The day after we were all very tired, myself I hadn't slept at all, part due to packing and blog updates, and part to make myself tired enough to sleep on the plane (always have a problem with that) to minimize jet-lag when coming back to Sweden.

We began the morning by returning the rental. The rain was pouring down in intervals. After the car deal was set, we had a farewell breakfast with me, Shun, Ama, Steve & Terry.

Then I was supposed to take the shuttle out to LAX. Unfortunately it turned out you needed to reserve such a trip a day in advance, whilst there were no such need when actually arriving. This we were all uninformed about, so I ended up having to take a cab to the airport :(

The flight to Chicago was uneventful, and I dozed off a couple of times, still trying to stay awake.

At Chicago O'Hare airport, they had this behemoth towering over you. Of course I know dinosaurs were huge and all, but actually seeing one to scale was quite amazing!

I really lucked out for the long flight between US and Europe though! Got 4 seats all to myself, so I slept like a log for almost the entire flight!

Eventually got back to my cold hometown of Umeå, Sweden. Time for more sleeeeep!

Final post, day after arrival. Coffee will be a necessity the coming days for sure!

WIth that I close the NAMM blog for 2012, but remember to check back towards the end of this week, as I will update with the videos from the last days of the show, and believe me, it's worth waiting for, some amazing jams took place!

New blogs will come from Frankfurt Messe in March and Moscow in May, stay tuned!

Over, out and good morning!
//Richard

This last day at the show began with some random band performing at the stage in Hall E

Tom dropped by again, this time he got to try Shun guitar with the symmetrical tuning. It's quite the testament to his musicality that he actually nailed that sucker within minutes!

Fellow brit and Suhr artist Jack Gardiner was also subjected to the tuning from hell, and let it rip as well!

This guy just improves in leaps and bounds! Scary!

This day also entailed jams with Tom, Jack and myself, so stay tuned for the video.

Fellow Swede, T-rex artist and a monster guitar player Tommy Denander, which has 3000+ albums to his credits stopped by, was floored, and dropped out with an order for the MOEN switcher

Ama gets a massage!

Paul Gilbert acting the Sharp Dressed Man on a meet and greet

james Trussart guitars, cool stuff

How's that for a hollow body huh?

Carlos Osnaya, MOEN FX endorsee, lets it rip for us!

Don't know this guys story, didn't ask... NAMM mascot maybe?
He's still more decently clad than most of the booth girls at the show, which is saying something!

SKB had a new "i-Case" with life-time warranty, rock solid durability, air travel approved (with the customs lock), and water proof. It was solid!

They even had a special PRS-version, I see one of these in my future for sure!

The whole gang from Leqtique, MOEN and One Control gathered one last time at the booth after packing up. See you next year guys!

After closing up shop, me Shun and Ama drove back up to L.A, this time for a double serving of Holdsworth at Baked Potato!

And of course, no evening at the Baked Potato is complete without a serving of their Baked Potato! Our choice was Marinated Beef.

Me and old Maestro!
Unfortunately the guy that took the picture had his finger too close to the flash :/

And with that crowning achievement, we close the book on day 7 of the NAMM trip. Tomorrow is travel day, but stay tuned for all the multitude of vids to come!

Saturday began with some moderate rain, something you don't see everyday in L.A, even in winter!

After Friday's photo and video marathon, Saturday ended being a lot less intense, but with some esteemed visitors =)

At the show I checked Holdsworth's new signature OD by Rocket pedals.
Also also held a signing in their booth during the day (see below).

Gentleman fusion extraordinaire Tom Quayle dropped by the booth, Shun was excited! Tom checked out the pedals as was impressed (what else =) And of course there were jamming! (see vid once it's up at the end of the post).

Holdsworth at the signing.

