nah... bono isn't one to OMG over 
Celebrating The New Gretsch Golden Age at WinterNAMM'10!
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Jan 14, 2010 10:35 p.m. Hermitt:
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Jan 14, 2010 10:42 p.m. Timthom62:
BonOMG?
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Jan 14, 2010 11:07 p.m. Deed Eddy:
Finally here..NAMMites are everywhere! The streets of Anaheim are overrun, and the hotel lobby is a mix of musicians, crews, reps, executives, press, and loads of little kids who just can't wait to see Mickey tomorrow! As Disneyland is nearby, the Mouse Theme is pretty much the thing in this town.
We arrived this evening after our own Road Trip. You've pretty much seen it as Proteus posted many of the same shots I was taking, only one day later.
Duane has a 10 a.m. (Pacific time) interview with Sirius XM Radio, I'm not sure if it's live or not, but I believe it will be. The show is "Freewheelin' with Chris and Meredith".
Then....NAMM.
I'll let ya know.
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Jan 14, 2010 11:47 p.m. giffenf:
OK, where to begin? How about with a true L.A. experience on the way to Anaheim?
Just about every movie about L.A. includes a shot of this place, and the truth is, it's less than 5 miles from my house, yet today was only the second time I've ever been there. Good donuts, though, and on the way to a freeway onramp.
Welcome to Anaheim! Now pay up:
Got there and headed down to Hall E, since it opened 30 minutes before the rest of the show. Who do I see as I'm descending the escalator but Johnny Hiland:
Just casually showing off his guitar to anyone interested out there in the lobby. Gotta love NAMM for stuff like this.
Wearing my Brian Setzer Orchestra shirt today was brilliant. Just about everybody looked at me with that "Is he somebody?" look. Little do they know I'm nobody! But people just assumed I was a member of the BSO, and they sure were nicer than usual. And I got offered a lot more swag than I would have otherwise.
They're checking IDs in multiple locations this year. I feel safer here than I do at the airport, except maybe for all the musicians loitering around.
Made it to the Gretsch booth, Proteus was nowhere in sight, may as well have a look around. This pair of clubs beats four aces any day:
I thought I had enough Gretsches, but these made me change my mind.
Met Fred Gretsch and had Proteus (he appeared shortly after I got there) take our picture. Thanks, Tim! Your camera produces much better results than mine.
I tried to get a shot of Joe Carducci, but they always seemed blurred. I concluded it was because as far as I can tell, this man never stands still.
Headed over to the TV Jones booth, and got a quick look at the T-Armonds. TV was exceptionally nice (no reason he shouldn't be, he just seemed friendlier than I somehow expected the man responsible for so much good tone to be). As it turned out, he was still setting up the booth, so I didn't get a chance to try them out, but he said to come back later and give them a run-through. Didn't make it today, but tomorrow for sure.
Now here's the booth, and do you see the young man with the backpack? For whatever reason, in that backpack he had a Nocturne pedal he and the young lady in the picture were admiring. I'd love to know the story of how someone so young came into possession of an object capable of such fine tone. I guess I should have asked, but it seemed rude at the time.
The T-Armonds, in P-90 form factor, are in that blonde guitar in the background between the young man and the young woman.
Came back to the Gretsch booth later, and started playing with a doublecut Falcon. Since no one was performing, I sat on the stage to do it, and since there was a Gretsch Executive amp just sitting right there next to me, I plugged it in and started playing. Sitting there in a black shirt like all the FMIC guys, show attendees just assumed I was working there, and started asking me questions. And I answered them. If it weren't cool enough to be mistaken for a member of the BSO, being mistaken for an FMIC spokesperson, and pretty much pulling it off, was even cooler. Then I caught the Brophy Dale performance (on the same stage, through the same amp). What a great show, great tone emanating from a filtertron-and-Bigsby-equipped Tele.
As I was leaving, I met Paul Pigat and his manager, as well as Mike Lewis. A fine way to end the day
Lots of other pictures, but they're not Gretsch-related, so rather than belabor this thread, I'll post them in "Other Guitars." And yes, there are 3 more days of this. Cool.
