|
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | For those fortunate to have been able to attend, is there anything interesting or newsworthy to report? I couldn't attend this year, but hope to get back next year. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | The show is tomorrow through Sunday I believe. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Correct, Weaser, Jan 19-22. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Most newsworthy is that Weaser won't be there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | That is correct but that would have been correct every other year as well.
I will get there one of these days though...Bucket List item. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I hope to do the NAMM thing someday mayself.
Wease... let's make sure we do it the same year. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | It's a date. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Can we please call it something... anything.. other than a "date"? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Sure. How's rendezvous? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Originally posted by Weaser P:
I will get there one of these days though...Bucket List item. +1
Mothership factory tour is on my list too. Sure hope they don't kick the bucket before I can get there! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | On my bucket list too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Just got back from my 2nd day at NAMM...(Sat and a couple of hours Sunday).
Finally got to meet David Vincent (Artist Relations in Nashville). Had discussions with him several years ago. Older Custom Legend will be visible in next Tom Cruise movie (next year).
Takamine 2012 Ltd (steel and nylon string) were a nice understated appearance (black) yet if you held them under the nut, absolutely sang just from the ambient noise...a couple of years ago, the TVN 360, 2010 Ltd, and 2011 Ltd were like that which was why I ordered them from Al...you can feel it, stands out over other guitars such as Martin, etc. Both 2012 Ltd's (steel and nylon) are gorgeous guitars and worthy of praise as outstanding Takamine offerings.
50th Anniversary, glass encased. The 50th, based on earlier pictures was not high on my list. In person, excellent. I can only assume (IMHO) that it is a superior player as was the 40th and 45th.
Both displays for Takamine and Ovation were excellent. Well staffed by our local rep, Mike, and other KMC staff. Some US made O's such as the Glen Campbell reissue. Interesting was the scalloped fret board for at least one of the Viper models, etc. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see any Adamas...remember, other than a limited issue (50 for Glen Campbell), my understanding is that US made O's and A's are really made out of the custom shop and very limited in number.
Still not as busy as several years ago (used to be so noisy that you couldn't have a conversation or get a parking space) but the exhibitors said they were taking a lot of orders...might be BS but, if true, it reflects that stores are anticipating a good 3, 6, 9 month economy.
Sorry, didn't get a chance to check out Guild.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | From a business standpoint ths has been the most productive NAMM for me for several years. From an Ovation standpoint it was pretty depressing. Lots of mediocre import Ovations but only 4 USA models (YM vipers, GC and 1617) and no Adamas. Saw some "secret" Guild stuff that was amazingly cool. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | There's already Youtube stuff posted on NAMM2012. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The big thing at Ovation seemed to be the new "Vintage Lyracord" bowls. They've reformulated the glass/resin composition from 60/40 to 90/10. I'm told it's way lighter with much better sound. What really blew my hair back was that you could press on the bowl and it would "give" - Moody ought to have a picture of me pushing in the bowl about an inch with my thumb. Very weird for this old timer! These guitars have a VL designation. FWIW, I had someone tell me that the bowls for the Asian guitars are made in Asia ... but ... there will be some new USA stuff coming later this year that inludes VL bowls that are hand-laid using the original molds and made in Ashbula.
No Adamas guitars were on display. The Yngwie guitars were pretty nice in person ... I liked the f-holes and the colors but I've have to play it for a bit where I can hear it to know if I like the scalloped fretboards.
With just a couple of exceptions, all of the guitars are Asian. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Really pretty crowded this year as opposed to past years but the overall noise level was lower. Lots of NAMM "sound patrol" personnel roaming around with dB meters and telling booths to turn down if the sound exceeded the approved levels.
Saw some absolutely awesome digital mixer products from Line6 and Mackie. I am pretty sure the Mackie will be on my "to buy" list sometime in the next year.
Like Paul mentioned, Guild has some AMAZING secret products that will blow back the hair on many. Too cool. They also had an INCREDIBLE Cocobola guitar that made me forget my pledge not to buy any more guitars in 2012. Stunning limited edition of 20 that not only looked fantastic but played and sounded amazing as well.
Taks were really cool but did not blow me away for the money.
Ovation's new bowls were crazy like Bobbo said but nothing really exciting to me except the potential new models coming out later this year.
As in prior years I spent the vast majority of my time in the section that catered to the recording enthusiasts and many of the seminars I sat in on were definitely enlightening and will hopefully improve my recording/mixing abilities
Saw and chatted with Matt Smith.
Also met Colin Hay, Peter Case, and Leland Sklar. All were extremely friendly and nice guys.
Also saw many of our OFC breathern at the show.
Once again a good time and I look forward to next year. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Ovation booth at NAMM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNHaSfBXR_w |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Can someone help me with the "Vintage Lyracord" bowl? "We've gone back to..." I guess I missed them back in the vintage days. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | The vintage bowls that I saw in the past, once attached to the tops, were rigid. Not like the current ones.
I suspect that what they are referring to is making the bowls out of fiberglass again. In the early 80's the bowls were all uniformly made of another material (drawing a blank as to what). I would guess that the newer guitars are going to have this new mixture while higher end guitars (like the GC reissue) have handlaid fiberglass bowls with the original mixture... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The APPLE IPAD2 has also become the de facto standard for all things musical. Seeing some of the products and apps designed to take advantage, I find myself forced to considered purchasing an IPAD sooner rather than later. As a matter of fact, I am heading over to the Apple Store this afternoon to check them out and will probably walk out of the door with one......(this from an apple hater of 30 years!)
Overall the live music at this years show was a disappointment for me. Seems as though most of the groups playing were average at best and some were downright horrible. Paul and I were shocked at some of the mediocrity that we saw.
There was one band that played at the Sennheiser booth that was just absolutely OUTSTANDING. They had clever melodies, mind blowing 4 part harmonies, and understated but extremely good chops that accented the music and songs instead of dominating and distracting from the music. I would tell you the name but I can't think of it offhand. I did get a promo CD (coming out late spring)of some of their tunes so when I finish unpacking and locate it, I will post up a link. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Paul...So this "vintage" label insinuates that these have seen the light of day before...My cynical side says marketing gimmick to the unknowing, so that they can put a bowl on there that doesn't cost as much (guessing). Vintage = Good Old Days = some degree of the cool factor. All for the sake of margins. I would think it would affect resonance (on the - side).
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | This is not your father's lyracord. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Maybe vintage means old style profit margins..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Thanks to everyone for posting your experiences and cool finds! This sounds like a blast.
Now I'm going to have to check out some of those youtube links. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Steve, the band at the Sennheiser booth was King Washington, and you were right they were killer. It was good to reconnect with Colin Hay after so long. And scoring a guitar endorsement deal for Peter Case was cool. He's a good friend and I'm glad I could make that happen.
The highlight for me was Shaun Hopper. He's going to be the next big name in fingerstyle guitar. His solo arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody was amazing, and to have close to a thousand people singing it for him was amazing. The standing ovation he got was deserved |
|
| |
Any News From NAMM?
