Friday, October 27, 2017

Do You Live Music?

Living Music! That's what we do, and that's what we love to help our #MusicSpotFamily do as well. So it seems appropriate that this years's Christmas Catalogue is called Living Music - and it comes out in just a few days!
Living Music Catalogue - Sale Starts November 1st
Keep an eye on your mailbox, check out our sale items on our website or come and grab a copy instore - and pick up a few bargains while you're at it. Christmas is fast approaching and we are preparing with all kinds of goodies for all kinds of people - whether you have a famous rock star in the family or Little Johnny is just about to pick up his first Valencia - The Music Spot will have great gift ideas for you!

Guitar News

Vox Amplifiers are awesome. Just ask Johnny.
That was my reaction too, Johnny!
As you can see, he's especially enamoured of the Pathfinder Union Jack. It has an eye-catching classic look. 10-watt combo, includes a basket-weave, leather-look, a worn Union Jack grill cloth, and, of course, chicken head knobs. Small but all-important details such as the white piping have also been faithfully reproduced, perfectly recapturing the legendary look of VOX. The all-analog, solid-state design is responsive and chimey, just like a VOX should be. As Johnny says, the only thing more British is a cup of tea on a rainy day!

Drum News

Phil, meet Tom
If you're after a cool, classy addition to your kit, there's clearly only one choice: this gorgeous, shiny piccolo tom from DW.

Piccolo toms are the perfect way to enhance your kit. Inspired by legendary drummer Terry Bozzio, DW Design Series piccolo toms have a 2.5"-deep steel shell with DW mini lugs and heavy-duty TB12 mounting bracket. 

This tom is 10-inch in diameter and has a chrome-plated finish that looks amazing under stage lights. 

So if you wanna look as cool as Phil, you'd better come and get one of these while you can!

Pro Audio News

Wireless technology is obviously the way of the future, and makes life so much easier. Especially if your guitarist keeps tripping over his own cables.
Sean knows what keeps your live act pumping
Enter Line 6. Their Relay® G70 features the most advanced digital wireless technology in the industry. It sets the standard for simplicity, reliability and performance. 

Featuring uncompromised sound quality, rugged reliability and an easy-to-use design, the G70 digital wireless system will keep your guitar act moving along nicely, with pure guitar tone from the industry-leading audio specs and the lowest latency of any digital wireless system. You can connect with any standard 1/4" guitar cables required.

Get your Slash on with this baby and watch your gigs come alive!

The Music Spot Family

The future looks bright, and we love having you guys along for the ride. We have been the local Musical Instrument Specialists for over 24 years now, and the relationships we have established with our customers are now spanning generations. We encourage you to contact us in any way at any time you want advice, info or just a chat - we are here to help you achieve your dreams! Be a part of the #MusicSpotFamily!


Friday, October 20, 2017

Quality - it's a personal thing

Here at The Music Spot we take care to note that each and every detail of our stock is maintained to the highest standard.
Evan from String Tech with our Orchestral Strings Cabinet
A great example of this is our Orchestral String Department. We have all our instruments professionally set up by String Tech, before they even come into our store. This ensures that they are ready to play and make beautiful music with you, from the moment you take them home. Evan is one of Brisbane's most experienced string technicians, having begun in the early 1970s, so you know you're getting quality service, based on experience.

Keyboard News

This week we are celebrating Yamaha Digital Pianos. If you want that classic Piano look for your loungeroom, but don't need to deal with tuning strings moving heavy objects around, then a Yamaha Digital Piano will be the perfect option for you. 
Johnny's Home Sweet Home sounds especially sweet on a Yamaha YDP143 
Like this YDP143R - a beautiful Rosewood bodied model with an authentic acoustic piano touch and tone. This instrument is suitable for any pianist at any level - students will love the Graded Hammer Standard action, which helps build proper technique; while experienced musicians will appreciate 192 note polyphony - even the most complex compositions can be played without any dropped notes.

There's also a pretty great deal going on with this instrument right now, so maybe head on down to our Browns Plains superstore to secure your own.

