piano,

strings, drum overheads, guitar

amps, and more.

JTS JS-1 £160.00

The JTS JS-1 is a studio mic designed

for use in the most demanding

applications. A specially contoured 1”

super thin 24K gold plated diaphragm

provides clear reproduction of all

frequencies, even at high sound

pressure level signals. A switchable

10dB pad is built-in to increase the SPL

capabilities. It’s precise resolution and

ability to handle high sound-pressure

levels makes it an excellent all-purpose

microphone. Included with the JS-1 is a

versatile shock-mount with standard

5/8”-27 threads and is supplied in a

plastic padded flight case.

The TLM 102 defines a new

generation of Neumann studio

microphones. This applies not only to

the design of the microphone, but

also to the price. In the interior is a

newly developed large-diaphragm

capsule (cardioid) with a max sound

pressure level of 144dB, which

permits the recording of percussion,

drums, amps and other very loud

sound sources. Instruments that are

not especially loud also benefit from

the very fast transient response of

the TLM 102.

Neumann TLM102£599.99

A very cool, well priced studio unit

from an unexpected source, the

Peavey M2 condensor has a one-

inch diaphragm with gold-plated

membrane, three directional

characteristics (omni, cardioid or

figure-8), low frequency attenuation

switch, -10dB pad and a frequency

response of 30Hz to 20kHz. Topped

off with a carrying case and stand

mount included, with a shock mount

available, this pro level mic ticks a

lot of boxes.

Peavey Studio Pro M2 £349

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 39

STUDIO MICS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT

This complete set of drum microphones is

ideal for recording, although they can be used

for live applications, too. The set is composed

of a kick drum mic (designed to withstand

very high input signals), four super cardioids

for various percussion instruments and two

wide range condensers for cymbals. All the

mics are unidirectional and the pack ships

with relevant mic stands (including a rim clip)

and an aluminium flight case.

QTX Sound drum mic set£229.99

computer, creating CD quality recordings. The X2U is

styled to Shure’s SM57 and SM58 mics and can be

used for live, as well as studios.

The Sennheiser e914 is a high grade condenser

microphone for demanding applications. Its sound

properties qualify the e914 for sophisticated tasks

and the German manufracturer touts it as a perfect

microphone for ambitious recordings.

Its main areas of application are acoustic guitars,

cymbals, percussion, overhead, orchestras and grand

pianos. The super-cardioid e606 instrument mic has

been specially shaped for miking guitar cabs

extremely close to the signal source.

sE Electronics’ studio range is pretty much second

to none, offering everything for the budget market,

right up to the latest ribbon mic, designed with

Rupert Neve (the RNR-1). Budget prices begin at

around £100 with mics such as the sE1a, which

comes as a balanced stereo pair, retaining the same

capsule as the sE1, but utilising new, super-quiet

electronics, housed in a restyled chassis. Great for

drums, pianos, and acoustic stringed instruments. The

sE X1 is a dangerous mic to search for online, but

once qualified with the word ‘mic’, you should avoid

any surprises. The sE X1 is the latest addition to the

entry level range of sE microphones, produced with

one thing in mind: to outperform every other mic on

the market in its price category and then some.

Samson is another expert in this area and the CL7

has broken a lot of expectations at this price. Like the

finest studio mics the CL7 has a true capacitor

condenser mic element, making it warmer, brighter

and bigger sounding than electret-based elements.

The CL7 features a large, 1.1-inch, ultra thin

diaphragm capsule that reproduces a variety of

sound sources from vocals and acoustic instruments

to overhead cymbals. Samson has a whole range of

studio mics worth a look, including the CO1, CO3,

Q6CL, Q4CL, R21 and R21S.

The Røde K2, at £599 might not be quite ‘budget’

but you get a lot of bang for very little comparative

buck. The Røde K2 is the result of years of designing

and building valve microphones. Its HF-1 capsule

combines modern high-end specs with the character

and subtleties of legendary 50s mics. Variable control

of the K2’s polar patterns provides the freedom and

flexibility for any recording situation.

QTX Sound has the miniature cardioid condenser

mic twin pack with a unidirectional, cardioid

condenser, wide frequency response, 10dB attenuator

for operation at high SPLs and a bass roll off switch.

Their compact dimensions and high sensitivity makes

them ideal for many applications, ranging from

overhead drum mics to discrete use in conference

and interview situations.

Peavey has some exceptional studio mics, ranging

up to the Studio Pro M2 (above). There are also the

CM-1 and the M1 (£119 and £239 respectively). The

CM-1 is a back-electret condenser microphone with

simulated electronic tube response. It has a cardioid

unidirectional polar pattern, a frequency response of

50Hz to 16kHz and a max SPL of 136dB.

A step up from here is the M1 professional studio

recording microphone, featuring a one-inch

Touted as the ‘world's quietest studio condenser, the Røde

NT1-A has become as widely used as any in the business,

delivering the warmth, extended dynamic range, clarity and

high SPL capability. Now available as the ‘complete vocal

recording solution’ the NT1-A package now includes

everything the user needs for quality vocal recordings. The

pack adds a pop shield, shock mount, a premium 20-foot

cable, dust cover, instructional DVD with recording tips, and

Røde’s unmatchable ten-year warranty.

Røde NT1-A £195

With omni-directional, cardioid and figure-of-eight

patterns, as well as a 10dB cut/boost function, Orpheus

is the perfect choice for any studio or live application.

Its low self-noise and unmistakable presence allow you

to record the subtlest of instruments or voices without

the need to edit after.

The highly sensitive 35mm dual-diaphragm capsule is

suspended in its own special mount, almost floating in

the large, spherical basket.

Sontronics Orpheus£329

40 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Stagg PGTV90£289

Stagg, as ever, opens the door for the

most cash strapped hopefuls to get in

on the act and the PGTV90 cardioid

tube mic is no exception. The mic

comes with its own power supply,

shock mount and flight case and is

perfect for those looking to get into

producing recordings with a classic

valve mic tone.

sE 2000 large diaphragm cardioid£2,699

The sE 2000 utilises a one-inch, centre terminated, gold

sputtered mylar diaphragm capsule in conjunction with

low noise Class A, FET circuitry and a transformer

balanced output stage. It features a wide frequency

response with a subtle presence lift and is suitable for

recording studio vocals as well as most acoustic

instruments. All sE microphones are closely matched,

making them good for stereo applications.

SECTOR SPOTLIGHT STUDIO MICS AUDIO TECHNICA 0113 277 1441KORG (BEHRINGER/SAMSON)01908 857100PROEL (JTS) 020 8761 9911SENNHEISER (NEUMANN)01494 551551PEAVEY 01536 461234AVSL (QTX SOUND) 0845 270 2411SOURCE DISTRIBUTION (RØDE)020 8962 5080SONIC DISTRIBUTION (SE ELECTRONICS) 01582 470260SHURE 01992 703058TIME+SPACE (SONTRONICS)01837 55200EMD (STAGG) 01293 862612SCV LONDON (SUPERLUX) 020 8418 1470MUSICTRACK (MXL) 01767 313447SOUND TECHNOLOGY (AKG)01462 480000

diaphragm with gold-plated membrane,

condenser, cardioid pattern, low frequency

attenuation switch, -10dB pad and a

frequency response of 30Hz to 20kHz.

The MXL 2010 (£171) claims to be

perfect in a home studio for both vocals

and instruments. What makes the 2010 so

versatile is MXL’s multi-pattern design with

omni, cardioid, and figure-8 polar patterns.

It also includes a -10dB attenuation switch

for high sound pressure levels, so it's also

excellent for drum overheads or guitar

amps. A shockmount, windscreen and

three-year warranty round off the package.

