MI Pro

Take 100 randomly selected stores, a broad sweep of questions covering everything from best selling bass amps to predictions for the year to come and one sturdy telephone, and you’ll find the only comprehensive look at the current trends in the musical instruments industry – or, as we like to call it, the MI Pro Retail Survey 2009.

The results shown here are an accurate representation of the answers given by the 100 retailers that were contacted, and make for some interesting reading. Those surveyed included all out rock n roll stores, piano specialists, sheet music retailers – you name it, we took a sample and grilled them about the past year. As befitting such a cross section, the results were wildly varied and not always as straightforward as you might think. The categories were picked in order to present a balanced general view of the industry and were answered honestly and with much gusto by retailers up and down the country.

For the sake of brevity and to aid you in getting to the meat of the matter, not every single vote is shown here, such was the huge amount of gear mentioned. With so many votes cast, often in their ones and twos, fitting them all in here would not have been an easy task, so the leaders in each category are listed, with honourable mentions given to those products or companies that performed well, but just not well enough to crack the top. All results are shown as percentages, and do not include the large amount of retailers that abstained from each category, either because they didn’t stock the product or couldn’t find or bring to mind a relevant answer.

Anyway, that’s the tension built up quite enough, and it is now time to move to the heart of the matter. So, with no further ado, let’s move on to this year’s winners…

Acoustic Guitar Under £500

Tanglewood                                           26%
Yamaha FG700                                      21%
Yamaha APX 500                                   9%
Fender CD60                                         8%
Crafter                                                  8%

Honourable Mentions: Ashton D25, Freshman FA1, Epiphone J200

2008 winner Tanglewood has retained a strong presence in this sector, with the Evolution range making its presence felt in the top spot.

An excellent year for Yamaha in the budget acoustic guitar category, with the FG700 – a favourite budget guitar thanks to its excellent, built-to-last construction and singing tone – finishing up second and third, but with the greatest percentage overall.

The APX series has proved popular among players looking to take the step up to a decent second guitar.

Fender’s Chinese-built CD60 has been performing well this year, and for a well-constructed guitar with the Fender headstock on it retailing at under £150 it is easy to see why. Crafter remains popular across the board, and was closely followed by Ashton’s D25 in the fight for fifth place. Freshman saw a decrease in votes from last year but remained near the top of the table, while the resurgence of Epiphone’s J200 suggest that affordable jumbos might just on their way into
fashion for 2009.

Acoustic Guitar Over £500

Taylor 110                                              19%
Martin DX 1                                            15%
Tanglewood TW45                                   15%
Gibson J-45                                            8%
Freshman FA500                                     3%

Honourable Mentions: Crafter, Breedlove, Stonebridge

Improving on its third place position, the Taylor 110 has performed impressively, nearly doubling its percentage on last year and proving that at the high end, no matter what the preconception, there is always room for movement. Last year’s winner, the Martin DX1, may have slipped into second place, but has all but maintained its high score from last year and continues to be a popular choice for players with a bit more punch in their pocket.

Taking the joint second spot is the beautifully crafted Tanglewood TW45, another impressive showing from Tanglewood that demonstrates the brand’s staying power after a period of sustained growth in the acoustic market. Meanwhile, Gibson’s evergreen J-45 tells an important tale, namely that guitarists love classic shapes and familiar tones. The guitar has proved that fashion never really changes that much. Freshman holds fifth place with its FA500 in what has been a strong year in the acoustic sector for the Scots, which continues to impress all that crosses its path. Crafter, Breedlove and Stonebridge tied for sixth place in this tight category that has shown that there is plenty of spark left in the unplugged world.

Electric Guitar Under £500

Epiphone Les Paul                                   19%
Fender Standard Stratocaster                   14%
Encore                                                   11%
Squier Affinity Strat                                10%
Vintage V100                                          6%

Honourable Mentions: Ibanez RG300, Yamaha Pacifica

Topping the under £500 electric guitar table for the second year running, Epiphone’s Les Paul Standard has continued to perform strongly, giving rockers who dream of a Gibson the chance to own something really not that far removed at a fraction of the price.

Second place has been held by the Mexican-built Fender Standard Stratocaster, which has given those who have always pined after that genuine Fender headstock just what they wanted. With build quality having dramatically increased at Fender’s Mexican factories of late, these are great guitars that have rightly leapt from seventh to second place since last year.

