The NAMM Show 2023 - Anaheim, CA - April 13-15
By John Knowles & Jeffrey Easton
As we inch closer to a traditional January show, the NAMM Show returned to the Anaheim Convention Center on April 13-15, just 10 months after 2022’s convention. In a similar fashion to June 2022, what we witnessed was a streamlined and stripped down version of the once gargantuan trade show. But despite the event being smaller in overall size compared to the pre-pandemic era, there was a palpable energy in the air and a healthy sense that the music retailer industry has made positive strides in the last year, and will continue to climb new heights to one day find its former glory.
It would be unfair to underemphasize the differences from this show to last year’s. The official post-show press release indicated that among attendees, International saw a 64% increase from prior year. The number of exhibitors and represented countries also saw a small percentage increase. Beyond the show floor, activities and things-to-do abounded: Over 200 education sessions took place for members, info sessions and product demonstrations were scheduled throughout the weekend, and various musical performances were in constant swing.
Just weeks ago, the music retailer 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 2023 and beyond. 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.
Absent again this year were many of the well known guitar-oriented companies including Gibson, Fender, Marshall, and many others. Booths which had been historically large and expansive were cut down to a fraction of their former footprint. Even Ernie Ball kept the modest footprint they brought in 2022. Other large companies like Yamaha kept to a streamlined, spacious yet focused display. Companies across the board were highlighting their latest and proudest achievements for the new year. No need to show the full range of offerings - bring out the new stuff and wow the masses.
There was also a marked shift in how a handful of prominent companies planned their show strategy. We may be in the post-pandemic era, but the pandemic’s effect on the economy and companies’ sales figures is still something to overcome. Companies like Universal Audio, Taylor, Fishman, and others, did not feature booth displays for the general attendee. They were at NAMM Show to do business - and our hope is that business was good. These exhibitors wrapped their products around four walls and saw select attendees by appointment only. The goal was clearly to drive sales, distribution, and exclusive media coverage. While we definitely saw a lot more of this compared to prior year, there was still a large percentage of the show floor unfurled by this business strategy, and openly demonstrated the best they have to offer for all attendees.
As we witnessed at the NAMM Show 2022, we once again saw 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. As former Namm President and CEO Joe Lamond shared: “...those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage.” Nothing can shake the historical and unrivaled relevancy of Gibson. Their presence was missed, but we believe it’s to the benefit of the smaller companies and customers. To a retailer looking to broaden their inventory, or to a consumer looking to find that hidden gem they never knew existed, NAMM 2023 was the place to be.
Here are some of the stand-out brands/products we interacted with this year:
Monster Cables
One of the first booths we visited. Monster has relaunched their catalog of cables and have introduced some killer innovations. Rather than simply add to an existing product line, Monster has gone through their full listing of cable products - updating and repackaging everything for the modern era. Their Monster Studio Pro 2000 series features their trademark Precision Time Correct Windings (a form of twisted-pairs) with separate wire networks. This technology reduces electromagnetic radiation and interference from neighboring pairs. This is noise reduction at its absolute finest. The Studio Pro 2000 series is available in 8”, 12’, and 21’ instrument cables, 5’-100’ XLR microphone cables, and 3’-20’ speaker cables.
They also showcased their Monster Screenclean - an alcohol-free screen cleaning formula developed to clean HDTVs, tablets, laptops, smart phones, and eyeglasses. Not just your average screen cleaner, this stuff is safe, effective, and works for all of your devices.
Inspiria Guitars
Founded in 2021 by guitarist/producer Demetrio Scopelliti, Inspiria Guitars specializes in great electric guitars for the modern hard rock/metal player. Co-designed with engineer/designer Alessandro Tardivo, the design features on these guitars will cater to djent players, shredders, and everything in between. Their full line features 24 frets with frets 21-24 scalloped. Most of the guitars come with a mahogany, basswood, and alder body with a mahogany and maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The narrow design feature of the body gives you a very balanced feel across the instrument with great access to the upper frets. They are incredibly sturdy while not being overly heavy. But perhaps the most innovative design feature is the chromed Hipshot Extender found on the DLP7 and DLP8 models which allow you to rapidly detune the 7th and 7th/8th strings, respectively. Beautifully painted and all around “metal-looking” guitars that will surely prove brilliant in the studio and bullet-proof on the road.
