Winter namm 2008

[Ted Eschliman]

My usual on-the-spot pictorial of the 2008 Winter NAMM Show; internet connection in my room is a bit spotty, so I'll be a bit brief. These are the first day's shots. Starting off with the Michael Kelly booth.

[Ted Eschliman]

Maybe I'm being a bit geeky getting excited about a case, but I've been working with Access Cases for several years to come up with a wood rectangular case with a nest that will fit a multitude of non-traditional mandolin bodies. It's here in their Stage 3 Series. Street Price will likely be around $99. (More on this later...)

[Ted Eschliman]

I guess their hard pack gig bag has been a very good seller; this one has some decent protective rigidity in the shell. Should be a nice compromise between weight and durability.

[Ted Eschliman]

This looks like fun, a "Play Along" Choro series from ChoroMusic.com, a specialty publisher in California. Nazereth is out; Jacob in the pipeline:

[Ted Eschliman]

The lovely Angela holding the Radim Zenkl 4-string mandola at the Breedlove booth. I hope to get in there when isn't so crowded for some test-drive.

[Ted Eschliman]

Later, Radim puts on a demonstration.

[Ted Eschliman]

Some interesting African Zebrawood at the J Bovier booth.

[Ted Eschliman]

Matt Cowherd slinging a matte version of the Zebrawood.

[Mark Walker]

Thanks for the reports Ted! Great stuff there.

[Ted Eschliman]

Jam session at the Weber booth with Bruce Graybill and Scott Gates.

[Ted Eschliman]

So maybe these picks are a bit thin for mando, my nine-year-old daughter can't wait to get her mitts on these for the Hannah Montana guitar she got for Christmas:

[delsbrother]

Thanks Ted! I love these threads! Really looking forward to your review of the Zenkl.

Hey, can I ask another favor? If you happen to go by the Dean booth, could you see if they're still making the Mondo Mando? (If it piques your interest, at one time I think they were offered in Trans Blue Quilt!) I'm still contemplating repurposing one as a mandola. Haven't seen it in their recent catalogs - which makes me think it's gone the way of the Gibson M6.

(not Dimebag) Darrell

[mandopete]

Hey Ted - thanks for the photo's! I've been looking at those Access cases for awhile now. Please let us know more about those.

[Kevin K]

Where can you find one of the Access cases? What is that model shown in the picture?

[mandopete]

Where can you find one of the Access cases? #What is that model shown in the picture?
Here (http://www.accessbagsandcases.com/contact.htm)

Looks like Model AC3DA11

http://www.accessbagsandcases.com/ac3mn11.htm

[MLT]

Ted,

Thanks for the updates! I look forward to watching this thread all weekend.

[Spruce]

Hey Ted...

No mando content, but if you happen to see the Harmony booth, could you snap a couple pics?
I'd love to see their re-ish of the H22 bass....

Here's (http://harmonyguitars.com/) their website... # #

Supposedly they'll be at booth #2606....

Thanks!

[Clif Wayland]

Don't stop now! more pic's!
I went to the NAMM show in the early eighties, what a blast!
It's great that you take time out to post pic's for us!

[mrmando]

No mando content, but if you happen to see the Harmony booth, could you snap a couple pics?
I'd love to see their re-ish of the H22 bass....
Maybe they should reissue the Yank Rachell H35 while they're at it...

I saw Marc Ribot play an origianal H44 Stratotone backing up T Bone Burnett, while T Bone played two Kay Jimmy Reed Thin Twins and a Danelectro reissue.

These guys could play any guitar they wanted, and they chose Harmony and Kay and made 'em sound good.

[mrmando]

And Ted, will you get to the Guitar Geeks show and see Alex Gregory do his thing?

[Pete Braccio]

Nuts! I didn't bring my flash card reader with me to LA so my picts will be uploaded when I get back home on Sunday night.

I'll try and fill up the memory card when I go back tomorrow.

Pete

[JEStanek]

Ted,
If you see Gordon Roberts, please tell him his friends at the Café say hello, and hope he's doing OK. I kinda miss Gordon around here.