Encore’s S-type packs still have the popular vote among bewildered beginners looking for an accessible way into the world of the electric guitar, and combined with JHS’ other range, Vintage, the Garforth supplier is making massive in-roads into this market. (It’s worth noting the combined figures for Encore and Vintage out-do the Fender Strat.) The V100, and thanks to some excellent additions to the rest of its lines across the year and a profile boost thanks to its relic-a-likes, JHS’s guitar brand has performed admirably.

The Squier Affinity Strat at fourth place, however, is still a big contender for the nation’s favourite starter guitar. Closely following on were the Ibanez RG300 and the Yamaha Pacifica, which has seen a dip in popularity of late, falling from third place last year to outside the top five.

Electric Guitar Over £500

Fender USA Standard Stratocaster           42%
Gibson Les Paul                                      6%
Fender USA Std Telecaster                       5%
Ibanez RG262                                        3%
Rickenbacker 330                                   2%

Honourable Mentions: Gordon Smith, Indie, Blade

Having held the top spot for the last two years in this category, it is no real surprise to see Leo Fender’s greatest creation once again taking first place. No matter the trends, musical or social, there is still something about an American Strat that makes every guitarist want to own one. Dropping one per cent from its 2008 score, Fender’s crown prince is still far and away the leader in its field and will no doubt continue to be for some time.

A full 36 per cent behind the Fender is Gibson’s leading light, another guitar which cries out for inclusion in any self- respecting player’s list of dream guitars. Perhaps due to price, or maybe even Gibson’s distribution troubles over the last 12 months, the Les Paul has not performed as well as it might, but has done well to maintain second place, rising from third in 2008. Telecasters remain a popular choice, probably no doubt to their endless versatility and tank-like construction, while Ibanez has cropped up in fourth place with the RG262.

Bringing up the rear is the jangle-tastic Rickenbacker 330, an instrument that continues to appeal to a large segment of the market still convinced (or perhaps just wishing) it’s 1966. Gordon Smith tied with Indie – a great result here for the Oxfordshire based manufacturer – and Blade just outside of the top five in what was a close year for the high end electrics.

Bass Guitar Under £500

Squier P-Bass                                          16%
Yamaha RBX 170                                     14%
Fender Standard Jazz (Mexican)                8%
Vintage                                                   7%
Ibanez GSR200                                        6%

Honourable Mentions: Crafter Cruiser, Cort, Stagg

Topping the budget bass category for 2009, the Squier Precision has almost doubled its votes from 2008 and made an impressive leap from third to first place. Favoured by fans for its great looks and excellent reproduction of its more expensive Fender cousin, it makes a great first bass and an excellent introduction to the instrument.

In second place, Yamaha’s RBX170 on 14 per cent has dropped down from its perch on the top shelf last year, yet has still experienced a 1.5 per cent increase in votes. The versatility of this bass has added to its universal appeal and made it a consistent high performer in MI Pro retail surveys. Fender’s Standard Jazz has experienced a three per cent growth on last year and continues to perform well, while Vintage appeared out of nowhere last year to make its presence felt at fourth place in 2009. Ibanez has performed consistently well in all the guitar categories, although with the Crafter Cruiser, Cort and Stagg are looking to break into the top five, it could have a fight on its hands.

Bass Guitar Over £500

Fender USA Jazz                                     20%
Fender USA Precision                              16%
Musicman Stingray                                  5%
Cort                                                       2%
Indie                                                      1%

Honourable Mentions: Gibson Thunderbird, Fender
Jaguar Bass

Taking a double gold, Fender’s longest serving bass stalwarts have taken first and second place with significantly more votes than last year. Showing an excellent growth in 2008, Fender has continued to capitalise on its reputation as the go-to bass brand.

In at third place, although a significant 11 per cent behind its nearest rival, the Musicman Stingray has performed really rather well. A strong third this year could well indicate a swing back towards the much-loved and tonally distinctive Stingray. Cort and Indie prop up the top five, with no single model standing out from the pack as retailers simply named the brand they felt had sold the most. Gibson’s mighty Thunderbird and Fender’s eye-catching Jaguar were close to breaking into the top five.