The Proel-supplied JS-1E from JTS is an

economic version of the JS-1 (above). The

capsule and body is the same as the JS-1,

but it does not have the pad and low cut

function switches. It also skips the spider

type shock mount, but there is a handy

connection bracket, for easy mounting.

The JS-1T is a multi-pattern studio

microphone with three selectable polar

patterns: cardioid, omnidirectional and

figure-8, good enough for vocals, acoustic

instruments and drum kits for live or studio.

A specially contoured super thin 24K gold

plated diaphragm delivers real transparency

from 20Hz to 20kHz and handles high

sound pressure level.

Understanding that tube mics can wipe

out a home-recording budget faster than

you can say ‘phantom power supply’,

Behringer introduced the T-1 and T-47

microphones. These mics represent

considerable value for a studio-grade, tube-

powered condenser mic.

Furthermore, the B-5 single diaphragm

condenser comes with interchangeable

cardioid and omnidirectional capsules,

making it a fantastic all-purpose mic,

capturing sounds with realism, sensitivity

and accuracy, particularly for acoustic

instruments, vocals and overhead micing.

Audio-Technica’s 20 series comprises

live and studio microphones priced

between £99 and £219, with highlights

(aside from AT2050 above) including the

AT2020 USB, a side-address studio

condenser with USB digital output. With

low self-noise, the AT2020 USB is suited for

sophisticated digital recording equipment.

The AT2035 is designed for home, project

and pro studio applications and live

performance. This large-diaphragm

condenser delivers detail and low noise.

The Pro series offers a comprehensive

offering of 12 dynamic and condenser

microphones for stage and studio use,

priced between £55 and £179. Highlights

include the Pro 37 small-diaphragm

cardioid condenser and the Pro 61 – the

Pro series’ premier vocal microphone.

The Midnight Blues range includes the

popular MB/DK5 (£185) and MB/DK7

(£365) drum microphone packages,

allowing budding drum stars an easy ‘all-in-

one’ solution to drum-miking.

AKG is well known for its ultra-high-end

studio mics – models that sit comfortably

alongside Neumann and other prestige

studio brands. The Austrian manufacturer

does, however, have an exciting range of

budget mics under the Blue Line moniker.

The AKG Blue Line series is a modular

system that offers some eight different

capsules for various recording functions.

There are six different capsules that all

function on the SE 300 B transformerless

powering/output module. These are the

C391, a cardioid condensator, the CK91, a

cardioid, the CK92 omni, the CK93

hypercardioid, the CK94 figure-eight and

the CK98 shotgun.

CONTACTS

A ribbon microphone with figure-8

pattern, mounting bracket and

cable, the R102 is an active

aluminum ribbon microphone

designed specifically for recording.

It features the high sensitivity of a

condenser microphone, yet exhibits

the smoother frequency response

and excellent transient response of

a ribbon microphone. The speed

response of a ribbon mic is optimal

among all types of microphones.

Superlux R102 ribbon mic £135

The Q7 dynamic mic brings a high level of accuracy

to vocal miking applications thanks to its low mass,

neodymium element. The Q7 is a handheld, dynamic

that works for both recording and live performance

applications. Equipped with a linear frequency

response for superior reproduction, it is also designed

to withstand high sound pressure levels.

The mic employs a tight supercardioid pattern to

reduce feedback and effectively reject signals not

originating directly in front of the capsule and a

special shockmounted element also minimises

handling noise and provides additional protection.

Samson Q7 dynamics £91

Shure PG 42 & 27£311 & £240

The PG27USB and PG42USB

microphones connect

professional standard Shure

microphones to any USB port

with “Plug and Play”, meaning

digital recording can be

completed anywhere with a PC

or laptop. Ideal for multi-track

recording, the cardioid

condenser microphones feature

built-in headphone monitoring

with zero latency and monitor

mix control.

Exclusively distributed in the UK & Ireland by Source • www.sourcedistribution.co.uk/rode • T: 020 8962 5080

There was a time when a truly great microphone cost an unreal amount ofmoney. Then came Røde, and no-one could believe how a range ofmicrophones that performed so well could cost so little.

Today, discerning producers, engineers and recording musicians chooseRøde not just because they’re great mics for the money,

but because they’re great mics – period.

Discover more about Røde microphones at www.rodemic.com

It’s your route to a great recording.

The route to agreat recording

PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

BAR SPONSOR

AFTER SHOW SPONSOR

DEALER DELEGATES:

Absolute Music Solutions LtdAckerman Music Advance Music limitedAllegro MusicAmazonArgosBaird Sound Systems LtdBalaam’s Music Bass GearBecketts Music Bonners Music SuperstoreBrittens MusicBruce MillersCC MusicChamberlain MusicChappell of Bond Street Chas FouldsCity MusicCliff Owen MusicCODA MusicColbecksCompton PianosConnevans Cookes Band Instruments County Music Supplies Ltd

Dawkes MusicDawsonsDigital Village - Music VillageEducation DivisionDolphin Enterprises Europe LtdDolphin MusicDouglas TelfordDuck Son & Pinker Duke of UkeEast Coast Musicebgb MusicEric Furze Guitar & SonEric Lindsey MusicEuromusic LtdFoote’s LtdGamlins Music Centre/Euro MusicGardonyi’s LtdGear4MusicGigbags in City MusicGreensleeves Guitar VillageHard To Find RecordsHarmonics MusicHeybrook MusicHogan MusicHolmes MusicHW Audio

idrums.co.ukimuso.co.ukJ.G. Windows JBS MusicJG WindowsJohn Packer Keyboard KavernKnock on Wood London PA Centre Mann’s MusicMarkson Pianos McCormacks Mickleburgh Millers Music Centre Minim MusicMOR MUSICMusic RoomMusic StationMusicians CentreMusicland UK Morlings NevadaNewcastle Drum CentreNewtonsNormansNorthern Music OnlineOne Man Band

Park MusicPlay Away GuitarsProduction RoomPromenade MusicPurple Turtle Music Red Submarine Limited - Gear4MusicRimmers Music LtdRock And Roll Music RockboxRocktronic Music StoresRosehill InstrumentsSharon MusicSheehan’sSheet Music Hound Sounds of FromeSoundsLive.co.ukStageBeatSymphony Music & TechnologyCentreThe Music StopThe Music Trading CompanyTiverton Music ShopTower Music Trago MillsUmbrella MusicVivace PianosWembley Drum/Guitar/PA

The MI Retail Conference & Expo is supported by the UK’s two main buying groups

10:30 – Coffee/Registration

11:00 – Conference

13:00-14:00 – Lunch

13:00-18:00 – ExpoExclusive meetingopportunities for EventPartners and over 100 of the UK’s leading dealers

14:00-18:00 – Cash barSponsor: Numark Alesis Akai

18:00-23:00 – After ShowParty Sponsored by Roland,featuring The Fabulous Beatlesat the Parker McMillan bar

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:11:00 – Introduction Stuart Dinsey, MI Pro11:02 – Welcome Cordelia von Gymnich,Musikmesse11:10 – Where We’re At, WhereWe’re GoingMatt Gibbs, GfKExclusive data from the marketresearch specialist.11:25 – Reverberations (Panelsession)Chairman: Andy Barrett, MI Pro.Panelists: Noel Sheehan,Sheehan’s; Simon Gilson, PMT;Dennis Drumm, JHS & Co; JuliaThompson, FCN Music.What have we learned from thecollapse of Sound Control,Reverb and others?11:50 – What Has The MIA EverDone For Us?Paul McManus, MIA

12:10 – Music For AllTim Walter, RolandThe industry charity’s ThreeMen on a Bike initiative.12:15 – Online Selling: Threat orOpportunity? (Panel session)Chairman: Peter Heath, RolandPanelists: Katy Watson-Cave,Dolphin; David Briggs, Dawsons;Harvey Roberts, Audio Technica;Paul Marshall, Marshall.The single biggest shift in the MIretail landscape comes underthe spotlight.12:40 – Music MattersBilly BraggThe legendary singer, songwriterand campaigner talks about theimportance of music and therole of retailers across allaspects of the community – andupdates us on his Jail GuitarDoors project.

