Nashville in July is typically steamy, scorching, and movin’ a
little bit slow. That more relaxed atmosphere is reflected to
some extent in the pace of Summer NAMM, held July 21–23
at the Nashville Convention Center in the heart of Music City’s
storied Lower Broadway district. Less frantic and enormous than
Winter NAMM or Europe’s Musikmesse, Nashville NAMM invites
conversation and interaction with new and old friends in the industry.
And, most important to the gang here at Premier Guitar, it
gives us even more time for investigation of gear goodies from bigtime
manufacturers and off-the-beaten-path upstarts alike.
In many ways, the little guys were the stars of Summer
NAMM. South Carolina’s B.A. Ferguson guitars showed us how
inspired, unique, great-playing guitars can be built from sustainable
and repurposed materials. A brand-new California company
called HeliArc Guitars showed off their resonator-inspired
aluminum electrics. And the fast ascendant mad scientists from
EarthQuaker Devices added another bunch of intriguing pedals
to a line that’s become the talk of stompbox nuts everywhere.
Regional stars shined bright in Nashville, too. Tennessee’s Mario
Martin showed off several beautiful Fender-inspired solidbodies
crafted from lightweight, resonant paulownia wood, while
Mississippi’s Juliet Collective brought some of the most creative
stompboxes at the show.
More experienced hands did their thing at Nashville, too. A stroll
through the Martin and Korg USA booths demonstrated how restless
those very established companies remain. Electro Harmonix’s
Ravish Sitar pedal deliciously reaffirmed that there’s almost nothing
the New York-based stompbox pioneers won’t try. And there were a
few milestones to celebrate, too, as Santa Cruz Guitars did with its
head-turning 35th Anniversary Cowgirl.
We found a lot of other cool stuff down in Nashville, too. You
can check out just about all of it via the dozens of videos we’ve
made available at premierguitar.com (they’re marked here with
play-button icons). We’re guessing you’ll be hard pressed to find
something that doesn’t stoke your gear lust, because regardless of
what anyone might say about Summer NAMM being a smaller,
more relaxed show, it’s brimming with wares that we’ll check out
in even greater detail in the review pages of Premier Guitar and
premierguitar.com in the days to come. In the meantime, enjoy
these snapshots of our sweet times in the sweltering south.
1. BA Ferguson Shirley McLean
BA Ferguson Guitars made its
first NAMM show appearance this
year with a collection of acoustics
and electrics built from recycled
materials and repurposed wood.
The Shirley McLean model pictured
here features a chambered
cherry body with a maple top, a
maple neck with a persimmon
fretboard, Heavy Air single-coils,
and momentary mid-boost and
kill switches made from ’80s
Nintendo Entertainment System
controller buttons.
bafergusonguitars.com
2. Mario Martin Serpentine 2
This Tennessee-based
company’s short-scale, Mustangesque
Serpentine 2 uses TV
Jones pickups and a super-lightweight
paulownia body to create
crazy-lively and overtone-rich
sounds. At 5 pounds 7 ounces,
it’s like slinging a feather!
3. HeliArc Guitars Arc Light
Based in Santa Ana, California,
this new outfit debuted its
line of aluminum-bodied guitars
that combine quasi resonator-style
construction and Lace
Alumitone pickups for tones
ranging from fat, Tele-like bark to
super-mellow jazz vibes.
4. Larrivée Bakersfield
The boutique veterans from
Vancouver, Canada, unleashed their
beautiful Bakersfield T-style solidbodies,
which feature contoured bodies,
chunky D-profile necks, an optional
neck humbucker, and jumbo frets—
they’re sweet players, too.
