Fender Pawn Shop Greta Amp In Fender's unconventional new Pawn Shop Special amps series, which evokes esoteric pawnshop or second-hand store finds suitable for any musician's collection, the Greta amp resembles a vintage tabletop radio. This two-watt beauty has a 4" Special Design speaker, old-school VU meter with "clean to overload" indicator display, simple volume and tone controls, and a 1/8" back-panel auxiliary input for iPod or other media player use. Bright red front and rear wood panels complement gold-finished metal top and sides for increased shielding; plus "Greta" script badge. and tabletop feet. It features a single 12AT7 output tube and 12AX7 preamp tube, with a 1/4" instrument jack and 1/4" line out jack (for preamp use with another amplifier). www.fender.com Zildjian Gets Trashy With K Custom Hybrid Trash Smash Another Zildjian Sound Lab innovation, the K Custom Hybrid Trash Smash is ideal for both crashing and riding, either on the outer edge or main body. Designed in conjunction with Akira Jimbo, the 19" Trash Smash features an inverted bell, extensive hammering, and thin weight, delivering plenty of trash when it's smashed. A very playable and controllable cymbal, the K Custom Hybrid Trash Smash features an abundance of overtones for a completely new sound.  www.zildjian.com Roland LX-15 Digital Piano Sets New Standard For Tone Sporting a more traditional upright cabinet with a polished black ebony finish, Roland's new LX-15 Digital Piano features the SuperNatural Piano sound engine, which delivers seamless tonal transition with notes that fade naturally without looping, and unparalleled sound and response. Based on technology inspired by Roland's V-Piano Grand sound system, the LX-15's innovative six-speaker Acoustic Projection sound system utilizes complex, multi-channel internal processing so that the various elements of piano sounds and piano resonance are blended independently and output to the sound system for an inspiring multi-dimensional sound field and rich, natural piano resonance. In addition to modern grand piano sounds, a newly added Early Piano category offers four fortepiano variations and two harpsichord variations. Roland's PHA III Ivory Feel keyboard with Escapement gives players the authentic touch and feel of a high-end grand piano. The LX-15 is equipped with Progressive Damper Action Pedal with half-pedal recognition, and the top lid of the piano can be opened and closed smoothly for tonal variation. A built-in recorder lets pianists capture performances as audio and/or MIDI data, a convenient feature for accomplished pianists and students alike who want to evaluate their playing afterward. Recorded audio data can be saved onto USB memory and copied to an external computer for making audio CDs or for uploading to the internet. www.RolandConnect.com PRS Adds Pickup Option To SE Angelus Acoustics A PRS pickup system will be an added option on its SE Angelus models in 2012, highlighting the instruments' rich, resonant, and responsive tone. This under-saddle system has three bands of EQ and an anti-feedback loop and is powered by one nine-volt battery. SE Angelus Standard and Custom models are made with high-quality components including a solid back and solid spruce top, a bone nut and saddle, and PRS SE designed tuners. SE Angelus shares the same proprietary bracing pattern and several distinct construction features as PRS's acclaimed Maryland-made acoustic line, as well as the company's trademark bird inlays and headstock design. The PRS SE Angelus is offered in both a "Standard" and "Custom" package. The Angelus Standard includes mahogany sides, a solid mahogany back, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge, while the Angelus Custom includes rosewood sides, a solid rosewood back, and an ebony fretboard bridge. www.prsguitars.com Meinl Slap-Top Cajon For Upright Playing New in Meinl's extensive cajon assortment, the unique Slap-Top Cajon is designed to bring the striking surface closer to the player for a more upright playing style. The sound projects forward into the audience. The Slap-Top Cajon delivers a wide spectrum with balanced high and low tones, as well as a snare effect that's built in to the soundboard. The resonating body is constructed of eco-friendly medium-density fiberboard, and the frontplate is beautiful makah burl. www.meinlpercussion.com AXL Bulldog Slab Body With Fralin P-90 The new AXL USA Bulldog is a single cutaway, solid mahogany slab-body guitar with a one-piece set neck and premium Lindy Fralin dog-ear P-90 pickup. Other top-shelf components include a TonePros Featherweight wraparound bridge, CTS pots, Orange Drop Capacitor, TonePros Kluson vintage-style tuners, and and a Switchcraft jack. Its "Bite Switch," a push-pull pot that bypasses the tone potentiometer, delivers a biting mainline sound, with increased treble response for shimmer and snarl. Each Bulldog is assembled at AXL's Hayward, California workshop with care and attention to detail. Premium fret wire is pressed in, leveled, and dressed for a buzz-free and smooth playing experience in any register. Cloth covered wire connects high-quality electronic components. Street price $549.99. www.axlguitars.com Jammin Pro Color Mic Karoke Packs New from Jammin Pro, Color Mic packs include a beautifully colorful microphone, a colorful cable with one XLR and one 1/4" plug, and free access for one month to Charbuster, an excellent karaoke software with thousands of titles online. The 19 choices of graphics on the microphones include Pink Graffiti, Tiger, Heavy Metal Skull, Cyber Blue, and many others. Built for quality performance, the mic features a unidirectional dynamic cartridge and integrated switch. www.jamminpro.net Onboard Research Wireless Pedal Tuner Onboard Research has introduced the world's first wireless pedal tuner. The Intellitouch Freedom One (patents pending) is a digital wireless system that includes a compact wireless transmitter and a pedal tuner with a built-in wireless receiver. www.tuners.com Mahalo Surfboard Lap Steel Guitar The new Mahalo MLP-100 is a high-quality, six-string electric lap steel guitar, with a powerful, single-coil "soap-bar" style pickup for those vintage Hawaiian tones. The body of this unique surfboard-shaped guitar is of select basswood, with a fret-position marker overlay in black. The glossy white finish has colorful surfboard-style graphics, and the tuning machines are die-cast, enclosed units with chrome plating. Three telescoping, adjustable metal legs serve as a stand and fit compactly in the padded surfboard-shaped gig bag that holds the guitar. This high-quality gig bag features the Mahalo logo and comes included in the price of the guitar. www.sagamusic.com Boulder Creek Debuts New Guitars and Basses Boulder Creek Guitars' new electric guitar and bass line features both solid and chambered body styles, as well as several different pickup configurations to suit many different playing styles. All of the electric guitars that feature humbucking pickups will feature a push-pull coil tap on the tone control to allow either single or humbucking tones. All pickups are designed for maximum tone and volume, with low noise characteristics. These great-playing, professional-quality guitars and basses are affordably priced from $399 to $499 ("street"/MAP) including a deluxe hardshell case. The line also offers great profit margins for dealers. www.bouldercreekguitars.com On-Stage iMount For iPad The new On-Stage iMount iPad mounting system, invented by The Music People, Inc. president Jim Hennessey, is the first comprehensive tablet case and mounting system designed specifically for musicians, yet it's versatile enough for almost any off-stage use. While other mounting schemes require removing the computer from its protective cover, the iMount is the protective cover! This unique protective case fits both the Apple iPad and iPad 2, features a professional look and feel, and functions just like a dedicated iPad folio. An 8mm threaded insert on the rear of the case is totally unobtrusive and mates with a 360° ball joint and innovative new aluminum arm system. With two patents pending, the TCM9150 Tablet Mounting System provides rotational, tilt, horizontal, and vertical adjustment, and its elegant elliptical enveloping clamp mounts to On-Stage Stands brand or other mic stands. It even mounts to flat edges such as tabletops and rack cases. Its machined aluminum boom arm can be used in conjunction with the primary mounting arm as a stationary mount, or it can be used on its own as a secure handle in crowded environments. In desktop applications, the boom arm acts as a monopod, adjusting the case to any desired angle for viewing or typing. www.onstagestands.com Alfred Game & JoyTunes Team To Create Recorder Express Game Created in partnership with JoyTunes, a publisher of education music games, the online interactive Recorder Express game from Alfred Music Publishing lets players use a recorder as the game controller. Around 120 folk, pop, holiday, and original songs are used the Recorder Express Game, bringing sheet music to life in an interactive game environment. JoyTunes provides