Well, I spent several hours at the NAMM show in Anaheim this last weekend (National Association of Music Merchants.) And while I was there I shot some video of some of the beautiful instruments I saw.
So here’s several hours of walking around the Anaheim convention center all crammed into 20 minutes… I think you’re getting the better end of the deal 🙂
[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/gzKf-DqTDq8″ rel=”0″]
This is not an “open to the public” event and is specifically aimed at musical instrument dealers and retailers… so it’s a little different than just a gear fest. You can’t really try anything out, and if you do certainly not at any substantial volume or for a long time. But it is fun for a gear-head like me to hang out for a few hours. And there’s plenty of interesting people to watch.
131 replies to "NAMM 2012…"
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Great tour. Found the guitar I have been looking for. Thanks.
Really appreciate the effort you put into your work.
Did I hear that you used a Boss GT-8? If so what cabling method would you suggest and into what AMP?
Wish I could have partaken in the video but buffering every 3-4 seconds. Could that be remedied on your end? Can’t do much on this end. I live in the mts. and opnly have Wild Blue satelite. BIMMER
Well done Griff,
Makes me feel like a kid in a candy store , so you must be walking on the moon.
I bet Keith Richards and Mark Knopfler are watching your video on Youtube as I type.
Good show..thanks for the tour.
Hey Griff,
To Bad….couldn’t watch this as too much buffering going on
🙁
Thank you for sharing! I’ve heard about NAMM but never been.
Buying the new Epiphone semi hollow body this month so I was
Glad to see Gibson being nice to let you in. A little bummed
You didn’t have any comments about that guitar though :-/
Hello Griff, I enjoyed the Namm show stuff, I am looking at a Variax 600 with the software etc at the moment with the view to buy, I’m not sure though, I heard that Line 6 were not making them any more, but obviously not so. Maybe they aren’t available in Australia any more. We don’t have a huge population down here so a lot of manufacturers don’t export to Oz so we miss a lot of good stubff. I would like to know more about Variax if possible. Thanks Griff. Great insight to the show, thanks again
James.
Thanx for the peek, Griff. Did you happen to run into Meyer Sound or TRI Studios? They are doing amazing things at Bob Weir’s Tamalpais Research Institute Studios up in Marin County…
Griff,
thanks for the quick tour. always interesting to see whats new.
What no Jacksons ?
Could anybody tell me how to find out when NAMM is coming to NYC , Jersey or Philadelpia ? By the way , Thanks Griff for all your great lessons and fun video’s . I have learned a ton from you . I love the way you teach and inspirer . Thanks again . Jerry – Blues On …
Thanks Griff, very interesting video.
Thanks Griff, Got to take a trip and never left the farm. Much appreciated, that was fun and informative.
Cheers
Hey Griff. Thanks for that cool insight into NAMM. Good stuff from the best Guitar Teacher on the web!!!
Griff. At 12:35 in the video you show a blender that makes an electric guitar sound like an acoustic. Do you recall who makes that and what it is? Thanks
Hey Griff.
Greetings from the rock and roll capital (cleveland ohio).I came home from work one morning and
saw the last 10 seconds of a segment world news now was doing on the NAMM show.
The thing that caught my eye was some guy showing off a triton triple neck guitar.
I’ve seen double necks (old hat) but a triple neck blew my mind.
Bummed out I didnt catch the whole story.I went to bed. Checking my in box the next day I found
o’l Griff had my back.I watched the video and found it wery interisting but no sign of the elusive
triple neck this thing was almost as big as my kitchen table.I sure would have liked to see some
body play it .
thank you for the video. BEEZ.
This was worth watching!!! … My special comment would be that it is disappointing that Fender was not allowing the general public to view their products and displays (as I have always been a Stratocaster fan; own two and play them) … It makes me want to view them in a different light as the general public is responsible for their success and are the ones purchasing their products and providing their financial support … Glad to see the other manufacturers were not as arrogant.
Regards, Ron Freize
Thanks Griff enjoyed the vid, can’t wait to get my hands on your first set of lessons and check em out.
