Our New Home in Tennessee - Samick Music Corporation

the official newsletter of Samick Music Corp.
Volume III, Issue IV, NAMM 2008 Edition
Our New
Home in
Tennessee
1
Samick’s Grand Opening, 50th Anniversary, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
Samick Notes
1329 Gateway Drive
Gallatin, TN 37066
(800) 592.9393
(615) 206.0077
(615) 452.0451 Executive/Sales Fax
(615) 452.6948 Credit Fax
www.smcmusic.com
Volume III, Issue IV, NAMM 2008
Editor: Jay Cross
Assoc. Editor: Paul Downey
Graphic Designer: Paul Downey
Photography: Paul Downey
(grand opening article only)
In this Issue...
News in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Knabe’s 170th year . . . . . . . . 3
Home in Tennessee . . . . . . 4–5
50th Anniversary . . . . . . . . . 6
Coles Whalen interview . . . 7
SMC & the Community . 8–9
SIMS comes to America . . 10
Building a NAMM booth . . 11
Samick history . . . . . . . . . . .12
Sohmer 43f
Sohmer 43t
2
Sohmer 247
Sohmer 48p
News In Brief
SMC offering “No Interest” Terms
SMC and Allegro
Acceptance have
agreed to partner on
consumer financing.
“SMC has explored partnerships with
several finance companies over the last
year, and we’re happy start a relationship
with Allegro,” says Jay Cross, Director
of Marketing. “Allegro has long been the
standard in musical instruments financing, and we feel that combining forces to
extend more affordable financing to our
dealers’ customers creates a ‘win-win’
combination.”
This program is nationwide, and is extended to all SMC dealers. As support for
these financing programs continues to
grow, SMC, in cooperation with Allegro,
expects to provide additional creative financing alternatives for our dealers’ customers.
Sohmer Adds New Models
For 2008, the Sohmer brand
will bring three new verticals into the mix. The new
lineup starts with 43" decorator
consoles in French Cherry and Traditional Mahogany/Walnut models (replacing
the 34T, F, and R 42" consoles). The line
continues with a 46.5" institutional studio, along with a 48" studio offering as
well.
The grand piano lineup continues
on with the popular 50T, 63T,
77T and 90T models. The 95T
has been replaced with a new 7'
grand scale which should arrive in the spring of 2008.
The new Sohmer models will be on display at our
NAMM booth (2nd f loor,
210A&B).
New Kohler Digitals for NAMM
At the 2007 NAMM Show, SMC introduced the KD-7 digital piano, a full-featured 4’11” digital grand in an authentic
acoustic grand piano casing. Dealer response has been overwhelmingly positive since the piano started shipping in
the fall. The KD-7 features 30 professional quality sounds and a player system
with three USB ports, internal library,
and an ability to record. In 2008, SMC
plans to release software upgrades plus
new features such as a split keyboard,
multi-track recording, general MIDI
voices to the keyboard, and more.
To expand upon this success, Samick
will be introducing the KD-5, a smaller
version of the KD-7, which will feature
a 4’7” grand piano case and many of the
core features found on its predecessor. SMC will also be surprising dealers at NAMM with a new model we’re
tentatively calling the KD-28. Come by
our NAMM booth (second floor, room
210 A&B) to see all of the new exciting
Kohler Digital products.
Kohler Digital KD-7
Knabe 170th Anniversary
WKG-58A Limited Edition grand
Samick is proud to celebrate the
170th Anniversary of Wm. Knabe & Co.
Knabe’s rich and storied history began
more than 200 years ago when Wilhelm
Knabe was born in Kreuzburg, Germany. Having received
his training in cabinet and piano
mak ing, K nabe
emigrated to the
United States and
took a job with
German piano
maker Henry
Hartge in Baltimore. Within a few years, he founded his own business of buying, selling,
and repairing pianos. In 1837, Knabe
partnered with another fellow German immigrant named Henry Gaehle
to form the piano
company Knabe &
Gaehle, the genesis
of Knabe’s storied
history.
In 1854, Knabe
went on to found
his own firm Wm.
