Diamond Fireburst

Posted by Julis D under
Thick saturated fuzz with amazing amounts of low-end, visually stunning and built like a tank... there's a reason why everything is better in red.

The fuzz character of the Fireburst adds a complexity and grit to a standard fuzz tone that sounds great!. Very thick and fat but not a super dark nasal tone associated with Big Muff style fuzzes. The Fuzz character almost ventures into heavy distortion land but retains a base tone that is very familiar to the ear. Back off the volume for added dynamics, lower gain, and clarity and retain the base tone without thinning out the tone.

but wait, there's more....

Incorporated is a unique, footswitchable mid-boost eq and pre/post gain circuit that snaps the fuzz into focus and transforms the Fireburst into a tightly focused distortion pedal. Stomp on the mid boost button, and add a serious midrange boost, completely changing the character of the drive and giving you a killer second tone!. With the mid boost engaged you have overdrive with gain to spare. This pedal can very easily replace your fuzz and your overdrive on your pedalboard in one compact easy to use pedal. 2 distinct killer tones in one package with very minimal tweaking.

Tech Specs:

- True bypass signal path.
- Footswitchable beween thick liquid fuzz and focused mid-boosted distortion.
- Premium audio components, include 2% polypropylene capacitors and 1% metal film resistors.
- All discrete-component distortion and mid-boost circuit.
- Active Baxandall bass/treble tone control system with audiophile grade op-amp.
- Battery or standard negative tip 9V DC adaptor operation.
The working musician has always needed several compressors in their arsenal to be prepared for any playing situation. The TransMORGrifier solves this problem by incorporating the best attributes of several classic compressors into one unit while simultaneously eliminating the shortcomings common to such vintage designs.

The TransMORGrifier is all about control: A bevy of knobs (Level, Release, Attack, Ratio) assure the user precise and continuous variation to their sound. Incredibly interactive, these Controls offer the ability to custom tailor the compression to match the job at hand. Need a subtle pinch for a chickin' pickin' country number? How about a full-on squash to reign in your thumb technique? No matter what style or instrument, the perfect tone is easily dialed in with minimal alteration to the original signal.

The TRansMORGrifier makes the working musician's job easier by giving them more tools for the task at hand - it's a new classic!

Guyatone HD-3 Hot Drive

Posted by Julis D under
The HD-3 Hot Drive provides the maximum distortion available in a stompbox while still retaining note clarity. The HD-3 allows you to easily create rich, singing harmonic feedback and can make your combo amp sound like a stack. It’s brutal yet articulate tone makes the HD-3 perfect for use on Bass or Vocals as well as Guitar.

Go beyond full-drive amp distortion and make your sound sizzle with the Hot Drive!
Hari ini, Selasa (30/12), grup musik Samsons meresmikan kantor baru yang sekaligus sebagai base camp bagi grup musik kelahiran 14 Juli 2003 itu. Bangunan yang berdiri di Perumahan Alam Segar IV No. 10, Pondok Indah, Jakarta Selatan itu sekaligus menjadi kado tahun baru bagi para penggemarnya.

"Kita meresmikan kantor sekaligus base camp baru, tempat ngumpul, bertemu, sekaligus kalau Samson Mania ingin ketemu tinggal ke sini," terang gitaris Samsons, Irfan.

"Biasanya kita janjian sama fans, nyari tempat, sekarang sudah ada, siapa aja yang mau kenal sama kita, kita welcome. Dari pertama kita berdiri dulu, kita pingin dekat dengan penggemar," tambahnya.

Samsons sendiri menjelang Natal dan Tahun Baru 2009, menghentikan untuk sementara dari segala bentuk kesibukan konsernya. Irfan menyebut, hal itu sebagai upaya untuk mencari resolusi baru di tengah pelaksanaan Natal tahun ini. "Kita sudah break sejak tanggal 15, sudah tiga tahun kita manggung, sudah saatnya kita cari resolusi baru, supaya bisa merenung," tegas Irfan.

Bukan tidak ada tawaran job, menurut Irfan, rezeki tidak seharusnya dikejar-kejar hingga harus meninggalkan momen penting. Seandainya rezeki itu memang untuk Samsons, pasti tidak akan jauh lari ke mana-mana. Tidak ada yang rugi bagi Samsons, untuk istirahat barang sehari atau dua hari, katanya.