Gator Cases
Gator cases brought an impressive display to the show floor. Instrument case dealers were not a common sight this year allowing Gator to assert their total unrivaled control of the market. We have never seen anything quite like their ICON series gig bags for guitar and bass. These things are a staggering innovation equipped with everything you could want and more from a gig bag. They’re basically the perfect cross between a sturdy gig bag and a hard case while improving the faults in both. The outside of the bag is a multi-layered semi-rigid nylon fabric. The inside is lined with micro-velvet and features a removable/moveable neck support equipped with velcro for increased protection and travel ease. The various straps can be hidden away allowing multiple options for carrying your instrument around. On the interior is a serialized bag tracker with a laser-etched QR code for quick and easy registration and identification. For even more protection there are rubber bumpers and even a rain cover.
Their impressive Case Finder (found here) is a ingenious service option for buyers to ensure one is buying the exact sized case needed. Simply plug in instrument type, make, and model and the search results narrow down exactly what you need: a killer feature for buyers!
Card Chords
There’s no shortage of innovations one will find at the NAMM Show. This year was no different. We came across Card Chords this year, and under the category of music education this company really set itself apart. Created for beginner 6-string guitar players, this company has created chord charts that fit under the strings depicting finger positions to certain common chord shapes. The cards extend the width of the first three frets and allow users to practice fretting the chord shape. Once you have the hang of it you simple slide the card out and begin playing. Learning a new song? Simply gather the necessary card chords that make up the song, slide them in one at time until you get a grasp of the shapes, and you’re on your way to playing along with your favorites. These card packs come in three editions based on your guitar model. This year, visitors to their booth were given a sample pack featuring five chord shapes to get you started on a handful of classic tunes. This item is a must have for instructors and beginner guitar students.
No Nuts Percussion
For gigging and studio drummers, set up and tear down is undoubtedly a chore. No Nuts Percussion has come to the rescue. No Nuts Cymbal Sleeves make setting up and swapping cymbals a breeze. Worry no longer about the threading on a cymbal stand and place the patented Cymbal Sleeve over a standard 6mm/8mm cymbal stand post. The cymbal then rests on the sleeve and you are ready to play! The tough yet flexible material of the sleeve protects your cymbals from unnecessary wear and makes set up and tear down a breeze. The sleeve features a tapered shape the allows you to place the cymbal at the needed height. To take things to the next level there is the patented Cymring which fits on top of the cymbal, over the Cymbal Sleeve for greater positional mounting and cymbal stacking - even allowing for use with the hi-hat. Such a simple idea and brilliantly executed - check out these products and all that No Nuts Percussion has to offer!
Beatbox Drums
Imagine a self-storing and portable drum kit that you could transport in one case and check on your next plane flight!
Established in 2012, the Beatbox is a first-of-its-kind, high-end, portable, compact drum set. Claiming “first-of-its-kind” is key, because we saw a handful of these concepts at NAMM this year. However, unlike other compact drum sets on the market, you wont be sacrificing sound for size. The Beatbox features a 4-piece drum set, equipped with two toms, one snare, one bass drum, one snare stand, one hi-hat stand, one bass drum pedal, mounting hardware, one drum throne, and a set of quiet cymbals. The best part is everything fits in the box! Well, the cymbals don’t, but they come with their own cymbal bag. Imagine showing up to a gig with a large rolling suitcase and a satchel and being totally ready to go - that’s basically the size equivalent to what this company has created here. The box itself features wheels and a luggage handle for easy transportation all weighing in at under 50 pounds. We watched a few experienced drummers really tear into this kit and it sounds fantastic. Hopefully, these guys reach their Kickstarter goal and we see this item hit a wider market. They really set themselves apart this year from other portable kits in terms of pure innovation, travel compatibility, and overall playability and tone.