educators a gratis Teacher Version of the game, adaptable to any curriculum, that features printable sheet music, playback ability, and more. Teachers can also connect with students online and access student performance reports including average practice time data, time last played, and overall performance score. www.joytunes.com/express www.alfred.com Tune-Bot Drum Tuner Debuts At NAMM Dealers, distributors, and even other percussion accessory manufacturers at NAMM were intrigued by Overtone Labs' new Tune-Bot, the first-ever practical and affordable electronic drum tuner. The compact, user-friendly Tune-Bot measures sonic frequencies rather than mechanical resistance or tympanic pressure to give a true indication of a drum's pitch. With the Tune-Bot, drummers can quickly and easily achieve the same musical accuracy that guitarists have enjoyed for years. The Tune-Bot can be used with drums on or off the kit, with functions tailored to each situation. It is compact and lightweight enough to fit in any stick bag and comes fitted with a simple clamp system that makes it easy to use. www.tune-bot.com Yamaha Affordable Acoustic-Electric Guitar Yamaha's new FGX700SC acoustic-electric guitar is based on the tremendously successful FG700S solid top acoustic guitar. In addition to a solid Sitka spruce top, it features Yamaha's impeccable build quality with an added cutaway and a one-way System 55T piezo/preamp system that includes a tuner, three-band EQ, and adjustable mid-frequency slider. It's available in high-gloss natural finish. Yamaha Guitars Marketing Manager Dennis Webster commented, the FGX700SC sounds great unplugged and through an amp or p.a. system. Quality material, outstanding construction and tried-and-true value make it too good to miss." www.yamahaguitars.com Levy's Appliqué And Embroidery Straps Levy's Leathers' new appliqué and embroidery guitar straps are 3" tapering to 2" garment leather with dazzling leather appliqués and complementary embroidery. Pictured is model M12AE available in five original designs. www.levysleathers.com New Mel Bay First Lessons Voice Method The latest release in Mel Bay's popular First Lessons series, Michaela Neller's First Lessons Voice gives students the intrinsic knowledge needed to begin vocal studies. Just like a guitar, piano, or flute, the voice is an instrument that requires training and education for students to improve their natural ability. First Lessons Voice covers maintaining proper vocal health, an introduction to correct breathing, basic music theory, and recommended beginner repertoire. Every exercise and song is included on the accompanying audio recording. www.melbay.com Casio XW-P1 Professional-Level Synthesizer The new XW-P1 61-key performance synthesizer features Casio's exclusive Hybrid Processing Sound Source (HPSS). Providing screaming virtual analog monophonic leads and basses, drawbar organs, complex layers, stereo pianos, drums and more, the XW-P1 has sounds and real-time controls needed by performing musicians. A six-oscillator monophonic solo synth is just one of its impressive sound engines. Two virtual analog-style oscillators, two PCM-based oscillators, a noise oscillator, and an external oscillator via mic and line inputs can be combined to make up a single solo synth tone. Each oscillator has an independent filter, envelopes, independent key tracking, portamento, two LFO's, and access to master resonant filter. The XW-P1 is armed with an arsenal of gig-ready sounds including stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, brass, guitars, basses, and drums. It also has a new drawbar organ mode providing nine steps for each drawbar, vibrato, percussion and rotary speaker control. Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the onboard Step Sequencer is the first of its kind. With nine tracks for drums, basses, synths and chordal parts; four controller tracks for adding panning, filter changes and other animation to existing parts; and eight patterns making up each sequence; users can build and mix their performances on the fly. Sequences can even transpose live from the keyboard, providing a completely interactive experience. www.casiomusicgear.com Pick Grips A Convenient Tool For Guitarists Pick Grips help ensure that guitarists will never lose or fumble for another guitar pick again. The patented design makes it a quick, easy, and convenient way to hold a guitar or bass pick on stage, in the studio, or at home. No more doubled-over duct tape that some guitarists still use; no more weaving picks between the strings, only to lose them when they fall out; and no more picks jammed under the pick guard. Pick Grips will hold virtually any size pick and come in a variety of colors. Pick Grips can also be trimmed to size, from five pick slots down to one. Best of all, Pick Grips' special adhesive leaves no residue. When the user is ready for a new one, he simply peels off the old one and applies a new Pick Grip. Pick Grips' mass appeal to consumers, combined with their low production cost, makes them ideal for companies' branding and promotional purposes. www.pickgrips.com Toca Drumset Timbale Toca's new 12" Custom Deluxe Drumset Timbale enables players to add extra pop to their drum set or percussion rig. Its 12" x 5.5" shell is the perfect size for an accent drum that is big enough to produce big, lively tones and crisp rim shots. The steel shell, which is great for cascara playing, has an alluring black mirror chrome finish accented with brushed nickel hardware. The drum has five tuning lugs and a tuning wrench for easy adjustment, and its mounting bracket accepts any standard 3/8-inch rod. MSRP $129. www.tocapercussion.com Conn-Selmer Jiggs pBone Teaching Aid Conn-Selmer's new Jiggs pBone, named for jazz trombonist and Conn-Selmer endorser Jiggs Whigham, was developed in the United Kingdom primarily for general music classrooms to teach basic embouchure technique and assist in pitch and intonation training. In early 2011, a global distribution agreement was signed and the Jiggs pBone was officially launched in June at the International Trombone Federation Show in Nashville, Tennessee. "The Jiggs pBone has been an immediate success" says Ryan Wear, Conn-Selmer director of marketing for the pBone. Aside from general music classrooms and individual use, the Jiggs pBone has started making appearances in marching and pep bands. School spirit can be shown with the four popular colors of red, blue, green, and yellow. MSRP $149. www.conn-selmer.com www.Jiggspbone.com Siroco Cajòn Combines Traditional Sound With Modern Convenience, Portability The new Siroco Cajòn by DG De Gregorio combines premium-quality materials and craftsmanship with an innovative hinged design for professional tone and quick, compact transport. The first of its kind and a collaboration of two innovative and world-renowned Spanish Cajòn makers, Paolo De Gregorio and José Leiva, this full-size cajòn measures 12.5x20x6˝ in its collapsed state and weighs less than 12 lbs. The instrument offers the rich bass tone, characteristic snare effects, and sensitivity along with all the features of DG's coveted custom cajòns yet folds easily for storage and fits into its own soft travel case. The full line of DG De Gregorio Cajòns are distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Big Bang Distribution. www.bigbangdist.com Sabian B8 Ozones Sabian's two new B8 Pro O-Zone Crashes feature an O-Zone multi-holed design similar to the HHX and AAX models first introduced in 2002, but their double rings of response-enhancing holes guarantee that these radical new models respond rapidly, with brilliant explosion and dirty agitation--great news for drummers stepping up to their first set of B8 bronze cymbals. B8 Pro O-Zone Crashes are available in 16" and 18" models. "The O-Zone is not a typical crash," said Master Product Specialist Mark Love. "It's a crude and aggressive combination of a thin crash and a Chinese--extremely raw, nasty, and biting. Not only do the 2" holes increase the 'nasty' factor, they also lighten the weight of the cymbal. So while its size and volume remain the same, the response is actually much faster because there's less metal mass to move." www.sabian.com Acoustic USA Updates Classic 360/361 Bass The 360/361 bass that redefined the market in 1967 has returned in a new 360/361 from Acoustic USA. The classic 360/361 has been updated with modern features and reliability while staying true to the tone, style, and heritage of the classic Acoustic 360. Combining massive output, killer tone, and great looks, the 360/361 delivers onstage and in the studio. The list of artists who've used the original 360/361 includes The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jaco Pastorius, and Larry Graham. "Pretty much a 'who's who' of music in the late 1960s and 1970s," said George Grexa, president of Acoustic USA. "From the time Acoustic first burst onto the scene in late 1967 with the classic 261, up to now with our all new 360, Acoustic has been the stuff of legend and revolutionary design. We're open for business and looking for distributors and dealers worldwide." www.acousticbassusa.com New