The NAMM Show 2019 – Anaheim, CA – January 24-27
By John Knowles and Jeffrey Easton
Truly one of the annual highlights for the music industry is the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Just weeks ago, the music product industry at large along with artists, media, and fans, converged on to the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County, California to set the stage for growth within the music marketplace for the year 2019. Once again Metal Exiles was there to bring our readers the exclusive scoop on all products and appearances that fans and performers of heavy music need to know. The show once again saw a record number of attendees, and a boosted presence in international brands & participants. According to the end-of-show release, “…115,301 registered industry professionals committed to serving the music community and advancing the industry forward” were in attendance. These numbers speak highly of the relevance that the music products industry still holds throughout the world. President and CEO of NAMM, Joe Lamond had this to say, “We live in accelerated times in technological developments and global business market conditions, and that can create unpredictability in any industry. However, if you take a look around The NAMM Show, one could find many reasons to feel quite comfortable about the importance of music around the world and future of the music products industry.” This is a positive sign for any global market.
Over the course of four days the NAMM Show welcomed over 2,000 exhibitors, representing 7,000 brands. It also looks like the Show coordinators took a closer look at badge allocations allowing for a truer business experience for buyers. Not only that, but the NAMM Show was proud to showcase a significant increase in international participants, which is further proof of the global impact this business has.
This year, as in years past, hard rock and heavy metal was well represented at the NAMM Show. Making appearances and performing demonstrations were current and former members of Dream Theater, Periphery, Warlock, Animals and Leaders, Slipknot, Anthrax, Nevermore, Megadeth, Angra, Alice Cooper, and System of A Down among many others. This year’s after-hours entertainment included Ultimate ‘NAMM’ Night held on Saturday, 1/26/19 at the Anaheim Hilton. This was an incredible night of performances featuring Flotsam & Jetsam, Sweet, Marco Mendoza’s El Trio, and special guests Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Greg Bissonette, Jeff Scott Soto, Dug Pinnick, Vernon Reid, and many others.
For the media attendees, the NAMM Show truly kicked off on Wednesday the 23rd, and showcased and few Show highlights.
Gibson made a HUGE presence at this year’s Show. Those concerned with the direction the company was headed, and mourning the potential loss of a true music icon, FEAR NO MORE. Gibson is back, and thanks in large part to an impressive new executive team led by new CEO James “JC” Curleigh, Gibson is on a refreshed course to be the #1 choice for guitarists and musicians across the globe.
Artist models are also part of this year’s new lineup. The Media Preview Day on Wednesday, 1/23 saw an amazing jam session between the late, great, Chuck Berry’s son and grandson as they introduced a new version of Berry’s iconic ES-350T. Those present were also treated to a brief intimate jam from newer sensation, and a new name on the Epiphone roster, Jared James Nichols. Jared is an insanely talented rock guitarist, and a great new asset to the artist lineup. His new Epiphone Ltd. Ed. “Old Glory” Les Paul-style Custom is inspired by his favorite stage guitar, and is customized to his unique specifications.
The sense of pride, ownership, and stewardship of this beloved brand was evident during JC Curleigh’s words to a hungry media crowd on Wednesday. There is no doubt the level of devotion and commitment to the Gibson brand and all stakeholders is at an all-time high, and this commitment extends to the other guitar brands under the Gibson umbrella.
On Friday, January 25th The Women’s International Music Network hosted the 2019 She Rocks Awards at the House of Blues, Anaheim. This was an incredible night celebrating women in music featuring performances by Nita Strauss, Erika Ender, Macy Gray, and Lisa Loeb with a special Hall of Fame tribute to Janis Joplin featuring Orinathi, Judith Hill, Vanessa Amorosi and Emily Armstrong. The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) launched in 2012 as a way to unite women from all facets of the music and audio industries. They provide a support network through networking and sharing to strengthen and grow careers and musical experiences for all women. For more information visit http://www.thewimn.com/
Now let’s take a closer look at the various products that really stood out to us this year.
Guitars:
As metal evolves so do the guitars. When visiting the NAMM show it is easy to get lost in the endless variety of guitars that bear a close enough resemblance as to be lost in the mix. The scene can feel a bit myopic until you run into something like Strandberg.
Played by the likes of Haken, Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry/Meshuggah, and Paul Masvidal of Cynic, Strandberg guitars offer an unparalleled feel and playability. These guitars offer many unique features including their patented EndurNeck™ profile and multi-scale neck that is longer for the heavier strings and shorter for the thinner strings. The wood choice and proprietary hardware are additional features that add to the unrivaled playability of these guitars. We spoke to Strandberg designer Pat about what’s new for Standberg guitars and why they’ve seen such a rise in popularity.
Metal Exiles: We’ve noticed a lot of the modern progressive and technical metal players gravitate towards these guitars. Why do you think that is, and what is it about these instruments that draws these players in?
Strandberg: There’s a couple of design and technical elements that we designed into the instruments. One of them is the multi-scale design. If you look at any of our guitars, and our new basses, you notice that the frets are kind of slanted and really what that represents is if you take a look at the thinnest string on our guitars, that will usually be a 25” scale and then as you progressively get to the lowest string it will fan out to a 25.5” scale. And the advantage of that is that on the higher strings the shorter scale gives you more bendability and a warmer tone, but on the lower string you’re gonna want the tightness from the longer scale. So in modern metal a lot of guys are tuning down low and they really need that extra scale length to keep the string nice and tight when they’re playin
g really aggressive music. So the multi-scale really sets us apart from the guitars with a static scale length. And the second point is gonna be our EndurNeck™ shape, which almost looks like it’s a square neck, and it has specific channels that were carved out to follow how your thumb goes up and down the neck as you’re playing. Those two things really kind of work for the modern player because you’re not finding these features on a lot of guitars that are available nowadays.
Metal Exiles: Are you guys introducing any new models for this year?
Strandberg: The main thing we are focusing on would be our new basses. We have two versions, we have the Original bass and the Prog bass. Both available in 4 or 5-string. The Original is going to have more of that Fender/single-coil type traditional sound. The Prog bass will be more of a modern, like MusicMan/Stingray with Darkglass ToneCapsule Preamp. And of course, we designed the basses with the same two elements, the multi-scale and EndurNeck™ as well. The second thing I would like to bring up is the Standard series guitars which is a lower priced version of our Original Series. The Original Series guitars would typically retail in the $2200 to $2400 price point. We made a few changes on the standards – we’re using an Asian-made pickup, we’re using a solid Basswood body instead of the Chambered body, that saves dramatically on the cost. Also veneer topwood. So you’ll be able to get that at a price of $1595. So pretty significant difference [in price] of the Original Model. You’ve still got all the same design elements that you want to have in a Standberg, but in a much more affordable price point.
http://www.strandbergguitars.com/
Jackson has been a world leader in the rock music industry, and the go-to for many iconic players. While they may not have reinvented the wheel this year, they did feature an exciting roster of new models and artist signature instruments.
For the incomparable Jeff Loomis, you can have nothing but the best. The USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly™ NXJ4899-99 in black is a stunning instrument. This guitar features a sandblasted ash top with Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts humbucker pickups and a Floyd Rose 1500 double-locking tremolo system. Add to that additional top-notch hardware and an ebony fingerboard with a cleverly marked MSRP of $6,666.66 and you’re looking at the Ferrari of metal axes.
The immortal Randy Rhoads would surely be impressed to see the latest in the X Series of Rhoads models. This year Jackson showcased the RRX24 featuring a Laurel fingerboard in red with black bevels. The red reverse sharkfin inlays look incredible, and the black hardware accents the entire instrument, creating one of the most beautiful instruments we encountered at this year’s Show. A pair of active Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups round things off to give this model a killer edge.