Rockstars of Tomorrow
Rockstars of Tomorrow is the premiere destination for music lessons, artist development, as well as recording and live performance education. If you’ve ever taken traditional music lessons you are no doubt familiar with the bland enclosures and uninspiring facade of your typical lesson facility. Often times your teacher will hand you their standard Mel Bay lesson curriculum and before you know it you’re sight reading “Mary Had a Little Lamb” when all you really wanted to perfect was a power chord and to jam out to “Whole Lotta Love” or “War Pigs.” At Rockstars of Tomorrow, their inspiring facilities teach students through passionate and charismatic instructors, teaching students technique and performance through the student’s favorite songs. They offer music lessons in guitar, bass, voice, keyboards, songwriting, and more. They offer performance programs from beginner to pro. A majority of their locations can be found throughout Southern California, but they also have locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Online lesions are also available! Rockstars of Tomorrow is a game-changer in music education. Check them out!
Music Nomad
Always a must-see for us every year is Music Nomad. We felt their absence in 2022, and were very excited to see what new innovations they’d developed for this year’s show. We could write endlessly about all that Music Nomad has to offer - each year they seem to add more and more tools, gadgets, and care items for various instruments. They’ve come such a long way over the years and you really have to visit their website to see all that they have to offer - we’re talking care products for just about any type of guitar repair/set-up work, drum care, piano care, and even a vinyl record cleaning kit. This year we were introduced to their patented Fret Shield fretboard protector guard tool. This tool offers total fretboard protection when performing fret work such as polishing, leveling, and crowning. Featuring a stainless stell overlay that fits over your fretboard - allowing the fret wires, and only the fret wires, to be exposed. Worry no longer about damaging the precious wood of your fretboard. Fret Shields come in five common fret scale sizes to accommodate most guitars.
Also, be sure to check out their Product Advisor (found here) to narrow down product options that best serve your instrument’s needs.
Bare Knuckle Pickups
Bare Knuckle pickups specializes in hand-wound electric guitar pickups. Every pickup they make is wound and made entirely by hand, in-house, by a team of dedicated winders. We were told they’ve recently expanded their winder staffing to accommodate growing order volumes. Remember the words of former CEO Joe Lamond we shared previously: “...those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage.” In Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio’s absence this year, Bare Knuckle brought a confident and determined presence to the show floor. It was cool to see their overhead display and beautiful display case.
Bare Knuckle has brought a lot to the humbucker game over the years, but this year they were featuring their Triptych Single Coil strat pickups. This is the Rabea Massaad signature set - a name rising to prominence in the guitar world. Rabea had this to say: “I wanted to create a set of pickups that would satisfy my love for early to mid ’60’s Strat tones, referencing guys like SRV, John Mayer and Philip Sayce, but also provide enough depth, power and clarity for me to play heavier music and chunky riffs.
The Triptych’s do this with ease and I couldn’t be happier!”
ENGL Amps
Engl was seen once again as part of the larger showroom for ESP. Although they brought a modest display, their renown among heavy music enthusiasts in well established. Among their features was the Engl Cabloader. This compact speaker cabinet emulator works as an IR loader (Impulse Response) and DI box. It’s perfect for running your amplifier to a recording interface, or hooking up pedals for headphone practice. For the gigging musician who’s tired of lugging around large cabinets this pedal will put your mind and back at ease while offering greater versatility and variety. The Cabloader features a whole host of IR-based digital cabinet simulators as well as microphone (and mic placement) and power amp emulations. Third party IR loading is also supported. This is an extremely well rounded piece of equipment and will cater to the hobbyist as well as professional recording musician.
