Holiday Buyers Guide

With Summer NAMM disappearing farther and farther away in your rearview, it’s time to look into stocking up on the products you might have missed out on earlier in the year.

As retailers, you’re on the cusp of back to school season, but any experienced MI retailer knows that the time to gear up for the holidays is now.

We’ve broken down some of this year’s must have gift items into distinct pricing categories, making it easy for you to assure your shelves are stocked at every given price point.

Under $25

The Option Knob

The Oknob (MSRP: $9.95) is an invention that allows you to control your effects pedal by using your foot to adjust the sound while performing.  Simply pull off the factory knob and push on the Option Knob, then use your toes to tap the wings of the Oknob left and right to alter the effect.  Choose any parameter you wish to have real-time control over and unlock the full play potential of your pedal and live expression! 

Ever needed that extra edge of distortion? Ever wanted real-time control of your tremolo rate, delay time, or modulation? A simple, compact and inexpensive solution is finally here!  The Oknob.

D’Addario NYXL Line Extension

D’Addario is thrilled to announce nine new sets to their strongest guitar string line ever, the NYXL ($20.55-$23.40). These additions will make 15 NYXL sets available, now including: 12- 60, 12-54, 13-56, 12-52, 11-56, 11-52, 9.5-44 and Balanced Tension 9-40 and 10-46.

The newly engineered, break-resistant, high-carbon steel core and plain steel alloy of NYXL strings delivers a whole new level of freedom, confidence, and power. NYXL’s provide more strength, and up to 131 percent greater tuning stability when compared to traditional nickel wound sets. The reformulated nickel-plated steel alloy has greater magnetic properties, resulting in higher output and enhanced mid-range frequency response, modernizing the overall tone without losing that well-loved nickel-plated steel feel. The NYXL took home the 2014 Summer NAMM “Best In Show” award and the 2015 MIPA award for “Best Innovative Product”.

Gig-A-Roo Mute & Stemware Holder

The Gig-A-Roo (MSRP: $11.99) holds stemware and/or horn mutes and fits snuggly on a standard mic stand. Use two or three to hold various mute sizes. It’s easy to install, repositionable, lightweight, and fits easily in an instrument case. Made of resilient spring steel and coated in protective PVC for grip and durability. Also fits on any vertical 1/2-inch tubing. The inside of the ring is 3 1/4 inches.

AIM Gifts

Enjoy a cup of eggnog with AIM Gifts new Mason Jar Mug while looking at their new line of Acrylic Ornaments that say Happy Holiday to any music lover.  AIM has 100’s of music designed holiday ornaments and gifts, and 1,000’s of Music Gift Accessories that is sure to make your cash register RING!!  Call 1-800-233-2800 or log on to www.aimgifts.com to request their Holiday Catalog or to place your order.

Under $100

The Airturn PED

The Airturn PED is the perfect controller for Bluetooth smart ready-equipped Mac, PC, iPad, or Android tablet. Take control of music reading, scrolling lyrics or guitar tabs, teleprompting, slide presentations, instrument effects or media control, and more. Configurations are also available for assistive technologies and common desktop document or presentation applications. Features include: Membrane touch foot switches for fast and quiet response; Thin profile – less than .7” (18mm) tall with anti-skid control on the base; Lithium ion (CR2032) battery lasts 6 months to a year; Second spare battery included in battery compartment; LED’s signal low battery and Bluetooth connection status; Mode Switch to change profiles for different uses. Works with iPad 3 and newer, Galaxy 4 and newer. Measures (L x W x H)  6″ x 4.5″ x .7″ (15.24cm x 11.43cm x 1.78cm) Weighs 5.3 oz (151 grams)

Backbone Guitar Resonance Enhancers

Backbone Guitar Resonance Enhancers (MSRP: $49-$69) are direct bolt-on replacements for the stock neckplates of Tele and Strat style guitars, forming a resonant, mechanical link between the neck, body, bridge and strings. Machined from lightweight aircraft aluminum, attach Backbone in place of the neck-plate and connect the base to the string ferrules or tremolo claw. They fit any guitar using the industry standard dimensions for bolt-on necks.

Henry Heller FlapStrap

The Henry Heller FlapStrap ($69) is a keeper! It stows your capo, harmonica, slide, and other guitarist essentials. This smart strap is 3.5” wide and made from soft supple Amalfi leather with a smooth garment leather back. Adorned with a sewn on flap pocket containing a magnetic dial closure. It adjusts to 58” max length. HSFLP-BLK and HSFLP-BRN pictured.

