The NAMM 2013 report.

Show us your wares.

The National Association of Music Merchants, known by the more friendly acronym of NAMM has two trade shows each year with the biggy being their (US) summer show. This is when we get to see what will be in store for the coming year. It is 'the' show for manufactures to display their wares resulting from all that hard work they have put into new product design and what hopefully us, the end user, will be wanting to buy. With tongue firmly in cheek, I could do with a few new Les Paul's.

Fender, first cab off the rank.
I see we have already had a taste of Fenders 2013 offerings with a look at their growing, love 'em or hate 'em, Fender's Select series. Initially they are beautiful looking pieces but I personally think they would get a bit tiring playing one of these everyday. I know I'm from the old school but I don't think Leo would have approved of these rather swish planks.

Clicky for the biggy!

Remember, it was Leo's concept to produce a paddle style guitar with a detachable handle, not an ornate piece such as these Select instruments. Still, it would make for great dinner table chat for the latte set, especially if the artful owner of this piece could tell us a little of the Fender history. No real need to even play it, just display it??

Next it's off to the Gibson stand.
Les Paul's, Les Paul's and yet more Les Paul's. Well they are the mainstay of the Gibson line so you may as well bake them by the bakers dozen. Something both the big F and Gibson seem to be doing in these tough economic times is offering variety, even if it is only a change of strap buttons. They both have never offered so much choice. I suppose it's because they can? It costs them nothing to load a new routing template into the CNC machine. Personally (that's me), I find the choice somewhat overwhelming when you see a hundred Les Paul's on the wall at the guitar shop only separated by colour and price but that's me. What would I know about musical instrument marketing? So what is on offer from the Gibson camp this year besides Les Paul's?

How about this? A bit of a twist on the Les Paul. Why not make a bender guitar for the country twanger's? P90's, very cool but are the Tele purists even going to take a look at this thing? With country music getting pretty tough (musically) these days, P90's may just work.

The guitar that won my heart is from the Epiphone stables out back. It is a recreation of the old Sorrento from the 70's. It has the cartoon type F holes Epiphone are fond of but this baby has a pair of US-made mini hummers and these things rock. Not sure about the olive green burst but the blonde one does it for me. Here yer go..

Oh dear. I mean seeing stuff like this coming out of Gibson really makes you wonder what's going on in Guitarworld. This creature doesn't even have a name, only a number, N-225. Is that the price in Norwegian Kroners. I thought the robot tuning guitars were pretty far out but the N-225 takes the cake. Gibson, we would rather you stick to Les Paul's and jazz boxes.

Revival of the brands.
Over the past few years we have seen many of the old brand names being revived by some wish full thinking entrepreneurs. Gretsch guitars that came close to oblivion after being shuffled around for years and finally to be picked up by the mighty Fender Musical Instrument Company have been a success story for Fender company.

There have been a few new Gretsch's this year notably down the Electromatic end of the range. Unfortunately the G5210 has been replaced by the more garish G5420T. Black Top Filter'Tron™ pickups come free, I'm yet to test how they sound but they do look a little more Gretschy and looks do matter for the Gretsch fans.

The G6118T-LTV 130th Anniversary Jr. model is a newey for the smaller man. The Jr. guitars have been around for a while though I have never seen anyone playing one. Is this the Gretsch answer to the small body 339 Gibby's and make for a great alternative to a big bodied guitar.

But this is the one that caught my eye. The revival of the Guild Manhattan X-175B. Once again a Fender Company who have been dabbling around the edges with Guild electrics, first under the DeArmond brand then Squier. Even though the present range is small with only eleven models these are available in either Korean made or US made for those with huge pockets. Could these also be for the latte set? mmm, the price is right.

Danelectro, another revived brand have been surprising us with some pretty odd-ball models for the last few years. These seem to go as quick as they come and they don't seem to remake them after their initial run. What does this mean? If you like the quirkiness of a Dano, then book 'em when you see them. That would be cheque-book them Dano.

Over in Ampland it's Magnatone. Claimed to be used by Buddy Holly? Heck, I may have plugged into one myself at one time. It would seem any old brand name might make you a few bucks if you know Billy Gibbons and willing to take a gamble. Check 'em out!


So what's new for 2013?
Well there are 7652 new guitars (mostly Les Paul's) and everything from titanium plectrums to disposable polystyrene guitar cases. Well I can't wait for next January and NAMM-2014 to see if they can come up with anything that's really what you could call - new!!