Jamie

[Ted Eschliman]

Some more fun stuff....

At Gibson the Victorian F5. Limited Run of 15, Red Spruce Top, "Historic" Pickguard Side Clamp, Pre-truss rod Era "Double Flowerpot" Peghead inlay, and historically accurate aged varnish finish. Man this was fun to play!

[Ted Eschliman]

And the back...

[Ted Eschliman]

Already talked about, the Ricky Skaggs Distressed F5. Never got to play it, though:

[Ted Eschliman]

and the case cover...

[Ted Eschliman]

Coolio electric, the F-Paul! Wish I could have plugged it in:

[Ted Eschliman]

Headstock...

[Ted Eschliman]

Eastwood Mandocaster (8-string--no 4-strings in production):

[Ted Eschliman]

The Century Strings crew (Draeleon Royale, a personal fave):

[Ted Eschliman]

At the Weber booth, a Big Horn. (Love this two-point!)

[Ted Eschliman]

Hopefully, I'm right on this a ruby-ish Yellowstone, but correct me if I'm wrong:

[pjlama]

Ted, did you hear a price on that Gibson Victorian F5? That looks very interesting.

[mrmando]

Is the Gibson F-Paul understood to be a one-off, or something they may put into production?

[cooper4205]

Ted, did you hear a price on that Gibson Victorian F5? That looks very interesting.
It sure is. Wonder if you can get the old-school redburst?

[John Hill]

I'll play the minority here and say that finish on the Gibson looks, well, bad.

"historically accurate aged varnish finish" = "###### looking finish that costs $15,000".

IMO, YMMV and all that jazz.

[fatt-dad]

I'll play the minority here and say that finish on the Gibson looks, well, bad.
+1 (the minority is growing. . . .)

f-d

[mrmando]

I'll play the minority here and say that finish on the Gibson looks, well, bad.
On the other hand, if you happen to leave it in your car on a hot day, you'll have nothing to worry about!

[John Hill]

I'll play the minority here and say that finish on the Gibson looks, well, bad.
On the other hand, if you happen to leave it in your car on a hot day, you'll have nothing to worry about!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

True enough. Honestly when I saw the pic before reading about it I thought the finish was still wet and not really finished. 'At make sense with you? Sound like Wakefield almost, backin' talkwards.

[pjlama]

It'll buff out http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[testore]

Add me to the list too

[John Hill]

Any sightings of the new Larrivee mandolins?

[jasona]

Add me to the list too
And me. Looks like someone dumped battery acid on a nice mandolin.

[Pete Braccio]

Hi all,

I got home and was reunited with my flash card reader. Surprisingly, most of my photos didn't suck.

I'll post a couple below, but you can see all the shots at NAMM Pictures (http://homepage.mac.com/braccio/NAMM_2008/PhotoAlbum13.html). Mostly mandolins with a bunch of archtop and bass pictures added to the mix.

Pete

[Pete Braccio]

Peter Mix with one of his NewMAD F4s

[Pete Braccio]

A flock of Collings.

[Pete Braccio]

A Rickenbacker

[Pete Braccio]

and a National.

[mrmando]

Glory hallelujah, that Rickenbacker has a 10th-fret marker! They finally got it right, on the third try. Should we expect to see these in stores this year?

[JEStanek]

Great pics, Pete. I have a technical question. What shoes was Peter Mix wearing?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Jamie

[Pete Braccio]

The Ric is in this year's catalog so ...

Nuts, didn't look at Peter's shoes. Maybe Ted got a picture. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Reid Morsi]

Awesome pics Pete!! That new Breedlove FF with the natual finish looks sweet.
By the way in the Collings pic you posted here is that an MF with a pickguard? (on the far left) also is that color Amberburst? or did the flash on your camera make the normal sunburst coloring seem brighter?

[Chris Biorkman]

It looks like MF-5 varnishes with different finish colors to me. Very cool.

[cooper4205]

is that an MF to the far left in the Collings pic? It looks pretty sweet with the pickguard and gloss top.