Knabe & Co. In
1860 Knabe built a
large factory at Eutaw and West Streets
in Baltimore, occupying two city blocks
and employing over 300 workers. Over
the years, Knabes gained recognition
for their superior sound quality and
beauty of cabinetry, winning numerous awards and being featured in the
finest homes in America.
William Knabe died in 1864 but
his sons expanded upon their father’s
success, continuing to be very popular among consumers and professionals alike. The long list of endorsees and
owners included conductor Hans von
Bulow, composer Camille Saint-Saëns,
piano virtuoso Louis Gottschalk, and
President Rutherford B. Hayes. This
recognition reached its apex with the
Knabe piano being featured at the
opening of the country’s grandest
new musical venue Carnegie Hall.
The guest of honor,
whose journey was
entirely financed
by Knabe, was the
world’s greatest living composer Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
A fter decades of
further success, Knabe grand became
the official piano of the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1930. Knabes contin-
ued to be enjoyed in American homes
throughout the 20th century.
Wm. Knabe & Co.’s incorporation
into SMC’s family has seen a resurgence of the piano’s former glory. Using the great vintage Knabes as a guide,
SMC’s technicians have painstakingly
replicated the original Baltimore Scale
on select models and have further improved upon all models to demanding
modern technical standards. To celebrate Knabe's 170th Anniversary, we are
proud to release two beautiful art case
pianos, the WKG-58a 5'8" grand and the
WKV-121a 48" upright, both in a beautiful dark walnut semi-gloss. For more
information about these pianos, call
Dick Christian at (800) 592-9393 x117.
Knabe 170th Anniversary
WKV-121A Limited Edition upright
3
SMC Vertically Integrates Pramberger Lineup
Letter to Pramberger dealers:
Due to the popularity of the Pramberger
brand, we wanted
to capitalize on the
name that has been
synonymous with
quality piano craftsmanship since the
late 1700s. Rick Baldassin, Norm Neblitt, and André Bolduc started the initial design of the Samick Pramberger
pianos, developing three distinctive price points, using the names
Remington, J. Pramberger Signature Series and JP Pramberger Platinum Series.
Using this dream team of technicians,
SMC has been able to capture nearly
every price point available between
$2,500 and $33,000.
To celebrate the success of this
brand, SMC is very proud to announce
the change on all Pramberger products
to display the name “PRAMBERGER”
on every fallboard. Initially, because
of product differentiation within each
line, we thought it would be more appropriate only to use the PRAMBERGER
name for the Platinum Series. In reality,
the design philosophy and attention to
detail is very similar throughout the
entire lineup. Due to the consistency
and quality of craftsmanship demonstrated on all Pramberger models, our
decision to make this change was very
easy.
In the spirit of this change, we
would like to announce the introduction of the new Legacy Series which includes the new LG140, LG150 and LG157
grands, and the new LV108, LV43, and
LV118 verticals.
The Pramberger
Signature Series continues to be the backbone of the brand, and
will now start with the PS157 grand
piano, and still includes the popular
PS175 and PS185 grands. On the vertical side of the Signature Series, we now
start with the PV118, institutional piano, and NEW (same scale) decorator
studio versions in French, Traditional
and Renaissance styles. We finish the
PV vertical line with the 121 and 131,
now available in ES.
The JP Pramberger Platinum Series
remains unchanged and continues to
receive national acclaim from Larry
Fine and prominent technicians across
the country.
We look forward to continued
growth with the Pramberger brand,
and we are convinced these changes
will accentuate that growth by simplifying the Pramberger story for our
dealers, retail salespeople, and consumers.
LG-157
Thanks for your support of
Pramberger products,
LV-118
Jay Cross
Director of Marketing for
Acoustic and Digital Pianos
Samick Music Corp.
LV-43F
3
Finally Home in Tennessee
By Paul Downey
Samick Music Corp. made a momentous
decision last year—that it would leave its
North American headquarters in City of
Industry, California, its home for more
than twenty years. After considering
several locations throughout the United
States, SMC purchased 14 acres of land
east of the city center of Gallatin, Tennessee, approximately 30 miles northeast of Nashville. In addition to moving
its headquarters and primary distribution center, Samick also plans to manufacture products in its new facility.