"Rezeki nggak akan ke mana, nggak usah nyari susah-susah, rezeki di belakang kita, pokoknya menunggu dan berdoa," pungkasnya.
Survei yang dilakukan Reform Institute terhadap Pandangan Masyarakat atas Kepemimpinan Muda dan Artis atau Grup Musik menunjukkan bahwa musik dangdut masih menjadi jenis musik yang paling banyak disukai masyarakat, yakni sebesar 38,36%, diikuti musik pop sebesar 34,56%, musik daerah (6,76%), nasyid/ kasidah (3,8%), campur sari (3,64%), keroncong (1,76%), dan rock (1,56%).

Sedangkan untuk kategori artis atau grup musik paling populer, grup musik Ungu kalah terkenal dengan raja dangdut Rhoma Irama. Para responden memilih Rhoma Irama (Soneta Grup) di tempat teratas dengan 14,04%, diikuti Ungu (5,88%), Peterpan (2,92%), Inul DaratistaElvi Sukaesih (2,04%), Ikke Nurjanah (1,76%) dan Dewi Persik (2,36%), (1,68%).

Dalam jumpa pers tentang hasil survei tersebut di Jakarta, Selasa (30/12), Direktur Eksekutif Reform Institute Yudi Latief mengatakan, bahwa penggemar musik dangdut lebih banyak memilih Partai Demokrat. Dengan angka prosentasi, memilih Partai Demokrat sebesar 26,28% responden, diikuti PDIP (19,19%), Partai Golkar (13,87%), Partai Gerindra (7,61%), dan Hanura (4,69%).

Survei Reform Institute tersebut dilakukan pada November-Desember 2008 dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 2.500 responden di 33 provinsi, dengan tingkat kesalahan (margin of error) plus minus 1,96% dan tingkat kepercayaan 95%.

Dalam survei tersebut, terungkap bahwa aspirasi responden akan pentingnya tampil pemimpin baru cukup besar, yakni 65,7% dan yang tidak menginginkan hanya 32,32%.

Sedangkan penggemar musik pop juga lebih memilih Partai Demokrat dengan 28,01% responden, diikuti PDIP (13,54%), Golkar (12,15%), Gerindra (7,52%) dan PKS (7,06%).

Penggemar lagu daerah banyak memilih Partai Golkar dengan 24,85%, disusul PDIP (23,67%), Demokrat (20,12%), Gerindra (4,73%) serta PKS dan Hanura (1,78%).

Survei itu juga mencatat, penggemar musik religius (nasyid dan kasidah) lebih banyak yang memilih Partai Demokrat (17,89%), diikuti PKS (16,8%), PDIP dan PPP (12,63%), Golkar (9,47%) dan PKB (5,26%).

Sementara itu, penggemar musik campursari lebih banyak memilih PDIP dengan 47,25% responden, diikuti Golkar (18,68%), Demokrat (14,29%), Gerindra (4,4%) serta PKS, PPP dan PKB (2,20%).
Musim liburan ini dimanfaatkan dengan baik oleh Beyonce Knowles dan suaminya, Jay Z. Pasangan pengantin baru ini menikmati liburan di St. Barts, Perancis hari Selasa (30/12).

Setelah mandi matahari berdua, Jay-Z dan Beyonce memutuskan untuk lebih aktif.

Penyanyi berusia 27 tahun ini bersenang-senang dengan naik jet ski. Sedang Jay-Z memilih tetap di dek dan mengambil foto dengan kameranya.
Tak salah julukan Ratu Pop dialamatkan pada Madonna. Banyak penggemar yang masih memuja-muja penyanyi ini, terbukti tur dunianya Sticky & Sweet jadi tur yang paling banyak meraup uang sepanjang tahun 2008.

Rangkaian tur yang dilakukan Madonna di Amerika Utara berhasil meraup US$ 105,3 juta menurut akumulasi majalah Pollstar dan menduduki peringkat pertama. Celine Dion berada di tempat kedua dengan total penghasilan US$ 94 juta dalam tur pertamanya di AS setelah lima tahun manggung tetap di Las Vegas. The Eagles menempati posisi ketiga dengan perolehan US$ 73 juta.

Lima besar dari pengumpul uang dalam tur di AS selama 2008 dilengkapi oleh Kenny Chesney dengan pendapatan US $72 juta dan Bon Jovi mengumpulkan US $70 juta.
A huge array of whammy effects with MIDI control!

