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SUMMER NAMM: Glorious return
Andy Barrett in Nashville Jun 23 2008, 11:21am
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NAMM’s summer show back in the Music City – and the dealers loved it
It was a very relaxed and happy Joe Lamond who told MI Pro that it was good to be back. The return of the summer show to Nashville after three years away and declining show figures and opinions has proved to be exactly the boos the format needed. He was clearly relieved too, as no doubt the 483 exhibitors who had paid to get into the cramped showfloor.
Within minutes of the doors opening it was clear that the gamble had been the right one. The dealers had voted with their feet in a positive way, and had got along to the show in considerable quantity.
One of the most noticeable aspects of the show was that it was the small, independent dealer that has taken this most domestic of US trade shows to heart – and this was a point that Joe lamond was quick to notice.
“It seems to me that the pendulum is swinging away from big to small – and by small I mean custom,” he said. “I think we will be seeing a more customer focused retail world in all areas.”
Lamond and pretty much every visiting dealer concurred that business was extremely hard at the moment, but then added that this was exactly why they had come to the show in such numbers.
“It’s the best time for a show,” said one visitor. We get to plan for the big seasons from September through Christmas – and there is a lot on offer here this year.”
On the product front, there were a considerable number of real eye catchers with the new Fishman Solo Amp portable PA system. Two channels, six proprietary four-inch speakers and a compact and easy transport system, the demo for this underlined Fishman’s ability to produce excellent sound quality.
Another was the launch of Normandy Guitars, aluminium archtop semi-acoustics that look jaw droppingly good and play just as well. The project is the baby of Jim Normandy, who has now established an efficient and sufficient production system that he hopes can meet the sort of numbers he hopes will be wanted. Normandy is actively looking for UK and European distribution.
But product of the show has to go to Moog and its new guitar. The Moog guitar is a new take on the sustainer idea, but goes a lot further – then again, at well over $6,000 each, it would have to, wouldn’t it?
namm.org
Comments
“Fender `65 Princeton”
Posted by: Don Butler - Jun 24, 5:11pm
I'm sure that this new amp will be another crappy PCB (Printed Circuit board) piece o'****e like all the other `65 series amps Fender has put out. why not make a real "reissue" and use point to point wiring and decent components instead of a cheap, machine loaded pcb and horrible sounding Asian made caps, transformers and resistors. Come on Fender...The reason people are paying stupid money for the old ones is that they simply sound better than the rubbish they make now.