J.S. Kim, head of SMC’s Inchon,
South Korea parent company Samick
Musical Instruments Company, Ltd. and
Chairman of SMC’s Board of Directors,
explains the reasons behind the move:
“Over the last decade we have seen the
costs of business and manufactur-
4
ing increase in the Pacific Rim countries. The production of premium value products has now become viable in
the United States. Many American consumers are looking for a better quality
product.”
In 2005, the Gallatin Economic Development Agency partnered with the
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and
other local organizations to help bring
Samick to Gallatin. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen said, “It seems very
fitting that a company that specializes
in producing quality music products
would find its way home to Tennessee, just 25 miles outside of Music City
USA, where quality music is made.”
Grand Opening
In March 2006, Samick opened for
business in a nearby temporary facility as construction on the 14,000 square
foot headquarters and 200,000 square
foot warehouse commenced. The corporate offices moved to the new facility in July 2007, with SMC’s main distribution center and warehouse moving
from Elizabethtown, Kentucky a few
weeks later.
Samick celebrated its grand opening on the afternoon of Friday, October 5th with its employees, friends,
network of dealers, and leaders who
made the move possible. Delivering remarks were Governor Bredesen,
Gallatin Mayor Jo Ann Graves, Executive Director of the Gallatin Economic Development Agency Clay Walker,
and Debra Maggart, and
various representatives
of state and local government and economic development agencies.
The formal grand
opening culminated in
a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Governor
having the honors. Afterwards, attendees were
given tours of the new
office building and exTennessee Governor Phil Bredesen delivers remarks to attendees
pansive warehouse. The
CEO Baik Lee, and Director of Market- day ended with a cookout and perforing Jay Cross. The musical instrument mances from Greg Bennett’s sponsored
division presented Greg Bennett “Ten- artists. The three sets of music were
nessee Traveler” guitars to the Gov- played by Jessie Lynn, Steve Rutledge,
ernor, the Mayor, Clay Walker, and and Coles Whalen.
builder Pete Sain. Also in attendance
were US Congressman Bart Gordon, Benefits
State Representatives Mike McDonald The new location and the facility’s capabilities will greatly
benefit both SMC and its
network of dealers spread
out over North America.
The Gallatin warehouse
(right), considered the
largest of any piano manufacturer in North America, is strategically located within 700 miles of the
vast majority of the US
population. With a majority of Samick’s inventory in one central location,
shipping will be more efficient than ever before.
Tony De La Rosa, head of Marketing for the MI division, presents Tennessee
In early 2008, SMC will
Traveler guitars to the Governor, Mayor, and head of the Gallatin EDA
be one of the few manu-
facturers in North America to provide
an in-house installation specialist for
player grand pianos systems.
The benefits of the new 14,000
square foot headquarters are manifold. SMC will be able to hold seminars
and training sessions in-house, with
three specific rooms to accommodate
instruction and product demonstration. Two of these rooms double as factory showrooms for both pianos and
guitars, displaying our wide range of
product offerings.
Samick’s new two-story lobby
Interior of the expansive new warehouse
CEO Baik Lee converses with attendees
5
Samick Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2008
SMC is pleased to celebrate Samick’s
Golden Anniversary in 2008.
Samick was founded in Korea in
1958 by Hyo Ick Lee. Facing an immense
challenge in impoverished and wartorn South Korea, Lee began to build
and sell a few vertical pianos a week
from a small converted shop front. It
wasn’t long before the company started manufacturing upright pianos on a
large scale. In 1964 Samick became the
first Korean company to export pianos
and by the early 1970s, the company
had become a large-scale manufacturer with over 3,000 employees building
pianos and guitars.
In the years following, Samick focused on global expansion. In 1978 they
opened a branch office in Los Angeles,
California, followed by establishment
of an office in Düsseldorf, Germany in
1980. Sales of Samick products in the
United States grew exponentially and
Samick soon announced the development of their American subsidiary,
Samick Music Corporation in 1982.
