10 Things I Learned at the 2013 NAMM Show

by Jeff Scheetz, TrueFire’s Director of Education

1. Gear has gone wild.

There is so much gear out there in the world I will never be able to get it all. This is probably a good thing as I don’t need half of the stuff I already have!

2. The art of guitar making lives on.

There are some amazing luthiers out there hand crafting some of the most awesome guitars you will ever see – true artisans!

3. California girls don’t like clothes.

Apparently they simply cannot afford to buy clothes to cover their entire bodies.

4. Counterintuitive gear trends are emerging.

The trend in amps is making smaller heads like the Rectifier mini – the Orange micro terror etc. The trend in guitars is putting more strings on them, 7, 8, 9, etc.

5. Guthrie Govan is indeed a guitar god.

That is all.

6. NAMM is like facebook, only better.

The show is a great place to meet up with old friends and get to know new ones. Still the best place to network with people in the music business. There is too much to see and too many people to get together with in 4 days – should be a month long.

7. The gear world is divided.

Half of the guitar amps there are vintage boutique hand wired “old school”, and the other half are high tech modeling amps that are purported to do everything you need. The third kind is a hybrid trying to give you the best of both worlds, a modeling amp with a tube or two thrown in for good measure.

8. I guess I need more “street cred.”

I don’t have nearly enough tattoos or leather in my wardrobe.

9. The stars still shine brighter.

Even amidst the roar of the show floor, great players stand out! So strive to be one!

10. TrueFire is making a name for itself!

Great to see so many TrueFire artists playing at various booths at the show – TrueFire is definitely on the cutting edge of creative artists!

Were you at NAMM this year? What did you think of the show? Share your experiences in the comments below!