If you’ve been following the latest trends in metal over the past few years you have no doubt encountered the brutal assault of Periphery. Led by virtuoso guitarist Misha Mansoor, progressive metal has taken a clear leap in technicality and precision, thanks in large measure to players like Misha. Jackson has teamed up with Misha to unveil the new Pro Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut featuring a Caramelized maple fingerboard in neon orange (HT7), matte blue frost (HT6), and satin black (HT6). Designed with a body shape inspired by the Dinky, but built to Misha’s unique specifications, which include sleek scalloped horns, a 20”-radius ebony fingerboard, and incredible tone shaped by Misha’s dual direct-mount signature Bare Knuckle “Juggernaut” humbucking pickups with black covers. These are beautiful instruments built for speed, accuracy, and lush tone.
Angel Vivaldi might not be a household name, but his playing has been captivating audiences for years. Coming this March from Jackson subsidiary Charvel is the Angel Vivaldi Signature DK24-7 Nova featuring a maple fingerboard in Satin Sage green. A Dinky body and gorgeous reverse 7-string licensed Fender Stratocaster headstock make this guitar a truly unique and playable instrument. The pickups are dual Air Norton humbuckers from DiMarzio allowing for a slightly more versatile instrument than your standard metal guitar.
Caparison guitars have been a staple in the heavy metal scene for a number of years now. Used and abused by various virtuoso axe slingers in the business like Michael Romeo, Adam Dutkiewicz, Tom Englund, and Matthew Wicklund. Caparison continues to innovate and offer a wide range of guitars that tailor to the ever-evolving heavy metal scene. This year they premiered their new 7-String Orbit model (7-CZQ), developed as former Nocturnal Bloodlust guitarist Cazqui’s signature model. We spoke with media rep Christopher Siska who walked us through the specs: “This is a monster of an instrument. It’s very similar to our TAT model in terms of construction, but it’s the Orbit shape and the first time we’ve done an Orbit 7-string. [It has] Fishman Modern pickups, mirrored pickguard of course, ‘Kill Switch,’ this also has the two voicings for the passive and active, Schaller 7-String LockMeister tremolo, maple fretboard with black clock inlays, which is the second time it’s been done, Joel’s [Stroetzel] was the first one, which was last year.” Aside from the Cazqui signature we were introduced to many new color options for previous years’ models. Caparison guitars look and perform like no other. http://www.caparisonguitars.com/en/
Amps:
Blackstar has been a key player in the world of hard rock and heavy metal. Played by the likes of numerous iconic guitarists, Blackstar have also provided many amateur players the ability to capture unrivaled tone and distortion for even the most modest budget. The original HT1 and HT5 are truly without equal. The genius concept of incorporating preamp tubes into a solid-state design created never-before-heard options for a non-professional budget. This year, Blackstar has unveiled the next step in the evolution of the HT series, the HT1R-Mk II, HT5R-Mk II, and the HT20R-Mk II. These amps are not entirely different from their predecessors, but it is clear that Blackstar went to great lengths to improve every facet of the original series. Notable highlights include improved clean and overdrive voicings, power-reduction ability, and USB connectivity. http://www.blackstaramps.com/
Misha Mansoor of Periphery had another product line to showcase this year. In partnership with Peavey amplifiers, there’s a new version of the Invective on its way. The original Invective .120 head has become a truly renowned high-gain amplifier. The clean channel was designed with the pedalboardcentric player in mind, while the gain channel was based on the iconic 6505. The Invective .MH has now been introduced and is scheduled to ship this summer. At a more affordable pricepoint, players can get the tonal qualities of the .120 in a mini-head form. http://www.peavey.com/
Guitar Effects/Accessories:
This year’s show featured lots of great innovations for the guitar itself, but what about a pivotal component to the performer or recording musician…the guitar cable! Cable Wrangler is the latest in simple and easy to use cable management systems. This ingenious product prevents tangled cables, and aids in finding the exact cable you need in no time. You simply coil the cable as usual, loop a bungee ball around the coiled cable and then insert the bungee ball into one of 12 slots on the Cable Wrangler. The ergonomic handle extends over the entire product for easy balance and storage. These would work great with Christmas lights, computer cables, and power cords too. Check them out at http://www.cablewrangler.com/
If you’re a guitarist you’ve no doubt unraveled a guitar cable too quickly and heard that distinctive clash of your cable jack crashing to the floor. Jack Caps are ¼ inch instrument jack covers that provide ultimate protection when traveling or everyday use. They also protect from moisture/spills, impacts, and pressure due to storing or stacking with other items. This is a much-needed development to protect your cables. For more info visit http://www.jackcaps.com/
Around many of the effects pedal booths it was Bullet Cable we saw plugged in to many of the demo guitars. After dropping by their booth and taking home one of their original Coil Cables it was evident why. These Coil Cables are built tough, and have a unique oversized kink-free coil design. The connectors are incredibly sturdy, and they’re just an overall great cable for an affordable price. New for these guys this year is their SLUG DIY Kit with 10 feet of cable and 10 SLUG connectors…just about everything you need to connect your pedalboard in style. Check out Bullet Cable at http://www.bulletcable.com/
Traveling the dozens of guitar care booths around the convention you will find numerous care products for your guitar’s body, neck, and strings, but the Hosa booth displayed something rather unique. Hosa distributes Caig DeoxIT products which offer their own line of standard guitar care items, but where they really stand out is with their cleaners for electronic components. There’s no worse sound than a crackling volume pod, or dirty pickup selector when your plugged in and cranked up to 11! DeoxIT contact cleaners are the answer. We spoke with one of their engineers who had this to say, “Caig DeoxIT, think of that as your more internal parts so that’s gonna be any conductive metal that’s gonna corrode or oxidize over time. That’s what your gonna use to clean it up and get it working again. It’s a chemical solution so its gonna improve the conductivity. It’s not an alcohol cleaner but an actual chemical solution.” Click here for more on Caig DeoxIT.
