First Act

Infobox Company
name = First Act Inc.

type = Private
foundation = 1995
founder =
location = flagicon|U.S. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
key_people = Bernard Chiu (Chairman, CEO)
Mark Izen (President, COO)
Ronald Izen (Vice chairman)
industry = Musical instruments
num_employees = 150 (2007)
homepage = http://firstact.com
footnotes = [citation|author=Hoover's Company Records|date=2008-08-12|title=First Act Inc. (FY 2007)|publisher=Hoover's Inc.|accessdate=2008-08-15] [cite web|url=http://www.firstact.com/AboutFirstAct/ManagementTeam.aspx|title=Management Team|publisher=First Act|accessdate=2008-08-15] First Act is a musical instrument manufacturer. They are also heavily involved in creating products which support the role of music in enhancing children's development.

First Act's line of products includes guitars, bass guitars, guitar and bass accessories, drum sets, percussion instruments, amplifiers as well as student-line clarinets, saxophones, and trumpets.

The company also makes limited edition guitars, which are handcrafted by luthiers in Boston. Currently, there are three guitars in the First Act Limited Edition Guitar Series: the "Lola", the "Sheena", and the "Delia".

In terms of percussion, First Act's drum sets come in a variety of styles, ranging from simple, beginner sets, to eight piece medial sets.

Volkswagen initiated a campaign in 2006 in which the company gave away special edition First Act guitars along with a special series car. The stereos in these Volkswagens could be used as an amplifier for the guitar. An accompanying ad campaign featured guitarists Slash, John Mayer, and Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap playing First Act guitars through the sound systems of Volkswagen automobiles.

Criticism

The company has received much criticism from music educators who claim that First Act band instruments, targeted at beginning students, are of low quality, are irreparable, and that replacement parts are difficult to acquire. In 2003, First Act instruments filed a lawsuit against music retailer Brook Mays, who published a list of instrument brand names, including First Act, they perceived to be low quality, calling them "Instrument Shaped Objects". The lawsuit was settled with First Act receiving $16.7 million. [ [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/07-05-2006/0004391850&EDATE= PR Newswire Article on Lawsuit] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.firstact.com Official website]
* [http://www.firstact.com/corporate/background.asp First Act Corporate Bios]