Shun shows Allan his lap guitar, and explains his b5 tuning (D#, A, D#, A, D#, A). Allan was interested and even brought out pen and paper to note the tuning (and signed the guitar at the 12th fret)

Florent Atem showing his "tapping with pick" technique

After the show we were supposed to rent a car and drive to L.A for the Bozzio/Macacheck show at the Baked Potato. But, we couldn't find any open rentals. At last, the hotel clerk found us one open at the local Anaheim airport (stil like 30 min away). The arranged a ride for us, and what we ended up riding was a stretch limo :) Nice!

We got the rental, drove the Santa Ana freeway up to L.A, and like 4 seconds after we were in the door, Boozio counted in the first tune!

For those that haven't heard Macacheck, imagine a mix between Holdsworth, Frank Zappa and Schönberg, it is quite insane, with little or no tonal center what so ever! But it was great!

And that was all for the day (after driving back in the middle of the night that is).

To start of this post, I thought I would post some pictures and info about the products and brands I'm actually over here at NAMM to perform for.
First of is Leqtique, hand made boutique pedals in milled aluminum casings from Japan by Shun Nokina.
Pictured is his classic MAR - Maestro Antique Revised*
It is the Leqtique version of the earlier Shun Nokina Design "Maestro", and it's a decendent of the classic overdrives of old. It has a ultra-smooth gain tone and feeling, and uses very rare NOS Japanese diodes.
It has a refined voicing however, and is able to fit well in to modern musical settings as well. Also works really well as a boost in front of an overdriven tube amp.
Controls: Volume, Tone, Gain.
*note: MAR will be discountinued in 2012 because of component avaliability issues.

Next up is MAT - Maestoso.

MAT is an evolution of MAR. It doesn't have the same "ultra-vintage-smoothness", but instead has more low-end (selectable low-end freq inside the pedal) and clarity, as well as a higher volume and gain range. This is Shun's answer to to all the classic overdriven needs, and it does the job beautifully!

This pedal was a clear winner at the NAMM show.
If you need and extremely versatile overdrive, this is the one for you!
Controls: Volume, Tone, Gain.

Then we have the very special CLD - Caeruleum Lightdrive.
CLD is a unique overdrive, designed to produce a very musical clean boost, up to low gain heaven. It's a great one for say light fusion, bossa nova, latin, country, ballads and so forth. Extremely dynamic.
It also works very well as a "always on" buffer pedal, or even as a preamp stage.

Control: Volume, Lower, Gain.

With this one we leave overdrive territory behind and head into high-gain. 9/9 is a versatile high-gain unit with a clever mid control that does not only change the middle freq response, but also changes overall balance.

Great for modern rock and metal, and looks really nice too =)

Then we have a prototype that really lifted some eye brows at the show! To be launched into production in 2012, ZEQ is a first in the world of stomp boxes. A 17 band EQ in a small sized stomp box. This one sports Ultra HI-FI components, even superior to most studio rack systems, thanks to Shun's premium selection from Linear Technology and Audience components.
100% Hand crafted Analog circuitry, 31hz-18Khz frequency range with 15dB cut/boost (6dB/15dB/30dB selection switch as well). Also works with 5-36V extensive operation.

This one got several interests and offer of OEM deals from established builder.

Next up is MOEN FX, which makes (amongst other great FX pedals) the effect routing system GEC9,
which is easily the most intuitive unit I have ever used. Had this plugged in throughout the show, and both dealers, passers by and very high-ranking players fell for this one! I will build a new pedal board around this one to use both for my own gigs, as well as my upcoming performances at Frankfurt Messe, NAMM Moscow, Music CHina 2012 ( in Shanghai) and so forth. I'll post a separate video demoing this one on my YouTube channel, since describing it all in detail here would take a bit too much space.

As I said, MOEN makes many sweet pedals, this compressor being one of them. I've tried many high-end compressor pedals in my days, to try to find one that adds that little extra to my lead tone without squaching it or degrading it in any way. 

This one fits the bill like nothing else I've tried, it is just SO musical, and extremely quiet too!
Check out their full line HERE

One Control of Japan is another company that focuses on switching systems, including larger ones with built in buffers by Mad Professors Björn Juhl, and MIDI compatability.

