NAMM Oddities 2003 The Other Room
Guitars Goodies Percussion Instruments Techno Geek Toys You Figure It Out
Other Goodies
ZvexAmp

ZvexPedal1

ZVEX

I think these were the coolest things I saw at this years NAMM show. The ZVEX pedals simply did things unlike any other pedals I've seen. They have three models that use a plate that senses your foots proximity to the pedal eliminating the need for a treadle. Every one of their pedals is hand painted so the finish is as unique as the sound.

They also were showing an awesome 1/2 watt tube amplifier (shown at top). This little sucker just sounds great and is capable of driving a normal 4x12 cabinet. I'm thinking about picking up one of these and a 1x12 greenback for a killer recording rig.

ZVEX
P.O. Box 1651
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 285-9545
www.zvex.com

ZvexPedal2

 

AxeHugger

Axe Hugger

Why should your guitar stand suffer being a simple utilitarian device? Axe Hugger makes covers for most style of guitar stands and they can also do custom work if you like.

Axe Hugger
6953 Texhoma Ave.
Lake Balboa, CA 91406
(323) 793-4103
www.axehugger.com

 

Chronic Peacemaker

No, I'm not talking about Jimmy Carter. This is a custom version of Ashdown's Peacemaker amplifier done up with a unique pattern on the cabinet.

Ashdown Design & Marketing Ltd.
Park Farm, Inworth, Colchester
Essex C05 9SH, England
+44 (0) 1376 572872
www.ashdownmusic.com

Ashdown2

 

FootLoose1

Foot Loose

Here's a cool idea, a wireless system for controlling the switches in your amp. You can get either a three switch or eight switch model as well as a three button remote that mounts on your guitar strap. This system has a range of 75-150 feet. It will work with any amp out there that uses a standard foot controller for switching channels or reverb. They also get extra points for their company name.

SkyeWyre Wireless Technologies
3216 Center Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405) 752-2633
www.gofootloose.com

FootLoose2
FootLoose3

 

IcePicks

Ice Pix

These guys make picks in a variety of metals: aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel. The copper pick is thinner than the others and is quite flexible

Ice Pix
P.O. Box 1506
Culver City, CA 90232

www.ice-pix.com

 

The X-1 pick

Pushing the envelope of pick technology, we have the X-1. This uses the patented grip technology found in their F1 picks but they've sandwiched three normal picks in the middle. I would imagine that this will give you a unique strumming sound. I did notice that the Ice Pick guys are might be making a metal version of the F1 pick.

BIGROCK Engineering
P.O. Box 9172
Marina Del Rey, CA 90295
www.f1pick.com

F1Pick

 

WireThing

Wirething Picks

Now we get to the hybrid plastic and metal pick. You don't lose the control of a thick, textured pick body when you want attack of a metal pick.

Interface Music Corp. (816) 914-3217
P.O. Box 1193
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
www.wirething.com

 

Wedgie1

The Wedgie

Now that you've got all these new picks you need somewhere to put them. This wedges between two strings and gives you a handy place to have two picks waiting for you.

Distributed by:
Midco Products
(217) 342-9211
www.wedgieproducts.com

Wedgie2

 

MojoGear1

Mojogear

Now we've got the first contender in the next wave of pedal boards. They use a new type of low profile velcro that's extremely strong and won't pick up the fuzz like the normal stuff. The two models they have are the "Little Wing" (L) and the "Monolith" (R).

Mojogear
6421 South Dorset Road
Spokane, WA 99224
(509) 455-6656
www.mojogear.com

MojoGear2

 

The Gig Box

This would be a good choice for the touring musician. Your pedals are mounted on a board that comes out of the flight case. The top of the flight case becomes a guitar stand that will hold four guitars.

ESP Corporation
301 Preakness Drive
Antioch, Tennessee 37013
(866) 444-2691
www.gig-box.com

GigBox

 

PedalTrain1

The Pedaltrain

This pedal board is built like a tank, you could drive the bus over it and it would probably be fine. I like the fact that you can route all the cables underneath the bars.

The J. Chandler Company
3508 Refuge Trail
Thompson Station, TN 37179

www.pedaltrain.com

PedalTrain2

 

PedalPad

Pedal Pad

Yet more innovation in the pedal board arena. This one sports adjustable plates to handle both small and large pedals. They've also got a power supply module and a rack mount module that will accommodate modules that aren't too deep.

MKS Professional Stage Products, Inc.
5610 S Topeka Blvd, Suite C
Topeka, KS 66609
(785) 862-4723
www.pedalpad.com

 

Strapture1

Strapture

Now we're moving on to our straps. Strapture uses a slide system that allows you to change the angle of the guitar quickly and easily. It's also got a wide, comfy neoprene strap.

Strapture
www.strapture.com

Strapture2

 

Big Fuzzy Straps

You must know someone that deserves to own a big pink fuzzy guitar strap?

Get'm Get'm
8282 Sunset Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 662-0275
www.getmgetm.com

GetEmStrap

 

PerrisStrap

Police Line strap

There have been guitar players that I've played with who really should have been using one of these straps. At least that way I would have had an idea that a crime was about to occur.

Perris Leathers, Ltd.
150 Spinnaker Way, Unit 11
Concord, Ontario
Canada l4k 4m1
(888) 917-8727
www.perris.ca

 

Octave Above Gig Bags

These are the coolest gig bags I've ever seen. They look more like Camelback hydration packs than instrument gig bags. You can get them for most brass and string instruments.

Gig Bags
Royds Mill
20 Calder Road
Lower Hampton, Mirfield
W. Yorkshire WF14 8PJ, England
+44 (0) 1484 431725
www.gig-bags.com

OcatveAboveBag

 

GhostBoom

The Ghost Boom

Prior to this about the only large mic boom around was the Atlas. Very heavy and very expensive. The Ghost Boom is neither. Should you require a heavier base for more stability you can always hang a sandbag from the hook in the middle of the stand.

SE Electronics USA
21621 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 873-8606
www.tbkmics.com

 

Re-Creations1

Re-Creations Stands

These are to normal stands as a custom luthier-made guitar is to a Korean knock-off strat. You have your choice of exotic hardwoods with 6061 aircraft grade aluminum sanwiched in the middle. Be prepared to pay luthier prices though, the keyboard stand retails at $1,299

Re-Creations Music
8800 Collingwood Drive
Austin, TX 78748
(512) 282-1064
www.recreationsmusic.com

Re-Creations2 Re-Creations3

 

The Dragster

Radial's got an interesting little device that allows you to use a wireless system with your guitar but still get the impedance loading that you would get if you were plugged straight into the amp.

Radial
1638 Kebet Way
Port Coquitiam, BC V3C 5W9 Canada
(604) 942-1001
www.radialeng.com

Dragster

 

Walker1

Battery powered amps

Walker Labs has a series of battery powered amplifiers that put out a decent amount of sound. They also get pretty good mileage out of a charge. The bass rig will go for 4-6 and they guitar and keyboard models run 6-8 hours. The keyboard amp has the added feature of an outlet on the back of the amp for running your keyboard off the battery as well.

Walker Labs
P.O. Box 3130
San Bernadino, CA 92413
(909) 886-3420 fax
www.walker-labs.com

Walker2

 

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©2003 Barry Wood