Breedlove Guitars
If you’re an acoustic player you have to check out Breedlove. They make beautifully-crafted guitars that never compromise tone for looks. This year they are featuring the Organic Pro Collection, an impressive line of all solid tonewood, fully-sustainable guitars that working musicians and average players can actually afford. Hobbyists and amateur players can enjoy a solid tonewood experience without paying solid tonewood prices. Road musicians can feel safe putting these guitars through the rigors of touring and know confidently that their instrument will look and sound great night after night. This collection comes in four unique varieties, with average pricing under $1200. Click the link above to experience this unique collection for yourself.
The String Sling
The String Sling is a fantastic guitar accessory for protecting your instrument and providing unique versatility. This all-in-one product does three things very well: it’s a neck/string wrap that covers the full length of your guitar’s body with plush microfiber to extend the life of guitar strings; it has storage pouches for essential items like picks, capos, tuners, etc; and it becomes a comfortable guitar strap with padding in just the right spot. The String Sling makes protecting and playing your instrument easy and convenient. Guitar retailers should seriously consider buying one for each guitar they have on display. You can even work with the company to customize the graphics on the String Sling.
Conclusion
The vital necessity of music cannot be overstated. It is a part of what it means to be human, and may even be a requirement for cultures to flourish. Those who choose to create and innovate within this realm must find it impossible not to do so, because every year we see refreshing ideas that serve to further push the limits of how we learn, create and consume music. As former Namm President and CEO Joe Lamond shared: “As the pandemic and its impact continues to recede, the industry is quickly finding its footing for the future,” … those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage. These are the moments in history when big changes occur, both in innovation and in careers, and the leaders of tomorrow were here, creating exciting new business opportunities at the true crossroads of the industry.”
As we conclude our coverage of the 2023 show, NAMM continues its road to a traditional four-day, Winter show. New NAMM President and CEO, John Mlynczak, shared, “Exhibitor reservations are already exceeding expectations, and we are hearing from countless industry partners that they can't wait to return to the right place at the right time. The rhythm of our industry is back with the NAMM Show in January!”
NAMM will return to Anaheim, CA, January 25-28, 2024.
By John Knowles & Jeffrey Easton
As we inch closer to a traditional January show, the NAMM Show returned to the Anaheim Convention Center on April 13-15, just 10 months after 2022’s convention. In a similar fashion to June 2022, what we witnessed was a streamlined and stripped down version of the once gargantuan trade show. But despite the event being smaller in overall size compared to the pre-pandemic era, there was a palpable energy in the air and a healthy sense that the music retailer industry has made positive strides in the last year, and will continue to climb new heights to one day find its former glory.
It would be unfair to underemphasize the differences from this show to last year’s. The official post-show press release indicated that among attendees, International saw a 64% increase from prior year. The number of exhibitors and represented countries also saw a small percentage increase. Beyond the show floor, activities and things-to-do abounded: Over 200 education sessions took place for members, info sessions and product demonstrations were scheduled throughout the weekend, and various musical performances were in constant swing.
Just weeks ago, the music retailer 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 2023 and beyond. 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.
Absent again this year were many of the well known guitar-oriented companies including Gibson, Fender, Marshall, and many others. Booths which had been historically large and expansive were cut down to a fraction of their former footprint. Even Ernie Ball kept the modest footprint they brought in 2022. Other large companies like Yamaha kept to a streamlined, spacious yet focused display. Companies across the board were highlighting their latest and proudest achievements for the new year. No need to show the full range of offerings - bring out the new stuff and wow the masses.
There was also a marked shift in how a handful of prominent companies planned their show strategy. We may be in the post-pandemic era, but the pandemic’s effect on the economy and companies’ sales figures is still something to overcome. Companies like Universal Audio, Taylor, Fishman, and others, did not feature booth displays for the general attendee. They were at NAMM Show to do business - and our hope is that business was good. These exhibitors wrapped their products around four walls and saw select attendees by appointment only. The goal was clearly to drive sales, distribution, and exclusive media coverage. While we definitely saw a lot more of this compared to prior year, there was still a large percentage of the show floor unfurled by this business strategy, and openly demonstrated the best they have to offer for all attendees.
