We’re proud to bring to inSync our Summer NAMM ’03 report! This week you’ll get to read about all the latest and greatest gear developments from this summer’s most exciting show! Some of what you’ll see in inSync this week might be available now, next week or six months from now so be sure to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at 1-800-222-4700 for more information regarding anything that peaks your interest. Enjoy!
Martin D-18 Andy Griffith Signature Model
Andy Griffith, one of America’s most beloved actors and singers, has been a life-long Martin player. In fact, his own D-18 has appeared in several of his movies, stage appearances and TV performances. To celebrate Mr. Griffith, Martin showed the D-18 Signature Model which is based on his 1956 model. It’s a 14-fret Dreadnought that combines many of the original mid-50s design features with rare tonewoods and modern sounding and playing enhancements. The back and sides are crafted of quilted mahogany and the top is made of heavily-figured bearclaw Sitka spruce. Special features include inlaid in pearl between the 19th and 20th frets and “Lonesome Rhodes” laser-etched on the front block. Personally endorsed by the sheriff of Mayberry himself, this D-18 is a real piece of Americana!
Martin D-50 Koa Deluxe Limited Edition
This flamed Hawiian tonewood beauty is not the kind of guitar that many of us are going to be able to add to our arsenal any time soon. With a price tag of $45,000, it’s a real guitar lover’s dream. Representing the highest level of ornamentation and elegance in the Martin line, the D-50 Koa is constructed with Hawaiian koa back and sides. The soundboard is bookmatched from premium grade Sitka spruce with heavy bearclaw figuring. Internal X-braces are crafted from Adirondack red spruce. The D-50 also features a genuine African ebony fingerboard inlaid with an exquisite Tree of Life pattern. Every leaf, flower and stem of the Tree of Life is cut from highly colorful paua shell, then painstakingly bordered with a thin band of mother of pearl. The D-50 Koa is a sight to behold and stunningly attractive.
Martin LXM Little Martin
We came across the Little Martin over at the C.F. Martin booth and think that guitarists will really appreciate all that it has to offer – including the “little” price! In a nutshell, the Little Martin is comfortable to play (despite it’s slightly smaller size), tonally viable, affordably priced, environmentally responsible and compact – making it THE perfect choice for travel, practice or students! The Little Martin combines a modified 0-14 fret tenor Martin shape with a 23″ scale length. The one panel back and sides are crafted from Mahogany Pattern HPL and the top is cut from Spruce Pattern HPL making the Little Martin amazingly friendly in just about any climate. In fact, the Little Martin has been atop the summit of Denali and several additional challenging environments and all reports are that it performed amazingly well!
Martin OM-28 John Mayer Signature Model
Anyone who has listened to the radio in the past year has heard John Mayer’s voice and rhythmic guitar signal the arrival of one of the hottest musical talents in recent memory. For much of his career, Mayer has depended on one Martin guitar or another to achieve his signature sound. Based on the OM-28, Martin rolled out the John Mayer Signature Model which includes an interior label personally signed by John Mayer and many other appointments that make this OM-28 a collector’s item as well as a player’s guitar.
Yamaha Club V Loudspeakers
A significant update from the previous models, Yamaha’s new Club V loudspeakers will undoubtedly be popular with gigging musicians, houses of worship, small-to-medium sized venues, and mobile DJs. New cabinet tunings have improved low frequency performance, and newly developed transducers allow higher power capacities for use with larger amplifiers. Each speaker now features both dual 1/4 in. and dual Speakon connectors, and all models will be available in both carpeted and sprayed finish. Models available in either finish include 12″, 15″ and dual 15″ 2-way speakers; 10″, 12″ and 15″ floor monitors; plus a single 15″, a single 18″ and dual 18″ woofers. Carpet covered cabinets feature heavy-gauge, arced steel grilles and steel corner protectors. Sprayed finish enclosures feature foam-backed, full-face perforated steel grilles, providing a less obtrusive look for high-profile venues.
