Whether giving blistering gear demos or autographs, these well-known artists drew crowds in Anaheim this year.
One of the draws for the industry crowd at Winter NAMM is the appearance of many notable musicians. Sometimes they’re there to look around at the gear but most are there to perform and demo the latest gear (the things with their name on it), meet people, and sign autographs. This year Steve Morse played for Ernie Ball, George Lynch played for ESP, Greg Koch played for Fishman, and Mickey Mouse brought the whole darn Disney Marching Band for the opening ceremony. People lined up to get selfies with Eric Johnson, John Petrucci, and Corey Feldman. Yes, people lined up to meet Corey Feldman, the guy from The Goonies and Stand by Me. He’s in a band. Who knew?
![Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett Rig Rundown [2024]](https://www.premierguitar.com/media-library/youtube.jpg?id=53453295&width=600&height=600&quality=85&coordinates=193%2C0%2C367%2C0)
Tom Petty’s righthand man proved time and again that he could get to the heart of the matter and find the perfect guitar part for a song.
Tom Petty’s right-hand man proved time and again that he could get to the heart of the matter and find the perfect guitar part for a song. But he’s also cooked up plenty of hits as a player and writer for artists such as Don Henley—with whom he co-wrote two of his biggest hits—Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Matthew Sweet, Brian Setzer, and so many others. Plus, his Blue Stingrays and Dirty Knobs are like candy for the deepest of guitar-tone nerds.
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Pure nickel wound strings designed to capture classic tones. Available in popular gauges (9s and 10s), these strings are intended to offer rich, warm tones and longer string life.
The Seymour Duncan Antiquity series of pickups have always given musicians access to the true vintage tones of the most famous guitars ever produced. To further our commitment to capturing these influential sounds, Seymour Duncan is now pleased to offer the perfectly voiced companion, a set of Antiquity Vintage Modern Strings.
Before nickel-alloy plated strings became commonplace, pure nickel wound strings were found on most electric guitars. Their rich, warm tone became a crucial ingredient to the sounds of classic blues and rock & roll. An added benefit of a pure nickel wrap is a longer string life and a more consistent tone between string changes. Now our Antiquity Vintage Modern Strings bring you even closer to the sound of electric guitar’s early heyday. Pure nickel wound and available in your favorite modern gauges (9s and 10s), Antiquity Vintage Modern Strings are the perfect start to your signal chain in the quest to unlock your favorite classic guitar sounds.
For more information, please visit seymourduncan.com.
Through The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop, musicians can buy pre-owned Fender instruments that have been professionally inspected and come with a Fender one-year limited warranty at a significant discount to new gear prices.
“We’re excited to offer for the first time ever Fender Certified Pre-Owned guitars directly on Reverb. Pre-owned guitars have long been popular among players, particularly new players and collectors. Fender Certified Pre-Owned gives players of all levels the opportunity to own a quality instrument at an affordable price,” said Fender CEO Andy Mooney. “Fender Certified Pre-Owned guitars represent not only a fantastic value—allowing players to purchase an instrument that is professionally inspected, backed by Fender, and sold at a discount—but an opportunity to support a more sustainable guitar industry, giving the instruments a second, third, or fourth life and participating in the circular economy.”
Used music gear continues to grow in popularity among price-conscious musicians, with sales for used guitars on Reverb growing by more than 50% between 2019 and 2023. Certified pre-owned instruments offer the affordability of used music gear, plus the added benefit of warranties and easy returns. While certified pre-owned programs are common in industries like automotive and tech, Fender Certified Pre-Owned on Reverb is the first program of this magnitude within the musical instrument industry, launched by the world’s leading guitar manufacturer and the largest online marketplace dedicated to music gear.
“Over the years, many of my very best creative tools were bought from other musicians and the secondary market. In fact, The Hitmaker was from a pawn shop in 1973. These guitars come with stories and history that just make them special,” said Nile Rodgers. “The fact that you can now buy pre-owned guitars from Fender means that you get the character and the affordability of pre-owned gear, plus Fender’s seal of approval.“
The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop will feature unique pre-owned electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, with new instruments added weekly. All guitars will come with a Fender-backed one year limited warranty and have been professionally inspected and, as needed, refurbished by Fender’s sustainability partner MIRC. Since 1993, MIRC has kept thousands of guitars from going to landfills as the nation’s largest wholesaler of quality used guitars.