1. GATOR

TSA GUITAR CASES FROM

£109.95They say: Military-grade proteciton taking

cases to the next level.

For: Guitarists, bassists

Range: Gator cases

Spec: Available for standard electric and

bass guitars, classical guitars and 335-style

guitars. Polyethylene outer, black powder-

coated valance and hardware, surface-

mounted impact diversion latch, neck

cradle, crushed velvet plush interior,

universal fit EPS protective foam open

cavity design.

From: Freestyle 01924 455414

2. KAM

KAMSTANDS FROM £24.95They say: From a name you can

trust, a whole range of stands and

accessories designed for all

performers..

For: Live & studio

Range: Kamstands

Spec: Stands for microphones,

speakers, guitars, keyboards,

instruments, sheet music, studios,

lighting and truss. Steel and

steel/ABS construction.

From: Lamba 01582 690600

NEW PRODUCTSACCESSORIES � BACKLINE � BASS & GUITAR � DRUMS � PRINT

4. RYCOTE

INVISION USM SHOCK MOUNT

£74.95They say: A 21st-century alternative to

elasticated suspensions.

For: Studios

Range: Rycote mic accessories

Spec: U-shape Lyre suspension mount, fits

mics from 18mm to 55mm diameter (incl

flat-sided and tapered models), virtually

unbreakable Hytrel construction, no elastic

or rubber.

From: Rycote 01223 700614

5. SHUBB

LITE CAPO £25.99They say: Shubb has sold over a

million capos over the years – and for

good reason.

For: Guitarists

Range: Shubb capos

Spec: New lightweight ‘aerospace

quality’ aluminium construction, nickel

plated, available for nylon (SHL2) and

steel-strung (SHL1) guitars, rubber string

hold, threaded grip.

From: JHS 0113 286 5381

NEW PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES

6. TC ELECTRONIC

POLY TUNE TUNER £75They say: Are you still tuning one

string at a time?

For: Guitarists, bassists

Range: TC Electronic floor pedals

Spec: World's first polyphonic tuner,

strum all strings and LED display

indicates which are out of tune,

dropped tunings from Eb to B,

ambient light sensor

automatically adjusts LED brightness,

chromatic tuner mode (when single

string is picked).

From: TC Electronic 0800 917 8926

ACCESSORY SPOTLIGHT

FUSION

F4 SERIES UKULELE GIGBAGS

FROM £18They say: A far cry from just a gigbag.

For: Ukulele players

Range: Fusion gigbags

Spec:The Fusion F4 ukulele series is as

tough and robust as gigbags come,

specially designed to protect these

vulnerable instruments, while remaining

lightweight for ease of portability.

10mm, high-density foam padding is at

the core of the design, with plush nylon,

Fusion-embossed, non-scratch inner

texture for a snug, soft and safe fit.

For protection against the elements,

the Fusion F4 ukulele series has a

durable Fusion branded outer material

of hardwearing polyester with two

roomy external accessory pockets.

The inverted zips have ergonomic

rubber zip pulls to avoid scratching the

instrument, while adjustable back

straps and a side-grip carry handle,

makes light work of transporting your

favourite ukulele.

Three in the range: Soprano (£18),

Concert (£19), Tenor (£20), Baritone

(£22). Available in: black/blue,

black/orange or black/grey.

From: Aria 01483 238720

1

3

3. REUNION BLUES

CONTINENTAL TRIPLE TRUMPET

CASE £179.50They say: Blending sleek, modern design

with the best in trumpet protection.

For: Trumpeters

Range: Reunion Blues instrument cases

Spec: One-inch thick shock-absorbing

'Flexoskeleton' exterior, knurled abrasion

grid on bottom, wide-mouth lid, roomy

interior, double helix velvet lining, high-

strength corded edges, Zero-G palm-

contoured handle.

From: Summerfield 0191 414 9001

2

6

4

5

44 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

‘Playing’ Live is so much more than just launching clips.

Find out how 64 buttons can put Ableton completely at your fi ngertips, visit:

www.novationmusic.com/launchpad

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 45

BACKLINE NEW PRODUCTS

1. DIGITECH

JAM MAN DELAY LOOPER

£389They say: Attributes never-before-

offered by stage-ready, individually

controlled loopers.

For: Guitarists

Range: Digitech effects pedals

Spec: 16 seconds of stereo delay time,

tap tempo footswitch, expression pedal

input, eight delay types, three

programmable presets, USB conneciton,

downloadable Jam Manager looper

librarian software, custom loop Jam

Lists for live recall.

From: Sound Technology

01462 480000

2. PALMER

3-EASY THREE-WAY

ROUTER £TBCThey say: An economy version of

the Triage router, guaranteed to

leave an impression.

For: Guitarists, live applications

Range: Palmer routers

Spec: Switches input signal

between three outputs, steps up

9V power supply to 30V, silent

switching, I/O set to unity gain, lo-

Z out, outputs 1 & 2 floating and

isolated, output 3 non-isolated,

discrete Class A FET input amp is

similar to the input stage of a hi-Z

tube amplifier.

From: Adam Hall 01702 613922

3. PROVIDENCE

STOMP BOXES $POAThey say: Used by such notable artists as

Gus G of the Ozzy Osbourne Band and

Robben Ford.

For: Guitarists

Range: Providence pedals

Spec: Models in range include: ADC-3

Anadime chorus, FBT-1 Final booster,

HBL-2 Heat Blaster distortion, PHF-1

Phase Force, SDR-4 Sonic Drive

overdrive, SOV-2 Stampede overdrive,

VLC-1 Velvet compressor.

From: Godlyke +1 973 777 7477

4. TC ELECTRONIC

NDR-1 NOVA DRIVE £219They say: Guitarists everywhere, start

your engines, because your tone is about

to take a new turn.

For: Guitarists

Range: TC effects

Spec: Dual engine, digitally controllable,

true bypass overdrive & distortion unit,

overdrive/dry mix, distortion with two-

band eq, each channel stackable or

parallel function.

From: TC Electronic 0800 917 8926

1. FRAMUS

DIABLO 7-STRING ELECTRIC

£1,879They say: More headroom with powerful,

full-bodied, yet clean distinguishable low-

end frequencies.

For: Guitarists

Range: Framus electrics

Spec: Arched mahogany body, maple bolt-

on neck, rosewood fingerboard, Seymour

Duncan Blackouts Phase I pickups (AHB-

1N 7, neck; AHB-1B 7, bridge), Framus

locking machine heads, TonePros tune-o-

matic bridge. Available as leftie and in

variety of finishes.

From: Warwick +49 0374 225550

SPOTLIGHT GUITAR

FRET KING

COUNTRY SQUIRE

EVOCATION £POAThey say: Fret King’s new Stvdio

series designed by Trev Wilkinson to

evoke historic guitars.

For: Guitarists

Range: Fret King Stvdio series

Spec: Swamp ash body in see-through

blonde maple rosewood, custom Fret

King double pole mini humbucker

with vari-coil option, shallow C-profile

neck, rosewood fingerboard, Wilkinson

WT3 bridge.

Wilkinson takes up the story:

“Quite what influence the original

Paul Bigsby guitar, built for Merle

Travis, had on Leo Fender is anyone's

guess, but my feelings are it was quite

profound. They were certainly aware

of each others efforts in the fledgling

industry we find ourselves in today.

“Les Paul, Leo Fender and Paul

Bigsby would hang out together. They

were actually drinking buddies and

would just ‘hang out’ at Paul's house.

