 2010 - Badda Boom – Badda Bang: Afterthoughts and Prologue
The dog days of summer are at hand. The thrill of getting into your car and having the pomade in your hair drip down your forehead while waiting for the a/c to kick in makes you kind of forget how cold it was this past winter. The flip side of the coin is being able to slip into your favorite pair of shorts and fire up the grill in your leisure time. As schools are out for summer session, and vacations abound, I thought it might be best to consilodate the months of June and July, and talk about what’s happened so far this summer, and discuss moving forward.
We had a great time at the Bedell Grill & Chill which took place on June 17th. It was both lots of fun and very successful. With brats and dogs hot off the grill, we had live music and lots of folks who turned out. At the end of the event, Mr. Bedell awarded a free guitar to a lucky participant of the drawing, and everyone got their fill of food, fun and music. In addition, we have added a huge selection of Bedell and Great Divide guitars to our already impressive lineup. These guitars are both beautiful and amazing in their build quality, playability and outstanding tone. If you haven’t tried one yet, you really need to come down to the store and see for yourself what all the hype is about. Available in ultra affordable to very affordable, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better bang for your buck deal anywhere.
As we leave June behind and turn our mindset to fireworks, hanging out at the pool and finding your flag you stick outside your house in respect to our nation’s independence trying to relax all the while. In honor of looking forward, I’ve listed a few new products guaranteed to hit the streets with a bang.
 Vox really did the guitar playing world a favor a few years ago when they introduced their Custom Classic series of amps. Affordable and tonelicious, Vox brought what everyone wanted, which was a classic amp you could play at any volume level, and also one that wouldn’t break. Fast forwarding to 2010, Vox continues to listen to the requests of players. The AC15C1 and AC30C2 Custom Series improves upon the already great sounding Custom Classic amps by offering Celestion Greenbacks and Alnico Blue speakers, doing away with rear chassis switches nobody knew how to use or cared to use, and providing a more authentic preamp format for both the AC15 and AC30 for maximum tonal dexterity. The best part is Vox has kept the prices for these amps extremely affordable. While many other manufacturers think they are helping the economy by making their products out of reach thanks to ginormous price hikes, Vox has decided to pay attention to what works, which is making great tone available to players of any budget.
 Seymour Duncan’s new TS-1 Triple Shot Pickup Mounting Ring expands your tonal palette by accessing three unique tones from a humbucker, thanks to this mounting ring that holds two small switches. This “stealth” pickup switching device allows you to access series, parallel and split wirings with a standard humbucker. And it’s easy to install. Just solder your pickup leads to a small color-coded circuit board. That’s it. Push the two switches towards each other for standard series wiring; away from each other for parallel wiring; and both towards one coil (either one) to shut that coil off. These are cool and very affordable at only $49.99 for a set of two. We’ve put them through the test here at Corner Music, and have plenty available, so come and get ‘em.
 Slide into the new age of instrument cable royalty with Asterope’s unidirectional cable that sets a new standard for premium signal transfer from your instrument to your amp. Anytime you hear words like geometry and advanced electromagnetics, you know it’s got to be good. With a lot of pros already on board, you don’t need a scientific explanation to know they are the best sounding cables currently on our planet. The materials and how they apply to the overall design of Asterope is so secretive, I can’t tell which underground nuclear facility they were made in, but it’s good to know the mad scientist behind these is still alive and kicking…Or should I say alive and picking?? Come to the store and check them out. We were impressed enough to carry them, and we think you’ll be impressed enough to use them.
The guitar wizards we have on staff have conjured up a very cool creation from their cauldron of killer tone. As they are in the process of making enough of a supply to keep the demand within reason, I am not at liberty to say they are for sale yet. However, I have been promised a green light in the very near future. So, just what is this thing? Well, think of something you can use on your guitar to make your Top (pun intended) end to go “How, How, How, How”. The soon to be officially named part installs easily into your guitar and gives you an extra tone tweak to your guitarsenal. We do have a prototype installed on one of our guitars, and I would love for you to come check it out.
Stay safe during the holiday, and don’t shoot any fireworks towards cop cars. They don’t like that very much.
