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All Steelbender web site content ©2000-to the present Jason A. Barker unless otherwise noted This page posted on 8/26/04
2004 Summer NAMM Notes
by Jason A.Barker
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The Summer NAMM show in Nashville, TN has become a regular event in my July calendar for the past four seasons. I have had the good fortune of experiencing it from several different perspectives. I've worked the show as an exhibitor, as a guest and have also attended it as somewhat of a freelance journalist. The convention is not open to the public, and along with its winter counterpart, which is held annually in Anaheim, CA, it is the place where music manufacturers and retailers meet to display and network their products and services. The 2004 gathering is the last scheduled NAMM event for Nashville, which has hosted the past 12 summer sessions. Despite the given reasons for moving the convention, I can't imagine a better all-around experience than what Music City has to offer, in part because of its role as a major center for music in the United States. Nashville also features many musical activities aside from the show. On a more selfish note, while it is a long drive, it is still accessible by car for me. I enjoy the ride through the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee on the trip to NAMM. I can understand why Austin, TX is a future site because it is rich with musical tradition and it's also a very nice town. Indianapolis, IN is a good city and will be next year's host. I've had family ties there and visited often; but I have a hard time thinking that it will provide an equally exciting destination for such an important musical assembly. We shall see!
Of all the trips that I've made to Nashville, this one ended up being the busiest that I've encountered. While the NAMM show was certainly something that I intended to cover for Steelbender.com, I also had a number of personal things on my agenda to take care of. One important issue was to aid in some networking for my friend and vocalist, Stacey Pillari, as well as to get a better perspective on some things in the industry. Aside from meeting with producers, writers and other business personnel, there were also some leisure activities to enjoy. We ended up staying a day longer than planned in order to fulfill all of the opportunities that were presented to us. Perhaps the greatest memories I will take from the 2004 trip, are the tremendous musical performances we witnessed around town. The level of talent in Nashville, both local and visiting, is on par with anywhere in the world. There is certainly a commercial element in the industry that makes its home in Music City; but for every "hat act of the day" who is fed by the hit-making machinery, there are numbers of musicians laboring in relative obscurity that can awe with their craft. This is not to say that there aren't gifted performers and writers who achieve commercial success; there are simply astounding musicians who do not receive their due in my opinion. Though country music usually gets the lion's share of the attention when discussing Nashville, all genres are represented in the performing arts community. Many luminaries not known for country make their homes in the area.
As with my other journals from the Summer NAMM shows, the point of this article isn't to be the most comprehensive source of coverage for what was on display at the event. Other publications and media can fill in the gaps with detailed reporting. Rather, my account is representative of my tastes and things which piqued my personal interest. The NAMM show can be a bit overwhelming in certain respects because there are so many people on the floors and a lot of noise is going on constantly. It's not really an environment that is conducive for in-depth testing or product reviews. Sometimes it's a challenge to merely get into a display to see something! Nevertheless, it is still possible to get an idea of what is available in the world of music gear and to develop some initial impressions about items of interest. The best part, though, is meeting the people that make everything happen!
Muriel
Anderson's annual
All-Star
Guitar Night at the historic Ryman
Auditorium is something that I look forward to when planning
these visits. There's no better bang-for-the-buck if you are a guitar-enthusiastic
concert-goer. Some of the world's elite guitarists converge on this
one stage each year to perform in every style imaginable. Whether
you like acoustic or electric music, and prefer classical or heavy rock....Muriel
does a wonderful job of assembling the best talent on the planet
to present shows steeped in diversity and energy. Not only is she
a great hostess for the show, she is also one of the most-talented guitarists
around. There truly is something for everyone in attendance!
The 2004 edition was a benefit for the Music For Life Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supplies instruments and lessons to underprivileged children across the U.S. In addition to the wealth of supporting artists on the bill, three legends were honored for their accomplishments: Duane Eddy, Peter Frampton and Adrian Belew. Like prior All-Star Guitar Nights, the show began with an acoustic segment and then progressed into a rousing electric finale. The concerts are taped for subsequent video release, so check out the official website for details on how to obtain your copies. Here is a portion of the immense talent that graced the Ryman stage on July 23, 2004: Muriel
Anderson
Here are some photos from the concert. Out of courtesy for the performers, a flash was not used. Some shots will be clearer than others.