“One day, Travis asked Bigsby to

make a special guitar that was solid,

but could sustain like a steel guitar

and could be easily tuned.

“Travis sketched out a design.

Before you know it there was an

instrument with six-on-a-side tuning

heads and a solid body and that was

probably the first production solid

body electric guitar.

“I personally feel that the head

stock was influenced by a much

earlier design found on an acoustic

guitar built by J Stauffer, who,

coincidentally, was the guitar

builder that CF Martin was

apprenticed to in 1811.

“Looking at this head stock you can

see the Tele and Strat influences later

popularised by Fender.

“Whatever happened, I think the

Merle Travis guitar was more a piece

of art than just a guitar.

Embellishments and design ideas from

another time, all in all a very cool

guitar. How I wish I'd have been a

drinking buddy of theirs too.”

From: JHS 0113 286 5381

1

6

“What influencePaul Bigsby had

on Leo Fender isanyone’s guess.

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 47

BASS & GUITAR NEW PRODUCTS

6. MADAROZZO

ELECTRIC GUITARS &

BASSES £TBCThey say: After well over two years

of product development the

Madarozzo Guitar project is right

on track.

For: Guitarists

Range: New range

Spec: Proprietary ‘advanced guitar

architechture’, custom designed

and manufactured hardware, two

models in range: Madrose guitar

and Madchilli bass.

From: Madarozzo 020 8816 8368

3. FRET KING

BLUE LABEL ELAN

SUPER 60 SSP & HBP

£679 & £699They say: A classic design

that combines sophisticated

looks with a high spec build.

For: Guitarists

Range: Fret King Blue Label

Spec: Double cutaway body,

12” radius premium rosewood

fingerboard, angled-back

asymmetric six-in-line

peghead, Wilkinson WVP

vibrato, classic set-neck.

From: JHS 0113 286 5381

5. WASHBURN

10 SERIES ACOUSTICS

FROM £170They say: All-new range featuring a

variety of body shapes and wood combos.

For: Guitarists

Range: Washburn acoustics

Spec: Mahogany backs & sides, tops are

spruce (WD10 & WMJ10), flame maple

(WD10F, WMJ10F, WD10FCE &

WMJ10FCE. WD10FCE/WMJ10FCE with

cutaway and Fishman electronics. WD10S

& WMJ10S with solid spruce top. WD11S

& WMJ11S with solid cedar top.

From: Sound Technology 01462 480000

4

2. FRAMUS

PANTHERA 7-STRING

ELECTRIC £2,059They say: Fans of heavy electric

guitar tones and drop-tuning styles

will love this one.

For: Guitarists

Range: Framus electrics

Spec: Arched mahogany body, set

mahogany neck, rosewood

fingerboard, Seymour Duncan

Blackouts Phase I pickups (AHB-1N

7, neck; AHB-1B 7, bridge), Framus

locking machine heads, TonePros

tune-o-matic bridge. Available as

leftie and in variety of finishes.

From: Warwick

+49 37422 555 3000

2

3

4. WASHBURN

55 SERIES ACOUSTICS

FROM £452 They say: Represents Washburn's

new deluxe acoustic models.

For: Guitarists

Range: Washburn acoustics

Spec: Solid Canadian Spruce top

with variety of tonewoods for

back & sides. Available in

dreadnought and grand

auditorium body styles, Fishman

equipped acoustic electrics.

From: Sound Technology

01462 480000

5

48 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

DRUMS SPOTLIGHT

MAPEX

BLACK PANTHER SNARES

£POAThey say: An entirely new and

improved Black Panther snare drum

range.

For: Drummers

Range: Mapex Black Panther

Spec:14 models in range. New shell

construction, new snare strainer and

butt, new hoops, new lugs, new

bearing edges, new air hole, new

finishes. Specification describing size,

shell type, individually named .

Models include the Fast Back

12x7 5.1mm maple shell, Phat Bob

14x7 maple, and the Stinger 10x5.5

steel shell.

From: Korg 01908 857100

2

31

1. CANOPUS

SNARE WIRES ¥POAThey say: Demonstrate distinct existence

of every particle of sound even in the

middle of large volume of sound.

For: Drummers

Range: Canopus accessories

Spec: Two in range: CPSS-BB14DR (dry)

and CPSS-BB14NP (chrome), spiral wires,

1mm end plate, knitted nylon fibre belt.

From: Canopus +81 3 3247 0330

2. MEINL

BENNY GREB SAND HAT £358They say: Every Byzance cymbal is a piece

of art and has its own unique sound

characteristics which can never be

duplicated.

For: Drummers

Range: Meinl Byzance

Spec: Hand hammered, B20 bronze, sand

blasted surface, various hammer

techniques, noticeable weight difference

between top and bottom, vintage sound

with modern clarity.

From: Active 020 8693 5678

3. MEINL

BYZANCE FLAT CHINA £259They say: Flat profile China cymbal for a

unique blend of sounds and tones.

For: Drummers

Range: Byzance Traditional

Spec: B20 bronze, light hand hammered,

uniform thin lathing, thin weight, 16” and

18” (£300) sizes available, no bell, short

sustain, soft attack.

From: Active 020 8693 5678

NEW PRODUCTS DRUMS & PERCUSSION

Blueridge have taken America by storm withtheir authentic vintage style guitars, and nowwe have made them available in the UK. Thisrange, renowned for spectacular value formoney, continues to receive excellent reviewsin all the best known guitar press, includingGuitar & Bass, Guitarist, Guitar Buyer, AcousticMagazine...

The leading brand of resonator guitars, with along US heritage, available in the UK exclu-sively from Gremlin Music. Saga Music, haveapplied the same dedication to quality to theseguitars as they have to the Gitane andBlueridge guitars, and the results are spectacular.

SK120 Rated ‘Exceptional’ in AcousticMagazine. “A wonderful little amp designedby people who understand what musiciansneed”. Also Guitar & Bass have awarded the

SK60 a massive 82%.We distribute these ShireKing Acoustic Ampsalong with Headway’s very popular pickupsfor acoustic instruments, including the Snake3 and SA1 pickups, and the ‘Band’ violin andcello pickups.

The best selling aluminium whistles inthe UK. Renowned for their clear sound,they appeal to whistle players of all stan-dards. Though ideal for beginners, theyare professional instruments and areused on stage by many leading players.

For the Gypsy in your soul!These beautiful guitars pay

homage to the Selmer andMaccaferri guitars of the early

20th century. They have solid tops,are a joy to play, and look andsound like the real thing, right

down to the excellent reproduction of the orig-inal tailpiece. More to the point, they are veryaffordably priced.

The Kentucky mandolins are the pinnacleof affordable bluegrass instruments, andoffer exceptional quality at excellentprices. These mandolins are a very wel-come addition to our growing section ofgreat quality bluegrass instruments,which includes mandolins, banjos,dobros, guitars and more.

A competitively priced range of stu-dent squeezeboxes, including PianoAccordions from 12 to 120 Bass,B/C, D/G and Cajun one-rowmelodeons, and Anglo and Englishconcertinas, all ideal for beginners.

As well as being the first point of call for all the hard to find traditional musical instruments your customers are askingyou for, Gremlin Music is a one stop shop for any musical instrument retailer. We can supply a massive range of acousticmusical instruments, spares, accessories, strings, books and DVDs. Become a Gremlin Dealer and give your customersa better choice! We pride ourselves on the personal touch - you can always reach us by phone during work-ing 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 beenin the business for over 25 years, and can offer you an experienced, friendly and professional service.

www.gremlinmusic.co.uk post@gremlinmusic.co.ukTel: +44 (0) 1903 203044 (9.30 - 5.30 Mon - Fri) | Unit A, Easting Close, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8HQ

Musical Instrument Co.

