This was my third NAMM, second with Old Guys Still Rockin. I can honestly say this was, by far, the best. 

One reason is that I knew what to expect and how to pace myself. 

Media Day was great. Two hours for media only to see and touch new products. Instead of the tens of thousands of people walking around during the official show days, there were a couple hundred. Very manageable. 

The next thing that made the experience so productive was the NAMM Media Center, Powered by JBL. Sometimes it can be hard to hear on the floor, because of all the people and the sounds of hundreds of instruments being demonstrated. And even harder to interview people.. The NAMM Media Center provided a trailer where the noise almost disappeared and everyone could be heard. Calm in the center of the storm. It also was a place where we could literally and figuratively recharge (our phones and ourselves). Finally, the people at the NAMM Media Center, particularly Carrie and Roslyn, were great. They made us feel welcome and helped us juggle our appointments. 

As usual, the Godin, Fender and Gibson rooms made us feel like kids in giant candy stores. So many guitars…so little time. 

Gibson at the Anaheim Grove was definitely a highlight. Don Felder and Slash playing the famous duel solo on “Hotel California”? You kidding me? And Billy Gibbons and Slash trading blues licks? A night for the ages and we were there. 

The hardware and software for people with home studios get better every year and we did our best to share some of those new choices with our OGSR readers and members. .