5. J.D. Vokes Art Guitars
J.D. Vokes’ Art Guitars made
its NAMM show debut this summer
with an eye-grabbing collection of
customized production guitars from
other manufacturers. The “Slashin’
Assassin” Epiphone Goth Explorer
(left) features an inlaid chainsaw
blade and rusted-steel pickguard,
while the “Home on the Range”
Kona KE35 has hair-in cowhide
and a leather-covered pickguard.
jdvokes.com
6. Burly Guitars
Burly Guitars builds ornately
carved semi-hollowbodies that
incorporate a patented Internal
Resonance System to get a wide
spectrum of growling tones. The
company says the resonance
system uses “tuning forks” carved
into each guitar’s core to “recirculate
vibrations back into the
strings” for added sustain.
7. Burns Dream Noiseless
US distributor Saga Musical
Instruments debuted the Burns
Dream Noiseless, which marries
vintage Burns appointments such
as the Rez-o-Tube tremolo and
Gear-o-Matik truss-rod adjuster with
new Burns Rez-o-Matik Noiseless
pickups and locking tuners.
1. BA Ferguson Shirley McLean
BA Ferguson Guitars made its
first NAMM show appearance this
year with a collection of acoustics
and electrics built from recycled
materials and repurposed wood.
The Shirley McLean model pictured
here features a chambered
cherry body with a maple top, a
maple neck with a persimmon
fretboard, Heavy Air single-coils,
and momentary mid-boost and
kill switches made from ’80s
Nintendo Entertainment System
controller buttons.
bafergusonguitars.com
2. Mario Martin Serpentine 2
This Tennessee-based
company’s short-scale, Mustangesque
Serpentine 2 uses TV
Jones pickups and a super-lightweight
paulownia body to create
crazy-lively and overtone-rich
sounds. At 5 pounds 7 ounces,
it’s like slinging a feather!
3. HeliArc Guitars Arc Light
Based in Santa Ana, California,
this new outfit debuted its
line of aluminum-bodied guitars
that combine quasi resonator-style
construction and Lace
Alumitone pickups for tones
ranging from fat, Tele-like bark to
super-mellow jazz vibes.
4. Larrivée Bakersfield
The boutique veterans from
Vancouver, Canada, unleashed their
beautiful Bakersfield T-style solidbodies,
which feature contoured bodies,
chunky D-profile necks, an optional
neck humbucker, and jumbo frets—
they’re sweet players, too.
5. J.D. Vokes Art Guitars
J.D. Vokes’ Art Guitars made
its NAMM show debut this summer
with an eye-grabbing collection of
customized production guitars from
other manufacturers. The “Slashin’
Assassin” Epiphone Goth Explorer
(left) features an inlaid chainsaw
blade and rusted-steel pickguard,
while the “Home on the Range”
Kona KE35 has hair-in cowhide
and a leather-covered pickguard.
jdvokes.com
6. Burly Guitars
Burly Guitars builds ornately
carved semi-hollowbodies that
incorporate a patented Internal
Resonance System to get a wide
spectrum of growling tones. The
company says the resonance
system uses “tuning forks” carved
into each guitar’s core to “recirculate
vibrations back into the
strings” for added sustain.
7. Burns Dream Noiseless
US distributor Saga Musical
Instruments debuted the Burns
Dream Noiseless, which marries
vintage Burns appointments such
as the Rez-o-Tube tremolo and
Gear-o-Matik truss-rod adjuster with
new Burns Rez-o-Matik Noiseless
pickups and locking tuners.
1. Bad Cat Cougar Series
Bad Cat announced a
partnership with Hanser Music
Group at Summer NAMM. The
Kentucky-based distributor of
brands such as Kustom and
B.C. Rich is offering three new
PCB-construction amps designed
by Bad Cat’s James Heidrich
but offered at more affordable
prices than US-made Bad Cats.
The Cougar 50 head features
two footswitchable channels and
tube-driven reverb, and is powered
by JJ EL34s. A 2x12 combo
is also available, in addition to the
5-watt Cougar 5, which features
an EL84 power tube, three knobs
(Volume, Master, and Tone), and a
Celestion Vintage 30.