Hey Griff, I flew all the way from Maryland for my first NAMM (organized by my son who works for Roland…BTW when you were in the Boss area in front of the Sonar Demo stage, you actually caught a brief shot of him (suit n tie) sitting down with a prospective client for some face time). Being a guitarist, who doubles on bass and keys it really was the trip of a lifetime. Yup, Fender really had some ‘tude as did Martin and several other of the biggies. You’re right…demo rigs were few and far between. I was treated great at the Taylor room upstairs though. Tried out a new T5 and loved it (drool, drool!). Plane got in real late Thursday, but I “worked the floor” Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday. Fender was just an example…We as players were not the focus of the show. The majority of the biggies are there to write business and orders for 2012 and the little guys are getting known or cultivating a small, but loyal client base. Final thought, I met some really great “regular” people who were artists and performers. As far as stars go I met Neal Schon (well… he was great…once!) And then I hit my home runs, met Satch (that netted me an autographed pic and a free pass for an advanced showing of the concert movie “Satchurated”…it was killer). And to put a cherry on top…had a meet ‘n’ greet with Joe Bonamassa at the Gibson Room. Really made the trip one to remember.
Thanks for doing the video for those who couldn’t go and keep up your good work my friend, all of us out here appreciate it.
hay Griff I like your teaching style and thanks for taking us along on the trip to the NAMM show where will it be at next year?
Griff do you teach Gospel? I have been looking for someone that teaches this style. what do you suggest?
Hay Griff that was a good vid of the NAMM
Thanks Griff,
That was quite scary. We have nothing like that in Australia. Some of those brands I have never heard of. I think my wallet and marriage would be in serious jeopardy if I was let loose in there.
was voyage-air guitars there with thier folding travel guitars ?
Thanks Griff – appreciate very much the “insider tour” there!
Hey Griff,
Did you see any new stuff from Anderson? I have a drop top that was at the 2008 Namm. I still have the stickers on the case. Was just wondering if they were coming up with anything interesting. Not that I should consider spending more money on guitars. Doesn’t hurt to salivate though.
hey Griff, thanks for letting us have a look at that show that we (at least i) couldn’t get in to– wow, the James Tyler Variax!. now i’ll have to look for one to try out.
aloha,
Temple
Thanks for the tour Griff, that was really awesome. JR
That was a fun trip. Thanks Griff for thinking of us and doing the video
Thanks for the tour Griff it was great.
Thanks for the overview. Looks like a good time with lots of incredible instruments!!!!. .I appreciate your taking the time to share what it is like to be at a major music expo.
Thanks again.
Thank’s Griff!!!!!!!
Wow…that was sooo freakin AWESOME. I’ve gotta go clean myself up now. There were so many great things in that video that I don’t know which to comment on. I liked that John Mayer Martin, the PRS guitars were as you said simply beautiful, the Taylor acoustics are to die for, that great big wall of Marshalls made me weak in the knees, the Line 6 Variax is something I now want to check into and the Gibson booth would probably have had to call the cops to get me out of there. Man, just way too cool, Griff. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this awesome video with us. I hope you decide to do this every year. I really love it. Now if you will excuse me, I now feel a strong erge to go play my guitar. Thanks again, Griff….that was the best.
Griff, For those us mere mortals that can’t get in, this was great. A lot of work for you and I thank your for that. Tom
Like being in a candy store!! Thanks
Thank you, for sharing. A very thoughtful act of consideration for those of us who would not otherwise have such an opportunity.
Almost like being there! Thanks Griff.
Did Rickenbacker have a display? I have one built in 1966 and it plays like a dream;
Thanks for the tour!
That was FUUUUUN! Thanks for the tour.
Thanks for sending it Griff. Wish I was there, maybe next year.
Thanks Griff
Thanks Griff, much appreciated!! long way from Aus and meeza never likely to see one so excellent mate!
Hi Griff, thanks for sharing your recent experience at the Anaheim show. It was a good insight to what’s going down stateside in comparison to a London show. Not all the names are familiar but great looking guitars none the less. Everything, from you is thoughtful and welcoming. I enjoyed your footage.
Thanks for your video of the NAMM show from Anaheim.Here in Belfast,N.Ireland,guitar shops are pretty thin on the ground,and it’s great that you took the trouble to show the highlights of a show I would love to attend.Still, I don’t quite understand Fender’s attitude,especially when all the other dealers were so welcoming.Thanks again,and thanks for the lessons, yours, jim connolly.
Didn’t know you were located around Anehiem. I spent 2 days there last week for work. Always travel with a guitar to relax after working. If your interested in jamming, let me know and I’ll drop you a note next time I get out that way.
Hey what’s up with Fender, only catering to dealers? I attended the NAMM show too, and like you after about three hours my legs were talking to me! It’s an exciting convention, but so loud and chaotic it’s not really conducive to forming an opinion on a musical instrument. Thank you for taking your video cam and posting it for all who could not make it. My legs agreed with your comment on those who did not go, getting the better deal! Next year, I’ll wait for your video!
