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June 22, 2008

Summer NAMM 2008: More from the Floor and Photo Galleries

by Rick Landers.

Headstock of a guitar from maker Rick Johnson

Headstock of a guitar from maker Rick Johnson at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.

Saturday, June 20, 2008, is a huge day for the Summer NAMM Show at the Nashville Convention Center and an even larger-than-yesterday early morning crowd huddles at the escalators waiting for security to let them float down to guitar heaven. No fan of early morning guitar-frenzied throngs, I walk to George Gruhn's shop to get some photos for an interview, but when I arrive I'm told George is at NAMM. Never a dull moment.

Back at NAMM, the crowds have settled into the main convention areas ogling the goods and grabbing guitars for a test drive. A couple of drummers have at it with caffeine-driven precision and aggression. I decide to get a few more shots of Fender's custom jobs and now in front of their exhibit is a glass-enclosed Yngwie Malsteem Stratocaster that's got that battered relic look like it's been manhandled by the man himself. It's either Yngwie's actual 1971 Olympic White Strat, or a prototype of the tribute replicas Fender's Custom Shop is working on - their replicas are so good it's impossible to tell which and there's no signage. Sweet mystery.

It's impossible to find George Gruhn in the NAMM crowd so I call his mobile to connect. He's already back in his shop, so back I go again and take the elevator up to his office. I suppose sometimes things happen for good reason. Talking to George is guitarist Johnny A. who's checking out a few vintage '50s Epiphones and Gibsons.

On the way back to NAMM, I pass a life-size sculpture of Elvis Presley, a ten-foot tall version of a Les Paul and, earlier, on the drive to the convention center I passed a nursing home named MayBelle Carter. The music fanaticism in Nashville is a little freaky. They sell guitar picks at the gas station next to the campground where I'm holding temporary residence this week.

It's bumper-to-bumper people today and I swerve when I can, but sideswipe a few. Nobody cares. The focus here is on gear.

I stop by a booth to meet with Abe Wechter, owner of Wechter Guitars, but he's deeply involved in a discussion with a couple of folks about a possible distribution deal. Abe worked as a Gibson master builder for a decade or so. I back off and decide to go "next door" and visit Bob and Cindy Benedetto. About 30 feet away I see Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers signing an autograph. I can't resist. I introduce myself and Phil and I talk about his company's guitar holder. This is NAMM.

* * *

More 2008 Summer NAMM Show Coverage
Summer NAMM 2008 Final Wrap Up and More Photo Galleries
Photo Gallery Five: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Four: 2008 Summer NAMM
2008 Summer NAMM: Gibson Guitar's All-Star Jam Band
Photo Gallery One: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Two: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Three: 2008 Summer NAMM
2008 Summer NAMM Show: Fender, Martin and Taylor
Summer NAMM 2008, Thursday June 19 Show Prequel

* * *

Photo Gallery (June 20-21, 2008)

A moment from the floor of the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Where's that chord when you need it? A moment from the floor of the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


An Elvis sculpture between the Nashville Convention Center and Gruhn's Guitars

An Elvis sculpture between the Nashville Convention Center and Gruhn's Guitars. Photo by Rick Landers.


Malmsteen '71 Olympic White Stratocaster 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Word has it that Fender is working with Yngwie Malmsteen to produce tribute replicas of Yngwie Malmsteen's famous 1971 Olympic White Stratocaster. What's behind the protective case - Malmsteen's actual guitar or the Custom Shop's tribute prototype? Hard to say. Photo by Rick Landers.


Malmsteen '71 Olympic White Stratocaster 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Word has it that Fender is working with Yngwie Malmsteen to produce tribute replicas of Yngwie Malmsteen's famous 1971 Olympic White Stratocaster. What's behind the protective case - Malmsteen's actual guitar or the Custom Shop's tribute prototype? Hard to say. Photo by Rick Landers.


Malmsteen '71 Olympic White Stratocaster 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Word has it that Fender is working with Yngwie Malmsteen to produce tribute replicas of Yngwie Malmsteen's famous 1971 Olympic White Stratocaster. What's behind the protective case - Malmsteen's actual guitar or the Custom Shop's tribute prototype? Hard to say. Photo by Rick Landers.


Entrance to the Fender exhbit at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Entrance to the Fender exhbit at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Fender booth the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Fender booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Fender booth the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Fender booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Fender booth the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Fender booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Fender booth the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Fender booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey logo at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey logo at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey booth at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Power Slide Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Power Slide Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Hartley Peavey with the Peavey Power Slide Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Hartley Peavey with the Peavey Power Slide Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Shark Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Shark Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Shark Guitar headstock at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Shark Guitar headstock at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Hartley Peavey with the Shark Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Hartley Peavey with the Shark Guitar at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Guitar Hero controller at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Guitar Hero controller at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Guitar Hero controller at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Guitar Hero controller at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Peavey Trace Elliot amp line at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Peavey Trace Elliot at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Tish Ciravollo, President and Founder of Daisy Rock Guitars, at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Tish Ciravollo, President and Founder of Daisy Rock Guitars, at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Daisy Rock Guitars at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Tish Ciravollo, President and Founder of Daisy Rock Guitars, at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Tish Ciravollo, President and Founder of Daisy Rock Guitars, at the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.


Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show

Deusenberg Guitars the 2008 Summer NAMM Show. Photo by Rick Landers.

* * *

More 2008 Summer NAMM Show Coverage
Summer NAMM 2008 Final Wrap Up and More Photo Galleries
Photo Gallery Five: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Four: 2008 Summer NAMM
2008 Summer NAMM: Gibson Guitar's All-Star Jam Band
Photo Gallery One: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Two: 2008 Summer NAMM
Photo Gallery Three: 2008 Summer NAMM
2008 Summer NAMM Show: Fender, Martin and Taylor
Summer NAMM 2008, Thursday June 19 Show Prequel





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