Ukadelic Ukes From Kala Kala Brand Music's expanded Ukadelic Series of ukuleles includes Black Paisley, Peacelove, Swirls, Sskulls, Leopard, and USA models. Ukadelic's audacious graphics capture all that is fun about the ukulele and more. The designs of these colorful ukes incorporate art, culture, and humor. In addition they are very playable and well made, featuring all wood construction, geared tuners, and Aquila Strings. Other Ukadelic models include Paisley, Tie-Dye, Tattoo, Flag, and Reggae designs. All models are available in soprano size, with the reggae model also available in tenor size. www.kalabrand.com Vic Firth Harrison Signature Sticks Vic Firth Company's new Gavin Harrison Signature model drumsticks recognize the progressive rock drummer's worldwide influence and renown through his work with King Crimson and Porcupine Tree. Harrison's new signature stick is crafted in hickory and features an elongated ROCK shaft with a blended taper and tip, delivering an ideal combination of power and playability. It also features the company's anti-slip Vic Grip coating in blue, for an enhanced grip and distinctive look. "Although large," Harrison stated, "my new signature sticks are extremely balanced and versatile enough to be played at all dynamics." Length 16-7/8". Diameter .630". MSRP $20.50. www.vicfirth.com Thomas Digital Continental Grand The new digital Continental Grand Piano from Thomas Organ has a uniquely modern deco look reminiscent of the famous Thomas Organ Vox Continental. Equipped with a standard PC, DVD device, and wireless touchpad mouse and pointer, this exciting instrument can help the player can enjoy a rich digital recording, producing, and music learning experience. It also enables loading and playing professional studio quality virtual instruments that most recording studios use. The Digital Continental Grand is available at a special pre-order promotional price of $2,995; regular dealer cost is $3,495. Major features include: superior grand piano sound, butterfly lid design, integrated PC, hammer action keys, 64-note polyphony, 24 demo songs, 160 awesome styles, five tracks, and three colors to choose from. thomasorganco@aol.com Analysis Plus Ammo Cable The Ammo Cable delivers superior sound transmission to the inner shred metal enthusiast in every player. Hand-built and -assembled entirely in the USA, its patented hollow oval green camouflage cable is mated to a custom G&H plug--and a real .308 bullet shell casing. The Ammo Cable redirects explosive sonic tone directly from the player's guitar to the amp, shooting all possible tonal power into the signal path like a bullet striking a target. All Ammo cables are hand-made and assembled one at a time for perfect construction and a flawless signal--yet every cable is a bit different because of this hands-on process. A portion of proceeds from every cable sold goes to the Max M. Podolsky Juvenile Diabetes Fund. www.analysis-plus.com LP Twist Shakers Latin Percussion has re-invented its often-imitated Softshake-style shaker and given it a new "twist." The new patent-pending Twist Shaker is a set of twin dumbbell-shaped shakers that are connected with a unique rotating lock mechanism that allows them to be played together in one hand or individually in each hand. LP Twist Shakers come in three different volume levels: Soft (yellow) which is ideal for studio and acoustic performances; Medium (blue) which is versatile enough for use in nearly any musical situation and Loud (red), which is perfect for live performances when they really need to be heard. Because the Shakers can be "twisted" apart, musicians can experiment with different volume combinations to achieve exactly the sound they are looking for. MSRP $25.99 per pair. www.lpmusic.com Zoom B3 Multi-Effects Pedal For Bassists Zoom's B3 Bass Effects and Amp Simulator Pedal combines the ease of a stompbox pedalboard with the power of a multi-effects pedal and USB audio interface. With complete control over individual effects and amp modeling, the user can change bass tone on the fly in both stage and studio settings. Three large LCD displays and corresponding footswitches form a graphical interface that allows use of up to three stompbox and amp effects simultaneously. The player can call upon 12 super-real amplifier models and 99 world-renowned stompbox effects to create highly personal sounds. The B3 can store up to 100 original creations or use the patches personally designed by Victor Wooten, David Ellefson, Frank Bello, and Doug Wimbish right out of the box. In addition to housing a 40-second looper, versatile drum machine, and auto-chromatic tuner, the B3 is a powerful USB audio interface. Bundled with Steinberg's Sequel LE DAW for every recording need, the musician can also use Zoom's Edit&Share software to create, edit, save, and share personal settings on a computer. zoom.co.jp samsontech.com Limited-Edition Mapex Retrosonic Drumset New to Mapex's Black Panther drumset line, the limited-edition Retrosonic features shells constructed of hand-selected walnut outfitted with the unique Retrosonic full-length tube lugs and Sonic Saver hoops. Designed to be "a classic without the wait," the Retrosonic, like all Black Panther drum kits, is modeled after the snare drum of the same name. Its 8.1mm/nine-ply shells feature a hand-chosen walnut burl veneer that is finished with a very light satin lacquer coating. The Retrosonic comes as a simple and elegant three-piece setup Only 20 sets will be built for sale in the U.S.A. MSRP of $3,799. www.MapexDrums.com Hohner Vamonos Accordion Mic System Hohner's new Vamonos accordion wireless microphone system allows performing accordion players to move freely around the stage, delivering professional sound quality and durable onstage performance. It eliminates the need to install costly wired microphones that must be adapted to operate wirelessly. There are no wires, and the microphone module attaches to the accordion grille with magnets, making it simple to immediately switch from one accordion to another. With its rugged plastic construction, the Vamonos one-piece wireless microphone and transmitter module is built for dependable performance. Ideal for stage performance as well as recording sessions, the microphone features two highly sensitive, precision mic elements offering smooth frequency response, exceptional resolution, and the ability to handle high sound pressure levels with limited feedback. This system will capture both the high and low reeds with exceptional quality, amplifying the natural accordion sound that players desire. The Vamonos receiver operates over an 18MHZ UHF bandwidth and offers the flexibility to select up to 90 UHF frequencies. The diversity design enables dual internal receiver circuits to compete for the strongest possible reception, resulting in minimized noise and RF interference. The rear panel features both XLR and 1/4" outputs. www.hohnerusa.com Remo Clear Vintage Emperor Drum Heads Remo's new Clear Vintage Emperor tom drum heads were inspired by the success of the original Vintage Emperor. Constructed with two free-floating plies of 7.5 mil clear polyester films, the Clear Vintage Emperor features warm transparent midrange tones with enhanced attack and durability. www.remo.com Audio-Technica Marks 50th With Limited-Edition Microphones Celebrating "50 years of passionate listening" Audio-Technica is offering a new range of limited-edition professional products with a distinctive 50th Anniversary design and color scheme. The selection includes the ATH-M50s/LE Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, ATM25/LE Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone, AE4100/LE Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphone, AE5400/LE Cardioid Condenser Handheld Microphone, AE6100/LE Hypercardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphone, AT4050/LE Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone, and AT4050URUSHI Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone. These products are limited-edition versions of A-T's ATH-M50s, AE4100, AE5400, AE6100, AT4050, and the legacy product ATM25. The line features A-T's classic silver-colored metallic finish with blue accents, and the AT4050URUSHI sports a stunning traditional urushi lacquer finish with hand-painted Japanese maple leaves. The AE4100/LE, AE5400/LE, AE6100/LE, AT4050/LE, AT4050URUSHI, and ATM25/LE feature a unique anniversary serial number etched on the surface of each model. The AE5400/LE, AT4050/LE and AT4050URUSHI come with a specially designed, beautifully handcrafted wooden carrying case. Reviving the classic ATM25 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone, the new ATM25/LE is ideal for kick drum, toms, etc., handling very high SPL at close range, providing big, warm low-frequency response with excellent presence, and offering very full sound on close-up vocals and dialogue. www.audio-technica.com Hoanh Trang Features Pro-Level Violins Hoanh Trang Co., a leading source for high-quality instruments in the fast-growing Vietnamese manufacturing industry, reported great success at the winter NAMM show. On display were Hoanh Trang's