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.
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.
Orange Amplification’s O Bass was originally created solely as a demonstrator piece for the 2014 Winter NAMM. Soon after the show, Orange was inundated with requests for the instrument. With its smooth lines, shapely aesthetics, and a distinct vintage sonic mojo the O Bass is destined to become a classic with bassists seeking an authentic retro sound. Available in three finishes (Teardrop Sunburst, Off-Black, and Orange) it is constructed from lightweight Okoumé with a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and custom-wound split coil pickup. It comes with a second three-ply pickguard for customization, master volume and tone controls, top loading four-saddle bridge, and a padded Orange gig bag.
The Ernie Ball Music Man Annie Clark “St. Vincent” guitar has an ergonomic body shape made from lightweight African mahogany, diMarzio mini-humbucking pickups, and custom wired five-way switching. The 25.5-inch scale guitar also features signature knobs, inlays, molded pickguard, gun-oil finished rosewood neck, 10-inch radius fingerboard, and Ernie Ball’s trademarked 4-over-2 headstock and exclusive super smooth modern tremolo. It’s available in black and St. Vincent blue.
Last week a bow was auctioned for the record breaking price of $288,960. The silver and ebony mounted violin bow, made by Francois Xavier Tourte, is believed to have once been owned by Polish virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman. It bears the initials “BH” engraved on the ferule. Beares Auctions reported that it was purchased by a professional violinist.
AirTurn’s DUO is a wireless two-pedal foot controller that can provide hands-free page turns on any Bluetooth tablet, smartphone, or computer. The two ATFS-2 pedals can also be used as a trigger for audio, effects, and lights, and other applications. All controls and LEDs are on top for optimum visibility. The BT-106 transceiver has a six-button membrane switch that can be removed and used as a multi-mode handheld remote control. With the new micro USB charging port, most android phone/tablet chargers will charge its battery.
Sabian’s Sound Kit is designed as a simple solution to superior drum sounds. No more piecing together microphone and mixer combinations and tweaking them to get the right sound. Sound Kit takes out the guesswork for practice sessions, rehearsals, and in live environments. It’s especially ideal for performances in small clubs, bars, and houses of worship. Fast setup and balanced XLR outputs simplify drum amplification. The kit is equipped with a kick-tuned channel, two optimized overhead channels, a high output headphone amp with both 3.5 mm and quarter-inch jacks, and a lineout for live audio applications. Preset audio filters on each channel maximize sound quality. The Sound Kit optimizes the proven Recorderman mic placement technique for natural drum sound. The kit’s mic set includes a dynamic kick drum mic and two overhead mics optimized for cymbals.
Switchcraft, a leading US manufacturer of connectors and cables, has added a standard cable offering to their line of innovative sealed and high current power jacks and plugs. Switchcraft’s sealed power plugs are waterproof to IP68 NEMA 250 (6P) when mated with Switchcraft’s sealed jacks. The high amperage plugs have a current carrying capacity of up to 11 Amps. In addition to field installable barrel connectors, there are ready-made, two-meter assemblies. Standard cables are available with straight or right angle connectors, and come stripped and tinned on the opposite end. Endless custom options are available.