Prentice Practice Pads

In addition to patented adjustable angle, the sound and feel are the most important features of the pad. The pad is constructed of MDF 8”X8”x4” with a 6” gum rubber playing surface embedded for a realist feel and rebound. The top and bottom legs, attached by hook and loop, create a sound chamber. The easy adjustable angle and setup anywhere make for playing comfort. Our newest models feature an 8mm cymbal stand attachment which offers more options for placement. (MSRP: $59.99)

Under $250

LR Baggs Session DI

Inspired by the LR Baggs Handcrafted Video Sessions and their experience in some of Nashville’s great studios, the Session Acoustic DI (MAP: $249) brings signature studio sound to your live rig. The Session DI enhances your acoustic pickup and imparts the rich sonic character that you’d expect from an experienced audio engineer using some of the world’s finest studio gear. LR Baggs captured this studio magic and put it into a compact, easy-to-use DI that will transform your live sound.  Features include: Analog Saturation, which enhances warmth and harmonic content; Compression/EQ, which smoothes out common problem frequencies; 48V phantom power, 9V battery or 9V DC powering options; A mute footswitch for ¼” and XLR outputs; and a custom LR Baggs carrying case.

EMG ACS Soundhole System

The ACS employs a unique internal preamp that’s been tailored for the phase and frequency response of an acoustic guitar while still retaining a brilliant top-end favored in acoustic guitar tone. EMG’s active design delivers the kind of response, output, and quiet performance needed in a soundhole pickup. Easy installation with EMG’s exclusive Solderless Install system.

Electric Loog Blue

It’s finally here, and it’s spectacular! The Electric Loog ($199) is fun, cute, and small, but it’s not a toy: it’s a real guitar, made out of real wood and equipped with a screaming lipstick-style pickup that sounds amazing whatever style you play. We designed this guitar to make it fun and easy to play music. We also believe that when you build your own guitar you develop a deep connection with it, and that is why we ship your Loog unassembled. Putting it together only takes 15 minutes but it’s a profound experience that will help you understand and love the instrument. Features include: Adjustable-height bridge for low string action, enhanced playability and D’Addario strings.

On-Stage KPK6500 Bundle

On-Stage has three new bundles that are the perfect add-on pitch to any keyboard sale. All three bundles come equipped with On-Stage’s most popular KS7190 X-Style Keyboard Stand and the classic KT7800 X-Style Keyboard Bench, as well as a choice of sustain pedals. The original KPK6500 Bundle recently won Best-In-Show: “Gotta Stock It” at Summer NAMM 2015. Judges chose the bundle because it allows their sales team to suggest one add-on product to a keyboard purchase, as opposed to three. This flexibility makes the purchasing decision for the customer a lot easier.

 The KPK6500 Series includes the following models: KPK6500: Includes the KS7190 Single-X Keyboard Stand and KT7800 X-Style Keyboard Bench. MSRP $101.99; KPK6520: Includes the KS7190 Single-X Keyboard Stand and KT7800 X-Style Keyboard Bench, with the KSP20 Keyboard Sustain Pedal. MSRP $121.99; KPK6550: Includes the KS7190 Single-X Keyboard Stand and KT7800 X-Style Keyboard Bench, with the KSP100 Keyboard Sustain Pedal. MSRP $144.99.

Under $500

Yamaha reface Series

Create your sound any place, any time with Yamaha reface Mobile Mini Keyboards (MSRP: $799 each). Featuring battery-operation and built-in speakers, reface goes from studio to stage to sofa with ease. Reface YC features five great organs while reface CP is an electric piano with six sounds and five effects. Analog physical modeling powers reface CS and reface DX is inspired by the iconic DX7.

Blue Microphones Bluebird

Bluebird (MSRP $299.99) is a Class A large-diaphragm condenser microphone for recording any sound source. With a proprietary hand-tuned capsule, transformerless design and discrete circuitry, Bluebird delivers brilliant highs, punchy mids and rich lows. Capture vocals that stand out in the mix, express the true tone of your guitars, and enhance the warmth of stringed instruments and brass—all with one microphone. Comes with S3 shock and custom pop filter.

Audio Technica AT2020USBi Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Modeled after Audio-Technica’s critically acclaimed AT2020 microphone, the AT2020USBi cardioid condenser (MSRP: $359.00) is a high-resolution (24-bit/96 kHz) digital output mic that works with PC, Mac and iOS devices (USB and Lightning cables included). The mic’s smooth extended frequency response makes it an ideal choice for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording and voiceover use. Includes an integrated gain control.

Under 1,000

JodyJazz DV Alto

The DV Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece ($550) from JodyJazz Inc is their best-selling metal mouthpiece model and one of the most popular Alto sax mouthpieces in the world. The ‘DV Alto’ is handcrafted to exacting standards in the JodyJazz factory in Savannah, GA. Company founder Jody Espina applied the concept of the ‘Golden Section Proportions’ to create the patented secondary window design that eliminates the shrillness associated with other metal alto mouthpieces. Made from 24kt Gold Plated bell-brass, the ‘DV Alto’ is extraordinarily free-blowing delivering effortless power and projection with an unusually full tone.