The first-time visit of any musician or audiophile to the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim can be compared to a heartland tourist’s preliminary glimpse of Yosemite or the Grand Canyon – terms such as “awe-inspiring” and “magnificent” scarcely begin to describe the sensations experienced, but they’ll do well to begin with. A NAMM excursion can also be likened to a curious diner venturing for the first time into a mall-sized gourmet buffet, with acres of tables and trays bearing myriad selections of choicest chow – too much to see and sample in one stroll-through, or even two or three. The annual assembly has evolved into an international forum for the latest and greatest instruments of all kinds, the neatest and sweetest components and accessories, the highest tech and hottest tools from industry giants and innovative start-ups around the world. On an enlightening jaunt to Winter NAMM 2007, All Access Magazine encountered an industry extravaganza that exceeded the 
hype.
NAMM, founded in 1901 as the “National Association of Music Merchants,” held this year’s winter show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County from January 18 to 21. Participation was open to music professionals of all stripes – manufacturers and musicians, publishers and promoters, teachers and technicians – all coming together to present their wares, to share and compare, to maximize success in today’s market while preparing for future efforts. Whatever one’s personal musical passion might be, an outlet for it could be found on the Convention Center floor.
The NAMM Show was so diverse and humongous that a whole book could be written about what there was to hear and see and do – so for now, a brief overview must suffice. Right after gaining media-pass entry through the lobby, All Access Magazine found a forest of wind instruments from makers such as Amstrong, Jupiter, and Yamaha – horns and reeds and flutes in rows of glittering glory, from basic student models to custom concert gems, many ready to touch and play. On beyond beckoned the land of percussion, featuring drums and cymbals and gongs galore from heavy-hitters Zildjian and Sabian and hosts of others, providing a chance for the rhythmically-inclined to prep for the all-industry Drum Circle that was held on Friday, Jan. 19, at the nearby Palm Terrace.
Pinstriped executives 
and punked-out performers navigated through what seemed like miles of aisles, packed and stacked with the industry’s freshest audio equipment and finest hardware. Specialty wood brokers laid out choice, aged slabs for keen-eyed craftspeople, such as luthiers seeking prime materials for heritage-style instruments. And speaking of craftsmanship, it was downstairs in Hall E where All Access staffers ran into a kind of “old home rendezvous” at the Minarik Guitar display, where fretboard phenomenon Danielle Egnew showed off a dazzling array of exquisite axes with owners Bill and Mark Minarik. Also on hand was nighttime queen Sheena Metal, chatting with another fine guitarist, Peter Alexander Lust III of the Feisty Piranhas. The Minariks displayed their daring design work and customized inlay details, beautiful features that are generating a big noise right now among choosy pickers.
Fun and info were also found at the Coffin Case location, where the ghoulishly good-looking Coffin Girls were 
on hand to highlight the North Hollywood firm’s latest quality gear. Another kind of girl-power was seen at Daisy Guitars, a very female-friendly outfit that endeavors to put show-quality instruments in the hands of young lady rockers everywhere. And everywhere one looked, there were more gadgets and gizmos to examine – variations on familiar themes, and new goods altogether, from cases to capos to picks to pick-ups, hand-crafted to high-tech, and all stages in between – too much to take in all at once, to be sure.
Winter NAMM 2007 not only packed the multi-level, multi-hall convention center itself, but also featured a magnificent exhibit of Yamaha keyboard equipment at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom next door. Expert session musicians demonstrated the newest multi-tasking set-ups, including the impressive ES-8, which turned the player into a one-man jazz ensemble. A final stop at this “plaza of pianos” left All Access Magazine hungry – for more time, next time, to more fully explore and savor the musical feast that NAMM provides!
