Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs offer musicians hearing protection with three exchangeable filter sets for low, medium, and high protection. Made of thermoplastic material, the earplugs mold to the wearer’s ears, are comfortable and stay in place, and are hypoallergenic. Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs come with a storage case, a carrying cord, and disinfecting cleaning spray.
The new Microphone Desktop Tripod Stand from Peavey Electronics is a high-quality, foldable stand great for stepping up audio quality during remote conferencing, recording, and/or podcasting. It’s portable and versatile, with a clip that’s compatible with the most popular handheld microphones. It’s sturdy, yet lightweight with a small footprint, and its non-skid rubber feet minimize surface noise.
The new Amadeus AP-86 grenadilla wood piccolo by Wm. S. Haynes Co. offers a responsive head joint that plays with ease, while the body and silver-plated mechanism provides accurate intonation, balanced registers, and a liquid altissimo. The split-e mechanism is standard, and the choice of a Traditional or Wave style head joint allows the player to choose the style which captures their imagination.
The Fibonacci Fibonacci is a versatile, multi-faceted, workhorse of a guitar, with soft, warm tones and an extra ‘bite’ when required. It is a completely hollow, double cut-away archtop, produced from a hand-carved AAA spruce top, with hand-carved mahogany back, sides, and neck. Complemented with solid maple binding, ebony fingerboard, and floating pickguard, it comes with a single floating ‘Micro Stealth’ Krivo pickup. Finished in natural nitrocellulose lacquer.
Mega Tone starts with genuine Vincent Bach mouthpiece designs and more than doubles the outside mass. This darkens the sound and allows playing at higher dynamic levels without distortion. Mega Tone slots extremely well so pitches center dependably, and a slightly larger throat affords less resistance and greater flexibility. The result is a warmer, more powerful sound that adds a new dimension to concert, pop, and jazz playing.
MXL Microphones has released the Revelation II microphone, the successor to the MXL Revelation, which is often regarded as the company’s greatest creation. The reinvented Revelation II microphone offers the warmth and intimacy of a premium tube microphone, but with extended clarity and punch for balanced recording. A dual gold-sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm and hand-selected EF86 pentode tube provides a warm, rich, and transparent sound. The polar pattern selection is virtually limitless, controllable by a variable pattern control knob.
Protec’s new modular woodwind mouthpiece case protects valuable mouthpieces and ligatures from damage. This case features a compact lightweight design and customizable fit with four modular ligature holders and five mouthpiece dividers. Also includes a large gusseted storage pocket for smaller accessories, removable wrist strap with swivel snap, and a weather- and abrasion-resistant nylon exterior.
The Triad Pad HD-F from Slug Percussion Products is for powerful kick drum play, providing maximum protection from foot pedal beater damage and increasing beater punch while diminishing high frequencies. The Felt Duro-Disk impact pad is mounted on a triangular shaped polycarbonate film badge with permanent adhesive backing. Ideal for recording and performance situations requiring controlling unwanted overtones and overly “clicky” attack from bass drum beaters.
Soul Power Strat
Fender has launched the all new Tom Morello “Soul Power” Stratocaster. Developed in collaboration with Morello, of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), and to his exact specifications, the model features an alder bound-top slab body, a “Deep-C” maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 22 medium-jumbo frets and matching painted headstock, a kill switch that creates Morello’s signature “Stutter” effects, a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails bridge humbucker pickup, and a Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System.
Designed in partnership with Chris Thile of Local 257 (Nashville, TN), D’Addario’s signature mandolin pick was developed to meet Thile’s own specifications for maximum comfort, tone, and playability. The wide, triangular shape offers added control, and each corner’s beveled, pointed tip offers supreme glide and articulation. This heavy gauge (1.4mm) pick is ideal for mandolin and flatpicking.