The performance and sound of the new DigiTech Whammy Pedal with MIDI Control are reminiscent of the original red WH-1 Whammy. All the favorite whammy settings that guitar players covet are available again at the touch of a knob. Added is a new Dive Bomb effect, similar to that of a Floyd Rose whammy bar pushed all the way to the body of the guitar. Another new addition is a MIDI-in jack, allowing remote control of effects via MIDI devices. Both type and control are accomplished via MIDI program changes and CC messages respectively. Wet/Dry outputs are provided.

DigiTech Whammy Pedal with MIDI Control Includes:

  • power supply
It's hip to be square.

The Roland Micro Cube Battery Powered Amp with COSM and Effects gives guitarists a genuine Roland Cube amp in an ultracompact 7-pound package. And when you're doing live gigs, you'll love that it runs on batteries. Despite its tiny proportions, the MicroCube packs a big punch and comes with 6 DSP effects, 7 COSM amp models, and a new Digital Tuning Fork—giving guitarists everything they need for killer tone on the go.

Roland Micro Cube Combo Amp Specifications:

  • Weight: 7 lbs. 5 oz. without batteries and adapter
  • 9-5/8"W x 8-15/16H x 6-9/16"D

Roland Micro Cube Combo Amp Features:

  • Ultracompact portable DSP guitar amp with 5" speaker
  • 7 COSM guitar amp models including JC-120 and a special mic preamp model
  • 6 DSP effects: chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, and separate delay/reverb
  • New Digital Tuning Fork with support for flat tunings up to 2 semitones
  • Recording/headphones output and stereo auxiliary input for CD players, etc.
  • Runs on 6 AA batteries or AC power (adapter supplied) and includes carrying strap
A classic design, beautifully crafted.

The warm, clear tone of the Riviera electric guitar makes it a perfect instrument for jazz, blues, or country. Its semi-hollow body is crafted of laminated maple. A set mahogany C-shaped neck provides sustain and playing comfort. Features 3 P-90 dog-ear single-coil pickups for vintage tone and a BIgsby tailpiece. A polyurethane finish and gold hardware give this limited edition Epiphone guitar an uptown look.

Epiphone Limited Edition Riviera Custom P93 Electric Guitar Features:

  • Body Wood: Laminated Maple
  • Top wood: Laminated Maple
  • Scale Length: 24-3/4"
  • Neck Joint: Glued In
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Neck Shape: C
  • Frets: 22
  • Nut Width: 1.68"
  • Fretboard Radius: 12"
  • Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic
  • Tailpiece: Bigsby
  • Pickups: three P-90 dog-ear single-coil
  • Controls: Bridge Volume, Neck Volume, Bridge Tone, Neck Tone, 3-way
  • Tuners: Grover
  • Hardware color: Gold
  • Pickup selector: 3-way Toggle
  • Finish: Polyurethane
Rockin' reissue of a rare Epi axe!

Original Wilshire guitars are demanding high prices in today's collectors markets. Epiphone has worked to bring it back in an affordable package without sacrificing quality. Perfect for anyone who wants to stand out or already has an SG and LP. Mahogany set neck construction, alnico humbucking pickups and classic white finish are just a few of the outstanding specs. The Epiphone Wilshire guitar also features a rosewood fretboard, chrome hardware with inline Grover Mini-Rotomatic tuners on a cool, batwing-shaped headstock.

Epiphone Limited Edition Wilshire Electric Guitar Features:

  • Body Type: Solid
  • Body Wood: Mahogany
  • Scale Length: 24-3/4"
  • Neck Joint: Set
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Neck Shape: "D" Shape
  • Frets: 22
  • Nut Width: 1.68"
  • Fretboard Radius: 12"
  • Bridge: Chrome ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
  • Pickup Bridge: Alnico Humbucker
  • Pickup Neck: Alnico Humbucker
  • Controls: 2-Vol, 2-Tone, pickup selector switch
  • Tuners: 6 inline Grover Mini-Rotomatic
  • Hardware color: Chrome
  • Pickup selector: Yes
  • Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
A phenomenal bluegrass two-fer deal!

Genuine spruce top, die-cast tuning machines, nato neck, bound rosewood fretboard, and Martin strings make this dreadnought guitar a marvel for the price. The mandolin delivers authentic tone with a rosewood fingerboard, adjustable compensated bridge, chrome tuners, and sunburst finish.

