Barry Wood's NAMM Oddities 2011 Edition

Packrat Barry

Guitars

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

These guitars are made from cigar boxes, packing crates and wood from old buildings. With wood like that, no seasoning is required.

Building a guitar using wood from an explosives box and then using bullets for inlays is a particularly nice touch.

K. Schoen guitars

It's Alive!

I happened across this guitar that was in the TSI Distributing booth. It's another great example of building a guitar from reclaimed wood.

While things didn't work out so well for Victor, I think he would approve of this guitar.

Lush guitar

Talk About Mud Flaps…

…my guitars' got 'em.

  • Dean Guitars
  • Armadillo Enterprises, Inc.
  • 4924 West Waters Ave.
  • Tampa, Florida 33634
  • (813) 600-3920
  • www.deanguitars.com
Dean semi-hollowbody guitar with mud flap cutout

How Could I Leave This Behind?

As long as we're talking about big bottoms, I present the Ergotar. While it may look like these guitars have a bit of the dreaded secretary spread, they've actually got their reasons for shaping them like this.

  • Ergotar
  • 2070 Hunters Trail Drive
  • Lawrenceville, GA 30043
  • (770) 277-7097
  • www.ergotar.com
Ergotar

That's Mr. Scary to You

George Lynch has partnered with some folks to produce a line of semi-custom guitars.

Mr. Scary guitars

When Marxism & Capitalism Collide

They really ought to include one of these shirts with the purchase of their Che Guevara guitar.

Minarik is no stranger to the Oddities. Their last showing here was in 2009.

Minarik Che Guevara guitar

The Old Rugged Guitar

I wonder if it's made of wood from the one true cross? If so, I'm sure it would be well-seasoned wood by now.

Warrior Crown of Thorns guitar

Guitar Gods

If your mythology runs more along the polytheistic lines, Warrior has you covered there as well.

Warrior Greek God guitars

In Deep Swarovski

If you bought one of these guitars, you'd have no choice but to pick up an amp to match.

Glam Guitars

Gaudy is as Gaudy Does

Perfect for the unplugged glam set.

Hippie Chick guitars

Fashion Faux Pas

This Vernon Reid signature model guitar has a look that screams "department store children's apparel section," circa 1990.

Parker Vernon Reid signature model guitar

Shhh, I'm Hunting Behwees

Dean B. Zelinsky, founder of Dean Guitars, is flexing his creative muscles in his new company DBZ Guitars, which is a good thing for the NAMM Oddities.

Intricate woodwork, cool snakeskin finishes, and pointy headstocks all worked as excellent lures to snare my attention.

dbz guitars

Alumicaster

Here's an example of Normandy's Alumicaster custom finish.

They also offer anodized, powder coated, or if you want a guitar that looks an awful lot like a Macbook Pro, a raw-grained aluminum version.

Alumicaster

Kiss My Axe

When I think of seminal rock 'n roll bands, about the last thing that comes to mind is cheap Korean-made guitars.

I suppose that's where old music trademarks go to die.

  • Cort Guitars & Basses
  • Cor-Tek 660 Dungchon 3 Dong
  • Kangso Gu, Seoul, Korea 157-030
  • 82-2-3661-1981
  • www.cortguitars.com
Cort Gene Simmons models

Peace Through Lasers

This isn't an update of Ronald Reagan's foreign policy, it's just my assumption that they're using lasers to etch the text and possibly cut the sound hole.

Luna peace guitar

Yin Without the Yang

Or maybe Yang without the Yin. In any case, this is an attractive guitar.

  • Dean Guitars
  • Armadillo Enterprises, Inc.
  • 4924 West Waters Ave.
  • Tampa, Florida 33634
  • (813) 600-3920
  • www.deanguitars.com
Dean guitar
Next Up: Other Goodies

©2011 Barry Wood