Retailers, exhibitors and performers came to Anaheim last week to hear music and check out products at the International Music Products Association’s NAMM show, which wrapped up Sunday.
Alicia Keys headlined the show, debuting Buena Park-based Yamaha Corporation of America’s AvantGrand piano. Attendees and corporate bigwigs,including president of its parent company, Yamaha Corp.’s Mitsuru Umemura,were there to check out the $14,000 piano, which offers the sound and feel of a grand piano in a smaller size.
The company hopes the show and Yamaha’s reinvented exhibition space will help buoy slower sales of musical instruments. Mark Anderson, marketing director for the keyboard division, said sales are up for some products,such as guitars and band and orchestral instruments,but dollar volume is down.
The company expects to weather the recession this year, selling more of its low- to mid-price products, such as the AvantGrand.
The four-day show, Anaheim’s largest convention, was visibly slower than usual. But the displays were extraordinary as always. About 85,000 people were expected to attend with 1,500 companies displaying their wares (see special report, page 19).
G & L; Guitars’ David McLaren, executive vice president, showed off the company’s C.L.F Centennial L-2000 bass and guitar. G & L;, based in Fullerton, is part of BBE Sound Inc. of Huntington Beach.
G & L; will release 50 of each, priced at $5,000 apiece.
The guitars were made to honor G & L; founder and inventor of the Fender guitar, Clarence Leo Fender, who would be 100 years old this year.
King Doublebass, which makes upright basses, introduced a King line of guitars that were in the works for a couple of years. They’ll be priced at about $1,800. The company makes all of its products in Santa Ana.
,Sherri Cruz