Rogue Acoustic Guitar and Mandolin Pack Features:

  • Guitar:
  • Spruce top
  • Die-cast tuning machines
  • Nato neck
  • Bound rosewood fretboard
  • Martin strings

    Mandolin:
  • High and lonesome tone
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • Adjustable compensated bridge
  • Chrome tuning machines
A professional level instrument that won't put a serious dent in your wallet!

The Ovation 2178 Ultra guitar features a cutaway body style, a AA Solid Sitka Spruce top on a deep contour body, scalloped LX bracing, "soft V" neck profile, 5 piece exotic hardwood soundhole rosette, and a walnut bridge.

The Ovation Ultra acoustic electric guitar uses subassemblies made at our offshore Ovation factory. The subassemblies are shipped to New Hartford, CT where Ovation's team of skilled craftsmen carry out the final assembly and set-up operations. The result is a professional level guitar with the feel and playability of upscale USA made Ovation guitars.

The 2178 has an OP-Pro preamp system that was developed to work specifically with the unique Ovation Patented Pickup. This professional grade system has been engineered to complement the unique character of Ovation guitars. The OP-Pro includes a 3-band EQ and a built-in tuner.

Ovation 2178 Ultra Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features:

  • 6 String Acoustic-Electric
  • Body Type: Contour GS with cutaway
  • Top: AA Solid Sitka Spruce
  • Bracing: Scalloped LX
  • Scale Length: 25 1/4"
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Fret Inlay: Pearl Dots and Diamonds
  • Bridge: Walnut
  • Rosette: 5 Piece Exotic Hardwood
  • Pickup: Ovation High Output
  • Nutwidth: 1-11/16"
  • Machines: Chrome
Get into the excitement of electronic drumming with a modest investment!

The SD5K Electronic drum kit has sensitive drum pads made of a durable, yet highly responsive, material that accurately captures every hit. All pads have adjustable rack placement and angle adjustments for unlimited customization to your playing style. This includes two cymbal pads and one hi-hat pad which have height and angle adjustments for a convenient, custom-tailored fit.

The included hi-hat control pedal gives you the feel of a real high-hat pedal, providing instant hardware familiarity to your playing. Similar to an acoustic drum kit, the hi-hat functions as a closed hi-hat when pedal is stepped on, and open when the pedal is released.

Unlike acoustic drum sets, the kick pad can be located independent of the toms for even greater customization to your body size and playing style.

The SD5K is controlled through an easy-to-read bright multifunction LED display that shows all parameter settings on your kit so you'll always know where you're at.

The sound module contains 237 voices and gives you plenty of sounds with which to customize your own drum kits. You can store up to 10 different custom kits, or use the 22 preset kits that come with the module for a head start. Also included are a reverb effect, a built-in metronome, and 48 preset songs to practice with.

Lightweight aluminum construction provides the strength of steel, but without the weight. This means easy transportation to and from the audition, rehearsal, and gig. An easy to put together design make setups and breakdowns easier. Specially made locking hinges keep your setup from drifting, ensuring your kit stays exactly where and how you set it up.

Ins/outs and pad connections
MIDI out
Hi-hat controller
Hi-Hat pad
Crash cymbal pad
Ride cymbal pad
Snare drum pad
Tom 1 drum pad
Tom 2 drum pad
Tom 3 drum pad
Kick drum pad
Line output (R & L/mono)
Aux In (stereo TRS)
Stereo headphones output

Simmons SD5K Electronic Drum Kit Features:

  • Package includes
  • Drum key
  • Drum sticks (1 pair)
  • 9V DC adapter
  • User manual
  • Assembly instructions
  • All connection cables

    Bass drum pedal not included
Buried deep in an article about Guns n’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and his one-night reunion with Pale Divine is this bit of potentially huge news: A Gn’R tour should start in late March and is expected to last “at least two years,” according to Fortus. The band had hinted at a possible tour on their official Website in April, saying the fifth Chinese Democracy tour since 2001 was in negotiations — “When we begin to put tour plans together, we’ll see where things are,” the band said at the time — and a source close to the band told Rolling Stone an ‘09 tour was in the works. With album sales slumping and Axl Rose still reluctant to conduct any interview outside of message board forums, a tour is just what the album needs for a promotional boost. If the March start date is correct, it puts Guns in a position to headline several huge festivals in 2009 on both sides of the Atlantic.

