Fret-King Black Label Unveiling Helps Make 2012 The Best NAMM Show Yet For JHS

Winter NAMM 2012 was the most successful show yet for worldwide trade distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd., with the global unveiling of the all-new Fret-King® Black Label™ range of electric guitars and basses and other new instruments drawing huge attention from punters, players and press from across the world.

Leeds, UK-based JHS was making its fifth appearance at the musical instrument trade's highest profile show, held annually in Anaheim, California, and saw its Hall E 1212 booth – stocked with more than 100 guitars from the Fret-King, Vintage, Santos Martinez, Encore and SpongeBob SquarePants Real Musical Instruments ranges – subject to more interest than ever before.

Fret-King Black Label was the star feature of the show for many, with its array of classic and artist-inspired models receiving plaudits from all who saw and played them, while a number of new models from Vintage guitars also drew praise.

A number of high profile players were present on the JHS booth to showcase the new gear. Renowned string bender Jerry Donahue played a series of raucously received sets with his Fret-King Black Label Series JD guitar, which he designed in cooperation with Trev Wilkinson. Donahue also played a surprise set with fellow guitar great Will Ray, his Hellecasters bandmate, and the band reunited on the Saturday night to play their first show in 11 years as they headlined Deke's Guitar Festival.

Worldwide 12-string authority Paul Brett is the proud owner of two new Vintage signature acoustics – a 6-string and a 12-string – and he made his presence known on the JHS stand, with players like 3-time Grammy award nominated Peter Case commenting favourably on the exquisite Brett signature guitars.

US distributors of Fret-King and Vintage guitars, MDG (Musical Distributors Group), were also a solid presence on the JHS booth, attracting interest from existing and new US dealers.

JHS Managing Director Dennis Drumm said: "Another great NAMM – US dealers clearly love the Vintage brand, Fret-King Black Label totally ‘hit the spot’, and several new export markets will be benefitting from Vintage and Fret-King being available in their countries. SpongeBob SquarePants too will be spreading his quirky musical humour even further abroad in 2012. Definitely the busiest and best NAMM ever for JHS!"

For more information on all the new gear released by JHS during NAMM 2012, check out the Fret-King and JHS websites.