2. Wavelength AudioTone Bank AG
Wavelength’s chief scientist
Gordon Rankin says the secret to
the Tone Bank AG—which uses
100 percent silver wiring (including in the transformers), an EL84
power tube, and an RCA 5693
preamp tube—is that the reactor
follower driver directly couples the
driver stage to the output tube
and takes the amp from class
A to class A2, thus increasing
output by 40 percent.
3. Little Walter SB5 Head
Little Walter’s new SB5 features
one 6V6 power tube for 5 watts,
a 6SJ7 preamp tube, and a 5Y3
rectifier for unadulterated tube
goodness.
4. ValveTrain Bennington Reverb
The point-to-point-wired Bennington
Reverb is a 20-watt, fixed-biased
combo that uses two 6V6s
and an Eminence Wizard 12"
speaker to crank out deliciously
snappy, blackface-style tones.
Controls include Volume, Bass,
Treble, and Reverb knobs, as well
as a Bright switch.
5. Moss Amps Kraken
The 6L6-powered Kraken
head is switchable between 50
and 100 watts, and features
footswitchable clean and lead
channels that are handwired using
eyelet boards. Each channel has
Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, and
Master Volume knobs, while a
Master Presence brightens both
channels and a push-pull bright
function on the clean channel
makes things even spankier.
1. Bad Cat Cougar Series
Bad Cat announced a
partnership with Hanser Music
Group at Summer NAMM. The
Kentucky-based distributor of
brands such as Kustom and
B.C. Rich is offering three new
PCB-construction amps designed
by Bad Cat’s James Heidrich
but offered at more affordable
prices than US-made Bad Cats.
The Cougar 50 head features
two footswitchable channels and
tube-driven reverb, and is powered
by JJ EL34s. A 2x12 combo
is also available, in addition to the
5-watt Cougar 5, which features
an EL84 power tube, three knobs
(Volume, Master, and Tone), and a
Celestion Vintage 30.
2. Wavelength AudioTone Bank AG
Wavelength’s chief scientist
Gordon Rankin says the secret to
the Tone Bank AG—which uses
100 percent silver wiring (including in the transformers), an EL84
power tube, and an RCA 5693
preamp tube—is that the reactor
follower driver directly couples the
driver stage to the output tube
and takes the amp from class
A to class A2, thus increasing
output by 40 percent.
3. Little Walter SB5 Head
Little Walter’s new SB5 features
one 6V6 power tube for 5 watts,
a 6SJ7 preamp tube, and a 5Y3
rectifier for unadulterated tube
goodness.
4. ValveTrain Bennington Reverb
The point-to-point-wired Bennington
Reverb is a 20-watt, fixed-biased
combo that uses two 6V6s
and an Eminence Wizard 12"
speaker to crank out deliciously
snappy, blackface-style tones.
Controls include Volume, Bass,
Treble, and Reverb knobs, as well
as a Bright switch.
5. Moss Amps Kraken
The 6L6-powered Kraken
head is switchable between 50
and 100 watts, and features
footswitchable clean and lead
channels that are handwired using
eyelet boards. Each channel has
Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, and
Master Volume knobs, while a
Master Presence brightens both
channels and a push-pull bright
function on the clean channel
makes things even spankier.
1. DigiTech iPB-10 Programmable Pedalboard
The iPB-10 features an iPad
dock and DigiTech’s new iPB
Nexus app, which offers 87
different pedal models, 37 amp
models, and 32 cabinet models.
All models can be quickly and
easily manipulated onscreen
via visual representations of the
devices. Fourteen footswitches
let you switch between 20 banks
of five virtual pedalboards, each
of which can include up to 10
pedals, as well as amp emulations
that you can insert at any
point in the chain.