Returning to the topic of conventional guitar care products there is no substitute for Music Nomad. Year after year these guys release new and innovative products to keep your instrument in tip top shape, and continually manage to invoke the thought that these guys have really thought of everything. Speaking with developer Gerard Serafini from Music Nomad, he had this to say about this year’s new product: “Really the new thing that we came out with for this year is our Acousti-Lok system. It’s a strap lock system for acoustic guitar. So if you have an acoustic with a Fishman, on the back with the in-pin where you plug it in you have that little thing that screws in…you put your strap on there and it turns, it moves, and it comes off. This, you screw it on, and that’s a Schaller strap-lock button. We have standard, we have metric, and we actually did one for the Taylor Expression system. The reason we did Taylor specific for it is we did research, and there was 400,000 of these guitars out since 2007 with the Expression system. We just figured there’s so many of these out there that can use a strap lock…if 5% of them want to add on, we’re OK.” Released in 2018, but new for NAMM Show is the Premium Spanner wrench with an ultra-thin design that allows you to tighten and secure various sized nuts. The slim design allows you to tighten the pods under your volume knob without having to remove the knob itself! Check out their full line of guitar care products at http://www.musicnomadcare.com/
The NAMM show never fails to deliver numerous vendors showcasing their latest take on the guitar pick. At this point it really takes something truly unique to stand out amongst the pack. T1 Picks have done just that by introducing a remarkably playable and beautifully sounding stainless steel guitar pick. Their picks are made from 304 stainless steel and combine a dual method of chemical and laser etching which allow the pick to offer a softened feel and tonal quality. Steel picks have the tendency to dominate your tone, but these picks, while being incredibly comfortable and flexible, do more to color and brighten your guitar tone than detract from it. Their picks currently come in three sizes including standard, bass, and jazz. The company did an amazing job of setting up their booth to really market this product. They had a small setup for attendees to throw on a pair of headphones, and try out their picks on a cool selection of Charvel guitars and a great DI amp set up. Definitely give these picks a try! http://www.t1picks.com/
I can’t think of another brand more synonymous with guitar picks than Dunlop, and the Tortex line has been a stand out for many years. This year, Dunlop unveiled their popular Flow shape – the companies’ 12th shape evolution – now available in Tortex. Eight unique gauges are available and offer the classic feel of Tortex in their unique Flow shape. http://www.jimdunlop.com/
Under the banner of Jim Dunlop is MXR, creator of some amazing and iconic guitar effects pedals. This year, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Green Day’s 1994 major label debut, Dookie, MXR has revealed the DD25 Dookie™ Drive. We witnessed a great demonstration by Dunlop’s Sr. Engineer Bob Cedro who walked us through all the specs. This pedal really does a great job of capturing Billie Joe Armstrong’s tone on that record. Dunlop has combined the sounds from two modded amplifiers into this overdrive to best replicate the signature sound Armstrong got by combining his signal through one amplifier with a heavy and scooped tone, with that of an amplifier with a better pronounced midrange. Through the Blend knob on this pedal the user can determine what ratio of each amp circuit they are looking for with the added bonus of a Scoop button to provide some extra midrange scoop in the overall output. Bob shared that the Dookie™ Drive is planned to hit retailers in the Spring.
We’ve been a big fan of the G7th Capo Company for their outstanding quality and product variety, as well as their humanitarian efforts to end world-wide human trafficking. These guys continue to innovate with each product release. So, what’s left to innovate with guitar capos? Well, G7th has found one answer. Introducing the Performance 3 Capo. Guitar players who use a capo are no stranger to the fact that consistent issues include intonation, sharp notes, and overall fit. The Performance 3 capo builds on G7th’s already genius Unique Tension Control system by adding their new Adaptive Radius Technology (ART). Capo tension is a big contributor with regard to intonation issues, but equally problematic is the string pad, which traditionally applies equal force to all the strings. The ART system, housed within the top bar under the string pad, actually adapts to the true curvature of your strings and fretboard – exerting not just even pressure, but the right pressure for the right string. This amazing technology will provide players with the most in-tune experience, free of buzzing, and other hassles. Tuning stability was not previously a strong point with capos, but with the Performance 3, G7th has got you covered. Visit G7th’s website for more on this product and the rest of their amazing product line. http://www.g7th.com/
Metal Exiles’ Best-In-Show 2019:
Hands down our favorite product showcase this year was the Soundbrenner Core. Hailed by MusicRadar as “…the ultimate watch for musicians” the Soundbrenner Core is so much more than just a watch. Even at its basic level this device is a 4-in-1 musical multi-tool equipped with a vibrating metronome, magnetic twist tuner, decibel meter, and watch. The metronome produces vibrating pulses that are 7X stronger than the average smartwatch – a must when the band is cranked up to 11. Metronome rhythm settings are customizable and include tempo, time signature, subdivisions, and accents. As an added bonus, the Soundbrenner Core also features a Multi-Player Metronome sync via Bluetooth, which allows multiple players to feel the same metronome settings at the same time.
The chromatic tuner function is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The Core is held to a base plate by a series of magnets. With a simple counter-clockwise twist and a pull, the Core can be removed and attached to your instruments tuning pegs via the magnetic port. From there, the Core will sense your instrument’s micro-vibrations to determine the note.
Similar to other smartwatches, the Core can be connected to the user’s smartwatch to receive push notifications from texts or phone calls, alarms, and reminders. When the user turns their wrist to look at the Core, a built-in accelerometer will bring out the display from stand-by mode to reveal the date and time.
With the built-in mic the Core may reveal the decibel level of surrounding volume levels in real-time. Even in stand-by mode the Core will monitor volume levels and alert the user when levels reach the decibel threshold for our ears.
Additional features include DAW connectivity and additional metronome customization via the Metronome by Soundbrenner app.
This is hands down the ideal smartwatch for any serious musician, and a truly fantastic and groundbreaking innovation. Look for the Soundbrenner Core to start shipping in the Spring. Visit their website at: http://www.soundbrenner.com/
Drums:
The D’Addario Co. showcased some really innovative products this year for drummers. The first to catch our attention is the all new Dixson Bass Drum Life from Evans. Invented by Arti Dixson, this product now has the Evans brand behind it and will be available to a world-wide audience. This product is a simple yet effective tool that improves tone and resonance by slightly lifting the bass drum off the floor. At just $80.00 MSRP, it is good for any setup and an easy and affordable way to take your tone to a new level.
One of the more frustrating things for drummers, and those within earshot, is the inevitability of intense and pounding volume. For the average drummer, an empty garage, rehearsal space, or sound-proofed studio is just simply not a regular luxury. Evans has got you covered here. The company has introduced SoundOff Drumheads, available for tom, snare, and bass drums in sizes 8-24”. These drumheads feature a single-ply black mesh material, which dramatically reduces the volume of everyday playing. MSRP ranges from about $28-$81, which is a great option for drummers who need the practice setup without having to purchase an electronic kit or similar non-acoustic setup. These drumheads seem ideal for apartment residents and even players looking for a silent drumhead for an electronic setup.
Visit http://www.evansdrumheads.com/ to learn more.
Hardware/Software:
For keyboardists and synth-heads the true standout we experienced was Camelot Pro. Camelot is a 64bit multi-platform application that runs on Mac and Windows operating systems as well as iOS. This brilliant software allows you to leverage all the instruments from your keyboard as well as various synth plug-ins you are already using. Keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess was present to offer a demonstration of this software’s amazing capabilities. “It will make you really want to use all your instruments” he shared. Rudess went on to say, “it works across the board, you can use hardware instruments, you can use your iOS instruments, you can kind of combine everything which is really, really cool.” Rudess then broke down the software step-by-step. “So when you’re playing a gig, like if I’m playing a gig with Dream Theater, I’m going to have a ‘Setlist.’ And that is going to show me all the songs in a night’s performance. So kind of a master file where you list all the songs that are going to happen.” From there he went on to demonstrate that the user may click on the title of one of those songs within the “Setlist” to begin to design and organize “Scenes.” “Scenes” allow the user to organize hardware instrument presets, software instruments plugin sounds, music score attachments, etc. With two MIDI footswitches the user may then toggle sequentially, forwards and/or backwards, through each “Scene” as the song moves along. Dream Theater listeners will be familiar with how Rudess will scroll through various patches after only a few measures and further program the 88 keys to perform different patches throughout the octaves. With Camelot all of these patches can be fine-tuned, combined from hardware and software sounds, and be mapped out to allow the user to freely play in a live setting and scroll through the various “Scenes” as the song progresses. With an incredibly simple and user-friendly interface, and a reasonable price point of $99, you really can’t go wrong with this technology. Camelot will continue to finesse this software through user feedback, so you also have the promise of strict dedication from the Camelot team. Visit http://www.camelotpro.com/ for more information.
