The National Association of Music Merchants has been focusing on its annual trade show for over 100 years to highlight the best instruments and other products in music. In 2019, the NAMM show didn’t disappoint. This year’s lineup featured a variety of new amps, guitars, basses and amps. These 15 products caught our attention quickly, so keep an eye out:
Fender Acoustasonic Series Telecaster
Fender may be able to change the trend. Traditionally, guitarists own separate electric and acoustic guitars. The new Acoustasonic Series Telecaster has the same lightweight feel as a traditional acoustic instrument. Still, with the voice selectors that allow for customizable tones and voice selections, you have come to expect from Fender electric guitars.
Fender Princeton Chris Stapleton Edition Amp
Fender also offers an amp that revives the beloved ’62 Princeton. Chris Stapleton, a Grammy-winning country singer, worked closely with Fender engineers to create an amp with the distinctive sound of a ’62 Princeton and the power to deliver the performance you need to entertain a packed house.
ESP Frank Bello LTD Signature Series
Japanese guitar manufacturer ESP has teamed up with Frank Bello, legendary Anthrax bassist, to create another entry in their Signature Series range of basses. The FBJ-400 was only a matter of time after Frank’s first model with ESP. The FBJ-400 is geared towards musicians who want to shred on-stage but do not spend much money. It maintains its quality, sound quality, and reasonable price.
Sheeran By Lowden S04
What happens when Ed Sheeran teams up with Downpatrick’s talented luthier? The result is musical magic. The Sheeran and Lowden S04 was the result of their joint efforts. This guitar is an excellent choice in a range of guitars that aims to balance affordability and quality. This celebrity guitar is aimed at younger players and parents with budgetary concerns, but it offers the same strut voicing as a hand-strut.
Elektron Model:Samples
Elektron’s six-track groovebox allows creators to import samples across six audio tracks. You can also create and manage up to 96 projects simultaneously. The Model. Samples has hundreds of pre-made sounds from Splice and provides easy-to-use functionality.
BeeTronics Swarm
The BeeTronics Swing pedal can produce more fuzz than a bushel full of Georgia peaches. The pedal’s Queen, Drone and Flight dials offer various harmony options at all ends.
Strymon Volante
Strymon’s new Volante will quickly end your delay in purchasing a new pedal. The magnetic echo machine features Drum, Tape, and Studio delay and can be used at normal, half, and double speed. This allows you to tweak your tones until you get them just right.
Anasounds Element Spring Reverb
Anasounds, a French pedal manufacturer, has gone old school with their Spring Reverb pedal. It attempts to recreate the classic Fender Twin sound. The Element’s superior craftsmanship and analog construction make it a must-have for guitarists who want to create a Dick Dale-inspired surf rock sound.
Alexander Pedals Radical Delayed DX
The Radical Delayed DX from Alexander Pedals is a great retro revival. You are only limited by your technical prowess or imagination regarding the six delay modes.
Keeley Electronics Fuzz Bender
The Keeley Electronics Fuzz Bender is versatile. It’s a three-transistor pedal made from Japanese germanium that can produce a wide range of tones. Fuzz Bender’s Bias Control allows you to achieve better attack and delay.
Chase Bliss Audio Preamp MK II
Chris Benson and Joel Korte created the Chase Bliss Audio preamp MK2. It is the first pedal in a new line that boasts robotic controls. This team of music experts came together to create an easier-to-use preamp that can be easily adjusted according to your needs. Even in the middle of live music, presets on MK II are easily accessible. They provide the necessary trust for even the most sceptical musicians.
Korg Minilogue xd
Korg, a Japanese classic, raised the bar at NAMM 2019 by introducing the minilogue. This includes a digital multi-engine and four voice modes, micro tuning functionality, hundreds of preset locations, and hundreds more. The polyphonic synthesizer was created to introduce a new generation to analog synthesis.
Akai Pro Force
The Akai Pro Force is the ultimate production tool. It allows for sampling, sequencing and processing, all without a computer. Every option is within reach with the standalone production system’s touch-sensitive colour screen. This system can import stems, sync to master BPMs or create unique effects that add flair to your music.
Mission Control Expressive Audio System
This audio system has everything cool. Even its name. You can use it as mission control for all your pedals and operate loops whenever you want. This artisan-crafted device is full of detail to inspire creativity and deliver impressive sound quality.
Arturia MicroFreak
Arturia’s MicroFreak, a highly-regarded digital hardware synth best described as quirky, made its mark at NAMM 2019. The MicroFreak, while most well-known for its multimode digital oscillator, is also incredibly versatile. The MicroFreak features an analog filter inspired by the Oberheim, while the PCB keyboard takes the synth to a new level.