Yamaha Celebrates ‘125 Years of Passion & Performance’ in Grand Style at the 2013 NAMM Show

ANAHEIM, Calif. — To mark its 125th anniversary, Yamaha will introduce several new products and promotions at the 2013 NAMM Show, the largest musical industry trade convention in the United States, held January 24 to 27 in Anaheim, California. The new instruments and sound reinforcement equipment demonstrate the company's ability to introduce innovations across a wide range of categories from concert grand pianos to portable PA systems and from acoustic guitars to sophisticated digital keyboards. An important component of Yamaha's longevity is the company's ability to keep pushing the bounds of technology, as indicated by the large number of patents it continually receives and the company's ability to reinvent instrument categories.

Yamaha's exhibit will fill the Marquis Ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center. As in years past, Yamaha will broadcast live, high-definition video from its display throughout the show at http://www.yamaha.com/namm. During the show, Yamaha will deploy several handheld HD cameras that will stream individual feeds to the company's NAMM site. The video feed will provide product spotlights, interviews and image galleries online and on-demand to desktop and laptop computers, as well as mobile phones and tablets.

"During this anniversary year for Yamaha, the NAMM show takes on special importance as we showcase the company's past, present and future," said Mr. Tak Nakata, president, Yamaha Corporation of America. "We are very proud of this achievement and look forward to sharing our passion for creating the finest musical products with our valued dealers, artists and customers."

At NAMM, Yamaha Keyboards will introduce the CX line of acoustic grand pianos, which incorporate advancements from the critically acclaimed top-of-the-line CFX model, introduced in 2010. Other new keyboard products include the b Series pianos, new Silent Piano models and the Clavinova CVP 600 Series. The Keyboard division will also present demonstrations of its remarkable DisklavierTV™, powered by RemoteLive™ technology, where one pianist plays selections on a Disklavier located off-site while another Disklavier at the booth in Anaheim reproduces the performance in real time.

New Pro Audio and Combo products include the STAGEPAS 400i and 600i portable PA systems, which are iPod compatible. New MX music synthesizers offer affordable alternatives to the MOTIF XF line of sophisticated workstations and the DTX400K and DTX450K electronic drum kits place professional level sounds in an entry level package. Following up on the well-received and vaunted THR10 and THR5 at-home guitar amplifiers, Yamaha is introducing three new models, the THR10C with authentic boutique tone, the THR10X for extreme high-gain and the THR5A, which offer a new way to experience electric-acoustic guitars.

Band and orchestral products launching at NAMM include the updated flagship C trumpet, the YTR-9445CHS, and new V3 violin and VC3 cello, which bring Yamaha quality to student string models at competitive price points. The YAS-62 and YTS-62 saxophones, which set the standard for professional level horns, will be reissued, and the new YAS-82Z and YTS-82Z will be launched, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Custom Z saxophones.

The yearlong anniversary celebration also marks the launch of Yamaha Entertainment Group, a new full-service music label and recording studio based near Nashville, which recently released an EP by the band Leogun, affiliated with Elton John's Rocket Entertainment Group. Yamaha Entertainment Group is also producing a special Dealer Concert, held every other year at the NAMM show. Additionally, Yamaha held a sweepstakes that awarded the winner a prize package including airfare, accommodation and admission to NAMM and to the Yamaha dealer concert.

Yamaha's history dates to 1887, when medical equipment technician Torakusu Yamaha took on the task of repairing a reed organ. After studying the instrument, he decided to build one of his own and his success led the company to manufacture grand pianos, which remain Yamaha's flagship product. To commemorate the anniversary, Yamaha will showcase some of the iconic instruments from its past, including a pre-1900's reed organ, turn of the century pianos and the DX7, the first affordable synthesizer that had a major impact on music in the 1980's, along with guitars, mixing boards and other important items from the company's archives.

For more information, please write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, email infostation@yamaha.com or visit http://4wrd.it/PRESS.