NAMM Pictures [Archive] - Mandolin Cafe Forum

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:09am

Here are my NAMM pictures from Thursday. I spent most of my time playing the mandolins and jamming with Peter Mix at the Rigel booth. NAMM is noisy so you can't always judge the true tone of the instrument. I noticed a Larivee thread so I'll show that one first.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:12am

My second stop was at the Michael Kelly booth. This one caught my eye as well as a nice looking mandocello and mandola.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:15am

My next stop was the Weber booth. I spent more time there because they had some nice stuff and were very congenial.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:16am

This one sounded especially nice, very good projection with lots of midrange pop.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:17am

I like the contours on the body and pickguard of this one.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:19am

I had one of my best NAMM experiences hanging out at the Rigel booth, and I've been going to NAMM for 25 years now. Peter Mix is a great guy.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:21am

Check out the right hand.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:22am

This one with the spider motif had great tone. I believe it's a G style.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:23am

The back

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:24am

Another Rigel

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:26am

Rigel with purple sunburst, the digital camera doesn't quite capture the depth of the color.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:29am

Just around the corner were these Breedloves. If I were looking for a no frills mandolin this would be my first choice. They feel and sound wonderful.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:32am

Collings MF5 Deluxe V, list price $12,900. This is a nice sounding instrument with a varnish finish.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:33am

Here's a closer view.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:34am

Here is the National Resonator mandolin.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:36am

Fender electric bouzouki

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:38am

Some cool electric guitars

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:39am

not mandolins but I couldn't resist

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:40am

one more

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:45am

Here is some interesting looking Eastman stuff. Not much of a NAMM presence. No one there and half of the stuff wasn't tuned up or even accessable to play. Kind of disappointing.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:46am

another angle

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:48am

eastman

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:49am

eastman

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:49am

eastman

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:50am

eastman

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:52am

What the f*/!?

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:53am

A lovely Korean import with special crackle finish.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 1:55am

A hand carved work of art for the mandolinist who wants to play Smoke on the Water.

WireBoy

Jan-22-2005, 2:25am

thanks uncle ken !
#i will visit NAMM sunday afternoon and bring my camera too. #looking forward to the weber, rigel, breedlove and gibson booths. #Michael kelly mandola? Hmmmm... of course the larivee is a must stop too #(just to check out the ukes! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )

grandmainger

Jan-22-2005, 2:44am

Fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing these, it's nice to see what's coming up. It looks like 2005 will be the year of the 2-pointer http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

delsbrother

Jan-22-2005, 3:42am

Those Lyon and Healy-esque (or is it D'Angelico?) Eastmans look very interesting.

James Elton Stevens

Jan-22-2005, 7:04am

I have a MK Legacy O in antique tobacco finish. Great price for a pretty good package all around. Thats a good picture of MK round hole. I always liked the F-4 look.

I am still experimenting with string brands and guages. I've liked medium gauge so far. Using Martin bluegrassers now and I will be glad when it is time to change.

Thanks for the great pictures.

JIM S.

Skip Kelley

Jan-22-2005, 9:55am

Thanks for the pics!!

mmukav

Jan-22-2005, 10:13am

Wow! How cool! Thanks for the pictures, looked like a great time!

troika

Jan-22-2005, 11:14am

Wow what a great picture gallery. How did the new Varnished Collings stack up? I bet it's incredible.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:18pm

Here is the MK octave mandolin. I mentioned that it was a mandocello but I believe this is just a tiny bit smaller.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:20pm

Here is the mandola.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:32pm

Weber also had a big guy.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:36pm

I find it amazing what some companys will put on display. You can tell whether they are serious or not by if they bother to tune the instruments.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:37pm

This Fender F sounded amazingly good.

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 12:38pm

can't resist another one of these

berkeleymando

Jan-22-2005, 1:04pm

Fantastic pictures, thank you. I was particularly happy you got the national mando in there. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

flairbzzt

Jan-22-2005, 1:15pm

Thanks for the photos. I've got a Weber Bighorn 2 point like the one pictured, and it's great. Can't wait to find out more about the Eastman 2 point offset.....

Keith Wallen

Jan-22-2005, 2:47pm

Thanks for taking the time to post these Uncle Ken!

fmspinc

Jan-22-2005, 5:26pm

I think I'm in love w/ that salmon 2 pt. that Peter is holding ... show mando only or for production ?

uncle ken

Jan-22-2005, 6:46pm

He called it the Jethrine model so I guess it's something new. It was designed to appeal to a woman but that wouldn't keep me from it.

Bill Snyder

Jan-22-2005, 10:08pm

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=4;t=15425;hl=jethrine) is a thread from last May about the Jethrine. It is actually mentioned in three or four other threads also.

MDW

Jan-22-2005, 11:09pm

Did anyone get a chance to play the Michael Kelly mandola? If so, what was the verdict?

mrmando

Jan-23-2005, 1:28am

Who made the "Smoke on the Water" electric?

uncle ken

Jan-23-2005, 4:54pm

Here (http://members.tripod.com/degennarocustoms/index.htm) is their web site.

mandroid

Jan-24-2005, 12:52am

I still have to wonder : how many acres/Hectares of tropical forest hang on the walls of all of the many Guitar festooned superstores? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

WireBoy

Jan-24-2005, 3:12am

Just as the show closed, Radim Zenkel and Antonio Resuscutti were jamming away.

WireBoy

Jan-24-2005, 3:14am

Radim on a Cepek , antonio on an Ibenez. the gent in the grey sweater in the foreground was laying down a guitar groove.

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 9:55am

Eric & Ken, you do a better job of taking pictures than me, but I'll add mine, anyway...

