Fazio's 6 Greatest Musical Hits of 2011! Happy New Year!
Well, with all the crazy things that went on in 2011 there were some bright shining stars here at Fazio’s Frets and Friends. We just thought we should share some of what we call our “greatest hits”... or really the most awesome things that we just couldn’t seem to keep in stock.
Thanks for making 2011 a wonderful year here at Fazio’s and for letting us be a part of your music. We’re looking forward to more great hits in the coming year in 2012 we want you to be a part of it all...so stay tuned!
Let’s start with the biggest hit of them all. These little pint sized bundles of guitar awesomeness (is that even a word?) brought so many smiles to our customers faces that we thought it should get first mention.
The convenient travel size paired with the sound of a big guitar and the price tag made this the winner of this year...and although we can’t talk about it until January 19th...the newest addition to the GS Mini lineup in 2012 is sure to make it top the list next year too.
Click here to view in our shopping cart. or
Click here to see on YouTube.
Second on our list was not what we sold the most of, but every one we got in was incredible. Each and every one of these models were head and shoulders above all but one other guitar (which we’ll mention next) and they seemed to sell even before we got them out of the box.
The next one is due in late January and it's already spoken for but don’t worry...we have more on order.
Click here to view in our shopping cart. or
Click here to see on YouTube.
Handcrafted by local luthier Thomas Rein. Now onto the most incredible guitar that we got in this year. This guitar that Tom built for us was, without exception, the
finest guitar we’ve possibly ever had come through our door...at least as long as I’ve been here. Considering the incredible amount of “boutique” guitars that pass through our hands, that is really saying something. For those of you who had the privilege of playing that instrument for the short time it was here...you know exactly what I mean when I mention words like lush and rich. Tom is working on another one of these for us that should be ready sometime in April or May. We can hardly wait.
Click here to view in our shopping cart. or
Click here to see on YouTube.
Next on our list is actually an entire brand more than it is one single item...Wampler Pedals. Every single model has really been wonderful and, cheers! to all our great customers who have made them a huge success. The Paisley Overdrive, with it’s true amp-like tone was the best seller (and the one we can’t seem to keep in stock) with the Pinnacle Overdive, Brent Mason HotWired, the Ego Compressor, and the Faux Reverb taking high honors too. I’ll make a prediction that this year will see the new SLO Distortion giving the Paisley a run for its money. Not that I won’t still have both on my pedal board...just that the SLO will sell out as fast as the Paisley...or maybe even faster. We’ll have more hitting the store soon so get on the waiting list now before we sell out again.
Click here to view in our shopping cart.
Tied at fifth place: our best selling acoustic amps. The Fishman Mini Loudbox and the Bose L1 Compact. While these are two totally different things they were the clear winners for players wanting to get the best tone for their budget. For the guy who does small solo gigs, jam sessions, or even the bedroom player the Fishman at $299 is one of the best sounding amps with a small footprint but big sound.
Click here to view in our shopping cart.
For the player/duo who needs the ability to play to much larger crowds but still wants portability, the ability to have several inputs, and wants the highest fidelity possible, the combination of the Bose L1 Compact and the T1 Tonematch was the clear winner. Weighing in at a measly 30 pounds this little powerhouse can entertain a wild bunch of 200 or so of your biggest fans without breaking a sweat (or your back).
Or do like me and get two of them and handle big outdoor gigs with ease. We played an outdoor festival to a crowd of 500+ and it was perfect...of course it didn’t hurt that we were right next to the beer garden.
Click here to view in our shopping cart.
We won the Riverfront Times Best of Award for 2011 Best Music Store!! Quote from RFT: "From a modest start back in 1978, Fazio's Frets and Friends has survived and thrived, growing into a custom-built facility in west county with room for performances, workshops and lessons... Fazio's sponsors frequent special events aimed at local guitarists and generally offers the sort of service one hopes to receive from a local business. The result is a loyal customer base, including many local pros, that has helped Fazio's keep going while others have fallen by the wayside."