FG
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Jan 14, 2010 11:57 p.m. Curto:
Thanks for the coverage. It was good to meet you today Proteus, and thanks for the Steer Head Bolo, or as you called it a "Damn Lanyard".
It was reall cool to meet you, and Fred Gretsch, and Joe Carducci (and Kim Falcon). Those guys were so nice and treated me like I was important rather than the nobody that I am.
Joe Carducci even took the time to take a picture of me and Fred with my camera. Neat guy!
I also had a nice chat with Tom (TV) Jones regarding a Gretsch Baritone Conversion I am working on. Another really nice fellow.
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Jan 15, 2010 12:05 a.m. BenBradshaw:
Make sure to check out the sensaphonics booth. They're a business from chicago that make hearing conservation products. I have a pair of their ear plugs that are custom fit and sound great. I hear they are unveiling a new in-ear monitor there.
Hearing conservation has only really recently become a concern for people, but I'm sure all you rockers know the importance of it.
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Jan 15, 2010 12:11 a.m. Nobody:
Oh buooyee, this is gonna be grreat...
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Jan 15, 2010 12:14 a.m. Geoff_Vane:
Clocking in. Europeans are awake now.
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Jan 15, 2010 12:22 a.m. Nobody:
And we colonists are clocking out now.
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Jan 15, 2010 12:41 a.m. DangerousMan:
This European has been awake the whole damn time due to academic requirements. Coffee anybody, why yes - I've only had sixteen so far today...
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Jan 15, 2010 12:48 a.m. Geoff_Vane:
That's dangerous man...
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- Rated: 161 ↑
Jan 15, 2010 12:55 a.m. Bear:
Proteus, I want to thank you for the great coverage of the 2010 NAMM show. I almost feel like I'm there. Going to a NAMM show has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager and I've never had the chance to go to one, and I probably never will now. So again, thanks for the wonderful coverage.
I'm not feeling very well, so I think I'm going to go lie down. I will resume this thread when I get up. Good night my friends.
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Jan 15, 2010 1:32 a.m. Proteus:
These long pauses in coverage seem par for the course at these events, don't they?
I assume you all know I'm A) collecting pics/audio/video; 2) talking to people; C) getting from place to place; IV) eating; 5) sleeping.
Since my last post it's been A, 2, C, and IV.
As I've promised myself I won't get days behind in coverage this year, I have Gobs-o-Goodies to post before I can proceed to 5.
But I don't have it bad compared to the FMIC web guys. They're working nearly round the clock, lined up at a cafeteria table facing a wall in the little interior tech room which feeds high-speed internet access to all of FMIC at the show.
They were launching eight completely new websites – along with a slew of new products. They had to get all the web stuff up and live on stringent schedules (with persistent oversight from managers with deadlines). They have serious quality and productivity requirements to live up to as well. You can't imagine how hard and long they work putting up FMIC's coverage at the corporate sites, and on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and youtube.
My job is relaxed by comparison – and they're pretty much strapped to their laptops in the webcave, without the chance to get out and meet and greet.
That said, I kinda envy the full tech crew FMIC fields: several top-notch video cameramen (with great gear), a crew to edit, process, and compress broadcast-quality video and get it post-worthy within 30 minutes after each event, audio pros getting board feeds into ProTools, and web coders to make online magic on command.
There's a lot of heavy tech – and long hours of eye-bleeding computer grunt work behind the scenes.
I feel like a skunkworks guerilla by comparison – me and a Canon D50 do-it-all camera, the Edirol recorder, a notebook, and a MacBook.
To catch up with some housekeeping:
raveoned, no one knew of a Buddy Holly Tribute Strat.
aaronbrill, I haven't been down to talk to TV yet...
redrocker, your Kim pics with Red Penguin are coming soon.
tsar nick, yes the bolos are for sale – but I have many more to award here, so hang tight...
pbernotas, once you meet and hear Steve Hunter live, he's pretty hard not to like, huh? Class act from top to bottom.
Who was the mystery guest?
Yessir, none other than Jeff Beck. I betook myself back to the webcave to process content, and there were two burly venue security guards at the door to the room, clearly protecting what was behind the curtain. A sign indicated an "interview was in progress."
