PRESENTS
Squeezing Buyers in the Sub-Prime World
The 2008 Winter NAMM show
from
Anaheim, California
Another sweet drumsmith.com pictorial brought to you by
Dunnett Classic Drums & The George H. Way Drum Company
This pictorial is dedicated to
Forrest aka Sloggon
You were with us this this year and you'll be there in 2009.
Text, images and video by Ronn Dunnett copyright 2008
Use of images, text or video without consent is prohibited.
All images are watermarked just like a real NAMM badge.
The opinions and smart ass commentary expressed
in this pictorial are those of the author.
Most of the time no offense is intended.
badge to enter. 
And now, before we being, my humble diatribe...
WHAT IS NAMM?
NAMM means never having to say you're sorry. (Unless you accidently step on a minor)
It also means you're going home with a cold.
Missed meetings. Arriving late for appointments.
No shows at dinner. It's all good.
Its NAMM and the event moves faster than that Taco salad you had at Coco's.
No apologies - its just understood.
Inconsistency - it's the new consistency
The sound levels in Hall D were out of control this year. At one time it used to be that if your Taco salad was talking back you were likely to draw the attention of the decibel police and their little meters. Not so the case this year or the previous 3 years. NAMM is not enforcing it's own policy with regard to sound levels and product demonstrations and many exhibitors found themselves unable to conduct the business they had paid a hefty sum to do. Every exhibitor signs a contract with NAMM and there is a reasonable expectation - if not a fiduciary responsibility on the part of NAMM - to enforce the rules they create. Next year NAMM needs to enforce their sound polcy - that or University needs to start offering lip reading courses for exhibitors. I guess it could be worse - it is in Frankfurt.
3 year old opens drum shop - makes first NAMM buying trip
Here's the thing - this is a trade show that is "not open to the public". But it is. NAMM calls them visitors. I have another name for them - children and minors. Don't get me wrong - I love kids (free range, scrambled or poached) but a busy trade show floor is not the place for them.
Want to introduce your kids to music? Take them to your local retailer.
Some Good News
NAMM is taking the badge thing a little more seriously. Word is that several individuals - with VISITOR badges from the previous year were stopped at various entrances...on Wednesday, set up. We never really get reports about stolen gear, but my guess is whatever the count, its down this year.
But I digress...
Enjoy the pics!
PS: Your comments and feedback are appreciated - please join up at Drumsmith.com if you are not already a member and let us know what you think and what you might like to see in future pictorials. Cheers!
RD
2 BOX
We're going in alphabetical order here so first up are the numbers. I really dug the look and feel of these electronic kits preferring the tennis racket feel of mesh heads over the rather unforgiving feel of rubber pads.
Sorta got that Thunderbirds vibe goin' on. FAB Scott.
Anatolian
Anatolian is a very poular line in Europe. Seems like they are trying to break into the
already saturated North America market. Nice stuff though - very similar to Masterworks.
Aquarian
Ron, Chris and Roy went all out this year with a new and very colourful display. Gone are the days of the last super.
Aqurian introduced their new Tru-bounce practise pad kit - a welcome change from the old rubber pad.
Always a pleasure to see these very distinguished and respected gentleman.
Most Cheerful booth
Axis Percussion
Axis lawn sprinkler?
Battlefield Drums
As a rule I'm not a big fan of theme drums but this one caught my attention.
I think it would have looked better with mesh heads.
Big Bang Distribution
Bob proudly displays the Attack series of snare drums. Bob has also purchased the rights to the S Hoop from the Barrickman family and has added Sleishman pedals to his product line. Big Bang also distributes Protection Racket cases.
The Big Bang crew also has a great sense of German humor.
Cadeson
I've always liked Cadeson. I think the owner's heart is really in it.
Sadly with this kit his taste in tribal motifs and ability to center them were not.
NOTE TO INDUSTRY:
TRIBAL IS OVER.
Freshly loaded with some great endorsers including Matt Chamberlain and Ronnie Vannucci.
Meet Joe, Johnny's right-hand man. Joe has a deep love of drums and drumming - prerequisites
for working with the man who is often referred to as The Master.
A sparkling piccolo with freshly minted mini diamond lugs.
This I didn't completely get and I was thinkin' maybe JC didn't get the
R Class floor tom to bass drum
conversion kit memo. You'll see it later on in the pictorial, but it really makes the extra brackets on this drum redundant. Still a beautiful drum and I dig the gullwing spurs.
Best Kit
(in spite of the Pearl spurs)
Canopus
They aren't known for Carbon Fibre but Canopus brought this kit.
Danmar
Frank Devito's company still making some nifty items.
Grape, Orange, Lime, Cherry, Raisin, Strawberry, Vanilla and Visitor.
ddrum has been increasing it's roster of artists and this little plastic box is where he choose
to keep them during the show.
The original NAMM show monster kit
Without a doubt the most surprising theme at this years show was rack systems.
ddrum's rack was noteworthy because of the handlebar shaped rails for easy positioning.
I found it a little surprising that rails were so prevalent this year - optimism at it's best when you consider the current economy and the number of drummers who are going to be able to drop $ on a kit that would require such an elaborate rack.
ddrum theme park
their way into other manufacturer's product lines.