As we witnessed at the NAMM Show 2022, we once again saw 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. As former Namm President and CEO Joe Lamond shared: “...those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage.” Nothing can shake the historical and unrivaled relevancy of Gibson. Their presence was missed, but we believe it’s to the benefit of the smaller companies and customers. To a retailer looking to broaden their inventory, or to a consumer looking to find that hidden gem they never knew existed, NAMM 2023 was the place to be.
Here are some of the stand-out brands/products we interacted with this year:
Monster Cables
One of the first booths we visited. Monster has relaunched their catalog of cables and have introduced some killer innovations. Rather than simply add to an existing product line, Monster has gone through their full listing of cable products - updating and repackaging everything for the modern era. Their Monster Studio Pro 2000 series features their trademark Precision Time Correct Windings (a form of twisted-pairs) with separate wire networks. This technology reduces electromagnetic radiation and interference from neighboring pairs. This is noise reduction at its absolute finest. The Studio Pro 2000 series is available in 8”, 12’, and 21’ instrument cables, 5’-100’ XLR microphone cables, and 3’-20’ speaker cables.
They also showcased their Monster Screenclean - an alcohol-free screen cleaning formula developed to clean HDTVs, tablets, laptops, smart phones, and eyeglasses. Not just your average screen cleaner, this stuff is safe, effective, and works for all of your devices.
Inspiria Guitars
Founded in 2021 by guitarist/producer Demetrio Scopelliti, Inspiria Guitars specializes in great electric guitars for the modern hard rock/metal player. Co-designed with engineer/designer Alessandro Tardivo, the design features on these guitars will cater to djent players, shredders, and everything in between. Their full line features 24 frets with frets 21-24 scalloped. Most of the guitars come with a mahogany, basswood, and alder body with a mahogany and maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The narrow design feature of the body gives you a very balanced feel across the instrument with great access to the upper frets. They are incredibly sturdy while not being overly heavy. But perhaps the most innovative design feature is the chromed Hipshot Extender found on the DLP7 and DLP8 models which allow you to rapidly detune the 7th and 7th/8th strings, respectively. Beautifully painted and all around “metal-looking” guitars that will surely prove brilliant in the studio and bullet-proof on the road.
Gator Cases
Gator cases brought an impressive display to the show floor. Instrument case dealers were not a common sight this year allowing Gator to assert their total unrivaled control of the market. We have never seen anything quite like their ICON series gig bags for guitar and bass. These things are a staggering innovation equipped with everything you could want and more from a gig bag. They’re basically the perfect cross between a sturdy gig bag and a hard case while improving the faults in both. The outside of the bag is a multi-layered semi-rigid nylon fabric. The inside is lined with micro-velvet and features a removable/moveable neck support equipped with velcro for increased protection and travel ease. The various straps can be hidden away allowing multiple options for carrying your instrument around. On the interior is a serialized bag tracker with a laser-etched QR code for quick and easy registration and identification. For even more protection there are rubber bumpers and even a rain cover.
Their impressive Case Finder (found here) is a ingenious service option for buyers to ensure one is buying the exact sized case needed. Simply plug in instrument type, make, and model and the search results narrow down exactly what you need: a killer feature for buyers!
Card Chords
There’s no shortage of innovations one will find at the NAMM Show. This year was no different. We came across Card Chords this year, and under the category of music education this company really set itself apart. Created for beginner 6-string guitar players, this company has created chord charts that fit under the strings depicting finger positions to certain common chord shapes. The cards extend the width of the first three frets and allow users to practice fretting the chord shape. Once you have the hang of it you simple slide the card out and begin playing. Learning a new song? Simply gather the necessary card chords that make up the song, slide them in one at time until you get a grasp of the shapes, and you’re on your way to playing along with your favorites. These card packs come in three editions based on your guitar model. This year, visitors to their booth were given a sample pack featuring five chord shapes to get you started on a handful of classic tunes. This item is a must have for instructors and beginner guitar students.
