Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities 2012 Edition
Guitars
Your Guitar Appears To Have a Crack
It's probably a good thing that this guitar is "lightly breasted." Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use the neck pickup.
Meanwhile, just across Hall E, Dwarfcraft was showing a signal processing device that makes the perfect companion for this guitar.
- kozm Guitar
- www.kozmguitars.com
Classic Lines
If your taste in the female form runs a little more along the lines of Peter Paul Rubens, Minarik's 7th entry into the NAMM Oddities might appeal to you.
- Minarik Guitars
- 413 Ross Street
- Glendale, CA 91207
- (818) 243-3733
- www.minarikguitars.com
I Am Death
Well that's cast rather a gloom over the evening hasn't it? This is a frightening guitar, even if you didn't have any of the salmon mousse.
- The ESP Guitar Company
- 10903 Vanowen St., Unit A
- North Hollywood, CA 91605
- (800) 423-8388
- www.espguitars.com
Play Guitar on TV
If you're not famous enough to play guitar on TV, then just play on a TV guitar.
The 2010 Oddity of the Year recipient Visionary Instruments was showing their new TV guitar complete with working channel selector, which, if I'm not mistaken, goes to 11.
- Visionary Instruments
- 4401 San Leandro St., Suite 45
- Oakland, CA 94601
- www.visionaryinstruments.com
Re: Your Brains
I know zombies are a bit over done these days, but hell, what's not to like about them? I mean, they're not unreasonable.
- The ESP Guitar Company
- 10903 Vanowen St., Unit A
- North Hollywood, CA 91605
- (800) 423-8388
- www.espguitars.com
Order Up!
These just have the look of the metal shelf that the cooks put your plates on before the waitress brings them out to the table.
They just need heat lamps to complete the diner experience.
- HeliArc Guitars
- 1715 South Boyd Street
- Santa Ana, CA 92705
- www.heliarcguitars.net
Found Art
Building his guitars from irregular chunks of wood, Rick Toone's guitars are each unique works of art.
Seven strings, fanned frets, and the Toone & Townsend hardware all contribute to the appeal as well.
- Rick Toone | Luthier
- P.O. Box 162
- Frenchtown, NJ 08825
- (908) 996-4815
- www.ricktoone.com
Like Fine China, Except from Japan
The "RRC-12 Dragon" guitar looks like it should be kept in your grandmother's china cabinet. It's definitely got that Flow Blue look.
- Freedom Custom Guitar Research
- 6-31-14, Machiya, Arakawa-ku
- 116-0001, Tokyo, Japan
- 81-3-6458-2861
- www.freedomcgr.com
More Dragon Explorations
I suppose the fact that 2012 is the Year of the Dragon helps explain this recurring motif. GMP did a good job of being bold without crossing over into gaudy.
- GMP Guitars
- 535 W. Alen Ave, Suite 2
- San Dimas, CA 91773
- www.gmpguitars.com
Mixed (Up) Metaphors
After two beautiful examples of guitars-as-canvas, here is something of an artistic train wreck that combines a classic monster movie with the back of a bored high school student's notebook.
- Collings Guitars
- 11210 W. Hwy 290
- Austin, TX 78737
- www.collingsguitars.com
Through Thick and Thin
O'Donnell had a pair of unique metal guitars at NAMM this year.
The top one has just the slightest suggestion of a guitar shape. They must use all the leftover material from the first guitar to make the extra-hefty hunk of religious symbolism below.
- O'Donnell Custom Guitars
- 43 Cochranes Road Moorabbin
- Melbourne, Australia, 3189
- www.odonnellguitars.com
It's Like an Oreo
…except that instead of cream filling between two chocolate cookies, it's acrylic between two aluminum plates.
- Fano Guitars
- www.fanoguitars.com
Saddle Up Pardner
I could see John Wayne or Jeff Bridges (depending on your particular taste in "Grit") packing one of these guitars while on the trail tracking down miscreants.
- Paoletti Fine Instruments
- +39 347 4135383
- www.liuteriapaoletti.com
Git Along Little Dogie
To continue on with the Western theme, We head South of the border for this Bajo Sexto with a decidedly cow-like visage.
- Paracho Elite Guitars
- 32575 Industrial Drive
- Madison Heights, MI 48071
- www.parachoelite.com
Covert Chops
Not only is it compact, it's easy to sneak through enemy lines.
- Traveler Guitar
- 440 Business Center Court
- Redlands CA 92373
- (909) 307-2626
- www.travelerguitar.com
Nerdvana
Smells like cross marketing. Marvel is making the most of the current comic book-as-blockbuster trend by partnering with Peavey on this set of superhero-themed guitars.
- Peavey Electronics Corporation
- 5022 Hartley Peavey Drive
- Meridian, MS 39305
- www.peavey.com
Art'chtop
Godin had a couple of their 5th Avenue archtops painted up by Joseph Arthur. The graphic style reminded me of the album cover artwork on Gary Myrick's "Lagnuage."
- Godin Guitars
- www.godinguitars.com
©2012 Barry Wood