 2010 - How High's The Water Momma?
Wow! If Johnny Cash were still alive, I'd ask him to ask his momma just how high the water actually rose. Through all the devastation, the Nashville community has really come together and demonstrated what Southern Hospitality truly is about. In addition, the entire city of Nashville is grateful to all those who have supported, and continue to help the victims hardest hit by one of the biggest floods in Nashville's history.
Corner Music managed to survive the deluge thanks to Larry Garris and his son, Kirk. Once it appeared the store was in for an excessive Saturday bath, the two got busy with the shop vacs, trying to stay ahead of the scourge. Unfortunately, it was like two men in a sinking rowboat trying to bail water with Dixie cups. Nonetheless, their perseverance paid off, and we were able to save our store, our inventory, and ultimately, our business.
Now that we have dry ground under our feet, we can get ready for the heat. And by doing so, we want to show you a few things.
 Poly Wanna Tuner? This has to be one of the coolest pedal tuners I've seen. Allow me to introduce to you the world's first polyphonic tuner. "Poly-whata?" The brilliant minds at t.c. electronic have designed an accurate stomp tuner, which allows you to strike all your guitar strings at once, and then displays the strings needing to be tuned. Should you wish to tune each string individually, select the chromatic mode, and you're in business. Very stylish and easy to see on dark stages, the polytune is accurate, affordable, and very, very cool, and you can get one in stock at Corner Music for only $99.99
 Corner Music has a bone to pick with you: Actually, we are very happy with our customers, but we have a new pick from Pick Boy made entirely out of bone. This hand-carved pick is perfectly grooved, offering unbelievable comfort and great tone. Perfect for flat pickers and electric players alike. The new Bone Pick from Pick Boy is very, very cool, and we have them in stock for $4.00 each
 A Blast of Cool Nordic Class: Take a load off from the heat with the new, lightweight Stage EX 88. The Red-Hot vibe is the only thing you may burn yourself on, as an ultra-tweakable panel above the keys, easily navigates its full library of rich piano sounds and generous effects. Expressive playing always comes easy with Nord's smooth-moving pitch stick and modulation wheel, making this new electric piano perfect for the working musician. We now have this very, very cool piano in stock for only $3,599.00
 Are You Ready For The Summer?: It's about that time to put the long sleeves away, and relax in something more comfortable. Corner Music has a wide selection of T-shirts and hats to freshen your summer collection. Choose from a variety of colors and styles, and let people know where you do your shopping for music gear. After all, it's that time of year. Get your cool Corner Tees & hats for only $15.00 each
 A cool case no matter what the weather is like: Protect your guitar from the vicious heat with the new SKB 1966 Military Flight Case. Built for the U.S. government to ship M-16 rifles, this case is completely water and air tight. You can even hear the whoosh of air when you open the latches. Best of all, this case is extremely rugged and perfect for fly dates when weight is an issue. Get this extremely cool flight case for only $249.00 at Corner Music
As we are only one month away from the summer solstice, we've given you a few things to help alleviate your summer time blues. That is, the above items and a dry floor.
 2010 - A Mullet Looks At Forty
Prior to turning 21, I worked hard at looking and acting the part of an older man, legally able to walk into bars and flirt with the mature chicks. Even at the risk of being caught using a fake ID, it was worth basking in the glory of hanging with my older pals.
The funny thing about age, is after 30, you end up doing the opposite of what you did when you were 17. For some reason, you no longer want people to profess your actual birth date, and rejuvenating cream is always on the list of things to buy at the store. However, there's no way around the inevitable, and pretty soon, we all cross the "40" barrier.
As I exchanged my 30s something sport coat for a 40s club members jacket, I realized it's not so bad after all. In fact, it's kind of cool knowing I'm among a fraternity of forty-ites proudly displaying their annual rings with pride. Looking back at our humble beginnings in the early 1970s, you get to see how far we've come, what we've learned, and the respect obtained for surviving all this time. Well, I can't always speak so loudly of my reputation, but for some of the main players in the music instrument industry, their prominence speaks more boldly today than it ever has, and there are signs of even greater things to come. So, please join me in recognizing some of the greatest names in the music business, entering their 40th year.