[Pete Braccio]

Hi all,

I'm pretty sure it is an MF. There are actually three different views of that particular mandolin. The shot of the single Collings is a picture of the mandolin on the left. Also, there is a back shot of four Collings F models. That mandolin is the third from the right in that picture. It looks like there is no back binding on it in that picture.

Pete

[Reid Morsi]

Yeah that sure looks like an MF, with no headstock or neck binding, and just the simple Collings inlay on the headstock. Never seen one that comes stock with a pickguard though, wonder if its something new they are doing. What did you think about the color? was it that reddish in person? It looks more like the standard Les Paul burst, rather than the normal cremonaish sunburst that Collings seems to always use, or is it just me http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Mandobar]

http://www.mandobar.com/mf1.jpg

my new mf custom- with engelmann top. it's like a sunset sunburst. they also do a nice western burst.

http://www.mandobar.com/mf2.jpg

http://www.mandobar.com/mf3.jpg

[Kevin K]

MF Custom with engelmann spruce? That's the first I've seen where did you get it or was it a special order? How's the sound compared to a regular MF?

[markishandsome]

The finish on that Gibson probably looks better in person without all the flash glare. My question is what the heck is it supposed to be in the first place? A blacktop F5 (with bound holes?) with old, way-pre-Loar F4 appointments? Why?

[Mandobar]

yes, the MF was a special order. i have a friend who is a Collings dealer in Connecticut. We cooked this up after I bought a black topped MT last winter. comparing it to my MT is a bit hard as I have had that almost a year now and it sat on the wall in the store for a while. I ordered this and no one else has played it except for my friend and my luthier friend who went over it when it arrived. It needs some playing time. All in all, it has "the big Woof" that i was expecting.

my hats off to Bill and the boys- especially Alex who was instrumental in getting this built for me.

[Ted Eschliman]

In response to all the questions about the validity of Distressed finishes, Gibson custom colors, and A Paul's, all I can do is refer to a quote by legendary science fiction author, Robert Heinlein. "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." With all due respect intended, the quote should be "Women, cats, and Gibson Marketing..."

For what it's worth, like the finish or not, that Victorian played (and sounded) like a dream.

[jefflester]

Amongst braccio's pics: a Weber electric 8-string. They've been only offering their 5-string Maverick.

[Lee]

Any word on a Collings oval, yet?
That custom MF looks tremendous, and I'm not even a scroll guy.

[Pete Braccio]

The color of the MF in the picture is fairly accurate. I do remember it as a reddish sunburst.

Pete

P.S. Just as a reminder, I have a web site with over 80 pictures from NAMM (http://homepage.mac.com/braccio/NAMM_2008/PhotoAlbum13.html)

[Jim MacDaniel]

Thanks for the pics Ted and Pete.

Pete -- the back on that Baden guitar is awesome; nice pic!

[Reid Morsi]

Wow Mary that MF you have is absolutely goregous. I actually placed an order for a Englemann gloss topped Blonde MF with tortoise binding, that is due sometime in March. Seeing the beauty you just got, and the ones posted from the Namm show makes me even more excited about my future baby. By the way is that the MF-5 case that you got for it? I was planning on maybe upgrading to that case, i just wanted to see how you thought it stood up against the regular MF/MT cases? That finish you have is so pretty and it truely is reminiscent of a sunset, Collings always seems to have top notch finishes and that is no exception. Its cool to know that someone else has an Englemann topped MF, i guess our mandolins will be like Cousins or something.

[johnwalser]

My birthday is Feb. 3 and I could use this Collings I saw at NAMM.
John

[johnwalser]

Here is a Martin guitar with the founder's picture. How about a mandolin with Bill Monroes likeness?
John

[johnwalser]

This gentleman from China is playing the Er Hu. It had 2 strings and he must have been the Yo Yo Ma of this instrument because I can't imagine anyone making more beautiful music with it.
John

[johnwalser]

These are the fellows that run Saga including the president in the center. I attended a show Friday evening where they performed with great skill. Later, "Raul Renoso & Friends" and "The John Jorgenson Quintet" performed. Bluegrass, Brazilian and Gypsy Jazz. It don't get better than that for an evening of entertainment!
John

[Hans]

I'll play the minority here and say that finish on the Gibson looks, well, bad.
+1 (the minority is growing. . . .)
+3. They musta used a dozen eggs to get that crackle! # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
F4 pickguard, fingerboard and double flowerpot on an F5? What are they thinking over there?

