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.
Etymotic Research ER20 XS high-fidelity earplugs are designed specifically for use with loud music. Advanced technology filters lower sound levels evenly by 20 decibels. Music sounds natural and clear, only safer for your ears. ER20 XS feature a discreet low-profile design, plus three-flange and one foam interchangeable ear-tip options. The earplugs and tips come in a handy carrying case.
At the intersection of modern and vintage the Michael Kelly Custom Collection 50 Deluxe electric guitar offers 12 different sonic options in a classic 1950s series look. A collaboration between teams at Michael Kelly and Seymour Duncan, the guitar features Duncan’s Hot Rail pickups and uses a four-way switch (instead of the normal three-way) to deliver neck, bridge, both, plus “series” options. Two push-pull pots on the master volume and master tone knob help expand tonal variations. The instrument is as beautiful as it is functional, featuring exotic striped ebony finish top on maple bound alder body with maple neck and rosewood fretboard.
The Boss Katana guitar amplifiers offer refined rock tones plus built-in Boss effects, perfect for gigs, recording, and practice. Named for the Japanese samurai sword, the amps deliver smooth, cutting rock tones. The lineup includes: the 50-watt Katana-50 and 100-watt Katana-100, each equipped with a custom 12-inch speaker; and 100-watt Katana-100/212 with two 12-inch speakers. The 100-watt Katana Head is designed for use with an external speaker cabinet, but includes a convenient integrated monitor speaker for tone preview and practice. Each amp has five selectable characters: clean, crunch, lead, brown, and acoustic.
Aerophone AE-10 is a new concept in digital wind instruments, providing authentic soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone sounds, plus clarinet, flute, oboe, multiple brass instruments, violin, synth, and more. The instrument is played with traditional saxophone fingerings. Breath-sensor technology and bite sensing reed provide authentic response and playability control in techniques such as vibrato and pitch. Compact and lightweight, it is powered by six AA-batteries. It is equipped with onboard speakers and headphone jack for silent play, and can connect to a smartphone or music player to jam along to backing music. Plus a USB jack allows connection to computer.
Espresso Portable Power Supply is designed to power any mic requiring 30-48V phantom power at a current draw of up to 5 mA. It has one XLR female input and one quarter-inch TRS female output and can be configured for either mic level balanced signal or line level unbalanced signal. When joined with a smartphone adapter cable it can send the mic signal straight into an Android, iPhone, or other smartphone. By moving an internal jumper, Espresso can be configured to output an unbalanced line-level signal and run a contact or condenser mic signal straight into an instrument amp without the need for a preamp or DI box. It is available as a kit or 
ready-to-use model.
Designed with the help of British guitar legend Gordon Giltrap, the Fret-King Black Label Elise ‘GG’ MKII has a two-piece mahogany chambered body with double-carved solid maple cap and figured flame maple veneer, finished in Antique Sunburst. A direct mounted Tune-O-Matic bridge and attractive inlaid ebony trapeze tailpiece provides superb tonal transfer and sustain, that resonates on its easy-access mahogany set neck and ebony fingerboard. Vari-Coil control allows a player to progressively wind down the pickup and achieve single-coil tones from the Wilkinson neck mini double coil and standard bridge 
double coil. It comes with a Fret-King carry bag.
The Jazz Play-Along series is an ultimate learning tool for Bb, Eb, C, and bass clef instruments, providing musician-friendly lead sheets, melody cues, and split track choices on an included play-along CD for improvisation study. There’s even a full stereo accompaniment track for performance. Included on 10 Classic Tunes are: “Black Narcissus,” “Bolivia,” “Cantelope Island,” “Caravan,” “Contemplation,” 
“Freedom Jazz Dance,” “Impressions,” “Shutterbug,” “So What,” and “Yes or No.” There are 187 other Jazz Play-Along sets available, covering blues, swing, classic jazz, tango, and much more.
Modal Jazz: 10 Classic Tunes, Hal Leonard Corporation, www.halleonard.com.
The BOSS GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor is small enough to slip into a guitar bag accessory pouch, yet offers tone quality and sound shaping ability that exceeds typical compact multi-effects units. GT-1 users have access to more than 100 effects types including overdrive/distortion, chorus, and delay, plus utility effects such as acoustic simulator and guitar simulator. Numerous COSM amps are included, as well as a looper. Easy Select allows users to quickly find patches by genre, distortion, or effect type and Easy Edit lets them 
tweak drive, modulation, and echo tones to perfection with little effort. GT-1 can be powered by AC adapter or four AA-size batteries, lasting up to seven hours.
Over the years, a huge number of Canadian bands such as Arcade Fire; The Band, Rush, and Nickelback; and other artists like Diana Krall of Locals 149 (Toronto, ON) and 802 (New York City); Gordon Lightfoot of Local 149; Tegan and Sara Quin and Sarah McLachlan of Local 145 (Vancouver, BC); Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Alanis Morissette of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA); and Paul Anka of Local 6; and many others have made invaluable contributions to rock ’n’ roll. Yet, the story of Canada’s rock 
evolution is largely untold. This book traces the country’s music history from the folk rock and psychedelic rock of the 1960s through Canada’s indie-rock renaissance of the 2000s.
The History of Canadian Rock ’n’ Roll, by Bob Mersereau, Backbeat Books, www.backbeatbooks.com.
Inspired by his love of skateboarding and music, Nick Pourfard founded Prisma Guitars in 2015 to build guitars with one-of-a-kind style using real skateboards. Musicians can customize every feature of these unique instruments 100% handcrafted in the US from the wood of recycled skateboards. There are six body shapes and various neck types to choose from, either entirely built from skateboards or built with a skateboard top and mahogany or alder back, or hollow body. Prisma will even build a guitar from a customer’s own skateboard at no additional charge. They come with hand-wound McNelly or David Allen Pickups exclusively built with Emerson Custom electronics. Bass guitars and left-handed guitars are also available. Each custom guitar takes eight to 12 weeks to 
build. Pricing starts at $2,500, including a travel-ready MONO bag.
