Here is the summary of the first Winter NAMM show covered for The Guitar Channel. I went several times the Musikmesse, so going to the NAMM was a logical step in the development of The Guitar Channel. I have not been disappointed with this trip to Anaheim: plenty of cool meetings, 20 interviews (see below), photos by the hundred (to be found on the private community), and a good dose of decibels every day!
Full list of interviews
Here's the list of the 20 interviews done during this 2015 Winter NAMM. Most of them are in English.
- Interview with Doug Kauer
- Interview with Gene Baker from B3 Guitars
- Interview with Dennis Fano
- Interview with Saul Koll
- Interview with Bill Krinard from Two Rock
- Interview with Mark Bartel from Tone King
- Interview with Ola Englund
- Interview with Albert Lee
- Interview in French with Pascal Mulot on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview in French with James Trussart on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview with Paul Reed Smith
- Interview with Brian Wampler from Wampler Pedals
- Interview with Zakk Wylde for the launch of Wylde Audio
- Interview with luthier Nik Huber
- Interview in French with Benjamin Turgis (pro musician) on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview with Grover Jackson from GJ2 Guitars
- Interview with Tom Anderson
- Renaud Louis-Servais (pro musician)
- Interview in French with Guillaume Pille, Two Notes CEO on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview in French with Julien Bitoun on La Chaîne Guitare
Summary of Day 1
Perhaps the quietest day proportionately at NAMM since all exhibitors are fresh and that the volume is not yet entirely delusional. I focused for the first day on the hall E which includes the "small" manufacturers (such as the luthier Doug Kauer) and level 2 of the convention center where there were for example the guys from the Premier Builders Guild.
Interviews of the day
- Interview with Doug Kauer
- Interview with Gene Baker from B3 Guitars
- Interview with Dennis Fano
- Interview with Saul Koll
- Interview with Bill Krinard from Two Rock
- Interview with Mark Bartel from Tone King
The selection of pictures of the day
A 75k$ angel guitar by ESP
A gorgeous dragon 30th anniversary guitar from PRS
A cool douple P90 single cut design guitar from Godin
Backstage Pass bonus: a 205 photo album for the full story of that first day back on the private community.
Day 2
I'm beginning to get the measure of the immensity of the NAMM. I knew this show was huge but it's true that it takes a lot of walking to get from one end to the other of the different halls. Some interviews were planned weeks ahead while others were completly improvised on the spot such as the ones with the Country guitar living Albert Lee Country and with Pascal Mulot, a leading French bass players.
The selection of pictures of the day
A selfie with Albert Lee
A Telegib replica by Seymour Duncan
A gorgeous Luke guitar from Ernie Ball Music Man
One of the Ola Englund signature model with Washburn
Backstage Pass bonus: an album of 40 photographs for the full report of the second day found on the private community.
Interviews of the day
- Interview with Ola Englund
- Interview with Albert Lee
- Interview in French with Pascal Mulot on La Chaîne Guitare
Day 3
Here we start to get into the core part of the show because it is Saturday with a huge number of people in the aisles. NAMM is normally a trade only show but the weekend is a like a big party for all of Los Angeles. So we have an incredible crowd which sometimes makes it difficult to move around. A beautiful harvest of interviews for that day, however with no less than six interviews conducted.
The selection of pictures of the day
You get to see all kind of guitars during the NAMM!
A cool pair of BC Rich guitars
Zakk Wylde in front of the line of gear he was introducing with Wyldeaudio
Selfie with James Trussart
Backstage Pass bonus: an album of 110 photos for the full report of the third day to recover the private community.
Interviews of the day
- Interview in French with James Trussart on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview with Paul Reed Smith
- Interview with Brian Wampler from Wampler Pedals
- Interview with Zakk Wylde for the launch of Wylde Audio
- Interview with luthier Nik Huber
- Interview in French with Benjamin Turgis (pro musician) on La Chaîne Guitare
Day 4
Always a great weather to start this last day of show. I must admit that it's nice to enjoy the winter sun. 5 interviews that day with a special mention for the visit of Grover Jackson workshop in Orange County thanks to Eric Labire from Music & Sons. I had already made an audio interview with Grover but to meet him and to visit his shop to make a new video interview over 20min and try some guitars is one of my best memories of this trip.
The selection of pictures of the day
Nice group photo from left to right: Simon Depys (Two-Notes), Guillaume Pille (Two Notes), Devin Townsend, Renaud Louis-Servais and yours truly
Selfie with Grover Jackson
Selfie with Guillaume Pille, CEO for Two Notes
Tom Anderson with Renaud Louis-Servais
Backstage Pass bonus: a photo album 45 for the full story of that day up on the private community.
Interviews of the day
- Interview with Grover Jackson from GJ2 Guitars
- Interview with Tom Anderson
- Renaud Louis-Servais (pro musician)
- Interview in French with Guillaume Pille, Two Notes CEO on La Chaîne Guitare
- Interview in French with Julien Bitoun on La Chaîne Guitare
Thanks
Before concluding I would like to especially thank Guillaume Pille from Two-Notes who gave me lots of good information to prepare my first Californian expedition. His information were invaluable throughout the show. He also introduced me to some stars of the guitar such as Devin Townsend or Tom Quayle.
A big thank you to Julien Bitoun which also gave me a lot of good tips to make the most of this NAMM making me enjoy the experience of seasoned journalist used to cover this kind of event.
Conclusion
Difficult to summarize in a few lines such a rich experience. I went to NAMM in observation mode for the first time, the results have far exceeded my expectations, 20 interviews top quality (yes, I said this out loud!) : I really did not expect to be able to do that many.
The proliferation of stars in all corners of the aisle is really striking. As said Julien Bitoun nicely when you think you recognize a star at NAMM, it is probably that very star. And always very accessible. I was able to do totally improvised interviews with Albert Lee, Tom Anderson or Grover Jackson.
I had a blast to bathe in this whirlwind of decibels and guitar for 4 days! NAMM is a beautiful well-oiled marketing machine. The organization is top notch. From the excellent mobile app, to areas well equipped for the Press or even the free WiFi available on much of the convention center, it is high class stuff and it allows to work in very good conditions.
So will I go back next year? Most likely.
Pierre.
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