[Jonmiller]

ARRRG, I live 3 blocks from the Anaheim convention center and I had no way to get in this year.My pass sources have dried up-(much more difficult this year I hear to get in.)

[Mark Walker]

ARRRG, I live 3 blocks from the Anaheim convention center and I had no way to get in this year. My pass sources have dried up -(much more difficult this year I hear to get in.)
Is the NAMM show a 'limited access' event? As in, it's not open to the 'general public?'

If so, what is the criteria for attending? Just curious - too far to travel from snowy West Michigan! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[uncle ken]

The coolest mandolins there were the two that Michael Lewis brought, unfortunately I left my camera at home. Hopefully someone else has a picture they can post.

[pjlama]

The NAMM show is for Musical Instrument dealers and makers so it's closed to the public although plenty of non-industry folks do crash it, getting badges from friends in the business. I worked the shows for years with several companies and the non-industry folks did make it hard for us since we were there to sell. That said since the summer show is going back to Nashvegas I'll be there as a looky-lou pissing off my old friends. I also promised a friend I'd work his Anaheim booth for 09', looks like I'm getting sucked back in.

[mandroid]

Music Merchants, is in the name.
Have to own or manage a music store, Jonmiller,
or pay for a vendors booth and show your wares.
or date someone that does.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mark Walker]

The NAMM show is for Musical Instrument dealers and makers so it's closed to the public although plenty of non-industry folks do crash it, getting badges from friends in the business. I worked the shows for years with several companies and the non-industry folks did make it hard for us since we were there to sell. That said since the summer show is going back to Nashvegas I'll be there as a looky-lou pissing off my old friends. I also promised a friend I'd work his Anaheim booth for 09', looks like I'm getting sucked back in.
Thanks PJ & Robert. I kind of picked up on that doing a Google search, but it sure seems like a lot of 'non-merchants' are/were there! Lucky them! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mandobar]

mando morsi

yah, that is the upgraded case. go with it!!! (i have a blonde MT coming around march too- also asked for upgraded case). i bought an MT2 case off the classifieds after I got my MT. it is so much nicer.

[delsbrother]

I heard it was much harder to get in this year - they were evidently checking badge names against photo ID (so you couldn't get in on a friend's badge). If this is true that would pretty much mean I would never get to go again. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[mrmando]

Ha! The one year I went, my nametag said "Buck Dharma"! Boy, did I get some doubletakes...

[Joe Mendel]

It's true, each time you re-entered the show area you needed to show picture ID, along side your NAMM name tag.

[Christian McKee]

Martin, are you actually short enough to be Buck? He's only about 5'3", or something very close to that. Oddly enough, that still seems to be enough height to DESTROY TOKYO every time he plays http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Christian

[Maddie Witler]

I heard it was much harder to get in this year - they were evidently checking badge names against photo ID (so you couldn't get in on a friend's badge). If this is true that would pretty much mean I would never get to go again. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
it's definitely true, i had to do a good amount of convincing to several different guards to get in... It was still definitely worth it...

[Jim MacDaniel]

Ha! The one year I went, my nametag said "Buck Dharma"! Boy, did I get some doubletakes...
But did you fear the reaper? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[mrmando]

I'm about 5'10" and a good 20 years younger than ol' Buck. The name tag came from Alvarez-Yairi. David James from CoMando is a pal of mine; his band had an endorsement deal with Alvarez guitars and so does Buck, apparently. David picked up some name tags that weren't going to be used. I have no idea where Buck actually was that year, but evidently he wasn't in Anaheim.

[Rick Banuelos]

Hopefully, I'm right on this a ruby-ish Yellowstone, but correct me if I'm wrong:
We actually lightened the standard color a bit; we think the wood underneath looks gorgeous.