The Frank and Joe Show, led in part by guitarist Frank Vignola who played at the event with Les Paul in 2003, entertained the crowd with their upbeat melting pot of styles ranging from jazz to "world" music.
It was a personal treat for me to
not only meet someone I've wanted to see for years...I finally witnessed
the string-bending virtuosity of Jerry Donahue firsthand! Jerry came
all the way over from his home in Germany to participate!
Additional
Musical Performances
If the All-Star Guitar Night wasn't enough....phew!
The weekend just kept getting better and better. Will
Ray, an axe torturer if there ever was one, said to come down to the
Fiddle
and Steel in Printer's Alley to watch him sit in with a band later
that evening. Are you kidding me? Turns out the band
was playing with Colt Prather,
an upcoming talent who plays a pretty mean guitar himself. There
were sparkly G&Ls everywhere! Will Ray is one of the most original
sounding fretmen out there to my ears....I love his playing! And
yes...it is mandatory to always use "torture" and "Will Ray" together....in
a very positive context of course!
After what felt like a whirlwind trip to Camp
Hellecaster, another day passed and the eardrums were on the mend.
We ended up worshipping at the altar of Johnny
Hiland the following night, who took up residence with another phenomenon,
14-year old shredder Chelsea
Constable, at the Second Fiddle on Broadway. Stacey sat in with
Clay
Canfield on this stage the night before, so we knew to get there early
to stake out a seat. The place is always packed! This concert
was a private event and space was very limited. Thanks to the kind
invitation of Johnny's manager, Mac Wilson, we were able to attend one
of the most stunning displays of instrumental command that I've ever seen.
(Of course, we spent almost six hours there nursing beers and tequila shots;
but I promise that had nothing to do with the perception of it
Seriously....Johnny Hiland....go ahead and just
mark it down. He will be one of the legendary greats of all-time.
End of story. Okay, not end of story; but go out and get his
new self-titled album on Steve Vai's
label. We secured an advance copy and it is very nice, but just a
small taste of what you get live. Soul, feel, technique, humor....it's
all there in his playing. He can segue gracefully into so many styles
while stamping them with his own cohesive signature sound.
Fast players are a dime a dozen. Guys who control it with soul are
rare. I never saw the late Danny
Gatton perform live; but I imagine it would've been something similar
to watching Johnny absolutely tear his Telecaster apart before a delirious
crowd. Everytime I see Johnny play, it takes awhile to recover
because few things from a pure guitar standpoint can live up to what he
does in the aftermath. He is that good! No....GREAT!
I've seen him play over the past several years and if it's possible, I
think he's gotten better. On top of that, he sings fairly
well also. Hard to believe he's legally blind. There are very
few players with sight who can play like him. Big shout out
to Johnny's nice mother, Grace, who sat with us.
After blissfully rolling out of the Second Fiddle, still dazed from what we had seen (and maybe consumed), we walked up the sidewalk on Broadway and darn if Jason Jordan wasn't playing a few doors down at Legends' Corner. Unlike during the early 1990's before the downtown revitalization project had taken hold, Broadway St. has become a veritable buffet of incredible live music at just about every door. Hot pickers are so common that it basically numbs the senses. Furthermore, how anyone could really hope to stand out in this crowd is beyond me. Still, the guys doing it are doing it. You may recall from
my 2001 NAMM report, that I was enamored with the playing of Jason
Jordan. Nothing's changed...he's still a friendly person and I learned
that he's teaching guitar lessons in Nashville and Alabama for very reasonable
rates. (Tele-spankers....run....yes....run....and learn from a master).
I could sit and listen to him play his brand of honky-tonk all day long.
Yes, his style is as smooth as Tennessee whiskey (note to self: go write
a country song now).
Ad-Mart
Oh yeah.....there was a NAMM show to attend From flashing name badges that can be worn on shirts to signs with built-in video screens, Ad-Mart is stretching the boundaries of getting a company's message into the public eye. Ad-Mart can be contacted at: 20 Gose Pike
Bad Cat Amplifiers
Bad Cat Amplifier Company in Corona, Ca specializes in meticulously-built all-tube pure Class A guitar amps. Most of their models are based around EL-84 tubes and are available in a variety of color combinations. Fans of British-flavored chime and beefy components will love what these amps can do. Since entering the market a few years ago, Bad Cat has garnered raves from many publications and users. From the 5-watt Mini
Cat to the available EL-34 powered 100 watt Hot
Cat, the product line features hand-wired designs with an assortment
of features. For instance, the 30-watt Trem
Cat has tremolo with speed and depth controls, in addition to spring
reverb. Bad Cat also makes a versatile array of extension
cabinets and
Contact Bad Cat at: Bad Cat Amplifier Co., Inc.
