Korova Milk Bar
After an impressive Oddities debut in 2010, Dwarfcraft is back with the most innovative effects packaging idea to date–complete with telephone-handset audio input.
Anthony Burgess would approve.
- Dwarfcraft Devices
- Eua Clare, Wisconsin
- www.dwarfcraft.com
One Bad Cat
Say what you will about his table manners, but I think that Alien has some serious stage presence.
- Bad Cat Holdings, LLC
- 5 Technology Drive
- Irvine, CA 92618
- www.badcatamps.com
The Shredinator
If the machine overlords can rock, maybe it won't be so bad.
National Products was showing some of their iPad and iPhone mounting gizmos by way of this attention-getting guy.
- National Products, Inc.
- 8410 Dallas Ave. S.
- Seattle, WA 98108-4423
- www.ram-mount.com
Six-String Samurai
This imposing figure was acting as a sentinel watching over FGN's guitars and prototype amps.
- FGN Guitars
- www.fgnguitars.com
The Opening Chord
Turn an extra guitar into a doorbell with this, uh, GuitDoorbell.
If you've got three doors you can recreate the opening chord for "A Hard Day's Night."
- Dave Lynch - Guitar Workshop
- 3248 J Street
- Sacramento, CA 95816
- www.guitdoorbell.com
A Face Only a Mother Could Love
Audible Disease brought along their mascot this year to give visitors an inkling as to what they had in store for them.
- NoiseFX, Inc.
- 5531Jansen Dr.
- Sacramento, CA 95824
- (916) 455-5717
- www.audibledisease.com
The Hat Makes the Man
As you might imagine, I've seen a lot of strange things at NAMM. I didn't expect to see a booth displaying hats any more than I expected the Spanish Inquisition.
Carlos Santana's taste in hats is almost as legendary as his playing so it's this intersection of haberdasher and musical icon that brought us this apparent NAMM non-sequitur.
- Dorfman Pacific
- 2615 Boeing Way
- Stockton, CA 95206
- (800) 367-3626
- www.dorfman-pacific.com
Or.. The Headphones Make the Man
Arial7 had surf artist Drew Brophy in their booth doing custom paint jobs on some of their headphones.
- Drew Brophy
- www.drewbrophy.com
Scanners Anyone?
I don't know about you, but I'm a little hesitant to put something called Ear Bombz into my ears.
- MultiSonus Audio
- www.multisonusaudio.com
The Innergizer
It seems to me that should have been called the "outergizer." A vibrating device that works on the inside is something that you would see at a different sort of trade show.
- Innergizer
- www.innergizerplus.com
Same To You Buddy
I think that guy on the left is flipping me off.
The fact that the designer, Ed Sussman, is also a Theremin player adds a little more Oddities-cred too.
- Appletree Design, Inc.
- 4425 McEwen Road
- Dallas, TX 75244
- www.appletreedesign.com
Switchblade Neck
The evolution of tools for compulsive practicing continues. In 2000 it was the PraxAx, in 2007 it was the Shredneck, and now in 2012 we have PocketStrings.
When you're done practicing, the fretboard slides into the protective plastic body.
- PocketStrings
- (877) 747-7027
- www.pocketstrings.com
Singin' On The Chain Gang
Along with this tow-hook mic stand, Raw Metal Edge also had custom risers adorned with the ever-popular trucker mudflap motif.
Their booth giveaway item was a logo-encrusted dog tag with a rubber bumper around it. As I suspected, the bumper served to protect you from its raw metal edge.
If you like this mic stand, you'll love these cymbal stands.
- Raw Metal Edge
- PO Box 525
- Kennedale, TX 76060
- www.rawmetaledge.com
Tan, Don't Burn
If you've got a hankerin' for a classic Rudy Vallée sound, a Copperphone mic is just the ticket.
Bonus points to anyone who gets the oblique reference that I'm making in the title.
- Placid Audio
- www.placidaudio.com
Better Than Superglue
Part time player? Give your ravaged fingertips a break and build them up with Rock-Tips.
I always considered bourbon to be liquid callous. It would also serve to take your mind off the fingertip pain as well.
- Rock-Tips, LLP
- PO Box 145
- Kearsarge NH 03847
- www.rock-tips.com
Like a Walmart Greeter
Instead of putting your old kick out to pasture, it can be granted a new lease on life as an illuminated stained glass table.
- Revamped Glass Design
- 600 Palm Ave Suite #112
- Imperial Beach, CA 91932
- www.revampedglassdesign.com
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
Settle down Beevis.
Rockstar Pyro is the leading providers of mind-controlled fire. Yes, pyrokinesis can be yours. For a price.
- Rockstar Pyro Fire, USA
- (800) 821-7976
- www.rockstarpyro.com
Safety First
Should your newly-acquired pyrokinetic powers get away from you, it might be prudent to have someone standing by with one of these HBS CO2 guns.
- Hanson ProSystems
- 4960 NW 165 St., Unit B-12
- Miami Gardens, Fl 33014
- www.hansonprosystems.com
You've Made Your Point Already
Gator Cases really went out of their way this year to establish brand name recognition.
- Gator Cases, Inc.
- 18922 North Dale Mabry Hwy
- Lutz, FL 33548
- www.gatorcases.com
Don't Touch That Dial
Really, you have no idea how much gain that's got.
In classic NAMM style, Eden had a super-sized version of one of their stomp boxes on display.
- Eden Electronics
- 444 E. Courtland St.
- Mundelein, IL 60060
- www.eden-electronics.com
A Cautionary Tale
Like your parents who regale you with unlikely horrors visited upon those kids who don't behave, Ultracase would like you to think that not using their cases could turn your precious guitar into this.
In reality, they found this abandoned art project in a dumpster near their shop.
- Ultracase
- 2921 E. Miraloma #4
- Anaheim, CA 92806
- www.ultracase.com
No Waiting
And you wonder why the Post Office is losing money? NAMM Booths don't come cheap and they've got six people manning the booth.
I wish there were that many workers at my hometown post office.
- United States Post Office
- www.usps.com
Don't be surprised if you find that the product or the company you see on these pages has ceased to exist, particularly as the pages get older. One function of the NAMM Oddities is that of a historical archive of attempted products.
These web pages are not associated with or sponsored by NAMM.
Send your suggestions, clarifications, rants or praise to oddinfo@otheroom.com
©2012 Barry Wood