Anyone going to NAMM 2026?
- Thread starter vigilante398
- Start date
CheapSuitG
The TubeSchemer
Just and FYI - I did sea Eargasam was offering free earplugs this year, need to register on their site.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
Thanks for the heads up, just reserved
CheapSuitG
The TubeSchemer
Make sure to get an Orange Amps tote if they are still doing that, best lunch bag ever for the day job.Thanks for the heads up, just reserved
Fama
Well-known member
And then you only take apples for lunch?
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
Me outside the convention center right now
CheapSuitG
The TubeSchemer
Sounds like you have your badges already, that is always such a pain. There are a couple sneaky places to get them, one near the building Yamaha is usually in. Although, I haven't been since the 2020 show pre-pandemic and assume a ton has changed.
Bummed I am not going, it is always fun to be in a sea of people wearing black shirts and jeans with a couple guys sprinkled in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and new balance that is only there so he can expense a trip to Disneyland with the family.
Bummed I am not going, it is always fun to be in a sea of people wearing black shirts and jeans with a couple guys sprinkled in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and new balance that is only there so he can expense a trip to Disneyland with the family.
PunchySunshine
Well-known member
Pony tails and receded hairlines as far as the eyes can see
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
The 80s are alive and well at NAMM. I had this conversation with a friend yesterday, there are basically 6-7 different styles that are just copy/pasted a thousand times at NAMM. All these people that would be unique anywhere else are just "another one of those" at NAMM.Still?? I thought that was an '80s thing? Oh well, I guess good taste never goes out of style.
One of the artists I worked with in the past is in the "long black hair, leather pants, sleeveless shirts" category, and he's impossible to find at NAMM because there are a thousand just like him.
Passinwind
Well-known member
"Tony...oh Tony? Where did he go?"
CheapSuitG
The TubeSchemer
The "baldy-tail" is a classic and will never die.Still?? I thought that was an '80s thing? Oh well, I guess good taste never goes out of style.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
Alright, I just got home a couple hours ago so I can give a brief summary of my brief visit. I took very few pictures, because after a few visits to NAMM it all starts to feel like same shit different day so the appeal of photographing everything diminishes.
Thursday was my only day at the show, so I made sure @justin23000 with Discomfort Designs was my first stop. He's a cool dude with some cool pedals, so we chatted a bit. I always make a point to stop by Shnobel Tone because Roman is one of the sweetest people on the planet, so it was cool to chat with him for a bit as well. He has a special gold pedal in a glass case that says "for John Mayer only" because apparently John is at the show and Roman's trying to get him to the booth.
I ended up staying at NAMM until about 2:30 then heading over to Wood Wire Volts. I paid 3x the normal daily rate to get a VIP ticket because that was the only way to get in on Thursday before it opens to the public Friday. It was a completely different vibe, super low-key. As far as big names, Fender Custom Shop was there with a few guitars, Benson had some cool amps, Keeley and Earthquaker were both there with pedals. But the cool part was the brands I had either never heard of or had heard of in passing and never actually tried. Meris and Poly FX were standouts and I ended up buying a Meris pedal on the spot, and I also picked up one that impressed me from Asheville Music Tools. There was probably a total of 20 exhibitors between guitars, amps, and pedals, so it didn't take long to see everything and I had time to talk to builders, which was neat.
So while I didn't take loads of pictures, I did get a few:
880W tube amp from Benson, literally created with the sole purpose of breaking the record for highest power production model tube amp.
Tube preamp collab from Earthquaker and Dr. Z, I'm obviously biased but I thought it sounded like hot garbage. Special edition orange finish for NAMM and stuff.
And what appears to be a tube drive prototype from Keeley. Sounds pretty good as an overdrive, but definitely feels (and looks) like opamps pushing a clean tube TubeDriver style and less like an actual preamp being overdriven.
Thursday was my only day at the show, so I made sure @justin23000 with Discomfort Designs was my first stop. He's a cool dude with some cool pedals, so we chatted a bit. I always make a point to stop by Shnobel Tone because Roman is one of the sweetest people on the planet, so it was cool to chat with him for a bit as well. He has a special gold pedal in a glass case that says "for John Mayer only" because apparently John is at the show and Roman's trying to get him to the booth.
I ended up staying at NAMM until about 2:30 then heading over to Wood Wire Volts. I paid 3x the normal daily rate to get a VIP ticket because that was the only way to get in on Thursday before it opens to the public Friday. It was a completely different vibe, super low-key. As far as big names, Fender Custom Shop was there with a few guitars, Benson had some cool amps, Keeley and Earthquaker were both there with pedals. But the cool part was the brands I had either never heard of or had heard of in passing and never actually tried. Meris and Poly FX were standouts and I ended up buying a Meris pedal on the spot, and I also picked up one that impressed me from Asheville Music Tools. There was probably a total of 20 exhibitors between guitars, amps, and pedals, so it didn't take long to see everything and I had time to talk to builders, which was neat.
So while I didn't take loads of pictures, I did get a few:
880W tube amp from Benson, literally created with the sole purpose of breaking the record for highest power production model tube amp.
Tube preamp collab from Earthquaker and Dr. Z, I'm obviously biased but I thought it sounded like hot garbage. Special edition orange finish for NAMM and stuff.
And what appears to be a tube drive prototype from Keeley. Sounds pretty good as an overdrive, but definitely feels (and looks) like opamps pushing a clean tube TubeDriver style and less like an actual preamp being overdriven.
I've owned a couple of Dr Z amps, played a few belonging to friends, even fixed one once I knew how to. I don't like them. The EQ never seems to do what you want and they always sound too bright when you do get the EQ close to where you want it. And my experience of dealing with the company was dismal. Maybe Mike Zaite was coached by Mike Fuller?
So I doubt I would like the preamp!
So I doubt I would like the preamp!
drgonzo1969
Well-known member
What Meris pedal did u buy?
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I got the Mercury 7, it has to be the best sounding reverb I've ever heard. I almost sprung for the bigger Mercury X because it's absurdly cool, but it's more than I will ever really use.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I just remembered there was another nice point at NAMM, it happened so fast I forgot to mention it: I ran into Brian Wampler in passing. I didn't want to take up too much of his time, I know he's a busy dude, but I said I'm a fan of his work. He thanked me, we shook hands, and he asked my name. I've never had any reason to believe he was anything but a down-to-earth nice dude, and this further confirmed that.
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