Bill, Lou and I just finished attending the 2012 NAMM music trade show in Anaheim California. It is one of the largest music trade shows in the world in which manufacturers and distributors show off existing and new products to dealers and visitors from all over the world. It is always an impressive show due to its hug scale and exciting ambience. This years show was no exception even though the quantity of new products introduced didn’t seem to be as high as in past years (although the quality of them made up for that a bit).

Over the next few weeks I will be talking about some of the products I saw at the show, focusing mainly on the acoustic guitar side of the show but I will also talk a bit about some other products that caught my eye.

Jay.

We often get asked at the store what the difference is between acoustic phosphor bronze strings and 80/20 bronze strings and which is better. The difference in terms of the material is that the 80/20 strings have 80% copper and 20% zinc (thus the 80/20) and the phosphor bronze strings have 92% copper and 8% zinc. What this relates to in terms of sound is that the 80/20 strings will have a more brilliant, bright brass sound at the start, eventually becoming more warm sounding over time played as the strings wear in. The phosphor bronze strings offer a bright, but not as brilliant bright, and are also characterized as being more rich and warm from the start. Neither is necessarily better, it depends on the players preference and technique as well as the guitar. Some people prefer a brighter, more brilliant sound, and some a warmer, more rich sound. The guitar will also be a factor as the model, the wood, the build quality, etc will all play a part in on how the strings will sound.

All the best .. Jay

Yamaha is well known for their entry level to mid level guitars, but what a lot of people don’t know is that they make a series of very high level instruments that rival any guitar manufacturer out there. The LS and LL series guitars use the best woods available combined with hand craftsmanship in a small Japanese facility to produce these amazing playing and sounding acoustics. The tops are solid Engelman spruce, backs and sides are solid Rosewood. The tops of the guitars go through a process called Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E.) that manipulates the molecular structure so they sound more like a well aged and played guitar. This is the desired sound that most players search for. The non-scalloped 90 degree X-bracing style gives the guitars a thick well focused tone. Fantastic guitars that deserve a closer look.

I did a short review video a little while ago on these guitars. Click here to watch it. Read More...

I have some new responsibilities at Kaos (in an official way anyways) as the newly appointed merchandising manager. This involves making sure the store looks its best in terms of layout, product display, and overall cleanliness. Although this has always been something that I have focused particular attention on in my years at Kaos, it seems a much more challenging (and hopefully rewarding) responsibility now that the pressure is on.

In any store the presentation is a key in developing a reputation with customers and leaving a positive impression. From the overall layout to the small details these can have an impact negatively or positively. We judge a stores presence within seconds of entering. It seems that more attention has been focused towards this lately. Apple stores, trendy shoe stores and boutique guitar stores setting a trend towards open, clean layouts with emphasis on display and product access.

As long time customers know we are constantly changing the layout of the store trying to find the right one for the limited space we have. It has been a challenge to say the least. We get a lot of positive comments on the store’s appearance and we hope to take it to another level in the coming months. Hopefully we will receive some suggestions from customers and more feedback to help us along.

Thanks .. Jay
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The other day Lou and I were discussing the differences between DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software programs and the pluses and minuses of each. The topic of software plugins came up and I mentioned that I did not think a certain product had as decent sounding fx plugins as some of it’s competitors. He stated that what is probably more accurate, is that they don’t have as nice looking plugins as some of the competitors. Meaning the look of the interface when you call up the plugin does not look as fancy or as aesthetically pleasing as others, giving the perception that they don’t sound as good. This could be debated, but it does suggest that we can be influenced or even persuaded to like or dislike something by the way it appears and the way we perceive it’s attractiveness or ugliness.

This obviously relates to most purchases we make, especially with guitars, amps and even fx pedals. I bought a Nash tele a number of months ago and have been very pleased with it, but the pickguard colour I chose has been bothering me (and others who have seen the guitar). I recently set out to find a more suitable one, and after looking at a few choices one stood out and seemed perfect for the guitar. As soon as I made the change, the guitar transformed in appearance and in my mind sounded even better at the following rehearsal. It’s got to be the pickguard.

Jay ..
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