Many Thanks.
Mick
La Verne, CA
Thanks for the tour Griff……living in NY..that show is beyond my budget. A small bit of advice…
pan your video camera a little slower than this ….viewers get dizzy with fast a fast pan. adios
my friend…!
Thanks for the look-around. I was there a couple of years ago and you did a good job of capturing the chaos for me. Thanks.
On to the important question…did you see Orianthi while there????
I was wondering if you had a chance to try any of the tone benders exspecially the Professional Tone Bender MKII Sola sound of any kind or the copy of the 1965 MKII tone bender! if your truely a Blues guy or earlly Classic Rock you know what Im talken about .Anyway! I envey you! So what new amps are being reveiled and what comp, meaning Mesa, Orange, Bognor, Hughes-n-Ketnner you catch my meaning! and what options.Yes Im a gear head too! email me we’ll talk.
The bouncy video’s a little tough at first, but I soon got hooked. Sooo cool of you to think of us and let us hang with you at NAMM, Griff. Enjoyed the Eric Gales sighting, and will be checking out the Peavey Classic 30 amp soon.
Have you ever played a Heritage H150 or a G&L Bluesboy/ASAT? I own one of each , they play
nice.
I like the atmosphere… It remains me such an exhibition in Paris, earjy 2000 ! At that time, I discovered LAG GUITARS.
thanks Griff for sharing that,
I heard the guitar sound I’ve been looking for at the Orange display stand, fantastic tone, don’t know if it was the amp / guitar combo, overdrive pedal, or all those components together, but it was a great sound, thanks again.
Regards.
Dave.
Nicely done. Thanks Griff, for the tour. Its gotta be like being the kid in the candy shop!
Dream time. I have three guitars , abass and i certanly loved the tour.
thank you
Thanks for the video from the NAMM. If you look at the last image of video @ the Ibanez booth, you will see an ivory single cutaway. I own one. AF75 dtg w/ Bigsby. I just had to let you know. PS I have the Guitar Unleashed. As people say. Good Stuff.
Very cool Griff I would liked to be there maybe the next one time. Thank you for sharing the experience.Did you have chance to play some guitars there? Congratulations and Thank you again.
PS: Finally got the very slow running DSL to get to the end where you were at the Fender booth. I too got turned away until the 1200 hr and then they opened the doors to the retailers / employees and I got in. Forgot you were also a Taylor player. The Israel Houghton and the New Breed concert and Javier Colon concert were two outstanding shows in the Taylor showroom. Getting to play my next guitar a Taylor 616ce and my other son, who wants a NS414ce made for a great visit. ALso getting the chance to get in a photo with the Great Albert Lee at the Ernie Ball booth made our day. Although it takes being a NAMM member or having store owner, artist or someone like you to obtain NAMM passes through, anyone who can and loves music, needs to make the NAMM Show a must on your things to do list. Take care
I am At 19 guitars and 9 amps, along with about 20 pedals,analog and digital recording gear and processors, mics, chords , 3 keyboards and a drum set. I still enjoy looking at new gear. I guess I am lucky that I am not rich, because I would probably have to buy a convention center to store my gear. Thanks for the brief tour. Going there would would be sensory overload for someone like me.
Thanks for the video. I’m just coming down from the withdraw of all those products and so few cash.
I was hoping to run into you, but obviously not. I took my 16 yrs old twins for their very first visit and their Momma and we had a blast. Took in some artist mini concerts on Saturday and had a blast. You see some some “very interesting” people there 🙂 , some beautiful and some unusual instruments. The Fender booth had some of the most gorgeous Special Run Strat and Tele’s on display, the Custom Shops were bought and non-touchable but just gorgeous to look at, and the best part was being able to play some of the other Fenders through the available Mustang Floor board stations uninterrupted by others due to headphones made available. Ed Koch, Roscoe Beck put on a great show, and the Gretch / Guild / Squire mini booths and Charvel inside the Fender showroom were also a lot of fun to have a chance to play. Speaking of Squires, I had previously only sought USA made, but found some MIM and Squires to be awesome players and will be looking into them now.
Lastly, I am a huge Taylor Guitar fan and owner and the concerts there were also incredible as well as being able to play acoustics / solid and semi hollow bodied electrics. Thank you for the video and glad you had a great time.
Verry,verry good-thank you for this video!!
