Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Jim Daddario visits the Music Spot



The Music Spot was honoured to have a visit from Jim D'addario on Friday. It was a pleasure to get to know him and here about where Daddario is heading into the future. Below is a brief history of the D'addario company.

In 1918, Charles D’Addario began manufacturing his strings stateside in a tiny garage shop behind the family home  in Astoria. As this was a family business, most of its members learned the trade and worked in the shop.. Even the children were recruited to help during busy periods, doing such chores as labeling, packaging and sorting the strings. Charles personally marketed his strings to violin makers and musicians, never hesitating to travel to make demonstrations. He was obsessed with the quality of his product and often sought the advice and opinions of the great musicians of the time.



Beginning in 1936 , John D’Addario Sr., Charles and his wife, , would work side-by-side with his father. At that time the company was renamed C. D’Addario & Son, and it would be John’s interest in alternative synthetic substitutes for the unreliable and messy animal gut that would mark another considerable milestone for the trade. 

John, Sr. was anxious to include other instruments beyond the classical guitar strings that they made to order, but Charles was reluctant to expand the family business. In 1956, with his father’s blessing, John, Sr. entered into a partnership to produce steel strings and electric strings for the guitar and bass. The new company would be named Archaic Musical String Manufacturing Co. and would be run by John D’Addario, Sr., Albert Morante, and his brother-in-law, Gino Burelli.

For some time the two companies, C. D’Addario & Son and Archaic Musical String Mfg Co., would operate separately,  When Charles retired in 1962, John, Sr. decided to merge the two companies together under a new name, Darco Music Strings, Inc. By now, the guitar was the single most popular instrument in the country, and its impact on the changing world was unmistakable.


Darco grew quickly due to innovations and breakthroughs led by John D’Addario, Sr. The company would lead the industry with the first automated equipment to wind strings, the first round wound electric bass strings, and many other innovations still in use today by manufacturers around the world.

The late 1960s brought another generation of D’Addarios into the family business, with John D’Addario, Jr. the first addition to the fold. John D’Addario Sr.’s five children were no strangers to the string business. 

Under the ever-present guidance and experience of their father, John, Jr. and James would bring nothing but success to Darco. As the company grew more and more successful, the D'Addarios were eventually approached by premier guitar manufacturer C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. to pool resources and share development efforts. The two companies merged, and after a few profitable years together, the D’Addarios decided it was time for them to separate from Martin to develop their own product under the name that would endure until today, D’Addario & Company, Inc. After eight generations of string making, the first strings bearing the D’Addario brand name were introduced; the year was 1974.

A NEW BEGINNING

D’Addario's first factory was in Lynbrook, New York, and the initial staff consisted of only five employees. As always, it was a real family operation with John, Sr., John, Jr. and James leading the company's growth and business plans

The brothers embarked on a rigorous program of research and development. They created a world-renowned line of products in the field, establishing D’Addario as a premier manufacturer of bowed instrument strings. D’Addario’s guitar and bass strings were already a great success. The brand was continually gaining in popularity and securing a sizeable share of the market.


In 1984, the company relocated to a larger facility to handle the increased demand for their product, and the production staff ballooned to 150 employees. This would not be the last time the company would find itself busting at the seams of its factory space. Operations have expanded on several occasions since, with the largest expansion in 1994, when the company relocated to a new 110,000-square foot facility in Farmingdale. Today D’Addario & Company, Inc. occupies a total of 190,000-square feet at its Farmingdale headquarters, an additional 51,000-square feet at the Rico manufacturing facility in California, and employs more than 900 people, each one of them making an invaluable contribution to what has always been a family business. A distribution center in California handles shipments to the West, and satellite offices in Chicago and Los Angeles cater to musicians across the nation. D’Addario Canada is a third distribution center, providing D’Addario products to Canada, while satellite sales offices in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and France help service the rest of D'Addario's global customer base.

The research and development arm of D’Addario is one of its strongest assets. Headed by James, the engineering department has accumulated many important manufacturing and product patents in the field. The company prides itself on identifying problems in their production and implementing solutions. This includes the work they’ve done on their newest product line additions, such as Evans Drumheads (1995) Planet Waves, an accessory line (1998), HQ Practice Products, drum silencing and silent practice products (2004) and Rico Reeds (2004).

FAMILY, SUCCESS AND FUTURE

The theory of keeping as much “in house” as possible has served the D'Addario family well.  But D’Addario’s unbounded success is also due in part to its worldwide distribution and dealer networks. The company markets its products in the United States through wholesale distributors and over 5,400 retail music stores. In addition, the export markets are handled by 120 distributors in 101 countries.



