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Guitar Center Launches Musician's Expo

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.

Westlake Village, CA (March 11, 2013) -- 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.

Date: Saturday, April 6
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Long Beach Convention Center
Hall C
300 E Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

Musician's Expo Guitar Center Artist Workshops - free with admission:

  • 11:00 a.m. – Artist Workshop with jazz drummer Chad Wackerman (Bill Watrous Band, Frank Zappa), feauting influential jazz- fusion artist Allan Holdsworth and renowned electric bass player and Yellowjackets founder, Jimmy Haslip (Kiss, Anita Baker)
  • Noon – Artist Workshop with Mix Master Mike, renowned DJ whose worked with musicians from Dr. Dre to Travis Barker
  • 1:00 p.m. – Artist Workshop with Derek Sherinian, American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Kiss and more
  • 2:00 p.m. – Artist Workshop with Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, featuring fretless bass guitarist Tony Franklin (Jimmy Page, Kate Bush) and Grammy-winning upright bass player Rob Wasserman (Lou Reed, Elvis Costello)
  • 3:00 p.m. – DJ Workshop with DJ Qbert, winner of America’s Best DJ 2010, Qbert started DJing in FM20 with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo in 1990
  • 4:00 p.m. – Artist Workshop hosted by drummer Gil Sharone (Dillinger Escape Plan, +44) and joined by musicians Chino Marion, Todd Wilkinson, and Chuck Doom

The Sessions - free with admission + instruments and equipment provided

  • Free Recording Made Easy classes hosted by AVID featuring Pro Tools 9
  • Free Group Guitar Lessons
  • Free Group Ukulele Lessons

Additional Expo Highlights:

  • Event attendees and fans can enter to win Guitar Center's $4,500 Guitar Center Dream Shopping Spree
  • Guitar Center's Music Market Place – a small Guitar Center pop-up shop at the Musician's Expo

Tickets now available at the following stores:

Southern California Guitar Center Stores:
Block at Orange - 20 City Blvd W Ste 907D, Orange, CA 92868 Phone: (714) 385-9607
Hollywood - 7425 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90046 Phone: (323) 874-1060
Oxnard - 1741 E. Ventura Blvd. Suite E, Oxnard, CA 93036 Phone: (805) 278-2600
West LA - 10831 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: (310) 475-0637
Sherman Oaks - 14209 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Phone: (818) 990-8332
South Bay - 4525 Artesia Blvd. Lawndale, CA 90260 Phone: (310) 542-9444
Brea - 606 S. Brea Blvd. Brea, CA 92821 Phone: (714) 672-0103
Fountain Valley - 18361 Euclid St. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Phone: (714) 241-9140
Lake Forest - 23811 El Toro Rd., Ste A, Lake Forest, CA 92630 Phone: (949) 609-0055
Cerritos - 11155 183rd St. Cerritos, CA 90703 Phone: (562) 402-4106
Pasadena - 2660 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 Phone: (626) 535-0108
Palmdale - 1011 West Avenue P. Palmdale, CA 93551 Phone: (661) 947-8887
Northridge - 19510 Nordhoff St. Northridge, CA 91324 Phone: (818) 993-0286
San Diego - 8825 Murray Dr. La Mesa, CA 91942 Phone: (619) 668-8400
San Marcos - 712 Center Dr. San Marcos, CA 92069 Phone: (760) 735-8050
Rancho Cucamonga - 12479 Foothill Blvd. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Phone: (909) 899-9843
San Bernardino - 925 E. Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92408 Phone: (909) 799-6200
Covina - 1054 North Azusa Ave. Covina, CA 91722 Phone: (626) 967-7911
Murrieta - 24370 Village Walk Place, Murrieta, CA 92562 Phone: (951) 698-9200

Central/Northern California Guitar Center Stores:
Bakersfield - 3428 Ming Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone: (661) 396-3838
Stevenson Ranch - 24961 Pico Canyon Rd. Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381 Phone: (661) 222-7521
Visalia - 4254 S. Mooney Rd. Visalia, CA 93277 Phone: (559) 713-0352
Fresno - 5330 North Blackstone Ave. Fresno, CA 93710 Phone: (559) 221-2222
Gilroy - 6910 Chestnut St. Gilroy, CA 95020 Phone: (408) 848-2583
San Mateo - 53 West Hillsdale Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94403 Phone: (650) 312-8270
Concord - 1280 Willow Pass Rd. Ste. A Concord, CA 94520 Phone: (925) 363-7770
Emeryville - 5925 Shellmound St. Emeryville, CA 94608 Phone: (510) 597-0285
San Francisco - 1645 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 409-0350
San Jose - 3677 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95051 Phone: (408) 249-0455
Roseville - 5781B 5 Star Blvd. Roseville, CA 95678 Phone: (916) 746-8787
Sacramento - 2120 Alta Arden Expressway, Sacramento, CA 95825 Phone: (916) 922-2132
Modesto - 3440 McHenry Ave. Suite D-20, Modesto, CA 95350 Phone: (209) 525-9800

Arizona Guitar Center Stores:
Scottsdale - 8949 East Indian Bend Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85250 Phone: (480) 362-1150
Tempe - 1245 W. Elliot Rd. Ste. 115, Tempe, AZ 85284 Phone: (480) 753-6900
Phoenix - 2750 West Peoria St. Phoenix, AZ 85029 Phone: (602) 375-3800
Tucson - 4720 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85711 Phone: (520) 320-9900
Avondale - 9945 W. McDowell Rd. Ste 108, Avondale, AZ 85392 Phone: (623) 907-3605

Nevada
Las Vegas - 6587 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Ste. B172, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 450-2260
Summerlin - 8621 W. Charleston Blvd. Ste. 110, Las Vegas, NV 89117 Phone: (702) 228-3858
Reno - 6663 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511 Phone: (775) 853-3961

For more information:
Guitar Center