Yamaha Motif ES Music Production Workstations
With the official debut of the Motif ES workstations, Yamaha has taken the creative process to the next level for musicians. Yamaha developed the core of the ES series from the ground up with an all-new sound generator with 128-voice polyphony, new filter algorithms, and massive DSP power. This, combined with a new, incredibly musical 175MB sample set (the largest ever included in a workstation), make for an instrument that sounds absolutely phenomenal. Phrase Factory technology makes music production quicker and easier with 1700 arpeggios and real time loop remix. Sample memory is expandable up to 512MB, 2 USB ports make computer or peripheral connection easy, and templates are included for using the Motif ES as a remote control surface for popular software DAWs. Motif ES will be available in 61, 76, and 88-keys.
Yamaha O1X mLAN Digital Mixing Studio
This single, self-contained unit provides everything needed to turn audio/MIDI hardware and software into a complete computer music studio and function as the true centerpiece of that system: a 28-channel standalone total-recall digital mixer, an intuitive user interface with transport controls, 8 knobs and motorized faders, DAW remote control with motorized faders, 24-bit/96kHz multi-channel mLAN I/O, powerful DSP processing, and low latency Mac and Windows drivers. Additionally, the O1X will ship with a suite of software plug-ins, including Studio Manager for visual reference and O1X control from a computer screen, three plug-ins for enhanced vocal processing, pitch correction, and mastering, and a VST-compatible O1X channel module, which mirrors all DSP hardware functions and enables parameters from Studio Manager to be copied into the VST hosting application.
Yamaha SPX2000 96kHz Digital Signal Processor
The SPX2000 inherits the user interface and common programs from its predecessors like the SPX900, while bringing a new dimension to sound quality with 96kHz audio DSP and advanced REV-X reverb algorithm-a whole new generation of Yamaha reverb programs with rich reverberation tone and extremely smooth, transparent decay. SPX2000 Editor management software is planned to be available by the end of the year, and will provide editing, data management, and remote control capability from a computer, using the same interface as Studio Manager for Yamaha digital consoles.
Squier Cyclone
With its hybrid of classic and modern features (and great price), the Squier Cyclone allows any player to enjoy the Cyclone vibe! Like its bigger brothers, this versatile guitar features a small contoured body, single coil and humbucker configuration, vintage-style tremolo and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. It harkens back to a time when hitting the beach and good vibrations were all the craze!
Squier Showmaster Rally Stripe HH
The Showmaster Rally Stripe HH sports rally stripes, two high-output Duncan designed humbuckers and a unique two-volume, no tone control configuration. This setup allows for the ultimate in pickup blending and cutting. It also features a 24-fret bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, a new three-on-a-side headstock, black harware and hardtail bridge. Take one for a spin!
Squier Tele Custom
A new member of the Squier family, the Tele Custom is an affordable hybrid of two popular Telecaster designs. Fusing a ’72 Tele Custom with a Tele Deluxe, this guitar has two high-output humbuckers, a three-way pickup selector switch, and independent volume and tone controls. The Tele Custom from Squier features a solid tonewood body and a bolt-on maple neck with a maple fingerboard. The design is solid, it felt great and the price is very nice.
Roger Linn Design AdrenaLinn II
The original AdrenaLinn by the world-famous inventor and designer Roger Linn was a huge hit guitarists who appreciate innovative beat-synched filter effects, amp modeling and integrated drum machine features. The AdrenaLinn II offers all that made the original such a hit and delivers twice the amp models, more filters, longer delay time and sports an even easier interface! A big draw here at the show, it took quite a while before we could even get in the booth to get our hands on one. If you’re not familiar with the original AdrenaLinn, you might ask what beat-synched filter effects are all about. Examples include effects like tremolo, flanger, delay, chorus, rotary, vibrato and more, all in perfect synch to the internal drum beats or to external MIDI clock. The AdrenaLinn II features a ton of great effects that are Beat-Synched giving guitarists power that keyboardists have enjoyed for years!