The NAMM Show NAMM CHRONICLES BEST IN SHOW
THIS YEAR, THERE WAS CERTAINLY A TIP of the hat to the past in a number of reimagined classics, but there also was plenty of astonishing innovation in evidence around every corner. And while we can’t possibly cover every nook and cranny of the NAMM Show, here’s the gear that made the biggest impression on us.
C. F. MARTIN & CO.
SC-13E
The Martin SC-13E is a new guitar with a brand-new body shape, designed from the ground up to have the comfort and playability of an electric and remove the limitations of a conventional cutaway acoustic-electric. The SC-13E features a revolutionary cutaway design that completely removes the heel, allowing full access to every fret without contorting your hand. Martin’s groundbreaking “Sure Align” neck system, with its linear dovetail neck joint, allows for easy adjustments to the action and neck tension. Other innovations include a 13-fret position neck joint with a 25.4” scale length that offers the tone of a long scale and the playability of a short scale, an ergonomically designed low-profile neck for improved playing positions and comfort and an onboard Fishman pickup, complete with a built-in tuner.
STREET PRICE: $1,499 MARTINGUITAR.COM/NOLIMITS
BOSS
WAZA-AIR WIRELESS PERSONAL GUITAR AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM
The Waza-Air Wireless Personal Guitar Amplification System is a new wearable, over-ear sound system for guitarists that combines BOSS’s amp, effects and wireless technologies with dynamic 3D sound and natural “amp-in-room” tone.
Waza-Air restores the natural dimension of playing a real amp in a real room, with all the resonance and “moving air” feel, thus providing an engaging and inspiring monitoring environment. An integrated gyro sensor tracks head movements as the user plays, driving 3D algorithms that produce an immersive sound field with extraordinary spatial realism. Waza-Air’s Bluetooth lets users jam along with songs from their mobile device. Wireless customization is available using the free BOSS Tone Studio app for iOS and Android. Waza-Air features
