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the thought of actually playing a curved keyboard just makes me shudder.
I've been playing piano/organ for almost 50 years.
I've been playing piano/organ for almost 50 years.
Looks like something Rick Wakeman would have played.
Well, I understand that, during a run of gigs at Wembley Arena, He arranged for an Indian take out to are at the stage area just about the time that an enormo solo from someone or other was about to start....
He arranged for the stage lights to leave him dimmed out during this time, so that he could eat his grub unnoticed by the crowd......
All went well until he accidentally dumped a Vindaloo on his keyboards about a minute out from the end of the enormo solo.....
Watching him try to clean the mess up before he was due to play again?........
I mentioned this in Wintermutes coverage but thought I'd say it here too.
Amazing craftsmanship and some new, original ideas from some of the smaller builders!
How can they possibly get noticed without distribution?
Is social media and Reverb enough to make a decent living?
Seems like only the big boys get articles written (other than Tom's magazine) probably due to advertising dollars.
Must be a labor of love when you are a smaller builder.
There is a big retailer near me (Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center) and probably 25 years ago at NAMM Yamaha had offered some new amazing keyboard. As I understand it, Alan Levin was impressed and gave them a PO # for X amount of keyboards. Yamaha couldn't build them fast enough and Chuck's was the only dealer in the country that had them. Other's complained but that purchase order from NAMM killed any fair trade issues as all in attendance could have made an order.
Clear to me that big business can occur at NAMM among the real players.
Amazing craftsmanship and some new, original ideas from some of the smaller builders!
How can they possibly get noticed without distribution?
Is social media and Reverb enough to make a decent living?
Seems like only the big boys get articles written (other than Tom's magazine) probably due to advertising dollars.
Must be a labor of love when you are a smaller builder.
There is a big retailer near me (Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center) and probably 25 years ago at NAMM Yamaha had offered some new amazing keyboard. As I understand it, Alan Levin was impressed and gave them a PO # for X amount of keyboards. Yamaha couldn't build them fast enough and Chuck's was the only dealer in the country that had them. Other's complained but that purchase order from NAMM killed any fair trade issues as all in attendance could have made an order.
Clear to me that big business can occur at NAMM among the real players.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,062
- 45,968
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Depends on your expectations, I reckon. Many of the small shop guys I work with or talked to at the show are backordered 8-24 months. In many cases NAMM is the only promo they do outside of word of mouth, Facebook, and so on.
That's great to hear!
Are they manufacturing on more of a hobby level or are do they have a small staff of full time employees?
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,062
- 45,968
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Most I've talked to seem to have one or two primary builders, an apprentice or two (or a kid who works with them) and often a wife who does the books. It's their main livelihood in most cases, but not all. A wife with a day job seems pretty common too. But of course there are many tiers in the "boutique" world, and I gravitate towards the smaller fish who often seem to do the more "out there" stuff that I prefer.
I know same here! Though the biggest factor is the finishes. I love the look of the black one but I'm not a fan of maple fretboards and the other one I'd want to refinish....I want one so bad though. Love Reverend's work. And the soon to be released wattplower 2.0!!!
Yeah the Reverend instruments looked great. Wish I had more time with them.
Marleaux, Devon, etc. had many of their instruments sold by the second or third day of the show. Both incredible builders. Neither would call their trade a hobby.
I think you took my question out of context.
I'm not calling their trade a hobby.
I'm asking if they produce instruments as an avocation or do they have a business that has a half dozen full time employees.
The Doc LLoyd company comes to mind.
He / they make a very nice, original design product.
It is not a full time job and he makes them when he can.
Selling 10 basses at NAMM for $5K a piece is great accomplishment and it could be done by a single craftsman.
If that craftsman were to get hit by a bus, the product is NLA.
budman
Commercial User
- Oct 7, 2004
- 1,785
- 106
- 62
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder of LeCompte Electric Bass
Best Bass related NAMM photo I've seen
This is from a Booking Agent I know (center).
This is from a Booking Agent I know (center).
