Just got to my hotel in Anaheim and this lovely little ensemble waiting ... notice the chocolate Fender "note":



That's right ... it's Winter NAMM week once again. For those who aren't familiar with the show, NAMM is a ginormous trade show that occurs annually at the Anaheim Convention Center and it's the place to be for everyone in the international music instrument business. By day it's typical trade show fare with countless vendors and manufacturers on hand to display their wares. By night it's an all-out music mecca filled with intimate performances by folks both famous and not, parties, celebrity sightings, etc. The show is hugely important for Fender as it's our first presentation of products both to the media, consumer world, and to our dealers.

Some folks have been asking about me offering up some prizes during "NAMM week" and I must admit, it's been so darned busy lately what with the relaunch of Fender.com and our new product launches that I didn't actually come to the show this year with specific items in mind -- but that said, I'll see if I can scare anything up tomorrow!

That's it for now -- just got checked in to the hotel and actually need to get one of our kiosks set up this evening so I'd better run for now but will plan on checking back in periodically throughout the show!

_________________
Director at Fender. Guitarist & guitar collector. All views/opinions expressed here are my own and not Fender’s.

Follow me on Instagram:
@brad_on_guitar

And on Facebook:
facebook.com/bradonguitar

is it open to the general public or do you have to have some affiliation with a music company/be an artist?

Wish I could be there Brad! I hope you have a chance to share some of the experiences, what's new, etc.

I'd love to volunteer help set up and man the Fender booth!

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Custom Shop '59 Stratocaster
AV Hot Rod '52 Telecaster
AV '56 Stratocaster
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Unfortunately it's not open to anyone off the street. It's usually folks within the music instrument biz (dealers, for instance) and those who can scrounge up an invite. Get good and chummy with your favorite employee at the local music shop and maybe you can be one of the lucky few "civilians" to make it in next year!

@Brad: thanks for the heads up!! looking forward to the inside scoop!

Cheers,
Chris

I see... well it sounds cool and hopefully one day I can go, it's not as if I wont have lots of other times to try.

Some people get all the good gigs!
Then there are the rest of us!

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The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

Brad, you're In the tall cotton Bro! Try to have a little fun, don't work too much and it will be cool if you did update us when you can.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

A few more pics from this evening -- fairly uneventful for me so far, truthfully ... spent most of the evening in the hotel making some final preparations:

View from the hotel:


Dinner at the Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach:






Kiosk laptop is all set up and ready for installation tomorrow!


And finally, some stuff I packed for the trip. Preemptive "NAMMthrax" measures:


OK, 1:20 a.m. here and better get some sleep before tomorrow which promises to be a big one -- it's our final "booth setup" day and we have a giant special event for our dealers planned Wednesday night as well!

_________________
Director at Fender. Guitarist & guitar collector. All views/opinions expressed here are my own and not Fender’s.

Follow me on Instagram:
@brad_on_guitar

And on Facebook:
facebook.com/bradonguitar

Man, I would love an opportunity to go to NAMM at some point in my life.

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Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

Cool pics, Brad....keep 'em coming...it helps take my mind off the thundersnow
and whiteout conditions we're having.

Took this out my window this morning - we're halfway through it :



Wish I was in Florida with my relatives or out west...

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thank You for all your work on the website Brad, Can we send you a few snowballs from the Northeast corner

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I thought it was open to the public. A guy here at work told me he was going to NAMM, and he's just an average basement player.

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I got the Fender Blog rollin'....

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thanks Brad, Ill be on the Blog as well

Good Luck!

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Thanks for the updates, any new Fender guitars not on the website yet to be unveiled at this year's show? Looking for a new (Fender) guitar this year. I have to say I am very impressed with the Blacktop series, but if there is something similar in that price range, I would like a heads-up.

Have fun, try not to work too hard.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head