Guitar Lessons Now Online from Sam Ash Music Institute

Learning how to play the guitar online just got easier thanks to Learn Music, an online guitar education company and music equipment giant Sam Ash. The Sam Ash Music Institute, located at www.SamAshMusicInstitute.com, has just launched, offering students a chance of a lifetime to learn guitar online from the best.

Broken down into simple video tutorials, learning the guitar with SamAshMusicInstitute.com is a breeze. The site offers users an abundance of preformatted video instruction guides for every possible guitar skill. Helping make the SamAshMusicInstitute.com website a must join for any aspiring guitarist is the personalized touch offered by the site.
Visitors that sign up for guitar lessons with the Sam Ash Music Institute are provided a personalized video instruction menu that offers each individual the quickest and most efficient path to learning the guitar. New users will be prompted to enter relevant information about their guitar skills and aspirations, and then be provided with a customized video instruction set.

The SamAshMusicInstitute.com website not only provides ground breaking high resolution video instruction for its members, it also has the best live support in the business. With instant live chat availability, students are able to connect with their guitar teachers quickly and effectively when questions arise.

Learn Music has been a trailblazer for online music instruction. The company has focused on pupil friendly lessons that get results and keep the student motivated as their core mission since 1999. Sam Ash Music is one of the nation’s largest music instrument retailers, offering world class experience and innovation in its field. The coming together of the two companies to create an educational website provides music students with something to be excited about.

“We have been providing online guitar instruction for over 8 years, and our passion is as strong now as it has ever been. Along with the explosion of the video game Guitar Hero there has been a massive interest spike and curiosity on what it would be like to play a real guitar. We are very excited to have partnered with Sam Ash Music to make this site the place to learn guitar online,” explains Learn Music founder and instructor Rick Napolitano.

Visitors to SamAshMusicInstitute.com are provided with sample videos, a detailed list of services offered by the company and a free 3 day trial.

With full length streaming clinics, a personalized learning plan, industry leading live support and a MySpace style online community, the Sam Ash Music Institute is unquestionably the place to learn guitar online.

To sign up for the free 3 day trial,
visit www.SamAshMusicInstitute.com.

PreSonus New Gear

PreSonus has announced three new recording solutions:
MegaStudio Producer gives you everything you need to record your music, create your videos and distribute and sell your music worldwide. MegaStudio Producer features the award-winning PreSonus FP10 (formerly FirePod) FireWire recording interface, more than $2,000 worth of music and video production software, 5 free uploads to iTunes from TuneCore, as well as free BroadJam.com membership and a complete “Go Pro” guide with tons of information on sharing, distributing and selling your music and videos. More than four hours of included tutorial videos provide step-by-step instructions on how to produce professional-quality recordings and videos.

The FireStudio Project is a complete 24-bit/96K professional recording system combining eight Class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers, 24-bit/96k sample rate conversion, zero-latency matrix router mixer and the PreSonus ProPak Software Suite featuring Steinberg's Cubase LE 4 48-track recording and production software, over 25 real-time plug-in effects and more than 2 GB of drum loops and samples.

Based on the award-winning Central Station, Monitor Station is a new desktop monitoring and communications system that provides talkback, speaker switching, input source switching and four ultra loud and clear headphone amplifiers.

For more info on these new PreSonus releases, visit any Sam Ash Music store.

Barry Rudolph "Deconstructing the Mix"

Noted recording engineer/mixer/journalist Barry Rudolph will conduct a music-mixing seminar at The Studio at Sam Ash Canoga Park on the evening of Tuesday October 23.

Entitled "Deconstructing The Mix," the seminar will follow Rudolph step-by-step through the mixing process he used in the final mixes of several recent record projects. Mixing inside Pro Tools HD, the primary focus for this tutorial will be his sonic concepts, musical aesthetic and the methods used to attain them.

Rudolph's vast discography includes engineering and mixing numerous gold/platinum certified records by artists Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall and Oates, The Corrs, BB Mak, Pat Benatar, Robbie Nevil, Enrique Iglesias, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Mathis, Mick Jagger, Selena, Tony Williams, Levon Helm, John Prine, Keith Moon, and The Beach Boys. He has worked with producers Tom Dowd, Steve Cropper, Jerry Fuller, Oliver Leiber, David Gamson, Neil Giraldo, Rick Rubin, Rafael Botijja-Perez, Stanley Clarke, Kevin Savigar and Rob Cavallo, to name a few.

