[Harp-L] NAMM Report

[dmf273@xxxxxxxxx]

Thanks to the kindness of Michael Peloquin I was able to get a NAMM pass. I  
arrived early Saturday morning and was actually able to park in the Anaheim  
Convention Center structure. (In past years I've had to park a considerable  
distance away in one of the Disneyland lots.) Security was much tighter  
than at past NAMMs with photo ID required every time I entered the main  
hall and bag check every time I left. Also signs everywhere said "NO  
PERSONAL INSTRUMENTS ALLOWED!" but with some fast talking I was able to  
convince the guards I was a performer even though I only had a visitor pass.

I was disappointed to discover that for the first time in close to a decade  
of NAMMs there was no Hering presence! No Madcat, no Alberto Bertolazzi!  
Bummer. Also disappointed that Bends was not down in the acoustic hall  
showing off the Bends Tonica as they were last year. But on the bright  
side, for the first time Seydel had a booth, and I had a nice chat with  
Rupert Oysler there. Also touched bases with Andy Garrigue at Hohner and  
with Ronnie Shellist at Suzuki. I was told Lee Oskar was there too, but I  
missed him.

I didn't recognize any celebrities this year. In past years I've seen  
Stevie Wonder, Charlie Musselwhite, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie  
Worrell, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Carol Kaye, George Duke, Larry  
Coryell, \Gene Simmons and many other celebs, but this year about the only  
name I recognized was Yngwie Malmstein. I'd see a big crowd of people lined  
up to meet and greet someone and then find out I had no conception of who  
they were - the lead singer from Megadeth, or Mars Volta for instance. Oh  
well I guess I'm getting too old for that sort of thing.

But I had lots of fun watching demos of the latest gadgets and playing with  
some of them myself. I left almost ready to drop $600 on a Korg Wavedrum.  
Those things are amazing. But now that the buzz has worn off, I think I can  
wait on that one. More