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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
 Posted - 01/18/2010 : 9:14:44 PM
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Last Friday, I attended the NAMM Show with Jon B's invitation. We had a
lot of conversation on the way up to Anaheim. Enough conversation that
we missed our exit by about 10 miles and had to circle back! Upon arrival,
we found parking right next to the convention center. Entering the halls, it
seemed that we ran into someone we knew from the industry every 20 feet
or so. I jammed on ukuleles in many of the booths. This was a combined
business/pleasure trip, so we rushed through many of the exhibits to try
and see a little of everything. In the 1st hall at the main entrance, it was
jam-packed with merchants, vendors and artists. We were checking out
some mideastern instruments and discovered that one wall were all ukes
in the shape of traditional instruments:
These were relatively quiet instruments, do to the perforated designer
soundholes. This would be advantagious if you bought one with a pickup
installed, because it would reduce feedback. Next we went downstairs,
where the bulk of the Hawaiian instruments were on display. I forgot to
take a picture of the Pono's. They play as well as instruments much higher
in price. Upon seeing the Airline guitar booth we stopped in and a guitarist
was shredding on their prototype electric uke. I played some traditional
Hawaiian on it, as they wanted my suggestions. The neck and action were
fast and low, without buzz. The fret wires were level and in perfect
intonation. The only issue was the amp they had for the demo was a small
tube screamer with a sensitive input. It brought out that "piezo honk" of a
passive piezo buzzer transducer. This is a normal characteristic that can
be fixed by using an onboard active preamp/EQ, a box like the L.R. Baggs
Paracoustic D.I., or an acoustic guitar amp designed for use with piezo
electronics. The playability was superb and I'm sure the sound would be
too with the right gear: By it's light weight, I assume it's a lollow body:
Fingerpicking Hi'ilawe:
On the right is Uddah Mark from Nalu. We think Bruddah Mark was out
chasing one of the many high-heeled fishnet stocking and micro miniskirt
and halter top wearing haole wahines that were turning heads everywhere:
Kamaka masterpieces:
MMR and Makai ukes. Beautiful and very playable and as I was told,
reasonably priced:
Jim Beloff of the Magic Fluke Company, LLC. I managed to say hello,
but he was extremely swamped with customers:
Fleas and Flukes abundant:
Liz Beloff was equally as busy:
On to the Yamaha section. Jon B sat down and belted ot the blues on
the Yamaha CP1, which is the upgraded version of his current model:
Jon B told me the CP1 was not enough of an upgrade to justify buying
one, BUT...:
In comes the Yamaha S90XS Synthesizer. It had a Hammond B3 mode
olong with Leslie wheel controls on the left. It's a good thing they were
not selling these at the show, because I truly believe Jon B might have
taken one home. He was glued to that bench for quite a while. I'm going
to suggest to him to set a business goal to allow him to treat himself to
one this year. I know that look on his face. I've seen it myself in the
mirror numerous times in my past. Here's a synopsis of the meaning of
this passion in Jon B's past. Jon B was in a band in New York a few
(O.K., MANY!) years ago. His band had a gig at an upscale venue. The
lady in charge would not let them use the front stairs or dumb waiter to
bring their gear to the top. She told them to use the fire escape. Those
who are young (old) enough to remember the size and weight of a
Hammond B3 organ and a Leslie will understand that it was a task
almost as great as building the great Pyramyds!!! Needless to say,
Jon B's band was reassessing the need for a keyboardist after that
back breaking experience.
The electric violins were showing up all around the show:
From there we advanced on to the Roland exhibit. At the front of the
Roland exhibit was where the Roland Battery Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJRKP7R0ZBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnowfI5-iU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvhrtt3WrFM
In a noisy room of about 200 yacking people, you could hear them loud
and clear. The vocals were on steroids. She had two BA330's
cascaded for the mains. This made a very effective 60 watt P.A. system
that sounded more like a 200 watt system, due to the efficiency of the
speakers. The gentleman on the left was using a handheld Keyboard to
play the bass through a Roland KC110 30 watt battery powered
keyboard amp
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1057&ParentId=418 .
The keyboardist also played through a Roland KC110 30 watt battery
powered keyboard amp
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1057&ParentId=418
as well as the accordianist who also played through a Roland KC110
30 watt battery powered keyboard amp
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1057&ParentId=418
The guitarist was playing through a Roland Cube Street, of which I own
3. The drummer was playing through a BA330. Ladies and gentlemen,
this was loud and clean. I talked to the band after their set and they
change the NiMH AA batteries after every 10 hours of playing. This
technology is mysterious. My BA330 P.A. arrived at Giacoletti Music
in Carlsbad before Christmas. I gave them two packs of 24 AA
alkaline batteries to run the amp through many situations. After 2 weeks,
the batteries finally died. I picked up the BA330 and the remaining 40
batteries. When I took it home, When I took it home, I ran an I-Pod into
it for about 5 hours at a pretty loud volume. The battery meter still
showed about half of the battery life remained. Another musician, Gerry
Rahill asked me about how long the batteries lasted on my Carvin
S4100D battery powered P.A. running at full power, as he also has
access to another one. When I told him about 2 to 2 and a half hours,
he said that would not be long enough for his application. I immedietley
loaned Gerry my BA330 and 16 alkaline batteries so that he and Dr
Keith Marzullo could use it for the
http://san-diego.competitor.com/register/ http://san-diego.competitor.com/uncategorized/rock-n-roll-relay-is-back/
The last display I photographed was the Washburn, Parker, Oscar
Schmidt booth:
My heartfelt thanks to Jon B and Karen for affording me this opportunity.
Jon B's audio tips will keep me busy for quite a while. Ric
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It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2010 : 10:04:12 PM
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| Thanks for posting here! |
Andy |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 09:27:46 AM
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Ric,
Thank you. The pictures and write up gave be a better idea than our phone conversation. If you need a tag-along for next year -- I volunteer!
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E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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2010 NAMM Show...