Rudolph also writes product reviews and features for Mix Magazine and authors the "New Toys" column in L.A.-based Music Connection Magazine.

The Studio at Sam Ash Canoga Park. 20934 Roscoe Blvd. at De Soto Ave. Tuesday Oct. 23 at 7pm. Seating is limited for this free clinic. RSVP by email or by calling 818-709-5650.

UPDATE: Due to the success of this clinic, Barry Rudolph will conduct a Deconstructing the Mix 2 seminar on December 3.

Steinberg Nuendo 4

Steinberg has announced next month's release of Nuendo 4.Nuendo 4 offers a state-of-the-art automation system along with new recording functionality and Track Preset management features to speed up audio production workflows. A next-generation VST3 effect plug-in suite, the innovative MediaBay database, new editing commands and Track Quick Controls raise production efficiency and quality to new heights.

For more on Nuendo 4, visit steinberg.net or any Sam Ash Music store.

Antares Harmony Engine Clinics

From Antares, the company that revolutionized professional vocal production with Auto-Tune pitch correction technology, Harmony Engine is a real-time harmony generating plug-in that puts professional-quality vocal harmony arrangements within reach of any songwriter, producer, musician or engineer.

With four independent harmony voices, a variety of powerful harmony generating modes, humanization features for natural sounding performances and a flexible real-time preset system for harmony and vocal type, Harmony Engine provides incredibly easy-to-use tools to quickly and easily produce virtually any vocal arrangement you can imagine.

Whether you're an experienced vocal arranger, a songwriter looking for that perfect backup vocal or a composer experimenting with unique vocal effects, Harmony Engine gives you entirely new ways to create the harmony parts you hear in your head.

Antares Product Specialist Brian English will demo the new Harmony Engine plug-in at three SoCal Sam Ash Music locations:

• Canoga Park on Tuesday Sept. 25
• Hollywood on Wednesday Sept. 26
• Westminster on Thursday Sept. 27

Enter to win a free copy of Harmony Engine at each clinic courtesy of Antares. Clinics start at 7pm.

Access Virus Software Update

Access has released OS 2.5.1 for Virus TI, TI Keyboard and Polar. This new version is especially exciting as it adds Virus TI and Virus Control Plug-in support for Logic 8 and Pro Tools as well as beta support for Sonar 7, Nuendo and Microsoft Vista 32. Visit the Access website or any SoCal Sam Ash for more info.

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz Meet & Greet

Sam Ash Music in Hollywood is hosting a Meet & Greet with Squier® Signature Model P Bass® Guitar Artist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. Special Fender® and Squier® pricing will be offered during the event.

Sam Ash Music. 7360 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA. October 9 at 5pm.

Sponsored by Fender®/Squier® & Sam Ash Music.

Squier®, Precision Bass® and the distinctive headstock and body designs of those guitars are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

Martin and Taylor Acoustic Guitar Closeouts

Sam Ash is blowing out the last few pre-2006 Martin and Taylor acoustic guitars left in the stores to make room for more new guitars.

Taylor Guitars made in 2005 and earlier and Martin Guitars with serial numbers under 950,000 are all on sale now. These guitars will be specially priced to move until they are gone.

Stop by your nearest Sam Ash Music store to check out the deals.

The Studio at Sam Ash Canoga Park Celebrates Grand Opening on Oct. 16

The Studio at Sam Ash Canoga Park. Top (L-R): Zev Birnbaum, Digidesign's Jon Connolly, Jefferson Smith. Seated: TJ Milian, Gussie Miller.

The Studio
at Sam Ash Canoga Park

Grand Opening

Tuesday October 16 at 6:30pm

Free clinics by Digidesign and Auralex

The Studio is the new high-end recording room at Sam Ash Music in Canoga Park, California. Centered around a Pro Tools HD3 rig with 24 channels of ICON D-Command control, the room was treated for acoustics by the team at Auralex to provide a proper listening environment to demo instruments, microphones, reference monitors and the latest recording equipment. Sit back on the couch and let your ears decide on the perfect gear for your next recording session.

