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Paul Reed Smith’s Day at the Museum
Paul Reed Smith on June 29 joined the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) to celebrate the opening of the “Wire & Wood: Designing Iconic Guitars” exhibition, the museum’s latest installment. Paul Reed Smith helped to kick off the celebration with a special lecture on guitar design and a performance with noted designer and artist Ken Carbone. The new exhibition, which profiles Smith and PRS Guitars’ unique guitar designs, explores the basics of design and construction, while also examining ways that musicians have used the instrument to shape their public images. The exhibition features a dozen iconic guitars and shares the stories of why they have become so well recognized. Curated and designed by W. Todd Vaught, “Wire & Wood” couples foundational design with engaging musician commentary to pose the question: Does form follow function, or is image king? The exhibition presents the guitar in its most minimal form, asking viewers to consider how simple and traditional design elements such as instrument shape and species of wood affect sound. The exhibition surveys advancements in luthiery, including mass manufacturing and alternative materials, and shares the stories behind how some of the 20th century’s most famous guitars reached their iconic status. On display through Sept. 29, “Wire & Wood” also studies the relationship between instrument and player, showcasing an impressive lineup of legendary guitars played by famed musicians and perform-
Etsy Acquires Reverb for $275M
Etsy Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Reverb Holdings Inc. for $275 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments with respect to cash, debt, working capital, transaction expenses and the value of equity awards granted in connection with the transaction. Reverb, which will operate as a standalone business when the deal closes, was founded in Chicago in 2013 on the principle that buying musical instruments should be easy and affordable. “In a short amount of time, we’ve built a community that musicians from all walks of life turn to for income to support their families, inspiration to fuel their passions, instruments to create new music, and so much more. We’re excited to continue growing our marketplace, team, and community as part of Etsy. We’ve always found inspiration in Etsy. In fact, the company gave me the confidence to launch Reverb when I saw the need for a musician's marketplace in 2013. We’re excited to
ers, including PRS artist Orianthi. On display is her Blood Splatter Custom 24, which she has used on world tour with Alice Cooper. “Wire & Wood” is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs and Wire & Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival.
align ourselves with a marketplace that has been supporting artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs for nearly 15 years. Together, we’ll continue to create a destination online where the music industry connects over the perfect piece of gear,” said David Kalt, Reverb's founder and CEO. Kalt will continue to serve as CEO until Etsy identifies a new leader of the business. He will remain closely involved to provide leadership and support following the closing. “Vibrant two-sided marketplaces are lightning in a bottle — there are only a handful of them operating at scale — and Reverb is one. This transaction is a great strategic fit that firmly aligns with our mission of keeping commerce human. Reverb is the ‘Etsy’ of musical instruments, with significant competitive advantages, and we see tremendous value and untapped potential in the business,” said Josh Silverman, Etsy’s CEO.
Yamaha Teams With Guitars for Vets Yamaha joined veteran’s group Guitars for Vets (G4V) to host a live music performance in observance of National PTSD Awareness Day, as well as to celebrate the recent milestone opening of G4V’s 100th chapter nationwide, the latest major step forward for its program of rehabilitation from post-traumatic stress disorder through music. Students and graduates of the G4V program made up a significant portion of the performing musicians at the 21 Guitar Salute, a free event in the Grand Hall of Best Place at the city’s historic Pabst Brewery. The show brought together 21 local bands from the Milwaukee-Madison-Green Bay area, ranging in genre from rock to jazz to reggae. G4V co-founder Patrick Nettesheim and Yamaha Corp. of America president Tom Sumner, both guitarists, also joined the group onstage. One of the highlights of the event was a guest appearance by David McMahon, 93, a World War II veteran suffering from advanced dementia. According to his caretakers, McMahon — a former semi-professional guitarist — had nearly forgotten he knew how to play before Nettesheim visited his assisted-living facility last year to present him with a Yamaha acoustic guitar as a gift from Guitars for Vets. With the 12
AUGUST 2019