Now that the Arts Council has narrowed eligibility for Take it Away (you have to be between 18 and 25 now) Roland has introduced an Interest-Free credit scheme open to everyone (subject to credit clearance, obviously). It's called Take it Today, and offers nine months interest free credit on any Roland prducts over £500. It takes about 15 minutes to do the online credit application and you can literally Take it Today (or have it delivered today, if we can manage it!)
Simple enough - except that nanny state insists that I now include the phrase "Representative 0% APR". Frankly, I think "Interest -Free Credit" is clearer. Anyway, you don't pay a penny extra for paying by ten equal instalments (the first one is the deposit).
Time for that nice new Roland piano......
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Bridge Electric Violins
The latest arrivals here are a couple of Bridge Electric Violins. Radical design, dramatic paint finshes and a real pleasure to play!
We have the Aquila (4-String) models in stock. The Lyra 5-String should be with us in May.
We have the Aquila (4-String) models in stock. The Lyra 5-String should be with us in May.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Grab it before it's Taken Away !!
This is the last month of the Arts Council's Take it Away scheme in its present form. If you didn't know, the scheme is to help with the purchase of musical instruments up to £2000. Nine months interest free credit, a brilliant, easy scheme, open to more or less anyone solvent.
With the cuts to their budget, last November the Arts Council announced the scheme would change at the end of March. From April, it will be restricted to those in at least 16 hours employment per week, aged between 18 and 25. Specifically excluded will be parents buying instruments for their children to learn on. Some people say it's harsh. I think its b****y stupid, and will deprive a lot of would-be players of a decent instrument to learn on.
The Henley Report into Music Education, published last month, specifically recommended that Take it Away should be used to provide instruments for children learning to play. A great pity that they didn't notice that the Arts Council was saying precisely the opposite two months earlier.
Anyway, the point of this rant is to alert you to your last chance to buy a musical instrument with up to £2000 worth of interest free credit provided by the government. Even if you're only mildly interested, give John or Erin a ring on 0800 06 800 49.
Don't leave it too late!
With the cuts to their budget, last November the Arts Council announced the scheme would change at the end of March. From April, it will be restricted to those in at least 16 hours employment per week, aged between 18 and 25. Specifically excluded will be parents buying instruments for their children to learn on. Some people say it's harsh. I think its b****y stupid, and will deprive a lot of would-be players of a decent instrument to learn on.
The Henley Report into Music Education, published last month, specifically recommended that Take it Away should be used to provide instruments for children learning to play. A great pity that they didn't notice that the Arts Council was saying precisely the opposite two months earlier.
Anyway, the point of this rant is to alert you to your last chance to buy a musical instrument with up to £2000 worth of interest free credit provided by the government. Even if you're only mildly interested, give John or Erin a ring on 0800 06 800 49.
Don't leave it too late!
Friday, 28 January 2011
Awesome Power
Every now and again we get a product that is just so incredibly good at its job, you just smile.
The AER Compact 60 Acoustic Amplifier is a mere 10" x 13" x 19" and weighs just 8kg (approximately) yet it produces 60 watts of pure undistorted power through two channels. It is a seriously powerful piece of kit in a tiny box. It's just unbelievable that such a tiny box can produce so much powerful undistorted sound.
It's ideal for acoustic guitarists, in fact any acoustic instrument will work well with it, as will digital drum kits. There are digital effects on board in case you want to play around with the sound, and it comes with a specially designed carrying case. Yes, a sixty watt amplifier combo that you can sling over one shoulder!
It's hand-built in Germany, so don't expect it to be cheap, but the sheer quality -- stunning!
The AER Compact 60 Acoustic Amplifier is a mere 10" x 13" x 19" and weighs just 8kg (approximately) yet it produces 60 watts of pure undistorted power through two channels. It is a seriously powerful piece of kit in a tiny box. It's just unbelievable that such a tiny box can produce so much powerful undistorted sound.
It's ideal for acoustic guitarists, in fact any acoustic instrument will work well with it, as will digital drum kits. There are digital effects on board in case you want to play around with the sound, and it comes with a specially designed carrying case. Yes, a sixty watt amplifier combo that you can sling over one shoulder!
It's hand-built in Germany, so don't expect it to be cheap, but the sheer quality -- stunning!
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Phone Trauma
Many thanks for the messages of sympathy and support.
We've almost got it sorted out now - but we're still finding odd things that have been affected. Voicemail to the workshop doesn't seem to work at the moment, and for a few days we weren't able to recredit the franking machine because it needs to (automatically) call a premium number to perform the transaction. We'd put a block on all premium line calls as soon as we found out what was going on, not imagining for one minute that regular activity would be affected. The result was that we had to queue up at the Post Office every day to get the internet and mail orders sent off. It was like going back to the stone age. How does the Post Office get away with making so many people waste so much time queueing? Answers on a postcard.....
Now comes the row about who pays for the three days of phone calls to premium numbers. I'm just relieved we weren't hit as badly as one victim, who was apparently taken for £18000 !
We've almost got it sorted out now - but we're still finding odd things that have been affected. Voicemail to the workshop doesn't seem to work at the moment, and for a few days we weren't able to recredit the franking machine because it needs to (automatically) call a premium number to perform the transaction. We'd put a block on all premium line calls as soon as we found out what was going on, not imagining for one minute that regular activity would be affected. The result was that we had to queue up at the Post Office every day to get the internet and mail orders sent off. It was like going back to the stone age. How does the Post Office get away with making so many people waste so much time queueing? Answers on a postcard.....
Now comes the row about who pays for the three days of phone calls to premium numbers. I'm just relieved we weren't hit as badly as one victim, who was apparently taken for £18000 !
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
VAT Rise Non-News
The good news this January is that printed music and books are completely unaffected by the rise in VAT - because they've always been Zero-rated for VAT. It always surprises me how few of the general public realise that. There isn't VAT on fresh food either.
Lots of our products are not increasing in price- in particular Naxos CDs - still great value at £5-99. Inevitably a few of our suppliers have taken the opportunity to issue new price lists, incorporating the new VAT rate, but on the whole the effect on our prices will be barely noticeable. Not really surprising, as the amount of the increase is only one forty-seventh of the original price. Perhaps it's not such a big deal after all.....
Lots of our products are not increasing in price- in particular Naxos CDs - still great value at £5-99. Inevitably a few of our suppliers have taken the opportunity to issue new price lists, incorporating the new VAT rate, but on the whole the effect on our prices will be barely noticeable. Not really surprising, as the amount of the increase is only one forty-seventh of the original price. Perhaps it's not such a big deal after all.....
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Our Phone - Stop Thief!!!
If you've been trying to ring us in the last few days and not been able to get through, it might be because some nasty little villain has hacked into our phone system, and been phoning all over the world on our (pirated) phone lines. It turns out that this a huge racket, so big it appears to be automated!
This has created a number of difficulties for our business which we are working to resolve as quickly as possible. We are still able to receive most calls, but if you can't get through, please try again a few minutes later. We hope to have things fixed tomorrow, fingers crossed.
Happily our email - sales@balaamsmusic.co.uk is still working and should elicit a reasonably quick reply !
This has created a number of difficulties for our business which we are working to resolve as quickly as possible. We are still able to receive most calls, but if you can't get through, please try again a few minutes later. We hope to have things fixed tomorrow, fingers crossed.
Happily our email - sales@balaamsmusic.co.uk is still working and should elicit a reasonably quick reply !
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