Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "ruffalo2003" <ruffalo2003@y...> 
wrote:
> Ok, I don't want to piss yamaha off, and I'm sure nobody in this 
> group wants to. Maybe we could contact them en they could make a 
deal 
> with the group.
> Something like: we buy 15 new brains and get a good price......

Tom,

I don't want to jump the gun here, but something like the direction 
that you suggest is ultimately where we'd like to be headed. We're 
hoping that the sheer size and the interest of this group can 
translate into some tangible benefit, and influence. OGD, Vern, and I 
have been speaking behind the scenes about establishing relationships 
with vendors that could translate into discounts for group members. 
There are definitely kinks still to be worked out in our strategy, 
but we will come up with a viable pitch as soon as possible. So far 
as Yamaha is concerned, I like to think that this group has shown up 
on the company's radar for years, but it has never enjoyed the kind 
of presence that it has of late. And, by all accounts, it will only 
get better. OGD's recent contact with Jim Haler and So Tanaka is of 
immense value, and I put Jim Haler in contact with Chris Jude so that 
they could schedule a Yamaha chat at edrumming.com. Though I played 
broker for that event, I've reminded Haler that this forum is the one 
with the dedicated Yamaha edrummers, and he acknowledged us as such, 
promising to establish closer relations. Also, I've spoken to Brian 
LaRue at Pintech about how to bring his company more explicitly into 
our picture pursuant to the distribution deal that Yamaha just made 
with Pintech. I've already posted some of Pintech's plans, but Brian 
will have more news that will impact us here very soon. His 
membership in this group is not to be underestimated.

Ed