• Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Topic: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Hey Everybody,
          I thought it would be cool to tell you a bit about my weekend at the 2008 at the winter NAMM and give you some insights to some of the things I saw that caught my eye.. Im up late lets have a bit of fun shall we?
First of all... Thank you too all the companies that have been supporting us this past and upcoming year..  Gibson, Marshall, Electro Voice pro audio, Jim Dunlop, Yamaha guitars/Drums,  Allen and Heath, Dean Markely strings, Beyer Dynamic , 4 star Cables, Andy Fuchs, Allison Moody straps.
Those are just the ones I visited and did some signing for this year. 

Second.... Some of the cool gadgets I saw..  First thing I loved... Gibson Johnny Winter Firebird(actually saw it a week ago but didnt want to let the cat out of the bag) Then I really liked Dunlops "Way Huge"  Pork Pie pedal.. Its like a Neve pre amp for guitar.  It was by far the best clean boost I ever played.. In 30 seconds I knew it was a complete winner. It anchored the amp and guitar in a way that Id never felt before..  Third is the new EV monitors that are based on the plasmas we use now.  The Yamaha master built acoustics were great.. I really liked the unbound one the best.. go figure Im blue collar...  The two channel Marshall JVT two 12 combo sounded really great for a small amp.. It was easy to dial up my half assed Bluesbreaker impression tone.. It was good.. Im usually not a fan of a amp with alot of knobs.  Leslie is making a unpowered portable Leslie for guitar.. Im thinking of getting back in the Leslie business.  They looked and sounded really good. Allen and Heath is upgrading our ILive console for front house.  That 'll be cool.  I saw a lot cool stuff I saw a lot  of Killing trees for no reason too.  I so lucky to be at a point to be in a position to be endorsed by the companies who make the gear I actually use.. 

For those who havent experienced NAMM its like no other thing I ever been to.  Where Blackie Lawless and Surf King Richard (cant type his first name cause of the censor) Dale can be back to back signing.. Its a mixture of dealers and celebrities and the public all mixed in.. I dont care what anybody says..I wont wait 5 mins let alone  2 hours to get Dave Navaro's autograph.  Thats just me.  Id say if your thinking about going it'll be a great experience but bring sanitizer.  Everybody says up wayyyy toooo late drinks alot and gets little sleep. A recipe for the plague..  So anyway I hope you enjoyed my NAMM Blog..
Its late and Im tired of talking and wont talk about gear for 24 hours...at least. Watching SRV on PBS during a pledge drive.. Id happily pay a grand to stop them from talking right now and go back to Stevie on Austin City Limits...  His playing got better but his tone got worse...Strange.. Im a old EL Mocambo Boy from way back.. Vibroverbs a Super or Marshall combo and a tubescreamer  morley wah wah.. Sounded lovely
Joe Bonamassa

2 Reply by gsj (edited by gsj 2008-01-20 07:06:35)

  • gsj
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  • From: North Essex, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-21
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Thanks for the show report Joe. It's saved me from waiting for the reps to come into the store to tell me what's new smile. The Dunlop Pork Pie sounds great and so does the Johnny Winter guitar. I thought he was great on Claptons Crossroads DVD. I'm hoping I'll get the nod from the company to go to the summer NAMM in Nashville.

Geoff

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young

3 Reply by Barbara (edited by Barbara 2008-01-20 09:43:22)

  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 302

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Hey Joe.  So good to hear from you.  Really enjoyed reading your blog.  Thanks so much for filling us in on the NAAM show and bringing us into your world.  Sounds like you got to meet a real interesting mix of people and musicians at the show.  Hope you brought a lot of hand sanitizer with you!  I am looking forward to seeing you in your upcoming 2008 tours and the release of your LIVE CD.  Take care and be well my friend. 

                                                     Luv ya in Pittsburgh, Barbara  smile

  • eva
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Wow, seems like you got a lot of "input" at the NAMM ... and I doubt that you won´t talk about gear for 24 hours wink.

The Gibson Firebird sounds good - I also think that Johnny and the Derek Trucks Band did very well at the Crossroads Festival ... I say Johnny play a few years ago in Germany and the band he played with was a catastrophe to say it in a nice way... so I was very happy to see him make such a good performance at Clapton´s Festival.

Joe I´m sure you had good dreams about Pork Pie pedals, Marshall amps and all that stuff you´ve seen ... smile

Eva

  • From: Cleveland
  • Registered: 2007-05-08
  • Posts: 272

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

It sounds like a great time.  Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

6 Reply by susan (edited by susan 2008-01-20 09:26:26)

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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing your NAMM experience with us.  Sounds like fun.  So Joe, can we expect to see you playing a Firebird when we see you in Jacksonville in May?  big_smile

And Dave Navaro?  Same here.  Much more arrogance than talent.  Just my 2 cents.

Susan smile

"Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding"
  • From: Charlotte
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 2,350

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Thanks for the interesting update on the NAAM.  Sounds like some really neat equipment, some old some new!
Winter is a great icon, cool guitar...  SRV live at Mocambo is one of my favorite DVDs of Stevie, seem to really capture his great presence on stage.
Enjoy your new toys, I mean equipment!!!

Music is good for the Soul...
  • From: Indianola, IA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I dont care what anybody says..I wont wait 5 mins let alone  2 hours to get Dave Navaro's autograph.  Thats just me. 
Joe Bonamassa

Patty's version:  I don't care what anybody says...I WOULD wait 5 mins let alone 2 hours to get Joe Bonamassa's autograph.  Thats just me.       smile

                                                                          pattyluvsjoe




P.S.  Always great to hear from you Joe.  It's a Sunday morning treat.