That was a really cool event Griff its the first one I ever saw and the guitars and amps were really nice Thanks Tony
Very cool Griff.Wish I was there. Did you have a chance to play any of the guitars? Thanks for sharing the tour. Mike
Thanks for the show but man you made me seasick. Too much motion too fast. Had to stop after less than 10 minutes.
i do most of my guitar shoppin @ the locoal pawn shops. but before i buy look it ver very good for 30 to hour . i even go on my droid to the web and research. mabe not even buy then but may go back later. i feel that the guitar is extension of you so it must fit well. i have purchase a real nice martin and ibanez i ‘dlike to move up but for now these fit pretty darn good but thanks letting us go with you
Thanks for the tour Griff your a good guy,(:
boring the best part,,,, was when i had a seizure from the shaky camera work griff stick to teaching guitar please
NAMMASTE Griff! Thanks for enduring the hoopla for us. Great Job!
Thank goodness I am in with Griff as I will never be able to get to the Namm Festival on my own steam.Blo__y Brilliant Griff its great to see inside this Hall and witness these lovely instruments. and you are a Great Guitarist and Teacher
Good work Griff …I think I spotted Guthrie Govan at 3.03 mins with the check jacket stood outside the Boss booth? Monster guitarist and tutor/demonstrator from UK.
Wow, what a picnic.
nothing like creating some GAS…..or at least enjoying some eye candy….thanks Griff.
good info dude grazie ..(:
Hey Griff – well done, you’re doing a great job – many thanks Alan
Griff,
What a cool ride. appreciate the time. really some cool equiptment. I bet you guys were like kids in a candy store.
Thanks
Tanks bye !
Hi Griff. Thanks for the tour. Very interesting from the other side of the world ( Australia ) to see how big it is. What a lot of eye candy. Like you say, I,ll have one of everything !. ( If only !. ) Keep up the good work. Les.
Cool show, My brother worked for Seymour Duncan for 15 years as an engineer, designing pickups.
I will make it to the show next year for sure.
provided we still have a planet LOL
Griff , I sure do thank you for taking me through the guitar show. I want to tell youthat I have finished your beginners package and half way through the intermediate package and will be ording the next step up if you would suggest the next package for me to buy. I do need your play along music CD. Please send me your program packages list.
Doug Collins
Wow wow thanks for your time to do this for us
Blair Witch Project
wow
you found Baker
I ever told you the story if when I met him? oh well long story and he forgot me 2 minutes after shaking my hand anyway.
But I got to play some of the best guitars I had ever seen in my life that day, all made by the man himself. Great guitars
Nice Video Griff
thanks
Jim
Wow! Thanks a lot Griff! That will probably be as close as I ever get to NAMM!
Many many years ago when I had a music store, I got to go to one of these shows. It has grown over the years with size and product. Unfortunately, I don’t think I would like going again. It seems like organized chaos or disrupted ant hill. Thanks for the time to bring back some old memories.
You go……I’ll watch.
P.S. thanks for all the great lessons.
Jay
I was fortunate enough to attend the show as a guest of Hipsot in 2009 and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. 4 days of eye candy. Thanks so much for taking me through it again and for those who have never witnessed it on their own.
Thanks for taking the time to do that Griff. I enjoyed it.
Looked like it was fun! Do they hold the NAMM in Calif. ever year or is it in any other state?
that was great Griff, thanks for the video..
Thanks Griff for the tag along, really enjoyed it.
Thanks for shareing! That was great!
Thanks for taking your time, and effort in putting that video together. I enjoy looking at what the music industry has to offer us in the near future.
MAC
I play better guitar that I type. I promise!! 🙂
Thanks for the walk thru Griff. Very interesting to see a portion of what NAMM is all about. In addition to your great learing videos, it is very cool of you to video this so we can check it out.
Thanks again!
Riger
THANKS so much for the tour , I’ve always thought it be fun to go there….. appreciate the tag-along.
You saved me about $ 2 Grand in air fare and sore feet.
EWO
awesome thanx this was a great way to go to namm
Griff, thanks so much for the great walkaround, it really put me into the heart if NAMM. As a former employee of Guild Guitars and as Mick Jagger’s personal technician, I have always looked forward to the show, but this year finds me in the hospital and rehab with a leg amputation, so there was no way for me to attend. I really appreciate your comprehensive but still easy-going coverage – it made me feel right at home. Keep up the great work Griff, and by that I mean your playing as well as your coverage! Best regards, Mark Pines
Thanks for making this available to those of us who will never get to experience the show in person. Great fun.
nice video.