A new range of Ashbury ukuleles, tenor guitars andmandolin family instruments have been designedby British Luthier Phil Davidson and are hand madein Vietnam.Ashbury also has a professional quality range ofAcoustic Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos & Fiddles,Basses, cases, electrics and more manufactured toa high standard in China and Indonesia.

“I was amazed and Impressed”Build Quality: 5/5, Sound Quality: 4.5/5,

Value for Money :5/5.Acoustic Magazine reviews the AU-24T

Ashbury solid koa Tenor Ukulele

Just a few of our Leading Brands...

50 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

NEW PRODUCTS DRUMS & PERCUSSION 4. ZILDJIAN

8 & 10-INCH ZXT TRASHFORMER

£69.50 & 84.60They say: Add a little trash, expand your

sound and enhance your set-up.

For: Drummers

Range: Zildjian Trashformer

Spec: B8 bronze alloy, ten-inch and eight-

inch models, mis-shapen splash/china style

cymbals, function standalone or as ‘white

noise’ layer on other cymbals, brilliant finish.

From: Yamaha 01908 366700

5. SONOR

PHIL RUDD SIGNATURE SNARE

£379They say: AC/DC’s drummer finally comes

through with a snare of his own – and it’s

heavy metal, of course.

For: Drummers

Range: Sonor snares

Spec: Based on Sonor Horst Link

Signature brass model snare, 1mm chrome-

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Safe system, die-cast hoops, 14x5-inch, 20

snare wires.

From: Sutherland 029 2088 7333

6. MEINL

BYZANCE RAW BELL RIDE £380They say: A dry, dark, but projecting cymbal

that looks as good as it sounds.

For: Drummer

Range: Byzance Traditional

Spec: B20 bronze, heavy hand hammered, 20-

inch ride, untreated raw bell creates fat,

projecting sound that has wide spectrum.

From: Active 020 8693 5678

4

5

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THESE PAGES ARE SPONSORED BY MIKEDOLBEAR.COM, THE LEADING ONLINE

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VISIT WWW.MIKEDOLBEAR.COM FOR MORE DETAILS.

Developed in close consultation with the legendaryBritish bass player, the Ashdown MK500 Mark King

Signature Series bass amp delivers breathtakingclarity, precision tone shaping facilities and a

stunning dynamic range.

An advanced design using only discrete componentswith no ICs ensures absolute sonic integrity, while therevolutionary Harmonic Emphasis control introducesa stunning top-end ‘zing’ – like permanently playing

with a new set of strings!

“It’s so dynamic – so alive!This amp takes my sound

to a whole new level.”Mark King

Mark King

A very special version of a very special amplifierWe’re making just thirty examples of this stunning, 24-carat gold plated bass amp,each signed and numbered by the man himself. But don’t worry if you’re not luckyenough to get your hands on one of these very special amplifiers. The standardAshdown MK500 Mark King Signature Series head is exactly the same 575-Watt funkpowerhouse, minus the bling. See it on the Ashdown website and hear it on tour with Level 42. Check out www.level42.com for dates.

Signature Series Bass Amp

www.ashdownmusic.com www.level42.com

Celebrating 30 years of Level 42The Mark King Signature Series Gold-Plated Amp Head

BARNES & MULLINS has

announced a reduction in its

carriage charges for orders

under £250 as an incentive for

retailers to take advantage of

smaller orders in the current,

tight economic times.

A statement from the

general MI distributor read: “For

many retailers, carriage charges

can be a cost that is easily

overlooked, with a number not

fully appreciating how these

ultimately add up and affect a

store’s net profit.

“In these more challenging

times, Barnes & Mullins has

recognised the need for some

retailers to have the option of

buying smaller quantities more

often, thus reducing the

frequency of high-value

invoices and excess money tied

up in slower-selling stock.”

The new carriage fees are

applicable to the UK mainland

only and are reduced from

£7.50 to £4 for all orders under

£250. All orders over the £250

threshold will continue to be

despatched carriage free.

“With these new lower

charges and our policy of never

charging carriage on backorders,

I believe Barnes & Mullins offers

one of the fairest carriage

schemes in the industry,” said

joint MD, Brian Cleary (pictured

right with his co-MD Bruce

Perrin). “Also, with our

partnership with UPS and our

current investment in online

technology for the future, we

are confident that we can

continue to rapidly despatch

fully traceable orders long into

the future.”

B&M: 01691 652449

B&M eases costs for retailers

RETAIL NEWS

52 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

FCN MUSIC has kicked off its

summer trade offer season by

giving dealers the chance to

organise their buying programme

for the 2010 sales season. The

offers are available for one month

from June 11th, meaning that, as

MI Pro goes to press, there is still a

week or so remaining.

“We are conscious that it is

very tough out there for our

retailers, so as well as fabulous

deals and quantity discounts we

have included some very special

payment term options," explained

Julia Thompson, FCN's commercial

director. "We are aware that our

offers are keenly awaited, so this

year they feature a fabulous

extended credit deal or an

extraordinary four per cent

discount for early settlement.

There are special offers for Aulos

recorders, J Michael brass and

woodwind instruments, Walden

guitars, Lee Oskar harmonicas,

Tycoon percussion and many

other popular lines.”

Full details of the offers can be

found at the FCN website, in the

password-protected, exclusive

dealer area or by contacting the

FCN sales office on 01892

603733, via email here, or through

dealers' own area sales

representative.

Alan Pine (Scotland, Northern

and Central England, North Wales):

07860 486123.

John Haddock (London, South

and East England, Channel Islands):

07831 832170.

Neil Bye (South and West

England, the Midlands, Central

London, South Wales): 07836

501304.

Stephen MacRory (Republic of

Ireland and Northern Ireland):

0876 504169.

Last chance

for FCN offer

THE BPM SHOW, in association

with MI Pro, the official trade

sponsor of the event, is offering

free complimentary VIP passes

to MI and DJ retailers, as well as

installers, distributors,

manufacturers and those

associated with record labels or

the press.

The event, the biggest in

Europe dedicated to the DJ

market, is promising that this

year will be the biggest and

best yet.

Running from Saturday

October 2nd to 4th, BPM has

become a major attraction

since its debut in 2007 for

everyone related to the

industry, as well those who

simply have a passion for DJing

and dance music.

BPM pulled in an impressive

2,200 visitors for its inaugural

show, putting on a weekend of

gear demos, networking,

seminars, workshops and live

performances. In 2008 the

event went on to better its

attendance by a further 300.

Last year, it moved from the

Donington Park Exhibition

Centre to the Birmingham NEC

to accommodate the

continuiing growth and to

benefit from improved

transport links.

This switch of venue resulted

in a 50 per cent increase in

numbers – to 3,897.

With this year's figures

expected to rise further and

with many stating that they

would prefer not to attend at

the weekend, the Monday date

has been added.

The exhibition area contains

everything from DJ mixers to

PA systems and lighting effects

to production hardware and

software. This gathering is an

opportunity to meet with other

DJs and like-minded individuals

from the world of dance music.

Delegates will be required to

prove their status to be eligible

for the complementary pass (by

providing a trade reference

from an exhibiting company)

and those who have previously

taken advantage of the offer

can log in on the website to

sign up easily.

VISITBPM.CO.UK

Fourth annual DJ event offers VIP passes added to package in association with MI Pro

BPM complements trade

PERRIN & CLEARY: One of the fairest carriage schemes in the industry

Sound • Lighting • Special Effects • Distribution Power Squared • Tel: +44 (0) 1525 850085 • www.leisuretec.co.uk

bringing brands together

The Leisuretec Listings Plus 2010 • Call us to Order Your Copy • Experience • Choice • Value • Service

54 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

MIA NEWS an update from your industry trade association

Musicguard: putting money in your till

It's a sad fact, but musical

instruments are stolen,

damaged or lost every year

and the popularity of online

auction sites are making it ever

easier for unscrupulous thieves

to sell stolen instruments and

musical equipment. Not only is

there often considerable personal

sentiment associated with having

an instrument stolen, but

without insurance many

musicians could be left seriously

out of pocket – and let’s face it,

there aren’t many musicians that

cope with that.