2. Levana Mellow-D
Digital Delay
The Mellow-D digital delay has a
rear-panel Jitter switch that lets
you add a low- or high-frequency
oscillation to the signal for delectably
trippy lo-fi tones. It also
features an expression pedal input
and up to 1000 ms of delay.
studiobluellc.com
3. Electro-Harmonix Ravish Sitar
This new pedal from the stompbox
innovators at EHX aims to
give you access to sitar tones
with a polyphonic Lead voice
and tunable emulations of
sympathetic-string drones. It has
two expression-pedal inputs for
bending the pitch of the lead voice
and controlling the volume of the
sympathetic tones.
4. Amptweaker TightRock
Amp and effects guru James
Brown’s new TightRock has EQ
and Gain Boost switches, as
well as a noise gate that adjusts
in tandem with the Gain knob.
It also features a PlexEQ switch
for old-school stack flavors and
a SideTrak effects loop that
disengages when the pedal is on
so you can have, say, modulation
effects from your pedalboard
activated with your clean sound
but then click the TightRock on
to blast out a solo with a direct,
in-your-face tone.
1. DigiTech iPB-10 Programmable Pedalboard
The iPB-10 features an iPad
dock and DigiTech’s new iPB
Nexus app, which offers 87
different pedal models, 37 amp
models, and 32 cabinet models.
All models can be quickly and
easily manipulated onscreen
via visual representations of the
devices. Fourteen footswitches
let you switch between 20 banks
of five virtual pedalboards, each
of which can include up to 10
pedals, as well as amp emulations
that you can insert at any
point in the chain.
2. Levana Mellow-D
Digital Delay
The Mellow-D digital delay has a
rear-panel Jitter switch that lets
you add a low- or high-frequency
oscillation to the signal for delectably
trippy lo-fi tones. It also
features an expression pedal input
and up to 1000 ms of delay.
studiobluellc.com
3. Electro-Harmonix Ravish Sitar
This new pedal from the stompbox
innovators at EHX aims to
give you access to sitar tones
with a polyphonic Lead voice
and tunable emulations of
sympathetic-string drones. It has
two expression-pedal inputs for
bending the pitch of the lead voice
and controlling the volume of the
sympathetic tones.
4. Amptweaker TightRock
Amp and effects guru James
Brown’s new TightRock has EQ
and Gain Boost switches, as
well as a noise gate that adjusts
in tandem with the Gain knob.
It also features a PlexEQ switch
for old-school stack flavors and
a SideTrak effects loop that
disengages when the pedal is on
so you can have, say, modulation
effects from your pedalboard
activated with your clean sound
but then click the TightRock on
to blast out a solo with a direct,
in-your-face tone.
1. Benado Effects Multi-Effector
Sage Benado’s multi-effector
features stompbox-style layouts
for compressor, distortion, overdrive,
delay, and reverb effects,
and includes dual mono outputs
for use with more than amp. It
also features a tuner output and
an effects loop for the delay and
reverb sections.
2. EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master
The Dispatch Master delay/reverb
offers 1.5 seconds of delay time
and a Repeat knob that doubles
as a Thickness control for the
reverb when Time is dialed all the
way back.
3. Morpheus Bomber Polyphonic Pitch Shifter
The Bomber shifts pitches up
(a second, a fi fth, an octave, or
two octaves), down (a second,
a fourth, a fi fth, or one or two
octaves), and has a three-octave,
foot-controlled dive-bomb feature.
Other cool appointments include a
rear-panel Trim control and a USB
port for software updates.
morpheusfx.com
4. The Juliet Collective Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
The Juliet Collective had some
really unique and beautifully built
stomps to display at their fi rst
NAMM appearance. The ultra-cool
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss modulated
delay has tons of sweet
conventional delay sounds (we
loved the slapback sounds), radical
modulated delay tones, and a
guitar-mounted wand you can use
to control modulation in real time.
thejulietcollective.com
1. Benado Effects Multi-Effector
Sage Benado’s multi-effector
features stompbox-style layouts
for compressor, distortion, overdrive,
delay, and reverb effects,
and includes dual mono outputs
for use with more than amp. It
also features a tuner output and
an effects loop for the delay and
reverb sections.
2. EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master
The Dispatch Master delay/reverb
offers 1.5 seconds of delay time
and a Repeat knob that doubles
as a Thickness control for the
reverb when Time is dialed all the
way back.
3. Morpheus Bomber Polyphonic Pitch Shifter
The Bomber shifts pitches up
(a second, a fi fth, an octave, or
two octaves), down (a second,
a fourth, a fi fth, or one or two
octaves), and has a three-octave,
foot-controlled dive-bomb feature.
Other cool appointments include a
rear-panel Trim control and a USB
port for software updates.
morpheusfx.com
4. The Juliet Collective Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
The Juliet Collective had some
really unique and beautifully built
stomps to display at their fi rst
NAMM appearance. The ultra-cool
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss modulated
delay has tons of sweet
conventional delay sounds (we
loved the slapback sounds), radical
modulated delay tones, and a
guitar-mounted wand you can use
to control modulation in real time.
thejulietcollective.com
1. Stonebridge Guitars G22CR-C
Stonebridge introduced more
affordable versions of their
instruments at NAMM, including
this G22CR-C with a solid cedar
top, solid rosewood back and
sides, a 2-piece mahogany neck,
ebony fretboard and bridge, and
Schaller tuners.
2. Gitane DG-560 Gypsy Classical
Gitane’s new nylon-stringed DG-
560 Gypsy Classical is inspired
by Mario Maccaferri’s original
guitar. It’s a 12-fret D-hole design
with a solid cedar top, cypress
back and sides, ebony and
maple binding, and an ebony
bridge and fretboard.
3. Wechter Roundneck Resonator
Designed by famed resonator
builder Tim Scheerhorn, this new
Wechter model has post-andbaffle
construction and sports a
Scheerhorn cone.
4. Martin 000-15 12-fret
The Nazareth, Pennsylvania,
flattop masters tweaked the classic
all-mahogany 000-15 for Summer
NAMM, revisiting the 12-fret version
with a slotted headstock.
5. Beard Guitars Odyssey A Resonator
Paul Beard’s new Odyssey A
resonator features an intriguing
design with an internal bass-reflex
baffle that turns the body into
more of a speaker cabinet, which
he says improves bass and lower-mid
response and projection.
6. Santa Cruz 35th
Anniversary Cowgirl
Richard Hoover pulled out all the
stops for Santa Cruz’ 35th Anniversary
Cowgirl. This showstopper
has old-growth Brazilian
rosewood back and sides, and
an Adirondack spruce top from
Hoover’s own special stash. The
mother-of-pearl fretboard inlay is
jaw-droppingly gorgeous, too.
1. Stonebridge Guitars G22CR-C
Stonebridge introduced more
affordable versions of their
instruments at NAMM, including
this G22CR-C with a solid cedar
top, solid rosewood back and
sides, a 2-piece mahogany neck,
ebony fretboard and bridge, and
Schaller tuners.
2. Gitane DG-560 Gypsy Classical
Gitane’s new nylon-stringed DG-
560 Gypsy Classical is inspired
by Mario Maccaferri’s original
guitar. It’s a 12-fret D-hole design
with a solid cedar top, cypress
back and sides, ebony and
maple binding, and an ebony
bridge and fretboard.
3. Wechter Roundneck Resonator
Designed by famed resonator
builder Tim Scheerhorn, this new
Wechter model has post-andbaffle
construction and sports a
Scheerhorn cone.
4. Martin 000-15 12-fret
The Nazareth, Pennsylvania,
flattop masters tweaked the classic
all-mahogany 000-15 for Summer
NAMM, revisiting the 12-fret version
with a slotted headstock.
5. Beard Guitars Odyssey A Resonator
Paul Beard’s new Odyssey A
resonator features an intriguing
design with an internal bass-reflex
baffle that turns the body into
more of a speaker cabinet, which
he says improves bass and lower-mid
response and projection.