Studio owners, producers, engineers and musicians are invited to join us for hors d’œuvres at the Grand Opening of The Studio on October 16. Digidesign's Jon Connolly will demonstrate the newest advances in Pro Tools HD hardware, software and plug-ins. Auralex will discuss the acoustical treatment of the The Studio, answer questions on sound isolation and sound-proofing, and provide attendees with a free personalized room analysis.

Seating is limited. RSVP by email or by calling a Recording Specialist at 818-709-5650.
Sam Ash Canoga Park General Manager Keith Johnson and Studio Recording Specialists Zev Birnbaum, Gussie Miller & Jefferson Smith.

Cakewalk Sonar 7 Now Shipping

Cakewalk Sonar 7 is now available in Producer and Studio versions.
New to Sonar 7 Producer Edition:

• A complete MIDI overhaul with Smart MIDI Tools and dozens of other new features
• Introduction of the most powerful Step Sequencer found in any DAW
• True linear phase mastering plug-ins
• Internal sidechaining
• Delay compensation for external hardware
• Pitch to MIDI functionality with Roland V-Vocal 1.5
• Numerous workflow, mixing and delivery enhancements throughout the application

For more info, visit cakewalk.com or any Sam Ash Music store.

Free Auralex Studio Room Analysis

So you've set up your studio with all the best recording gear: top-of-the-line mics, preamps, compressors, good quality cable...

If your recordings don't sound as good as the ones coming out of the big-name studios, it could be because of the acoustics of your room!

Auralex Acoustics is the industry leader in acoustical treatment products. Use their online Interactive Kit Calculator for a quick recommendation on what it will take to acoustically treat your recording room.

If you have problems with sound transmission or an odd-shaped room, Auralex also offers a free Personalized Room Analysis. Download the form and fax it to Auralex or just stop by any Southern California Sam Ash Music store and speak with a Recording Specialist.

ESP Announces New LTD Guitar Models

ESP Guitars has announced the addition of ten exciting new LTD models to their line. The new models for Fall 2007 will be available through Sam Ash Music later this year.
Perhaps the most unique new model of the group, the KH-JR joins the company’s other Kirk Hammett Signature Series models. It is ESP’s first foray into a smaller size instrument that’s perfect for younger players as well as other guitarists who’d like a travel/practice instrument. Resembling a smaller version of the popular ESP KH-2, the KH-JR (Junior) implements a 20.5” 3/4 scale design, with a basswood body and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. A black finish, skull & bones inlays, and the same ESP-EMG LH-300 pickups used on the LTD KH-202 make this guitar perfect for any Metallica fan, young or not-so-young. A gig bag is included with the KH-JR.

LTD’s EC Series single-cutaway guitars expended with four new models. The affordable and popular EC-50 is now available in two new finishes (Black Satin and 2-Tone Burst). Similarly, the EC-100QM offers its high playability and sumptuous quilted maple top in a brand new Faded Cherry Sunburst finish.

Two more EC Series models were added to the LTD Deluxe group. The EC-1000 is now available in two stunning new finishes: See-Thru Blue and See-Thru Green. These high-performance models implement a set-neck design at a comfortable 24.75” scale. Both offer a mahogany body with a flamed maple top, and use a three-piece mahogany neck with a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard. The guitars’ neck, body, and headstock are treated with white binding and abalone purfling. The Earvana compensated nut allows for precise intonation, and the Schaller locking tuners and Tonepros bridge/tailpiece ensure the instruments stay in tune even during the most hardcore playing. EMG 81 (Bridge) and EMG 60 (Neck) active pickups help give these guitars the powerful tone that ESP has made famous.
ESP’s M and MH Series guitars also received a facelift with four new models: the M-53, the M-103FM, the MH-53 and MH-103QM. These affordable guitars offer a high-quality alternative to the standard inexpensive choices in rock guitars, with designs that are based on some of ESP’s most respected models. All four of the new models add a great-feeling (and great-looking) maple fingerboard to the M and MH Series, which previously was comprised only of rosewood fingerboard models. The M-53 is offered in a black finish, while the M-103FM (See-Thru Black finish) adds a licensed Floyd Rose tremolo system. The MH-53’s maple fingerboard provides a cool contrast to its black finish, while the MH-100QM highlights its quilted maple top in a See-Thru Blue color scheme.

