Musicians and Gear Geeks: NAMM 2012 is on!

[Michael Yagami]

The annual Winter NAMM show is going on now out in California. ESP has already shown a pretty killer line up for 2012, and since I'm currently in the market for some new gear I'll be keeping watch for other awesome things (Jackson Chris Broderick solid tail Pro Sig would be killer).

Anyone else keeping track of NAMM this year?

 

[Michael Yagami]

Looks like Ibanez has some pretty killer stuff as well. I can't tell you how much I want THIS!

 

[Sixth]

Never been much of an Ibanez fan. I used to sell a bunch of their stuff when I was working at a music shop several years ago, and even though I got to set up most of the shops stringed instruments, I only ever ran into about two of their electrics that I thought were worth a purchase. Metal guitars in general have always been a turn-off of mine. Heaviest thing I'm cool with anymore is a Les Paul, and I don't even play mine anymore.

 

[SonGohan]

You remember that Ibanez 30-fret guitar? I came across a guy that was selling it for $1,500. I came so close to buying it, but I said fuck it - I'm going to stick with my Mark V purchase come next month. I went ahead and bought a James Tyler 89 Variax in blood red a few days ago. I can't wait to play it. Being able to create and store a custom tuning on the fly is, well...fly. I'll take pictures of it when it finally comes in.

As far as NAMM goes - I'm really interested in the Buz McGrath LTD. That maple neck is unbelievably sexy against that silverburst body, and it would fill my "I need a 7 string" guitar wall-hanger slot. I heard that Line 6 unveiled a digital mixer that's supposed to be the bee's knees, but I'm not a PA guy so that doesn't really appeal to me. I'll tell you what, though - after I get my Mark V, my next guitar is going to be that black-aqua eclipse from ESP. That thing is sexy as all fuck, and would look good hanging next to my Horizon of the same finish.

 

[SonGohan]

The Variax I just purchased a few days ago:



This guitar is going to be extremely helpful when playing live, as well as be an awesome song-writing tool. The possibilities with this guitar are endless.

 

[Michael Yagami]

The Variax I just purchased a few days ago:



This guitar is going to be extremely helpful when playing live, as well as be an awesome song-writing tool. The possibilities with this guitar are endless.

Man, the Variax technology never ceases to amaze me. And they keep making it better with every release!

I have a major hard on for ESP right now, but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I'm just not an active pickup guy. I'm a Seymour Duncan/DiMarzio dude. ESP used to make an Eclipse custom that came with Duncans. Here it is (couldn't find a bigger picture):

If I could find that or if the did a new Eclipse II version with that same set up/color, I'd be all over it.

 

[cdamm]

I am. My little brothers band just played the Marriott main stage last night. They might make it.Pretty exciting really.

 

[SonGohan]

Man, the Variax technology never ceases to amaze me. And they keep making it better with every release!

I have a major hard on for ESP right now, but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I'm just not an active pickup guy. I'm a Seymour Duncan/DiMarzio dude. ESP used to make an Eclipse custom that came with Duncans. Here it is (couldn't find a bigger picture):

If I could find that or if the did a new Eclipse II version with that same set up/color, I'd be all over it.

The great thing about EMGs is that they sell like hot cakes. Meaning, you could buy some Duncans to put in an Eclipse and then sell the EMGs that were in it and not be out of any money, or out of very little. I love me some duncans as well. I'm going to put some duncans in my Variax to replace the stock pickups so I'll have some nice tones when I'm not using the technology.

 

[Michael Yagami]

The great thing about EMGs is that they sell like hot cakes. Meaning, you could buy some Duncans to put in an Eclipse and then sell the EMGs that were in it and not be out of any money, or out of very little. I love me some duncans as well. I'm going to put some duncans in my Variax to replace the stock pickups so I'll have some nice tones when I'm not using the technology.

True, but if I'm going to drop $1,600 on a guitar I'd like it to at least come equipped with pickups I like.

 

[SonGohan]

That's true, but pickups shouldn't keep you from pulling the trigger on an axe you like. Pickups are so easily switched out, especially if you're going to passives. They're kind of like strings to me; I'll end up changing them some day.

 

[cdamm]

That's true, but pickups shouldn't keep you from pulling the trigger on an axe you like. Pickups are so easily switched out, especially if you're going to passives. They're kind of like strings to me; I'll end up changing them some day.

more times than not, im a stock sound kind of guy. my theory is that if you are going to swap the pickups out anyways, why not just pick up a $500-$600 schecter and customize your tone that way.

I have a bunch of guitars, each one with its own personality and sound. i pick one up depending on the mood that i am in.

 

[SonGohan]

more times than not, im a stock sound kind of guy. my theory is that if you are going to swap the pickups out anyways, why not just pick up a $500-$600 schecter and customize your tone that way.

I have a bunch of guitars, each one with its own personality and sound. i pick one up depending on the mood that i am in.

I'd agree with you if you were strictly talking about active pickups. However, passive pickups will sound different depending on what type of wood your guitar is made out of. You could buy a $500 Schecter and put EMGs in it and it'll sound the same as a $2,000 with EMGs, provided they're going through the same amp configuration. That's a big reason I'm a fan of passive pickups. A set can sound completely different in two different guitars.