6. Santa Cruz 35th
Anniversary Cowgirl
Richard Hoover pulled out all the
stops for Santa Cruz’ 35th Anniversary
Cowgirl. This showstopper
has old-growth Brazilian
rosewood back and sides, and
an Adirondack spruce top from
Hoover’s own special stash. The
mother-of-pearl fretboard inlay is
jaw-droppingly gorgeous, too.
1. Bootleg Guitars Dawg Basses
US-built Dawg basses feature a
34" scale, ash bodies, quartersawn
maple necks, a brass nut,
Bartolini BC4C humbuckers,
Volume and Blend knobs, CTS
pots, and solid-brass Hipshot
B-style bridges.
2. Source Audio Soundblox Pro Bass Envelope Filter
The Soundblox Pro Bass
Envelope Filter has a Wet/Dry
Mix knob and four modulation
options—wah, envelope, LFO
auto-wah, and Hot Hand motion
sensor-controlled modes—for an
incredible array of funky and/or
mind-bending sounds.
3. Bluesman Vintage ’61 El Dorado
Tennessee-based Bluesman Vintage
had a collection of beautiful,
Fender-inspired “recreations,” including
this Candy Apple-finished
’61 El Dorado J-style bass. With
matching headstock and early-
’60s-style features, it was among
the more eye-catching specimens
in a booth full of handsome,
vintage-style instruments.
4. Overton Amps Flyweight 200 and
Touready OB-110 Cab
This new head lives up to
its name—it weighs just two
pounds—and features an auto
compressor, Sculpt control, and
a 3-band active EQ, in addition
to Gain and Master Volume controls.
The Touready OB-110 cab
features a tuned-port design and
a 10" speaker that handles 250
watts at 4 Ω or 8 Ω.
1. Bootleg Guitars Dawg Basses
US-built Dawg basses feature a
34" scale, ash bodies, quartersawn
maple necks, a brass nut,
Bartolini BC4C humbuckers,
Volume and Blend knobs, CTS
pots, and solid-brass Hipshot
B-style bridges.
2. Source Audio Soundblox Pro Bass Envelope Filter
The Soundblox Pro Bass
Envelope Filter has a Wet/Dry
Mix knob and four modulation
options—wah, envelope, LFO
auto-wah, and Hot Hand motion
sensor-controlled modes—for an
incredible array of funky and/or
mind-bending sounds.
3. Bluesman Vintage ’61 El Dorado
Tennessee-based Bluesman Vintage
had a collection of beautiful,
Fender-inspired “recreations,” including
this Candy Apple-finished
’61 El Dorado J-style bass. With
matching headstock and early-
’60s-style features, it was among
the more eye-catching specimens
in a booth full of handsome,
vintage-style instruments.
4. Overton Amps Flyweight 200 and
Touready OB-110 Cab
This new head lives up to
its name—it weighs just two
pounds—and features an auto
compressor, Sculpt control, and
a 3-band active EQ, in addition
to Gain and Master Volume controls.
The Touready OB-110 cab
features a tuned-port design and
a 10" speaker that handles 250
watts at 4 Ω or 8 Ω.
Funk-guitar wiz and Wong Noteshost Cory Wong flips the script and sits in the 100 Guitarists guest chair. Wong cleared his schedule to talk about one Nile Rodgers’ work on the Halo 2 soundtrack. We were lucky that got him to return our call, but we did move on quickly.
Wong is a scholar of all things rhythm guitar—and that means all things Nile. We talk about how the Hitmaker voices his progressions—“You hear Nile play a chord progression … and it’s that song”—and the role of rhythm guitar in general. Cory delivers his list of best Nile performances, tips for direct guitar sounds, and most surprising Nile collabs.
Ever wonder what it would sound like if Nile Rodgers produced David Lee Roth covering Willie Nelson? Give a listen and drop us a know when you check it out for yourself.