Samick has always been dedicated
to developing new products and quality, starting in 1983 with a technical cooperation with Klaus Fenner, a piano
designer and technician from Germany. Fenner was renowned for designing
the German Imperial Scale that continues to characterize the pianos of leading international manufacturers.
In 1990, Samick expanded its production capabilities with separate
plants for uprights and grands in three
different countries. In June 2002, Korean business mogul Jong-Sup Kim, one
of the most respected businessmen in
Asia, and his investment consortium
purchased Samick, outbidding other
6
leading music companies.
One of Kim’s first decisions in December 2002 involved looking abroad
to expand Samick’s manufacturing
prowess. They established a technical
consultancy with German manufacturer Bechstein and invested in the
Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
system, a highly accurate routing machine used to make such integral parts
as soundboards and rims.
In 2005 Chairman Kim announced
the company was entirely debt-free,
its share price
had quintupled
and that he had
turned the company into one of
the world’s few
profitable piano
makers within
the space of just
Chairman JS Kim
three years.
Samick today is ranked third in
world piano sales. Despite its short history, it has grown from a small workshop manufacturing a little more than
a hundred pianos a year, into a network
of modern and highly sophisticated
manufacturing facilities producing
more than 30,000 pianos annually
and exporting to the Asia-Pacific, European, American and other markets
around the world.
The word Samick means “Three
Benefits” in Korean, symbolizing how
Samick provide benefits not only within the company itself, but also to external stakeholders and the overall South
Korean economy. This epitomizes how
Korean people think of the collective
before self, wish to create harmony between parties and aim to develop time-
honored relationships that are mutually beneficial.
The past year has been a very important year in Samick’s history. SMC
moved into it’s new facility in Tennessee and celebrated the 170th Anniversary of Wm. Knabe & Co. In 2008, we
will celebrate Samick’s 50th year in
existence.
Samick 50th Anniversary Grand and
New Korean Scale Designs for 2008
Samick Music Corp. recently contracted
Rich and Scott Austin of Phoenix
Custom to build a special grand piano
to celebrate Samick’s 50th anniversary.
Rich, along with his son Scott and
SMC’s Western Sales Manager Tom
Kennard, collaborated this summer
to discuss many ideas for features not
normally found in grand pianos. These
ideas became a reality by November
2007.
To celebrate Samick’s 50th anniversary, SMC will offer their dealers a limited run of 50 numbered custom grands
to celebrate Samick’s 50th Anniversary.
These grands will be assembled at the
Phoenix Customs facility in Phoenix,
Arizona and shipped directly to our
dealers. The grand will come with a
black plate with chrome letters stating
the production number from one to
Continued on back page...
Greg Bennett Guitars Featured Artist
After fronting her LA-based rock band
for two and a half years, Coles Whalen
knew it was time to jump start a solo career. She released an EP, bought a truck
and camper, and never looked back. In
the next 12 months, she played over 150
venues across 10 states in the western
United States.
“Her voice has more than enough
power to carry a rock anthem, but she
prefers to use that power to sustain her
gentler, more pensive moments. Her
pitch and articulation—vocal and instrumental—are flawless,” wrote Malcolm McCollum of Steppin’ Out Magazine, a local Denver newspaper. Coles
Whalen sold well over 2,000 copies of
her first CD right out of the back of that
truck.
Parking the camper, Whalen recorded a full-length album, Gee Baby, in February of 2005. But the camper didn’t
stay parked for long. In the next year
and a half, Coles played over 600 shows
throughout the entire United States and
sold more than 7,000 CDs. She has performed both solo, with her new band,
and has shared the stage with Melissa
Ferrick, Reckless Kelly, The John Butler
Trio, William Topley and Tyler Hilton,
among others. Ricardo Baca, Pop Music Critic for The Denver Post said
of her live performance, “ Whalen
delivers an absolutely great show,
she left a lasting
impression on
me.”
Whalen released
her third album, Nothing is Too Much in
March of 2007 on the indie label Iconic Records. After a national tour in support of the Nothing is Too Much, Coles is
back in the studio working on her latest collection of music, scheduled for a
2008 release.
We recently caught up with Coles
on an off night (which she doesn’t get
many of these days) to ask her about
songwriting, Greg Bennett guitars, and
her plans for 2008.