Hey Griff:
I did trade shows for many years but not in the music venue. It’s a long day on your feet demonstrating products and very tiring.
I am also a lap & pedal steel player. Did you see any new versions of these instruments. Peavey makes a Power Slide that is quite nice.
Regards,
Lenny
so much gear,so little time.
Hi Griff, place looked great, hope you did not spend to much thanks.
Ditto – to the comment below..Man, this just makes me dizzy…Way to fast ‘pans’ and for a ‘sound’ guy..the quality of sound on this is really bad…So, all in all..I’ll just go to this show next year by my self and ‘slowly’ enjoy my surroundings..But hey….nice try! and keep your lessons coming…=R=
Cool to see all that stuff, the guitar with the knobs that has all those choices of sound is awesome!
Fantastic video Griff, thanks for sharing. Interesting for me was the PRS display. Did you notice if they had the just released Bernie Marsden SE. I bought one here locally. I had the chance to meet Bernie at the shop where I purchased the guitar in 10/10 and when the Marsden SE’s were delivered the store had Bernie sign all of the back cover plates off of the guitars. Great guitar, very similar to a LP. I also have an Ibenez Joe Satriani JS 100, cool guitar. Other signature guitars I own are PRS SE Santana and a really great Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Gold Top. Unfortunately I’m better at buying guitars than playing them, LOL. But I’m working at it.
Keep Rockin’
Many thanks. Always wondered what one of these events looked like, now I know. Would love to visit one myself in the future. Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed the video.
thank you ..Griff that was awesome…especially the quitars…I wish I was there..
glad you enjoyed the show…yeah very cool show…
Thanks’ Griff, Never made it to see Namm. Living on the East coast makes it to expensive to fly out there. Thanks’ for the video of it….Maybe one day…???
Thanks Griff Enjoyed it…..
Dan; next year, I’ll do the camera work, you do the narative. (with a fargo mic) Grat tour.thanx
Well, it was not for the public. good and well done!! From my side, what have been shown on the video, frankly, not really a great demonstration of what was on the show!! I would have expected something more …of exaltation of…………… SORRY, guys!!!!!!
Thank you Griff that was really a treat to be able to go through the namm tour with you. So many fabulous instruments and amps and things What a cool event.
Hey Griff glad you enjoyed the Peavy booth. I put that booth in.( with help from many friends) an just finished taking it out. Lot of work goes into putting that show together!
IT IS A VERY COOL SHOW
thanks griff for all the good effort u have shown, keep up the good work,this is really nice and exciting to see, again thanks guys((((Smile)))))
ha griff thanks we do not get to see that kind of big show down here in NS that was cool.
Thanks for the tour. Would not have seen the NAMM without it.
Thanks
John
Thanks!!
thanks griff for doing that
appreciated the effort
living where i do i’d never have a chance to see anything like that,
i was amazed at the true excess of the whole show,
enjoyed
Hey Griff! Loved the video of NAMM too. A good friend of mine is the North American distributor of Duesenberg Guitars. Did you happen to see his booth? Those babies play like a dream too. Thanks for the time and effort in putting that video together. Never been there. Would love to go sometime.
This is an amazing display of equipment and support materials. Thank you for taking the time to share your visit to th convention!
Best regards,
Vern
Guitarist’s Disneyland Griff!
Hey Griff,
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like fun. This got me to thinking about something I’m looking for. I’m trying to find a discontinued effects pedal called the Bixonic Expandora at a reasonable price. Would probably settle for a re-issue if necessary. I’ve scoured the web with little luck.
Do you know of a possible source?
Thanks
Nice. Thanks for taking the time to shoot, edit and put this up.
Enjoyed that one Griff……loved those Martins, but no Fenders?….shame on them for not letting you in!
Jay
We have a similar show here in the UK at the NEC Birmingham. “Music Live” its a great day out trying all the new stuff thats out on the market. This show is open to the public and it is very popular.
At the month watching Clapton and winwood at mad square will check out NAAM VIDS l8r
Love the wall of Marshall amps – I assume that they all went up to 11? 🙂
Griff: Loved the video of NAMM. Thanks for sharing it. Always wanted to attend. Especially appreciated the Peavey area. I still have a Peavey Deuce from the early ’70s that I use. Ernie Ball booth was cool too. Bought a PRS not too long ago with Emgs. PRS area had so many beautiful instruments. Marshall display was neat too. Peace.