800 lb. Gorilla in the room? Why no new amp (or other) photos from NAMM?

Jim C · #1 01-17-2011, 02:56 PM

Seems like there were at least a few TB'ers at NAMM yet VERY few photos.
* Did the economy force manufacturers to slow down new product development?
* Maybe those that attended are burnt on MI equipment?
* What about Tom Bowlus? I realize he needs to keep some info for his magazine but haven't seen a thing from the guy who is super on top of equip. trends

Anybody else super anxious to hear about new gear?

lomo · #2 01-17-2011, 02:56 PM

+100
There was this guy up on the grassy knoll......

Billy Low · #3 01-17-2011, 02:58 PM

I believe that Ashdown may have had something.

superbassman2000 · #4 01-17-2011, 02:58 PM

I was going to patiently wait, but did EBS have anything? I really really really really wish they would make a microhead. I mean, they are practically done--just throw a class D power amp to their microbass II, and let the money pour in!

stiles72 · #5 01-17-2011, 03:01 PM

I've seen more photos of the new Ampeg gear on Facebook than TB. Ampeg had some on their page, Mark from Vintage Blue had some, and there are a couple of videos on Youtube as well.

Jim C · #6 01-17-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

There was this guy up on the grassy knoll......

Well said; also to include is that supposed moon landing they claimed about 40 years ago...

Jazzdogg · #7 01-17-2011, 03:10 PM

The bass amp I saw being used most often was probably the Aguilar ag500.

One amp that caught my attention was the TCE Blacksmith, which has the same basic fuctionality as the RH450, but provides abundantly more power.

I was very excited to see and hear two new amps from Genz Benz, the Streamliner and the 9.2. I saw both of them, but, never had an opportunity to hear either one under conditions that gave me a clear idea about their sonic character.

Tom Bowlus was there with a posse, checking out gear, handing out awards, and so forth. I expect to see a spread on issue #6, whenever it's published (#5 still hasn't arrived at my house).

burk48237 · #8 01-17-2011, 03:12 PM

Tom linked to TB the first day on a thread in Misc. The Photos are from Josh B and me and we were up till about 2 AM every night editing photo's thank you.

www.bassgearmag.com

KJung · #9 01-17-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

Tom linked to TB the first day on a thread in Misc. The Photos are from Josh B and me and we were up till about 2 AM every night editing photo's thank you.

www.bassgearmag.com

Great pic's from you guys! I enjoyed looking through them, and I understand there are more on the way.

To the OP... yes, it seems like most companies really slowed down their new product R&D work given the economic situation over the last few years. Not a lot new from what I see at NAMM on the amp front. Little tweaks here and there... the promise of a bit more power in some of the micro's, but not much else.

The Genz Streamliner seems to be one of the few 'unique and new' amp offerings that I've seen and heard about.

Jim C · #10 01-17-2011, 03:25 PM

Thanks, am headed to the misc section (I hardly ever visit there but makes sense for this topic)
Ken, did the bass and effects manufacturers also have a limited showing of new products?

R Baer · #11 01-17-2011, 04:03 PM

Actually, there was a lot of stuff to see in the bass world. Just doesn't seem that NAMM is generating the threads here on TB that it did a few years ago. I noticed that 2009 had lots of NAMM threads and pics, 2010 not so much and this year very little at all... interesting. All in all, I think most manufacturers were feeling that this was a better show than last year and that things are looking a little better for 2011.

Emprov · #12 01-17-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Baer

Actually, there was a lot of stuff to see in the bass world. Just doesn't seem that NAMM is generating the threads here on TB that it did a few years ago. I noticed that 2009 had lots of NAMM threads and pics, 2010 not so much and this year very little at all... interesting. All in all, I think most manufacturers were feeling that this was a better show than last year and that things are looking a little better for 2011.

A buddy of mine who went said that there wasn't really anything that made a big splash there this year, nothing that made you go "Wow!".

KJung · #13 01-17-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Thanks, am headed to the misc section (I hardly ever visit there but makes sense for this topic)
Ken, did the bass and effects manufacturers also have a limited showing of new products?

Looks like a zillion more basses out there, and a ton of new effects also. Not a lot regarding amps and cabs from what I see, and from the reports I got back from guys I know who went.

Just google 'bass gear magazine' and then click on the 'NAMM 2011' link at the bottom of the home page. VERY nice job by these guys for those of us who weren't there.

Schlyder · #14 01-17-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

Tom linked to TB the first day on a thread in Misc. The Photos are from Josh B and me and we were up till about 2 AM every night editing photo's thank you.

www.bassgearmag.com

Nice job, burk. That was a good fix. :P

Lowbrow · #15 01-17-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

Tom linked to TB the first day on a thread in Misc. The Photos are from Josh B and me and we were up till about 2 AM every night editing photo's thank you.

www.bassgearmag.com

Great coverage - you even caught Tom Petersson!

Standalone · #16 01-17-2011, 07:15 PM

is this a hollow fretless FBass 5er? Godin? It doesn't quite have the proportions of an FBass...

anubis16 · #17 01-17-2011, 07:25 PM

I'm surprised this new Markbass amp hasn't generated more buzz.

http://www.bassgearmag.com/blog/zenp...011_d2_078.jpg

Looks like an all tube amp in a DV mark chassis. It also looks like it has the triode-pentode Continuous Power Control from the DV Mark Little 40.

Unfortunately, Markbass hasn't released their new website or any information on their new gear. I heard that their shipment of equipment never made it to NAMM, but I don't know if that was true or not.

bongomania · #18 01-17-2011, 07:34 PM

I just today spoke with the owner of a local drum shop who was at NAMM, and he wasn't really able to work up any enthusiasm about the offerings or opportunities there this year. He said "oh look, there's another company making plastic shakers..."

JimmyM · #19 01-17-2011, 07:46 PM

all the big excitement at namm was centered around clarinets. people think i'm crazy, but i've always said the clarinet was going to make a huge comeback in rock and roll and pop music, and this year i think will be the year.

burk48237 · #20 01-17-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standalone

is this a hollow fretless FBass 5er? Godin? It doesn't quite have the proportions of an FBass...

It was a "Chris Campbell Custom" they were on display at Pat Wilkins both.