Rumblings from NAMM 2019

Winter NAMM is a long-standing tradition during which all the world’s music technology companies show off their shiniest, newest, most impressive gadgets. Every year there are truly awesome instruments and devices, inspiring waves of want around the globe. And there is the occasional eyebrow-raising piece that causes us to wonder what the makers were thinking.

It’s hard to cover an event halfway across the country without a formal invitation, but an event as enormous and exciting as NAMM demands some attention.

That being said, I spent this weekend checking out social media and browsing the web for nuggets from NAMM. Here is a list of items that caught my attention:

It’s Impolite to Stare… But We Understand

Denon DJ’s Prime 4 Standalone DJ System:

We all knew it was coming – Denon DJ has been relentlessly teasing this product in the weeks leading up to NAMM. Ever since Pioneer released the XDJ-RX, DJs waited patiently for the logical next step – a 4-channel version of the standalone digital DJ system. But that next step never came. Instead, Pioneer DJ released incremental improvements that never quite took that obvious next step. Leave it to Denon DJ to step in and fill the void with a nasty 4-channel standalone system running its proprietary Engine software. Switchable lines-in for each channel, XLR outputs everywhere, 3 USB ports, a link port, and a big ol’ display make this a pretty nifty device for thumb drive DJs lacking the budget for that club-style system. Of course, “pretty” is a relative term. Aesthetically, the XDJ systems are more pleasing, but those extra channels though…

Korg Volca Modular:

When I saw this my eyes popped wide open. Like many, I would love to get into the world of modular, but price is a pretty big barrier to entry. Korg’s Volca Modular looks like one of the most affordable ways to get in on the action. It looks and works like the rest of the Volca series, with its touch-strip sequencer and microscopic knobs, but its got 50 patch points, two oscillators and a ridiculous number of modulation options. The downside I see here is the patch point / cable system itself – they’re little pin points with square holes rather than the more universal 3.5mm CV leads found on pretty much all other modular gear. Thankfully, Korg included a CV In patch point specifically to interface with Eurorack gear, but you can forget about getting signals out of the Volca to a Microbrute, for example. I can understand the exclusion – 3.5mm patch points across the board would have probably posed a real-estate problem for the tiny device, as well as driven the price up. That shortcoming aside, it’s nice to see an entry-level option at a third of the price of Moog’s Mother 32.

Ibanez TSV808 Tube Screamer:

I’ve been playing a standard TS9 Tube Screamer for years, and it’s always given me delicious tone. I’ve briefly tried the other Tube Screamers and even considering getting the Analog Man mod for mine, but I never got around to it. I’ve never needed it. Still, when I saw that Ibanez dropped a new Tube Screamer made in collaboration with Japanese boutique pedal manufacturer Vemuram, my interest was piqued. The TSV808 Tube Screamer is essentially the offspring of the classic TS808 and Vemuram’s flagship pedal, the Jan Ray. An article on Reverb.com says, “[TSV808] features the Tube Screamer’s signature mid-boost, while also offering the wide dynamic range and frequency response reflective of the Jan Ray.” So what does that mean for your ears? Listen to this demo below:

I have to say I smiled pretty wide watching this video, but I’ll leave any final judgements to when I have one underfoot.

The Oddballs

“Ascender” Foldable guitar by Ciari Guitars:

This guitar folds in half at the neck for portability. Um… okay. I understand that traveling with a guitar is a pain in the ass. You don’t want to check it and you don’t know if you can stow it overhead, blah, blah. But the bottom line is this: Would you rather travel with your guitar, or a very expensive, portable instrument that is not your guitar? Not to mention that folding over the strings just seems like a tuning and intonation nightmare. And how does it play, anyway? It’s a neat idea, but I wouldn’t leave my Ibanez AS153 for it any time soon.

The Most Expensive Guitar Strap in the World:

I had to mention it because of its absurdity. Colin Burn, an Australian jewelry artist who makes bejeweled golden dildos (I’m not even joking – www.colinburnsjewelryart.com) created a $1.2 Million guitar strap. The strap features 40 carats of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds set in 1kg of 18 karat gold. I’m sure it does something for someone somewhere, but for me it was just good for a chuckle.