Greg Bennett guitars: Can you bring us up
to date on what’s been happening lately?
Coles Whalen: I’m winding down
from an amazing summer tour and
taking a couple months off to work
on material for a new record.
GBG: You’ve spent a lot of time songwriting
in Nashville lately, how does that differ
from the way you normally write songs?
CW: I hadn’t had much experience
co-writing before coming to Nashville. Most of the songs on my previous releases I wrote on my own. It
was my manager’s suggestion that I
come to Nashville for a couple weeks
and try my hand at collaborating…
well, a couple weeks turned into
three months and counting.
The caliber of craftsmanship in this
town amazes me every day. I’m honored to have so many incredibly talented writers contributing to my
next record.
GBG: Will you go back on the road in
2008?
CW: Yes! 2008 will be packed with
full band shows introducing the
new material to audiences around
the US and Canada.
GBG: What model Greg Bennett guitar do
you play, and what do you like about it?
CW: I have played several models
of GB guitars including the All Solid Wood ASDM CE, the Laredo D16
CE and the Avion AV6 LTD. My lead
guitarist plays the LaSalle JZT15. My
current favorite is the new all solid wood medium jumbo (model#
ASMJRCE). The guitar spits fire on
stage and several times while writing songs my co-writer has asked
to play it. I’m always proud to say
that Greg Bennett lives right here in
Nashville and that the guitar warehouse is in Gallatin, TN a short drive
from Music Row.
GBG: What can we expect from Coles
Whalen in the future?
CW: Shows, shows, and more shows,
a new record set to drop in August
2008 and of course mad love and respect for Greg Bennett guitars.
Catch up with Coles Whalen at
www.coleswhalen.com or
myspace.com/coleswhalen.
For more information on Greg Bennett
guitars or Greg Bennett artists go to
www.GregBennettGuitars.com or
myspace.com/gregbennettguitars.
www.gregbennettguitars.com
7
Samick Institutional Piano Loan Program
Fostering Talent, Developing Character & Building the Leaders of Tomorrow
By Jay Cross
Over the next few Samick Notes issues,
we plan to showcase the cooperative relationships SMC has with the nation’s
universities, public/private school systems, and non-profit cultural arts centers. “Scientific studies have proven
that music participation,” including
playing the piano, “enhances vital intellectual skills in children” NAMM,
1999. Samick believes that contributing
pianos to music education programs
across the country will help in facilitating a more well-rounded education
in today’s youth. Our journey during
this series first takes us to one of the
most unique facilities in the United
States for the development of the arts
in children, the Milwaukee Youth Arts
Center.
The Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
touches the lives of thousands of
young people in the greater Milwaukee
area each year, giving them access to
arts and culture, as well as providing
professional development and life les-
African American Children’s Theater rehearsal
sons to build the leaders of tomorrow.
As budgets for the arts continue to get
cut in the nation’s public school systems, the existence of facilities like the
MYAC become paramount. Even with
donations and an endowment, the fa-
8
The Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
cility, like most non-profit entities,
struggles to fund all of its programs
adequately. For this reason, Samick
Music Corp. stepped to the forefront to
provide pianos for all teaching areas/
studios and performance halls in this
facility. We asked facility manager Brad
Bingheim to sit down with us for a few
minutes to talk about the Milwaukee
Youth Arts Center and what it provides
for the community.
Jay Cross: Shed some light on what the
MYAC is all about? What is it’s mission
statement?
Brad Bingheim: First Stage Children’s
Theater and Milwaukee Youth
Symphony Orchestra, two of the
country’s premier youth arts education organizations, have collaborated
to build a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for—and dedicated
to—training young people in the performing arts—with a goal of enhancing young people’s lives through the
arts. This extraordinary facility is believed to be the first of its kind in the
nation and is being hailed as a national
model for arts education! The Center’s
mission is: to provide the highest level
of performing arts training to a diverse population of children; to serve
as an educational resource for the entire community—including other
youth arts groups as well as educators
and artists; and to create a passion for
the arts that inspires the next generation of audiences. Establishing an environment in which young people and
adults can be inspired by each others’
work and creativity.