Bourgeois/Pantheon Guitars
I took a personal interest in the happenings at Dana Bourgeois' display because I own one of his presentation guitars from last year's show. My interest and passion for acoustic music has increased directly because of my experience with the orchestra model that Dana built. It is hands-down my favorite acoustic guitar that I've ever owned. The workmanship is immaculate and the tonalities are gorgeous. With proper care, it will only get better with time! I've always owned and played acoustics but had never really found something that speaks to me in the manner that my Bourgeois does. The instruments are hand-built by Dana and his craftsmen in Lewiston, ME and distributed by Pantheon. If you are a fan of fine acoustic instruments, try one of the Bourgeois guitars because they are first-class in every way. Find out more about Bourgeois/Pantheon Guitars at: Dana Bourgeois also has a site which details some of the histories and philosophies of his instruments at: You can reach Dana directly at: 2 Cedar St.
Daisy Rock Guitars Daisy Rock, which has been mentioned in some of my prior NAMM notes, is actively promoting its guitars with an intent to target a female audience. Women are often overlooked when it comes to guitar-playing, though there are many good ones out there. Gender has nothing to do with musical ability; but Daisy Rock's methodology has a lot of merit in attracting girls to the world of six-string mayhem. These are very good quality instruments, and I have been told that there are a number of male guitarists using Daisy Rocks onstage....some of them are very famous players! The company offers a lot of eye-catching guitars with bold and bright finishes for the aspiring rock goddess. Check them out at: Daisy Rock Guitars
Fender
Fender is one of the proudest names in the musical instrument industry. Where would modern electric music be without the Stratocaster and the Telecaster? Fender amps have also been some of the most popular designs used in musical history. The company has had its ups and downs through the years though, and while variety would seem to be a good thing on the surface, there are so many models and styles being made that it can be confusing to decipher everything in their catalog. It seems as if Fender is trying to be all things to all people (sometimes at the expense of quality in my opinion). However, when a Fender is right....it's just RIGHT! There are an abundance of lower-priced amps and guitars for the budget-minded, alongside a number of products aimed at customers with richer blood, in the Fender lineup. Honestly, the Fender display is one of the more trying places for me to visit at NAMM, not necessarily because of the products or employees; but rather because people are packed in tightly trying to navigate around the jumbled array of conference tables and businessmen making deals. Still, as a lifelong Fender player and fan of their designs from the past, I always try to drop in and see what's happening. My primary regret was not getting to hear the new '57 Twin amp. Initial reviews indicate that it is a great sounding product. Visit the Fender website at:
Fishman
Fishman makes gear for acoustic musicians, including pickups, preamps and amplifiers. I was keen on hearing the new 600-watt Loudbox Pro acoustic amp and I was not disappointed. While it weighs in at a stout 77 lbs, the tone was equally large. As the wattage implies, there is plenty of clean headroom with this model. The tri-amped Loudbox Pro has a 12" woofer, 6" midrange cone and three 1" tweeters driven by 380w, 160w and 60w amplifiers respectively. Unfortunately, I couldn't audition the Aura Acoustic Imaging Blender; but I'll do so at a later time. You can see the full line of Fishman products at: Or contact the company at: Fishman Transducers
Email: fishman-info@fishman.com
Keeley Electronics
I've known Robert Keeley and his wife Tiffany for awhile; but this year's NAMM trip gave me the opportunity to personally meet some of his staff for the first time. It was a pleasure to put faces with the voices of those who I had spoken with on the phone before. Keeley Electronics is one of the prominent players in the effects modding business....they take tried and true guitar pedal designs and integrate enhancements and upgrades. Keeley also produces original designs and is now the official worldwide distributor for Framptone products. Robert displayed a few new items at this year's show, including the forthcoming Katana boost pedal, and the Private Stock Keeley Compressor, which is housed in luxurious wooden boxes crafted by renowned cabinet builder Bob Burt. For more information on Keeley Electronics: or call: 1-8668-GO-RKFX
Martin Guitars
Martin has been synonymous with acoustic guitars
since being established in 1833. One hundred seventy-one years later,
the company is going strong with a mix of traditional classics and new
models. Shortly before visiting the NAMM show, I had seen Eric
Clapton perform at a concert in Greenville, SC and noticed that he
was using what appeared to be a striking black orchestra-sized guitar in
lieu of his normal natural-finish acoustic. It turns out that EC
is playing a 2004 Limited Edition 000-sized instrument dubbed the Bellezza
Nera (Italian for "Black Beauty") on his current tour. An illustration
of it can also be seen on the cover of his latest album
C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.
