Tom Wheeler’s been coming to NAMM since the early 1970s, he’s been the editor of the best known guitar magazine in the world, has written a series of outstanding books about guitars, including his most recent, The Dream Factory: Fender Custom Shop, and has built a professional reputation as a highly respected and bonafide guitar historian.
It’s London, May 28, 2007 and I’m with a rock icon, drummer Simon Kirke, the backseat driver of two legendary hard rock bands, Free and Bad Company. People know Simon as “the drummer”, but hand the softly spoken Englishman a guitar and he’ll pull out the stops. He is also an accomplished singer and songwriter equally adept at piano and on guitar. Before he helped found the group Free, he could be heard pounding his U.K made Hayman drum kit with an actor’s son and child prodigy blues guitarist, Paul Kossoff in a group named Black Cat Bones.
C.F. Martin and Co. have their best foot forward at NAMM 2012 and have been displaying their 15 new models at their booth, which is always packed with merchants eager to get their hands on the new guitars. Check out the details of Martin’s 2012 class here, and check out the photos below!
Fender’s little brother brand, Squier, just announced the debut of the revamped, all-new Vintage Modified Series of guitars at NAMM 2012 (exclusive pics below). The new series introduces new model types fully outfitted in retro-inspired, chop-shop looks, along with rich, roaring tone. The new series includes two new models and three that have been updated:
Squier is introducing three new artist signature models at NAMM 2012, the Avril Lavigne Telecaster®, the Jim Root Telecaster® and the Mikey Way Mustang® Bass. These three signature models promise star-like vibe and tone at the expected incredible Squier value.
The amp guys over at Fender are proudly introducing the brand new Machete combo amp at NAMM 2012 (exclusive pics below). With tremendous versatility and performance-oriented features, the Machete is a high-end, sonically powerful combo and is designed to be an essential companion for the discerning musician.
Although it was just officially launched in 2009, the PRS amplifier division has quickly matured into a comprehensive product line (exclusive pics below). From the core family of Maryland-made PRS amps to the exclusive Custom Amp Design (CAD) program to the SE amplifier line, PRS now has an option for every musician. As has become expected, PRS artists have signed on in support of all three tiers of PRS amps and are flying the PRS amp flag with vigor.
The PRS SE Custom, the flagship guitar of PRS’s more affordable SE line, has been updated for 2012 with a new body carve and pickup control configuration, and we have exclusive pics from the 2012 NAMM show below! Previously, the SE Custom had a flat style body, but for 2012, the popular SE model has received a beveled top carve, which looks and feels much more like PRS Guitars’ original Custom 24 model.
Announced in September 2011 at Experience PRS, the PRS SE Angelus Standard and Custom acoustic guitars are made with high-quality components, including a solid back and solid spruce top, a bone nut and saddle, and PRS designed tuners. Unveiled at NAMM 2012, however, is a PRS pickup system (pictures below) that is now an added option on the SE Angelus in 2012, designed to highlight the instruments’ rich, resonant, and responsive tone. The pickup system is an under-saddle design with three bands of EQ and an anti-feedback loop.
Fender’s acoustic division proudly hails the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and transports players back in time to 1967 with the introduction of the Elvis® Kingman acoustic guitar—a sharp looking, rich-sounding version of the carefree Fender acoustic that Elvis Presley® wielded with consummate cool in the late ’60s. Check out the pics from NAMM 2012 below!