I was able to look between curtains as I walked in, and saw a slim, craggy guy who looked British. (Don't ask me how guys look British, but they DO.)
In the webcave, on the other side of the curtain from the artist lounge, everyone was working in strict silence. I whispered to ask Brad Traweek (head web guy) who the guest of honor was, and he told me Jeff Beck.
You coulda knocked me over with an air wrench. In my pantheon of musical heros, no living entity is bigger than Jeff Beck. (I'm not sure Debussy, Stravinsky, Rob't Johsnon, or Chet would be.) That's not to say others don't occupy the same pedestal – but Beck is first rank for me.
I asked if he was performing; the answer was that it wasn't scheduled, but there were hopes. In any case, I wouldn't be among the dealer and FMIC insiders who would be invited.
BUT Jeff had just played a few minutes through a G-DEC as part of the interview being conducted – and I'd missed it. Missed the chance to hear Jeff Beck playing through a 30-watt amp at room volume just a few feet away.
But my assigned seat at the cafeteria table was nearest his position – a few feet away through the curtain – and I overheard most of a fairly long interview covering a lot of territory. I assume that interview will surface on FMIC's youtube channel.
He wasn't going to be wandering through the booth, or even in the private dealer sales areas, and his FMIC handlers were sticking close. I hoped for the chance to speak with him as he left the webcave, and maybe talk Gretsch for a minute or two, perhaps get a word from him, or pic with a Gretsch. But for that I would have to have been on the radar of the top marketing guys who were his host, and that wasn't happening.
Still you know. Jeff Beck.
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- Rated: 31 ↑
Jan 15, 2010 1:34 a.m. giffenf:
BenBradshaw: Yes, I saw the Sensaphonics booth and plan to go back so they can squirt some silicone (or whatever it is) into my ear for a custom set of plugs. A great idea, and nowhere more useful than NAMM (especially in the drum hall).
Goodnight, Bear, hope you feel better, there are plenty more things up Proteus' sleeve, no doubt.
FG
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Jan 15, 2010 1:37 a.m. Proteus:
Prize Control
For the Cochran book, I wanted the third right answer to "what is Albert Lea." It is indeed Eddie Cochran's birthplace of record. TimThom and NitroG were 1st and 2nd to nail it, and MacStevenXIII was third this time.
He says he'll give up any further bolos he wins – but a book ain't a bolo, bucky, so he'll have to let me know if he wants his book!
And now, easy deals – I have a bolo for each first mention of an Eddie Cochran recording. First six win...
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Jan 15, 2010 1:40 a.m. DangerousMan:
Summertime Blues... I'm determined to win something!
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Jan 15, 2010 1:44 a.m. AJ:
So, it wasn't the deceased James Brown speaking with a British accent after all? Aw well, probably for the best.
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Jan 15, 2010 1:46 a.m. AJ:
Pink Pegged Slacks
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Jan 15, 2010 1:47 a.m. AJ:
Oops. Pink Peg Slacks
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Jan 15, 2010 1:47 a.m. bobbyrivera:
Nervous Breakdown. One of my favorites.
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Jan 15, 2010 1:52 a.m. Geoff_Vane:
I'm not gonna say. I already have a bolo. I CAN control myself. (I think)
Hold the quiz line; I must take a shower at some point and I think it's now. (snif)
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Jan 15, 2010 1:53 a.m. AJ:
C'mon everybody ... who complained about having difficulty winning stuff in Europe. Get your winning song title in there.
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Jan 15, 2010 1:53 a.m. Jukka:
Twenty-Flight Rock
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Jan 15, 2010 1:54 a.m. the schroeder (tm):
There are some CHERISHED MEMORIES of previous NAMM coverages, this one is at least as good as the others.
Thanks for the entertainment.
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Jan 15, 2010 2:22 a.m. Geoff_Vane:
Whoops bad gateway for a moment! 502
Prot, I've been examining Google maps to see what journey you made. As a Dutch cesspool communist, I had no idea where you have been. It's an enormous trip! However nice that landscape is, I probably would have stopped half way and asked someone to shoot me. So many miles...
Respect for the energy you have while making this live report. I'm delighted to be part of the NAMM experience!
