RE: [Harp-L] NAMM 2011

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Steve,

Oddly enough, 2011 will be the first NAMM I've *missed* in 25+ years 
- will be out-of-town meeting my new grand-daughter, but I can point 
you to a few places...

Hohner has a very large booth which usually features some very fine 
harp players (and/or also some killer accordionists - Flaco Jimenez, 
etc.) Last year they featured Buddy Greene and in the past they've 
had virtually all the top harpers. First class operation all around. 
Please tell 'em hi for me?

The Suzuki booth usually features my pal Brendan Power, displaying 
various instruments and his exceptional talents.

Old pal Peter 'Madcat" Ruth has been a mainstay at the Hering booth 
for years, although he recently advised me that he won't be making 
the trip this year.... I trust they will have someone there, however.

Seydel will probably have a presence, as will Lee Oskar (Tombo.) 
Both well worth visiting. Astatic mics is there, and of course tons 
of amp builders.

On the non-harmonica front, there is usually some great picking going 
on downstairs at the National Guitars booth (Bob Brozman, Catfish 
Keith, Doug McLeod, and occasional harpsters sitting in.) You'll also 
come across many harpers in the crowd itself -- perhaps David 
Barrett, John Sebastian, James Harman, Phil Wiggins, Danny Wilson, 
Rick Estrin, Kim Wilson, James Cotton.... who knows...? (I've bumped 
into all of these folks more than once there.)

NAMM is a zoo. Every now and then a true superstar will check in and 
play somewhere (Stevie Wonder, Dylan, Bono, etc.) Ya never know...? 
And of course the people-watching cannot be beat -- metal freaks, 
silicone babes, tatted-out rockers, etc etc. The guy next to you in 
the hot dog line could be Paul McCartney...

Bring PLENTY of Aspirin, however, as the volume level is atrocious!

Have fun!  :)

cheers,
Tom Ball




Well, I've lived in SoCal for nearly 15 years, and finally going to a 
NAMM; not the whole thing, just on Sunday, 1/16 (if my NY Giants are 
in the playoffs and playing that day -- ha, not likely after last 
week -- I'll have a bit of a dilemma). My 
singer-songwriter/guitar-playing Wife will likely also  be going.

Anyone have any specific or general suggestions what I (or we) should 
check out? Specific to harp players, or just cool stuff in general? 
Should I bring some harps and a mic in, to try out amps and pedals 
and such (do they let you do that)? Anyone else going? Might be nice 
to meet some other harp folks there.

BTW: Our good friend Chad Patrick got us the passes. He's invented a 
great product for drummers (I know, this is a list for harp players, 
but one never knows) that I should help plug:

 http://thedrumwallet.com/about.html


SLH