We’ve broken down some of the year’s notable products into price categories to make it easy for you to make sure you’ve got your shelves stocked with attractive goods at every price point.ith memories of summer vacations fast fading, the holiday season is now well underway for retailers who’ve been planning for months about how to best capitalize on this year’s holiday shopping season. For 2013, MMR is skipping the big ticket items in favor of a treasure trove of often overlooked smaller items – pieces of merchandise that make for great turns with increased holiday foot traffic. These products could have magical ways of adding up by the time we reach 2014.
We’ll start with the items really priced to move at $25 or below. Holiday business is all about impulse buys for customers looking to knock off as many empty checkboxes on their shopping lists as possible, so a variety of items that can appeal to an unsure buyer while seeming easy on the wallet is essential. These items fit the bill to a T.
Under $25
The FAXX Saxophone Strap (from American Way Marketing) is built with an ergonomic neoprene pad with a sturdy swivel hook for a secure connection, making a good step-up option for students ($19.95).
Alfred Music has a number of products available at every possible price point. One enticing buy is Alfred’s Music Playing Cards: Classical Composers, designed to help students become familiar with great composers. The cards – a regular poker deck with suits divided into four eras of music (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic) ($6.99).
It’s tough to innovate in the field of guitar accessories, but Option Knob introduced this year a remarkable simple tool that can change mechanics of twisting knobs on both guitars and stomp boxes. The VKnob swaps in for a guitar’s volume knob and creates an easy-to-reach lever for volume adjustments while in the middle of performing ($12.95).
Under $50
Korg enters into the micro-tuner market with the PitchHawk Clip-On Tuner. The Korg’s PitchHawk Clip-On Tuner. It features a newly-designed clip and high contrast display, plus an alert to avoid over-winding the E string. The newly designed clip is compact with an ultra-tight grip and can accommodate a guitar or bass headstock (PitchHawk-G) or ukulele headstock (PitchHawk-U), and provides multi-angle positioning. A CR2032-type lithium battery (included) powers the PitchHawk for up to 75 hours. ($29.99).
A solid turn can always be expected from eye-catching guitar straps. For example, check out Levy’s Leathers’ “Hawaiian Design Ukulele Straps,” inspired by the designs found on the loud shirts for which the islands are famous (or infamous). Each 1” wide sublimation-printed polyester strap features a plastic sound-hole hook and tri-glide adjustment. Also available in a 1/2’ width (model MP22 not pictured) ($31.56).
In the B&O segment, the award-winning Things 4 Strings® bow accessories are designed to shape and stabilize bow holds – essentially moving beginning players to a functional bow hold. They come in handy for beginners, continuing players, therapists, and general school orchestra programs. ($29.95)
A continuing trend in print music is the development of “sheet music” designed for tablets, and Ac-Cetera recently introduced a helpful tool to take advantage of that momentum. Their is a line of clamping systems for iPad, iPhone, tablets and other Smart Devices, and it allows hands-free access by clamping to any structure up to two inches or threading to a microphone stand. (iPhone model: $31; iPad/tablet model: $60).
Recent entrants into the hearing protection, EARasersTM High Fidelity earplugs have continued a run at the market with a “flat frequency response” system. Built using soft, medical grade silicone, product’s “V” filters reduce peaks in volume as necessary up to 19db while keeping highs and lows at normal levels, mean they result in clear hearing at all levels and can stay in during normal conversations ($39.95–$49.95).
Strings are a tried-and-true last-minute purchase, but greasing the wheels with a little added value never hurts. D’Addario introduced a few different bundle options that include Planet Waves string lubricants and guitar humidifiers in some cases. For example, the company’s best-selling electric sets, (EXL110, EXL120, and EXL115), are now available as a Holiday Bundle 3-Pack of strings bundled with a free Planet Waves Pick Holder, which holds 4-5 medium-heavy gauge picks. The pick holder includes a hook and loop tab ($26.75).
Curious shoppers with music lovers on their lists will always be interested in checking out what’s new in print music departments, and publishers are sure to ramp up their offerings to accommodate. Hal Leonard recently introduced the handsome Eric Clapton – Day by Day (The Early Years: 1963-1982) from Backbeat Books. Marc Roberty’s unique book presents Clapton’s professional life in music in a day-by-day format, giving details of which bands he joined and left, all recordings made, and more. Both volumes are available for $39.99, with a Deluxe Set available for $90.
Daisy Rock Guitars’ Scamp Mini Belt Clip Amp is a tiny three-watt portable guitar amplifier complete with volume, gain, and tone controls. The amp clips onto belts, guitar straps, and purses, and also includes a built-in tabletop stand. Powered by a nine-volt battery or adapter ($49.99).
Not to be left out are the drummers in the family, for which accessory company Drummax has introduced a new beater called the Bullet Bass Drum Beater, which features a shorter shaft and added weight for quick and powerful action ($44.99).
