New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Guitar Center) Guitar Center, the world's largest musical instrument retailer, is slated to launch their first-ever musical takeover of the Long Beach Convention Center, giving the public an unprecedented chance to preview the latest products from the world's top music manufacturers on Saturday, April 6, 2013. The Musician's Expo expands upon the brand's deep commitment to helping people make music by launching a whole day devoted to music makers and music fans in Southern California.
Inspired by the groundbreaking new products and impressive expertise of the manufacturer representatives on-hand at January's annual
National Association of
Music Merchants (NAMM) Tradeshow, Guitar Center set off to re-create the experience for their customers this spring. Through their long-standing vendor relationships and placement amongst the diverse and ever-growing Southern California music scene, the retailer has gathered more than 60 of the world's top music instrument and accessory brands, ranging from
Martin and Fender, to Casio, Roland, DW, Bose, Pioneer, and more, to bring the NAMM experience to the upcoming Musician's Expo.
Guitar Center's Musician's Expo gives the public a sneak-peek at the best of next season's music gear from the music instrument industry's leading manufacturers, along with artist workshops, group lessons, panel discussions and more, all at one location. On Saturday, April 6 attendees will be able to get a first glimpse while testing an array of musical instruments and accessories not-yet-available in stores and only previously seen by industry-insiders and retail buyers at the recent NAMM tradeshow. Just as in Guitar Center retail store locations, attendees of Guitar Center Musician's Expo will be encouraged to pick up and play the display items, interact with the new equipment and connect with the expert representatives at each brand booth.
"At Guitar Center we have strived to build strong relationships within the industry and with our customers, and we couldn't be more excited to for this opportunity to bring them all together under one roof," says Jeff Hiller, VP of
Brand Management at Guitar Center. "Guitar Center is committed to helping people make music and we are continuing to raise the bar for our customers by developing programs and events like the Guitar Center Musician's Expo.
The Musician's Expo will also feature the exclusive Guitar Center
Legends Collection showcasing three legendary guitars representing pivotal moments in rock and roll history. Expo-attendees will get a first-hand look two authentic
Eric Clapton iconic guitars including his famous "Blackie" Fender Stratocaster guitar which defined the Clapton sound for most of the '70s and early '80s, as well as Clapton's vibrant red Gibson ES-335 that he played with The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers,
Blind Faith, and throughout his solo career. The Guitar Center
Legends Collection will also showcase the only guitar from Stevie Ray Vaughan's estate to become publicly available, the personalized "
Lenny" Fender Stratocaster guitar, named for the late-musician's wife Lenora. All three guitars were purchased by Guitar Center through special Christies auctions benefiting Eric Clapton's Crossroads Centre Foundation, "Blackie," "ES-335" and "
Lenny" for $959,500, $847,500 and $623,500 respectively.