Pitch-correction software, for better or worse, has become an industry standard. Antares continue to set the bar in pitch correction software and have just unleashed a stripped-down version of their classic Auto-Tune Pro in the form of Auto-Tune Access. Priced at just $99 Antares has truly delivered on a product that can meet the needs of every recording musician. Designer Henrik Bridger had this to say: “[Access] reduces [Pro] down to just two controls, Retune Speed and Humanize, and a one octave keyboard. We’ve eliminated vibrato, and the much larger keyboard. Otherwise it has all the stuff Auto-Tune [Pro] has. You’ve got three positions for speed: Fast for hip-hop stuff, slow for more jazzy, smooth styles where you want to slide on in to the notes, some Humanize: Max, mid, off. You can change the keyboard by selecting the key and scale.” This is a great affordable product that will help you deliver real results in the studio.
Lifestyle Items:
Venturing out of the traditional floor spaces filled with guitars, drums, keyboards, etc., one will find various lifestyle items to support their needs outside of the studio or stage.
Killer-Q offers a full range of customizable products for your band’s merch table at an affordable rate. Products include guitar straps, coasters, keychains, and a whole host of other design-ready products. Great for advertising and promoting anything and everything. Check out their full range of products and templates at http://www.killer-q.com/
Aches and pains are a stark reality for many musicians, regardless of age. True Stim: Better than Tens, is a state-of-the-art, hands-free electronic muscle stimulator device that incorporates electro-therapy technology to stimulate your muscles with soothing tapping, kneading, and grabbing sensations. Great for sore muscles, neck and back pain, improved circulation, stress relief and passive exercise, this little machine can do it all and save you thousands on Chiropractors or massage therapists in the process.
The true power of True Stim comes from TENS and EMS technology. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are units that intercept pain signals from reaching the brain via comforting, non-painful impulses through the skin. TENS therapy is the perfect solution to relieve muscles and reduce pain. Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are units designed to contract and treat the muscles themselves from swelling or inflammation, stimulating blood-circulation, and overall strengthening. Both therapies are entirely safe with no side effects. True Stim offers a wide variety of accessories to deliver the TENS and EMS therapy. Accessories include wrist wraps, elbow wraps, neck and back pads, knee sleeves, socks and slippers. For whatever ails you, there is a True Stim product to offer relief. This was the first year we noticed a product of this type, and it was great to see NAMM feature a vendor to meet this need. Learn more by visiting http://www.truestim.com/ .
On the main floor of the Show we encountered Strüng – The Guitar String Jewelry Company. Strüng features a unique line of necklaces and bracelets inspired by different hard rock/heavy metal tunes. The company offers great designs for both men and women. Their beaded bracelet line includes styles such as “The Anthem” inspired by Green Day’s “21 Guns,” and “The Immortal” inspired by Metallica’s “Fade to Black.” These bracelets are made with authentic guitar string ball ends, a unique skull centerpiece, and Preciosa beads. Orders also come with a faux leather pouch and applicable song card. Celebrate your love for music in style and visit http://www.getstrung.com/
It was interesting to see Ebay present this year, but for good reason. Ebay has been a mainstay in used musical gear sales for years now. With a modest presentation but highly trafficked location Ebay was there to remind everyone that listings of guitars, pedals, amps and more get a sweet deal of a 3.5% charge for final value fees. If you’ve got gear to sell, look no further than Ebay. To learn more visit http://www.ebay.com/rpp/sell-guitars
Collaboration Spaces:
On today’s social-media platforms staying connected has never been more convenient or easy-to-do. As musicians, staying in touch with bandmates across state lines or national borders is no problem. But what about staying connected musically, and navigating the task of collaboration? Sessionwire is the answer. Imagine being in the studio with your band mates. Your drummer is in the recoding room ready to record. Your guitarist is off in another room laying down guitar tracks. Your singer, is in another studio all together because of other commitments. Now imagine there’s a way to simulate a platform where you all can be together in the same mixing room piecing this all together, and conversing about the arrangement and production. Sessionwire makes this and many other scenarios possible by creating an interface where multiple DAWs can work together from the same screen and through live chat and studio talkback functions users can communicate in real time and share files. So even if you are a drummer laying down tracks in NYC on ProTools, you can connect with your guitarist recording in a bedroom in Boise on a Sonar DAW and it will feel like they are in the adjacent room of a full-fledged studio. Nearly everything you can do in a studio you can do with Sessionwire and you save the cost of travel. This is also a great option for featuring guest musicians. Monthly subscriptions start at just $15/month. http://www.sessionwire.com/
Now, it’s great to work with Sessionwire in real-time when you have the ability to work side-by-side with your collaborators or producer, but what about an innovative way to share notes and feedback during the writing process of creating music? Soundmarker is the answer to that. This free online tool allows users to share audio, and stream & communicate during the creative process. Users and their recipients can stream shared tracks on any device. There’s a comment function that works similar to the SoundCloud platform. By setting markers over starting points or entire regions users can give extensive feedback about particular portions of a track privately between the sender and recipient. Those comments can then be reviewed through a targeted search function to keep track of all comments. This product in tandem with Sessionwire would be the perfect way to write and record an album from anywhere each musician is able to work. Visit http://www.soundmarker.com
Music for the Younger Generation:
Each year we pay a bit of attention to products targeted towards helping children learn to play and write music. Music is such a powerful force in a young person’s life, and we found a couple products that will engage and develop young musicians. The Rock and Roll It! collection from Mukikim is the perfect introductory instrument for any kid. These items include a variety of keyboards and percussion instruments to facilitate learning and offer the added convenience of portability. The Rainbow line features a unique color pattern to help kids learn the various notes on a piano or xylophone, and the roll-up design is perfect for taking anywhere. Standard black & white roll-up pianos are available as well. The flexible roll-up drum kits are also designed to help kids learn the various parts of the instrument. Each product also comes with a lesson book to help kids play their first song in no time. http://www.mukikim.com/
We’ve already discussed collaborative workspaces for adult musicians, but Music.iLuv has introduced an app that allows children to create practice and play music in a collaborative augmented-reality environment.
Music.iLuv is the brainchild of female entrepreneurs, Melody Khair and Moji Ghodousi. They announced the launch of their new mobile augmented-reality (AR) social musical application that enhances kids’ learning, creativity, problem-solving skills, musicality, and real-life interactions. This app is usable on an iPad and iPhone. Commenting on the inspiration for this app Melody Khair had this to say, “While 64% of kids in the U.S. do get some form of music education, there is a staggering 50% chance that they will drop out after only one to two years. Moji and I are driven to change that trend with Music.iLuv. Our goal is to foster a love for learning and appreciating music in young people everywhere that incorporates creativity and newer methodology for learning and remaining engaged.”
With this app kids can choose a song from Music.iLuv’s song library, add their own song and music sheet with its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, or even create their own song using the app. Then, they can practice the song in a fun and engaging environment, where they get live and immediate feedback on note and timing mistakes from the app. Visual aids are also available to help beginning players. They can record their audio files and later on sync it with their friends recording too. As kids use the app, they get rewarded for their song’s or practice sessions in the form of virtual coins which may be redeemed for additional app functions. Kids can also create a music video or album of their own music, where they also get to enjoy learning how to record, produce, and do sound mixing. Additionally, the video can be shared with family and friends on either the app’s built-in safe social media, or on any external social media platform – giving parent’s the peace of mind over privacy options. Khair also added, “This approach to learning how to play an instrument is groundbreaking, and will engage and enhance the experience for the next generation of musical talent.” Visit http://www.musiciluv.com/ to learn more.
With so many great product innovations it is almost a shame the Show only lasts but 4 days a year. The music products industry is alive and well and will continue to thrive provided designers and developers continue to push the envelope and fold in the latest in technological and musical trends. The NAMM Show is the only place to see all of these great products in one place, and with an endless variety of demos, artist appearances, and unmatched atmosphere there is nothing like this Show.