JC: I’ve seen this facility first-hand, and architecturally, it’s very impressive. It’s got
to be one of the most unique buildings for
the arts in the US. Can you give us an idea
of the overall dimensions of the building?
How did it get built? Who specifically does
it serve?
BB: The facility’s main level is approximately 56,000 sq. ft. which includes 5
spacious, well-designed, educationally appropriate rehearsal halls, plus 9
demand for their programs, but it has quality pianos in each of the needed
also provided the location and addi- program spaces. These pianos have
tional space needed to reach increasing garnered top praises from our staff and
numbers of underserved youth. The students along with the community.
Youth Arts Center’s
top quality perform- JC: What does the future hold for MYAC?
ing arts training BB: The Youth Arts Center is in the iniserves more than tial planning stages of Phase Two. With
7,500 children each the development of our lower level we
year representing a hope to be able to serve more students
diverse
population and arts organizations in the commureflecting a wide va- nity.
riety of racial, ethnic,
economic, social, cul- JC: How can people become involved with
tural and geographic the MYAC? If dealers and municipalities
backgrounds.
want to partner on a facility like this (in
One of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center’s many classrooms/studios
MYSO and First their own cities) who should they call for
studios/classrooms and other training Stage began an aggressive capital and information?
spaces, as well as administrative offic- program campaign to fund the build- BB: For more information on the
es, music and theater libraries, a par- ing with a goal of 12 million. Through Milwaukee Youth Arts Center they can
ent and student commons, costume the generous support of foundations, visit our website at youthartscenter.org.
shop and instrument storage. Utilizing corporations, and individual support Email us at [email protected]. Or
this facility along with First Stage and the Youth Arts Center exceeded its goal call Brad Bingheim, Youth Arts Center
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and within two years of opening the Facility Manager or Cecilia Davis,
are the Milwaukee Children’s Choir, facility was able to
Festival City Symphony, Danceworks, pay off the loans from
African American Children’s Theatre, construction and purMilwaukee Public Schools and a wide chase.
variety of other groups.
The Youth Arts Center was born JC: What impact have
out of a need for Milwaukee Youth the Samick pianos made
Symphony (MYSO) and First Stage on the facility and are
Children’s Theater to grow and server a you a proponent of the
greater number of youth in south east- Samick Institutional
ern Wisconsin. Space constraints pre- Piano Loan Program?
vented First Stage Children’s Theater What is the opinion of
The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
and Milwaukee Youth Symphony the staff and students in
Orchestra from expanding youth out- regard to the quality of these pianos?
Youth Arts Center Development and
reach initiatives and developing in- BB: Upon completion of the facility we Community Partnership Manager at
creasingly ambitious artistic goals. relied on donated used pianos and a few (414) 267-2900, or by mail 325 W. Walnut
Every year each organization was forced purchased through generous gifts but Street, Milwaukee WI 53212.
to turn away hundreds of students be- were noticeable lacking in good quality
cause rehearsal spaces were filled to pianos in many of the program spaces. JC: Thanks for your time Brad, and we at
capacity. The Milwaukee Youth Arts Through the generous support of the Samick look forward to a long-lasting
Center not only gives the organizations Samick’s loan program we were able to partnership with the MYAC.
the space needed to meet the current offer our students and staff with top
9
Samick Innovative Music Systems Comes to US
After a few trial appearances at past without the guitar.
NAMM Shows, Samick Innovative Mu- In the keyboard desic Systems Corp. (SIMS) has now for- partment, JamMate
mally launched in the United States. offers the Primus a25
The brainchild of Samick Chairman MIDI keyboard which
Jong-Sup Kim’s son Min Soo, SIMS pro- features 25 keys, USB
duces cutting-edge computer-inter- audio interface, microfaced music products and will make its phone and headphone preformal debut at the 2008 NAMM Show amps, line in/out jacks, and MIDI
in Anaheim.