Fortus has played guitar in some capacity for Gn’R since 2002, when Axl Rose’s friend Paul Tobias left the group’s revolving-door guitarist job. Currently, Fortus is the lead guitarist on Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad tour. A St. Louis native, Fortus says he and Axl joked about returning to the city where, in 1991, Rose caused a riot after he stormed offstage because a photographer in the crowd ticked him off. “There has been talk of us doing a Love tour, a tour of all the cities where there have been riots, and doing free shows,” Fortus said.

We’ll remain optimistic about a Guns tour but again, this is the gloriously unpredictable Axl Rose we’re dealing with. We were all promised a video for “Better” two weeks ago and are still waiting on that.

The award for technical achievement that was presented to Yamaha at the 2007 Grammy Awards recognized Yamaha’s long tradition of innovative recording products, another facet of the company so well known for their pianos and keyboards, woodwinds, string and percussion instruments, and digital musical gear. The last half-century has seen the company diversify into products from sporting goods to specialty metals, with three-fourths of Yamaha Corporation’s sales coming from its musical instrument and audio products divisions. The company’s logo, three interlocking tuning forks, is a tangible expression of its musical focus.

Setting the stage for innovation

Yamaha’s story begins in late 19th century Japan, a fertile environment for young entrepreneurs. The Meiji Restoration movement was underway at the time, changing Japan’s social and political structures and resulting in the growth of new technologies and middle-class entrepreneurs. Yamaha founder Torakusu Yamaha was ready for the opportunities, benefiting from an unusually good education provided by his samurai father, whose broad interests ranged from astronomy to mechanics.

Yamaha formed a watch-making company when 20 years old, later going to medical school and taking a job repairing medical equipment. In 1887 a school in the small fishing village of Hamamatsu turned to him to see if he would repair the school’s treasured U.S.-made reed organ. Intrigued with the instrument and its sales potential, Yamaha produced a prototype organ. Soon Yamaha established the Yamaha Organ Manufacturing Company in 1889, and soon was making 250 organs a year.

Eventually Yamaha established the Yamaha Organ Manufacturing Company in 1889, and soon was making 250 organs a year.

Yamaha renamed his company Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. (Japan Musical Instruments) in 1897, expanding into pianos as the more inexpensive upright piano was gaining popularity in U.S. homes. On a trip to the United States in 1899, Yamaha studied piano making and located suppliers for the materials needed to make pianos in Japan. Yamaha keyboards began to garner international recognition, including a Grand Prix at the St. Louis World Exposition in 1904.

The war years: trials and growth

When World War I curtailed sales in Japan by a German harmonica maker, Nippon Gakki broadened its product base by making harmonicas. Producing new products with materials and manufacturing skills already in place became a favored strategy.

Yamaha died in 1916, but his legacy lives on. His introduction of Western production techniques transformed what had been handcrafting processes. Vice-President Chiyomaru Amano assumed the reigns of the company in 1917, fostering growth through the war years by supplying then isolated Asian markets. The upward trend continued after the war as demand for the company’s pianos soared.

The next five years were tougher for Yamaha. The stronger yen made Nippon Gakki products less competitive overseas, a 1922 fire destroyed 2 company plants, and the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 destroyed the Tokyo office and re-damaged the plants.

Kaichi Kawakami assumed leadership in 1927, cutting production costs and reorganizing the company. Nippon Gakki opened an acoustics lab and research and development center in 1930, while hiring German advisors to improve the quality of the Yamaha piano. The growth of the public school system of the 1930s expanded the market for Western instruments, prompting Nippon Gakki to introduce lower-priced accordions and guitars.

When World War II began, Nippon Gakki plants were tapped for the war effort, which helped them to prepare for broader diversification in the postwar years. But Nippon Gakki had to stop making musical instruments altogether in 1945, with only one of their factories surviving the U.S. bombing raids. However, with postwar financial assistance the company regained its feet and quickly resumed the production of harmonicas and xylophones. More product lines followed, including organs, accordions, tube horns, and guitars.

From Japan to the world

In 1947 the company produced its first audio component, a phonograph, marking the beginning of a period of rapid growth. The Japanese government continued to promote Western music, giving Nippon Gakki its biggest boost yet in 1948 by making music education mandatory for Japanese children.

Gen’ichi Kawakami, Kaichi Kawakami’s son, assumed the company’s helm in 1950, starting the Yamaha Music Schools program in 1954 to educate young musicians. With the help of the Ministry of Education Nippon Gakki founded the nonprofit Yamaha Music Foundation in 1966 to promote musical events and operate their music schools that are now found in Japan and 40 other countries.