classical, flamenco, and acoustic guitars, as well as its collection of violins. Hoanh violins are made with all solid materials from Rivolta, Italy, and meet a high standard of performance, offering accurate intonation, bright trebles, and a bass spectrum that is loud, warm, and deep. A wide range is available for beginners, intermediate students, orchestra members, teachers, and artists. www.phanthanhtien.com Weber Offers Custom Instruments Now celebrating 15 years of high-quality lutherie, Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments invites dealers serving discriminating musicians and collectors to collaborate with its Logan, Montana craftsmen to build the instrument of their dreams. Weber specializes in mandolins, mandolas, octaves, mandocellos, and resonator and arch top guitars. In particular, the company serves studio musicians and writers looking for "that certain sound"--which may mean a six-string octave, a ten-string mandola, or a scale length not to be found anywhere else--as well as collectors desiring not only great sound and tone but also highly ornamented aesthetics that may incorporate their own inlay designs or gem collection. By collaborating with Weber, dealers can offer far more than their competitors. Weber's standard model lines cover any store's needs in pricing, stocking requirements, and a wide range of clientele from beginner to expert players in all music genres. This small, reputable company will help its dealers sell in-stock instruments as well as special orders. www.soundtoearth.com www.webermandolins.com New Zildjian K Custom Dark Complex Ride Two unique K Custom Dark Complex Rides from Zildjian's Sound Lab series are unlathed but extensively hammered throughout the body and bell. The K Custom Dark Complex Ride features a proprietary satin finish that adds to its unique appearance. Available in 21" and 22" sizes, these Rides are dark and complex, with good stick definition and just enough spread. Both sizes are medium-thin in weight. www.zildjian.com Fender Introduces 50th Anniversary Jaguar Fender's 50th Anniversary Jaguar guitar combines new and classic features to celebrate five decades of Jaguars. This U.S.-built commemorative Jaguar features the classic 24" scale length, a new one-degree neck-angle-pocket cut that improves pitch, a re-positioned tremolo plate that increases bridge break angle and sustain, and specially designed hot Jaguar single-coil neck and bridge pickups that deliver fatter tone and more output--once again framed by the model's classic notched metal "claws," a hum-reducing innovation only found on the Jaguar. Other premium features include a sleekly offset alder body with lacquer finish, C-shaped maple neck with lacquer finish and vintage-style truss rod, 9.5"-radius bound rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid block inlays, separate "lead" and rhythm tone circuits with their own dedicated volume and tone controls, two-position tone switch and on/off slide switch for each pickup, three-ply pickguard (Mint Green-Black-Mint Green), and vintage-style floating tremolo bridge with lock button and chrome cover. Available in classic vintage Fender finishes including the original Jaguar's "Burgundy Mist." www.fender.com Evans/Pro-Mark 'El Negro' Drumstick A signature drumstick from Evans and Pro-Mark honors Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, a Grammy Award winner and Evans/Pro-Mark endorsee. Whether playing with jazz legends such as McCoy Tyner or Michel Camilo, with rock stars like Carlos Santana or Steve Winwood, or as a member of renowned Latin ensembles including Tito Puente's "Tropi-Jazz" All Stars, El Negro has earned a reputation as one of the most powerful and versatile players in today's music scene. The Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez Signature Drumstick is 16" long x .500" in diameter with a wood tip. its smaller, versatile tip is perfect for jazz and fusion as well as pop and R&B. Available this month, this model retails for $15.15. www.promark.com SHS Offers Furch Guitars In the United States The complete line of Furch hand-built acoustic guitars, made in the Czech Republic, will be distributed in the United States by SHS International. "These guitars have enjoyed a strong following in Europe and Japan with a reputation of holding up to more established brands costing twice as much," stated SHS President Guy Petty. "They have received great reviews in various acoustic forums and reflect the three decades of hard work put in by Mr. Frantisek Furch since 1981." www.shsint.net Graph Tech TUSQ Material Now In Picks Graph Tech Guitar Labs' new TUSQ Picks, made of the same highly resonant TUSQ manmade ivory used in its nuts, saddles, and bridge pins, are made to impart harmonic content right from the first attack. "Guitarists understand that every component of a guitar brings out certain characteristics--from the wood to the frets, nuts, saddles, and strings--creating the guitar's sound and their tone," said Graph Tech President Dave Dunwoodie. "Picks are an important link in the tone. The tone, feel, stiffness, weight, and articulation of this pick is unlike anything else on the market now." Harmonically rich, lightweight, and durable, TUSQ picks generate great tone and extend the subtle nuances in picking styles and attack. The difference in the TUSQ material can be heard when the pick is dropped on a hard surface, producing the distinctive "tinkle" of a manmade ivory product. Sold in packs of six, TUSQ picks are available in three "flexes," with more to come. www.graphtech.com New Models Grace Walden Concorda Line Walden Guitars' new CS550CE Stage Model guitar, released under Concorda banner, comes with a 3-1/2" thin "G-Cutaway" Stage body, solid spruce soundboard with mahogany back and sides, and B-Band T35 electronics with built-in tuner. As with every Concorda 500 series guitar, it's fitted with a glass-fiber reinforced neck, two-way truss rod, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. MSRP $669. The Concorda line's new CG570 features a Grand Auditorium body, solid Western red cedar soundboard, mahogany back and sides, and the 500 series' standard glass-fiber reinforced neck, two way truss rod, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. $409. Also new for 2012 is a Tobacco Burst finish for the 570's cutaway variant, the CG570CE. Both the CG570CE and the new Tobacco Burst CG570CETB feature a Grand Auditorium cutaway body and B-Band T35 electronics with built-in tuner. MSRP $669. www.WaldenGuitars.com Meinl Debuts Dailor Ghost Ride New from Meinl, the Mb8 Series Brann Dailor Signature 21" Ghost Ride was developed in cooperation with the drummer for the highly successful and critically acclaimed band Mastodon. It features a unique look and sound that combines a glassy ping with a warm shimmering body. The raw black bell delivers a cutting, clear punch. "I finally found the ride I was looking for," commented Dailor. "It has just the right amount of everything. The bell is neither too big nor too small, so when you need that articulation, you have it. It's the perfect medium ride cymbal that can fit into any style of music." The cymbal's unique dark look is created by a special process where the surface of the cymbal is heat-treated and then lathed. All the logos on the cymbal including Mastodon's "Remission" logo are laser-engraved onto the surface. www.meinlcymbals.com Asterope Launches Next-Generation Cables Asterope's new Pro Artist, Pro Studio, and Pro Stage instrument cables are more rugged and sonically superior to the previous generation, and each series is tailored to a specific use. They feature a rugged design, a choice of gold or nickel connectors, and a choice of cable colors, offering both aesthetic and functional differences. Musicians can customize their cables to achieve the desired timbre, from tone with more "punch" to tone with a more "spatial" quality. The Pro Artist series, available in Asterope's signature purple color, is designed for everyday use in a variety of environments. The Pro Studio series, available in arctic white, is ideal for use in recording or home studios. The Pro Stage series, available in midnight black, is designed for use in live, onstage environments. Each cable is available in straight-to-straight, straight-to-right, and right-to-right configurations. Cable lengths include 6', 10', 15', 20', 30', 40', and 50' lengths, while patch cables are available in 1' and 3' lengths. Pricing begins at $89 for a six-foot instrument cable. Asterope cables are designed and manufactured in the United States. A unique custom-ordering program allows purchasers to personally design their cables by length, cable type, and connector to meet specific needs. www.asterope.com Compact THR Guitar Amp From Yamaha Yamaha's new THR amplifiers are the first hi-fi stereo units to feature realistic guitar multi-effects and classic amp modeling that also function as an exceptional guitar recording interface. Though compact, they pack a lot of power for electric guitar, acoustic guitar, or bass. The THR10 and THR5 are designed to fit on a coffee table or desk and provide great sound for the