WHY MUSICGUARD?

Musicguard, the MIA’s preferred

insurance provider and main

sponsor, is a company that was

founded by musicians in 1997, a

fact reflected in the present

accumulation of its tailored

products and services, covering

everything from a child learning

to play the violin at school, to

musicians earning a living with

their equipment.

This also includes the likes of

the professional DJ, sound

engineers and others.

With Musicguard, musicians

can choose the level of cover

they need. Each policy is tailored

toward the needs of the

individual, with three basic cover

options, which include:

1. Home and studio: covering

equipment at a single location;

2. Flexicover: suitable for

musicians/DJs that only take

some of their equipment to gigs;

3. Select: suitable for

musicians/DJs that take all of

their equipment to gigs;

For gigging musicians, most

venues now require minimum

levels of public liability cover.

Musicguard policies provide £1m

liability cover as standard with

the option to top up to £5m.

Musicguard is one of the

leading specialist insurance

providers for musical

instruments, covering more than

£80 million worth of equipment

for over 10,000 musicians in the

UK. The insurer is so confident of

this, it will pay double the price

difference to customers who find

equivalent cover cheaper

elsewhere within 28 days of the

policy start date.

BENEFITS FOR RETAILERS

If you run a music shop, website

or mail order business, you can

join the Musicguard affiliate

programme, which offers dealers

the chance to earn extra money

for referring customers to us. All

that is needed for this is to stock

counter-top leaflets or to display

Musicguard’s website banners.

HOW TO SIGN UP

Retailers can visit the website to

sign up securely online – This will

only take a couple of minutes. All

that is needed is the provision of

details of the store or business,

contact details and bank

information to receive payments.

Also, for simply being an MIA

member, Musicguard offers

dealers a 15 per cent discount on

their own musical equipment

insurance. visit

musicguard.co.uk/mia and create

a policy. MIA: 01372 750600

Musicians need insurance cover more than most and the MIA’s insurance partner can help dealers earn more, too...

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 55

LOCATION REPORT RETAIL

As one of the world’s most famous cities, it’s not surprising

that Cambridge offers a variety of stores for musos to get

their teeth in to. Adam Savage had a look around…CambridgeMILLER’S MUSIC/KEN STEVENS

Established over 150 years ago, Miller’s

Music is not only Cambridge’s biggest

music store, it also claims to be the first

recorded music shop in Britain.

The most unique aspect of this shop is

its partnership with Ken Stevens, a store

literally joined at the hip, creating one giant

building of musical loveliness. Miller’s is a

proper piano specialist, two floors of them

up to a selection of Bechstein grands.

Presentation is clearly taken very

seriously. Everything is immaculately

polished and arranged to ensure enough

space to move around. The Please Touch Me

signs placed on all the pianos is a nice

touch, making the place welcoming.

Ken Stevens offers a bit of everything

else, with a nice guitar section and

percussion area. The staff are friendly and

knowledgeable and there is a family

atmosphere across both shops that makes

them attractive to a range of people from

new starters right up to expert musicians.

CAMBRIDGE STRINGS

Just down the road from Miller’s lies this

great little shop. This tiny string specialist

has only been around for a year. Stocking a

wonderful range of bowed and pluckable

products, this charming little store cleverly

fills a niche in the Cambridge MI market.

Upstairs comprises a violin display, a

selection of accessories and an array of

sheet music. The instruments on show in

the window set the tone for the rest of the

store, with a nice selection of the now

ubiquitous colourful ukeleles.

The lower level is home to cellos,

classical acoustics and a small room used

for lessons.

DIGITAL VILLAGE

The Cambridge link in Digital Village’s UK

wide chain offers a very different

atmosphere. A long-haired student loudly

riffing in the corner amid a medley of other

sounds is a stark contrast to the quieter

stores around the city.

The manager explained that this is

where young people come to kill time and

play guitar with like-minded others.

With a great selection of guitars, basses,

digital pianos and keyboards, Dig Vig offers

a similar ‘come and play’ mentality to that

of Miller’s, but for a different kind of muso.

Although part of a chain, its aim is to come

across as a local store. Products on display

range from entry-level instruments right up

to the higher end of the scale.

ARENA MUSIC

Arena Music ticks all the boxes of the all-

round, traditional UK MI shop. Stocking

more or less everything, this store is perfect

for catering to the needs of a variety of

different customers.

Arena’s main attraction is its highly

impressive guitar stock for a shop of its

size. From floor to ceiling lie swathes of

electrics and acoustics of varying price, and

a room with a cosy leather sofa for some

solitary strumming.

Business has started to improve in recent

months, probably due to people being less

reluctant to spend on luxuries. With

customers regularly coming from Kings

Lynn, Saffron Walden and even Suffolk, this

place has established a great reputation.

WOOD, WIND & REED

A retailer that supplies a more unusual

musical stock was always going to have an

alternative feel, but upon entering Wood,

Wind & Reed, it becomes clear that this

place is a highly unique specimen.

A workshop on the main shop floor with

no dividing wall or obstruction of any kind

allows the visitor to observe craftsmanship

first hand, while a second room has a

selection of sheet music and a display of

finished products. Upstairs though is where

one of the biggest surprises lies. The

selection of reeds on this floor is surely a

contender for the UK’s largest, with a

highly organised arrangement. Availability,

choice and quality means this store delivers

exactly what its name suggests.

56 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

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

MARKETPLACE INDEX

SU

PP

LIE

R S

PO

TLI

GH

T

TO ADVERTISE CALL DARRELL CARTER OR JODIE HOLDWAY ON 01992 535647

The UK supplier is among the most forward-looking

in the country, but with its roots firmly in place...

Since starting off as a retailer

over 50 years ago on

Shaftesbury Avenue, Bill

Lewington has grown from a

renowned brass and woodwind

dealer and repair specialist to a

distributor of various brands,

from guitars to brass.

With a brand portfolio that

now stands at over 60, Bill

Lewington is particularly proud

of its two most successful brands,

Dean Guitars and Ddrum, which

both represent the direction the

company has taken, from

traditional instruments to a

more rock n roll approach. Dean

Guitars, which is known mostly

for its electrics, is targeted

predominantly at metal

guitarists, with a number of

extreme designs sure to catch

the eye of the heavier riffing

guitarist. Ddrum is a similar

story, with several ranges of

aggressive looking

acoustic kits with

names such as Diablo

and Dominion, as

well as several

other models for

the general

drummer

too, of

course.

You would expect a company

with a history such as this to

struggle with modern concepts, but

this is not the case. A supplier with a

consistently updated website is a

rare blessing and with social media

and online marketing high on the

agenda, it seems Bill Lewington is

more contemporary minded than

many of its competitors.

Its worldwide reputation may

stem from its original function as a

fashionably located retailer, but it is

now being taken seriously on the

global scene as a distributor,

especially since it has established a

number of big deals with

international manufacturers, such as

Muramatsu Flutes of Japan.

Although now considered possibly

the smallest part of the company,

instrument repairs is still a major

area of business for them. Phil

Williams, who has been there since

the beginning and, unsurprisingly,

possesses heaps of experience, is

responsible for this department,

proving that although Bill Lewington

is a very forward-thinking company,

it has never abandoned its roots.