Mercurio Guitars
If I could use one word to describe the instruments from Mercurio Guitars, Inc of Minnesota, it would be "diversity." They are seemingly striving to build a range of guitars that will cover many tonal bases, as evidenced by such innovations as their Pickup-Paks. This arrangement allows the player to conveniently substitute different pickup configurations for maximal versatility in one instrument. While I did not get to spend an extended amount of time exploring all of the Mercurio guitars on exhibition, I was struck by a balance of traditional and forward-thinking product philosophies. Many of the instrument shapes will look comfortably familiar to players. Indeed, some of the guitars feature proven woods for tone; yet more radical materials such as carbon composites, aluminum and plastic are also offered. Mercurio could've done a lot worse than having
the magnificent Steve Trovato
demonstrating their guitars. He is an amazing player and a renowned
teacher. Trovato has founded a new instructional-based website at
To find out more about the interesting Mercurio Guitars concept, contact: Mercurio Guitars, Inc.
www.mercurioguitars.com/live/home.aspx
***We now interrupt this NAMM report for some gratuitous mugging for the camera!*** I love the opportunity to talk shop with respected
names in the music industry. Sometimes friendships develop and I
usually learn a lot from the great talent making the rounds. It's
often a humbling, yet wonderfully-enlightening experience! I've found
that some of the best players are often the nicest and most gracious people.
Orange Amplification
Sometimes, even above the continuous din on the exhibit floor, a product can be heard that beckons the listener to investigate it further. I kept hearing some fabulous tones coming from one of the booths at the back of the convention center. The sounds became more intriguing as I drew closer. As I turned a corner, I was visually assaulted by a wall of bright orange amps....yes, it was the Orange Amps display (who else!). The marvelous Johnny A. was auditioning one of the new Rockerverb 100-watt heads and the tones he was getting turned heads that were in the vicinity. Of course, Johnny A. could plug into a tuna can and make it sound great; but the proof of the Rockerverb's tonality was evidenced in how good it sounded with other players riffing through it. Of all the amps that I heard on display at the
NAMM show this year, the Rockerverb stood out to me as the most memorable
unit and one of the more flexible packages. The 100-watt
version (the amp is also available in 50 w. head and combo formats)
at the exhibition was pumping out some wonderfully beefy and articulate
tones. There seemed to be a nice balance between gut-rumbling low-end
and melodic clarity. Roaring and thick clean sounds were present
in addition to throaty distortion textures. The onboard tube-driven
reverb enveloped the notes with a deliciously ambient quality (there I
go sounding like some wine critic again....I'll stop! Orange has a long and distinguished history in the amp business, and is trying to build on its reputation from the past in today's competitive market. If you'd like to learn more about Orange Amplification, contact: World Headquarters Orange Musical Electronic Company,
Ltd.
or USA Distribution Office Orange USA
O-Tray
Simplicity definitely is a virtue, and as I've always said, sometimes the most impressive and useful items are the ones based upon simple common sense. You might think I've lost my mind when I say that one of the things I want to order the most from my NAMM experience is a product designed for a microphone stand; but that's just how cool and delightfully simple the O-Tray is! Ron Ochenrider and the rest of his gang debuted the O-Tray at this Nashville event, and I think it's an extremely functional piece of gear. The O-Tray is a polypropylene plastic device which securely mounts to a standard 7/8" shaft microphone stand, and serves as a drink holder and tray for picks, capos, slides, harmonicas, set lists, etc. It can even be used as an ash-tray for our nicotine-loving friends. Believe me, nothing would be more welcome on my stage than a consistently stable place to deposit my drink, capo and other odds and ends that usually find their way to the floor or on top of my amp. If you want an O-Tray (or two or three, or four), reach the company at: OCI
Tell'em Buckwheat sent ya! O-Tay!