NAMM will return to Southern California in 2020 on January 16-19.
By John Knowles and Jeffrey Easton
Truly one of the annual highlights for the music industry is the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Just weeks ago, the music product industry at large along with artists, media, and fans, converged on to the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County, California to set the stage for growth within the music marketplace for the year 2019. Once again Metal Exiles was there to bring our readers the exclusive scoop on all products and appearances that fans and performers of heavy music need to know. The show once again saw a record number of attendees, and a boosted presence in international brands & participants. According to the end-of-show release, “…115,301 registered industry professionals committed to serving the music community and advancing the industry forward” were in attendance. These numbers speak highly of the relevance that the music products industry still holds throughout the world. President and CEO of NAMM, Joe Lamond had this to say, “We live in accelerated times in technological developments and global business market conditions, and that can create unpredictability in any industry. However, if you take a look around The NAMM Show, one could find many reasons to feel quite comfortable about the importance of music around the world and future of the music products industry.” This is a positive sign for any global market.
Over the course of four days the NAMM Show welcomed over 2,000 exhibitors, representing 7,000 brands. It also looks like the Show coordinators took a closer look at badge allocations allowing for a truer business experience for buyers. Not only that, but the NAMM Show was proud to showcase a significant increase in international participants, which is further proof of the global impact this business has.
This year, as in years past, hard rock and heavy metal was well represented at the NAMM Show. Making appearances and performing demonstrations were current and former members of Dream Theater, Periphery, Warlock, Animals and Leaders, Slipknot, Anthrax, Nevermore, Megadeth, Angra, Alice Cooper, and System of A Down among many others. This year’s after-hours entertainment included Ultimate ‘NAMM’ Night held on Saturday, 1/26/19 at the Anaheim Hilton. This was an incredible night of performances featuring Flotsam & Jetsam, Sweet, Marco Mendoza’s El Trio, and special guests Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Greg Bissonette, Jeff Scott Soto, Dug Pinnick, Vernon Reid, and many others.
For the media attendees, the NAMM Show truly kicked off on Wednesday the 23rd, and showcased and few Show highlights.
Gibson made a HUGE presence at this year’s Show. Those concerned with the direction the company was headed, and mourning the potential loss of a true music icon, FEAR NO MORE. Gibson is back, and thanks in large part to an impressive new executive team led by new CEO James “JC” Curleigh, Gibson is on a refreshed course to be the #1 choice for guitarists and musicians across the globe.
Artist models are also part of this year’s new lineup. The Media Preview Day on Wednesday, 1/23 saw an amazing jam session between the late, great, Chuck Berry’s son and grandson as they introduced a new version of Berry’s iconic ES-350T. Those present were also treated to a brief intimate jam from newer sensation, and a new name on the Epiphone roster, Jared James Nichols. Jared is an insanely talented rock guitarist, and a great new asset to the artist lineup. His new Epiphone Ltd. Ed. “Old Glory” Les Paul-style Custom is inspired by his favorite stage guitar, and is customized to his unique specifications.
The sense of pride, ownership, and stewardship of this beloved brand was evident during JC Curleigh’s words to a hungry media crowd on Wednesday. There is no doubt the level of devotion and commitment to the Gibson brand and all stakeholders is at an all-time high, and this commitment extends to the other guitar brands under the Gibson umbrella.
On Friday, January 25th The Women’s International Music Network hosted the 2019 She Rocks Awards at the House of Blues, Anaheim. This was an incredible night celebrating women in music featuring performances by Nita Strauss, Erika Ender, Macy Gray, and Lisa Loeb with a special Hall of Fame tribute to Janis Joplin featuring Orinathi, Judith Hill, Vanessa Amorosi and Emily Armstrong. The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) launched in 2012 as a way to unite women from all facets of the music and audio industries. They provide a support network through networking and sharing to strengthen and grow careers and musical experiences for all women. For more information visit http://www.thewimn.com/
Now let’s take a closer look at the various products that really stood out to us this year.
Guitars:
As metal evolves so do the guitars. When visiting the NAMM show it is easy to get lost in the endless variety of guitars that bear a close enough resemblance as to be lost in the mix. The scene can feel a bit myopic until you run into something like Strandberg.
Played by the likes of Haken, Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry/Meshuggah, and Paul Masvidal of Cynic, Strandberg guitars offer an unparalleled feel and playability. These guitars offer many unique features including their patented EndurNeck™ profile and multi-scale neck that is longer for the heavier strings and shorter for the thinner strings. The wood choice and proprietary hardware are additional features that add to the unrivaled playability of these guitars. We spoke to Strandberg designer Pat about what’s new for Standberg guitars and why they’ve seen such a rise in popularity.
Metal Exiles: We’ve noticed a lot of the modern progressive and technical metal players gravitate towards these guitars. Why do you think that is, and what is it about these instruments that draws these players in?
Strandberg: There’s a couple of design and technical elements that we designed into the instruments. One of them is the multi-scale design. If you look at any of our guitars, and our new basses, you notice that the frets are kind of slanted and really what that represents is if you take a look at the thinnest string on our guitars, that will usually be a 25” scale and then as you progressively get to the lowest string it will fan out to a 25.5” scale. And the advantage of that is that on the higher strings the shorter scale gives you more bendability and a warmer tone, but on the lower string you’re gonna want the tightness from the longer scale. So in modern metal a lot of guys are tuning down low and they really need that extra scale length to keep the string nice and tight when they’re playin
g really aggressive music. So the multi-scale really sets us apart from the guitars with a static scale length. And the second point is gonna be our EndurNeck™ shape, which almost looks like it’s a square neck, and it has specific channels that were carved out to follow how your thumb goes up and down the neck as you’re playing. Those two things really kind of work for the modern player because you’re not finding these features on a lot of guitars that are available nowadays.
Metal Exiles: Are you guys introducing any new models for this year?
Strandberg: The main thing we are focusing on would be our new basses. We have two versions, we have the Original bass and the Prog bass. Both available in 4 or 5-string. The Original is going to have more of that Fender/single-coil type traditional sound. The Prog bass will be more of a modern, like MusicMan/Stingray with Darkglass ToneCapsule Preamp. And of course, we designed the basses with the same two elements, the multi-scale and EndurNeck™ as well. The second thing I would like to bring up is the Standard series guitars which is a lower priced version of our Original Series. The Original Series guitars would typically retail in the $2200 to $2400 price point. We made a few changes on the standards – we’re using an Asian-made pickup, we’re using a solid Basswood body instead of the Chambered body, that saves dramatically on the cost. Also veneer topwood. So you’ll be able to get that at a price of $1595. So pretty significant difference [in price] of the Original Model. You’ve still got all the same design elements that you want to have in a Standberg, but in a much more affordable price point.
http://www.strandbergguitars.com/
Jackson has been a world leader in the rock music industry, and the go-to for many iconic players. While they may not have reinvented the wheel this year, they did feature an exciting roster of new models and artist signature instruments.
For the incomparable Jeff Loomis, you can have nothing but the best. The USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly™ NXJ4899-99 in black is a stunning instrument. This guitar features a sandblasted ash top with Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts humbucker pickups and a Floyd Rose 1500 double-locking tremolo system. Add to that additional top-notch hardware and an ebony fingerboard with a cleverly marked MSRP of $6,666.66 and you’re looking at the Ferrari of metal axes.
The immortal Randy Rhoads would surely be impressed to see the latest in the X Series of Rhoads models. This year Jackson showcased the RRX24 featuring a Laurel fingerboard in red with black bevels. The red reverse sharkfin inlays look incredible, and the black hardware accents the entire instrument, creating one of the most beautiful instruments we encountered at this year’s Show. A pair of active Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups round things off to give this model a killer edge.
