The NAMM Show 2022 - Anaheim, CA - June 3-5
By John Knowles & Jeffrey Easton
After an over 2-year hiatus, the NAMM Show made its triumphant return to the Anaheim Convention Center on June 3-5, 2022. What we witnessed was a more streamlined and stripped down version of the once gargantuan trade show. But despite the event being smaller in overall size, attendees and exhibitors, there was a palpable hunger and energy alive and well on the Show floor.
As we all faced the challenges of the last two years, the importance of music cannot be overstated. Artists continued to create, explore and inspire. Fans continued to consume music, and many used new-found free time to pick an instrument for the first time. In his welcome letter to this year’s NAMM attendees, Joe Lamond, Namm President and CEO, shared: “The NAMM Team sends our best as we gear up for the first NAMM Show in Anaheim since January of 2020. It's a special edition—one time only in June! And we gather with the knowledge that music and music making has never been more relevant, more in demand and as important as it is now. As it has so many times before, the world turned to music during the challenges of the past two years.”
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 our post-pandemic world. 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.
According to Trade Show News Network, the streamlined three-day convention welcomed a smaller but focused audience of 46,627 attendees from more than 111 countries and territories and more than 1,000 exhibitors representing 3,500 brands.
Absent this year were many of the well known guitar-oriented companies including Gibson, Fender, Marshall, and many others. Booths which been historically large and expansive were cut down to a fraction of their former footprint. Walking up to the Ernie Ball booth for the first time I was amazed at what I saw - this year would not feature the towering walls of the Ernie Ball booth with crowds wrapped around it waiting for an autograph from the likes of John Petrucci or Steve Morse. What we did find, however, was a far more focused display. Companies across the board were highlighting their latest and proudest achievements for the new year. Which makes sense. What need does Ernie Ball have in displaying their full range of product offerings in a digital age? This year was about showcasing their new Kaizen model - a collaboration with the great Tosin Abasi, or the new 8-string Majesty model.
While the larger brands that did attend took a more streamlined approach, the other key element we took note of was the rise to prominence of the little guy. Smaller, independently owned, boutique brands were able to be seen much more effectively. This was a huge win for the musical instrument market as a whole. No one has forgotten about Fender over the past two years and in all honesty I don’t think they were missed. Sure, their showroom was a lot of fun, but to a retailer looking to broaden their inventory, or to a consumer looking to find that hidden gem they never knew existed, NAMM 2022 was the place to be.
Here are some of the stand-out brands/products we interacted with this year:
Arachnid Cabinets
Arachnid Cabinets - Home (arachnidcabs.com)
Hand-built, customizable, and overall expertly crafted cabinets. This was hands-down the most Metal looking booth we visited. Visit their page and have a look at the various design options.
Aristides Instruments
https://aristidesinstruments.com/
These guitars look and play amazing. Designed by a team of Dutch scientists at Delft Technical University, Aristides constructs their guitars out of a material called Arium. It is molded in a liquid state and then hardens. One might notice a design resemblance to Strandberg guitars, but make no mistake, Aristides is its own unique set of instruments. Their design features offer amazing playability, resonance, and durability. Played by the likes of Ihsahn and Timo Somers - these guitars will be a mainstay at NAMM for years to come.
Abasi Concepts
Abasi Concepts
Tosin Abasi is no stranger to the metal community. His virtuosic prowess extends beyond his playing and composition into the instrument design realm. In 2020, the Abasi booth was a well attended, but humble display. Two years later it featured a larger footprint, and a constant crowd. One look at the product offerings from this company and you can see why. These guitars have no doubt broken new ground in overall guitar design, responsiveness and ergonomics. This is another company to keep your eye on in the years to come.
Revv Amplification
Revv Amplification Inc. | Inspiring Boutique Tube Amps
The Revv booth was truly one of the standouts in guitar amplification this year. This company specializes in emerging technologies of combining analog and virtual cabinet integration. They also feature in a line of pedals and smaller boutique amps for more affordable options.
Inzane Skins
INZANE SKINS - Reskin Your Guitar With These Insanely Wicked Designs
Imagine designing your dream guitar. Perhaps you have always envisioned it with a particular look or graphic. Inzane Skins specializes in incredible skin designs for any guitar. And although not advertised explicitly, if you were to ask, these guys can do about anything as far as hardware or electronic installation and set-ups. Customer satisfaction is their top priority, and from the testimonials we heard you will not be disappointed.
Stokyo
STOKYO, Official Store for Dr. Suzuki Slipsheets, Oyaide NEO d+ & more (stokyoworld.com)
Vinyl has certainly seen a huge resurgence, and we discovered one of the coolest booths at NAMM 2022. Stokyo specializes in equipment for DJs as well as the home audiophile. Notable product offerings include the Record Runner - a self-propelled record runner weighing in at only 111 grams. It features volume and playback speed control, and is being dubbed the World’s smallest record player.
RealTime Audio
Home - RealTime Audio
Certainly an industry that has blossomed during the last two years is the video conferencing and web-based video chat industry. Companies like Zoom have expanded their market share by a large margin. RealTime Audio has engaged with this model and brought it into the musical collaboration space. This product allows musicians the ability for synchronous real-time audio and video jamming. They have developed a series of tools that will allow you and your bandmates to connect, and rehearse together even if you are many miles or States apart. The RTA Box is a simple, easy-to-use piece of equipment that plugs right in to your audio interface. Their web platform features ultra low-latency for that live room feel. This is also an amazing tool for remote music lessons.
The Show floor may have been lighter this year, but there was a vibrant energy throughout. Product innovations abounded, and for an era of rebirth and revitalization that we find ourselves in, the music products industry is thriving better than one might expect. The NAMM Show is still the only place to see all of these great products in one place.
NAMM will return to Anaheim, CA, April 13-15, 2023.