times when a guitarist isn't on stage. Fully portable, these battery-powered amps feature Yamaha's exclusive Virtual Circuit Modeling (VCM) effects, including professional sounding reverb, and realistic tube-like amp response. Each also includes an input for an MP3 player and a USB direct input. The THR comes bundled with Cubase AI6 Digital Audio Workstation and offers near-zero-latency computer recording. When connected to a computer, it serves as a great-sounding monitor. The hi-fi stereo playback seamlessly blends with the guitar output so that it sounds like the guitarist is part of the band. www.yamaha.com LP Jam Tamb Latin Percussion's new Jam Tamb is for set drummers who hit hard and want an impressive and responsive tambourine sound in their arsenal. Its durable jam block design is fitted with six pairs of nickel-plated steel alloy jingles that project a bright, powerful sound. The Jam Tamb is made from LP's exclusive and indestructible synthetic Jenigor material. A built-in, molded rubber striking surface provides great stick rebound or comfortable hand playing. The LP Jam Tamb is equipped with a mounting eye-bolt and can be conveniently attached to any 3/8" rod or to an LP Gajate Bracket. MSRP $54.99. www.lpmusic.com New Modern Piano Method from Mel Bay Per Danielsson's Modern Piano Method, the latest addition to Mel Bay's flagship Modern Method series, includes a book and accompanying audio CD designed to introduce the student to the world of piano playing from a contemporary perspective. Basic music theory concepts are taught along with general piano skills and techniques needed for developing a solid pianistic foundation. Several different styles of music are introduced to give the student a broader musical perspective. The method facilitates a well-rounded understanding of how to read notes and how basic chord symbols work.  www.melbay.com Meisel Accessories Chin-Chum Meisel Accessories' Chin-Chum is a padded ultra-suede chin rest cover that easily slips over the cup of the chinrest and protects the player. Chin-Chum also protects the player's neck from the chin rest's metal clamp. No handkerchiefs needed, but with Chin-Chum, violinists and violists no longer have to "take it on the chin." The Chin-Chum is available in three sizes: Large, for 4/4 violin and 15" and up viola; Medium, for 4/4 and 3/4 violin and 13"+14" viola; Small, for 1/2-1/16 violin and 11"+12" viola. www.meiselaccessories.com "Elvis's" 12-String Electric From Burns New from Burns is an electric 12-string with star associations--the guitar that Elvis Presley played!--a pop culture pedigree, and amazing tone. The Burns BL-2700-GRS04 Apache Double Six is a perfect replica of the legendary 1960s axe that so many icons of British rock used. The distinctively curved body is crafted from genuine basswood, and the bolt-on neck, with a 21-fret rosewood fingerboard, is made of rock maple. Three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, a five-way selector switch, and a push-pull selector switch give the player an infinite variety of tones. The unique Rez-o-Tube tremolo system and the Bi-Flex two-way truss rod are exclusive features that can be found only on Burns guitars. The classic polyester finish is available in Green Sunburst or Solid White. While updated for every improvement that the modern guitar artist could desire, this Burns Apache Double Six is still a blast from the past! www.sagamusic.com Sabian 17" Holy China Also new from Sabian is the 17" Holy China. Originally available in 19" and 21" models designed in collaboration with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, the new 17" version is "not as monstrously loud as its larger siblings," appealing to drummers "who want the unique trashy tone of the Holy China, but less volume." All Holy China cymbals feature a higher profile to raise the pitch, holes for volume and sustain, and a large, unfinished bell for cut and durability. www.sabian.com Bourns Unveils Specialty Guitar Pots Bourns, Inc. has developed a specialty line of potentiometers for electric and bass guitars, each designed to upgrade the instrument for improved sound quality, reliability, and longevity. The line includes: PDB241-GNL No Load Guitar Potentiometer, PDB241-GTR Left-Handed Guitar Potentiometer, PDB181-GTR Left-Handed Mini-Guitar Potentiometer, PDB181-GTR Long Bushing Mini-Guitar Potentiometer, and PDB183-GTR Long Bushing Mini-Guitar Potentiometer with push-pull switch. Bourns' "no load" guitar potentiometers incorporate a long-wearing insulator and a positive action detent for improved reliability. The left-handed potentiometers have special reverse audio tapers and a logarithmic curve specifically designed for excellent volume response at all positions along the potentiometer. The long bushing potentiometers are excellent for use in solid body guitars and work in all types of electric or bass guitars, with or without a push-pull switch. www.bourns.com POSSE On-Stage Monitor Mix Controller Designed by musicians for musicians, POSSE is a revolutionary, affordable and compact system for musicians, recording artists, and music venues that facilitates customization of ear monitors on stage or in the studio. POSSE seamlessly interfaces with wireless earphone and instrument systems and comes with an acoustic gooseneck mic for acoustic instruments. Equipped with a built-in phantom power supply, this ingenious travel-size system enables the user to record performances, play music during the break, and tune with a line-of-sight tuner. POSSE is great for private practicing at home, too, allowing the user to monitor his/her performance and play without disturbing others in the house or neighborhood using recorded music or any outside musical source. Other major features include: stereo instrument inputs; built-in direct box; peak limiter to protect your hearing; no menus--tactile controls easily adjustable in dim light; built-in stereo mics allowing users to hear the audience, eliminating unnatural "isolation"; quick and easy setup in minutes; convenient beltbox; and AC adapter or battery. Made in the USA. www.posseaudio.com BAE Offers Matt Sorum 312B Pre-amp The new Matt Sorum 312B Microphone Pre-Amplifier Signature Series from British Audio Engineering (BAE) has the same excellent dynamic range, frequency response, and noise performance as the BAE 312A but with a modified gain structure utilizing a lower gain Jensen input transformer designed to complement louder sources before needing to implement the pad. Like the 312A, the 312B features the Avedis 1122 Discrete Op-Amp and input and output Jensen transformers, which use direct-coupled circuitry with no capacitors in the signal path. The input impedance of the 312B is designed to remain consistent even after the pad is engaged, providing a steady load to the microphone. The 312B offers excellent dynamic range, frequency response, and headroom before clipping for a punchy sound that works well with many microphones. It's as a single 500 Series module and as a fully loaded six-space lunchbox with a custom pull-on switch tailored to accentuate higher frequencies, a DI for instruments, a Phase Reverse switch, 48V for phantom power, and a pad switch. www.baeaudio.com Planet Waves U.S.-Made American Stage Cables Designed and manufactured in the U.S., Planet Waves' new American Stage instrument cables feature the company's exclusive In=Out technology for optimum signal transparency, in-line solder joints for superior conductivity and strength, and the exclusively patented Geo-Tip design for improved fit in all jacks. Their U.S.-made wire reproduces full lows and rich highs, accurately transferring true tone with clarity and noise-free operation. The 22AWG oxygen-free copper center provides enhanced signal transfer, while the 100% shield cover with 95% tinned copper braid and conductive PVC under jacket provides excellent electromagnetic interference rejection and no handling noise. The in-line solder process utilizes modern micro-flame technology and specially formulated RoHS-compliant solder to create a permanent bond between wire and connector, creating unsurpassed strain relief and durability. The connectors are designed to exacting specifications and built by Neutrik in its state-of-the-art facility in Lichtenstein using the highest-quality components available. The flexible cable construction provides reduced tangling, effortless handling, and easy uncoiling. Lastly, the innovative patented Geo-Tip provides a seamless and secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. Available in 10' - 30' lengths, Planet Waves American Stage Instrument Cables retail from $39.99 to $69.99. www.planetwaves.com Fender Pawn Shop Excelsior Amp Fender's Excelsior guitar amp, from the vintage-inspired Pawn Shop Special line, harbors tones from polite to raw and raucous. Its brown textured vinyl covering, stylish "E" grille, and crossed-swords front-panel badge convey a stately vibe with an air of cold-war cool. The 13-watt Excelsior elegantly encloses a single 15" Special Design speaker, with bottom-loaded primary chassis and top-loaded control chassis for operating convenience and low noise (powered by two 6V6 output tubes and two 12AX7 preamp tubes). Distinctive features include "instrument," "microphone" and "accordion" inputs that each have individually optimized circuitry; tremolo circuit with speed control, bright/dark tone switch (for treble or bass emphasis), volume control and 1/4" internal speaker disconnect that lets the amp drive an external speaker enclosure. For playing at home, smaller gigs, and studio sessions, the Excelsior is a class act that creates a fresh and unconventional new vibe. www.fender.com Vic Firth Kollias Signature Sticks George Kollias, drummer with extreme metal band Nile, is renowned for his outrageous technical prowess, and his successful Intense Metal Drumming DVD has made him a household name in the drumming world. Now the Vic Firth Company has created the George Kollias Signature model drumsticks. Blending the shaft, taper, and neck of the popular 5A and 5B models, the new George Kollias signature stick is finished off with a classic barrel-shaped tip, delivering a clear cymbal sound and full drum tone. "While the shaft size of my stick makes for a versatile choice," said Kollias, "it's the barrel-shaped tip we used that makes this stick so special. It provides an aggressive feel and allows me to play at speeds like no other stick I have played. I have gained more control when playing ghost notes and I can play to my maximum speed for longer periods. Last but not least...it feels great!" Length 16". Diameter .585". MSRP $16.50  www.vicfirth.com New Look, Switching For PRS SE Customs PRS's SE Custom has been updated with a new body carve and pickup control configuration. For 2012, the popular SE model will receive a beveled top carve, more reminiscent of PRS Guitars' original Custom 24 model. The SE's pickup control layout for 2012 will be one volume and one push/pull tone control paired with a three-way blade switch. The addition of a coil tap on the tone control will give increased versatility, allowing guitarists to split the SE HFS and SE Vintage Bass pickups into singlecoils for the first time. The move from 3-way toggle to blade switch will provide more control and consistency with PRS's Maryland made line. The updated SE body shape will also come standard on 2012 SE Paul Allender, SE Nick Catanese, and SE Orianthi models. The SE Orianthi will have the additional change from a three-way toggle to a three-way blade switch. New for 2012, the SE Dave Navarro will receive the updated beveled top as well. www.prsguitars.com Analysis Plus Big Green Oval Cable With its flexible dark Jeep green color outer jacket, mated with gold G&H plugs, Analysis Plus's Big Green Oval guitar cable is hard to miss in the looks and sound departments. The conductors are low-loss 18 gauge oxygen-free copper woven in a patented oval design. Built for maximum performance, a balanced design sets the Big Green Oval apart from coaxial cables. All Ammo cables are hand-made and assembled one at a time for perfect construction and a flawless signal--yet every cable is a bit different because of this hands-on process. A portion of proceeds from every cable sold goes to the Max M. Podolsky Juvenile Diabetes Fund. www.analysis-plus.com JBL Highlights D2 Driver Behind DTX Design Making dramatic improvements in high-frequency sound of JBL Professional's acclaimed VTX Line Array Series, the new D2 dual-diaphragm dual-voice-coil compression driver overcomes conventional compression driver technology's limited high-frequency extension due to mass of the diaphragm and voice coil and distortion characteristics due to dome breakup modes. The D2 Dual Driver utilizes two voice coils, each with its own lightweight polymer annular diaphragm, magnet assembly, and specialized phasing plug. With the same radiating area as a conventional single dome, lower moving mass and enhanced heat transfer of two diaphragms and two separate voice coils yield dramatically increased overall output and power handling. The result is dramatically improved efficiency and power handling, smoother, extended high-frequency response, and significantly lower levels of nonlinear distortion. Each D2 driver in the VTX V25 handles 200 watts per the AES standard. www.harman.com Jamal Doumbeks From Toca Following the success of its Jamal Signature Doumbeks, Toca is introducing two larger sizes: medium 9-1/2" x 18" and large 11" x 20-3/4". Designed in collaboration with doumbek master Jamal Mohamed, the drums feature precision-balanced, durable fiberglass shells that produce deep doums and high teks as well as pre-stretched synthetic heads, protective rubber bottoms, and a hand painted antique silver finish. MSRP of $219 (medium) and $239 (large). www.tocapercussion.com Casio XW-G1 Groove Synthesizer for DJs Casio's XW-G1 groove synthesizer is designed for the DJ and club performer, providing an interactive step sequencer and a sample looper for digitally capturing performance patterns and external instruments. A six-oscillator monophonic solo synth is just one of its impressive sound engines. A 19-second sample looper captures internal sounds as well as external instruments, allowing the performer to create layers and overdub sounds on the fly. Providing everything from pulsing dance grooves to animated synth textures and arpeggios, the onboard Step Sequencer is the first of its kind. With nine tracks for drums, basses, synths and chordal parts; four controller tracks for adding panning, filter changes and other animation to existing parts; and eight patterns making up each sequence; users can build and mix their performances on the fly. Sequences can even transpose live from the keyboard, providing a completely interactive experience. www.casiomusicgear.com G7th Performance Capos Sport New Packaging G7th Performance Black and Gold capos now feature special packaging marking them as a member of G7th's "Performance" family of products. Each package incorporates a special area for the G7th custom tin. "We had been asked by our dealers to package the Gold and Black Performance capos in the same style as the rest of the range," said Nick Campling, designer and CEO of G7th. "It is exactly two years since we first showed the Performance Gold and Black models, and now is a good time for a re-design. These new additions will give our customers the products they want, with the quality and standards associated with the G7th brand. We're excited about the reaction we'll get from our distributors and dealers." www.g7th.com Flagship Roland V-Drums Now With SuperNATURAL Sounds SuperNATURAL sounds and advanced Behavior Modeling help Roland's new flagship TD-30KV and TD-30K V-Drums kits respond to all the subtleties, nuances, and dynamics of a drummer's technique. First developed for Roland's synthesizers and pianos, these leading-edge technologies deliver a quantum leap in realism in both sound and expression for digitally emulating drums, percussion, and other traditional instruments. The new TD-30s also offer an improved V-Hi-Hat and V-Pads, and many more enhancements. Loaded with 1,100 instruments (including many new sounds) and 100 drum kits, the TD-30 Drum Sound Module includes an ultra-realistic ambience feature that emulates overhead mics and room sounds. Like all Roland TD series modules, all internal drum kits are user programmable for creating customized settings and kits. The TD-30 features the familiar, intuitive V-Drums V-Edit interface, and its rear panel offers multiple audio outputs and MIDI I/O. Two USB ports allow users to play audio files from convenient flash media, as well as connect directly to computers for MIDI over USB. The TD-30KV kit features snare and four tom V-Pads with updated rim sensors for ultra-accurate dynamics detection and rim shot depth. Equipped with standard pad components, the TD-30K gives drummers a pro-level recording set with the expressiveness of the new TD-30 sound module. The new MDS-12V drum rack includes an internal cable management system for a clean, professional look. www.RolandConnect.com Pianoforce Works Across Mobile Platforms Whether you have an Android phone or tablet or one made by Apple, it doesn't matter when it comes to controlling a Pianoforce Player System. With the new Pianoforce Remote for Android, users have all the control and functionality that Apple owners have enjoyed. The Pianoforce remote allows users to adjust the volume or expression, change from one internal album to another, play a CD, play from stored MIDI and audio on a memory stick or computer hard drive, or even set the piano to turn on and wake them the next morning--all from their phone or tablet. Coupled with Pianoforce's new PASS (Pianoforce Acoustical Sound System), the piano's accompaniment track never sounded better. The system is designed as a 2.1 system featuring a separate subwoofer and two satellite speakers. The Pianoforce Acoustical Sound System incorporates 80 watts of power, an integrated digital amplifier, and a subwoofer with reflex bass plus integrated midrange/treble speakers for a truly life-like audio sound to accompany the player piano's performance. www.pianoforce.com New K Constantinoples From Zildjian Zildjian has unveiled new K Constantinople