If you’ve been following the latest trends in metal over the past few years you have no doubt encountered the brutal assault of Periphery. Led by virtuoso guitarist Misha Mansoor, progressive metal has taken a clear leap in technicality and precision, thanks in large measure to players like Misha. Jackson has teamed up with Misha to unveil the new Pro Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut featuring a Caramelized maple fingerboard in neon orange (HT7), matte blue frost (HT6), and satin black (HT6). Designed with a body shape inspired by the Dinky, but built to Misha’s unique specifications, which include sleek scalloped horns, a 20”-radius ebony fingerboard, and incredible tone shaped by Misha’s dual direct-mount signature Bare Knuckle “Juggernaut” humbucking pickups with black covers. These are beautiful instruments built for speed, accuracy, and lush tone.
Angel Vivaldi might not be a household name, but his playing has been captivating audiences for years. Coming this March from Jackson subsidiary Charvel is the Angel Vivaldi Signature DK24-7 Nova featuring a maple fingerboard in Satin Sage green. A Dinky body and gorgeous reverse 7-string licensed Fender Stratocaster headstock make this guitar a truly unique and playable instrument. The pickups are dual Air Norton humbuckers from DiMarzio allowing for a slightly more versatile instrument than your standard metal guitar.
Caparison guitars have been a staple in the heavy metal scene for a number of years now. Used and abused by various virtuoso axe slingers in the business like Michael Romeo, Adam Dutkiewicz, Tom Englund, and Matthew Wicklund. Caparison continues to innovate and offer a wide range of guitars that tailor to the ever-evolving heavy metal scene. This year they premiered their new 7-String Orbit model (7-CZQ), developed as former Nocturnal Bloodlust guitarist Cazqui’s signature model. We spoke with media rep Christopher Siska who walked us through the specs: “This is a monster of an instrument. It’s very similar to our TAT model in terms of construction, but it’s the Orbit shape and the first time we’ve done an Orbit 7-string. [It has] Fishman Modern pickups, mirrored pickguard of course, ‘Kill Switch,’ this also has the two voicings for the passive and active, Schaller 7-String LockMeister tremolo, maple fretboard with black clock inlays, which is the second time it’s been done, Joel’s [Stroetzel] was the first one, which was last year.” Aside from the Cazqui signature we were introduced to many new color options for previous years’ models. Caparison guitars look and perform like no other. http://www.caparisonguitars.com/en/
Amps:
Blackstar has been a key player in the world of hard rock and heavy metal. Played by the likes of numerous iconic guitarists, Blackstar have also provided many amateur players the ability to capture unrivaled tone and distortion for even the most modest budget. The original HT1 and HT5 are truly without equal. The genius concept of incorporating preamp tubes into a solid-state design created never-before-heard options for a non-professional budget. This year, Blackstar has unveiled the next step in the evolution of the HT series, the HT1R-Mk II, HT5R-Mk II, and the HT20R-Mk II. These amps are not entirely different from their predecessors, but it is clear that Blackstar went to great lengths to improve every facet of the original series. Notable highlights include improved clean and overdrive voicings, power-reduction ability, and USB connectivity. http://www.blackstaramps.com/
Misha Mansoor of Periphery had another product line to showcase this year. In partnership with Peavey amplifiers, there’s a new version of the Invective on its way. The original Invective .120 head has become a truly renowned high-gain amplifier. The clean channel was designed with the pedalboardcentric player in mind, while the gain channel was based on the iconic 6505. The Invective .MH has now been introduced and is scheduled to ship this summer. At a more affordable pricepoint, players can get the tonal qualities of the .120 in a mini-head form. http://www.peavey.com/
Guitar Effects/Accessories:
This year’s show featured lots of great innovations for the guitar itself, but what about a pivotal component to the performer or recording musician…the guitar cable! Cable Wrangler is the latest in simple and easy to use cable management systems. This ingenious product prevents tangled cables, and aids in finding the exact cable you need in no time. You simply coil the cable as usual, loop a bungee ball around the coiled cable and then insert the bungee ball into one of 12 slots on the Cable Wrangler. The ergonomic handle extends over the entire product for easy balance and storage. These would work great with Christmas lights, computer cables, and power cords too. Check them out at http://www.cablewrangler.com/
If you’re a guitarist you’ve no doubt unraveled a guitar cable too quickly and heard that distinctive clash of your cable jack crashing to the floor. Jack Caps are ¼ inch instrument jack covers that provide ultimate protection when traveling or everyday use. They also protect from moisture/spills, impacts, and pressure due to storing or stacking with other items. This is a much-needed development to protect your cables. For more info visit http://www.jackcaps.com/
Around many of the effects pedal booths it was Bullet Cable we saw plugged in to many of the demo guitars. After dropping by their booth and taking home one of their original Coil Cables it was evident why. These Coil Cables are built tough, and have a unique oversized kink-free coil design. The connectors are incredibly sturdy, and they’re just an overall great cable for an affordable price. New for these guys this year is their SLUG DIY Kit with 10 feet of cable and 10 SLUG connectors…just about everything you need to connect your pedalboard in style. Check out Bullet Cable at http://www.bulletcable.com/
Traveling the dozens of guitar care booths around the convention you will find numerous care products for your guitar’s body, neck, and strings, but the Hosa booth displayed something rather unique. Hosa distributes Caig DeoxIT products which offer their own line of standard guitar care items, but where they really stand out is with their cleaners for electronic components. There’s no worse sound than a crackling volume pod, or dirty pickup selector when your plugged in and cranked up to 11! DeoxIT contact cleaners are the answer. We spoke with one of their engineers who had this to say, “Caig DeoxIT, think of that as your more internal parts so that’s gonna be any conductive metal that’s gonna corrode or oxidize over time. That’s what your gonna use to clean it up and get it working again. It’s a chemical solution so its gonna improve the conductivity. It’s not an alcohol cleaner but an actual chemical solution.” Click here for more on Caig DeoxIT.
Returning to the topic of conventional guitar care products there is no substitute for Music Nomad. Year after year these guys release new and innovative products to keep your instrument in tip top shape, and continually manage to invoke the thought that these guys have really thought of everything. Speaking with developer Gerard Serafini from Music Nomad, he had this to say about this year’s new product: “Really the new thing that we came out with for this year is our Acousti-Lok system. It’s a strap lock system for acoustic guitar. So if you have an acoustic with a Fishman, on the back with the in-pin where you plug it in you have that little thing that screws in…you put your strap on there and it turns, it moves, and it comes off. This, you screw it on, and that’s a Schaller strap-lock button. We have standard, we have metric, and we actually did one for the Taylor Expression system. The reason we did Taylor specific for it is we did research, and there was 400,000 of these guitars out since 2007 with the Expression system. We just figured there’s so many of these out there that can use a strap lock…if 5% of them want to add on, we’re OK.” Released in 2018, but new for NAMM Show is the Premium Spanner wrench with an ultra-thin design that allows you to tighten and secure various sized nuts. The slim design allows you to tighten the pods under your volume knob without having to remove the knob itself! Check out their full line of guitar care products at http://www.musicnomadcare.com/
The NAMM show never fails to deliver numerous vendors showcasing their latest take on the guitar pick. At this point it really takes something truly unique to stand out amongst the pack. T1 Picks have done just that by introducing a remarkably playable and beautifully sounding stainless steel guitar pick. Their picks are made from 304 stainless steel and combine a dual method of chemical and laser etching which allow the pick to offer a softened feel and tonal quality. Steel picks have the tendency to dominate your tone, but these picks, while being incredibly comfortable and flexible, do more to color and brighten your guitar tone than detract from it. Their picks currently come in three sizes including standard, bass, and jazz. The company did an amazing job of setting up their booth to really market this product. They had a small setup for attendees to throw on a pair of headphones, and try out their picks on a cool selection of Charvel guitars and a great DI amp set up. Definitely give these picks a try! http://www.t1picks.com/
I can’t think of another brand more synonymous with guitar picks than Dunlop, and the Tortex line has been a stand out for many years. This year, Dunlop unveiled their popular Flow shape – the companies’ 12th shape evolution – now available in Tortex. Eight unique gauges are available and offer the classic feel of Tortex in their unique Flow shape. http://www.jimdunlop.com/
Under the banner of Jim Dunlop is MXR, creator of some amazing and iconic guitar effects pedals. This year, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Green Day’s 1994 major label debut, Dookie, MXR has revealed the DD25 Dookie™ Drive. We witnessed a great demonstration by Dunlop’s Sr. Engineer Bob Cedro who walked us through all the specs. This pedal really does a great job of capturing Billie Joe Armstrong’s tone on that record. Dunlop has combined the sounds from two modded amplifiers into this overdrive to best replicate the signature sound Armstrong got by combining his signal through one amplifier with a heavy and scooped tone, with that of an amplifier with a better pronounced midrange. Through the Blend knob on this pedal the user can determine what ratio of each amp circuit they are looking for with the added bonus of a Scoop button to provide some extra midrange scoop in the overall output. Bob shared that the Dookie™ Drive is planned to hit retailers in the Spring.
