Wednesday, May 06, 2009

String Instruments

Everest Shoulder Rests

American-designed shoulder rests with collapsible grippers and elegant folding design make it convenient to store in your violin cases. Teachers love the way it trains correct playing angles while students and professionals love the comfort, durability and style. Included is a bonus protective pouch to protect your shoulder rest!

¼, ¾, and Full Size Shoulder Rest - $22

Full Size Collapsible Shoulder Rest - $32

 

Musilia Carbon Fiber Cello Cases

These new shock-proof, scratch resistant cases are available in three different models, all weighing under 4kg! Featuring adjustable cushioned interiors for extra safety & support, plus outstanding parts and workmanship, they are guaranteed to protect your instrument in the most stressful situations. They are so durable, that even taking a hammer directly to them will not harm the case. If you have a valuable instrument, consider taking a look at these excellent cases.

 

3.7kg Model - $1,295

3.2kg Model - $1,695

2.6kg Model - $2,395

Remenyi House of Music is proud to introduce; Blade Electric Guitars

The Blade Guitar Company is celebrating 20 years manufacturing some of the world's finest electric guitars. Founder Gary Levinson started "Guitars by Levinson" in 1977 in Basel, Switzerland where he specialized in custom-built guitars, repairs and restoration of historical instruments. This work brought Gary an enormous amount of input from musicians as to what they really wanted from their guitars. You could say that the success of Blade Guitars is the result of decades of listening to musicians.

At first glance our Blade Guitars are guaranteed to catch your eye with their distinctive retro look; from the vibrantly 60s Indian Turquoise Texas Vintage Strat (pictured) to the remarkably unique Daytona , featuring a Silver Sparkle Finish, fat & punchy P-90 style bridge pickup and single coil in the neck position. Every Blade Guitar has award winning visual appeal. Other features include the Variable Spectrum Controls (VSC) that add a unique active circuitry allowing you to change from truly vintage sounds to modern creamy overdrives or crystal clear bell-like tones instantly with the flick of a switch!

Even more unique are the features that are less visually obvious. The patented Falcon Tremolo system incorporates a “Double Block System” that allows you to up-trem, while sitting flat on the guitar's body and transmitting all of the tone the strings have to offer (unlike floating trems). The Falcon Tremolo enhances attack & sustain while staying in tune even if a string is broken – a feature that floating trems cannot offer.

Lastly, aside from the unique retro looks and terrific technical features, you will also notice that their slim necks are fast and easy to play. Whether the neck is a Vintage Stained Maple or Rosewood, they all play beautifully thanks to the final set-up and inspections that are still performed on all Blade Guitars & Basses by Gary & his fine team of experts in Switzerland!

Come in and try one today!

Included in our brand new acoustic room are many new models from Breedlove , Morgan and Alvarez as well as an expanded selection of handmade guitars from Luis Feu de Mesquita . Originally from Spain, Luis now makes his home in Greenwood, Ontario. After a recent visit to his shop, both Nic and I were blown away with the level of perfection he applies to the handcrafting of each guitar. They become so important that he names them, rather than assigning part numbers. Each guitar takes on a living, breathing personality.

We are now stocking something new and different from Luis, a steel string guitar named the Tony Rice model, with a beautifully warm & rich Solid Adirondack Spruce top and braces, solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard and bridge, as well as a bone nut and saddle. The body is bound with both flamed maple and herringbone and the extra large sound hole has a matching herringbone rosette. The headstock is slotted and is adorned with a perfectly bookmatched overlay of Brazilian Rosewood giving this instrument a very understated exotic look. If you're looking for that “big, rich, booming, dreadnaught” sound, this may be the guitar for you! Included with this superb instrument is a Deluxe Tweed Case manufactured in the USA by TKL.

By the way, Luis only creates about 10-12 instruments per year and this was only the sixth one built in 2008. He can also custom build a guitar especially for you! For a sample of his expertise, come see McArthur , a prototype jazz guitar that we brought back with us that day we visited his shop back in March.

Hope to see you all soon!

Piano Regulation

As a conscientious piano owner, you probably have your piano tuned regularly by a qualified technician. However, you may notice a deterioration of its performance despite your regular tuning. It's important to note that tuning is only the adjustment of the system of strings and pins that determines the pitch of each string. Your piano also requires a periodic servicing called regulation , which attends to adjustments of the mechanical aspects of the piano to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood and wool parts due to changes in humidity.

While tuning corrects the pitch of your piano, it is only one component of a complete maintenance program. Regulation attends to the touch and uniform responsiveness of your action (the mechanical part of the piano that transfers the motion of the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings) which is comprised of over 9000 parts! They require adjustment to critical tolerances in order to be able to respond to a pianist's every command. Therefore, regulation also ensures that your instrument is capable of producing a wide dynamic range – a critical factor, particularly in pianissimo passages.

All upright and grand pianos need periodic regulation to perform their best. Frequency of regulation is dependent upon amount of use, exposure to climatic changes, and the instrument's quality, age and condition. New pianos may require regulation in their first year because of settling and compacting of parts sometimes necessitates adjustment.

If your instrument displays a lack of sensitivity or a decreased dynamic range, it is a candidate for regulation. If you notice that the keys are not level (some higher or lower than the rest), the touch is uneven or that keys are sticking, the need for regulation is indicated. However, a sluggish action or deep grooves in the hammers indicate the need for reconditioning or repair.

For more information, or to have a certified technician assess your pianos needs, contact our piano service department (905.881.3400). A representative will be happy to help.

Music & Books

• Now available: framed, ready-to-hang opera prints, starting at $60.

• Our easy contemporary piano collection has been expanded to suit the needs of beginning and late/intermediate players.

• Ultimate Music Theory is the first and only theory workbook program specifically designed to match the theory syllabus and final examinations offered by the Royal Conservatory of Music. Each Ultimate Music Theory lesson is followed by a comprehensive review test. Sample this new method in-store today.

• The newly-released Theory Gymnastics is a creative & comprehensive theory and ear-training curriculum available in eight levels – the perfect companion to every method, now available.

• Selected titles from most instrumental & vocal sections are now on sale, including a variety of large choral works. Come browse our new collection of piano coasters in plastic/wood/brass, as well as our ever-rotating stock of new releases.