An innovative design from Colorado Luthier Brian Heflen at RC designs.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Arch_RC.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 9:56am

Close up:
http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Arch_RC_close.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 9:57am

Our own Karen Cannon of Art Strings Publishing.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Art_Strings.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 9:58am

A wonderful surprise, Bruce Weber & Crew with a slew of new models, including this dainty little prototype, the Mustang:

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Web_Mustang.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 9:59am

These were a gas to play; the pictures don’t do the Herringbone inlay justice..

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Web_BigHorn.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:00am

Had to visit my old friend Michael Lewis at the Luthier’s Consortium offsite. Couldn’t leave without playing a few tunes, but playing “Love Potion #9” in a jazz jam was a first for me…

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Lewis_Ensemble.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:04am

This was a delightful departure. Can’t tell you how much, other than Michael said I couldn’t afford it.

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:05am

A testament to the wood choosing skills of the Lewis craft:

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Lewis_Back.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:06am

Loved the black, although, I understand from Michael, I can’t afford it.

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:08am

One of my personal favorite Lewis embellishments is his Dalmation tortoise shell.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Lewis_Dalmation.jpg

(Just wish I could afford it.)

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:09am

Always on top of an edgy F5, this beaut was no exception. Of course, they play as good as they look. Don’t ask how much, though, I was told I can’t afford it.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Lewis_F5.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:10am

Warning, blatant Rigel worship ahead!
The genius behind Rigel, #Pete Langdell. What a pleasure to meet him in person.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Rigel_Genius.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:11am

Just when you thought you couldn’t do anything more with an A+ Deluxe…
A “Premium!”
http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Aplus_Prem.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:11am

The Jethrine has been shown before, but get a load of the inlay. I think she may have found a home after this show, though.

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Rigel_Jeth.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:12am

An interesting “spin” on a G-5, the Spider (pun intended):

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Spider_Front.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:13am

Closer look at the scroll:

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Spider_Scroll.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:14am

And the G-5 Back:

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Spider_Back.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:15am

Now, a flourish of blatant self promotion, a couple Gypsy Q-95 sisters, and a “twin” to my own personal G5:

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Rigel_Gypsy_Sisters.jpg

Ted Eschliman

Jan-24-2005, 10:16am

Being the Ovation fan, I had to post this one. I just wish they did a mandolin with this pattern!

http://www.tannah.net/ted/NAMM/Ova_Flame.jpg

generankin

Jan-25-2005, 10:53am

eastman
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/uploads/post-15-76544-eastman7.jpg

What's this? #An Eastman two-pointer? #Anyone know any details (as their website has none)?

WireBoy

Jan-26-2005, 12:44pm

Ted,
i was disappointed at the Ovation booth, i wanted to fondle a MM68. #but they didn't seen to have one. #they did have a MAE168 but i didn't like the neck on that, too thick and a narrow fingerboard. #i have an ovation guitar (model 1121 from the early 70s) that i enjoy, so i was kind of hoping their mando would be nice too.

Lee

Jan-26-2005, 1:20pm

I like that Rigel Jethrine model. #Doesn't appear on the website yet.#The points on the symetrical one's shown on their website are too diminutive (as are Eastman's), like they'd atrophied. The points on the Jethrine are properly pronounced. #I want one, but I probably can't afford it.
Great photos guys, thanks!!

dtb

Jan-26-2005, 1:48pm

thanks so much fellows. great pics. I won't sleep for a week now. dreaming of mando heaven. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

EastmanGordon

Jan-27-2005, 10:57am

Hi everybody,
I just wanted to shed some light on what happened to us at Eastman and the reason why some people were greeted with untuned instruments at our booth.

Our good friends at Yellow Trucking lost our entire shipment of guitars and mandolins en route to the show. This meant that we had to scramble around to find instruments wherever and however we could. The replacement instruments finally arrived just after the show opened on Thursday morning and I tried to replace strings and tune between appointments and enquiries. This of course is not the way we would have planned to display but sometimes you have to play with the cards you are dealt. Nevertheless we were able to show off one of our new mandolas and a couple of the new L&H style two pointers. The two pointers will be shipping around May/June, they sounded incredible. The mandocello never made it so we will all have to wait to see that one.
If anyone should happen to see a large wooden pallette loaded with cardboard boxes sitting on the side of the road somewhere it might be in your interest to check it out.
I will post some pics from the show as soon as I can. I really loved that National Steel Mando, it looks really ugly but it sounds like a dream.
Talk to you all soon,
Gordon

Lee

Jan-27-2005, 11:08am

I won't sleep for a week thinking about that missing pallette by the side of the road!
All that and a 102 degree fever to boot. Hope you're feeling better, Gordon!
So tell me, does that L&H style 2-pointer come with X-bracing ot tone bars? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

MDW

Jan-27-2005, 10:26pm

Gordon,

Could you post a description/pics/suggested retail price of the mandola models?

MDW

jmkatcher

Jan-27-2005, 10:56pm

I think that National Resophonic mandolin is really quite beautiful. I'm really hoping my local National dealer gets one in so I can get a chance to see it close up.

generankin

Jan-28-2005, 9:27am

Nevertheless we were able to show off one of our new mandolas and a couple of the new L&H style two pointers. The two pointers will be shipping around May/June, they sounded incredible.
Tough luck on the vanished shipment (which highway might we find that pallet sitting next to?), but what can you say about the two-pointer? There's nothing on the website.

Gene Rankin

EastmanGordon

Jan-31-2005, 8:51am

http://www.eastmanstrings.com/images/md.807.jpg

Here's a pic of the new two pointer (this is the prototype), thought you might enjoy it. You can stop looking for the lost pallette now, it turned up and was delivered to our Pomona, CA office and the nice guys at Yellow trucking told us that we were not going to be charged for the freight. Gotta like that.
Gordon