They also makes these VERY tiny power supplies, milled out of one piece aluminum, making them super light weight, yet extremely rugged. 9 supplies with one of them being a sag 12-18V, it's a no brainer!

Their website is still all in Japanese, but is currently being translated, you can check out the pictures at least, HERE.

I also brought a Deeflexx with me from Hoovi.at.
This in order to a.) Get a completely even sound distribution around the booth, so that no passers by heard any beam, and just heard fat goodness of tone =)
and b.) To avoid dB spikes when the SOund Police walked by with their dBmeters (and fine tickets). Actually asked one of them to walk by and measure the dB level ast the booth while I was playing. 85.6dB all the way, no spikes, no problem! Works like a charm!!

The day started out with a very nice morning, providing a perfect photo opp at the main entrance.

Well inside we were met by an defening morning show! All out Scottish folk music, complete with bag-pipe amplified to levels befitting the show!

And no, I don't know if they were actually wearing anything under those kilts =)

We stopped by the shared booth of Rick Toone guitars and Ola Strandberg Guitarworks, both focusing on making the most ergonomically sound instruments possible. Rick's guitars has to be seen to be believed, pretty outrageous design!
His website can be found HERE

Check out the slate aluminum neck on this one, sick!

Then we turned out gaze right to find Ola Strandberg himself

The fanned frets one these might looks akward at first, but every inch of these instruments has been made with ergonomics in mind, and plays and feels like butter! Just ask Toshin Abasi of ANimal as Leaders, endorsing Ola's axes.
Check out his previous and upcoming builds HERE

Some nice Tom Anderson guitars right here!

Now this was unique to say the least! Words unnecessary, check the video at the bottom (once I get back to Sweden to be able to post it that is)

Didn't catch the name of this fine player, but check him out in todays vid!

Right next to the stand providing our much needed morning coffee we found this pair. Harp and Harpsicord duet? Heck yeah! (see vid).

This guy sold a scratch remover that was sick! Plaster scratches, sand paper, you name it. 

Got myself a kit, since my fave PRS has gotten quite scratched by all people trying out our pedals.

Amptweaker is run by a man named James Brown, who designed the Peavey 5150. This pedals seriously doesn't sound like distortion boxes as much as a really got hi-gain metal preamp. And combined with noise gate, built in loop as more, the design is quite brilliant!
My fave was the Tight Rock.

Passing by the Schecter booth. They make good guitars (owned a few over the years).

The price for highest hair at NAMM goes to this gentleman at the Carvin booth!

Steve Vai at the Carvin booth, talking about his new Legacy amp, seemed cool, but I wasn't too sold on the design of it.

This bass player is featured in my video of the day =)
Never got the "colored fret board" thing myself

I also stopped by the Ibanez booth to check out the new Meshuggah model.

yeah, you saw correctly, 8000USD!! 
For a guitar with a natural dyed finish, and a rosewood board died to ebony stain? 
Oh my!

Here's the Evertune booth, amazing innovation, which enables your guitar to stay in tune regardless of what you put it through. No if they'd only make a top mounted model that didn't require routing of the guitar!

Bootsy!!

J Hayes of PRS guitars demoing the new P22!
G.A.S!!  (see vid!)

This one's to give you an idea of just how busy the show really is!

Great L.A based session guitarist Mason Stoops stopped by the booth to check out the MOEN loop system (and of course we jammed some, see upcoming vid!)

Dwarf Craft pedals always has something new (and different) in stock!

If the guy a few pics above took the price for highest hair, this guy surely takes the longest hair award! Having to carry your dreads around in a sack? Reeespect!

Visiting the PRS demo room upstairs, some amazing amps here!

Dave Grissom and Davy Knowles getting their groove on, MAN can Dave play! (see vid)

Toshin Abasi stopped by the booth, really nice guy!