No Nuts Percussion
For gigging and studio drummers, set up and tear down is undoubtedly a chore. No Nuts Percussion has come to the rescue. No Nuts Cymbal Sleeves make setting up and swapping cymbals a breeze. Worry no longer about the threading on a cymbal stand and place the patented Cymbal Sleeve over a standard 6mm/8mm cymbal stand post. The cymbal then rests on the sleeve and you are ready to play! The tough yet flexible material of the sleeve protects your cymbals from unnecessary wear and makes set up and tear down a breeze. The sleeve features a tapered shape the allows you to place the cymbal at the needed height. To take things to the next level there is the patented Cymring which fits on top of the cymbal, over the Cymbal Sleeve for greater positional mounting and cymbal stacking - even allowing for use with the hi-hat. Such a simple idea and brilliantly executed - check out these products and all that No Nuts Percussion has to offer!
Beatbox Drums
Imagine a self-storing and portable drum kit that you could transport in one case and check on your next plane flight!
Established in 2012, the Beatbox is a first-of-its-kind, high-end, portable, compact drum set. Claiming “first-of-its-kind” is key, because we saw a handful of these concepts at NAMM this year. However, unlike other compact drum sets on the market, you wont be sacrificing sound for size. The Beatbox features a 4-piece drum set, equipped with two toms, one snare, one bass drum, one snare stand, one hi-hat stand, one bass drum pedal, mounting hardware, one drum throne, and a set of quiet cymbals. The best part is everything fits in the box! Well, the cymbals don’t, but they come with their own cymbal bag. Imagine showing up to a gig with a large rolling suitcase and a satchel and being totally ready to go - that’s basically the size equivalent to what this company has created here. The box itself features wheels and a luggage handle for easy transportation all weighing in at under 50 pounds. We watched a few experienced drummers really tear into this kit and it sounds fantastic. Hopefully, these guys reach their Kickstarter goal and we see this item hit a wider market. They really set themselves apart this year from other portable kits in terms of pure innovation, travel compatibility, and overall playability and tone.
Rockstars of Tomorrow
Rockstars of Tomorrow is the premiere destination for music lessons, artist development, as well as recording and live performance education. If you’ve ever taken traditional music lessons you are no doubt familiar with the bland enclosures and uninspiring facade of your typical lesson facility. Often times your teacher will hand you their standard Mel Bay lesson curriculum and before you know it you’re sight reading “Mary Had a Little Lamb” when all you really wanted to perfect was a power chord and to jam out to “Whole Lotta Love” or “War Pigs.” At Rockstars of Tomorrow, their inspiring facilities teach students through passionate and charismatic instructors, teaching students technique and performance through the student’s favorite songs. They offer music lessons in guitar, bass, voice, keyboards, songwriting, and more. They offer performance programs from beginner to pro. A majority of their locations can be found throughout Southern California, but they also have locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Online lesions are also available! Rockstars of Tomorrow is a game-changer in music education. Check them out!
Music Nomad
Always a must-see for us every year is Music Nomad. We felt their absence in 2022, and were very excited to see what new innovations they’d developed for this year’s show. We could write endlessly about all that Music Nomad has to offer - each year they seem to add more and more tools, gadgets, and care items for various instruments. They’ve come such a long way over the years and you really have to visit their website to see all that they have to offer - we’re talking care products for just about any type of guitar repair/set-up work, drum care, piano care, and even a vinyl record cleaning kit. This year we were introduced to their patented Fret Shield fretboard protector guard tool. This tool offers total fretboard protection when performing fret work such as polishing, leveling, and crowning. Featuring a stainless stell overlay that fits over your fretboard - allowing the fret wires, and only the fret wires, to be exposed. Worry no longer about damaging the precious wood of your fretboard. Fret Shields come in five common fret scale sizes to accommodate most guitars.
