• 2019 NAMM report, bluegrass edition

    This report of the recently concluded NAMM trade show in Anaheim is a contribution from Danny "Hootenanny" Clark, a bluegrass picker and entrepreneur from back east now living in California. The show is the annual convention where music retailers come

  • Gibson Bill Monroe Hall of Fame mandolin

    Gibson created quite a stir among mandolin aficionados at last week's NAMM Show in Anaheim with the first public display of their new Bill Monroe Hall of Fame mandolin. It was built by Gibson master luthier David Harvey and his team

  • G7 introduces the Performance 3 capo

    The G7 Capo company is introducing a new model at the Winter NAMM show this week in Anaheim, CA. Their new Performance 3 model is of the quick change, open-throat style that many guitarists prefer. When G7 first hit the market

  • Phil Leadbetter’s signature Recording King guitar

    Recording King has announced the availability of its most recent reso-guitar, a signature model for Phil Leadbetter. The RR-75PL-SN was designed in direct cooperation with Phil, with an interior bracing pattern made to his specifications. Intended to offer professional quality and

  • Music Area cases redefines the gig bag

    Music Area Cases is a Chinese manufacturer with a different attitude towards selling internationally. Instead of trying to hide their country of origin with an American or European-sounding trade name, they brand themselves with a logo using Chinese characters, and

  • 20 years of Flatpicking Guitar on a thumbdrive

    Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, now sadly no longer in print, is offering a special opportunity that might solve a gift-giving headache for bluegrass guitarists on your holiday list. The magazine, published for 20 years by Dan Miller, ceased operation in 2016 after

  • Banjo Babes 2019 calendar and CD

    The Banjo Babes are back, as we're sure you knew they would be, with a new calendar for 2019 and an accompanying audio CD full of new music by the women of the banjo. Each year since 2014, Erin Inglish has

  • Farida Guitars now available in the US

    Farida Guitars, a popular brand in the UK and a number of Asian nations, is coming to America with a line of four slope-shoulder dreadnoughts, and a pair of 00-sized guitars. Sidestreet Distributing in Lansing, MI will be the exclusive

  • Banjo straps from Banjolit

    Our Slovak friends with Banjolit have introduced a new line of banjo straps which they will ship anywhere in the world. These are ultra-high quality, handmade straps made from the finest soft leather for comfort and durability. The three styles on