Toshin is also a sick player, with the slap chops of Victor Wooten combined with extreme metal schops.

At the Sheraton hotel show room, Sabian 30th ANniversary drum night with Ola, Ama and Shun

Tony Royster Jr. and friends was one of the grooviest things I have ever seen! And Adrian (the bass player) was indescribable!

Allan Holdsworth, Virgil Donati, JImmy Haslip, Dennis Hamm. Perfect ending to another perfect day at the 2012 NAMM show!

First day of the show! I stopped by Strictly Seven Guitars to check out Ola Englund's new model.

Here we have Fred Brum ripping it up!

Pretty insane 9-string guitar!!

Fredrik Thordendahl (Meshuggah) stopped by and took some axes for a test drive, the booth got pretty crowded fast!(see YouTube vid at the bottom)

And Ola himself test driving his new Solar 7 axe and Fortin Satan amp, evil riffing ensues!

Later that day Ola stopped by our booth for some posing and guitar riffing (see YouTube vid at the bottom)

Then I was off to the PRS booth of course!
I met up with J Hayes, Product Manage for PRS, the gentlemen that many of the PRS product vids as well. And I just had to snap some shots of the 2012 models!

A very sweet charcoal black Studio, claaaassy!

And this Private Stock semi hollow was eye candy =)

And finally the 2012 PRS amp line up, will definitely be back to play these babies later this week! What I have heard from the Channel H sounds sweet.

On the way back to the Leqtique booth, I stumbled on a performance by the mighty Johnny Hiland performing in the Emotiva booth. (see YouTube vid at the bottom)

After the show we were supposed to get on the NAMM transit buss that goes around to all the hotels in the area for drop offs. 

However, we ended up on the wrong transit, and ended up at a Holiday Inn 30 min north of Anaheim! doh!

It was all good however, a little excursion wasn't gonna kill us, and we decided to get some dinner whilst waiting on the return buss to Anaheim.

Buffalo burger! Hell yeah!!

Good end to the day. Check out the vid below to for some NAMM playing =)

Over and out!
//Richard

Day 3 in Anaheim was build day. So we all started out pretty early for the convention center. Egnater and Deeflexx with, and the suitcase packed to the brim with pedals! 

Really nice weather on the way there, and the palm tree boulevard is truly exotic for one used to snow covered birches =)

The convention center is MASSIVE, and having been here before, I know that it can take a really long time to wak through, get our bagdes and registration, but fortunately things went very smoothly for us.

After check-in, we ran into Ron Thal "Bumblefoot (current GnR guitarist, insane guitar freak and all around nice guy!)

Setting up our booth was a pretty quick affair, but these things have a tendency to need alterations as we go so we'll see where we'll end up.

For now though, we have a very nice sound with the Deeflexx. Backing track volume is a little low with the Logitech, so we might need to look at other solutions

When leaving the show, dark had already fell, and I got the chance to take a nice pic of the main entrance =) 
Now we were heading for the House of Blues and the Eric Johnson concert..

FInally arrived at the House of Blues, thankfully we beat the rush hour and got our tickets hassle free.

Inside we met up with Japanese master of Funk and Berklee professor Tomo Fujita, and I got the chance to once again play the role of Casper the ghost in flash light =)

We also hooked up with fellow some fellow Swedes that were kind enough to buy me the infamous South Park "White Trash" beer. Tasty? no, not so much =)

Acoustic wizard Andy Mckee was warming up for Eric, and really woved the audience!
(Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, any eventual videos from this evening can't be posted here, but I'm sure you'll find some on YouTube).

And then Eric with band came onstage. Eric played with his usual good guitar tone, and off beat arrangements and unique style. 

However, both I and many others agreed that he sounded a bit "tired" this time, sort of struggling at times even. Still, a legend player!

But Day 3's BIGGEST shock was surely what happened half-way through the set, Eric strapped on a Les Paul!! That was truly the last thing I expected =)

After the show, we had a long walk back to the hotel, and with sore feet, it was time to call it a night!