After almost a year in waiting, we finally have the hard cases available for the Taylor GS Mini. At our trade show this past January I was fortunate enough to be there when SKB presented their prototype hard foam case to the guys at Taylor. It was a big hit to say the least. While the gigbag that ships with the Mini is very nice it doesn’t offer the same protection as a hard case, especially for those of us who like to take our Mini with us as we travel or enjoy our various recreational habits.
This new lightweight case from SKB offers the superior protection of the very same rigid foam inserts found in their hardshell guitar case line, but with the style and portability of a soft gig bag at an affordable price.
The SKB GS Mini case features a rugged, weather resistant 600 Denier ballistic nylon exterior with a hard-core EPS foam interior to provide more substantial protection than a conventional gig bag.
The exteriors feature two zippered pouches, one with numerous internal compartments for organized accessory storage, and an adjustable padded backpack strap for easy transport. The hard foam interiors are plush-lined and offer full neck support to cradle the guitar neck more securely than a conventional bag.
Feel free to stop by the shop and let us show you just how great these cases are for those of you who want more protection for your Mini. I was going to show off a picture of the case while I was rock-climbing but for those of you who know me well...you know that would never happen.
Get the SKB GS Mini case in-person at our store, or
Shop for SKB Cases in our online store.
Not sure what to get your favorite guitar player? Wondering how to gift wrap drumsticks? Take the guesswork out and put the music in! Purchase a Fazio's Gift Card for that special someone and give the gift of music. Gift Cards are available in $10, $25, $50 and $100.
Available in our store, or
purchase Fazio's Gift Cards online.
Drums, Cymbals and accessories at Fazio's Music
We even have the Beatles set in Black Oyster! Did you know... that Fazio's Frets and Friends also has a complete drum department? Over the past year, we have had a resurgence of drum sales, and have expanded our drum and percussion inventory accordingly.
We have a nice selection of Ludwig drums in stock, from the entry level Accent series in full and junior sizes all the way up to the USA made custom maple shell drums. Stop by and see the Ludwig 4-piece Ringo Starr Beatles set in Black Oyster. Very nice! Along with Peace drums and Percussion Plus, we have choices for any budget. As far as cymbals, you'll find the full line of Zildjian in stock, from “ZBT” through “A Customs”. If hand drums are your thing, we have congas, bongos, djembes, guiros, tamborines.... heck, we even have a nice beginning steel drum outfit for that tropical flavor.
As far as accessories go, Fazio's is fully stocked on drumsticks from Zildjian, Vic Firth and Pro Mark, as well as brushes and mallets. For when things break (and they do) we have a full selection of replacement parts to keep the beat running strong. Lots of drumheads, 10” to 24” in several lines. Good selection of hardware. Cowbells, too. Gotta have more cowbell!
So there you have it! Drums up to the ceiling and all the goodies to go with them. If you haven't been to the store in a while, stop by and have a look. And make sure to tell your drummer friends that they can shop at Fazio's Frets and Friends, too!
Fazio's has one of the best, oldest, largest and most comprehensive private music lesson programs in the St. Louis area. We have a dedicated staff of teachers and a full suite of private lesson rooms right here in our store. Lessons include
Guitar, Bass, Piano, Vocals, Violin, Drums and more specialty instruments including Classical Guitar, Mandolin and Banjo. We also conduct regular workshops with our own music teachers and touring professionals on a wide variety of specialty subjects.
And, on top of all that, we have the highly successful Fazio's Rock Academy Program for kids age 9-17. We are a powerhouse of private music lessons, workshops and music educuation in Saint Louis!
And, for a limited time, if you are a new student interested in private music lessons, or an existing student wanting to try another instrument... have a free lesson on us!! Take a free lesson on guitar, bass, drums, voice, piano or violin! If you've never been enrolled in music lessons at Fazio's... or if you are
enrolled and want to try lessons on a new instrument the first lesson is on the house (a $21.00 value)! Then, when you continue with lessons you can keep the
same day and time for your regular weekly lesson.
For more information about our Private Music Lessons and Studio Policies, please click here.
