Barnes and Mullins Ltd.

A Fine Story to Tell.

15/03/2006

While acoustic duo Nizlopi, are celebrating the imminent release of their new single ‘Girls’ (www.girlsvideo.co.uk), here at Barnes and Mullins we are celebrating the partnership of Nizlopi’s John Parker with Thomastik-Infeld strings.

Having played Double Bass since the age of 18 and studying under Jon Thorne, another Thomastik-Infeld player, John and guitarist Luke, have seen rocketing success, getting to Number 1 before Christmas 2005 with their highly acclaimed ‘JCB song’.

“To get Nizlopi’s Phat Folk Hip-Hop sound, I will only use Thomastik strings”, so said John, and he’s not alone. He joins an ever growing number of musicians who make this choice including rock heavyweights The Strokes.

Image supplied by www.michellebrooks.co.uk

John (Double-Bass) Parker lives and breathes his instrument. He started playing at the age of 18 after hearing ‘Mingus, Mingus, Mingus’, an album he still listens to and learns from.
After studying classically he went to Manchester to then study Jazz with his now mentor Jon Thorne; this changed JP… he started to practice 8 hours a day and found his own musical voice. John has toured and recorded with many artists in many different genres - like he says: “I play my CD collection”.

But it's Nizlopi where John’s heart lies - they recently had a Number One hit in the UK and remained in the Top 10 for 8 weeks, selling over 400,000 copies.
With Nizlopi John has played all over the world and looks set to continue traveling all over well into the future. John has two Double-Basses: his first and longtime love Stephanie, and recent love Catherine. JP is a passionate believer in playing as many styles of music as possible and constantly learning whatever he can. Nizlopi"s album ‘Half These Songs Are About You…’ is an FDM Records release which is Nizlopi's own record label. www.nizlopi.com.

Fractional Vision

23/02/2006

Thomastik-Infeld Vision Orchestral Strings are now available in fractional sizes, namely ¾, ½, ¼, 1/8th, 1/16th. Since their launch, Vision strings have offered the optimum tone and durability required by ensemble players, and now students can get in on the action too. Highly regarded for their ease of play, their stability and the speed at which they ‘settle in’, the smaller sizes are still remarkably affordable.

Thomastik-Infeld, the innovative leader in orchestral string design and production for 85 years, are pleased to continue their legacy with the introduction of the Vision(tm) strings for violin. These strings are specifically designed to fulfill the needs of professional players and advanced students alike, especially those who excel in orchestral or chamber group settings. They settle in quickly and can achieve a stable tuning within a very short time and are exceptionally easy to play. Their durability is unsurpassed compared to other synthetic core strings. Players will be pleased with the compatibility between Vision(tm) strings and other Thomastik-Infeld synthetic core strings such as Dominant(tm), Infeld(tm) Red and Blue.

Thomastik Infeld release the Loudest Strings

19/12/2005

The latest additions to the Thomastik range are the Infeld Electric and Bass sets. These feature a much higher iron alloy content than the average string, thus creating much better interaction with the guitar pickups. As a result they allow for higher gain and produce a much higher output.

For over 80 years, Thomastik Infeld have been at the forefront of string technology. Having invented the Steel String in Vienna during 1919, and subsequently revolutionised the orchestral string world, Thomastik Infeld continue to innovate to this day. Thomastik can now boast ranges designed with every conceivable player in mind. Spectrum Bronze acoustic strings use a unique bronze formula with silk inlays which produce a warm, full tone, and yet a sparkling clarity that cuts thru even the most dense sound mix. Plectrum Acoustic strings offer a combination of overall lower tensions and a hybrid arrangement of Flatwound and Bronze Roundwound strings. Due to the lower tensions, these strings can also prolong the playing life of many older, more delicate guitars. Developing these strings with a team of acoustic scientists, engineers and professional musicians, Thomastik have based their decisions on performance and musicality – using more expensive, higher tensile core steel for greater flexibility and sustain. They have even built bespoke machines to allow specific winding techniques that achieve a better tonal balance.

Hans Theessink Tours with Thomastik Strings

20/10/2005

Barnes and Mullins in association with Thomastik Infeld, Vienna, are proud to announce Hans Theessink’s UK tour

Hans Theessink has become one of the most sought-after artists of the international blues scene. He is more or less constantly "on tour" and plays an average of 200 concerts a year - a modern day troubadour and entertainer who keeps on spellbinding audiences all over the world with his rich and emotional sounds. He is proud to endorse and consistently use Thomastik Infeld strings. His choice of Acoustic Strings are Thomastik Spectrum Bronze SB113’s. The UK tour kicks off in Colchester on November 7th and comes to a close on the 4th December in Walthamstow, London. Hans Theessink has become one of the most sought-after artists of the international blues scene. He is more or less constantly "on tour" and plays an average of 200 concerts a year - a modern day troubadour and entertainer who keeps on spellbinding audiences all over the world with his rich and emotional sounds. He is proud to endorse and consistently use Thomastik Infeld strings. His choice of Acoustic Strings are Thomastik Spectrum Bronze SB113’s.