SE SYSTEMS AND JBL PROFESSIONAL VERTEC® LINE ARRAYS CULTIVATE THE ROOTS OF AMERICANA MUSIC AT MERLEFEST 2004

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, May 20, 2004 – SE Systems here provided comprehensive sound reinforcement services for this year’s Merlefest, an annual event that draws more than 75,000 bluegrass and acoustic music fans from around the nation. Staged April 29–May 2 at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, the 17th annual festival featured a host of traditional and contemporary artists including Doc Watson, the Sam Bush Band, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, David Grisman Quintet, Hot Tuna, Indigo Girls, Jeannie Kendall, Patty Loveless and many more. Historically one of the largest such events in the USA, Merlefest is held each year in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father, Doc Watson.

“On acoustic music, JBL’s VERTEC Line Arrays give us the most natural sound you can find,” stated Cliff Miller, President of SE Systems and a veteran soundmixer with three decades of experience working with bluegrass artists. “The clarity and detail we get are greater than that of any speaker system I’ve ever heard. VERTEC allows for a great flexibility of setups, and also lets us deliver a natural sound character for every instrument to the back of the audience, in great detail.”

SE Systems is a professional event production company that’s been in business for more than 30 years, producing concerts and corporate events throughout the Southeastern U.S. and touring nationally. As the live sound company for the legendary Merlefest, SE Systems must plan for and accommodate a variety of traditional roots music on four separate stages. The demands on the sound crew are enormous as the fast-paced presentation of acts ranges from large bands to solo artists, from delicate vocals and acoustic guitar to rocking ensemble pieces.

“When veteran, discriminating rental sound companies such as SE Systems choose VERTEC Line Arrays for their key clients, we realize that we have done our job, which is to provide better tools for use by pros like Cliff and his team,” said David Scheirman, Director of Tour Sound for JBL Professional. “The versatility, accuracy and artist acceptance of these systems make them an ideal investment for regional firms who deal with a wide variety of entertainers and special events.”

On the main stage at Merlefest, SE Systems employed 24 VT4889 full range enclosures and 8 JBL HLA 4897 subwoofers. Also on the main stage, for the forward audience area, Miller set up JBL’s compact VT4887’s. The Americana stage was supported with 12 midsize VT4888 line array elements. The Austin stage and the Traditional stage each used 10 VT4887’s. The JBL VERTEC line arrays on the Austin and Americana stages were powered by Crown amplifiers.

Miller believes in the JBL system and its design format, he says, because it delivers exactly what he needs. “VERTEC systems give me great sound-level rejection behind the arrays and on stage as well,” he noted, “These systems represent a great advancement for us because they allow us to maintain lower sound levels in the stage area, which is so important for us as we can better pick up the sound of acoustic guitars, banjos and mandolins without interference.”
SE Systems can be reached in Greensboro at 336/275-4444 or on the web at http://www.sesystems.com/.

ABOUT JBL PROFESSIONAL
Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Professional website at www.jblpro.com.

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