Folk News

Harmonicas! Harps, Mouth Organs - whatever you call them, if they were cool enough for Mick Jagger, they are pretty alright in our books too!
Johnny is awed by our range of Harmonicas - or maybe it's just the Ozzy Osborne!
Some big names in Rock have put their reputations on the line over the years - like this awesome Bob Dylan Signature model we have here. It's a Hohner, so that's enough right there - but it also has an enhanced sonic versatility which produces both uncharacteristically warm tones while also achieving a brilliance or ‘brightness’ that allows musicians to more freely express themselves. It comes with a gold-plated reed plate to achieve those specific sonic requirements. Imagine what you could do on this!

Band & Orchestral News

You know who makes great Trumpets? Yamaha.
Chris is trumpeting the news from the rooftops!
Well that's not really surprising, since they make good everything. But Yamaha Trumpets are an especially bright spot in a music student's option list. (Now I may be biased, being a Trumpeter myself and having started on a Yamaha - but still!). Yamaha have been the stalwarts of school music since 1887, so you know anything that carries their logo is going to be trustworthy. 

Our favourite for school music is the 2330 model. It's two-piece bell is crafted using state-of-the-art production methods, delivering a consistent, vibrant tone. The balanced weight and addition of an adjustable third valve trigger allows for a natural hand position and promotes proper playing technique, while the water key on the third valve slide adds to the ease of use and over-all playability of the instrument.

A music career begun on one of these babies is one that will go far.

Get To Know Your Customers Day

Yesterday was international #GetToKnowYourCustomersDay - and we love getting to know you guys! If you haven't connected with us on social media, now is a great time!

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus.. - even LinkedIn! You can chat with our staff directly in our Facebook Group and tell us how your band is going. And of course you can always pick up the phone and dial 07 3800 5229 - that is, if you don't wanna come down to the shop and hang out with this happy bunch:
We don't bite, I promise!
We look forward to getting to know you all, and hope to see many great musicians come up through the ranks on their way to world domination! If you have your own particular success story to tell, please email it to info@musicspot.com.au, and we can feature you on our social media. 

We are here for you!

Friday, October 13, 2017

School Nights, Screams and This Week's Deals

How fast has this year gone though??? Yesterday it was Brexit will never get voted in, Trump will never become president.. and now we're staring down the barrel of Back To School 2018. Well at least we've all survived, right? Right??
Our School Night display table
Marian and Tamara have been busy bees visiting all the local schools and taking their traveling display of Band Instruments and Accessory Packs. They are both experts at this by now, as The Music Spot has been supporting the local schools in their Instrumental Music Programs for over 24 years. We know exactly what frazzled parents and excited kids need, and we have everything packaged so that you can get it easy and cheap. Simples!
Aleksandr approves of our School Program
If you would like one of our School brochures posted or emailed to you, drop us a line on info@musicspot.com.au and we will send it off. Or you can pick one up instore, when  you come in to admire our shiny saxophones and mesmerising violins!

Guitar News

Q. What do Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Johnson have in common?
A. They all knew Marshall Amplifiers were awesome before you did. (Maybe. Not judging anyone!)
Sean knows what's cool.
For years Rock N'Roll meant a Fender Strat and a Marshall Amp - and today the quality and the cool continues. We have amazing deals on all our Marshall range at the moment, and there are some real gems in here.

Like the Mini Jubilee Head. It features an ECC83 & EL34 valve-set, High/Low output switching, (20 Watt to 5 Watt), FX Loop and independent 4/8/16 Ohm speaker outputs. In keeping with classic Jubilee tone, Mini Jubilee features preamp circuitry taken from the 2555X which was launched in 2015 and made using the original diagrams. Also, a classic silver vinyl and chrome plated panelling to complete the Jubilee look.

Or we have the 2061X Handwired Head with 2061CX 2 x 12" cab - this really brings you back to the golden age of Rock N'Roll. The 20 Watt, Two Channel Handwired™ is an authentic re-issue of the 2061 ‘Lead and Bass’ head from the late ’60s and early ’70s. It produces that highly desirable, vintage all-valve sound in compact ‘small box’ design. Producing its classic tone by two ECC83 valves in the preamp, two cathode biased EL84s in the power stage and a silicon diode rectifier. The 60 Watt 2061CX is a hand-soldered, 2 x 12” cabinet designed to be matched with the 2061X™ handwired head. It features an authentic vintage look and loaded with two 30 Watt Celestion reissue G12H speakers. 

