Why NAMM Is Kinda ******

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:46 am

I've been to a couple of NAMM shows; the latest was yesterday's. I know that it holds a certain excitement for a lot of people, but not really for me.

NAMM kinda sucks and I'll tell you why. First, I can only go on Saturday which of course is the worst day to go. I got there pretty early, within 15 minutes of it opening and it was already pretty busy (although NAMM members have activities starting at 8 AM which means a lot of folks are already there to begin with).

It's tough to move amongst the crowd to begin with and by noon, well, forget it. Lots of people, although I have to say that almost everyone is polite; it is funny to hear some kid outfitted top to bottom in heavy metal or punk gear say "excuse me" if he cuts you off or brushes against you.

Damn kids.

Around noon at one aisle intersection there was a group of about 40 people moving slowly down the main drag, obviously following someone "famous" but I didn't recognize anyone. That makes me lame, I know. And the Ibanez booth (I think) had some guy signing autogrpahs who was wearing a black "Silence of the Lambs" Hannibal Lector mask. I know I should know who that guy is but I don't.

But the real reason NAMM is ****** is that the exhibitors have sound level limits. I was watching a guy at the Gretsch booth shred on a drum kit but then a marketing person came over and told him to quiet down. "We've already been warned once, they'll shut us down if you don't play quieter."

So, basically, NAMM markets the tools of rock and roll (and other genres) and the "rebellion" that goes along with it but behaves like "The Man" (who, as we all know, is always trying to keep us down) at their show. Because you know, it's just supposed to be a quiet, contemplative gathering of like-minded souls, not a giant friggin' convention of celebrity endorsers, rock and roll chicks, middle aged paunchy sales reps and Dean Guitar Sluts (of which there were three posing in front of the Dean Guitars Chopper). According to one pal of mine last year Gibson wasn't allowing JUST ANYONE into their booth, no, you had to have an APPOINTMENT with a rep. Just to get into the booth.

Also, it is huge - so big that you can't just go on one day. You can't physically cover the entire show. I never even got down to the lower levels; I wanted to visit the Yamaha piano area but was unable to.

So, NAMM? Eh, I'll go every few years but that's about it.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:32 am

So no pics of the Dean chicks, eh?

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:06 am

The chopper had green neon underlighting and the Sluts looked like they actually had been ridden as hard as that thing was looking like it wanted to be.

They were posing under the big screen showing videos of Dean "artists" (in quotes for a reason). The video I saw was of a guy who had a double neck lefty-righty guitar and was "shredding" on it.

The Sluts were being hounded by guys like me.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:46 am

Isn't NAMM for manufacturers and dealers? You sound like you're disappointed because there isn't much of a chance for the "guy on the street" to see everything and gain access to everything.

Perhaps I'm mistaken. Is Saturday open to the public?

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:04 am

I'm not "disappointed." And no, Saturday is not "public day."

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:07 pm

Went by that stand. How cheesy the chicks are.
The whole stand reeked of "Whoa, dudes, check this out"!

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:52 pm

There is no public day. The more I think about that, the worse it becomes - think Guitar Center "players" multiplied n-fold, and you'll get the picture in my mind ... and "sound" in my ears ...

I will say that a number of vendors had "playing booths" that were incredibly soundproof. I was walking near one (may have been Peavey, maybe Korg, but I don't remember) and was surprised when someone opened the door and I heard someone playing in there.

jwargowski · Post by **jwargowski** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:12 am

I had a similar experience up in the Taylor room. It was like guitar center, only for the upper class middle aged. So many duffers strumming away on $5,000+ accoustics I couldn't hear myself play, so I gave up and left. Nothing against upper class duffers, as I'm almost one myself (more duffer than upper class), but it definately takes the guitar center experience up a notch.

I did have the opportunity to chat briefly with John Hall and shake his hand, and play many of the Rics they had on display through headphones via small vox amps (with the exception of the accoustics, which were zip tied to the hangers) But it was the first time I'd even seen a Ric accoustic in person, so that was a joy in itself.

I must say though, however large, overwhelming and noisy it is, it's still a great chance to actually meet the people who produce the products we love, and see what we can expect in our favorite local store in the next year.

It was fun, but like Alan, once every couple of years is enough. For those who didn't make it, I'll post some pictures later this week.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:28 am

It did strike me as walking through a HUGE GC, without the salespeople. I enjoyed it though.

I did play the MG accoustic, the others were zip tied to the holders. Excellent sound, though the neck was bigger than I had imagined. Not in a bad way though. From discussions on this board I had thought it would have been very shallow and narrow.
Played the 1996 and a few others through the little amps. And I still say the George Harrison 12 stringer's got the most fabulous neck of any 12 string I've played.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:31 pm

Jerry, ditto on the 360/12c63 for me ... I didn't play the one at the RIC booth, but I got to play one during the SoCalCon last August, and wow, was it ever sweet.

I did play the 700S Shasta too, but the ambience (large room, lots of extraneous sound) made it tough to really hear it well. it did seem "deeper" than my 730L Laramie.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:42 pm

We heard you really well, Gary. Good concert. After a five-minute warmup, Gary showed me why I want a Rick acoustic.

Nice work on "Things We Said Today".

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:55 pm

Ric acoustic? Go for it, Paul!

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:17 pm

I jokingly described the RIC booth to a fellow Rick owner at work today as "a bunch of cool looking guitars that no one is able to buy."

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:22 pm

Wish you hadn't said that, Alan...

The guitars at the show were not for sale, it's true, but anyone with the cash and a modicum of patience CAN buy one.

How else could I acquire eight in less than a year? And I'm sure that is nowhere near a record...

Oh, three were new.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:32 pm

There are new RIC's for sale everywhere....'ya just gotta look...I must have 50 pages of dealers with new inventory and guitar shops with "slightly used" Rics bookmarked ..... patience DOES help , though.....as in the case of my waiting for the elusive bbr/4004cii