Who was at NAMM?

txbasschik · #1 07-17-2006, 11:47 AM

I missed you, I know I did, because I didn't get to go for very long, and I had my daughter with me. Didn't get much visiting time.

A girlfriend from Indiegrrls got us passes, so we went. Got to play through a lot of basses. Got to see a lot of very good players, demo'ing instruments.

Doug Pinnick was *everywhere*! I saw him over and over again. I would swear I saw Billy Sheehan, too, but there's a guy in Austin who looks like him, so I could be wrong. Ran into Jimmy Vaughn three times.

I didn't get to really talk with anyone much, though. I ran around with my friend and my little girl. We visited, among others, the Luna Guitars booth, and I got my daughter a very nice, small electric guitar for $75, at the end of the day. (Retail ~$265.) If I'd had the money, I'd have bought one of their wonderful higher-end basses for less than half the retail price, but couldn't afford to. Those folks were very nice...very "real".

I met Yvonne, the designer. Her mother is 81 years old, and is still playing bass. That is why she designed these instruments...in tribute to her mother. Her mom started playing the same age I did...39. She has had a long career, and played whenever she wanted to. She always wished for a bass that was full-scale, but that fit a woman's hands and body better, so her daughter granted her wish.

I went to the Daisy booth, too, but wasn't nearly as fond of those basses as I was with the Luna's. I did like their Rock Candy Custom basses, though. The neck-thru's were lovely, and nicely priced.

But the balance, feel, and sound of the Luna's were better. The necks on them are *amazing*. Thin, but not *too* thin, and beveled to better fit a woman's smaller grip. Fast as drag-racin'. :-)

They took my girl's pic, with her new guitar, for their web page. Evidently, this was the first guitar of that line to be purchased! My girl has a very, very nice guitar.

So...more NAMM stories?

Cherie

TreeChild · #2 07-18-2006, 09:31 AM

i was there on sunday from opening to about 2:30. i went with the birdsong guitars crew, we didnt have a booth but wanted to see the whole thing. it was really neat. met mike tobias (MDT basses) and the cheif editor of Bass Player magazine. did you see the $109,000 martin acoustic guitar? it was pretty cool. played an ERB for the first time it was an 8 string galveston. not the best made instrument, but i didnt really have the balls to pickup the more expensive ones

txbasschik · #3 07-18-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeChild

i was there on sunday from opening to about 2:30. i went with the birdsong guitars crew, we didnt have a booth but wanted to see the whole thing. it was really neat. met mike tobias (MDT basses) and the cheif editor of Bass Player magazine. did you see the $109,000 martin acoustic guitar? it was pretty cool. played an ERB for the first time it was an 8 string galveston. not the best made instrument, but i didnt really have the balls to pickup the more expensive ones

I missed you by *that much*! We got there at 1:30 on Sunday, and stayed until closing.

I picked up some might fine, expensive basses. But I just fell in love with the Luna full-scale line. They were gorgeous, and so well-made. The Phoenix line has black finish with a phoenix rising, done in shell.

I saw that very-fancy Martin. {{{whistle}}} That's a lot of money for a guitar! I could pay for my property twice, and build a proper practice room, for that money. Pretty thing, though, wasn't it?

My husband is the King Of Swag. He got a bag full of free t-shirts, and all manner of stickers, and spent not a dime on 'em.

Cherie

morf · #4 07-18-2006, 11:49 AM

I wasn't, living 8000km away, but sure wish I was. I saw alot of videos on youtube and there are many artists and instruments I would have liked to meet/play and if not hear/look at

budman · #5 07-18-2006, 12:04 PM

My wife and I were there on Saturday. We met and had dinner with Carey Nordstrand. Got to meet Jens Ritter and Kevin Brubaker. Also met J-raj and had a nice chat. All very cool guys. Lots of cool stuff to look at. I wish I would have tried the new Eden WTX-260 3.8 lb 260+ watt head.

Kickin'Fruit · #6 07-18-2006, 12:07 PM

It was horrible, I was losing men left and right... Charlie had our flank and retreat routes cut off. There was no way... OH, NAMM! I thought you meant... no I didn't go. Where was it held?

Spector_Ray · #7 07-18-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

It was horrible, I was losing men left and right... Charlie had our flank and retreat routes cut off. There was no way... OH, NAMM! I thought you meant... no I didn't go. Where was it held?

