hey guys, I'm posting this stuff up on a few different message boards (guitargearheads.com, sevenstring.org, etc.) and since it's so damn gear-heavy, I thought you all would be interested. These are all pics from my trip to NAMM over the weekend:
Here's a couple shots of Mark Wood (TSO) playing with his group, they all kicked ass. The violins are all six-string electrics with frets.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/1.jpg
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/2.jpg
Schecter Guitars!! I didn't get any pics of their guitars (no real changes), but their booth kicked ass:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/3.jpg
Some odd body-less guitars and basses:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/4.jpg
The HUUUUUGE Roland booth:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/5.jpg
This can give you an idea of just how massive the place was. These are the 3000s, there's 2000-6000 on the main floor, and there were 3 more floors to this place.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/6.jpg
The Ibanez booth, Satriani models...the silver one lists for roughly $5300.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/7.jpg
RG prestige models... the one at the bottom is the 1527:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/8.jpg
Ibanez RGA's... archtop RGs. These look freaking sweet. I just wish they had a floyd on them.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/9.jpg
The new high-end RGs. The list on both of these was in the $2000 range.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/10.jpg
The highest-end RG. F'n sweet. You can clearly see the list price in the pic.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/11.jpg
Good thing they're not f-ing with this one, perfect as always:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/15.jpg
Dino Cezares (Fear Factory) at the Ibanez/Tama booth:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/12.jpg
ESP:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/13.jpg
a really sweet ESP, the pic doesn't do it justice:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/14.jpg
A new idea from M-Audio. It's a recording program specifically for guitarists that actually simulates footpedals and rack units on the screen:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/16.jpg
yeah bitch!!
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/17-luponebenante.jpg
A new signature model from Jackson. 7 strings. I picked it up, and was instantly discouraged, as it couldn't have even been 4 or 5 pounds. Maybe they made the body out of cork... it's really too damn light. Looks cool though, and it is a neck-through.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/18.jpg
More art than really a playable instrument. Interesting that the lower neck is a 10-string.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/19.jpg
This was in the Fender/Jackson/Guild booth, but it's definitely not a Fender. Nice 7-string jazz guitar:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/20.jpg
The surviving members of Damageplan at the Dean booth:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/21.jpg
George Lynch, ripping it up at the Roland Booth:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/22.jpg
These guys were playing blues on guitar and bass like they were pianos. I was suprised how fast they could play like this!!
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/23.jpg
It wouldn't be a freak-show without GWAR!!!
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/24.jpg
Apparently Monster Garage is now making guitars:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/25.jpg
Welcome to Heaven...
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/26.jpg
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/27.jpg
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/28.jpg
Johnny DeMarco at the Roland booth. This dude f'n rips. Find his solo stuff and buy it now. He and I had a good conversation too, and we're gonna hook up and do some shows in LA. Awesome dude...
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/29.jpg
The worst idea......EVER:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/30.jpg
A great new idea from Rocktron. Since most players nowadays just want to plug into an amp and play, Rocktron is prototyping rack-combos. Combo-amps with 1 or 2 rack spaces in it. On the left is a Voodu Valve 2x12, on the right is a Ganiac 2 preamp and Rocktron's new Xpression processor. I spent some time talking to one of Rocktron's suits, and he was telling me they built the Xpression as an upgraded version of the Intellifex... says it easily competes in quality with the TC G-minor, and in some cases wipes the floor with it.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/31.jpg
Martin's 1 millionth guitar made... The gaudiest guitar ever. It was in a glass display case and it was spinning slowly.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/32.jpg
The Dean Dimebag display. I really like the new models and it's a shame Dimebag never really got a chance to show these off himself:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/33.jpg
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/34.jpg
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/35.jpg
Look kids! It's Blues Sereceno!
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/36.jpg
More Freakshow:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/37.jpg
Me, with Joey Vera of Fates Warning/Armored Saint:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/38-luponevera.jpg
8-string Blackmachine guitar. The extended scale length made this guitar SUPER-hard to play, but it is an interesting design:
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/39.jpg
A Vigier
fretless guitar with a metal fret-board.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/40.jpg
The Chapman Stick display (Reference: Dream Theater's John Myung on "New Millenium"... Tony Levin all over the LTE albums)
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/41.jpg
The highlight of the experience for me. Joe got a copy of my disc, and his face lit up when I told him I did a tribute song to him. Really great guy.
http://www.vincelupone.com/namm/1-luponesatriani.jpg
Along with those pics, there were many experiences there that didn't make it into photos. I had a great talk with John Petrucci about his album, my album, and the state of instrumental guitar. Gary Hoey was freaking awesome to talk to, and he and I hit it off when talking about Rocktron and their great preamps. The suits from ESP, Schecter, and Rocktron were all very accessible and really nice people who took time with me to talk guitars and effects and stuff... very educational!
Some other notables I ran into were Chris Caffrey (TSO, Savatage), Derek Sherinian, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy, Steve Vai,
Marty Friedman, Andy Timmons, and I saw Zakk Wylde walking around a little too. The atmosphere was unbelieveable there and I was able to make a lot of industry contacts as well.
Vince LuPone
www.vincelupone.com