For more info, visit any Sam Ash store or espguitars.com.

CD/DVD Duplication Services by Sam Ash Disc Direct

The Sam Ash Disc Direct online CD and DVD duplication service offers a fast and convenient way to duplicate and distribute professional-quality color-printed CDs and DVDs and custom packaging. We burn the content that you send us onto professional-grade CD-Rs and DVD-Rs and print them with full-color or black-only graphics. The online duplication service allows you to create and order CDs and DVDs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Same Day rush service, call 1-800-4-SAMASH or email discdirect@samash.com. There are no setup fees and no minimum orders!

discdirect.samashmusic.com

Win Black Label Society Tickets

Sam Ash Music and the Grove of Anaheim are giving away tickets to the Black Label Society concert at the Grove on Wed. October 3.

Enter to win at Sam Ash in Westminster, Cerritos or Ontario. Visit any of these three stores for details.

Ampeg Bass Amps & Cabinets at Sam Ash

Sam Ash has Ampeg bass and guitar gear.

Some of the Ampeg amps and cabs at Sam Ash:

• SVT410HE Classic Series 4x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet
• SVT410HLF Classic Series Ported Horn 4x10
• SVT450H Classic Series Bass Amplifier Head
• J20 Jet Tube 1x12" Guitar Combo Amplifier
• SVT810E Classic Series 8x10
• SVT4PRO Pro Series Bass Head
• SVTCL Classic Series Bass Amp Head

More Ampeg gear is on the way to all Los Angeles-area Sam Ash Music stores.

Who's on Ampeg's Artist List?

Ampeg Artists include Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Michael Anthony, Josh Homme, Billy Sheehan, John McVie, Geezer Butler, Gene Simmons, Sting and Bootsy Collins.

Reason 4 Arrives on Sept. 26

Reason 4 will be released to the world on Wednesday September 26. The masterminds at Propellerheads have done it again.

Reason has come full circle. Rebuilt from the ground up and equipped with a brand new sequencer, a revolutionary groove tool, a stunning arpeggiator and an incredible new synth named Thor, Reason 4 is set to change how you make your music.

If you own a previous version of Reason, you will be able to upgrade at a discounted upgrade price. Upgrade versions will be sold at all Sam Ash Music stores. If you have purchased Reason new after June 1, 2007, hold on to your receipt and contact Propellerheads when Reason 4 is out, and they will supply you with a free upgrade. Detailed info about this process will be published on the Propellerheads website when the upgrade is available.

Reserve your copy of Reason 4 today by preordering at any Sam Ash store. Want to learn more about Reason 4? Click here.

Native Instruments GUITAR RIG 3, KONTAKT 3 & New KOMPLETE Bundles at Sam Ash on Oct. 1

Native Instruments has announced 5 New Products that will be released on October 1:

GUITAR RIG 3

• Twelve supreme-sounding guitar and bass amps
• New matched cabinet module provides tried and true classic sounds in seconds
• 44 perfectly emulated guitar effects
• 17 guitar and six bass cabinets, four rotary speakers and nine microphones
• Includes Rig Kontrol 3 foot controller with Audio/MIDI interface - Now in BLACK
  
• Intelligent preset management for fast access to a huge selection of sounds for all styles
• Essential tools: Integrated tuner, metronome and two tapedeck modules for easy recording
• Premium special features include a loop machine and powerful modifiers
• Dedicated "Live View" for performing on stage
• Dynamic Tube Response Technology® delivers a profound sonic quality

While Supplies Last: The price of the old Guitar Rig 2 has been lowered to $299.99 at Sam Ash. Customers who purchase Guitar Rig 2 after 9/1/07 will qualify for a free software upgrade to Guitar Rig 3.

