VISIONARY - Music Inc. Magazine

72 I MUSIC INC. I JULY 2011
Unsung Heroes
TONE CONTROL
Retailers sound off on the industry’s coolest-sounding
gear, made especially for
audiophiles seeking the ultimate tone.
ENGL POWERBALL 645/2 For
Brian Meader of Washington Music
Center in Wheaton, Md., ENGL
inquiries tend to come from the
20-something metal set. But many
customers are pleasantly surprised
by the line’s more classic applications.
Meader said he abides by a
“bigger is better” merchandising
mantra, using a large stack display
and a second “boutique corner.”
PROVIDENCE EFFECTS DLY-4 CHRONO DELAY
Aaron Peterson of MacDaddy Music in Salem, Ill., said
that Japan-based Providence Effects supplies “one of the
most comprehensive and best-sounding delays on the
market.” Attractive to people in search of top-quality analog
effects, the Godlyke-distributed DLY-4 Chrono Delay’s
Vitalizer feature curbs signal degradation, while Beat Split
simplifies tedious quantization with seven time variations.
EMPRESS SUPERDELAY For Aaron Miller at Pro-
GuitarShop in Tigard, Ore., the best way to draw
tech-savvy “pedal geeks” and high-end buyers to
Empress pedals is through creative online videos.
He emphasized the Empress Superdelay as one
to watch. The compact, ergonomic delay pedal
features 2.8 seconds of extra-long delay time, fast
and slow modulation effects, and eight modes,
including a 12-second looper. “It is an exceptionalsounding
delay pedal — world class tone and
functionality,” Miller said.
PIGTRONIX TREMVELOPE This
up-and-coming boutique effects
series has found overwhelming popularity
online. Jason Kae of Drum City-
Guitarland in Wheat Ridge, Colo.,
said he’s already “stocking the whole
line.” Its envelope-modulated tremolo
pedal comes equipped with not only
versatile speed and depth controls
but also an acceleration option to adjust
response time, creating rotating
speaker-like acoustics for Leslie fans.
JOE BARDEN ELECTRON-
ICS JAZZ BASS PICKUPS
These aren’t exactly newcomers,
but Joe Barden has broadened
its product range. Matt Baker of
Action Music in Arlington, Va.,
has a 40-foot case of pickups
and pedals. “Put Bardens on a
guitar, and anybody can walk
onstage and you will hang
right in there.” Baker said.
TREGAN GUITARS
SYREN SERIES Mike
Walsh at GuitarQuest
in Thomasville, N.C.,
attributed Tregan’s
success to the Syren
line’s high-end look
and “miles-above”
construction, along with
the company’s attentive
customer service. Its
quick response to a
recent inquiry actually
prompted a customer
to purchase a second
Tregan a few weeks
after he bought his first.
As an online dealer,
Walsh uses Google
AdWords to draw in
the younger crowd.