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.
Fender’s new Brad Paisley Signature Esquire guitar was made in collaboration with the Grammy winning artist, a member of Local 257 (Nashville, TN). The guitar takes the elements that have made the Esquire a staple and provides subtle upgrades, including a Seymour Duncan Brad Paisley Signature “Secret Agent” neck pickup hidden under a pickguard adorned in a custom paisley pattern—keeping the image of the instrument intact while delivering a robust palette of sounds.
Create haunting echoes, ethereal landscapes, and otherworldly ambience with Eventide’s new Blackhole, a reverb pedal “as big and as mysterious as the cosmos.” The pedal includes onboard tone controls, modulation, and infinite reverb settings with mono or stereo operation, MIDI, preset storing, and a new compact, easy-to-use interface.
www.eventideaudio.com
GruvGear’s FretWraps string muter is a professional string dampener / muting accessory that cuts overtones and sympathetic resonance during recording, live performance, two-hand tapping, or any creative situation where you need that extra muting hand for cleaner takes. The adjustable strap lets you fine-tune the pressure and dampening of the strings. Quickly slides over the headstock when not in use. Fits string instruments size small through extra large.
The Pitch Fork Polyphonic Pitch Shifter/Harmony Pedal by Electro-Harmonix features two independent pitch shifting engines with full control over each. Both will transpose your pitch up or down over a three-octave range and detune +/- 99 cents. With rock solid tracking, an organic, musical tone, and extensive control, it’s your ultimate harmonizer.
The Fishman Loudbox Mini packs 60 watts of clean acoustic power and has two channels featuring Fishman’s preamp and tone control designs. It also features digital reverb and chorus for the instrument channel, reverb for the microphone channel, an MP3 input, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
The PRS Guitars Floating Guitar Stand offers a sleek, minimalist design that lets the stand disappear allowing the guitar to take center stage. Designed to be stable and safe, features include: heavy duty construction, weighted base for maximum stability, three-pointed base engineered so the stand will not tip over, and a nitro-friendly foam headstock cradle.
Music Nomad’s Beyond Plush Players Cloth will help preserve and maintain your instrument’s body, neck, and strings for optimal performance and appearance. One side is an ultra-plush microfiber to be used on body and neck, then turn the cloth over to use the low-profile suede microfiber to wipe down your strings. Use before, during, and after playing to protect your instrument from dust and grime, and improve string life and tone. Size 12” x 12”.
Steve Eulberg, a member of Local 1000 (nongeographic) and Local 6 (San Francisco, CA), delivers his ninth solo recording in what is a return to his acoustic guitar roots.
Between the Tracks is an all-instrumental album featuring fingerstyle guitar and light percussion, with styles including acoustic folk, bossa nova, ragtime, blues, and Americana.
After having his cancerous thyroid removed in 2013, Eulberg turned to his guitar for healing, processing, and expression. In today’s contemporary blizzard of twisted language and misinformation, he says he “recognizes the need for stillness and reflection and offers a collection of eloquent fingerstyle instrumental compositions.”
Featuring his artistry on nylon and steel-string guitars with light percussion, this self-produced project was mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Charlie Pilzer, also of Local 1000.
The Washburn Revival Series guitars bring back inspirations and designs of classic models from the 1930s. The Revival Solo Deluxe Grand Auditorium is an electric/acoustic version of the 1939 Solo Deluxe guitar. It features torrefied Sitka spruce top and bracing and solid mahogany back and sides, with a 1930s style sunburst design. It employs a Fishman GT-2 under-saddle pickup and comes with a deluxe arched-top hard case.
Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks are available in two sizes—standard and mini—and each is available in 1.5-millimeter (black) and 2-millimeter (white) thicknesses. They are made of highly durable Delrin and have a slip-resistant surface. The pick’s beveled edge and sharp point allow less drag, added articulation, and precise control. They come in six-pack bags priced under $10.