KONTAKT 3

• Six Instrument Collections – over 33 GB of sounds
• Ready-to-rock "Performance View" for each of the 1000 instruments
• Reworked Wave Editor with tools for intuitive looping, slicing and editing
• Freely drawable envelopes per sample
• Improved navigation: Modulation Quick-Jumps, Instrument Navigator
• Over 18 high-end effects
• Enhanced workflow for Scripts with tabbed views
• Universal Import of virtually any sample format
• MIDI loop drag & drop into host application
• New Info Pane in the GUI, seven tutorial videos

KOMPLETE 5

Includes ALL the following instruments:

• KONTAKT 3 - the industry-standard sampler with a 33 GB library
• GUITAR RIG 3 Software Edition - the ultimate guitar and bass studio
• MASSIVE - the formidable sound monster for fat basses and more
• REAKTOR 5 - the extremely versatile, modular instrument studio
• ABSYNTH 4 - the legendary synthesizer for vivid soundscapes
• BATTERY 3 - the dedicated drum sampler providing premium drum kits
• AKOUSTIK PIANO - three famous grands and one upright
• ELEKTRIK PIANO - the sounds of four renowned electric pianos
• B4 II - perfectly recreates the sound of the legendary B3 organ
• FM8 - FM synth for crystal-clear, airy, and razor-sharp digital sounds
• PRO-53 - the faithful reproduction of a synth legend

KOMPLETE SYNTHS

• MASSIVE - the formidable sound monster for fat basses and more
• ABSYNTH 4 - the legendary synthesizer for vivid soundscapes
• FM8 - FM synth for crystal-clear, airy, and razor-sharp digital sounds
• PRO-53 - the faithful reproduction of a synth legend

KOMPLETE CLASSICS

• AKOUSTIK PIANO - three famous grands and one upright
• ELEKTRIK PIANO - the sounds of four renowned electric pianos
• B4 II - perfectly recreates the sound of the legendary B3 organ
• PRO-53 - the faithful reproduction of a synth legend

For more info on these new releases from Native Instruments, visit any Sam Ash Music store.

Hartke AC150 Acoustic Amp Rave Reviews

Looking for a great amp for your acoustic/electric guitar?

The Hartke AC150 Acoustic Ribbon Amplifier received glowing reviews in Guitar World, Acoustic Guitar and 20th Century Guitar Magazine this month.

The AC150 features a 150 watt tri-amped design, with 50 watts powering the left and right full range speakers and 50 watts powering the high frequency ribbon tweeter. To reduce feedback, there is a phase switch on channel 1 as well as a variable notch filter with depth control. On the rear panel of the amplifier there is an effects loop with stereo return, and stereo XLR direct outputs.

The Hartke AC150 is now on sale at all Sam Ash Music stores.

Gretsch Drums at Sam Ash

That Great Gretsch Sound is back at Sam Ash Music.

Gretsch drum sets, including the Catalina, Renown and New Classic kits, are available now at Sam Ash.

Mosaic Live at Sam Ash Cerritos

Mosaic played a free show recently at Sam Ash Music in Cerritos. Bands play every Saturday afternoon at the Cerritos Sam Ash store during Sound Stage Saturdays.

Taylor Solid Body Electric Guitars Are Coming

Taylor Guitars has announced a new line of solid body electric guitars.

Bob Taylor: "About a year ago, we were working on some humbuckers for a new T5. These pickups sounded so great, we looked up and said, 'Hey, we're in the electric guitar business now!'... We literally designed every part of this guitar ourselves, right down to the knobs!"

Choose from three models (Classic, Standard and Custom) in full or 3/4-size. The major launch for these guitars is scheduled for January 2008 with a limited pre-production run on sale this fall. Visit any Sam Ash Music store or the Taylor Guitars website for more info. Check out the teaser video with Bob Taylor here.

Yamaha AW1600 Special Offer

Buy a Yamaha AW1600 audio workstation and a pair of HS50M monitor speakers, get your choice of a $300 cash rebate or a free HS10W subwoofer ($599 value) straight from Yamaha. Offer good only on purchases between 9/1/07 and 9/30/07. For details click here or go to any Sam Ash Music store.

Apple Unveils Logic Studio

Apple has announced Logic Studio which includes the majorly upgraded Logic Pro 8, a new live performance application called Main Stage, SoundTrack Pro 2 for audio post production, 40 Studio Instruments, 80 Studio Effects pro plug-ins, a vast Studio Sound Library and a powerful set of production utilities. Available now for only $499 at all Sam Ash Music stores.