Guitar Amplifier

Marshall MG                                           30%
Line 6 Spider III 15                                23%
Roland Cube                                          14%
Line 6 Spider III 75                                6%
Kustom                                                  5%
Fender Frontman                                    5%

Honourable Mentions: Laney, Orange Tiny Terror

A runaway winner here sees Marshall retaining its top slot, while Line 6’s tirelessly popular Spider III amps combine to make a close second. as buyers continue to flock to their preferred brands. The Roland Cube, a long time servant of many a touring guitarist, has surely benefited from the broader range of options under the Cube umbrella now, but unfortunately didn’t quite have enough votes to dislodge Line 6 or Marshall from pride of place at the top of the pile.

Bass Amplifier

Ashdown Electric Blue                             18%
Kustom                                                  15%
Fender Rumble                                       15%
Laney RB                                               12%
Marshall MB30                                        7%

Honourable Mentions: Roland Cube, Trace Elliot 715

Ashdown continues to dominate the UK’s bass market, with a stronger showing than last year (but that’s the risk of a random voter selection) and the ever-popular Electric Blue takes its rightful place again. A surprise showing this year from the Kustom brand, which has surely benefited from good entry-level sales.

Digital Piano

Yamaha CLP                                         18%
Casio Privia                                          17%
Yamaha YDP 130                                  11%
Kawai CN 21                                         6%
Korg SP250                                          3%

Honourable Mentions: Roland FP7, Robertson RP 120

With only one per cent in it at the top of the digital piano category, it’s clear that Casio has worked hard to push the Privia range forward, but Yamaha’s popular Clavinovas with a double showing in the top five places here are again clear winners.

Acoustic Piano

Yamaha U1                                            18%
Kawai                                                    16%
Yamaha U3                                            13%
Yamaha B Series                                    12%
Steinmeyer S108                                   10%

Honourable Mentions: Reid Sohn, Kemble Concerto

The specialist piano retailers interviewed have put the Yamaha U1 in the top spot and three entries from Yamaha in this section indicate an area that the manufacturer is clearly comfortable operating in. A good shout at second from Kawai demonstrates there is competition aplenty.

Drum kits – entry level

Stagg TIM                                             20%
Sonor 1005                                           12%
Percussion Plus                                      10%
Impact                                                  4%
CB                                                        4%

Honourable Mentions: Dragon, Ridgewood,
Roland HD-1

The Stagg TIM position will no doubt please EMD greatly. Affordable yet not feeling like a cheap kit, the TIM has won over plenty of first time drummers, while the Sonor 1005 is not far behind the one or two that seem to be prevalent. Percussion Plus also showed strongly for the first time this year, making for a clear top three.

Drums mid – high end

Mapex M-Birch                                       15%
Roland TD9                                            13%
Premier Cabria                                        7%
Pearl Forum                                            3%
Yamaha Stage Custom                             2%

Honourable Mentions: Tama Superstar, Ludwig

Mapex’s M-Birch kit came up strong enough to topple the Roland kits from what was a dominant position last year. Between the Mapex and the TD-9, this year’s voting has proved the market is truly split between acoustic and electronic at the moment. Premier’s Cabria has moved up from fifth place last year, which will no doubt please the Leicester manufacturer.

Brass and Woodwind

JHS Odyssey                                         25%
Jupiter                                                  17%
Yamaha                                                16%
Trevor James                                        10%
Stentor                                                 5%

Honourable Mentions: Sebastian Buckley, Besson

JHS took prime position in the brass and woodwind sector, with many keen to point out the quality of its Odyssey brass range. With most of the main players getting a mention, Jupiter has performed well to take second place, especially against some significantly larger competition in the form of Yamaha. Stentor has its first showing of the survey here, while Trevor James deserves a big mention.

High Tech / DJ

Line 6 Pod X3 Live                                 19%
Microkorg                                             18%
Korg Kaos Pad                                       16%
Boss Micro BR                                       15%
Line 6 Toneport                                     13%

Honourable Mentions: Numark, Boss RC20

Another good result for Line 6 in what was a hotly contested area of the survey. Among those that stock hi tech gear, Line 6’s floor-based Pod X3 Live scraped in as winner, closely followed by the versatile and surprisingly powerful Microkorg. Another Korg entry at third place with the Kaos Pad was no doubt the result of an excellent TV appearance earlier in the year. Line 6 grabbed a second entry with Toneport, just behind Boss’ excellent mini recorder, the Micro BR.

Orchestral Strings

Stentor                                                 36%
Stagg                                                   20%
Yamaha                                                8%
    
This category is once again safe in the hands of the specialists, who selected Stentor as the leading brand for strings. Both Stagg and Yamaha also got a look in, but there can be no doubt that Stentor will be happy to have cornered its prime area of the market.