As well as establishing new

brands and maintaining those

already in their lineup, this

distributor has much more in the

pipeline, such as the DOA event, a

Dean Guitar party set to take place

on September 25th. It’s remarkable

how much Bill Lewington has

changed since it began, but it

seems that now it has found a

market that really allows it to

compete and grow.

BILL LEWINGTONON:

01268 413366

THE PLACE FOR BUSINESS

MIMARKETPLACE

440 DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0113 258 9599

AARIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01483 238720ALLPARTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0870 442 3336AVSL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0845 270 2411

BBILL LEWINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01268 413366

CCOVERNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0121 327 1977 CBAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8816 8368DDADDARIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SALES@DADDARIO.CO.UKDBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 234 2848

FFCN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WWW.FCN.CO.UKFENDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WWW.FENDER.COMFOCUS MERCHANDISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8245 9035

HHOT ROX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0115 987 3163

JJAM PERCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0151 494 1492

LLEISURETEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01525 850085

MMARSHALL AMPLIFICATION. . . . . WWW.MARSHALLAMPS.COMMCLELLAND/GREMLIN MUSIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01273 491333MEL BAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8382 8010MUSIC SHIPPING CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01562 827666

OOCARINA WORKSHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01536 485963

PPROEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8761 9911

RRICHARD GUITARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07531 935 399RITTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8816 8368ROBERT MORLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8318 5838ROTHWELL AUDIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01204 366133SSOAR VALLEY MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 230 4926

TTEAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01923 438880

WWIND PLUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0116 243 1698WORLD RYTHM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01242 282191

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 57

MI MARKETPLACEAMPLIFICATIONS

To find out more about the JVM Series and other Marshall products contact: Marshall Amplification plc Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK11DQ www.marshallamps.com

DISTRIBUTOR

www.daddario.co.uk/inked

Call Tom Harrison on 01132 589599 or email - tom@440distribution.com

DISTRIBUTOR

0845 270 2411

0845 270 2433

sales@avslgroup.com

www.avslgroup.com

A leading distributor within the Audio Visual, Sound & Light, Public Address and MI trades.

GRO

UP

Order online

Friendly sales team

Over 4000 products in stock

DISTRIBUTOR

DISTRIBUTOR

58 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

DISTRIBUTOR

MI MARKETPLACE

DISTRIBUTOR

DISTRIBUTOR

Active & passive speakers Line array InEar & Wireless Public adress

The sound of experience

a member of

dBTechnologies UK16 Whitebeam CloseNewhey, RochdaleOL16 4NDDirect: 07595 672157Freephone: 0800 234 2848mail: sales@dbtechnologies.com

www.dbtechnologies.com

www.dbtechnologies.com

DISTRIBUTOR

INTERNATIONAL LTD

The UK’s fastest growing supplier of Professional Audio and MI equipment direct to the industry!

Supplying you with our ever expanding range from

As well as premier UK distribution for these leading brands

Tel: 020 8761 9911Fax: 020 8761 9922

Email: sales@proelint.co.uk

www.proelint.co.ukwww.gremlinmusic.co.uk

Acoustic, Celtic and TraditionalMusical Instrument Specialists

Become a Gremlin Dealer and giveyour customers a bigger and betterchoice! We pride ourselves on thepersonal touch - you can alwaysreach us by phone during workinghours, and we’ll always send yourorder as fast as possible, no matterwhat the size. We’ve been in thebusiness for over 25 years, and can

offer you an experienced, friendly andprofessional service.

Email: post@gremlinmusic.co.ukTel: +44 (0) 1903 203044 (9.30 - 5.30 Mon - Fri)

DISTRIBUTOR

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 59

MI MARKETPLACE

DISTRIBUTOR DISTRIBUTOR

60 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

MANUFACTURER

MI MARKETPLACE

GUITARS

If you answer yes to any of the following questions,

Guitars.co.uk WILL be of value to your business...

Want your shop SEEN?

Want your service APPRECIATED?

Want your Products SOLD?

We believe in power in numbers and want the UK’s

specialist stores to be seen, appreciated and most of

all get their rightful place BACK at the heart of guitar

sales in the UK.

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SEE that positive things can happen!

Make it happen by calling us at your

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07531 935 399

...bridges, necks, bodies,

electronics, frets, inlay dots, pickups, knobs,

switches, pickguards, tools scratchplates, strings, screws,

nuts, saddles, tailpieces ...and much more!!!

The UK’s Premier Guitar & Bass Parts Supplier

Pick a partABM, Badass, Bartolini, Bigsby, CRL, CTS,

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Dunlop, Lace, Leo Quan, Moses, Razor,

Schaller, Sperzel, Sprague, Switchcraft

& Wilkinson.

To order call 0870 442 3336Low call rate 0845 345 5951

Order online or find a local dealer @:

www.allparts.uk.comor email us: info@allparts.uk.com

GUITAR PARTS

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JULY 2010 61

MI MARKETPLACEMANUFACTURER

Find out more at www.fender.com/gdec3Fender® and G-DEC® are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. © 2010 FMIC. All rights reserved.

Like no other guitar amplifi er you’ve ever experienced.

ALL NEW

INSURANCE AND BUSINESS

MUSIC PUBLISHERS

OCARINAS

Making Music in SchoolsSince 1983

UK made rainbow ocarinas fromOcarina Workshop are easy to playand great fun to teach with.

These pocket-sized instrumentsare popular with kids & well-tuned.Together with 'Play your Ocarina'music books, they are the key tosuccessful music-making in manyschools around the country.

Make sure school ocarinas are onyour counter-top and availablewhen customers request them!

Quote ‘MI Pro’ when you order12 Ocarinas & 12 Books and beamazed at the ocarina’s potential...

Trade orders are sent by return:free delivery & no minimum order

www.ocarina.co.uk

tel: 01536 485 963fax: 01536 485 051

email: sales@ocarina.co.uk

62 miPRO JUNE 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

Rober t MORLEY Co Ltd

34 ENGATE St. LONDON SE13 7HA

020•8318•5838Grand & Upright Pianos by

Elysian, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein,Monington & Weston

and other famous makers

John Morley Clavichords, Spinets,Harpsichords, Virginals & Celestes

Antique, Modern & New, Rental, Repairs,Sales lists & colour brochures on request.

Robert MORLEY & Co Ltd.Piano & Harpsichord Makers

Established 1881

www.morleypianos.com

PIANOS PERCUSSION & DRUMS

MI MARKETPLACE

PERCUSSIONPERCUSSION

PROMOTIONAL

WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK miPRO JUNE 2010 63

PERCUSSION

MI MARKETPLACE

WIND INSTRUMENTREPAIRS

JULY 2002Cover Stars: Sound Technology discusses the

swings and roundabouts of third-party distribution

after the news that Apple has subsumed Emagic

and its popular Logic music production software

News: Apple buys Emagic, Live! And Disco

International magazines ‘suspended’ by Highbury

{Publishing Dreadnought and Exclusive co-operate

on Martin distribution, Bob Kelly leaves MIA

Features: DGC, Vestax Europe, JHS Event, Yamaha

and Classic fm, BMF guide, Giraffe Stands,

Electrofix technical services

Products: Groove Tubes GT series mics, Vintage

VHS1, Ovation CC series, Aria Mac 35, Yamaha PF

500, Fret King Eclat, Italia Modena, Mobius Midi

Tapper, Yamaha GC1 baby grand, Yamaha U5

upright, Steinberg Cubase SX, Applied Acoustics

Lounge Lizard, Brauner Phantom mic (listed at

£13.99 – would have been a bargain... If true)

Number one singles: Gareth Gates: Anyone Of Us

(Stupid Mistake)

Number one albums: Oasis: Heathen Chemistry,

Red Hot Chili Peppers: By The Way

RETRO

MI Pro is the only place the UK’s MI trade turns for the news and analysis of everything going on in the industry. Aside

from that, we appreciate the fun that lies at the root of everything we do, so this is the section to crack open a beer, put

your feet up and have a laugh. If you have any pictures you’d like us to include, send them to mipro@intentmedia.co.uk...

