Everyone keeps complaining about the economy. Not sure what they are talking about, because, wow!...it has been an incredibly busy couple of months at Meinl USA. It seems that it's busy all of the time now, but lately it has been especially so.

Lots of planning for lots of events...a Brann Dailor in-store signing tour, Moe Carlson and Damien Schmitt at the Montreal Drum Festival, Rodney Holmes at Cascio Interstate's Drummerfest, Chris Adler in-store signing  sessions, a Nick D'Virgilio clinic at West Music, a Benny Greb clinic tour, and PASIC with Felix Pollard and Benny Greb performing are all just a few of the projects that have required a lot of time and preparation in order for a successful outcome for each and every endeavor.

This time of the year is always packed anyway with preparations for the beginning of 2010...work on the new cymbal catalog and preparations for the 2010 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, CA in January (a BIG event) require a good deal of time and energy as well. So add on all of the other events and you have a very full schedule.  :-)

Check out the photos of a few of the things that I've mentioned that have been going on.

 - Chris

a few days ago a customer from canada emailed us:

Hello: I have recently purchased a new 20" sand jazz ride from dealer in Edmonton. I mentioned the cymbal had a warp to it, much like a sun hat brim, sales person said it came like that. ........My question to you is, do the sand jazz ride cymbals have a warp to them................?

the sand ride is benny greb's signature cymbal and the answer the that question is clear: yes it has a warp to it. this is because of a special lathing process which the cymbal undergoes. since the sand ride is handmade, some cymbals have a more distinct warp, others less. benny himself has given us a guideline as to how much warp is acceptable for his cymbal. benny's guideline has been applied to all sand rides we have made so far.  the warp in the sand ride is there on purpose. it's a crucial part of its sound.

- norbert