crash cymbals--15", 17", and 19"--to complement the 16" and 18" models already in the line. These instruments feature a new hammering technique, an additional pin lathe on the top and bottom, and new vintage style cups (on the 15" and 17" models). These new features, which are also found on K Constantinople 14" hi-hats and 16" and 18" crashes, allow the cymbal to maintain the dark, expressive quality of the K Constantinople line sought by drummers the world over and produce even more dark overtones and nuances. The new pin lathe pattern also gives the cymbals an appearance similar to earlier Ks from the '60s. The 15" and 17" crashes are thin. The 19" K Constantinople Crash Ride, which provides additional performance capabilities and a left side alternative, is medium-thin. www.zildjian.com LP Jingle Kick Latin Percussion's new Jingle Kick is a jingle stick with a built-in 1/4" steel rod that can be inserted into an auxiliary bass drum pedal equipped with an LP Fusheki Bracket for independent use. The Jingle Kick can be used to replace a bass drum pedal beater to add a distinctive tambourine effect every time the kick drum is struck. It's made of durable, hi-impact ABS material and is equipped with six pairs of dimpled brass jingles to produce a bright, crisp sound to every downbeat. MSRP $43.99. www.lpmusic.com Amati's Guitars Smash $80 Barrier Amati's Fine Instruments has redefined affordability with its new Sandner brand A110 and A110C acoustic guitars. For a limited time, these instruments are priced at just $79 dealer net, including a padded gig bag. They feature a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and chrome die-cast tuners. This special offer ends April 30, 2012. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Amati's Fine Instruments offers a wide range of instruments for every player, including 46 violins, 30 violas, 17 cellos, and six basses. Every instrument is professionally adjusted in the company's workshops to meet or exceed MENC standards. www.amatis.us Yamaha Revamps Power-Lite Series Yamaha's updated 6300 Power-Lite Series of marching bass drums, snares, and multi-toms offers expanded options and advanced features at the same affordable price as the 6200s it replaces. Geared toward middle school children and youth community marching band programs, 6300 Power-Lite Series features lighter-weight equipment, is easy to tune, and uses ultra-durable, high-end materials to ensure a rich sound and more vivid musical expression. Power-Lite Series bass drums feature shallow depths, making them easy to carry. Nine-ply birch shells are manufactured with Yamaha's exclusive Air-Seal system to help ensure a warm tone. Sound impact strips deliver improved clarity and ease of tuning. With sizes ranging from 16" to 28", all 6300 Power-Lite Series bass drums come standard with white Remo Ambassador bass drumheads. The Power-Lite marching snare drum now comes in two different sizes, 13x11and 14x12. The six-ply birch shell is complemented with 1.6mm, triple flange steel rims and zinc alloy lug casings with reinforced walls and webbing for superior strength, flexibility, and portability. It also features Yamaha's Air Seal System for a pure, fundamental tone. The snare also features 20-strand, high-carbon steel wires for a crisp response and bright sound, as well as three protective feet and an ET carrier clip for easy, quick, and secure attachment. Available in multiple configurations, the 6300 Power-Lite Series Multi-Toms are modeled after the 8200 Field-Corps Series and uses the same high-strength lug casing and maximum tonal protection (MTP) cut to provide exceptional sound and resilience. An in-round six-ply birch and beech shell tunes clearer and provides a pure fundamental tone, while a 5.4mm steel tension rod provides easy, consistent tuning without adding unnecessary weight. www.yamaha.com String Swing Stylz Customize Guitar Display String Swing invites retailers to "put your personal style on display" with Stylz by String Swing. The line combines the strength and durability of String Swing's ever-popular CC01K guitar hangers with a choice of six bold, eye-catching designs. Stylz presents a fresh new look while continuing to deliver the quality expected from String Swing: powder-coated steel cradles, cushy headstock padding, and a sturdy wall-mount back plate. All are made in the USA and guaranteed for life. www.stringswing.com LOXX "Easy On, Easy Off" Strap Locks New LOXX Strap Locks facilitate one-handed, "easy on--easy off" convenience for guitarists. Engineered and manufactured in Germany, LOXX complement the cutting-edge guitar straps and drum stick bags of California-based Get'm Get'm Wear, the product's exclusive distributor in the USA. LOXX eliminate the need to struggle with a strap lock, as well as the frustration of nuts and washers falling off halfway through a performance. LOXX strap locks engage and release with an easy, one-handed action. With its inner spring and high-grade materials, LOXX strap lock system ensures ultimate instrument protection, retaining its ease of use even under the most extreme conditions. LOXX secure valuable instruments with a pull-out force of more than 220 lbs. LOXX are also suited for use with accordions, drumstick bags, etc., and are made to work with a broad range of strap sizes and thicknesses. A multi-purpose tool is included. Artists currently using the LOXX strap lock system include Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Seether, Bullet For My Valentine, and many others.   www.loxxusa.com TRX Unveils Dark Icon Micro-Series Cymbals In a twist on its Icon Series cymbals, TRX has added the new Dark Icon micro-series, distinguished by their heavily-hammered, natural playing surface and lathed, brilliantly finished underside. These ultra-thin-weight cymbals provide an extremely deep, dark, vintage tone, lightning-fast response, and unconventional, two-tone appearance. In addition, each Dark Icon cymbal features an ingenious series of small holes at strategic locations to facilitate the installation and removal of rivets, jingles and other increasingly popular sound-modifiers and custom effects. Although they are unlabeled as to type, Dark Icons are versatile enough to be used as rides, crashes and crash-rides in a variety of musical styles and situations. Dark Icons are available in 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 21", 22" and 23" models and in 13", 14" and 15" matched hi-hats. Jingles, rivets, and other sound modifiers will be released at a later date. www.trxcymbals.com Toca Bougarabou African Mask Drum Toca' new Bougarabou African Mask Drum adds deep and resonant bass tones any drum circle. It's hand-carved from a single piece of environmentally-friendly, plantation-grown mahogany. The shell features an elongated shaped bowl that gives the drum its deep, rich timbre. The drum stands 14" tall and has a 12" diameter calfskin head. MSRP $359. www.tocapercussion.com Deeleebob Music Offers Versatile Effect Rack The Effect Rack by Deeleebob Music, designed to hold a 1U rack mount device, will also hold a 1/2 rack 1U space device, audio interface, iPad, sound modile, wireless system, or most any other device used with an amplifier. It also doubles as a music stand. The bracket device allows for safe carriage and easy access to a variety of devices normally placed haphazardly on top of or beside an amplifier. The Effect Rack uses a friction clamping action to hold its cargo, making it a versatile and reliable solution for musicians, studio owners, technicians, and music enthusiasts. Resistant to shock and vibration, it fits inside a soft case with an effect unit and has a place in any musician's arsenal of stands, pedals, and rack devices. The Effect Rack is priced at $29.95. U.S. and international patents pending. www.theeffectrack.com Audix Introduces Another First: Band Packs Audix has introduced two professional band packs with essential mics for any band or stage performance--the BP5 PRO and BP7 PRO, with studio quality Audix microphones--as well as two affordable, equivalent band packs, the BP5F (MSRP $495) and BP7F (MSRP $650) with mics from the company's popular dynamic Fusion Series. These packs include five or seven microphones that have been used by artists, engineers, and sound companies for many years. The BP5 PRO (MSRP $775) is a five-piece professional microphone pack that includes the D6 and i5 instrument mics, industry standards for miking kick and snare drums, plus the world-class OM5 lead vocal dynamic microphone and two OM2 dynamic vocal mics for support. The BP7 PRO (MSRP $975) is the same robust package with two additional i5 dynamic microphones for miking guitar and bass cabinets a well as a wide variety of instruments. www.audixusa.com Titanic Guitars Honor Belfast Craftsmanship Limited-edition Titanic Guitars, designed by a Belfast company to remember the historic ship, received a tremendous response at the winter NAMM show. A century ago, the Titanic was built at the Harland & Wolf shipyard in Belfast, long home to a world class tradition of craftsmanship. A group of Belfast luthiers honor that tradition with a unique line