But for all the publicity that surrounded our move into the new Millennium (which will actually take place next year), we can look at this as a wonderful time to make a fresh start. Maybe you've been dreaming of setting up your own project studio or even upgrading to one of the new super-sophisticated digital workstations. Or maybe you've decided that it's time for your band to finally make that next step and start to tour or even just get up on stage and play for the very first time. There are as many dreams as there are musicians, and the Year 2000 is a great place to start making those dreams a reality.

Thanks to the Internet, it's now possible for millions of people to hear your music (and order your CD). And thanks to falling prices in just about every music technology category, equipment is less expensive than ever before and quality is at an all-time high. Can you imagine even a few years ago that we would be able to buy a 24-track, 24-bit / 96kHz digital multitrack for under $4000? Even the sci-fi writers probably didn't see that one coming.

For our part, here at Sweetwater, we continue to add tons of new items to our online store (www. sweetwater.com/store) as quickly as possible to make 24-hour shopping a reality. We've installed a new, sophisticated phone system that makes it easy for you to get in touch with your Sales Engineer, as well as Product Support and Service (see Early Winter 1999/2000 Sweet Notes for complete details).

We have also been mailing out our hot, new Year 2000 Equipment Directory and are hard at work on our yearly New Gear Guide. Our creative team really outdid themselves this year. They pretty much work behind the scenes under a lot of pressure and deserve a well-earned pat on the back for continually turning out great work, even with incredibly tight deadlines.

And while we're passing out the accolades, let me just say one more time (though not the last time, I'm sure) that we have the best group of employees in the entire music industry. These people bend over backwards to make sure that every time you call Sweetwater, you get the expert advice, service and support you deserve. They are a great part of the reason that Sweetwater was named Music Retailer of the Year by Music Inc. this past summer.

Speaking of our staff, I'd like to once again mention that we are always looking for qualified people. We have openings in just about every department, so please get in touch with us if you feel you have what it takes to join the Sweetwater team. Or maybe you know someone who would be a perfect addition to our staff. In that case, just give us a name and contact information and we'll do the rest. If we hire that person, we are still paying a $250 reward, so you will be doing someone a huge favor, as well as adding a nice chunk of change to your checking account.

So what lies ahead for Sweetwater and the music industry in general? Obviously, we'll find out more about industry trends at this year's Winter NAMM Show, but I think it's safe to say that there will be some surprises ahead, as well as a continuing trend towards more sophisticated products at prices that are shockingly low. And there will be plenty of surprises in store for you in 2000 from Sweet-water, as well. A lot of things we have planned are still a bit too far off to talk about right now, but we will keep you posted here in Sweet Notes, as well as via inSync, our exclusive Internet news daily.

I've already mentioned our online store, and for all you guitar players out there who have been asking: Yes, we will soon have pictures of our in-stock guitars posted on our Web site. What that means is that you'll be able to look at our complete inventory of Paul Reed Smith or G&L guitars, for example, and choose exactly the guitar you want.

In closing, I'd like to remind you that we take your suggestions very seriously. Every single letter, fax and e-mail gets read, so please feel free to let us know if there's any way at all that we can make your shopping experience at Sweetwater even more enjoyable. After all, we're here to please you, our valued customers!

That about wraps it up for this issue. We hope that your year 2000 is off to a great start and that it will be the best year ever for you and your family and friends!