National Guitars’ new model for 2017 is the Pioneer. This thin solidbody-sized guitar has a hollow steel body and a National biscuit resonator. The Pioneer features both a P-90 style pickup and a Highlander which can be mixed and blended for optimum tone.
There are those that believe man, and woman, can not live by six strings alone. Here is a Koll 12-string semi-hollow in a beautiful faded honey burst finish with Curtis Novak gold foil pickups.
2017 marks the 50th anniversary for Larrivée Guitars. Larrivée constructs collector and presentation grade instruments as well as work horse instruments used by musicians on stage and in the studio. Here is a close up of some colorful abalone inlay on of their high-grade guitars.
There were a few makers that focus on using reclaimed wood and other materials. This colorful instrument from Prisma Guitars is made for reclaimed skateboards!
D’Angelico made a pretty big splash at NAMM the last few years with their guitars based off the vintage models of master luthier John D’Angelico. For 2017 D’Angelico introduces mandolins. Here is a beautiful F-style instrument with herringbone purfling.
This sweet looking guitar is the One Standard made by Kz Guitarworks. The double cutaway body and three British-voiced pickups bring Brian May’s guitar to mind, but this guitar merely nods in that direct rather than copying that iconic instrument.
This other worldly look device is the Zylia ZM-1, a multi-channel microphone. The ZM-1 contains 19 microphone capsules that have a high degree of separation. This allows a whole band to track separate tracks by merely setting up and playing around the ZM-1. The files can be loaded in any DAW program (or Zylia Studio software) for processing and mixing.
Sometimes less is more, as these graceful pair of single pickup Titan guitars exemplify. Titan guitar is a sub-brand of Kauer Guitars. Rather than having separate models, Titan offers the buyer a single body style, but with a choice of colors, pickguard colors, bridges, pickups and switching. And, yes, the guitar can have multiple pickups.
Ozzy Osborne may not be the first name you think of when you think of harmonicas, but this eye-catching display from Hohner of the Ozzy Osborne model will stay with you a while. The model number is M666.
Fender showed off models from their new American Professional series. Pictured here is the Jazzmaster which has been upgraded from the former American Standard series with new Michael Frank designed pickups, treble bleed circuitry, bone nut and new neck profile.
The new American Professional series from Fender includes the most familiar instruments one associates with Fender: the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Jazz Bass and the Precision Bass. Here is the American Professional Telecaster Deluxe Shawbuck, which has all the improvements of the series along with Tim Shaw designed Humbucking Pickups.
This Fender American Professional series Stratocaster with a tasteful sunburst finish over a highly figured maple top was too beautiful to pass by with snapping a photo. As with the other instruments in this series, this guitar features newly designed pickups, treble bleed circuitry and other upgrades.
Here’s how you know you have arrived: When you own a fleet of Fender Custom Shop Telecasters with amplifiers painted to match. I suggest ordering two more additional sets, so there’s one for every day of the week.
Occasionally a manufacturer will show off a one-off or prototype to gauge retailer’s reaction or interest before gearing up for full-scale production. Here is a Takamine prototype with a smaller thinline body, arched top, arched back and built-in pickup.
During the 1960’s there was a boom in folk music, and an equally large boom in guitar sales. Import sales soared as well as those of domestic instruments. EKO of Italy was one of the companies that was able to take advantage of this market, and did so with bold looking instruments. Here is a new EKO Ranger 12-string re-issue.
LR Baggs demoed their Synapse Personal PA. This 500 watt acoustic amplifier features both a compression tweeter and a compression woofer, hence the dual horn configuration which allows for a nearly 180 degrees of even sound dispersion. The mixer section has two channels with the usual bevy of controls including LR Baggs’ own propriety reverb.
The Taylor GS Mini-e Bass is this writer’s Best of NAMM 2017 winner. This small acoustic bass guitar has a scale length of only 23.5”, yet is tuned the same as a conventional bass. This is accomplished through the use of special Nylon/Phosphor bronze strings Taylor developed with D’Addario. This small, fun, light instrument also includes a pickup for amplification.
This interesting looking piece of art is Alpha Piano’s MPiano keyboard controller. In addition to being a visual showpiece, beneath each key is an adjustable actuator. The resistance of each key can be adjusted to achieve a different weight perception. The surface of the keys are also reportedly touch sensitive.
Gretsch unveiled some new guitars in there Roots Collection including this G9521 Style 2 Triple-0. A beautiful Appalachia Burst graces the solid Spruce top and is accentuated with rope purfling.
Fishman’s Platimun Pro EQ pre-amp features a pure analog signal featuring a single knob compressor, notch filter, tuner and a boost switch. The Platinum stage also boasts of an all analog circuit path, but is simpler with only a volume control and three bands of EQ with sweep-able mids.
Collings Guitars displayed a Baritone version of their 360 model guitar. The 360B features an offset body, Lollar P90 pickups, with a bridge and vibrato from Mastery. The scale length on this slightly longer neck is 27.5”.
Coppersound Pedal creates some unusual and interesting pedals, but what first caught the attention of NAMM attendees is some of their unusual design ascetics. Coppersound Strategy Boost pedal uses a Strat jack plate for the output jack. Another usual pedal is the Telegraph Stutter which uses an old fashion telegraph tapper for a momentary mute.
Waterloo Guitars is a sister company to Collings Guitars that focuses on creating updated versions of budget cautious instruments made during the depression. While Waterloo guitars such as the WL-K Southwest shown here may look like an offing from the Montgomery Wards catalog, it is a handcrafted instrument with a more refined, serious tone (and price tag).
Guitar strap designer Jodi Head shows off her a few of her custom straps. Each strap is handmade and custom designed in her New York City facility.
The She Rocks Awards in Anaheim CA celebrated and honored standout women in music and the music industry. Shirley Manson of Garbage received the Powerhouse Award, saying, “By not disappearing, but by thriving, that’s how you have the last word.” Lita Ford, recipient of the Icon Award, brought the house down with an all-star jam on her ‘80s hit “Kiss Me Deadly,” backed by seven female guitarists from the recently released She Rocks Vol. 1. Ronnie Spector (pictured here) received the Legend Award, saying, “Never stop believing in yourself and never give up control of your life.”
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