Or if you want something a little more.. special, check out this: The Marshall Snakeskin Special 2203 Head with 1960A Cab. This is one of the most highly respected 100 Watt Marshall® heads. Evolving from the ‘Plexi’ head, the JCM800 was one of their first amplifiers to feature a Master Volume control. The 1960A is the world's best selling 4 x 12" speaker cabinet, with a heritage that stretches back to the early 1960s. And dude - snakeskin!

Doesn't get much more Rock N' Roll than that! lml

Drum News

If you're a drummer and live in South East Queensland, you're pretty lucky - well firstly because every Australian wishes they lived in South East Queensland - but also because at the moment The Music Spot is having a pretty special High End Drum Sale.
Chris. Just a little bit posh.
Just three examples of our many great deals: We have the DW Performance Series 5 piece shell pack in Candy Apple Red. Combining the latest grain orientation technology and hand-selected North American Hard Rock maple, Performance Series proprietary HVX shells deliver a low, punchy fundamental, with ample resonance and projection that’s perfectly suited for live applications.

Also pictured with Chris is the DW Design Series 5 piece shell pack in Tobacco Sunburst. This is not just any shell; it's made with VLT (Vertical Low Timbre) grain orientation with an outer horizontal ply to offer more depth, body and tuning range than the competition. Snares include an artist-approved MAG throw-off and all drums feature True-Pitch tuning rods and low mass mini turret lug. Add to that a selection of DW's most popular F.A.S.T. (Fundamentally Accurately-Sized Toms) sizes and the STM mounting system and you've got a winner!

But the one that seems to excite Chris the most is the Tama Starclassic Maple Gloss shellpack. TAMA's Superstars and Imperial stars reigned supreme in the '80s being the perfect drums for the times. TAMA'S builders and designers created the Starclassic Maple drums that ignited the thin-shell revolution. Starclassic shells utilise maple, the most popular shell material for its ability to produce a warm and clear sound.

They've convinced me!

Pro Audio News

Cables are so last season. Who wants to be tripping over their feet while busting out their Pink moves on stage?
Johnny is excited by the freedom to do his Pink moves onstage
AKG are great with wireless technology, and we love the WMS 40 Pro Mini 2 Instrument and Vocal Set. It has a single battery for low operating cost, integrated Autosquelch, and is surprisingly easy to plug & play. You get a HT 40 Mini handheld transmitter, PT 40 Mini pocket transmitter, SR 40 Mini 2 stationary dual receiver, and MKGL instrument cable, all for a crazy great price. So no more excuses for standing in one place like a weeping angel - get your energy out!

International Scream Day

Yesterday was International Scream Day. Heard of it? It's probably something you desperately need in your life - screaming isn't just for metal, it's a vital part of keeping sane in a crazy world. Let those frustrations out! And you never know - you might be good enough to join a metal band and get famous, like Sean!
Sean is very healthy
Speaking of famous, we love to read all your reviews on Google! It gives us the warm fuzzies to see that you are enjoying what we do. So if you have ever dealt with us in any way and were happy with our service, please do leave us a review on Google, so we can keep up the good work!

Rock on till next time!

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Keyboard Week, Impact Saturday and Lots More Goings On

The Keyboards are alive with the sound of Johnny (and Home Sweet Home!!)
And all of us (but especially Johnny) are really excited! We have a great range of Electronic Keyboards, Digital Pianos and all the accessories you could wish for. Not to mention a HUGE selection of tutor and playalong books for pianists of every level and taste! If you follow us on Instagram you will get to see a special keyboard featured every day with some great deals thrown in, as well as some sneaky shots from around our shop. If the Gram is not your thing, don't worry, you can keep up with everything we do on Facebook!

