A few weeks ago, the Summer NAMM show was held in Nashville, and I had the chance to check out the new ToneRite 3G product. If you’re not familiar with the ToneRite product, you can check out my previous review for more information.

The new version offers the following improvements: new electronics and new Elastone feet. The new electronics offer finer control over the intensity of the ToneRite treatment. An added bonus is that the new version is significantly quieter than previous models. The new Elastone feet help the ToneRite product fit better on the guitar and, according to the website, provides for better energy transfer between the device and the guitar.

Overall, this looks like a nice evolution of the ToneRite product. Check out the latest information about ToneRite products on the ToneRite website.

This year’s Summer NAMM show is just around the corner and will be held on June 18-June 20 here in Nashville. For the first time ever, they are opening the doors to non-NAMM members on the last day of the show for what they’re calling “Wanna Play Sunday.” Entry into the show on Sunday will cost $20, with the proceeds benefiting NAMM’s Wanna Play Fund.

The Wanna Play Sunday portion of the Summer NAMM show will include the following sessions and information:

Education Sessions

* “Get Endorsed” – Learn how you can capture the attention of music product manufacturers to get yourself endorsed from top artist relations executives: Joe Hibbs (Mapex), Bob Borbonus (Taylor), Chris Gero (Yamaha), and Dick Boak (Martin Guitar)
* “Setting Up a Home Studio”– Learn techniques you can employ to get professional sound quality out of your home systems and how to set your system to the same specifications as industry professionals. Presented by Doug Roberts, owner of Doug Roberts Creative, a company focused on home studio installations.
* “Garage Band Test Drive” and “Logic Pro Test Drive” – Whether you’re a new user or frequent user, make the most of Garage Band and Logic Pro! Experts from Apple will be on hand to help you learn all the ins and outs of these popular music making applications in hands-on workshops.

Education Sessions from Master Clinicians

* Drummer Jim Riley of Rascal Flatts and Modern Drummer magazine’s 2009 #1 Drum Clinician of the Year will offer unique drumming tips.
* The world’s top finger-style guitarist and master clinician, Doyle Dykes, will demonstrate his techniques and style in this amazing workshop.
* Victor Wooten, an American solo bassist, composer and author, will demonstrate his amazing musical ability.
* Legendary guitarist Eric Struthers for the Neville Brothers and master clinician will demonstrate the Zoom Pedal and show how to use the techniques that have made him an icon.
* Plus a wrap-up performance by Victor Wooten and Eric Struthers.

Additional Features Include

* A Sirius radio taping of “Heroes Behind the Hits,” featuring three of country music’s top songwriters talking about their inspiration for the music they have written. Watch as they perform live, and enjoy their music and stories in this intimate setting.
* Twenty-minute informational sessions with renowned guitar manufacturers C.F. ‘Chris’ Martin IV, chairman and CEO of C.F. Martin & Company; and Bob Taylor, principal of Taylor Guitars. This is a unique opportunity to get an insider’s perspective on the business, the instruments they make and the future of the industry.
* “The Best Band You Never Heard” event, offering musicians a chance to jam together using the “Best In Show” product of 2009 Summer NAMM called JamHub.
* The Reunion Blues Vintage Guitars Road Show. Bring your classic or vintage guitars and find out from the experts what they might be worth.
* Free guitar re-stringing from D’Addario
* A fast drumming competition. Think you’re fast? Test your skills!
* Live music throughout the day
* Join in the annual Summer NAMM Drum Circle. No musical ability needed. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun!

Kevin Frazier from Grid1 recently let me know about his company’s new product: a 60 watt lithium battery-powered tube amp called the G1 BPT212. The amp was launched at the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim about a week ago. It features 2 12″ speakers, a lithium rechargeable battery, two footswitchable channels, and your choice of wood cabinet. The company claims to get 4-6 hours per charge. Frazier recently demoed the amp for Guitar Player magazine. The G1 is expected to ship in February.

Here’s a roundup of some more NAMM coverage from around the Web:

Modern Guitars has posted a photo gallery from the show.