Over and out!
//Richard

Day 2 in Anaheim started off with a game of table tennis. Haven't played this since my teens, and man was I ever rusty! Ama (at the right), and Shun put up a good fight too =)

After breakfast it was time for some coffee at 7 Eleven and a walk down to Guitar Center for amp hunting! Quite a selection of coffee I must say!

of course , I choose Fusion Energy!
A very nice coffee, with a prominent taste of Lydian b7, and under currents of Diminished and Altered flavors =)

Then began the walk down to Guitar Center and on the way we saw a car I just had to share with you. I can't imagine someone actually driving around in this monster outside, well, a monster truck arena. Super Size, just like everything else the US I guess! =)

Finally arrived at Guitar Center, it was a behemoth of a store for sure!

Inside we bumped in to Swedish guitar builder Ola Strandberg, who makes headless super-ergonomical guitar, with very cool design and ergonomical ideas! Check out his website HERE.

Guitar Center was like a real water hole for us guitar nuts, because we also ran into Jimmy from EM Nordic in Scandinavia (PRS representative) and two forum friends from Sweden (not pictured here).

We ended going with an Egnater Tweaker combo for the show. For one it sounded good, but also since it has the three distinct EQ voicings (Brit, Vox, US), and also because of the voltage options (110/230V), which means we can use it Frankfurt Messe just as easily as NAMM.

Back at the hotel we hooked up with the other guys sharing out booth from One-Control Japan
and MOEN Effects from China.

Here we're back in the hotel room with Steve from MOEN FX, test driving some pedals through the amp.

Here we have MOEN FX GEC9 Effects Routing System. Not only does it look great, but is a true bypass system, with buffer, fully programmable and that can also control your amp (such as all the switching options on a Mesa/Boogie for example). Very cool stuff!
Small footprint for such a device too.

Once again we ended up at The Cheesecake Factory!

And finally, time for todays Cheese Cake, Godiva Chocolate!

Tomorrow we will start to build the booth, and dinner will be had at the Eric Johnson concert at House of Blues, so I'll try to shoot some video then as well.

Over and out!

Time to kick things off with the day of departing from Sweden. Early morning, getting up at 4:30AM. I'm usually veeeery affected by jetlag, so this year I decided to try what British Airways recommended, not sleeping at all on the flight over.
Hopefully that will help some! Leaving cold Umeå behind.

At the Arlanda airport in Stockholm, at the gate for the US flight, I met an old school mate from waaay back in the 90's, Daniel. Or "the little drummer nor" as he was known back then =)
He was on his way to the big hunting & gun show in Las Vegas. I told him to look up Charlton Heston ;)

On the plane I was pleased to see that I had lucked out in terms of seating =) 
Plenty of leg room here!!  Now, time to watch UFC RIO on the laptop!!

The flight was gruesome indeed, with a 3 hour waiting in Chicago as well. I think total travel time ended up being  25 hours from my home to LAX.

Met up with my endorser Shun of Leqtique effects and his friend at LAX, and we took the Disneyland Express to our hotel in anaheim, the Peacock Suite. Very "Disney" looking hotel indeed! (that's shun on the right).

The hotel room was nice and large, dual TV's and a lounge area.
By this time I was preeeetty tired to say the leastBut, we decided to go out and have a bite to eat and celebrate our save arrival in LaLa Land :)

We ended up at The Cheesecake Factory, Big Bang Theory style =)
Got the Bacon Burger, and MAN was that portion ever "American Sized" :D

And finally, this picture goes out to my finance Mona, as tribute to our common love for The Big Band Theory, AND her love of baking =) I must say, they REALLY live up to their name, this was one INSANE Cheese Cake!
With that, it's off to bed! TOmorrow we go out shopping for an amp to use at the show, and tomorrow I promise to shoot some vids as well!!

Over and out!
//Richard