Photos: Winter NAMM 2016

PRS displayed the Vela, which is a retro inspired guitar with D’Armond inspired neck pickup (see inset photo in the upper right corner) and a bridge pickup voiced similar to a Gretsch Filtertron.

Lesser known from the PRS line of instruments are their acoustic guitars. Here is one of their investment grade Private Stock series guitar with a unique neck inlay.

Godin’s Summit Classic Goldtop makes use of Seymore Duncan pickups that combine a P-90 with another single coil pickup into one pickup. Each pickup can be used in either mode or both together in humbucking mode, giving the Summit a huge variety of tones.

Seagull displayed several new guitars in an attractive Burnt Umber sunburst finish including this Maritime Mahogany GT Q1T, which is made of all solid woods.

For 2016 Taylor put some emphasis on their 12-fret guitar, including this mahogany top 322e. While 12-fret guitars (number of frets where the neck joins the body) have less frets than their 14-fret counterparts, the bridge is placed closer to the widest part of the body. Some guitarists believe this drives the top more efficiently giving the best tone.

Line 6 continues their line of modeling amplifiers with the Firehawk 1500. This 6 speaker amp provides true stereo imaging, an impressive array of amp models and effects, iOS editing and 1,500 watts of power.

Artistically speaking, Neat Microphones presented some of the coolest looking offerings with their Widget USB desktop mics.

Gibson’s Memphis Division displayed a new hollowbody archtop guitar, the ES-275. This guitar is slightly smaller and thinner than the ES-175, and features a graceful Venetian cutaway.

Gibson Acoustic 2016 line includes the newest version of the SJ-100 which features Walnut tonewood for the back and sides, and a Granadillo fingerboard. Along with the new Honeyburst finish on the top, the SJ-100 is a classy alternative the iconic J-200.

The Craig Wayne Boyd Model from Dean Guitars is a striking take on the mid 60’s version of the Gibson Everly Brother model guitar. Boyd was the season 7 winner of ABC’s The Voice talent competition.

The Ukulele crosses genre with ML Uke from Dean with the body shape of their ML guitar favored by hard rockers and heavy metal musicians.

One of the great things about attending NAMM is being able to see some guitars that are highly unlikely to make their way into your local music store, such as this custom ESP axe.

This Emerald Green Sunburst Eclipse from ESP is one of their new guitars that are made in the USA.

The decorative pickguard on this affordable new Takamine GN75CE gives the guitar a distinctive appearance.

This new Takamine, the EF450C , also has a decorative pickguard similar to that of the GN75CE…but with inlayed pearl and the vine inlay on the fingerboard, this a clearly a more deluxe instrument.

D’Angelico Guitars pays tribute to luthier John D’Angelico’s work with a recreation of the master’s most interesting (if not bizarre) instruments. Instead of the original’s traditional sunburst finish, this NAMM display guitar features the blue sunburst of one of D’Angelico’s apprentice James D’Aquisto’s most famous guitars.

The Reach, Mackie’s portable PA system, has two built-in full-range monitors built into the sides of the cabinet. They either or both sides can be turned on or off as the needs require. The side fills can be used for personal monitoring for the performer, or to increase to the coverage of the speaker to a wide 150 degrees.

The Schecter Jeff Loomis Cygnus JLX-1 FR is definitely for the rocker that is making a statement: it certainly was a standout at the show.

Here is a relatively more subtle new offering from Schecter with a pair of P-90 and a more classic guitar silloette.

While most acoustic guitars are more understated and traditional in terms of appearance, this Schecter Synyster Gates AC-GA-SC hold appeal to those who lean toward the macabre.