“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Fender to offer musicians not only affordable guitars, but affordable guitars that have been meticulously inspected and, as needed, repaired to look and sound incredible,” said Reverb CEO David Mandelbrot. “It’s more important than ever that the music-making community has access to affordable musical instruments and Fender Certified Pre-Owned on Reverb will help many players get their hands on great-sounding guitars that fit within their budget.”
The Official Fender Certified Pre-Owned Reverb Shop is now open. Save the shop to your Favorites to be notified as new guitars are added.
For more information, please visit reverb.com.
The SM4 Home Recording Microphone is designed to be a versatile, large-diaphragm condenser microphone engineered for at-home and studio recording of both vocals and instruments.
With a meticulously engineered dual-diaphragm capsule and a patent-pending RF shielding system, the SM4 is designed to empower artists to create professional-quality recordings regardless of their setup, environment, or experience level.
“The SM4 is designed to reflect the modern workflows of musicians, engineers, and creators who are serious about their craft, helping them overcome the issues that make engineers cringe: plosives, harsh high-frequency response, undefined low-end, and RF interference," shared Steve Marek, Associate Manager of Product Management, at Shure. "If you’re a musician, you want to stay in the creative flow, rather than chasing down problems in your audio setup. No matter what you are recording with the SM4, you need your tracks to be professional quality. If you’re an engineer receiving those tracks, you’ll appreciate how seamlessly they fit into a mix, and the time saved from not having to fix a variety of problems surgically.”
This microphone features multiple layers of plosive protection and integrated components. The dual-diaphragm capsule reduces popping noises and keeps sound quality consistent with reduced proximity effect.” With its patent-pending Interference Shielding Technology, users don’t have to worry about unwanted RF interference noise from wireless devices commonly found in at-home recording environments, including smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers.
The SM4’s built-in features make it easy to achieve professional-quality recordings with minimal effort. The controlled low-end response enables EQ adjustments without introducing unwanted elements, making it easier to achieve a big radio voice and full-sounding instrument tracks. The magnetic pop filter helps diffuse air blasts while the shock mount reduces handling noise and rumble. The microphone’s cardioid polar pattern provides a forgiving and large “sweet spot,” enabling vocalists to move freely without compromising sound quality. With the SM4, users can focus on staying creative and spend less time on post-production.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Smooth and Natural Audio Reproduction: Equipped with a brass one-inch dual-diaphragm capsule, the SM4 condenser microphone captures clean, controlled low-end and smooth, detailed highs. The uniform cardioid polar pattern provides strong off-axis rejection of unwanted noise, and the large “sweet spot” reduces proximity effect.
- Patent-Pending Interference Shielding Technology: Block unwanted RF noise from common wireless devices, including smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers. The proprietary system features an integrated pop-filter and woven mesh Faraday cage that shields the microphone capsule for clean audio capture.
- Mix-Ready Sound Effortlessly: Internal pop filter enables clean, plosive, and rumble-free recordings for easier post-production work. Compress and EQ to taste without bringing forward unwanted elements that can plague recordings and mixes. With optimized sensitivity, the SM4 works with any interface to achieve professional-quality recordings, no matter the environment.
- Exceptional Flexibility for Vocal and Instrument Recording: The SM4 is optimized to capture a wide range of sound sources, from soft vocals to loud instruments, including drums, guitar amps, and horns, with exceptionally high sound pressure level (SPL)handling capabilities (max SPL of 140dB; equivalent to a jet engine).
- Legendary Durability and Camera-Ready Design: Rugged, all-metal construction from a brand with nearly a century of experience in producing reliable gear for stage and studio. The sleek, low-profile design won’t distract from the performer or environment.
The SM4 Microphone, now available for $199, comes with a swivel-mount microphone clamp and zippered carrying bag. Additionally, a bundle option is available; the Home RecordingKit option, priced at $269, includes a shock mount, magnetic pop filter, and premium carrying case.
For more information, please visit shure.com.