The Music Spot proudly supports D'Addario and has a large range of D'addario strings, Planet Wave products, Evans heads and Pro Mark sticks.    

Friday, March 27, 2015

Casio's New Celviano AP450 Digital Piano



The Music Spot has a great selection of Keyboards & Pianos, and the new Celviano AP450 from Casio is a beautiful Digital Piano that you can't miss!

The Casio Celviano Digital Piano was greatly enhanced from the last generation and featured some of Casio's latest technology. Utilizing a new tri-sensor springless 88-note scaled hammer action, every nuance and detail of your performance is captured. Full of expression and joie de vivre, the AP-450 unites truly authentic piano sounds and exceptionally realistic keystroke behaviour with versatile modern features such as an SD™ card slot and line-out. The Celviano is perfect for players at any level because of its extensive range of sound and functional options. The powerful speaker system (2 x 20 W) shows of the instrument's acoustic quality, while the elegant front console gives it an eye-catching appeal.
Specifications:
  • Bench included
  • 88 keys with touch response (3 sensitivity levels)
  • Simulated ebony and ivory keys
  • Tri-sensor scaled hammer action keyboard
  • 256-note polyphony
  • 18 built-in tones
  • Split and layer functions
  • Digital effects:
    • Reverb (4 types)
    • Chorus (4 types)
  • Brilliance: -3 ~ 0 ~ +3
  • Acoustic resonance
  • Music library: 60 songs
  • Duet mode
  • Metronome
  • Recorder: 2 tracks, 1 song
  • 3 pedals (damper, soft, sostenuto)
  • 2 speakers: 40 W total output (2 x 20 W)
  • USB port
  • 2 headphone jacks




At our superstore in Browns Plains, QLD we have both the black and brown versions, so come in and have a test drive today. Alternatively, you can purchase your own Celviano AP450 online HERE!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

DW 5 Piece Drum Kit Shell Pack in Clear Acrylic



Check out this cool new CLEAR acrylic shell pack at The Music Spot! Brisbane's home of great musical instruments.

DW has taken their custom drum-making experience and infused it into professional, quality drums that set a new standard for quality and affordability. This Design Series Acrylic 5-Piece Shell Pack is a DW kit through and through. From the newly-designed mini Turret lug, to Remo USA-made Suede "outline" logo heads, to a sleek silver and white badge, its looks are fresh and decidedly familiar. Custom-inspired features also include STM (Suspension Tom Mounts), True-Pitch Tuning, MAG throw-off, low-mass die cast claw hooks, and more.
FEATURES

Configuration -
Bass drum(s): 22" x 18"
Tom(s): 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
Floor tom(s): 16" x 14"
Snare: 14" x 5-1/2"
Total pieces: 5
Shells -
Shell material: Acrylic
Construction: Seamless
Thickness (mm): 5.5
Bearing edge: 45°

Drum Hardware -
Material: Steel
Mounts: Suspended
Hoops: Die-cast
Lugs: Standard

You can get your own DW 5 piece Drum Kit 22 inch Bass Drum in Clear Acrylic (Shell Pack Only)  HERE

We have all the great Drum Kits and accessories you need, and we get new stock in all the time so keep checking back! You can also find us on Facebook, Google Plus and Instagram.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

KRK ROKIT 6



KRK ROKIT MONITORS – GENERATION 3 at THE MUSIC SPOT in BRISBANE

KRK Systems is one of the world’s most respected manufacturers of studio reference monitors. In their state of the art design facility, KRK engineers create products that deliver natural and balanced spectral response with low distortion and superior imaging. KRK Studio Monitors have been the professional’s choice of recording engineers and artists for mixing and mastering hit records around the globe, as they need to hear every nuance of the audio being reproduced. KRK ROKIT Generation 3 monitors continue in this design philosophy, so regardless of your musical style, genre, or particular mixing needs, KRK Rokits deliver.

 ROKIT 6 Powered Monitor - Generation 3

KRK's ROKIT 6 G3 (Generation 3) powered studio monitors offer professional performance and accuracy for recording, mixing, mastering and playback. The system consists of a 1” soft dome tweeter and 6” glass-Aramid composite woofer. It delivers high frequencies up to 35kHz, vocal clarity and extended bass response. The proprietary bi-amped, class A/B amplifier grants SPL up to 107dB. The ROKIT waveguide is designed to ensure detailed imaging in the listening position. The front-firing bass port reduces boundary coupling to allow flexible positioning in the room while the engineered surface reduces diffraction distortion. Multiple input connections ensure the ROKIT 6 G3 will easily integrate in any system configuration.

In larger rooms, where smaller monitors might not provide enough headroom, the ROKIT 6 G3 provides enough backup for even larger set ups.

