{"id":47871,"date":"2015-01-29T19:22:22","date_gmt":"2015-01-30T00:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=47871"},"modified":"2015-02-25T08:35:32","modified_gmt":"2015-02-25T13:35:32","slug":"winter-namm-2015-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2015\/winter-namm-2015-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter NAMM 2015 Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alissa Ordabai<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"ChrisAccording to the National Association of Music Merchants, NAMM, The 2015 Winter NAMM Show was the largest event in its 114-year history. The number of this year\u2019s participating exhib-itors reached a record-setting 1,621, which is a 6 percent increase from 2014. An 11 percent increase in international exhibitor registration and a 2 percent increase in buyers also made NAMM more diverse than last year.<\/p>\n

Artist clinics and demonstrations are the easiest way to attract attention to new products at such a large trade show. This year, Schecter Guitar Research and ESP stood out by engaging some of the best players in the industry. Chris Poland \u2014 a former Megadeth guitarist, who, over the years, migrated from Metal to sophisticated Jazz Fusion \u2014 demoed his new signature guitar during Day 1, attracting a room full of media.<\/p>\n

Poland\u2019s Poltergeist Solo-6<\/a><\/span><\/span> is an elegant Schecter Custom Shop instrument, featuring a Floyd Rose 1500 series bridge, Grover tuners, Schecter USA Pasadena Plus set, mahogany body with flamed maple top and a three-piece mahogany set neck with ultra access. Poland emphasized the versatility of the guitar by playing a varied set of his own Fusion pieces, which were imaginative, note-perfect gems full of tonal nuance, as well as a raucous rendition of \u201cCrossroads,\u201d in which the guitar sang across the range from meaty, lower register to sharply pronounced high notes.<\/p>\n

Sin Quirin\u2019s demo of his signature guitar became another Schecter booth attraction. His signature guitar is a tough and sturdy Heavy Metal axe, differing from Poland\u2019s guitar. The distinct Mother of Pearl \u201cSin symbol\u201d stands out against the ebony fretboard, and the black-and-white goat scull graphics across the satin black V-shaped mahogany body enhance the strikingly minimalist look. The three-piece maple neck offers ultra access, and other features include a GRAPH TEC nut, Seymour Duncan blackouts, Tonepros bridge and Schecter locking tuners.<\/p>\n

Fellow Ministry player Tommy Victor also has a signature Schecter guitar<\/a><\/span> this year. Visually, it appears more modest, but it has a higher street price ($899 USD compared to Quirin\u2019s $749 USD). It features a Floyd Rose 1500 series bridge, Grover tuners, EMG 81\/85 set, three-piece mahogany neck with ultra access and a mahogany body. A Mother of Pearl Prong symbol inlay on the ebony fingerboard completes the guitar\u2019s slick look.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Quirin and Victor, both, did signings and demos at NAMM this year and were pleasant and congenial, as opposed to their Ministry band leader, Al Jourgensen, who, at this year\u2019s NAMM, gave new meanings to the words \u201cobnoxious\u201d and \u201cerratic.\u201d It\u2019s unclear what, exactly, was amiss with Jourgensen, but his behavior had rumor mills spinning.<\/p>\n

\"NAMM<\/p>\n

Back at the Schecter booth, the new Banshee Elite series<\/a><\/span> (which come in 6, 7, and 8-string op-tions) drew attention with a no-frills, stripped-down look of swamp ash body with a flamed maple top and a 9-piece maple\/walnut neck with ebony fingerboard. Neck-thru construction with ultra access allows easy reach to the higher frets. The guitars come with Schecter\u2019s own hand-made SuperCharger pickups.<\/p>\n

While Banshee Elite has a robustly rugged look about it and is \u201cdesigned for the most agile and hostile player,\u201d Schecter\u2019s Platinum series<\/a><\/span> looks sleeker and edgier. Designed for, both, versatility and aggressiveness and marketed to appeal to, both, Classic Rock players and Metalheads, the Platinum series offer 24 X-jumbo frets on an ebony fingerboard and comes loaded with active EMG 57\/66 pickups, which, according to Schecter, \u201coffer a more organic tone than the standard active pickups.\u201d The three-piece set maple neck has ultra access for \u201cseamless playability\u201d and easy access to higher frets.<\/p>\n