of guitars that pay homage to the Titanic. This series comprises eight custom models (four acoustic and four electric), each model limited to 100 pieces. Every guitar features select solid wood, a custom-made hard-shell case, a limited-edition engraved G7th capo, custom leather strap, and D'Addario strings, plus a numbered certificate of authenticity. The acoustic models are fitted with the Fishman Matrix VT system. The model names make reference to Titanic history, including the Belfast Goliath, Jack of Hearts, and New York Dreadnought, to name a few. Prices range from $800 to $2,150. www.titanicguitars.com Alfred Sound Innovations for Guitar Alfred Music Publishing's Sound Innovations for Guitar utilizes solid pedagogy and ground-breaking technology to provide students and teachers with the skills needed to play modern guitar, with a focus on real-world guitar skills. Presented in a solid, linear approach, lessons focus on core guitar skills like strumming and fingerpicking, chords, playing pivotal rock and blues riffs, improvising, reading music, and applying music theory. All skills are presented in the context of great repertoire ranging in style from folk to blues, flamenco, rock, and classical music. Focused goals and benchmarks are included, organized into six levels with clean page layouts for quick identification of concepts. Students can practice with the included DVD, which has three and a half hours of video lessons to explain and demonstrate all the concepts and techniques covered in the book. MP3 recordings are included for every example and song in the book, with play-along accompaniments and specialized instructional tracks featuring concise explanations and demonstrations of all new concepts and techniques are embedded on the DVD. The built-in SI Player software allows tracks to be slowed down and sections looped for continuous practice. The book/DVD is designed so that even band, orchestra, and choral directors, with little experience on the guitar, can easily teach a guitar class that really focuses on the skills and music young guitarists want and need. www.alfred.com/SIguitar Adam Audio Adds A77X Monitor To AX Series Adam Audio's new A77X monitor features the most extensive frequency response, widest dynamic range, and highest compression-free SPL levels of any AX Series monitor to date while also offering the series' most accurate bass reproduction. With its enhanced power and radiation characteristics, the A77X is the first AX Series product to function effectively both as a nearfield and midfield monitor. The A77X's two 7" woofers are equipped with 1.5" large voice coils and powerful 100W PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) amplifiers. These woofers cover separate frequency bands: One handles the (sub-) bass frequencies from approximately 400Hz down to 37Hz. The second woofer reproduces most of the midrange frequencies, eliminating interference between the two drivers to provide precise deep lower register reproduction and higher maximum sound pressure levels. The latest expression of Adam's proprietary X-ART tweeter, powered by its own 50W A/B amplifier, enables the A77X to extend its upper frequency response to 50kHz while producing higher SPLs in that range as well. MSRP $1,399 per speaker. www.adam-audio.com  Remo's Extra-Sturdy X14 Head Inspired by the award-winning line of X series drumheads, Remo has introduced the X14 snare drumhead, constructed from a coated single ply of 14 mil polyester film for added durability. Offering extreme single-ply durability, the 14 mil single-ply coated film produces darker midrange tones with greater attack and volume. It is 40% thicker than Remo's popular Coated Ambassador head, and 20% thicker than the Ambassador X head. "The X14 is the world's most durable single-ply drumhead," said Bob Yerby, Remo's vice president of sales and marketing. Remo artists Derek Roddy and Mark Schulman are currently using the X14. Schulman said, "It has the sound characteristics of Ambassador with the durability of Emperor, a dream come true." www.remo.com Deering Introduces Phoenix Electric Banjo Deering's new Phoenix is a lightweight six-string electric banjo with blend and volume controls and two pickups. Built in Deering's California facility, the Phoenix features both a piezo and a humbucker Kavanjo pickup mounted to a Renaissance head, offering a broad range of tone characterized by a balanced bass, mid-range, and treble. The blend pot allows the player to blend the pickups, giving this new Phoenix a sonic versatility never before heard from a banjo. While it can be played acoustically in all styles of music, the Phoenix truly comes to life in an amplified setting. This resonator six-string banjo features hardware with a state-of-the-art, thermo-set polymer finish in a stunning antique gold. The violin-grade maple pot and neck both receive a rich dark amber satin finish, which, when combined with Deering's unique slender neck profile, gives the player a low-friction, fast, and responsive playing surface. www.deeringbanjos.com New High-End Tube Mics From Lewitt Audio Vienna-based Lewitt Audio's new externally polarized LCT 840 and LCT 940 tube microphones are equipped with a precision-engineered 1" capsule and deliver exceptionally warm and classic vintage sound. Featuring five switchable polar patterns and distinguished by a wide dynamic range and extremely low self-noise, the LCT 840 is equipped with a specially coated and interference-resistant plexiglass inspection window on the front side of the body that exposes the illuminated tube. The flagship LCT 940 is equipped with both a tube-based and a FET-based impedance converter to combine the specific sonic characteristics of a premium large-diaphragm condenser microphone and a top-notch tube microphone in one housing. Users can choose between the two main settings: "Crystal," for a clear, exceptionally rich and nuanced sound; and "Tube" for a classic warm, rich tube sound. A total of nine different polar patterns--omni-directional, cardioid, figure 8, wide- and super-cardioid--plus four additional intermediate patterns round out the LCT 940's feature list. Lewitt microphones are distributed in North America by TruNorth Music & Sound. www.trunorthmusicandsound.com www.lewitt-audio.com Harmon Releases New Mutes From Archived Designs The Harmon Mute Company has released four new styles of trumpet mutes based on designs from the '30s and '40s. Two new Wow-Wow mutes have been created that complement the raspy lyrical qualities of the original Harmon Wow-Wow mute with a crisp symphonic tone. The new metal cup mute showcases the big band sound with an adjustable cup. The new straight mute projects a raspy nasal sound, perfect for section & solo work. All the new products are available in aluminum and copper beginning late January 2012. Harmon mutes shipped in 2012 will feature new retail packaging that showcases the rich history of Harmon and provides a focal point for the accessory section of any retailer. www.harmonmutecompany.com Santo Angelo Mute Series Cables Raso Music Accessories, distributor of Santo Angelo Cables, has introduced the innovative MUTE series. The intuitive 1/4" plug MUTE connector avoids the use of alternative ON/OFF switches, featuring instead a lateral button that, when simply pressed down, cuts the guitar's audio signal--allowing the guitarist to quickly change instruments without having to turn off the amplifier. The audio signal returns at the instant the button is released. These cables' 20 AWG and double shielded conductors are made with OFC Copper. This combination allows for a much clearer audio signal and zero external interference. Their packaging is made with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) paper and other recycled components. This initiative reflects Raso's concern for the sustainability of our planet along with its dedication to quality. www.rasomusic.com www.rasocables.com Mi-Si Crystal Pickup System Mi-Si's new Crystal pickup system allows a player to easily upgrade their passive piezo pickup with a modern, battery-free technology. This light, active pre-amp features Mi-Si's exclusive "quack"-less custom piezo linearization for an extremely clean, true, and natural sound. NAMM Booth 3535 www.mi-si.com American Recorder Anti-Reflection Panel The ARP-101 Anti-Reflection Panel from American Recorder Technologies, Inc. is a lightweight and affordable panel that eliminates annoying sound reflection waves in audio recording. This new design features a 7.5" x 6" perforated  aluminum panel with specially designed acoustic foam, mounted on a 12" gooseneck with microphone stand clamp. Reflective waves, which exist in rooms with hard glass, metal and tile surfaces, adversely affect recordings, creating unwanted time delay as well as muddling vocals' mid-range frequency coloration. The ARP-101 is a simple and effective solution that dramatically improves room acoustics while allowing for accurate control of reflective sound waves, thus significantly improving recording quality. This standalone panel can be used with any brand or style of microphone. MSRP is $49.95. www.americanrecorder.com