Blue Mic Rebates

Purchase a select Blue Microphone between September 1 and December 31, 2007, and receive up to $200 cash back via mail-in rebate from Blue.

Visit any Sam Ash Music store or click here for more info.

M-Audio FireWire Studio Rebates

During the month of September, M-Audio is offering rebates on studio packages including a FireWire 410 interface. For details visit m-audio.com.

Marcellano Tapscott Jazz Clinic

Join us for an evening with Marcellano Tapscott and friends as they demo and discuss musicianship and showmanship focusing on Jazz and Funk techniques.

Free clinic at Sam Ash Music in the Ontario Mills Mall.

Thursday September 27 at 7pm.

Slash on Dave Mustaine and Glen Drover

From MEGADETH.com:

Last week, guitarist Slash [VELVET REVOLVER and ex-GUNS N' ROSES] was interviewed for the cover of a new Sam Ash catalog. In the interview Slash was quoted saying: "I still think that Dave Mustaine is an all time genius heavy metal guitar player. He’s amazing and he always picks great guitar players for his band. I don’t know the name of the new one [Glen Drover] but he’s really good."

Get a free subscription to the Sam Ash catalog HERE.

For more on Glen Drover, see the news on Blabbermouth.net and Megadeth.com and the interview with him by Dean Guitars.

Michael Wilton, George Lynch & Stephen Carpenter Hollywood Meet & Greet Presented by ESP Guitars and Sam Ash

MICHAEL WILTON (Queensrÿche)
GEORGE LYNCH (Dokken/Lynch Mob)
STEPHEN CARPENTER (Deftones)

Meet & Greet
Q&A Session

Sam Ash Music
7360 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, California

Wednesday October 3 at 3pm


Enter to win an H-51 guitar autographed by all three guitarists courtesy of ESP.

ESP will be unveiling new one-of-a-kind autographed and Custom Shop guitars at the free event. Do you have a custom ESP guitar? Bring it with you. We'd love to see it. Want to design your own ESP guitar? You can. Just fill out the Custom Shop Order Form and bring it to any Sam Ash store or use the online version. ESP will build it for you.

Design the guitar of your dreams.

Presented by ESP Guitars and Sam Ash.


UPDATE: Thanks to Stef Carpenter, Michael Wilton, George Lynch and the guys at ESP for making this happen. The Q&A session was great!
Thanks also to Bren Alesch at Angelwing Photography for the photos.

Epiphone Guitars at Sam Ash

Epiphone guitars are back at Sam Ash.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top, LP Custom, Zakk Wylde LP Custom, John Lennon EJ-160E Acoustic, EJ-200CE, Thunderbird IV Bass... and many more Epiphone guitars are arriving at all Sam Ash Music stores in SoCal.

Open Labs NeKo and MiKo at Sam Ash Hollywood

Open Labs instruments are the most powerful and elegant integration of keyboard, controllers and software available today. The NeKo LX and MiKo LX come standard with over 60 VST instruments and effects. The PC-based architecture and Windows OS allow users to purchase and install virtually any music or audio application or plug-in developed for PC.

Open Labs keyboards are the only instruments available today that can play native PC VSTs live, clone patches from any midi keyboard or module and offer an Ethernet internet connection for Open Labs online remote shadowing and diagnostics - right in your own studio.

Artists using Open Labs workstations include Jonathan Davis and Munky with Korn, Scott Spock with The Matrix, Jesse Carmichael with Maroon 5, Teddy Riley, Lil Jon, Sheila E. and film composer Richard Gibbs. Morris Hayes played the MiKo with Prince on Saturday Night Live and the NeKo during the Halftime Show of Super Bowl XLI in Miami earlier this year.

Check out the Open Labs NeKo LX and MiKo LX in the Recording Room at Sam Ash Music in Hollywood.

Brass & Woodwind Instrument Clinic

Author and renowned Brass and Woodwind instrument repair technician Bob Scarff will show you in detail how to care for your Brass and Woodwind instruments.
Brass instruments: Trumpet, trombone (slide/valve), tuba, sousaphone, cornet, flugelhorn, mellophone, euphonium, bugle, alto/baritone horn, etc.

Woodwinds: Saxophone (soprano/alto/tenor/baritone), clarinet, flute, piccolo, bassoon, oboe, recorder, etc.

