GALLERY: Summer NAMM 2017 Day 1

Martin Guitar D-28

t can't be easy tinkering with a stone-solid legend. But Martin Guitar's new D-28 2017 tweaks the D-28 form with impressive results. The wider 1 3/4" nut width and performance taper neck are significant deviations from tradition, but the guitar feels fantastic and plays beautifully with all the punch you'd expect from a Martin Dread. This model will exist alongside the standard D-28, so purists need not fear. But this newest iteration is looking like a winner in every way. Look for a street price around $2,599

Daredevil Pedals The Cocked Fearless

Any one of Daredevil Pedals' is usually a slap-in-the-face, get-down-to-biz brick of fuzz/distortion nastiness. The Cocked Fearless, unleashed to day at Summer NAMM combines two of the best Daredevil machines--the Atomic Cock filter and the Fearless distortion. The latter circuit is a versatile low/high gain killer. The cocked wag section is situated before the distortion circuit. Together they create scads of awesome Ronson-in-a-box tones and beyond. Look for a $199 street price.

Big Ear NYC Betty White

Grant from BIG EAR nyc just gave us the lowdown on his new single-knob fuzz named Betty White. The gain is mostly fixed with the knob only controlling the volume. A black version of the pedal (named Black Betty) is available as well with the exact same circuitry Its sounds big and thick like a maxed-out Muff.

VHT Amps The Vooster

Looking for a new way to power up your stompboxes? We got a look at the Vooster voltage booster from VHT Amps that was unveiled at NAMM today. The Vooster works in conjunction with any 5V power bank (like your cellphone charger), and converts the voltage to either 9 or 12 volts via the side-located switch

Grez Guitars Mendocino

Simple and so pretty-- Grez Guitars new Mendocino is a lovely, resonant, smooth-to-growly exercise in guitar design restraint. Much of that ringing resonance is down the the routed, semi-hollow Honduran Mahogany body and redwood top, which also makes the guitar a featherweight 5 lbs. The Lollar Gold Foils are a great match for the resonant body. And though $2,800 isn't cheap, the sound, feel, materials, and quality make the price seem very fair.

ValveTrain Thunderball

ValveTrain's bang-for-the-buck amplifier formulas typically leave us impressed. But from what we heard, the new Supro Thunderbolt-inspired Thunderball could be the most punch-per-dollar ValvaTrain has ever delivered. The $1,199 head (a $1,499 combo is also available) is a streamlined and simple monster, powered by two 5881s, two 12AX7s, and a 5AR4 tube rectifier also features a variable attenuator, bright switch, and pentode/diode switch.

KHDK The Abyss

KHDK is here at NAMM with a new bass overdrive called the Abyss. The pedal was designed to provide a warm, tube-like boost and a subtle crunchy overdrive. And for more powerful rhythm or soloing, setting the toggle to hi adds saturation, sustain, low-end, and compression. By using bi-amp technology with two discrete circuits, the Abyss divides the signal down two paths: One stores the dynamic and color while the other adds overdriven sound with fullness and a powerful punch. When the signals meet again, the intended result is a richer and more powerful original sound.

LunaStone TrueOverDrive 2

Following up on the introduction of the TrueOverDrive 1 at the winter show, LunaStone is here at summer NAMM with the TrueOverDrive 2. Like the TOD 1, the second incarnation was designed to deliver transparent, tube-like overdrive, but it also brings a punch to the low end for a warm, beefier tone.

Olsson Amps Studio 18

Olsson Amps made the trek from Sweden for their first NAMM to show off the new EL84-based, 18-watt head called the Studio 18. It's a small and lightweight (about 17 1/2 pounds) 2-channel amp that features separate EQs for each channel, an effect loop with separate, adjustable send and return levels, and a footswitch with channel select and loop on/off.

Prestige Guitars Ace and Deuce

Prestige Guitars introduced a fine-looking pair of new models at NAMM with the Ace and Deuce. Part of the DC Coupe Series, these double-cut axes feature maple-topped solid-mahogany bodies, C-shaped mahogany necks, and are packed with either a single or pair of TV Jones Classic pickups.

Original Fuzz Straps

In addition to having the most tastefully appointed booth at Summer NAMM, Nashville's own Original Fuzz straps brought a selection of new silkscreened designs including signature designs for Dr. Dog's Eric Slick and Ron Gallo.

Guild Guitars Jumbo Junior Bass

Don't let the size fool you. Guild Guitars just announced the Jumbo Junior Bass. It has a solid Sitka spruce top and a Fishman Sonitone preamp. Not many basses in this price range feature arched flame maple back and sides-which is a cool perk. Street price is $499.

Creation Music Company Daybreak & Equinox

Two new amps from the very new Creation Music Company: in turquoise, the 8 watt, single 6L6, single 12AX7 Daybreak which barks through a 12" Celestine G12--all for $1,199. On the right, the two-channel, 12 watt, 2 x EL84 Equinox uses the same Celestion G12 to bark a bit more Brit-ly. It's just $1,299.

Valvetrain Amps Ghost 211

The crew at Valvetrain Amps took some inspiration from Nigel Tufnel for this cleverly named pedal. (Just say the name out loud a few times.) With the knob all the way down, you get a rather subtle breakup. As it moves past noon, it starts to really slam the front of the amp for some rich, harmonic breakup.

Serek Basses Armitage

Chicago's Serek Basses brought their new Armitage 4-string model to the NAMM floor today. The company's modified take on a P boasts a standard 34" scale length, 2-piece maple neck topped with a pau ferro fretboard, Hipshot Ultralite tuners, and houses a single Curtis Novak pickup.

Ashdown Engineering Original Valve-Driven Preamp/DI Pedal

Ashdown Engineering is in town for the summer NAMM show with the OriginAl valve-driven preamp/DI pedal. Designed with equal attention placed on bringing both crystal-clear cleans and 12AX7-powered overdriven growl, the tone-shaping OriginAl houses features such as a 5-band EQ, a "Showtime" footswitch that serves as a frequency lifter, and a headphone out for silent practice.

TK Smith Road Master

Paul Bigsby acolyte and builder to such esteemed players as JD McPherson, TK Smith finally made the journey from Yucca Valley, CA, to Nashville NAMM, where he unveiled his most affordable guitar to date. At around half the price of his more ornate custom guitars, the Road Master (approx. $6,000) features a chambered maple body, 25" scale, ebony fretboard, and the same fancy cast-metal tremolo as in higher-end models.

Swope Guitars

Former Sadowsky and Gibson luthier Chris Swope brought his Swope Guitars outfit to its first Nashville NAMM show. At left is a brand-new, soon-to-be-named 6-string with an alder body, 25.5" scale, Staytrem bridge, and custom alnico-3 pickups, while at right is his sexy, humbucker-equipped 4-string.