Finally, never leave out the simple category of novelty gift as a helpful item in your inventory. AIM Gifts offers thousands, including their new Crystal Design Handbag and Clutch Wallets. The handbag measures 12.5-inch x 7-inch and the clutch zipper and clasp wallet measures 7.5-inch x 4.5-inch (all bag options under $50).
Under $100
Littlite Gooseneck Task Lights make for convincing pick-ups for a number of different customers – working on mixing boards, lighting consoles, workbenches, and more. They’re available with a variety of connectors, gooseneck lengths in halogen and LED models and are compatible with any console with a 12-volt task light connector ($43.60 to $90.30).
American Way Marketing offers convenient hard rubber mouthpiece kits that make for convincing step-up purchases. The FAXX BH Clarinet Hard Rubber Mouthpiece Kit ($69.95) is a faithful replica of the HS* BH clarinet mouthpiece. The F402-C* FAXX Alto Sax Hard Rubber Mouthpiece Kit (Alto – $94.95, Tenor – $102.95) is a faithful replica of the expensive square chamber mouthpieces. Both models include a ligature, cap, and moisture absorbing mouse.
Alfred’s commemorative The Rolling Stones: 50 Songs for 50 Years hard cover contains full guitar TAB transcriptions for 50 early Stones songs, culled from their ABKCO years, as well as a section of the “most classic” Keith Richards riffs. Songs include “Paint It, Black,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Brown Sugar,” “Let It Bleed,” and more ($59.99).
These days it’s an anomaly to find music fans without ukuleles on their wishlists, and manufacturers have spent years working out attractive packages. The Hal Leonard Ukulele Starter Pack includes a uke that’s ready to play out of the box, along with a beginner’s book authored by uke master Lil’ Rev. The pack also includes a CD with 46 demo and play-along tracks and a DVD with musical examples and demonstrations ($79.99).
Meanwhile, MOD Kits are proving to be an intriguing buy for technically curious musicians. The Persuader Deluxe Pedal Kit allows guitarists to build their own tube distortion unit. Four dual triode vacuum tubes are included with each kit (JJ 5751, 12AX7B China, JJ 12AU7 and NOS US-made 12AT7) which can be swapped to create a wide range of tones ($99.95).
Under $200
The under-$200 price point offers a unique blend of quality and affordability, giving customers a chance to find gifts at another level of value. Amati’s Fine Instruments Ukuleles come in a variety of woods (zebrawood, ebony, mahogany, walnut, and koa), available from prices between $109 to $199 (they also have a line of “Amahi” Hawaiian print ukuleles available at MAPs of $39).
Instrument Care Apparel Instrument Covers are a three-layer protective and decorative cover for brass and woodwind instruments while they sit out on their instrument stands. The three-layer construction is lined with a soft fabric, cushioned with a layer of foam for protection, while the exterior is offered in a variety of fabrics ($109.99-$124.99).
Alfred offers a number of starter kits – their Kid’s Guitar Starter Pack (Acoustic Edition) includes a ¾-size Firebrand acoustic guitar with nylon strings, a gig bag, a Firebrand portable tuner (batteries included), picks, and Alfred’s Kid’s Guitar Course (book, CD, DVD, and software). That’s $149.99.
The new Reunion Blues Aero Series is an aerodynamically shaped line of guitar and bass cases. Features include the shock-absorbing Flexoskeleton protection system and reinforced EVA impact panels. The cases also feature a contoured “Zero G” handle, two hidden pockets for convenient accessory storage, and padded backpack straps ($179.95).
JodyJazz HR* mouthpieces are “perennial best-sellers,” featuring a round, medium-sized chamber suited for traditional jazz, big band, straight-ahead, and bebop, but also has the power needed for modern styles (Soprano and Alto – $159, Tenor – $169).
Kaces’ 5-Ply Hardshell Guitar Cases include a durable PVC outside covering, reinforced outer valences stitched through the wood, and a padded interior with a wide neck block cradle the instrument to ensure optimal protection during transport. These cases are backed by aone-year limited warranty ($116.95 – $139.95).
Music accessories manufacturer Strukture’s SK2T 2-Tier Keyboard Column Stand (from Ace Products) is constructed of heavy-duty steel and lightweight aluminum. Each stand includes two sets of height adjustable arms, which retract into the center column of the stand for easy storage. Each set of arms accommodates one keyboard up to 110 pounds. SK2T stands also conveniently include a threaded attachment for a mic clip or boom arm ($199.95).
Under $300
ADK’s ADK A6 (designed with acoustic guitars in mind), is designed to be reliable, versatile, and affordable. The A6 is low noise, yet can handle 131 dB with only 0.5 percent THD ($225).
Soundmatters’ DASH7 is a flat ¾ inch-high wireless pocket-portable Bluetooth soundbar speaker system and speakerphone provides a wide dynamic range omnidirectional sound in a thin size that slides into the purse or pocket. Available in red, black, and white ($249).
The Rockn Stompn Power Sequencer was recently released to stompbox enthusiasts. The ROCKN STOMPN RS–4 foot activated sequential power strip offers an affordable alternative to pro audio power sequencers of the past in a portable package ($299).