 : Not quite 40, they are less than 2 years away. However, Ikutaro Kakehashi started a company producing many world 'firsts', gaining respect throughout the music industry, continuing to this very day. Acquiring BOSS stomp boxes in the late 70s, only added more to the fine choices from Roland. Corner Music has been a long time dealer for Roland, and we keep a full line of Roland and Boss products in stock. Come in and check out the incredible Roland V-Piano and it's less expensive sibling, the FP-4. They are the best sounding electric pianos period.
 : The Theremin had been around for quite some time, but MOOG Music INC actually became official in 1971. A man beyond genius, Bob Moog has permanently stamped his legacy with his timeless creations of synths, pedals, and even guitars. From the amazingly lush Analog Delay, to the Mini-Moog to the new Moog Guitar, MOOG Musical products continue to be a staple of Corner Music's inventory, and we have the grateful customers to prove it.
 : Whirlwind isn't the 40-year old company, but the man with his stomp-boxes that revolutionized the guitar players sound is. Michael Laiacona, President and owner of Whirlwind, was the mind behind the original MXR pedals nearly 40 years ago. After getting an order for his Phase 90 from John Lennon, MXR became famous for his distortion and compression pedals, which were heard on nearly every stage and album in the 1970s. Such was the demand for the original, yet very costly pedals, Mr. Laiacona created the Big 3 exactly as he did in the beginning. With the addition of true bypass, you can get the timeless 40-year old technology right here at Corner Music in the Orange Box Phaser, the Gold Box Distortion, and the Red Box Compressor. Coors may taste like a true original, but the new Whirlwind boxes sound like it.
 The Mullet: Now, before you go thinking, "Just what does a mullet have to do with music?" Are you kidding me? This split level haircut has been on many stages of both country and rock for four decades. That's right. It didn't start in the mid-1980s, and Billy Ray Cyrus may have re-popularized it in the early 90s, but this blend of conservatism meets rebel got started around 1970. It is only appropriate to recognize a hair-style that has forever changed the face of bad-boy rock and roll, and found its way to fame in the country music world, as its popularity spread to the mainstream. We don't sell mullet cuts at Corner Music, but that doesn't mean we don't respect their place in music history.
So there you have it. These are just a few excellent examples of why being 40 isn't bad. In fact, Corner Music will be shedding it's 30-something wings in just six more years, which is no small feat in today's big corporate environment. Just when I thought turning 40 wasn't so great, I looked around and realized I'm in an elite company friends that only get better with age.
 2010 - Happy St. Patrick's Day
Top 'O The Mornin' To Ya! I hope you all remembered to wear green today. As Spring is just a few days away, we can only hope Old Man Winter has pulled out his hide-away bed, put on his pjs and downed enough cognac to sleep tight until next year.
To recognize this special day, I thought I'd add a few specials to the occasion and spotlight a few of our green stompboxes.
For those of you looking for a great overdrive, we have two solid options. The Green Screamer from BBE is a very smooth vintage overdrive circuit with true hardwire bypass. This pedal is built to last, and is backed by a 5-year warranty. BBE even throws in a 9 Volt AC adaptor for your convenience. The Green Screamer is in stock and sells for $99.99.
If you are seeking a distortion pedal with a bit of an edge, Fuchs offers the Plush Drive. As in the tradition of Andy's amplifiers, this box is built 'Ford Tough' with top-notch wiring and hardware. This lil' baby does a remarkable job of producing some very Robben-like tones. At $259.00, this may seem steep, but when you consider the price of a Fuchs amplifier, the Fuchs Drive is a very reasonable alternative.
The SL-20 Slicer from Boss is an incredible audio pattern processor designed for guitar and keyboard players seeking to expand their creativity and sound. The Slicer is an instant groove and percussive-melody maker with 50 slice patterns onboard. As with all Boss products, the SL-20 is built to last and comes with more than one way to skin a cat tweakability. You have adjustable attack and duration, and even have harmonic slice. There's also a tap tempo via the onboard pedal switch and has internal and MIDI sync. We offer the Boss SL-20 Slicer for $219.99
The last product of intrigue just may be a delay-lovers pot of gold. The Satriani Time Machine by Vox is a multi-function delay with a host of time-stretching, mind-bending delay effects. With two unique delay modes of Vintage and Modern, you have EVERYTHING from ultra-clean, full-range delay to warm analog sounds. Flip the Lo-Fi switch, and enjoy a very lush, smooth tape delay vibe. Selling for $199.99, the Time Machine is like having 2,3,4 delays in one.