If you'd like to register for your free trial lesson, please contact James Holt at (636) 227-3573 or email
jholt@faziosmusic.com
If you haven't been to The Wolf Public House in Ballwin, you should stop by and check it out. Open for early morning coffee, or evening entertainment, this is one of the most interesting spots in town!
And, to make spending time there even more entertaining, Fazio's and The Wolf Public house have teamed up to present two new artists' series: "Fazio's Original Artist Showcase" and "Fazio's Rock Academy Unplugged".
Each "Original Artist Showcase" will feature at least one Fazio's student, instructor, or musician closely affiliated with Fazio's. Each "Fazio's Rock Academy Unplugged" will feature select students and bands from the Fazio's Rock Academy program.
These events will take place at The Wolf Public House on Wednesday or Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30pm, 15480 Clayton Road, Ballwin MO.
Take a free lesson on guitar, bass, drums, voice, piano or violin! If you've never been enrolled in music lessons at Fazio's... or if you are
enrolled and want to try lessons on a new instrument the first lesson is on us! Then, when you continue with lessons you can keep the
same day and time for your regular weekly lesson. If you'd like to register for your free trial lesson, please contact James Holt at (636) 227-3573 or email
jholt@faziosmusic.com
For Guitarists, Vocalists, Bassists, Drummers, and Keyboardists between ages 9-17!
Locations in Ellisville (15440 Manchester Rd.) and Kirkwood (151 W. Argonne).
Fazio's Rock Academy™ features an all new song list of 100 classic and modern rock songs. Each song will be graded beginner, intermediate, advanced, or all star to coincide with the skill level of each student band. Each band will be assigned a professional Fazio's instructor. This instructor will serve as the band's coach for the entirety of session. The session will conclude with a concert performed by student bands at the DOXA Arts Center, a real performance venue located in Chesterfield, Mo.
TUITION FEE: $299 for 10-week session plus end of session concert.
Price includes FRA t-shirt and songbook.
Winter/Spring 2012 Session starts January 9, 2012 and runs to March 24, 2012
Student Concerts will be on March 30th, 2012.
Fazio's Rock Academy™ is sponsored by Audio Technica and Bose
Thank you to these wonderful sponsors for helping with our education programs!
For Guitarists, Vocalists, Bassists, Drummers, and Keyboardists between ages 9-17!
Locations in Ellisville (15440 Manchester Rd.) and Kirkwood (151 W. Argonne).
Fazio's Rock Academy™ features an all new song list of 100 classic and modern rock songs. Each song will be graded beginner, intermediate, advanced, or all star to coincide with the skill level of each student band. Each band will be assigned a professional Fazio's instructor. This instructor will serve as the band's coach for the entirety of session. The session will conclude with a concert performed by student bands at the DOXA Arts Center, a real performance venue located in Chesterfield, Mo.
TUITION FEE: $299 for 10-week session plus end of session concert.
Price includes FRA t-shirt and songbook.
Winter/Spring 2012 Session starts January 9, 2012 and runs to March 24, 2012
Student Concerts will be on March 30th, 2012.
Rock Academy Summer Camp 2011 Photos online @ Picassa!
Click here.
Fazio's Rock Academy™ is sponsored by Audio Technica and Bose
Thank you to these wonderful sponsors for helping with our education programs!
Welcome to Fazio's Frets and Friends™!
33 years in business, and going strong!! since 1978, we've been St. Louis' best independent music store and we're a great resource for instruments, accessories,
repairs, used gear, instrument and equipment rentals, amplifiers, lessons and advice. With a fantastic selection of great brands...we
offer best value with great prices and friendly, personal service from a professional staff who does this for a living.
For real.
Fazio's Store Hours
- Monday: 10:00am - 9:00pm
- Tuesday: 10:00am - 9:00pm
- Wednesday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
- Thursday: 10:00am - 9:00pm
- Friday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
- Saturday: 9:30am - 5:00pm
- Sunday: Closed
- Phone (636) 227-3573
- Toll Free (888) 687-4200
-
Click here for map and directions