OK, couple hours of shut-eye, now here's a report on NAMM-
**NOTE- The opinions expressed within reflect only the mind-set of the writer after 4 days of.....
Well, read on---
IF you get a chance to ATTEND NAMM, wow, go!. It's a blast- like Disneyland for Musical Instruments, including great performances, incredible people-watching, and things better left unsaid for decency's sake.
If you have to WORK at NAMM- 4 days in an Exhibitors Booth, in my case Guitar Straps- (
http://www.onorimusic.com)-
THAT is another story entirely. Probably many of you have done Trade Shows, or business travel, or experienced mayhem in one form or another, so.... enough said.
My recollections and treasured memories-
Performances by Victor Wooten, Alain Caron, and others. Meeting Phil Chen and Lee Sklar, who is truly a great person/player; who when I told him he was a great favorite and inspiration to me, asked me to let him take a picture of me flipping him off to use as his screen-saver...
Seeing EVERY brand of Bass and amp under the sun- including you-know-who.
The place is a mad-house, and frankly if I EVER hear another bass player, including myself, pick up a high-end, intermediate or low-end bass and SLAP that sucker endlessly, I'll be annoyed. JEESH! I love to slap, and do so myself judiciously I like to think, and with a modicum of taste and restraint (I try) but for Gawdsake, enuff! Some players are very skilled at the slap-style, and I dig it, but there is a point wherein it becomes to me-non-musical and annoying. Sorry.
My booth was right across from "THE FLEA Bass" an actually quite nice (and colorful!) entry-level bass guitar (offshore, 32" scale, fawgeddabout 'em here- we'll get to THAT soon...) and Flea had (2) sessions where fans lined up for a picture and a handshake. He performed, and he does what he does quite well, rockin' it with a drummer, but me-personally I'll take
Chuck Rainey, or James Jamerson, or Eddie Gomez, or Reginald Veal, or Cecil McBee, or Duck, but apples/oranges; he's cool.
Epifani, Tec-Amp (behind us; nice, but MORE THUMPIN'!), MarkBass, and my favorite- here's where I may pi** some of you off-
Sterling Ball, CEO of EB/MM in a Sailor-Suit, in a massive display where one could try out all instruments through ear-phones.
He's losin' it; and yeah, I know- it's fun, hah-hah, but hang in- I'm gonna comment-
The new MM basses- Did NOT like them. Sorry. Couldn't get intonation, and I'm allowing a cheap "rig" and a "show" bass, but the controls of the 25th AV model and the "Big Al'- I'm on my 2nd Sterling, the 1st mid-90's one was superb- BE neck, et al, the present, about 2 years old, is a beaut too; new compensated nut, no BE tho, and the G-string is WEAK- ADMIT it fan-bois! QUit the denial- you're making me mad-
But the new models- IMO- IMO- going downhill. Oh yeah, FWIW, EB booth is PAR-TAY! central, with comic-strip/cartoon dressed characters, and a "pit" where Sterling sits in his costume schmoozing and doing biz I guess---Hey-don't misunderstand if you like MM basses, and I do- but the new stuff- going downhill. Sorry that is the fact. Love it or leave it. I do not care.
Let me cut to the chase NOW-
Before I lose anybody-
Rickenbacker- and their show-booth- was an Island of Class, Sanity, and calm in a storm- All business, doing the Legacy of the line and the Company.
Whereas other Mfrs. of course have their gear set up so shredders, buyers, etc alike can play at will and are encouraged- Rickenbacker ---NOT! I LOVE that! All models are wall-hung, and cable-tied on the stand so they cannot be removed to be played; only observed.
Then- If you're a Buyer, you would go into the calm interior office and ask when you could get your Order I assume.
Every model and color of Bass was on display, and they of course are gorgeous, regal, and Supreme. We already know that.
Later, a couple Ric "helpers", not employees, friends of the CEO John Hall, came over to my Booth; we talked, and they told me of John Hall's collection- Must be a Rick fan's dream...
I introduced myself to John Hall; told him I just got a Laredo, etc. and have a 4003 on order- due Wednesday.
He said, and I quote:
"So YOU'RE the guy that's been doing all the posting!" I thought that was hilarious! OF course I left him alone, as I was an Exhibitor, etc, but not before he told me that he was a bass player, and due to my blabbering and gushing about the 4004L; he decided to try HIS at his last rehearsal, and realized how tight the E-string was...
Well, HELL YEAH, JOHN! What have I been saying!!?? The bass rules... That too was funny to me...
Seriously, the manner of display and vibe of Ric was so much different than say "Krank" amps, or the Guitar Mfr. Booth ( I forget which) that had a trio of Bimbos in tiny little skirts posing with the metal-head end-users, etc- Not that I have anything against Bimbos in little skirts and high-heels, it's just that...Well, never mind, I enjoyed the "scenery" sorta....
Other than that, I saw a lot; almost-almost- Bought a beautiful ESH bass; great price, I woulda, but when I came back, the guy then said I'd need CASH (yeah right, I carry $900 in cash around all the time), plus I'd have to get it from a Dealer 30 miles away- End of that- I would have taken it WITH ME, as he originally promised, then and there because I'm irresponsible and don't think right, but having to wait after he said he'd sell it to ME- Well, he tried, but in his defense it's not easily done selling goods there unless you are a Vendor Booth; he was not, - And they are magnificent basses; check them out, with piezos and EMG's etc...So it obviously was not meant to be-
That's cool, and for the best!
I have a brand new Rickenbacker FireGlo 4003 coming Wednesday- If it weren't for the Holiday, it'd prolly be sooner- but no worries.
I DID feel the neck profile, and see a new FireGlo, wired in it's hangar at Ric booth- Oh, Man, I cannot wait to get it and play it.. Superb, the best, so beautiful, lines that last forever, and style and design like no other.Wait til I get into it and lay into it- I have some ideas....
My 4004L is no slouch of course, and the Cheyennes- Wow. Just Wow.
FWIW, ALL finishes are supeb, they look beautiful. My fave for the 4003 I guess is the FG; MG being a good second; I have my Laredo in that so....
Maybe a Cheyenne as a reward someday, that would be totally ridiculous for me to do, so in all probability I will- someday.
Now- I'm going back to bed to try and sleep. I've got all this off my chest; just wanted to vent and share- So in conclusion:
We are all well-advised to LOOK at the many other high-end basses in all their glory, and there are some sweeties- Fodera, MTD, I was 3 doors down from DingWall, any number of custom one-off luthiers, like Carruthers, etc. but my advice, and you all know I'm sure..
Rickenbacker- Pretty damn classy Company; pretty damn incredible bass guitars. There really are no others like them.
And I saw them ALL, pretty much! (-:
