Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities 2016 Edition

 Packrat Barry

Instruments

Going Further Afield

When your commercial product is the Slaperoo, you build things like electric stringed didgeridoos for fun.

Beaded Baritone

This would be the perfect start for a Mariachi brass band.

Hermes Music

Consistent Mic Positioning

The key to a good mix, and not driving the sound guy nuts, is consistent sound from the mics on stage. This system solves that for a number of different instruments.

Soundcatchers

Artisanal Mutes

These beautiful wooden mutes are miles away from the drab white and red mutes of yesteryear. I'm kind of disappointed that these are not made by bearded hipsters in Portland.

Facet Mutes

Behind the Walls

While I do like the look of this instrument, it looks like multiple plumbers have worked on the pipes over the years.

B.A.C. Musical Instruments, LLC

Little Wing

The primary use for these is as practice instruments. I think having a bass that's an octave higher than normal could be put to interesting use in the studio.

Wing Instruments

Uphill Battle

You know how it's hard not to look cool when playing a guitar? In this case the opposite is true.

Nemo: Found

Goldfish guitars is still cruising 10 years after I first saw them at NAMM, this time with their "Clownuku" ukulele.

I'm beginning to think it should be the NAUM Show, as in National Association of Ukulele Merchants. I may as well get the uke coverage out of the way…

Goldfish Guitars LLC

Believe It!

A Naruto-themed uke? Sure, why not?

Flourishing Music

Emergency Paddles

Every outrigger should have a pair.

Ohana Ukuleles

The Uke in the Stone

The story of a young squire named Aki who doesn't know he's destined to be king.

Opal Instruments

I Want to Say One Word to You

Plastics. There's a great future in plastics.

Bugs Gear Ukulele

Like a Small Barking Dog

Dean is known for producing some wicked-looking guitars. Not so much with the ukes, though.

Dean Guitars

Way More than 40oz.

I don't know why they named the King Cobra cello after a malt liquor. Who am I to judge?

Wood Violins

Stealth Bass

The bass player is usually hidden behind the guitar player anyway.

Minarik Guitars

A Jaunty Angle

The (presumably) more ergonomic angled neck looks to be about 45°, for the full 180° look here.

Artisan Bass Works

The 32nd Flavor

"Spalted Maple and Walnut"

The wood that the top of this acoustic bass is made of, or an ice cream flavor? You decide.

Ibanez

A Different Kind of Tension Loop

The truss rod in the neck is mechanically coupled to the bridge so that the strings pull against the rod rather than the rod pushing against the wood.

Tensor

Warning Label

I'm sure you know a bass player that should have this instrument.

Weifang Rebon Musical Instrument Co., Ltd

Not Your Father's N'Goni

Resonance Creations have updated the N'Goni with modern tuners but still use traditional construction methods.

Actually it would be pretty cool if your father owned a N'Goni.

Resonance Creations Ltd

Belaboring the Point

Bass Clef sound holes are used just in case you weren't clear that this was a bass and not just a big guitar.

  • Uncle Dave's Custom Guitars, LLC
  • 977 E. 14 Mile Road
  • Troy, MI 48083
  • (830)469-9996
  • brios11@att.net
Uncle Dave's Custom Guitars, LLC

Texture Maps

This looks like a texture taken from a Doom or some other post-apoc first person shooter.

Ibanez

Gold Leaf Bling Bass

This bass sells for 28000 €. Imagine what it would cost to put gold leaf over a bass without a minimal body.

  • Paul Lairat
  • 388 Route de Beauregard 84350
  • Courthézon, France
  • www.lairat.com
Paul Lairat

If Tim Burton Designed Basses

I would imagine that they'd look something like these. Then again if Tim Burton did design basses they would only be playable by Johnny Depp and could only play music written by Danny Elfman.

Kamil Torun

Government Registry

Banjos tend to put out a good deal of mid-range frequencies. Resonator guitars also strongly project the mids. A resonator banjo should probably be registered as an lethal weapon.

Rayco Resophonics

Hoo & What

Rozanna has a history in the Oddities of producing instruments that make me go "hmm" as well as "huh?"

Rozanna's Violins

"Hologram"

The finish of this guitar purports to be produced by some form of holography. Maybe the air quotes are appropriate.

Spear Guitars

Foam Shoulder Pads are Back

But not in the fashion crime form they took back in the 80s. These are alternatives to standard clamp-on shoulder rests.

Acousta Grip

Gluten Free Grain

This reminds me of my junior high woodshop art project where I used a wire brush to bring out the grain.

Sandberg Guitars
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©2016 Barry Wood