Also, be sure to check out their Product Advisor (found here) to narrow down product options that best serve your instrument’s needs.
Bare Knuckle Pickups
Bare Knuckle pickups specializes in hand-wound electric guitar pickups. Every pickup they make is wound and made entirely by hand, in-house, by a team of dedicated winders. We were told they’ve recently expanded their winder staffing to accommodate growing order volumes. Remember the words of former CEO Joe Lamond we shared previously: “...those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage.” In Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio’s absence this year, Bare Knuckle brought a confident and determined presence to the show floor. It was cool to see their overhead display and beautiful display case.
Bare Knuckle has brought a lot to the humbucker game over the years, but this year they were featuring their Triptych Single Coil strat pickups. This is the Rabea Massaad signature set - a name rising to prominence in the guitar world. Rabea had this to say: “I wanted to create a set of pickups that would satisfy my love for early to mid ’60’s Strat tones, referencing guys like SRV, John Mayer and Philip Sayce, but also provide enough depth, power and clarity for me to play heavier music and chunky riffs.
The Triptych’s do this with ease and I couldn’t be happier!”
ENGL Amps
Engl was seen once again as part of the larger showroom for ESP. Although they brought a modest display, their renown among heavy music enthusiasts in well established. Among their features was the Engl Cabloader. This compact speaker cabinet emulator works as an IR loader (Impulse Response) and DI box. It’s perfect for running your amplifier to a recording interface, or hooking up pedals for headphone practice. For the gigging musician who’s tired of lugging around large cabinets this pedal will put your mind and back at ease while offering greater versatility and variety. The Cabloader features a whole host of IR-based digital cabinet simulators as well as microphone (and mic placement) and power amp emulations. Third party IR loading is also supported. This is an extremely well rounded piece of equipment and will cater to the hobbyist as well as professional recording musician.
Breedlove Guitars
If you’re an acoustic player you have to check out Breedlove. They make beautifully-crafted guitars that never compromise tone for looks. This year they are featuring the Organic Pro Collection, an impressive line of all solid tonewood, fully-sustainable guitars that working musicians and average players can actually afford. Hobbyists and amateur players can enjoy a solid tonewood experience without paying solid tonewood prices. Road musicians can feel safe putting these guitars through the rigors of touring and know confidently that their instrument will look and sound great night after night. This collection comes in four unique varieties, with average pricing under $1200. Click the link above to experience this unique collection for yourself.
The String Sling
The String Sling is a fantastic guitar accessory for protecting your instrument and providing unique versatility. This all-in-one product does three things very well: it’s a neck/string wrap that covers the full length of your guitar’s body with plush microfiber to extend the life of guitar strings; it has storage pouches for essential items like picks, capos, tuners, etc; and it becomes a comfortable guitar strap with padding in just the right spot. The String Sling makes protecting and playing your instrument easy and convenient. Guitar retailers should seriously consider buying one for each guitar they have on display. You can even work with the company to customize the graphics on the String Sling.
Conclusion
The vital necessity of music cannot be overstated. It is a part of what it means to be human, and may even be a requirement for cultures to flourish. Those who choose to create and innovate within this realm must find it impossible not to do so, because every year we see refreshing ideas that serve to further push the limits of how we learn, create and consume music. As former Namm President and CEO Joe Lamond shared: “As the pandemic and its impact continues to recede, the industry is quickly finding its footing for the future,” … those here demonstrated an invaluable competitive advantage. These are the moments in history when big changes occur, both in innovation and in careers, and the leaders of tomorrow were here, creating exciting new business opportunities at the true crossroads of the industry.”
As we conclude our coverage of the 2023 show, NAMM continues its road to a traditional four-day, Winter show. New NAMM President and CEO, John Mlynczak, shared, “Exhibitor reservations are already exceeding expectations, and we are hearing from countless industry partners that they can't wait to return to the right place at the right time. The rhythm of our industry is back with the NAMM Show in January!”
NAMM will return to Anaheim, CA, January 25-28, 2024.