We’ve been a big fan of the G7th Capo Company for their outstanding quality and product variety, as well as their humanitarian efforts to end world-wide human trafficking. These guys continue to innovate with each product release. So, what’s left to innovate with guitar capos? Well, G7th has found one answer. Introducing the Performance 3 Capo. Guitar players who use a capo are no stranger to the fact that consistent issues include intonation, sharp notes, and overall fit. The Performance 3 capo builds on G7th’s already genius Unique Tension Control system by adding their new Adaptive Radius Technology (ART). Capo tension is a big contributor with regard to intonation issues, but equally problematic is the string pad, which traditionally applies equal force to all the strings. The ART system, housed within the top bar under the string pad, actually adapts to the true curvature of your strings and fretboard – exerting not just even pressure, but the right pressure for the right string. This amazing technology will provide players with the most in-tune experience, free of buzzing, and other hassles. Tuning stability was not previously a strong point with capos, but with the Performance 3, G7th has got you covered. Visit G7th’s website for more on this product and the rest of their amazing product line. http://www.g7th.com/
Metal Exiles’ Best-In-Show 2019:
Hands down our favorite product showcase this year was the Soundbrenner Core. Hailed by MusicRadar as “…the ultimate watch for musicians” the Soundbrenner Core is so much more than just a watch. Even at its basic level this device is a 4-in-1 musical multi-tool equipped with a vibrating metronome, magnetic twist tuner, decibel meter, and watch. The metronome produces vibrating pulses that are 7X stronger than the average smartwatch – a must when the band is cranked up to 11. Metronome rhythm settings are customizable and include tempo, time signature, subdivisions, and accents. As an added bonus, the Soundbrenner Core also features a Multi-Player Metronome sync via Bluetooth, which allows multiple players to feel the same metronome settings at the same time.
The chromatic tuner function is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The Core is held to a base plate by a series of magnets. With a simple counter-clockwise twist and a pull, the Core can be removed and attached to your instruments tuning pegs via the magnetic port. From there, the Core will sense your instrument’s micro-vibrations to determine the note.
Similar to other smartwatches, the Core can be connected to the user’s smartwatch to receive push notifications from texts or phone calls, alarms, and reminders. When the user turns their wrist to look at the Core, a built-in accelerometer will bring out the display from stand-by mode to reveal the date and time.
With the built-in mic the Core may reveal the decibel level of surrounding volume levels in real-time. Even in stand-by mode the Core will monitor volume levels and alert the user when levels reach the decibel threshold for our ears.
Additional features include DAW connectivity and additional metronome customization via the Metronome by Soundbrenner app.
This is hands down the ideal smartwatch for any serious musician, and a truly fantastic and groundbreaking innovation. Look for the Soundbrenner Core to start shipping in the Spring. Visit their website at: http://www.soundbrenner.com/
Drums:
The D’Addario Co. showcased some really innovative products this year for drummers. The first to catch our attention is the all new Dixson Bass Drum Life from Evans. Invented by Arti Dixson, this product now has the Evans brand behind it and will be available to a world-wide audience. This product is a simple yet effective tool that improves tone and resonance by slightly lifting the bass drum off the floor. At just $80.00 MSRP, it is good for any setup and an easy and affordable way to take your tone to a new level.
One of the more frustrating things for drummers, and those within earshot, is the inevitability of intense and pounding volume. For the average drummer, an empty garage, rehearsal space, or sound-proofed studio is just simply not a regular luxury. Evans has got you covered here. The company has introduced SoundOff Drumheads, available for tom, snare, and bass drums in sizes 8-24”. These drumheads feature a single-ply black mesh material, which dramatically reduces the volume of everyday playing. MSRP ranges from about $28-$81, which is a great option for drummers who need the practice setup without having to purchase an electronic kit or similar non-acoustic setup. These drumheads seem ideal for apartment residents and even players looking for a silent drumhead for an electronic setup.
Visit http://www.evansdrumheads.com/ to learn more.
Hardware/Software:
For keyboardists and synth-heads the true standout we experienced was Camelot Pro. Camelot is a 64bit multi-platform application that runs on Mac and Windows operating systems as well as iOS. This brilliant software allows you to leverage all the instruments from your keyboard as well as various synth plug-ins you are already using. Keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess was present to offer a demonstration of this software’s amazing capabilities. “It will make you really want to use all your instruments” he shared. Rudess went on to say, “it works across the board, you can use hardware instruments, you can use your iOS instruments, you can kind of combine everything which is really, really cool.” Rudess then broke down the software step-by-step. “So when you’re playing a gig, like if I’m playing a gig with Dream Theater, I’m going to have a ‘Setlist.’ And that is going to show me all the songs in a night’s performance. So kind of a master file where you list all the songs that are going to happen.” From there he went on to demonstrate that the user may click on the title of one of those songs within the “Setlist” to begin to design and organize “Scenes.” “Scenes” allow the user to organize hardware instrument presets, software instruments plugin sounds, music score attachments, etc. With two MIDI footswitches the user may then toggle sequentially, forwards and/or backwards, through each “Scene” as the song moves along. Dream Theater listeners will be familiar with how Rudess will scroll through various patches after only a few measures and further program the 88 keys to perform different patches throughout the octaves. With Camelot all of these patches can be fine-tuned, combined from hardware and software sounds, and be mapped out to allow the user to freely play in a live setting and scroll through the various “Scenes” as the song progresses. With an incredibly simple and user-friendly interface, and a reasonable price point of $99, you really can’t go wrong with this technology. Camelot will continue to finesse this software through user feedback, so you also have the promise of strict dedication from the Camelot team. Visit http://www.camelotpro.com/ for more information.
