2007 Summer NAMM Day Three Coverage Continues

by Staff.

Among the new items Fender showed at Summer NAMM was the Eric Clapton limited-edition Crossroads Stratocaster, also known as the Sun Strat, and ’57 Twin amp, both featuring Clapton’s own artwork. The Blackie-based guitar and amp package sells for $30,000 ($20,000 without the amp). Only 100 of the guitars will be made and, says Fender rep Joe Reynoso, “Every little thing that Fender does goes to the cause,” adding that staff time was donated as well. All proceeds from the sale of the limited edition go to Clapton’s Crossroads Centre, Antigua, the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility he founded on that island.

Gretsch marketing manager Joe Carducci showed off the company’s new laquer-finished White Penguin with a gold Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and TV Jones pickups. The buttery-colored finish, Carducci said, goes great with the gold hardware and, because the laquer is thinner, it allows better resonation. The limited-run model retails for $4,850. The company also updated the White Falcon bass with a polyurethane finish. Satin black was chosen as the finish for the G100 CE Syncromatic acoustic electric archtop model, which Carducci said is reminiscent of the 1940s-era Gretsches. Also available in natural, the jazz guitar has a pickup and cutaway the original model lacked, as well as separate volume and control knobs. The look is updated, “with vintage stylings,” Carducci said. It retails for $950.

The company is also very proud of its G-6119 62HT model, a reproduction of Chet Atkins’ Tennessean (later named Tennessee Rose) from the cover of the 1958 album, “Chet Atkins Workshop.” Done in Flagstaff Sunset Red, it’s got a TV Jones “powertron” pickup with trestle bracing, a rocking Bigsby tremolo bar, an ebony fretboard and a master volume control, among other features, and retails for $2,825.

German guitar maker Nik Huber showed off his 500th guitar, an inlay-filled, quilted-maple one-off priced (and sold) at $16,400. The hardware is 18-karet gold and the tiger’s eye and headstock have sapphire inlays.

Nearby, the NAMM Museum of Making Music contained cases full of oddities such as a ukulele made from a mess kit and a rather primitive-looking banjo-shaped uke by Gretsch.

As much as Austin seemed like a good idea at the time as a location for Summer NAMM, several participants said they doubted the show would return next year. The event attracted far fewer vendors than in 2006, its first year in the "Live Music Capital of the World," and participants cited driving distance and lack of direct flights as two reasons.

"People just don't like coming to Austin," said one Austin-based vendor, who mentioned the show would likely end up in Nashville again. Complaints last year included the weather; in the throes of a typical Texas summer, it was hot. This year, heat wasn't the issue; rain was. The area has already beat its typical annual rainfall level by several inches. One traveler said he didn't think the city did enough to capitalize on the event, musically speaking. No special concerts were held, except for those sponsored by NAMM participants. They included a Friday performance of a reunited Storyville at Antone's, during which David Grissom got to play his new signature-model Paul Reed Smith guitar, and a Saturday show at Stubb's. Most other related evening activities were private parties.

Last year, vendors said the trade show was smaller than usual for summer, but that they had a chance to get up close and personal with buyers and did a lot of business. This year, purchases were going on, but one Colorado exhibitor chose to leave on Friday, saying, "There's nothing there."

Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO simply commented, "NAMM remains true to our guiding principle that as long as there are NAMM Members who want and need this show to keep their businesses strong and growing, NAMM will continue to provide the venue. For us, producing this show is a service decision, not a financial decision. NAMM will announce the timing and location of the 2008 Summer NAMM event in August."

Related Links
Modern Guitars Coverage Guide to 2007 Summer NAMM
2007 Summer NAMM Show Coverage: Day 3, Part One
2007 Summer NAMM Show: Day 2 Photos and Info, Part Three
2007 Summer NAMM Show: Day 2 Photos and Info, Part Two
2007 Summer NAMM Show: Day 2 Photos and Info, Part One
2007 Summer NAMM: More Photos and Info from Day 1
2007 Summer NAMM Show: Day One in Austin, Texas
2007 Summer NAMM Guitar Preview: Fender, Martin, Taylor, Peavey
PRS David Grissom Signature Model Guitar at 2007 Summer NAMM
Gretsch Introduces New Guitars at 2007 Summer NAMM
Martin Guitar to Introduce New Models at 2007 Summer NAMM
Fender to Spotlight Several Guitars at 2007 Summer NAMM
Fender Goes Tiki with Unquiet Village Guitar at 2007 Summer NAMM
Guild Highlights Several Guitars at 2007 Summer NAMM
Taylor Guitars to Reveal Fall Limited Editions and Koa Series at 2007 Summer NAMM
2007 Summer NAMM: Peavey Unveils Online Custom Shop Guitar Customization
2007 Summer NAMM: Peavey Unveils Ltd. Edition Orange County Choppers Guitar

Photo Gallery, Day Three, Part 2

---