"I'm not nice to any guitar!"      lol
                 Joe Bonamassa 05-03-12

JBLP CHILD #184
  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Thanks for shearing Joe. You must have a great time with your technical knowledge!! I don't understand anything of it myself.

I agree with Eva, bad players Winter had. Saw him in Schoeppingen, where you played too Joe.
You and Johnny were the best at that festival.
Nice festival, this year Stoney Curtis is coming Michael Lynch!! You like him too, like me! Don't know about the other artists yet.

Andre Wittebroek.

  • From: Boston
  • Registered: 2006-11-25
  • Posts: 133

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Yeah man, El Mocambo is byfar the best Stevie tone, I love that DVD!

Fender '62 reissue Stratocaster, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio(Stock), Marshall JCM900 100W Head, Original 1972 Carvin 4/12 Cabinet,Ibanez Ts9 Reissue, Keeley Compressor, Boss DD-3 Delay, Vox Wah
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

Its late and Im tired of talking and wont talk about gear for 24 hours...at least. Watching SRV on PBS during a pledge drive.. Id happily pay a grand to stop them from talking right now and go back to Stevie on Austin City Limits...  His playing got better but his tone got worse...Strange.. Im a old EL Mocambo Boy from way back.. Vibroverbs a Super or Marshall combo and a tubescreamer  morley wah wah.. Sounded lovely
Joe Bonamassa

I agree his tone was better, but I guess I've always been more of a fan of what was played rather than the tone, so I like Stevie later on than earlier Stevie. Plus, I would die to get that tone he had on Riviera Paradise on ACL.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • From: Cliftonville Kent England
  • Registered: 2006-07-30
  • Posts: 2,150

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Nice Informative Report Joe .... Now Did You Come Away With Some Goodies  LOL

Yeah That "Texas Food" & "So Excited" OMFG ... What a Show , But Any SRV is Unbelievable , Live in Tokyo is Awesome Too (What a Trio)

Blackie Lawless , Havnt heard from him in while and as for Surf King **** Dale ( guess that's right ) who's he

Am Paying El Mocambo Now on Surround   ... Holy S**t ... That's Live Music Right There

Glad You Had Fun Moochin' Aroun @ NAAM

....................................... Michael

Would've Loved to Have Seen Stevie up Close roll

Joe Bonamassa .......  His Greatest 3 Videos ... IMMHO   After Much Deliberation
3rd ...... Mountain Time / Rockpalast       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01xa6NMsJo
2nd ...... Sloe Gin       /  Vienna            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRASS8O8ZnE           
1st ....... Blues Deluxe / The Borderline    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnl3E_KLxYg
  • From: Wheeling, IL
  • Registered: 2006-12-07
  • Posts: 618

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Great report, Joe. It's really a treat to hear it from the professional perspective. I look forward to hearing the new toys on the tour.

I'm just saying.

14 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2008-01-20 17:34:32)

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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

**** Dale is a guitar legend of unbelievable proportions Michael...He invented surf music before Jan & Dean & The Beach Boys, and worked with Leo Fender on product and aslo helped JBL by wrecking their products.  He's been playing since before we were born.  With the death of James Brown 2006 Christmas, I'd say a fair argument can be made that **** Dale is the Hardest Working Man in Show Business.  He plays loud and he plays proud and he plays FUN.  I'm betting Joe has ventured into Huntington Beach to see him play somewhere and would likely stand 2 hours in line to have **** say "Sorry kid , I can't sign anymore today".  He did play a "Goldie" at one point also.  He was in "Back To the Beach" which featured beach blanket parties movies USA style retro "upgrade" (oxymoronic, I know) with Frankie Avalon & Utica, NY's own Annette Funicello (Mickey Mouse Club's always smiling, peppy little "Annette"), with guest guitar showdown with Stevie Ray Vaughn & **** Dale ( his hair was goofy looking then).  He is featured in some US car van (can't remember whose) ad yanking out his gear and cranking it at the beach!

Rupert Neve is a famous recording console designer, noted for his mic preamps quality of sound.  Intriguing sounding, that Pork Pie Pedal. How many dB's of boost/cut are available Joe?  It has parametric EQ (how many discrete frequencies?) and "shelf" LF & HF cutoff???!!!   

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
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  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

GAWD I LOVE THIS SITE!!!!








Spider

  • Registered: 2006-06-16
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

interesting SRV observation Joe.  I have to say I never thought about the tone getting worse, but I suppose you're right.

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  • From: Central PA, USA
  • Registered: 2007-11-18
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Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Thanks for sharing, Joe... you're a cool dude.  My guitarist son will be interested in reading all that too.  smile

--Vik cool

18 Reply by ModTourMan (edited by ModTourMan 2008-01-20 23:28:53)

  • From: South Brunswick, NJ USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 133

Re: My weekend at the NAMM show.

Thanks for the review of NAMM Joe.  I'm excited to hear about the portable Leslie being made for guitarists.
For the last few years, I've played and enjoyed my Songworks Rotary Wave (1 x 10" speaker w/ rotating baffle) immensely but it doesn't have the spinning horn and the exact tone of a Leslie.  It's also more suited for studio or home use - the switches and connections are a bit on the weak side and I'd be worried taking it out of it's nice cozy location in my living room.  If you don't mind me asking, just how portable is this Leslie?  Does it have a spinning speaker and horn?

Russ B.