I'm going to NAMM for one day

blakejcan

Well-known member
I've never been. I have no agenda other than to mill around, talk to some boutique builders that I admire and see what's what.

Any tips from those that have gone in the past? Thanks!
 
do just that! its a fun time and can be overwhelming too. lots going on usually. i remember jolly and i at the nashville namm many years ago, steve bailey and victor wooten sitting down and jamming. the namm officials came over and asked them to stop since they had created a huge bottle neck in the convention center with their huge crowd and it was considered unsafe :D
 
If you see Dan Erlewine, tell him HEY from Chris Pile in Wichita. Last time I saw him was the 1990 NAMM show.
 
It is a lot of walking, so take some breaks! Plan what you want to see beforehand, because you'll forget when there are so many distractions.
 
It is a lot of walking, so take some breaks! Plan what you want to see beforehand, because you'll forget when there are so many distractions.
I recall the Chicago NAMM shows when they had barely clad "local talent" handing out flyers and inviting attendees into the booths. Hubba-hubba!
 
I'm jealous! Went every year for a few years in the early and mid-2000s, sometimes repping a company, sometimes just sneaking in because I lived nearby, LOL!
 
I should be there, too. I will be in the SD booth for some of it, but I will mostly be walking around.
 
Come out to the DAS Arena Plaza stage and say 'Hi!', I'm stage managing that stage all week (old guy with glasses, ugly Hawaiian shirt, probably wearing a Moze Guitars ball cap)
 
nah. im not sure what its like these days, but when i went there was no way. always lots going on and kinda chaotic, but fun!
 
anyone ever bought a guitar from a booth?
I know some guys who did back in the 80's.

I remember TAMA had a solid brass snare that weighed 100 pounds. The reps said if you can pick it up with one hand, you can have it. Billy Cobham one handed it, and immediately boogied out the door with it.

Ibanez had a solid brass Ibanez Artist, same offer. No one could do it. It's been for sale online almost 10 years on Reverb for a ridiculous price.
 
I went to the show for a day. Well, more like 4-5 hours as I had to sneak out of my actual work on a Friday, drive there, navigate the madness of Disneyland and parking and do the long march into the event space and finally find the guitar pocket of the universe.

Perhaps the most stimulating to the senses tradeshow I've ever been to. Tons of booths, lots of sounds and crowds in almost every direction. Once I got my bearings and started to find booths that I wanted to check out it was pretty rad. I got to talk to Allparts guys who have helped me out with my fledgling guitar building side hustle. They were so kind. It was awesome.

Same with Doug Kauer at Kauer guitars. Super generous with his time and talking to me about guitars and just life. What a good dude.

Mostly it was a lot of walking, stopping for a minute, gawking, rinse and repeat. So many shredders and great guitars and stuff happening that it gets a bit mindnumbing at some point. I hate to say it but after a few hours it all kinda sounds the same more or less. I'm sure there are tons of things I passed over and if I ever go again I'd definitely plan a bit better but all in all, good experience. When I stopped and looked at the pictures after the event it all stuck out a bit more for me as to what was truly great.

Last bit...man, I love me rock n roll relics guitars. The paint schemes and slight tweaks on Gibson favorites were some of my faves for sure.

Sorry if I missed anyone who was there!
 
It helps to have a plan going in- I had a list of things I wanted to see. Still, I had major foot and calf pain from walking on carpeted cement for 3 days straight. It should go away any day now. :/
 
the plan would be essential.

I think my big thing as I got near the end was......well this is some cool stuff......I wanna buy something and take it home........but yea, not really an option.
 
The app (which isn't great) is essential to figure out where you want to go. You can just wander, but you'll miss a lot of stuff you came to see.
 
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