Keyboard News

So it would seem prudent for the first week of Keyboard Month, to feature some awesome Yamaha Keyboards

 
Sean loves Yamaha Keyboards!
If you hop on over to our website or come into our shop, you will find some amazing deals on Yamaha products at the moment - and the Keyboard department is no exception. And apart from the great prices, we have some amazing models with features that will make you sound great, no matter what your genre!

Pictured here with keyboard aficionado Sean is the Yamaha PSRE363 (bottom). This instrument is great because it has built in lesson plan options (including chord library), it's touch  responsive which is perfect for the beginner seeking that real-feel piano response, and it comes with Yamaha's amazing three year warranty.

In the middle is the Yamaha PSRE453. It's a 61 key model and has over 700 voices so you'll never be short on choices (ha that rhymes!) It's also armed with amazing DJ patterns to make you sound like a pro in no time. Fitted with USB and MIDI capabilities, you get so much for so little with this great package. Sweet!

On the top is the Yamaha PSREW400. It has similar features to the PSRE453 but double the power with a massive 12 watt dual speaker system. It's also a 76 key model so it has an extra octave. Again packed with the Yamaha Education Suite, so you can start learning straight out of the box. You'll be playing Home Sweet Home in no time, just like Johnny! 

Don't want to put pressure on you or anything, but deals like this won't sit here for long!

Folk Department News

The terrible stories on the TV these days would cause anyone to be in desperate need of a smile. So Mahalo has taken it upon themselves to give you your smile back!
Mahalo Smiley Ukes. Dave didn't get the memo.

These Smiley Ukuleles are adorable, and guaranteed to lift anyone's spirits (except Dave, apparently).

Originally only in the standard Smiley Yellow, they are now available in a wide range of colours, with Mahalo's signature great quality for a great price.

That signature comes from being the world's number 1 choice for Ukuleles. They are the only company that put the same amount of effort and care into their entry level instruments as they do their professional range.

Wherever you are in the world a strum of those strings will give you a small piece of Hawaii in your heart - and with the new Smiley range, a great grin on your face as well!

Band & Orchestral News

Things are hotting up in the Band & Orchestral department at the moment, with the school end-of-year program fast approaching. Lots of youngsters will be starting to think about what they want to play next year - and a huge chunk of those students will end up picking up a Jupiter Flute.
No lipplates, headjoints or Chrises were harmed in the taking of this photo
We have two models available, to suit different budgets. The 700 Series Student Model is our most popular and priced to help out frazzled parents who are juggling many back-to-school expenses. They are designed to be easy to play while retaining the kind of tonal characteristics usually associated only with Professional models. Sturdy durability makes them ideal for beginners while their accurate intonation helps students develop a good ear. The Jupiter 700 series flutes are carefully hand adjusted and go through a rigorous system of inspections and tests guaranteeing consistent high quality.

If you're after something a bit next-level, an instrument that will not only sound great now but have the features needed to continue through many years of learning and playing, then look no further than the 511 Open Hole Model. This is a well-made student instrument, featuring a silver plated head with solid precious metal lip riser - 92.5% silver content. The effect of using silver in the head joint makes the sound fuller and purer.

Jupiter are experts at making affordable student instruments. Whatever your child decides to play next year, The Music Spot and Jupiter have got you covered!

B1G1 Saturday Impact Day

This is pretty big. 

Our very first SaturdayImpactDay is happening tomorrow. On the first Saturday of every month, we have pledged to provide 7 days of clean water to a family in Cambodia, for each and every customer that we serve all day.

This is possible through our partnership with B1G1. Buy1Give1 is a Global Business Giving Initiative on a mission to create a world full of giving. They make it easy for purpose-driven businesses worldwide to make a positive impact by giving back in meaningful ways. The list of projects is extensive and all thoroughly vetted, and not only that, B1G1 covers the administration costs, so that you can be sure that 100% of your donation is going straight to a meaningful, impactful cause.

We have supported a number of projects through B1G1, and we have decided that every month we will hold SaturdayImpactDay, to make a huge difference in the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves. We have so many blessings in our lives, we should share them around!

Until next time, keep being awesome! ♫♪