Kawakami oversaw gains in production, diversification, and the generation of foreign markets, all of which set the stage for the modern Yamaha Corporation. Kawakami’s 1953 trip to the United States and Europe inspired diversification and otherwise influenced the company’s product line and reputation for decades to come just as Yamaha’s tour of the United States in 1899 had.

Setting sail for international markets

Capitalizing on its research into fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP), in 1960 the company made its first FRP sailboat, then expanded to produce various types of oceangoing vessels. This capability led to the introduction of other products including archery bows, skis, and bathtubs. Nippon Gakki also developed sophisticated alloys for use in electronics and construction equipment.

The company expanded production of pianos during this period while raising quality standards, and cutting costs. But it was Yamaha motorcycles that would lead Yamaha’s marketing effort in the U.S. in the early 1960s, with smaller, lower-priced models that appealed to first-time buyers.

The push to export picked up momentum, as Yamaha established a subsidiary in Mexico and within a couple of years had set up a sales outlet in Los Angeles. Yamaha’s musical instrument division received a boost when a deal was worked out with the Los Angeles Board of Education to supply L.A. schools with pianos, opening the way for more institutional purchases of Nippon Gakki’s high-quality, lower-cost instruments.

Nippon Gakki expanded its event promotion and educational programs overseas in 1964, when it opened the first Yamaha School in the U.S. Like its Japanese counterparts, it was designed to teach music appreciation to students at an early age and create a long-term market. These nonprofit schools spread throughout Europe and the United States, teaching scores of students. Educational efforts were also beginning to pay off in Japan, growing the domestic piano market exponentially. By 1966 the company was producing 100,000 pianos annually, making them the world’s largest piano maker. Nippon Gakki began to produce wind instruments on a large scale during the mid ’60s, exporting trumpets, trombones and xylophones. The company also began producing drums and percussion instruments during this period.

Nippon Gakki’s electronics capability continued to evolve with technological developments, replacing transistors with integrated circuits (ICs). The company built its own IC factory, positioning itself to meet the accelerating demand for electronic and audio products.

With the advent of large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs), the company leaped into the burgeoning digital market. LSIs let Yamaha digitize all its analog electronics and also made possible their growth as an electronics supplier and the manufacturer of advanced electronic systems such as industrial robots.

Synthesizers and LSIs brought the company success early in the 1980s, notably with the 1983 introduction of the DX-7 digital synthesizer, which became the best-selling synthesizer ever. With LSI technology, Nippon Gakki produced its first pro audio system and tapped into the consumer audio industry in the early ’80s.

Nippon Gakki’s research and development facilities evolved to encompass semiconductors and LSIs, audiovisual equipment, and theater acoustics design.

Nippon Gakki also began to spread its manufacturing base overseas, opening a keyboard plant in the state of Georgia in the U.S. Seisuke Ueshima assumed the company leadership in the early ’90s, consolidating the product mix and marketing strategies, which had lost some of their focus. A push was made into the high-end music market with products like the Disklavier series pianos, which included sophisticated onboard digital recording capability.

The sound of silence

The Silent Piano series was introduced in 1992. These instruments could either be played as regular acoustic pianos or be heard only by the pianist through headphones, were a great success. This was followed by the release of the Silent Trumpet, Silent Drums, the Silent Violin, and the Silent Cello.

Yamaha also succeeded with their VL1 and VP1 virtual acoustic synthesizers, which stored computer models of instruments rather than sound libraries, resulting in more authentic and versatile sounds. A Yamaha FM sound chip was also introduced during this period, taking advantage of demand for sound chips for multimedia computers.The MOTIF is another Yamaha synthesizer series that has attracted a large and enthusiastic following.

In the end, the Yamaha story always comes back to the music. Shuji Ito was named president as the new century began, and has continued to focus on core musical instruments and audiovisual gear. Yamaha continues to pioneer forward-looking technologies such as sound chips and digital content for mobile phones and other handheld devices, and has formed a recording company called Yamaha Music Communications Co., Ltd.. They aspire to eventually offer online downloading of music content and the development of network-enabled musical instruments.

While most companies focus on maximizing profits, Yamaha’s stated corporate objective is to create ’Kando,’ a Japanese word that means "an inspired state of mind." It’s a concept that has propelled Yamaha into being one of the most successful and cosmopolitan companies in the world. It’s clear that wherever music and musicians go in the future, Yamaha will be there.

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