\"NAMMESP celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and the company drew praise at NAMM from such phenomenal players as George Lynch and Alex Skolnick, both of whom demoed at the ESP booth. Lynch drew an enormous crowd of fans and played with ferocious flair, showing off his massive tone with, perhaps, the fattest, fullest mid-range in the business. His ESP M-1Tiger<\/a><\/span> guitar has a maple body, neck and fingerboard, bolt-on neck, Gotoh tuners, Floyd Rose Original bridge, Arcane Mr. Scary bridge PU and passive electronics.<\/p>\n

Lynch graciously posed for pictures after his performance on Day 1.<\/p>\n

\"NAMMAlex Skolnick, on the other hand, not only played, but he talked about music theory and his evolution from playing Metal with Testament to going on to study Jazz at the New School in New York. It was educational to learn how chestnuts of Jazz have found their way into Rock and Metal and how both genres have inspired Skolnick; however, his favorite remains world music, which he proved by playing excepts from his newest record Planetary Coalition, which is described by critics as \u201csounds of world cultures.\u201d His signature ESP AS-1FM LB<\/a><\/span> seemed perfect for, both, demonstrating Jazz licks and playing his barn-burner Heavy Metal solo from \u201cPractice What You Preach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apart from instantly attracting attention by great artists performing at its booth, the ESP Custom Shop display grabbed you at the entrance: \u201cVampire Angel,\u201d \u201cMetal Angel,\u201d and \u201cArchangel\u201d guitars ($75,000 USD each) are not only eye-wateringly expensive instruments, but they are real works of art in their own right.<\/p>\n

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Fender Custom Shop didn\u2019t match ESP\u2019s all-out flamboyance this year, but instead it captured attention with an understated, movingly beautiful gem \u2014 the \u201cTree Siren Stratocaster.\u201d The most exquisite guitar in this year\u2019s Fender Custom Shop collection<\/a><\/span>, the \u201cTree Siren Stratocaster\u201d was made by master builder Dale Wilson and features artwork by Canadian artist Mandy Tsung and inlay work by craftsman Ron Thorn.<\/p>\n

\"NAMMCalifornian artist David Lozeau teamed up with Fender this year to create four special edition standard Stratocasters with a limited run of 500 each. The \u201cTree of Life\u201d design replicates Lozeau\u2019s original painting and is the most striking of four. Lozeau told Hardrock Haven that his interest in Mexican culture, Californian serial killer myths and tattoo art found its way into the paint jobs he did for Fender. The other three designs are \u201cSacred Heart,\u201d \u201cDragon\u201d and \u201cRose Tattoo.\u201d All Lozeau guitars feature maple necks with a \u201cC\u201d profile, maple and rosewood finger-boards with 21 medium jumbo frets, three standard Stratocaster pickups and vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridges.<\/p>\n

Special Edition David Lozeau Art Stratocaster\u00ae<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

However, the first thing that jumped out at you in the Fender room was the Sand-Blasted Ash Stratocaster and Telecaster<\/a><\/span>. First, the transparent Sapphire Blue or Crimson Red finish is applied, and then the ash body is sand blasted, exposing the gritty texture of the wood pattern, which later is enhanced with black grain filler. The Stratocaster features a maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, three American Standard single-coil Stratocaster pickups with five-way switching, \u201cno-load\u201d tone control for middle and bridge pickups and vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridges.<\/p>\n

The Telecaster<\/a><\/span> features a maple neck with \u201cC\u201d profile, maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, dual American Standard single-coil Telecaster pickups with three-way switching, Greasebucket tone circuits and American Vintage string-through-body Telecaster bridges with three chrome \u201cbarrel\u201d saddles.<\/p>\n

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The new limited-edition American Standard Double-Cut Telecaster is another eye-catcher that looks classic, yet stands out with its unusual body shape. The Custom Shop Twisted single-coil neck pickups and vintage-style Custom Shop single-coil Telecaster pickups offer the rich Telecaster tone.<\/p>\n

The New Fender 10 for 15 Program<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Over at Charvel, two n\"NAMMew Warren DeMartini signature guitars drew a crowd. The new Pro-Mod Warren DeMartini Signature Snake model and the Blood and Skull pro model were designed and built to DeMartini\u2019s demanding specifications. Features include a custom-designed Seymour Duncan humbucker, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in the neck position, alder body, quarter-sawn rock maple neck with compound radius maple fingerboard, a San Dimas neck backshape, Charvel machine heads and a FRT-1000 Floyd Rose tremolo.<\/p>\n

