NAMM 2016

[germansal]

Does anybody knows why Alembic is not in this kind of events???

[tubeperson]

Any trade show has its share of expenses.  It is possible that a business decision was made to better allocate those resources into building more instruments.  Besides, just think of all of the newbies slapping the Alembics to death.  That would be torture.

[bigredbass]

I have a completely rude answer that my sense of propriety won't let me post here.  
 
Boy, do we need a 'Out Behind the Barn' thread.
 
 . . . . . on a more civilized note (and it's amazing how I often hate civilized notes . . . ), there's no practical point in shagging new business when you're perennially maxed out and back-ordered with 12-month lead times.  Waste of money.  Plus, each piece is essentially a one-off, so it's hard for them to play that 'this year's new Telecaster' game.
 
Plus you get to skip all the NAMM-Show-Olympics of Idiot Hot Licks, and you don' have to set up next to the guy selling double-neck trombones or the Floyd Rose-equipped solid body ukeleles.
 
NAMM is always equal parts interesting and Fellini.  The Summer version here in NashVegas opens to the public on Sunday, and I've yet to talk myself into it.
 
Joey

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm pretty sure Alembic used to attend and demo at NAMM... maybe just not worth the trouble and time away from the shop?  
 
I got to spend some time at the NAMM show during my tenure in th' 'Ville, actually as a Gibson endorsing artist, which was pretty cool for us because we got to hang out with Mr. Earl Scruggs and Mr. Bill Monroe for the afternoon. (later that same night we opened for Emmy-Lou Harris & The Nash Ramblers at the Station Inn, also quite a hoot) Anyway, yeah - it's quite a zoo, and I can only guess it's grown even more so in the 20 years I've been gone from there. I recall mostly being overwhelmed by the sheer level of dinful noise and the inability to escape it. I can't imagine having to work a table in the exhibit hall for several days. >>

[5a_quilt_top]

Resource allocation constraints coupled with bang for the buck syndrome.
 
FWIW: Alembic's best advertising is us - a loyal fan base of full and part time players who proudly use their instruments in public.
 
I've never taken an Alembic out for a rehearsal or performance without at least one person commenting on it's appearance or tone (or both).
 
NAMM SHMAMM - who needs it when you've got an enthusiastic and ever-growing rabid cult following happily demo-ing your wares year 'round?

[tubeperson]

Apparently some companies do need it.  They have many dealers to meet and greet with, as well as wannabe stars looking for freebies.  I know I always talk up Alembic, for both their superior instruments and their outstanding customer service.  It is worth getting beat up by other builders who complain about the High price of Alembics.  Have we learned nothing from our friends in the Classical and Jazz musical circles?

[mica]

We used to, and yes, the added expense is one of the factors. One of my mom's sayings is we don't actually pay for anything, the customer does. We just write the checks. So the minimum 30K per show expense going as cheaply as possible has to be absorbed in the price of the instruments. I'd rather spend that on wood!
 
And as a primarily one-off builder, you're right Joey, it's a little silly to talk to music store owners about things their customers haven't ordered yet.  
 
As a family business, the combination of winter holidays followed closely by NAMM preparation was really just too much. It's probably better now with the rules about smoking, but mom would get sick every year after NAMM because of all the cigarettes.  
 
I'm glad NAMM opens up the Nashville show to the public on the last day. I lobbied for that for YEARS, like they did in Frankfurt. It's not really a trade-only show when half of the people coming by your booth are visitors. Quick! Hide the dealer price lists - or just don't put them out on the table, but isn't that why you're here at a trade show?
 
We might exhibit again, but it's not been on the radar for a while. I think we're on the once a decade schedule  Maybe 2017?

[sonofa_lembic]

Don't worry.  I will be representing for Alembic at NAMM even though you are not supposed to have product in there from an non exhibitor.  I am going to have my Alembic with me and will be playing for Genzler.  They can try to hassle me, but they will have to pry my Alembic from my cold dead hands?.man, I hope not!  Those guys with the soundometers will most likely try!

[sonicus]

Thumbs Up  Brother !

[elwoodblue]

Trevor goes Rogue!

[5a_quilt_top]

yes...the marketing plan is working nicely - another satisfied owner demo-ing his instrument in public.
 
It will be interesting to find out which product gets the most attention - Genzler or Alembic.

[bigredbass]

Trevor, have you played Genzler's 12/3 cabinet, and whaddya think?
 
Joey

[carsbybigd]

I think I was the only person wearing an Alembic shirt. John Prock and I did bump into Victor Little and we chatted for a bit above the roar of the instruments. Saw a few nice basses but nothing that compares with an Alembic [ In my opinion ] Oh and Alembic could do like Rickenbacker,and just hang up the basses and not let anyone play them !

[carsbybigd]

Mica, if you guys decide to go,let me know,and I'll let Alembic use my Series 1 and my GK combo in the booth.

[paujones]

I went to NAMM the last 2 years.  There are many smaller production, high quality, guitar manufacturers that show their instruments a few different ways.  
 
To cut the booth costs, they partner with amp companies, they co-exhibit with other similar manufacturers, or they have a distributor/marketing company show their products in their booth or other related events.   The Genzler booth, for example, was shared with Aqualina basses from France.  My friend Allistair Hays, maker of Emerald Guitars (carbon fiber instruments from Ireland) brought a few guitars for US delivery, and was in several other vendors' booths like Wild Custom Guitars.  
 
With Alembic, there is so much customer loyalty, and fantastic US-made, custom instruments, and affluent customers, that you could probably completely defer the expense of having an official booth.  
 
You might just run a contest where you reward a few of your customers or dealers for bringing their instruments to the event, handing our your marketing collateral, and connecting them to the closest dealer, or to the mothership in Santa Rosa.  
 
I would gladly do that next year...