Welcome to Blog & Relevance.

Today's Topic, February 15, 2010:

2010 NAMM SHOW / ANAHEIM, CA USA

NAMM, this year, was once again a huge success with vendors and visitors representing music organizations from around the globe.

I've been to NAMM enough times to be able to recognize what remains pretty much the same from year-to-year, and therefore it gives me the ability to hone in what is new. Every year there are dazzling improvements in the technology of music.

My partner Michael Head and I buddied-up for the outing like kids in the candy store. Aside from a few planned stops, we basically hurled ourselves into the abyss of NAMM seeking the new, the odd and the irreverent. Here are some of the goodies we found.

Oh and by the way.... please allow me this non-sequiter moment to inform you all that Carmine Appice was loitering in, around and about every drum vendor booth possible AGAIN!, this year.
:)

I also nearly knocked-over Terry Bozio as he was rushing through the door while I was exiting. "Oh. Hey. 'Scuse me." He's very polite.

Ok, we saw Bootsy Collins, too. There is only one thing you can say about Bootsy: "he's astronomical, baby!"...

Anyway, back to the show.
Every year seems to advance according to some sort of trend or theme. I'd have to say that this year's theme definitely included the element of economics. While there were sme terrific advances technologically, there weren't as many. No complaints... with plenty of that stuff to keep us gear geeks gawking.

However, I did see an increase in what I'll refer to as: "variation on theme." Namely... Lotsa wild paint jobs on guitars and amps... new shapes.. wacky stuff. lots of it.

One of the most interesting advancements in guitar technology was Gibson's Dark Tiger. This Les Paul styled guitar utilizes computer-driven robotic technology to offer automatic tuning at the touch of a switch. Touch that switch and the tuners spin into position for the chosen tuning.

The Video Guitar by Visonary Instruments was a gas...
This guitar features a full-on video screen as part of the body of the guitar. Via USB port, one can upload any video of their own design or choose from a stock video library. The video system features 2GB RAM and is capable of playing Mpeg andJpeg formats for movies and images; a 12VDC power supply and a remote control box to manage your video agenda. As a guitar, it sporta an all analog signal path, 5-way pickup switching, traditional tone and volume knobs, dual action truss rod, Tune-o-Matic piezo bridge. maple and alder body with a brushed aluminum face. It weighs 8.3 lbs. and comes in several cool body styles with custom designs available.

Paul Reed Smith featured some gorgeous museum-quality inlay work on their popular body style. Too pretty to bust out at a club gig, but, quite a fetch for the avid collector.

I found Godin's 5th avenue Semi-hollowbody series to be suprisingly wonderful in terms of playability, tone, design excellence and value. (I want one).

MXL introduced a new condenser microphone specialized for live performances.

I'll be continuing this NAMM review both here, and then agsain in the San Diego Troubadour.

Chuck Schiele
Producer, Artist

Affiliations:
TAXI
Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association, Member
NAMM
San Diego Troubdour

Click Here to email StudiOB 92107

STUDIOB92107
858.663.9612
PO Box 7893 • San Diego, California 92107
Member Ocean Beach MainStreet Association. Taxi
© StudiOB92107, 2010

FEATURED ARTISTS

Coco & Lafe / Cafe Loco / 2008
A folk record sporting full arrangements with sonic flourishes ranging from New Orleans Jazz, Bandiito Western, Americana, Country, Slack-key and more - along with a few sparse arrangements falling more into line with traditional folk arrangements.

Coco & Lafe
This folk duo hails the Boston/Cambridge Scene & they tour constantly in support of their prolific appetite for writing songs.

They drove San Diego to record at StudiOB92107. Our first project together resulted in airplay on 178 broadcast 'folk" stations, worldwide. The 2nd CD "Uncovered" is already garnering rotation having been release for hardly 2months.

We began recording our 3rd full-length CD (in 2 years...) beginning March 2010. The forthcoming CD, "Big Bang" will feature folk axemen Dennis Capplinger and Doug Pettibone (who works routinely with Lucinda Williams, and tours extensively with Marianne Faithful...) playing an array of instuments, Jeff Berkley on percussion, and newcomer to San Diego... bassist Jodie Hill (who I'll go so far to say is tremendous with reading and improvisational skills applied to all styles, especially jazz... and leaves the very definitive fingerprint in her playing style.) as part of the studio lineup... so far the sessions have been a wonderful experience in collecting remarkable ideas in music performance, and writng.

More news with more progress, soon, as this future release looks more than promising.

Visit Coco & Lafe

Check out Chuck's Interview with
GuitarGearHeads.com.