controllers. Next in the line is the
The young company has been JamMate UFO USB phantom-powered
on the international market since microphone, featuring a built-in head2006 under two product lines: Inphone amp, allowing it to be
frasonic and JamMate. Infraused without an extersonic targets seasoned
nal mixer. The only
technophiles and
product not featurincludes such home
ing USB connectivrecording products
ity is JamMate’s newest
5
a2 product, the Hipster pocket
as a multi-purpose
s
u
im
Pr guitar amp, which includes a
computer interface, PCI
e
t
Ma
audio interfaces, a MIDI
Jam tuner and effects available on convenkeyboard, and other computer
tional amplifiers. The Hipster can also
peripherals and software.
be played through an mp3 player or CD
The JamMate line incorporates player with an AUX input with level
five product packages aimed at the be- control.
ginner and amateur musicians. The
Current trends in the market are
flagship of the line is the JamMate boosting SIMS’ confidence that these
UG-1 electric guitar with USB inter- products will be a big hit in the US
face which can be used for both home market. Games such as Guitar Hero III
recording and real-time music play- and Rock Band will be one of the hoting. The guitar can be connected to a test gifts under this year’s Christmas
computer for plug-and-play recording, tree, with parents already spending a
podcasting, or jamming. The UG-1 isn’t
large portion of their
just intended for use with a computer,
discretionary dollars
as it contains a 1/4" output so it can be
on computer-related
played through a conventional amp or
products. Kids who
silently through its built-in headphone
want to get into playamp. The JamMate Rock Frog offers all
ing music are already
of the functionality of the UG-1, with
familiar with such
both USB and 1/4" connectivity, but
popular music proJamMate Hipster
10
JamMate UG-1
grams as Apple’s GarageBand,
making JamMate products that
much more likely a choice. The USB
interface also eliminates the need for
any extra interconnects or external devices, reducing the intimidation factor
greatly. SIMS has used every advantage
of Samick’s resources to ensure that
these products are well-engineered,
easy to use, and styled beautifully.
SIMS-America will have an engaging point of purchase display available
by the end of the first quarter of 2008.
They will share office and warehouse
space with SMC at their Gallatin, Tennessee headquarters.
To see these products first-hand,
please visit SIMS at NAMM in booth
3082, Hall D.
JamMate UFO
JamMate RockFrog
Anatomy of a NAMM Booth
The 2007 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California drew 80,000 NAMM members and
over 1,500 exhibitors. A lot goes into the
planning of SMC’s exhibition room and
booth on the exhibition floor. We talked with
Dick Christian, Executive Vice President of
Sales, to see what’s in store for 2008.
Entrance to SMC’s 2007 NAMM booth
1. Will the NAMM booth be the same
size as it was last year?
It will be the same size as last year’s.
In 2007, our booth became smaller due
to our no longer being associated with
Bechstein, which was approximately
1/3 of our total space. We still have the
same amount of space as before for our
core products.
2. What goes in to choosing specific
pianos for the booth?
We choose specific models, finishes,
and sizes of each of our product lines in
order to display every style and wood
Booth layout with brand, model, and finishes
tone that we manufacture.
Our dealers aren’t familiar
with many of these models,
but they are pleased to know
that they exist for the discerning customer. We always try
to bring something new and
exciting, and unique as well.
Unboxing and prepping
3. How is a video display helpful?
5. Without giving out too many seThis past year, we presented an ef- crets, what can we expect this year
fective video presentation for the first from SMC at NAMM?
time in many years. Many dealers gave
We plan to show some new and inus much more of their time in order novative products this year that all will
to see the factory tour, and also to see find to be truly unique. 2008 marks the
models and finishes we were
unable to display due to a
lack of space. We, as a company, represent five complete
acoustic piano lines, each being entirely different from
the others, as well as a complete digital piano line. We
plan to expand and improve
our presentation for this upFinalizing layout and instrument setup
coming show.
50th anniversary of Samick, and our
4. How much business is done by commemorative grand piano is unlike
SMC at the NAMM show each year? any other in existence today. This will
What is its impact on the year?
be a special offering in limited quanNAMM is a very important part tities, but should be the “hit” of the
of our business plan. Since the show show. We will also have some new excitmoved to California, it has become a ing digital products to compliment our
welcome treat for all of the dealers after 2007 models that were the “hit” of last
the Holidays, particularly those from year’s show.
the colder climates. Since it
is so well-attended, we are
able to showcase our products to dealers that wouldn’t
have an opportunity to see
them at any other time. SMC
normally writes most of our
first quarter’s business at or
around NAMM.