Peavey/ Jack Daniel's
Peavey and Jack Daniel's....sounds like an 80-proof recipe for a hell-raisin' night at one of our local redneck bars here in North Carolina. The two legendary American institutions have joined forces to create a special run of products for enthusiasts of licks and liquor. I honestly did not hear or drink any of these items at the NAMM show; but I thought the display looked inviting, so I snapped a few photos (hey...I couldn't say that I took a few shots). If you want to peruse Peavey's latest offerings, point your browser to: If you'd rather visit the world of Jack Daniel's, then visit the following URL. Just remember to surf responsibly!
Peterson Tuners
Peterson makes a line of feature-packed strobe tuners with attractions that go way beyond E-A-D-G-B-E. The most exciting product on display was the highly-anticipated StroboStomp pedal tuner. Let me tell you folks, I have acquired one of these since my visit to Nashville and it is absolutely wonderful! I normally don't get excited by tuners (though I love my trusty BOSS TU-2s); but the StroboStomp is a pedal worth getting worked up for. I don't have enough space on this page to go into all of the StroboStomp's features, so click here to find out more. In the meantime, I can say that I've been tickled by the results I've gotten from this box in both studio and live environments. This 100% true-bypass unit claims to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 times more accurate than other tuners....I can definitely hear a difference on all of my guitars when I tune with the StroboStomp. Furthermore, the pedal also serves as an active DI for acoustic and bass guitars so that the player can plug straight into a mixer while hooking up an amp at the same time. I have used this as a DI on several acoustic guitar gigs at the time of this writing, and can confirm that it works extremely well. About the only complaint that I can find with the StroboStomp is that it's housing can be scratched fairly easily. However, it seems to be a very mechanically-durable piece of equipment. Every guitarist should have one of these! 11601 S. Mayfield Avenue
Q-Lighting
The NAMM show isn't just about musical instruments, though the vast majority of the products on display do have musical applications. Q-Lighting, Inc from Lexington, KY specializes in Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting solutions. LEDs are becoming more prevalent in our society due to their brightness and durability properties. Even law enforcement cars are using new LEDs for their flashing lights....they are very bright (though thankfully I haven't had one pull up behind me yet). Q-Lighting is a division of QED, Inc, a company that has been involved for a long time in the surgical and dental lighting fields. There were a number of illuminating items being exhibited at NAMM, and Q-Lighting had one of the most extensive LED product lines to show. Aside from hats with lights, flashlights, and just about any other thing you could think of where a light might fit, I found the Maestro music light to be interesting. The Maestro is an illuminator for musicians that clamps on a music stand....providing about 20 hours of light on three AAA-size batteries. There is no bulb to replace! The Maestro's light pattern is very bright but also fairly directional, which is ideal for clubs or dark stages where you want to see your music charts without casting light on other things. You can see the light at: 750 Enterprise Drive
RB Concepts Guitars
RB Concepts Inc. is a manufacturer of "combination stringed instruments". Translation: multiple stringed instruments in a one-guitar configuration. Most players might automatically think of traditional double-necked axes when speaking of multiple neck guitars. However, unlike the usual positioning of a double-neck's second fretboard in an up and down orientation, RB is placing a second neck over the primary set of strings (see photos to understand). The visual effect to the observer standing a few feet away or sitting in the audience, is a guitar that looks more integrated as one form as opposed to an instrument with multiple necks. At certain angles, it might appear that the player is using a standard single-neck guitar. I was attracted by the fact that RB will custom-build just about any combination of two-necked instrument that the customer would desire. Want a 12-string guitar coupled with a baritone 6-string? They told me it wouldn't be a problem. Every format I threw at them was answered with a confident "Yes, we can build that for you." About the only ergonomic issue that I see is the limitation of using the picking hand over the primary guitar's neck pickup. Because of the manner in which the top guitar neck is mounted, access is restricted just underneath the neck pickup. For some, this might not be a problem and it could be a small trade-off for the increased functionality gained by the additional neck. There are lots of creative possibilities with a RB guitar. Contact RB Concepts at: RBC, Inc.