KRK ROKIT 6 G3 Features

Bi-amped, class A/B amplifier offering large headroom and low distortion
Proprietary waveguide optimized for superior imaging
1” Soft-dome tweeter provides pristine clarity and extended response up to 35kHz
High-frequency adjustment tailors the system to personal taste
Lightweight, glass-Aramid composite woofer delivers clear midrange and tight bass
Low-frequency adjustment tailors the monitors to taste and adjusts for room acoustics
Front Firing Port — Low-frequency extension while reducing boundary coupling
Radiused edges reduce distortion from diffraction
Low-resonance enclosure for minimized distortion and colorization
Multiple audio input connectors (XLR, ¼”, RCA) for universal connectivity in any studio environment
Factory installed foam pad provides isolation between the speaker and surface
Peak SPL : 107dB
Frequency Response 38Hz - 35kHz (+/- 1.5 dB)

KRK ROKIT 6 G3 Technical Specifications

Configuration:2-Way
System type:Active Studio Monitor
Low-Frequency:6" Aramid Glass Composite woofer
Mid-Frequency:N/A
High-Frequency:1" soft dome tweeter
Frequency Response:38Hz - 35kHz
Max Peak SPL:107 dB
Amplifier Class:Class A-B
Power Output:73W
High Frequency:25W
Mid-Frequency:N/A
Low Frequency:48W
Input Impedance (Ohms):10 K Ohm balanced
HF Level Adjust:-2dB, -1dB, 0, +1dB
System Volume:(-30dB - +6dB)
Indicators:Power
Input Connectors:
Unbalanced RCA
Balanced 1/4" TRS
Balanced XLR
Enclosure Construction:MDF
Finish:Black vinyl wrap
Port Configuration:Front firing slot port
Dimensions (D x W x H):10.87" (276mm) x 8.82" (224mm) x 13.0" (330mm)
Weight:19.4 lbs. (8.80 kg.)

You can get your own KRK ROKIT 6 HERE.


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai Signature Guitar



Steve Vai is one of the few who have changed the way we all think about what a guitar can really do.  Ibanez  has come up with some truly amazing, iconic, sublime, awe-inspiring, and outrageous models along the way. The Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai Signature Guitar is a spectacular instrument that features a perfectly contoured basswood body and a 5-piece maple and walnut bolt-on neck that provides easy access to all registers.
A 24-fret maple fingerboard is adorned with a colorful "Tree of Life" pattern inlay and has the high-speed JEM Premium profile that gives Steve Vai the playability he needs. The Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai Signature Guitar has a Cosmo Black hardware and includes Steve's "Monkey Grip" handle cut on the body and loaded with a pair of DiMarzio Gravity Storm humbuckers and a DiMarzio Evolution single-coil in the middle position. A perfect combination of design and playability needed for modern rock.
Features
Neck type:Wizard 5pc Maple/Walnut neck w/KTS™ TITANIUM rods
Body:American Basswood body
Fretboard:Maple fretboard w/Tree of Life inlay
Fret:Jumbo frets w/Premium fret edge treatment
Bridge:Edge-Zero II tremolo bridge
Neck Pickup:DiMarzio® Gravity Storm™ (H) neck pickup (Passive/Alnico)
Middle Pickup:DiMarzio® Evolution® (S) mid pickup (Passive/Alnico)
Bridge Pickup:DiMarzio® Gravity Storm™ (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Alnico)
Hardware Color:   Cosmo black
Case/Bag:Hardshell case included




You can get your own Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai Signature JEM Premium guitar HERE

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

DW Drum Pedal Double Chain with Plate

Introducing the 3000 Series pedals which are designed for every drummer. Big on features like dual-chain Turbo drive, bearing rocker assembly, 101 2-way beater and heavy-duty all-metal construction and more, with a price tag that’s in reach for more drummers. We think well-made pedals shouldn’t just be for the pros, they should be for all drummers.


Features

101 2-Way Beater:
101 2-Way Beater is an industry standard beater with high-impact plastic and felt surfaces to cover a range of musical applications.

Bearing Spring Rocker:
3000 pedals feature a Bearing Spring Rocker Assembly. 

Dual Adjustable Toe Clamp:
The Dual Adjustable Toe Clamp ensures the pedal and drum stay connected. Convenient Clip with Drum Key also included.

Single Post Casting:
The Single Post Casting design on DW’s double pedals provides ease of movement between the pedal and hi-hat, also allowing the pedals to be played independently or simultaneously.

Steel Base Plate:
Steel Base Plate Provides a sturdy foundation and insures non-skid play on carpet and other flooring surfaces play via adjustable spikes and Velcro.

You can get your own DW Drum Pedal Double Chain with Plate  HERE.