There may only be one day out of the year where you get to drink green beer, but these green machines are little Leprechauns offer a rainbow of sounds you will want with you every day.
 2010 - Texas Guitar Show Notes & News
I do not know about you, but spring cannot get here fast enough. I can't remember it being this cold, for this long in the great state of Nashville. Thankfully, the Texas Guitar Show, held this past weekend at 'The Factory' in Franklin, TN., brought a little Texas heat, along with a great turnout.
Corner Music teamed up with MOOG Music introducing the new Moog Guitar. It was quite a bit of fun, and a real treat, having Saul Zonana provide his extraordinary talent in demonstrating such an incredible guitar. With Saul showing off the guitar's unique sustain features and other multi-faceted sonic functions, we weren't surprised to have great players like George Marinelli and Vince Gill at our booth checking it out.
Based on the excellent feedback from the guitar show, the Moog guitar has a very bright future. With an endless tonal arsenal conveniently available on a great looking and playing guitar, the limited Paul Vo model and the new, affordable E1 prove an instrument does not have to be considered "vintage" to be a classic.
We invite you to check out both the Paul Vo and E1 Moog Guitar online and in our store.
 2010 - One Month into the New Year
Is it already almost February? Who said travelling at warp speed wasn't possible? However, here we are nearly one month into the 2nd decade of this century, and this year has already blasted off at full speed. I hope everybody had an excellent holiday season and remembered to fill out their New Year's Resolution Cards.
Each year we try to improve upon both the things we are already good at, as well as addressing the challenges we face with changing economic conditions, our customers buying trends, and the constantly revolving music scene. In our attempt to do all the above, we strive to offer not just unique products, but high-quality items that do not necessarily carry a price tag that makes buying what you're looking for out of reach.
Companies like Eastman and Bedell Guitars, prove a handcrafted, boutique instrument does not have to be made in some person's basement to be great. They also affirm top-notch tone and playability do not have to come at a ridiculous markup. We carry both Eastman acoustic instruments and Bedell Guitars. Both these manufacturers, as well as another new line of reliced T-style guitars by LSL are among our latest offerings in providing our customers with outstanding products selling for a fraction of what many other manufacturers are offering.
Once again, we thank you for your continued support of our store, and look forward to starting this decade off with a bang…Or a strum. Whichever you prefer.
 PRS - David Grissom Clinic Afterthoughts
Wow! What a show we had last night at Corner Music. In the span of a few hours, we learned quite a few things:
- Paul Reed Smith guitars are amazingly versatile and fun to play in addition to being beautiful works of art.
- Paul has some interesting stories he should put in a book reflecting his final memoirs.
- David Grissom is pretty good.
Actually, the third point of emphasis is an understatement, as even Paul's jaw seemed to remain open well after David finished one of his mind-boggling demonstrations of guitar mastery. Following up by looking at me and saying, "He's brilliant!" substantiated, my assumption of the ongoing awe and appreciation Paul has for his endorsing artists.
The best part of the entire evening was enjoying the interaction between the two guests and those in attendance. Without that happening, it doesn't matter who shows up to play, as our goal is for our customers to become more informed and feel good about the products we carry and ones you are considering purchasing. With that in mind, all of us at Corner Music want to express our deepest "Thank You" for making the David Grissom clinic at Corner Music a very memorable and successful one.
Capping off the event was the auction for the guitar David used during the clinic. Congratulations go to Cooper Thomas in purchasing an amazing guitar! Paul says he expects a full report on your satisfaction with your new David Grissom Model Gold Top. J
That's it for this Friday, except all of us at Corner Music wish you Happy Holidays and many thanks for your continued support of our store.
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