Pitch-correction software, for better or worse, has become an industry standard. Antares continue to set the bar in pitch correction software and have just unleashed a stripped-down version of their classic Auto-Tune Pro in the form of Auto-Tune Access. Priced at just $99 Antares has truly delivered on a product that can meet the needs of every recording musician. Designer Henrik Bridger had this to say: “[Access] reduces [Pro] down to just two controls, Retune Speed and Humanize, and a one octave keyboard. We’ve eliminated vibrato, and the much larger keyboard. Otherwise it has all the stuff Auto-Tune [Pro] has. You’ve got three positions for speed: Fast for hip-hop stuff, slow for more jazzy, smooth styles where you want to slide on in to the notes, some Humanize: Max, mid, off. You can change the keyboard by selecting the key and scale.” This is a great affordable product that will help you deliver real results in the studio.
Lifestyle Items:
Venturing out of the traditional floor spaces filled with guitars, drums, keyboards, etc., one will find various lifestyle items to support their needs outside of the studio or stage.
Killer-Q offers a full range of customizable products for your band’s merch table at an affordable rate. Products include guitar straps, coasters, keychains, and a whole host of other design-ready products. Great for advertising and promoting anything and everything. Check out their full range of products and templates at http://www.killer-q.com/
Aches and pains are a stark reality for many musicians, regardless of age. True Stim: Better than Tens, is a state-of-the-art, hands-free electronic muscle stimulator device that incorporates electro-therapy technology to stimulate your muscles with soothing tapping, kneading, and grabbing sensations. Great for sore muscles, neck and back pain, improved circulation, stress relief and passive exercise, this little machine can do it all and save you thousands on Chiropractors or massage therapists in the process.
The true power of True Stim comes from TENS and EMS technology. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are units that intercept pain signals from reaching the brain via comforting, non-painful impulses through the skin. TENS therapy is the perfect solution to relieve muscles and reduce pain. Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are units designed to contract and treat the muscles themselves from swelling or inflammation, stimulating blood-circulation, and overall strengthening. Both therapies are entirely safe with no side effects. True Stim offers a wide variety of accessories to deliver the TENS and EMS therapy. Accessories include wrist wraps, elbow wraps, neck and back pads, knee sleeves, socks and slippers. For whatever ails you, there is a True Stim product to offer relief. This was the first year we noticed a product of this type, and it was great to see NAMM feature a vendor to meet this need. Learn more by visiting http://www.truestim.com/ .
On the main floor of the Show we encountered Strüng – The Guitar String Jewelry Company. Strüng features a unique line of necklaces and bracelets inspired by different hard rock/heavy metal tunes. The company offers great designs for both men and women. Their beaded bracelet line includes styles such as “The Anthem” inspired by Green Day’s “21 Guns,” and “The Immortal” inspired by Metallica’s “Fade to Black.” These bracelets are made with authentic guitar string ball ends, a unique skull centerpiece, and Preciosa beads. Orders also come with a faux leather pouch and applicable song card. Celebrate your love for music in style and visit http://www.getstrung.com/
It was interesting to see Ebay present this year, but for good reason. Ebay has been a mainstay in used musical gear sales for years now. With a modest presentation but highly trafficked location Ebay was there to remind everyone that listings of guitars, pedals, amps and more get a sweet deal of a 3.5% charge for final value fees. If you’ve got gear to sell, look no further than Ebay. To learn more visit http://www.ebay.com/rpp/sell-guitars
Collaboration Spaces:
On today’s social-media platforms staying connected has never been more convenient or easy-to-do. As musicians, staying in touch with bandmates across state lines or national borders is no problem. But what about staying connected musically, and navigating the task of collaboration? Sessionwire is the answer. Imagine being in the studio with your band mates. Your drummer is in the recoding room ready to record. Your guitarist is off in another room laying down guitar tracks. Your singer, is in another studio all together because of other commitments. Now imagine there’s a way to simulate a platform where you all can be together in the same mixing room piecing this all together, and conversing about the arrangement and production. Sessionwire makes this and many other scenarios possible by creating an interface where multiple DAWs can work together from the same screen and through live chat and studio talkback functions users can communicate in real time and share files. So even if you are a drummer laying down tracks in NYC on ProTools, you can connect with your guitarist recording in a bedroom in Boise on a Sonar DAW and it will feel like they are in the adjacent room of a full-fledged studio. Nearly everything you can do in a studio you can do with Sessionwire and you save the cost of travel. This is also a great option for featuring guest musicians. Monthly subscriptions start at just $15/month. http://www.sessionwire.com/
Now, it’s great to work with Sessionwire in real-time when you have the ability to work side-by-side with your collaborators or producer, but what about an innovative way to share notes and feedback during the writing process of creating music? Soundmarker is the answer to that. This free online tool allows users to share audio, and stream & communicate during the creative process. Users and their recipients can stream shared tracks on any device. There’s a comment function that works similar to the SoundCloud platform. By setting markers over starting points or entire regions users can give extensive feedback about particular portions of a track privately between the sender and recipient. Those comments can then be reviewed through a targeted search function to keep track of all comments. This product in tandem with Sessionwire would be the perfect way to write and record an album from anywhere each musician is able to work. Visit http://www.soundmarker.com
Music for the Younger Generation:
Each year we pay a bit of attention to products targeted towards helping children learn to play and write music. Music is such a powerful force in a young person’s life, and we found a couple products that will engage and develop young musicians. The Rock and Roll It! collection from Mukikim is the perfect introductory instrument for any kid. These items include a variety of keyboards and percussion instruments to facilitate learning and offer the added convenience of portability. The Rainbow line features a unique color pattern to help kids learn the various notes on a piano or xylophone, and the roll-up design is perfect for taking anywhere. Standard black & white roll-up pianos are available as well. The flexible roll-up drum kits are also designed to help kids learn the various parts of the instrument. Each product also comes with a lesson book to help kids play their first song in no time. http://www.mukikim.com/
We’ve already discussed collaborative workspaces for adult musicians, but Music.iLuv has introduced an app that allows children to create practice and play music in a collaborative augmented-reality environment.
Music.iLuv is the brainchild of female entrepreneurs, Melody Khair and Moji Ghodousi. They announced the launch of their new mobile augmented-reality (AR) social musical application that enhances kids’ learning, creativity, problem-solving skills, musicality, and real-life interactions. This app is usable on an iPad and iPhone. Commenting on the inspiration for this app Melody Khair had this to say, “While 64% of kids in the U.S. do get some form of music education, there is a staggering 50% chance that they will drop out after only one to two years. Moji and I are driven to change that trend with Music.iLuv. Our goal is to foster a love for learning and appreciating music in young people everywhere that incorporates creativity and newer methodology for learning and remaining engaged.”
With this app kids can choose a song from Music.iLuv’s song library, add their own song and music sheet with its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, or even create their own song using the app. Then, they can practice the song in a fun and engaging environment, where they get live and immediate feedback on note and timing mistakes from the app. Visual aids are also available to help beginning players. They can record their audio files and later on sync it with their friends recording too. As kids use the app, they get rewarded for their song’s or practice sessions in the form of virtual coins which may be redeemed for additional app functions. Kids can also create a music video or album of their own music, where they also get to enjoy learning how to record, produce, and do sound mixing. Additionally, the video can be shared with family and friends on either the app’s built-in safe social media, or on any external social media platform – giving parent’s the peace of mind over privacy options. Khair also added, “This approach to learning how to play an instrument is groundbreaking, and will engage and enhance the experience for the next generation of musical talent.” Visit http://www.musiciluv.com/ to learn more.
With so many great product innovations it is almost a shame the Show only lasts but 4 days a year. The music products industry is alive and well and will continue to thrive provided designers and developers continue to push the envelope and fold in the latest in technological and musical trends. The NAMM Show is the only place to see all of these great products in one place, and with an endless variety of demos, artist appearances, and unmatched atmosphere there is nothing like this Show.
NAMM will return to Southern California in 2020 on January 16-19.