Charvel 2015 NAMM<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

As far as crazy paintwork goes, Ibanez is going head-to-head with Fender this year with its Joe Satriani JS25ART signature limited-edition custom shop guitars<\/a><\/span>. The artwork was produced by Satriani, himself, and every guitar is unique. Fifty models have been produced, with 25 for the United States. The NAMM price tag was $7,999 USD. The guitars feature a basswood body, a 1-piece maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, an original Edge tremolo, two DiMarzio humbucker pickups, Satch Track for the neck pickup and a Mo\u2019Joe bridge pickup. Push\/pull for, both, vol and tone pots activate a high-pass filter and a coil tap. The 24-fret neck is the thinnest JS neck ever made.<\/p>\n

\"NAMM<\/p>\n

Associating not only with superstars, but with the best of up-and-coming players too, Ibanez re-cently announced French neoclassical virtuoso St\u00e9phan Fort\u00e9 as its new endorsee. On Day 3, Fort\u00e9 demoed his custom Ibanez Guitars, 7 strings\/27 frets S, featuring a custom Seymour Duncan neck pickup. Fort\u00e9 is a new-generation player of phenomenal technique and said he loves this instrument, which seems to be perfectly suited to his fierce musical temperament and super-fast shred chops.<\/p>\n

\"NAMMWhile Forte switched from Lag to Ibanez in 2013, over at the Korg USA sound room teen virtuoso Dario Lorina (and the newly recruited Black Label Society guitarist) was demoing Lag guitars. It is rare to hear a player as technically accomplished with such great feel for melody as Lorina. He made acoustic and electric guitars sound full of body and presence by playing highly charged instrumental numbers from his self-titled solo album released in 2013, as well as singing \u201cAin\u2019t No Sunshine\u201d with reserved grace, while accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar.<\/p>\n

At Carvin, Jason Becker\u2019s new signature \u201cNumbers\u201d guitar was turning heads. It honors the original tribute guitar, but it includes changes introduced by Becker, such as the number inlays and the headstock as a multicolor logo. This guitar has a 24-fret, bolt-on neck, 25.5-inch scale, Seymour Duncan pickups with Becker\u2019s signature Perpetual Burn in the bridge, a Jazz in the neck position, a Floyd Rose, Ash body, a maple neck and a maple fingerboard. The proceeds from each sold guitar go to Jason Becker Special Needs to help out Becker and his family. Unlimited quantities will be available beginning Feb 1. Purchase price is $1,599 USD. Chris Broderick visited Carvin Guitars to check out the guitar. Broderick later stated on Instagram that he had to \u201cPay respects to my hero Jason Becker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NAMM<\/p>\n

Video demo of the Jason Becker new signature Carvin guitar — \u201cNumbers\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Greg Howe signature model became another attention magnet at Carvin. It features a 24-fret bolt neck, chambered alder body, 20-inch radius, bird\u2019s eye maple fretboard, propriety vintage standard bridge, brand-new signature humbucker pickup (yet to be named) in the bridge, the Carvin twin-blade in the neck and California burst flame top. The guitar has been chambered for two reasons: Howe likes lightweight guitars, and it provides the tone for which he and Carvin were looking. The five-piece maple neck makes sure the instrument stays stable during all conditions.<\/p>\n

\"NAMM<\/p>\n

Video demo of Greg Howe’s signature Carvin guitar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"NAMMSome of the biggest crowds were drawn not only by guitar clinics and demos, but also by every-one\u2019s favorite rock stars doing signings. The line for John 5\u2019s autograph at Reunion Blues (a manufacturer of gig bags and instrument cases) lasted more than an hour, but the wait was worth it for fans \u2014 the White Zombie guitarist not only is one of the most accomplished players around, but he is a thoroughly affable guy who makes a point of talking to each fan who ap-proaches him for an autograph.<\/p>\n

\"NAMMDuring Dave Mustaine\u2019s signing session at the Cleartone Strings booth, venue security was heard saying, \u201cWe don\u2019t want a riot here\u201d before streamlining the enormous line of fans that wrapped itself around the stand several times over. Mustaine exclusively has used Cleartone Strings on Megadeth\u2019s latest album Super Collider<\/em> and describes them as \u201cbright, solid and durable, but really loud.\u201d Cleartone carries Dave Mustaine signature \u201cMonster\u201d guitar strings. All Cleartone strings use VolumeBOOST, which \u2014 according to an independent lab \u2014 makes the strings 36 percent louder than other strings. Cleartone strings also use ToneLOCK technology, making strings last three to five times longer than other non-coated strings.<\/p>\n

Dean Guitars also presented new Dave Mustaine signature series guitars this year. Here is a link to a Dean Guitars video with Mustaine giving a run-down on his new 2015 guitars:<\/p>\n