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.
Cort Guitars’ three all-mahogany acoustic guitars pair superb quality with aesthetic beauty. The AF510M is designed for robust sound in a compact, concert-size body. The SFX-MEM features slim single cutaway body with white binding and white pearl acryl rosette, plus Cort’s CE304T preamp mounted onboard. The AD-Mini M model is a three-fourths size all-mahogany acoustic guitar engineered for players who prefer the tones and playability of smaller guitars.
Holstein violins, violas, and cellos are artfully crafted reincarnations of famous violins. The Holstein Plowden features aged Russian spruce and select German maple, dried over 20 years. It’s finished with antiqued Italian oil varnish plus the highest quality Hill-style boxwood fittings. It has a quality ebony fingerboard and deluxe Aubert Mirecourt French-made bridge.
Korg’s Pitchblack mini (PBmini) tuner pedal is designed to conserve precious pedal board space, but still offer precise tuning and an easy-to-read display. Though PBmini has the footprint of a credit card, its large, seven-segment, color LED delivers excellent visibility, even on a dark stage. Users can choose from three modes—regular, strobe, or half-strobe mode. Strobe mode allows visualization of the direction and speed of meter movement, plus ultra high precision tuning with +/- 0.1 cent accuracy. Stabilizers on the underside of PBmini help it to stay put.
The Audio-Technica ATM230 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone is ideally suited for miking toms, snare, and other percussion instruments. Its proprietary capsule is designed to excel in high SPL applications and deliver full, well-rounded audio with an exceptional low-end. The hypercardioid polar pattern and low profile design reduce pickup of sounds from the sides and the rear, improving sound source isolation. ATM230 comes in a rugged, all-metal design for durability. They are available individually or packaged in a money-saving three-pack for less than $350 street.
Hand-crafted in Nashville, Tennessee, Todd Sharp Amplifiers’ debut model is the JOAT (Jack of All Tone) 20-Watt Reverb/Tremolo and Model A 2×12-inch speaker cabinet. Each component in the amplifier was painstakingly process selected for optimum performance. This is the flagship model for the company founded in 2016 by guitarist Todd Sharp, a member of Local 257 (Nashville, TN), who has also owned and operated an amplifier repair shop for the past 20 years. It offers a unique approach to vacuum tube guitar amplification. There is no tone stack (conventional bass, mid, treble controls), nor the loss that comes with a convention tone stack. Instead, the JOAT circuit employs rotary selector switches: attitude, low cut, and high cut, along with a “bite” switch. Inputs one and two are designed intentionally to receive single coil or dual coil pickups. The reverb is unlike any other, producing super smooth sound more like a plate than spring reverb. Tremolo offers an ultra-stable, wide range of speed and intensity—from subtle to full stutter.
Handcrafted in Colorado Springs for musicians, the Westone UM Pro 10 in-ear monitors deliver extraordinary detail and clarity in a compact ergonomic package. Sound isolating Star and True-Fit tips, in multiple sizes, give a personalized fit. The EPIC replaceable cable with up-and-over cable routing helps prevent microphonics and keeps the earphone securely in place.
Mackie’s ProDX series mixers combine the power of digital mixing and an ultra-compact form factor that’s perfect for solo performers, small bands, venues, and commercial applications that require lower channel counts. Equipped with Wide-Z mic preamps, the mixers allow connection to mic, line, and instruments, and require no gain adjustment for simple setup. The single knob hardware design lets any user make quick and easy level adjustments, while a companion MixerConnect app allows them to unlock powerful processing and total wireless control. The ProDX series includes the 4-channel ProDX4 and 8-channel ProDX8.
SKB’s iSeries cases include the 335 shaped, Thin Body Semi-Hollow guitar case that will ease the worries of any traveling musician. The injection-molded exterior is made of ultra-high-strength polypropylene copolymer resin. It is water and dust proof thanks to the integrated rubber gasket in the lid. The case also includes inline wheels, eight trigger latches (two with TSA locks) and three injection-molded handles. The molded interior is plush lined and there’s room in the lid for a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. There’s a large pocket for storing strings, guitar pedals, picks, and other accessories.
Roland EC-10 EL Cajon adds Roland’s famous electronic percussion technology to this traditional percussion instrument. The self-contained instrument is battery powered and includes its own onboard amplification extending its capabilities to cover a wide range of percussion sounds in one portable instrument. The sound module includes 30 kits with sounds specially developed to complement EL Cajon—tambourine, djembe, shaker, acoustic snare, electronic drums, sound effects, and more. Top-mounted sound controls give quick access while performing. Rear panel controls include volume and a trigger balance knob. A mix in jack allows music to be played from a smartphone or other device.
Yamaha Electric Violins (YEV) offer the beauty and character of wood, combined with outstanding sound and electronic performance. Available in four- and five-string models that are priced under $800, YEV includes the same integrated bridge and pickup design found in the higher-end Yamaha Silent Violin Pro series. The graceful solid center body is crafted from maple, mahogany, and spruce, while the frame is constructed of rich, resonant walnut. The maple neck is capped with a solid ebony fingerboard and ebony tuning pegs. Both models are available with a natural wood body, or a modern transparent black finish.