Rich Murray has several posts about the show:

• Paul Gilbert NAMM 2008 Video
• NAMM show photo gallery
• NAMM gigs photo gallery

Mark McGuigan has several more posts about the show:

• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Guthrie Govan Part II? -video of guitarist Guthrie Govan
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Suhr Booth Pics
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Extreme – video of the band Extreme
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Joe Bonamassa – video of Joe Bonamassa trying out Fuchs pedals

Jon at Guitar Noize has posted information about the upcoming Steve Vai distortion pedal from Ibanez.

Below are some links to interesting tidbits from The NAMM Show.

Mark McGuigan has linked to some interesting videos from the show:

• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Reb Beach: Guitarist Reb Beach warming up at the Suhr booth
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Joe Satriani: Satch playing at the 20th Anniversary concert (and check out the 20th Anniversary Ibanez JS)
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: Scott Henderson: Video of guitarist Scott Henderson discussing his tonal setup
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: More Jeff Kollman: Video of Jeff Kollman playing with the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Chad Smith
• NAMM 2008 Stuff: CosmoSquad: Video of Jeff Kollman and Cosmosquad

Jon at Guitar Noize has a few links:

• NAMM 2008 – Ernie Ball Unveils Titanium Coated Slinky Strings
• NAMM 2008 – Vox Virage: Nice looking hollowbody from Vox

And, Harmony Central has posted some NAMM Highlights videos

A lot of information is being reported today from the NAMM Show. Several sites are providing coverage of the show, including the following (via John Jinright):

Harmony Central

Music Gadgets

Gear Junkies

Pro-Music-News

Sonic State

Sweetwater

Some of the notable announcements from the show include the Peavey Mike Stone Signature MS-1 guitar, which is a collaboration with Queensryche guitarist Mike Stone and Erik Buell from Buell Motorcycles.

Randall has announced a series of Kirk Hammett Signature products, including an amplifier and amplifier modules.

Gibson has announced 15 new guitar models, including: Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom w/Bigsby, Steve Jones Les Paul Custom, Lee Ritneour ES-335, Johnny Winter Firebird, Slash #1 Les Paul Standard Ages and Signed, Mick Jones Les Paul Custom, Alex Lifeson ES-355 VOS, Les Paul Axcess, The Ultratone, ES-339 Figured, and the ES-359.

Martin has introduced two new acoustic guitar models: D-28M Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition (only 175 total) and D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Edition.

N-Tune has come out with an onboard tuner that looks interesting. The tuner installs under your volume knob, and you pull up on the volume knob to tune and then push back down when you’re done. You can see a video of the tuner in action below.

It’s that time of year again…time for the NAMM Show! The show runs from today through Sunday, January 20, and is being held in Anaheim, CA.

If you don’t know, the NAMM show is an industry trade show where guitar/music manufacturers and retailers get together to show off and view the new gear coming out this year. I’ve never been to a NAMM Show, but I hope to go one day. In the meantime, I’ll try to keep up with all the announcements on the Web.

Some manufacturers have already announced new products. For example, ESP has already announced that they will be introducing 50 new guitar and bass models at the NAMM Show. One of those models will be a new Richie Sambora LTD SA-2 guitar. Gretsch has also already announced several new models, including a beautiful Chet Atkins 125th Anniversary Limited Edition.

I can’t wait to hear and see what else gets announced!

Paul Reed Smith Guitars have posted some photos from their booth at the NAMM Show, which you can view here. You can also view non-vendor-specific photos at the NAMM Show Web site.

Planet Waves have teamed up with Joe Satriani to create a new line of guitar straps and picks. The straps and picks feature original artwork by Satriani, and he approved every detail of the straps and picks. The straps and picks were debuted at NAMM, and Satriani played a private concert at NAMM that will be broadcast on his Web site in early February.

Yesterday, the NAMM Show began at the Anaheim Convention Center. There are always a lot of new product announcements by guitar manufacturers at the NAMM Show, since it is targeted towards music retailers. If you’re interested in hearing about the new products that are announced, I’ll be keeping an eye on the news announcements over the weekend, and I will try to report as much of it as I can.