RKS Guitars
I dropped in to see Andy Turner and Mike McWhorter at the Mojotone booth and was promptly handed a radical looking guitar they were displaying, made by RKS Guitars of Thousand Oaks, CA. For every 50 derivative guitars at NAMM, you will run across one or two unique instruments that attempt to expand the envelope of design. Traffic's Dave Mason is a co-founder and user of RKS models, and there are other prominent players looking to this innovative guitar for tonal satisfaction. The instrument on display seemed to be nicely balanced and featured a range of good sounds. If you'd like to see some of the highlights of what makes this guitar unique, click here. On a personal note, I've noticed that many guitarists tend to prefer traditional looking guitars and will often miss the opportunity to try something new just because it may look somewhat foreign. While I also want a guitar to resemble a guitar, I realize that many people back in 1954 regarded a Fender Stratocaster to be futuristic and radical. As an owner of some "different" looking instruments through the years, I've learned to look beyond skin deep when assessing if something will work for me. The RKS lineup definitely has an unorthodox look about it; but from my brief encounter with the instrument at NAMM, I'd say it would be worth looking into for the player who wants something unique yet functional. Here is the contact info: RKS Guitars
Roc-N-Soc
We've got a lot of great musical instrument manufacturers in North Carolina. One Tar Heel State company that might get overlooked by some is Roc-N-Soc in Waynesville, NC. They make first-rate seating for musicians and are probably known best for their drum thrones. Roc-N-Soc seats are very comfortable and built to last. Many colors and models are available. I've had a Roc-N-Soc drum chair for my kit in the studio and it still looks great after several years of regular use. I often take it with me to gigs where I can sit down because it's so comfortable. I plan on purchasing a couple of their chair-back seats for my studio in the future. Sit back and take a look at Roc-N-Soc: Roc-N-Soc
Roland
It was obvious at the Roland exhibition that this year's hot seller is the popular Micro Cube portable amplifier. I've been singing the praises of these wonderful battery-powered devices since getting a couple of them earlier this year. They were being promoted everywhere from the Roland help desk to the display rooms at NAMM. Roland continues to refine its digital recording
offerings from the entry-level BOSS
BR-864 on up to the
Roland Corporation U.S.
Speedster Amps
If there were awards for the most eye-catching amps, Speedster's line of all-tube machines would certainly be a contender to walk away with them. I heard some happening tones coming from their booth, so it would seem that beauty is not only skin deep. While it's hard to tell what the available total range of sounds is during a quick walk-by, I remember a guitarist auditioning one of the display rigs and getting some nice bluesy grind at decent volumes. The reverb sounds were good also. The "NAMM police" are often seen walking around with their dB meters, waiting to pounce on those who violate the noise restrictions, so it's often hard to drive an amp hard to see what it can do. (I didn't see any radar guns pointed toward the Speedsters though) Hopefully, I will encounter these attractive amps in the future and be able to give them a good run around the track. Visit Speedster's site to get more info on their amplifiers and effects pedals: Speedster Amplifiers LLC
Visual Sound Effects
Earlier in this article, I documented the great Johnny Hiland/ Chelsea Constable double-bill at the Second Fiddle in Nashville. The concert was sponsored by the fine folks at Visual Sound, and if you could've heard the tones that those jaw-dropping players were getting on that evening, you might've been tempted to run out and buy everything that Bob Weil's company makes. Certainly the ability is in the guitarists' hands; but equipment does matter. Johnny Hiland, for instance, has been playing Visual Sound effects on every occasion that I've seen him perform. If a musician of that magnitude swears by something, as Johnny does regarding his effects, it's probably a safe bet that it is a quality product. I've used the Jekyll
& Hyde box in the past and enjoyed it a lot. The H2O
is something that I would like to try in particular. A product has
to be inspiring for me to want to play it...it's an added bonus when the
maker is friendly and enthusiastic while discussing his designs, as Bob
Weil was in Nashville.
Visual Sound
Final Thoughts Another year has come and gone, and as usual, I had a nice time visiting Nashville again. The Summer NAMM show will move to Indianapolis, Indiana for 2005. Thanks to all of the gracious persons who gave their time and thoughts to me during the past four seasons in Music City. It's not just lip-service when I say how important and rewarding it is for me to interact with the great people in the music world. I'm truly privileged to enjoy a musical life and learning about the personalities and products in the industry is a valuable asset to my development as a musician. I hope that I can pass some of my experiences on to others in a positive manner! Thanks for reading and don't hesitate to drop
me a line if you have any questions or comments about this article.
Jason
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