Alook back at previous MI Icon

entries will throw up a series

of revolutionary success

stories that were usually due to

huge leaps forward in quality, value

or manufacturing technique. Rarely,

however, will we choose an

instrument that was, well, to put it

bluntly – a bit rubbish.

The Casio VL-Tone is surely a

contender for being one of the most

bizarre products in MI history

because of its ability to function as

both a ‘synthesiser’ and calculator.

This may appear as some kind of

joke until you learn that the VL-Tone

not only encouraged Casio to enter

the world of MI manufacturing, but

also sold over a million models and

sparked a revolution.

In terms of quality and choice of

sounds it was certainly limited, with

only flute, piano, guitar, violin and

the weird ‘fantasy’ option on offer,

all of them delivering highly

questionable likenesses to the

instruments they were emulating.

Ironically it was these basic tones

that was part of its appeal and when

word got round that when played

through the line output it actually

sounded mildly acceptable, a

number of relatively big names

began to experiment with it.

An example would be German

band Trio, who used the VL-Tone on

their hit record Da Da Da. With a

resurgence of retro styles becoming

increasingly common in popular

music today, we could even see a

resurrection of the product in the

near future. Artists such as Moby

and Goldie have already utilised the

sounds in some of their work.

It also features a selection of ten

pre-loaded rhythms made from just

three drum sounds, which is a far cry

from the keyboards and synthesisers

of today.

Price was another reason it sold

so well between 1979 and 1984. It

cost just £30, which is great value

for a product that allows you to play

a catchy tune and do your maths

homework at the same time.

Some might disagree with the VL-

Tone’s icon status, but there are

certainly those out there who will

remember this little gadget fondly,

despite its obvious drawbacks.

MI ICON Casio VL-Tone

THE LAST WORD IN MI PRO

64 miPRO JULY 2010 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

PIC OF THE MONTHTHE BOWFRIDGAPHONEHere we see the Toronto-based

artist, Iner Souster with his

bowfridgeaphone. It looks and

sounds pretty weird and wonderful,

until you actually pop along to

Souster’s blog-spot

(http://inersouster.blogspot.com)

and see that the musical inventor

actually does quite a lot of this

sort of thing.

The bowfriedgeaphone,

apparently, does exactly what it

says on the tin and creates the

sound of an instrument made from

parts of a refridgerator… Whatever

that might be.

To be a little more precise,

the instrument also uses a cake

tin and a salad bowl along with

other bits and pieces. Souster

has attracted the attention of

more industrial sounding outfits,

such as the Fembots.

“Around 2000, I had been

working with sculptures and I

plugged a microphone in a

piece I was making with an old

speaker and an amazing sound

came out of it,” said Souster in

a recent interview.

“I switched gears and I

started getting into full time

building instruments.”

Hard playing Aussie classics rockers Airbourne made a name for themselves with a crunching 70s

sound, this explosive quartet are the latest to fly the flag for uncompromising four chord rock n

roll, and are about to unleash second album No Guts, No Glory. Here's how they make their noise...

SOUNDALIKESAIRBOURNE

NEXTMONTHA full report on everything that went on at

the MI Retail Conference & Expo, a major

new pro audio/MI crossover company on

the cover and sector spotlights examining

the school rental market and accessories.

EDITORIAL: ANDY BARRETT

mipro@intentmedia.co.uk

ADVERTISING: JODIE HOLDWAY

jodie.holdway@intentmedia.co.uk

Company/job title:

D’Addario UK –

marketing manager

Years in the industry?

Three years. Before that I was working in

the clothing industry

First single bought?

Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode. I

also had a dodgy perm at the time…

Favourite album?

Singing Bones by Handsome Family. I’m a

bit of a fan of Gothic Americana and not

many musicians can get away with playing

a musical saw so beautifully.

Currently listening to?

Black Keys, Band of Horses, Broken Family

Band and Johnny Dowd – I saw him in York

recently and he brought the house down!

Favourite musician?

E from Eels – Love a man with a beard

Which instruments do you play?

I have a Martin guitar I treat very badly so

it’s not playing. I want to learn accordion.

Are you currently in a band?

No, I much more prefer to be an

appreciative audience member

MI SPACE

© Intent Media 2010 No part of this publication may be

reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission

of the copyright owners. Printed by The Manson Group, AL3 6PZ

Enquiries to MI Pro, Intent Media, Saxon House 6a St.

Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1JA.

Tel: 01992 535646 (Editorial)

Tel: 01992 535647 (Advertising)

Fax: 01992 535648

miPRO is a memberof the PPA

ISSN 1750-4198

JOEL O'KEEFE – guitar and vocals – 76

Gibson Explorer, 71 Gibson SG, Marshall

SLP, Marhsall JCM 800, Marshall Kerry

King JCM 800, Marshall DSL

DAVID ROADS – guitar and vocals –

Vintage Gibson Explorer, Marhsall JCM

800, Marshall Majors

JUSTIN STREET – bass guitar and vocals

– Black Fender USA Precision bass,

Ampeg SVT-VR bass amp.

RYAN O'KEEFE – drums – Tama Coral

Blue Starclassic Performer, 18"x22" kick,

5.5"x14" snare, 9"x12" tom, 10"x14" tom,

16"x16" floor tom, 16"x18" floor tom,

Iron Cobra Power Glide twin pedal, Iron

Cobra Lever Glide h-hat stand

MI PRO Magazine. Saxon House, 6a St. Andrew Street.

Hertford, Hertfordshire. SG14 1JA

ISSN: 1750-41980 Copyright 2010

Printed by The Manson Group, AL3 6PZ

the international monthlymagazine for musicinstrument professional andeveryone in the MI business

MI Pro has a monthly circulation of well

over 6,000. It is distributed to all MI

retailers and industry professionals plus

carefully selected educators, pro audio

executives and resellers, and

associated industries.

UK: £50 Europe: £60 Rest of World: £90

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MI PRO is published 12 times a year, reaching well over

6,000 readers throughout the UK and international market.

Managing EditorAndy Barrettmipro@intentmedia.co.uk

Editor at LargeGary Coopergary@garycooper.biz

Staff WriterAdam Savageadam.savage@intentmedia.co.uk

Advertising ManagerDarrell Carterdarrell.carter@intentmedia.co.uk

Sales ExecutiveJodie Holdwayjodie.holdway@intentmedia.co.uk

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CirculationPaul Littlemipro.subscriptions@c-cms.com

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PublisherDave Robertsdave.roberts@intentmedia.co.uk

Managing DirectorStuart Dinseystuart.dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk

ELAINESMITH

66 miPRO JULY 2010

www.staggmusic.com

BRUSSELS, 1840.ADOLPHE SAX DREAMS UP

A NEW INSTRUMENT.

BRUSSELS, 2010.STAGG INTRODUCES THE ALL-NEW

77-SA ALTO SAXOPHONE.

FEATURES:

F/F# link leverFull regulation screws for left and right hand

Blue steel springsUpgraded felts

Stop bumper on crook key

All Stagg woodwind instruments are fully checked and professionally set up by Stagg’s in-house technicians

prior to shipping.

Please call the UK sales team on 01293 862612, contact your area sales manager, or log on to our dealerwebsite at www.emdmusic.com for more details.

The V-Studio 20 from Cakewalk: an audio interface and control surface with Boss effects and Guitar Tracks recording so ware. It’s all you need to jam, play, record and mix killer music.

Call 01792 702 701 or visit www.roland.co.uk/vs20

Guitar FX by BossControl surface by RolandRecording software by Cakewalk

Killer tunes by you