Final setup with stage and video presentation
11
… continued from Page Six
fifty. Each customer will have his/her
name engraved on this plate and placed
on the piano.
Phoenix Customs will also be showing beautiful custom caster cups made
from exotic woods such
as dark walnut, bubinga,
cherry satin, mahogany,
and ebony. The caster cups (above) will
have optional brass or chrome inlays
onto which the brand name or store
name can be added.
Samick will introduce several other
new products to coincide with its 50th
Anniversary. Available in 2008 will be a
new 175cm French Provincial grand, as
well as two new 186cm and 228cm grand
pianos from
the
Korean
factory. Furthermore,
Samick will
debut two
new contem- Samick SS-50A vertical
porary 121cm vertical pianos.
Samick welcomes your attendance
at our booth at the 2008 NAMM Show
(room #210 A&B) to see the 50th Anniversary grand and the rest of our exciting lineup for 2008.
Samick History Timeline
ESTABLISHMENT PHASE
Sept. 1958 Samick Piano Co. Established
Jan. 1960 Upright piano production
commenced
July 1965 Guitar production commenced
Mar. 1970 Grand piano production commenced
June 1971 Acquired the KS Mark Certification
for “Piano & Piano Action”
TAKE-OFF PHASE
Jan. 1973 Incorporated as Samick Musical
Instrument Co., Ltd.
June 1973 Moved into the Korea Export
Industrial Complex (Inchon City)
Jan. 1978 U.S. branch opened in LA
May 1980 West Germany branch opened
Jan. 1982 Baldwin Piano appointed in the US
as a joint venture
Oct. 1982 Acquired the KS Mark Certification
for “Grand-Type Piano and Action”
Dec. 1982 Electronic musical instrument plant
established
MATURITY PHASE
Mar. 1983 Technical exchange with Klaus
Fenner
July 1987 Samick Musical Instrument
Research Center established
Mar. 1988 Samick Cultural Foundation
arranged
Sept. 1988 Piano & Action Approval acquired
from JIS (Japan Industrial Standard)
Jan. 1989 Digital piano production
commenced
MAJOR GROWTH PHASE
Nov. 1989 Awarded the “$100 Million Export
Award” from the Korean government
Feb. 1990 Harbin, China factory opened for
wood parts production
Mar. 1990 Japan branch established
Phoenix Customs/SMC 50th
Anniversary Grand
12
www.smcmusic.com
Mar. 1990 P.T. Samick Indonesia joint venture
established
Jan. 1992 Samick acquires Kohler & Campbell
brand from Sherman Clay
Apr. 1992 Digital piano UL approved
Sept. 1992 P.T. Samick-Indonesia factory begins
production
Apr. 1993 World’s first Arte Fashion Piano
released
Nov. 1995 ISO 9002 Certification acquired for
piano parts from TUV of Germany
Mar. 1998 ISO 9001 Certification acquired for
piano parts
REBIRTH PHASE
Jan. 2001 Samick acquires Sohmer and Wm.
Knabe brands from PianoDisc
June 2002 Jong Sup Kim and his business
consortium purchase Samick
Dec. 2002 Investment in C. Bechstein AG
A TRULY GLOBAL INDUSTRY
Oct. 2004 New Samick Grand piano series
introduced as a result of new
technology inherited from C.
Bechstein
Jan. 2005 Acquired Pramberger Piano, one of
the most distinguished piano brands
in America
Feb. 2005 Samick and C. Bechstein jointly
invested in China factory BerlinBechstein Shanghai Co. Ltd./BBS
Jan. 2006 Samick Bechstein Shanghai Co., Ltd.
opened
Mar. 2006 SMC relocated from City of Industry,
California to Gallatin, Tennessee
Apr. 2006 Ranked as #4 in the world by the
Music Industry Census “America’s
Leading Music & Sound Suppliers”
July 2007 SMC moved into new corporate
headquarters and distribution
center