The class is free and open to the public of all ages. Perfect for beginners and intermediate players in school marching band and orchestra. Bring your instrument!

Sam Ash Music in the Ontario Mills Mall. Wed. Sept. 19. 7-8pm.

Sam Ash TV

Sam Ash TV (samash.tv) is a collaboration between Sam Ash and Music Player Network's Guitar Player, Bass Player, Keyboard, and EQ. Exclusive video content showcases new gear, instructional lessons, interviews and performance footage. Featured artists include Flea, Joe Satriani, Victor Wooten, Dweezil Zappa, Thomas Dolby and Zakk Wylde.

“Sam Ash is excited to give our online customers informative features from the respected and knowledgeable editors at Guitar Player, Bass Player, Keyboard, and EQ. Helping our customers know more about the products we offer is part of the Sam Ash customer experience,” says David Ash, Co-CEO of Sam Ash Music.

Jean Larrivee

Jean Larrivee visited all seven California Sam Ash Music stores recently. The guitar building legend and founder of Larrivee Guitars shared insight into what it takes to create a truly amazing acoustic guitar.

Larrivee's living a remarkable life. He has personally been involved in the construction of every single guitar that bears his name for 40 years. He works from early in the morning until midnight every day - seven days a week.

When he's not building guitars, he's traveling the globe hunting for raw materials. Jean Larrivee knows wood. As one of the world's foremost experts in trees and wood, he is given permission by foreign governments to search for wood in some of the most remote parts of the planet.

Trees naturally fall in the wild for various reasons. Over time, other trees, branches and leaves fall on top and bury them. Larrivee wears special shoes with nails attached to the bottom when walking through the jungle. When his foot gets caught on something, his team digs to uncover a fallen tree. Some of these buried trees are incredibly huge and are used to manufacture literally hundreds of the highest quality guitars. The wood is top notch, and it saves cutting down a living tree.

It's nice to know Larrivee is exercising responsible practices with respect to the environment. As family-run companies, Larrivee and Sam Ash share many of the same values and appreciate what a gift it is to be able to help people create the music of their dreams.

Sam Ash is proud to be the nation's #1 dealer of Larrivee Guitars.

Will Ray in Hollywood

Will Ray of The Hellecasters played a free show at the Hollywood store sponsored by G&L Guitars.

The guitar clinic included an interesting Q&A session followed by a meet & greet.

B-Bender Mania!

DJ J Spin Wins Sam Ash Summer DJ Battle

DJ J Spin was the winner of the Summer DJ Battle 2007 at Sam Ash Puente Hills in City of Industry on August 29. His first place performance earned him a Serato Scratch Live package from Rane and lots of other prizes from Monster Cable, Ultrasone, Shure and Odyssey.

DJ Lester D took home a pair of EV Force i25 dual 15" speakers as runner-up courtesy of Electro-Voice. A lucky member of the audience walked away with a new mini-KP Kaoss Pad thanks to Korg.

The event was hosted by Andrew Barajas and organized by Jason Herrera. Guest DJ performers included the legendary DJ Tony G, DJ Fat Box (Coolio) and DJ Shortee.

Piggy D

Piggy D visited the Torrance, Ontario Mills and Canoga Park Sam Ash stores recently and gave a great clinic on how he used the portable ZOOM H4 recorder to capture song ideas for his debut solo album, The Evacuation Plan. The H4 came in handy while he was on tour playing bass with Rob Zombie. Thanks to Bren Alesch at Angelwing Photography for the pics.

Private Labor Day Sale

As a reward for finding this blog, you are invited to the Sam Ash Private Labor Day Sale on Monday. Ask for the store manager and say you want the "California Labor Day Special" price on whatever you want. It's not a specific percentage off. Nobody will talk about it over phone. It will be worth it. Go to the store on Monday and get hooked up!

Southern California Sam Ash store locations only. Valid one day: Monday September 3, 2007. Open until 7pm on Labor Day.

DJ Teddy G Wins DJ Battle in Westminster

Congrats to DJ Teddy G for winning the DJ Battle at Sam Ash Music in Westminster last week. He is pictured on the right with DJ Curse (left) from the Beat Junkies and 93.5 KDAY-FM.