Anaheim Convention Center
"Dip" Paint Finishes Are
Becoming Popular
(We Are Doing Dips @ ERG)
This was only the second NAMM Show I have
attended. I have been at ERG for about seven months. Ed got me into the
Summer NAMM in 2003. The differences between the 2003 and the 2010 Shows
were huge. Even though the Summer NAMM was much smaller it had many more
interesting and new items / instruments than the much larger NAMM Winter
Show of 2010. There were some interesting acoustics (like the Gianninis
to the right) and a few neat, new electrics but nothing like it used to
be (and people that have attended many NAMM shows agreed). I found this
shift to be disheartening. There were only a few of the small,
independent luthiers that have been around for some time attending the
Convention. The independent luthiers tended to be the innovators of guitar building. And
(from checking the Web) many of these excellent, independent builders
are no longer in business.
On the flip side, there were a bunch of
Asian manufacturers in attendance at the 2010 show. Let me make it
clear; I have nothing against Asians, their culture is fascinating, I
harbor no animosity toward them and I love the food. But I am concerned
by how the market is being flooded by Asian Manufactures. My concern is
not just for Ed Roman Guitars. The last thing our country needs is to
lose more jobs! Also, the bulk of what the Asian Exhibitors were
selling were remakes of Fender, Gibson and Ibanez instruments. I
wandered through a few of the Asian booths and was followed around as if
I were going to steal something. (I have hair over half way down my back
and a bushy full beard. My talent or ability as a musician not
withstanding, I do look the part of a musician.) This led me to believe that the
people staffing the booths did not like musicians. There were only a few
Asian Distributors at the 2003 Summer Show. I entered the booths there
to find out that no one had bothered to tune the guitars. This tells me
that they were there to sell widgets and could care less about guitars.
The best overall manufacturer exhibit was,
and I can't believe I'm saying this, Fender. (The Room display was
comprised of Fender, Jackson, Gretsch and Charvel.) There were plenty of
vintage Fenders for the vintage junkies. Jackson had stock and custom
guitars with stunning finishes. The Charvel Custom Shop Booth (the
smallest display in the room) blew everyone away. It was worth fighting
the crowd to see. Take a look at a few of the Charvel's below. (And a few
Fenders & Jacksons.) |
What to say about The NAMM Winter Show of 2010.
Well, let's start on a positive note ... Hmmm ... Well, the weather was
fantastic! The Hotel Room was decent. There were some people protesting against Cort Guitars. They chanted: "Cort
Guitars Are Made With Fear!" I can understand the problem, but is there
anyone who is not concerned or fearful about losing their job these days? (That's
a different rant.) The point I'm trying to make is that the events
outside the NAMM show were, on the whole, more interesting than the what was going on
in the NAMM show.
Giannini Acoustic Guitars
Angel Guitar
Probably very awkward to play, but
cool anyway! Yes, it's 3 dimensional.
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