Microphone

Shure SM58                                           36%
Sennheiser E800 series                          18%
Shure SM57 beta                                   12%
Audio Technica AT-2020                          7%
AKG D5S                                               4%

Honourable mentions: EV, JHS, Peavey

There is simply little anyone can do in the mic market to overcome the conservatism of the average gigging band, which plumps for Fender and Gibson guitars and basses and the SM58 mic. Despite this overwhelming two-to-one superiority over the second placed Sennheiser 800 series, the fact that Sennheiser and Audio Technica have kept their places in this ‘unified’ mic category this year, shows that there is room still for others to eat away at the master’s four-decade dominance.

Sheet Music Publication

Mamma Mia                                          23%
Associated Board Exams                        21%
Modern Guitar Method                           15%
Absolute Beginners Guitar                      12%
High School Musical                               8%
Beatles Complete                                  5%

Honourable Mentions: Rock School Guitar, Guns n’ Roses Greatest Hits

In the year which saw Mamma Mia break all previous DVD sales and become the favourite film of every female in the land, it is really no surprise to see its piano, vocal and guitar book at the top of the sheet music tree. ABRSM took up its usual position at or near the top, and Mel Bay had a strong showing, too. Another all-singing, all-dancing affair is at fourth place, with High School Musical, while Absolute Beginners Guitar maintained its strong position. The Beatles take fifth place, proving that the Fab’s still have what it takes to prick up the ears of musicians across the country.

Accessories Brand

D’Addario                                             46%
Ernie Ball                                             15%
Dunlop                                                 8%
Rotosound                                            5%

Honourable Mentions: JHS, Levi’s

D’Addario ran away with things in the accessories category this year, raking in nearly half of the votes thanks to sustained string sales and an eye catching presence from Planet Waves. Ernie Ball another string specialist, also performed admirably. Rounding off the top four is another US brand, Dunlop, but Rotosound can lay claim to being the most popular British accessories line – more power to ‘em.

Best Supplier

Westside                                               23%
Roland                                                  20%
Sutherland                                            19%
Yamaha                                                19%
Tanglewood                                           15%

Honourable Mentions: JHS, P&R Howard

Thanks no doubt to its ever growing and impressive selection of brands and its proactive work towards helping its dealers turn a decent profit, Westside has come from nowhere to  top the much-coveted Best Supplier first place in this year’s survey.

Considering the popular distie missed out on a placing at all in 2008 only goes to show just how impressive a year this has been for Westside.

It was no easy victory for Westside, however, with Roland just behind them at second place – a leap of two places from last year – while the ever-popular Sutherland and Yamaha took joint third place after dominating the first two years between them. Another solid performance this year from Tanglewood sees the company in fifth place and JHS and P&R Howard were snapping at the heels.

Business in 2008 on 2007

Up                                                       41%
Same                                                   33%
Down                                                   23%
Don't know                                           3%

It seems to have been a good year across the board as retailers react to the toughening trading conditions with aplomb. While last year’s survey revealed that a worrying 41 per cent experienced a downturn in 2007, it would seem that 2008 was certainly not as harsh as it may have seemed at times. A big majority of our survey experienced sales growth over the last 12 months, with an equally impressive 33 per cent managing to maintain things at an acceptable level.

Any dealer will tell you that they are working a lot harder to maintain the same profitability as was once the case, but these figures seem to show that the extra work is paying off. 2008 began with the Northern Rock crisis and has gone downhill from there, but MI continues to buck the trend seen in the retail sector in general.

Forecast for 2009

Down                                                   36%
Same                                                   28%
Up                                                       23%
Don't know                                           13%

With an unstable economic climate forcing retailers to think long and hard over their business plans for the next year, the feeling was unsurprisingly dour. 36 per cent are bracing themselves for the worst and with the credit crunch still big news across the globe, there is certainly a battle to be fought – every penny is going to be hard earned in 2009.

For all the doom and gloom, there is a surprising amount of optimism out there as retail digs in for whatever the next 12 months has to throw at it. 28 per cent are hopeful of similar takings in 2009, while a surprisingly high 23 per cent are looking up, suggesting that not everyone is quite as pessimistic as might be expected. A strong start to the year has certainly boosted confidence and some are hoping to prove that recessions make more musicians. Time will tell.