Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities 2024 Edition

 Packrat Barry

Guitars

Don't Fear the Reaper

Alejandro Ramirez' piece is called "Ascentión" so my conclusion is that this guitar has just died and become an angel.

o3custom

ChatGTR

This guitar design is based on the AI prompt "natural geometric." Given AI's proclivity for generating bizarre images, I'm guessing the stuff at the bottom is all part of the guitar as well.

od-guitars

Christina Angular

Like most half-starved celebrities, this is all sharp angles and sparkles.

kauerguitars

Yabba Dabba Goo

My memories of Fruity Pebbles consist of my amazement at how little time it took the milk to turn the my breakfast into a psychedelic mush. In less than a minute I was looking at a Timothy Leary breakfast of champions. It looked awful but I still ate it.

inzaneskins

Instant Vintage

If sugary breakfast cereals aren't your thing, you can choose a skin that looks a little more rustic.

inzaneskins2

Nailed It

I think the action might be a tad bit high.

robertrobinsonguitars

I'll Get You, My Pretty

…but only if you've got a great deal of disposable income.

minarikguitars

Holier Than Thou

I generally associate "through hole" with PCB components. This guitar makes me think of a scene in a film featuring Goldie Hawn.

o-guitars

A Grate Guitar

Given the lack of innards, I expect that this is one of the lightest all-metal guitars available.

jamestrussart

Red House

Literally a piece of history, this guitar is constructed from remnants of Jimi Hendrix's childhood home by luthier Rueben Forsland.

joiguitars

Introduction

One look at this guitar and you know it's seen some shit.

michaelspalt

Second Act

But under that gruff exterior there's a heart of gold.

michaelspalt2

Conclusion

And like a heart-warming movie, the person you thought was no good turns out to be a wonderful person.

michaelspalt3

We're a Mesoamerican Band

This 7-string is perfect fo that Mayan Metal band you've been wanting to start.

ormsbyguitars2

Placid Pastels

This is the opposite of the more common skulls/knives/chains/demons motifs that you see applied to guitars to make them look more badass. These carbon fiber instruments sport on-board effects, a speaker, and a companion app. The website shows black and white versions if you are not in a pastoral mood.

enya-music

What a Relief

Now I want to see a guitar like this that looks like a ground relief topographic map, preferably a highly contoured double neck.

rgoinstruments

Preschool Projects

I expect that the child labor laws vary from country to country.

dhatarattha1

The End is Near

This appears to be a representation of reclining Buddha just before he enters Nirvana, which seems appropriate on an electric guitar.

dhatarattha2

Your Move

You can break out a set of checkers to while away the time during the drum solo.

mcswainguitars

Starfleet V

If this was asymmetrical it would be spot on, it also might look cooler anyway.

soultool

Acute Guitar

I would imagine that this might appeal to the Math Rock crowd.

sts-guitars

Plot Holes

The Okita Soundbowl makes use of the established graphics for its sound holes.

sts-guitars2

The Perfect Organism

As impressive as this H. R. Giger tribute guitar is I think I prefer the Ibanez I saw in 2005, then again, that was actually Giger's artwork.

negriniguitars

Axe Askew

The Hydra Elite 7-string is always kind of looking at you sideways.

mayones

A Guitar for Bedlam

This guitar is kind of adorable but it takes on a more unsettling complexion if you think about it in terms of the film Coraline.

creamguitars2

Fully Accessorized

This guitar looks like a section from a Nordstrom catalog.

creamguitars3

Shark Week

I don't think that the hammerhead sharks get enough recognition for just how cool they are. It's good to see one featured as the sound hole.

ormsbyguitars

Stealth Stable

Tone Pad is the latest entry into the convertible guitar space. Perfect for the guitarist whose significant other doesn't want them to buy any more guitars.

tonepod

The Best Defense…

With the serrated wing and the red spatters, it looks like this guitar has been buried pickup-deep in some sleazy club owner's chest.

guerillaguitars

The Ballad of Lester Scruggs

The Spectra Sonic Standard is the guitar for you if you want to play country but don't want to use a Tele.

tvjones

Not Quite Up To Snuff

Sure this is a unique take on the Flying V but on the whole, ESP was a little disappointing this year from an oddities standpoint.

espguitars

Almost There

The APC-1 has effects and a drum machine built in. All it needs now is an AI-powered bass generator and Vocaloid to achieve a guitarist’s dream of no longer needing any annoying bandmates.

Next Up: Other Goodies

©2024 Barry Wood