 

[Michael Yagami]

I'd agree with you if you were strictly talking about active pickups. However, passive pickups will sound different depending on what type of wood your guitar is made out of. You could buy a $500 Schecter and put EMGs in it and it'll sound the same as a $2,000 with EMGs, provided they're going through the same amp configuration. That's a big reason I'm a fan of passive pickups. A set can sound completely different in two different guitars.

Exactly. The Mahogany they use for the $500-$600 guitars isn't going to produce the same sound and tone that the higher grade mahogany used in the higher end guitars will with the same passive pickups.

 

[Sixth]

I'd agree with you if you were strictly talking about active pickups. However, passive pickups will sound different depending on what type of wood your guitar is made out of. You could buy a $500 Schecter and put EMGs in it and it'll sound the same as a $2,000 with EMGs, provided they're going through the same amp configuration. That's a big reason I'm a fan of passive pickups. A set can sound completely different in two different guitars.

Dead on. I’ve been telling people for years that you could put the best set of SD’s in the world into a piece of drift wood and it would still sound like it’s running SD’s. That was always the issue that me and other such folks had with PRS; given that the company’s mission statement was to make their shit out of the best stuff possible, it boggles the mind that they then completely ignore the fact that they’re putting a hot set of pickups in them that do nothing to properly accentuate the materials.

 

[SonGohan]

Yeah. Don't get me wrong - I still like the sound of active pickups for probably 70% of the stuff that I play. For flat-out, massive gain the EMG-81 is my go-to pickup. However, I don't see the need for more than one guitar to have them. That's why I'm definitely going to put in some duncans in my next guitar. I also have an Eric Johnson strat that had the original EJ pickups changed with Fender Customshop 69s that I need to change back. I'll probably buy a midrange Fender down the road and throw the 69s in there.

I'm a total ESP fanboy. Their Edwards line has some real cool guitars. I'm eye-balling this one pretty hard, but it's $2k:

EDIT - Wow, the natural color is even sexier:

 

[fake]

Depending on price I might pick up the Akai MPC Fly. The only other thing that I've noticed was the new line of Fano guitars. If I ever bought an acrylic guitar, it would be a Dan Armstrong, but these are kind of neat:

I think I'm just going to save my money for a Mini Rectifier or a Teenage Engineering OP-1.

 

[Michael Yagami]

Yeah. Don't get me wrong - I still like the sound of active pickups for probably 70% of the stuff that I play. For flat-out, massive gain the EMG-81 is my go-to pickup. However, I don't see the need for more than one guitar to have them. That's why I'm definitely going to put in some duncans in my next guitar. I also have an Eric Johnson strat that had the original EJ pickups changed with Fender Customshop 69s that I need to change back. I'll probably buy a midrange Fender down the road and throw the 69s in there.

I'm a total ESP fanboy. Their Edwards line has some real cool guitars. I'm eye-balling this one pretty hard, but it's $2k:

EDIT - Wow, the natural color is even sexier:

I can vouch for Edwards guitars. Amazing guitars and great build quality/ fit and finish. They're completely on par with ESP Standards.

 

[SonGohan]

lol, I'll get an Edwards at some point, probably

Right now it's all about the amp purchase. I'm still stuck on that Mark V, but then I hear shit like the new multi-watt, revoiced Dual Rectifiers and my head explodes from how awesome they sound.

 

[cdamm]

Depending on price I might pick up the Akai MPC Fly.

mpc fly is supposed to come out at about $300.

Looks, great- but that alesis i/o dock does everything already and more for $100+ less. (plus you can just get the mpc app- which is what the fly runs off of). I like that it folds up and has tacitile buttons, but for $300 for a set of mpc buttons and sample loading only available via 3.5mm jack- it gets a 'meh' or a 'you were so close to being great!' from me.

fakex- you know i love that i/o dock right? i can't seem to stop singing its praises. i only found one problem with it- its a little difficult to remove the ipad.

 

[fake]

mpc fly is supposed to come out at about $300.

Looks, great- but that alesis i/o dock does everything already and more for $100+ less. (plus you can just get the mpc app- which is what the fly runs off of). I like that it folds up and has tacitile buttons, but for $300 for a set of mpc buttons and sample loading only available via 3.5mm jack- it gets a 'meh' or a 'you were so close to being great!' from me.

fakex- you know i love that i/o dock right? i can't seem to stop singing its praises. i only found one problem with it- its a little difficult to remove the ipad.

Holy shit, that's double what I was expecting. I'd just get that Dr. Rhythm I was talking about if I was going to pay that kind of money. Guess I'm sticking with the NanoPad for another few years

 

[cdamm]

Holy shit, that's double what I was expecting. I'd just get that Dr. Rhythm I was talking about if I was going to pay that kind of money. Guess I'm sticking with the NanoPad for another few years

i know, right? the fine folks at akai feel they can put an mpc tax on anything.

I suggest you wait for guitar center to discontinue it sometime by the summer (when it doesnt sell) and pick it up on super discount.

 

[NeoTheranthrope]

I'll be sitting over here, in the bass ghetto. By myself.

 

[LoneSage]

I'll be sitting here, only thinking of NAMM 2012 as a sequel to NAM 1975. By myself.

 

[NeoTheranthrope]

"Back to the hell again... Again...​