You needed Kirby up there with the BAR.

Lo end PUNCH · #8 07-18-2006, 03:08 PM

Did any one of you lucky people take pictures

??? Yep, just what I thought, rub it in and show us......NOTHING

vindy500 · #9 07-21-2006, 08:43 AM

tx do you have a pic of your girls guitar?

NJL · #10 07-21-2006, 08:46 AM

I had a pass from NARAS, but couldn't make it after all... work related stuff.

txbasschik · #11 07-21-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman

My wife and I were there on Saturday. We met and had dinner with Carey Nordstrand. Got to meet Jens Ritter and Kevin Brubaker. Also met J-raj and had a nice chat. All very cool guys. Lots of cool stuff to look at. I wish I would have tried the new Eden WTX-260 3.8 lb 260+ watt head.

Very cool!!! If they ever have it in Austin again, I'm getting a sitter. I'm glad I had my daughter with me, but I would have liked to been able to meet some people and spend more time playing stuff.

Cherie

txbasschik · #12 07-21-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

It was horrible, I was losing men left and right... Charlie had our flank and retreat routes cut off. There was no way... OH, NAMM! I thought you meant... no I didn't go. Where was it held?

We got through, but my husband was trapped behind the lines. He very nearly missed the airlift, and Charlie would have had him!

He'd forgotten to get a piece of paper from NAMM certifying that we bought our daughter's guitar there. Security made him go all the way back to the Luna booth, and they kicked my girl and I out. (No minors on the floor at closing...insurance reasons.)

It was in Austin. Hotter'n Hades that day, too. I saw a group of Germans melting on the sidewalk. They were wearing black, some of them had leather on, and the woman with them was in a leopard-print, tight, long-sleeved outfit. They were very shocked at how hot it was. No one told 'em Texas in July was the Devil's vacation spot!

Cherie

DaveDeVille · #13 07-21-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

I had a pass from NARAS, but couldn't make it after all... work related stuff.

... i couldn't make it either ...

a death in the family .

NJL · #14 07-21-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david meissner

... i couldn't make it either ...

a death in the family .

I'm sorry to hear that.

txbasschik · #15 07-21-2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

I had a pass from NARAS, but couldn't make it after all... work related stuff.

Aw shoot! The show was pretty cool. We watched bands at the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, and listened to some awesome players demo'ing stuff. My husband hung around the drum area all afternoon, while our girl, my friend, and myself ran around trying guitars and basses.

Cherie

txbasschik · #16 07-21-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david meissner

... i couldn't make it either ...

a death in the family .

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry. My condolances to your family.

Cherie

vindy500 · #17 07-21-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txbasschik

It was in Austin. Hotter'n Hades that day, too. I saw a group of Germans melting on the sidewalk. They were wearing black, some of them had leather on, and the woman with them was in a leopard-print, tight, long-sleeved outfit. They were very shocked at how hot it was. No one told 'em Texas in July was the Devil's vacation spot!

Cherie

crazy here in denmark its been around 30 degrees lately, i can only imagine germany would be hotter, definately not leather weather

txbasschik · #18 07-21-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindy500

tx do you have a pic of your girls guitar?

Here's her pic on the Luna website...Aimee with Pandora Petite...Second row to the bottom.

http://www.lunaguitars.com/summernamm_2006.php

Proud mama...

Cherie

jimb213 · #19 07-21-2006, 09:06 AM

I saw Johnny Rabb with 10 Finger Orchestra in some tiny bar on 5th street Saturday night. Johnny Rabb wins the "World's Fastest Drummer" competitions when Mike Mangini doesn't. 10 Finger Orchestra is a guy who does a lot of looping, building up songs one instrument at a time. Very funky, grooving, and impressive. Rabb is very good at 1-handed rolls. It was just a very cool, high energy performance that we just happended to pass by walking down the street.

Oh, and my crew got in to see Monte Montgomery at Antone's for free 'cause one of my friends had a pass.

Unfortunately, I did not have a pass, so didn't actually get to check out the show. Oh well... It was my fault for not hitting up my friends w/ connections in time to try to score a pass.

vindy500 · #20 07-21-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txbasschik

Here's her pic on the Luna website...Aimee with Pandora Petite...Second row to the bottom.

http://www.lunaguitars.com/summernamm_2006.php

Proud mama...

Cherie

nice little axe