REFOCUS - Music Inc. Magazine

HOFNER
TURNS 125
Hofner received a NAMM Milestone
Award in celebration of
its 125th anniversary at The NAMM
Show. The company was founded in
1887 by Karl Höfner. {hofner.com}
Sabian founder Bob Zildjian
receives a cake in celebration of his
company’s anniversary
SABIAN CELEBRATES
30 YEARS WITH
NEW CYMBALS
68 I MUSIC INC. I MARCH/APRIL 2012
Hofner’s Klaus
Scholler (left)
and Graham
Stockley
Sabian commemorated its 30th anniversary
by announcing the winners
of its Players’ Choice cymbal campaign
on Jan. 19. During the competition,
Sabian fans were able to cast their
votes for four new additions to the 2012
lineup, all of which were hand-tested
by such artists as Terry Bozzio, Mike
Portnoy, Dave Weckl and Neil Peart.
Portnoy and Bozzio were on hand
to announce the winner of the competition:
Sabian’s AAX Aero crash.
The cymbal’s hole pattern offers drummers
a cutting sound with equally balanced
frequency. “With the success of
the Holy China last year, we were playing
around with that hole pattern, and we felt
that it worked incredibly well in a crash
cymbal also,” said Sabian Master Product
Specialist Mark Love. {sabian.com}
ANNIVERSARIES
TAKAMINE HITS THE BIG 5-0
Takamine Guitars celebrated its
50th anniversary at NAMM on
Jan. 19, with a dinner and concert
featuring Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen,
John Jorgenson, Bill Bryson,
Brad Davis and Lance Allen.
Held at the The Ranch Restaurant
and Saloon in Anaheim,
the event attracted more than 200
retailers, industry VIPs and Takamine
employees, who packed in to
celebrate the golden anniversary.
“This is a great milestone for any
company,” said Mike Markure, product
manger for Takamine Guitars. “We want
to thank our dealers for their support.
“The party was absolutely a
packed house. We had to shoehorn
everyone into the place. We
were very nervous we weren’t go-
Takamine
clinician
Lance Allen
ing to have enough folks and it was going to be sparsely attended,
but that was totally unfounded. It was great for us.”
Takamine commemorated the anniversary with the release
of the limited-edition T50th guitar, which features a
growing vine. The instrument also boasts a Sitka spruce
soundboard, cocobolo back and sides, and gold binding
and leaves on the pickguard inlay. Only 50 of these
guitars were produced and have already been sold.
“We have so much support around the world, and we came
out with a really special guitar, made 50 of them, and all our
customers said, ‘We’ll have it,’” Markure said. {takamine.com}
A-T COMMEMORATES 50 YEARS
To celebrate its golden anniversary,
Audio-Technica went to
the happiest place on earth.
The pro audio manufacturer welcomed
a select group of music retailers
and members of the press
to Disneyland on Jan. 19 for a gala
dinner at Napa Rose and a concert
at California Adventure, Stage 17.
During the dinner, Phil Cajka,
president and CEO of Audio-Technica
U.S., recognized a select group of
music retailers that have supported the
company from the start, such as Full Audio-
Compass and Skip’s Music. He also Technica’s
singled out producers, engineers and President and
artists who’ve been key A-T endors- CEO Phil Cajka
ers, most notably Phil Ramone and
Kenny Chesney. And referring to the company’s employees, Cajka
said, “I want to sincerely thank them for their achievements.”
songwriter Mindi Abair and singer Patti Austin.
A-T also rolled out a lineup of anniversary products during
The NAMM Show, including the AT4050URUSHI, a limited-edition
version of the AT4050 multipattern condenser microphone. It
leaves and an etched-on serial number. {audio-technica.com}