2010 NAMM Report

News from NAMM

Blaise, Martha Mooke, &
Margot Lane at NAMM

One of Electric Violin Shop's main roles is finding new gear that works well with bowed strings. Until our niche attracts more specialized designers, we sift through tons of guitar, bass or keyboard gear. There's no better place to do this than at the annual National Association of Music Merchandisers (NAMM) show, in Anaheim, California. The 2010 NAMM show drew over 87,000 attendees from all over the world. Blaise was among those who perused more than a million square feet of displays from 1,373 exhibitors.

NAMM highlights

The breakfast meeting on opening day included these interesting ideas.

• Quincy Jones - The US is the only country without a Minister of Culture.
• Yoko Ono - Let's make this a music planet! She was there to celebrate what would have been the 70th birthday of John Lennon, and to support efforts to expand music education and music making by adults.

Blaise at NAMM,
circa 1979

At a roundtable meeting with Wood Violins, their dealers, and sponsors of Mark's Electrify Your Strings program, we discussed ways to reduce the number of string students who stop playing once they enter high school. Can fiddle clubs, rock string quartets, and other alternative styles programs keep orchestra exciting for younger players?

Mark Wood Rock Orchestra performance: Blaise used the new Zoom Q3 to record the exciting concert that closed NAMM on Thursday. Featuring Mark himself, Haydn Vitera, Wood Violins' own Bridgid Bibbens, Casssandra Sotos, and Lisa Liu, all on Vipers, Heather Isbell on Cobra cello, and Laura Kaye on vocals they captivated a crowd of hard core musicians! The first of the videos Blaise shot is already up on YouTube. The others will be uploaded to our YouTube channel as we get them edited and uploaded.

Blaise with Bob Moog, in
their NAMM booth, 2004.

The YouTube Morpheus video produced by Duncan was the hit of XP Audio's pre-NAMM meeting. One of their managers happened upon it and practically fell on the floor laughing! Way to go Mike and Duncan!

New Products from NAMM

The following new products from the 2010 NAMM show will start arriving at EVS in within the next couple of months:

• Digitech: Looping quality improves as prices fall! Two new units were introduced. The JamMan Solo is a single stomp box-sized pedal that records CD quality digital sound, and can import WAV files and a set list sequence from your computer - only $199! The JamMan Stereo offers the same features with additional foot switches and a true stereo output for $299.
• Jordan Music: Blaise fell for a couple of gorgeous 5 string Jordan violins at NAMM - one is a reddish-burnt-orange metallic and the other a flamed European poplar with translucent blue burst finish. They should arrive next week.
• ModTone Effect Pedals: ModTone pedals offer boutique-quality tone and build at an economical price! Arriving this week are distortion, clean boost, wah, analog delay, funk, and a relatively lightweight powered pedal board, starting at $79.95.
• NS Design 5 string NXT bass: Due in February, the 5 string version of our best-selling Czech-made electric upright bass will let you go even lower! $1795 list price, our price $1295. The NXT Bass's exceptional tone makes it an attractive choice for bluegrass bands; it's currently in use by Mountain Heart and New Found Road.
• NS Design Anniversary NXT Bass: EVS will be receiving one of the 20 special Anniversary edition NXT basses, autographed by Ned Steinberger. The color is a a rich ivory that's almost luminescent. One of these beauties has been donated to the Museum of Making Music -- this is your chance to own a special piece of musical instrument design history!
• Wood Violins Stingray SV-4 and SV-5:: The new 4 and 5 string Stingray violins are finally available! They come in red sparkle or black sparkle, now use a passive pickup system (no batteries needed), and produce a strong, clear tone. Bow and case are included. We have the 4 string in stock, and the 5 string will be here soon.
• Yamaha Pro SV violins: We've been begging Yamaha for years to offer a 5 string version of the SV-200 violin. Instead, they produced an even more professional violin, in both four and five-string versions.
  
  The SV-250 and SV-255 Silent Violin Pros are very lightweight, with an external control box that has professional features and durability. These instruments have two pickups - the Yamaha VPN-1 transducer for impact and edginess and a body pickup for warmth and resonance - with a blend knob on the back of the violin. The body is made like the SVC-110 and SVC-210 cellos, with a floating top and acoustic resonating chamber. Combined with treble and bass controls on the control box, you have one of the most tonally versatile electric violins yet!

Yamaha Black Sparkle Silent Quartet: Celebrate Yamaha's 50th Anniversary of Making Musical Instruments in the United States with a sparkly black finish that has just the right balance between bling and formality! Includes two SV-200 Silent Violins, one SVV-200 Silent Viola and one SVC-110 Silent Cello. Only 20 made - reserve yours today.