Winter NAMM 2013, 24-27 January
NAMM 2013: The 2013 Winter NAMM show is upon us, which means that, over the next few days, we’re going to find out what the biggest guitar, drum and hi-tech music making gear manufacturers are planning to release this year.
As always, MusicRadar is on the floor at the convention centre in Anaheim California, seeking out the products that matter and bringing you news, photos and video.
What’s more, our team in the UK is scouring the press feeds so that you won’t miss any of the hottest releases.
Keep checking back here for all the latest news as we update this gallery as the big stories break.
On, then, with the show…
Roland RD-64
This compact stage piano/controller has weighted keys and could prove popular with gigging musicians who want an instrument that they can sling in a bag and won't take up too much space in their studio.
NAMM 2013: Roland RD-64 compact stage piano/controller unveiled
Livid Base
Following the briefest of teaser campaigns, Livid has revealed its Base pad and touch controller. It looks like a contender, too, featuring 32 pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads, eight function buttons, nine capacitive touch faders and eight capacitive touch buttons. There's full RGB backlighting and an LED character display as well.
Novation Launchkey
What do you get if you cross a Novation Launchpad with a controller keyboard? This, it would seem.
NAMM 2013: Novation unveils the Launchkey range of MIDI controllers
Numark Orbit
With 16 backlit buttons, a central touch wheel and shoulder buttons, this wireless controller certainly has our attention.
NAMM 2013: Numark launches Orbit, wireless handheld DJ controller
Stylophone S2 special edition
Anyone care to guess which country the new Stylophone S2 is designed and built in?
Dave Smith's Prophet 12 analogue synth
Synth legend Dave Smith has returned to NAMM with a new polyphonic monster and, according to him, it's a stunner. We were lucky enough to catch up with the man himself on the show floor.
Built from the ground up rather than based on any previous design, the Prophet 12 offers 12 voices of polyphony, with each voice featuring four oscillators, a sub-oscillator, resonant analog low- and high-pass filters and analogue VCAs.
Orange DIVO VT1000 Valve Tester
Legendary British amplifier manufacturer Orange has used its debut NAMM keynote presentation to launch the DIVO VT1000 Valve Tester.
Announcing the new product both in Anaheim and via an online stream, Orange managing director Damon Waller said the VT1000 "is an easy, safe and low cost way to match, test and grade valves. Every guitar store in the world will need one of these."
Natal Spirit Series
We caught up with Natal to get the lowdown on the new Spirit Series kits and more...
NAMM 2013 Video: Natal Spirit Series kit and Bonzo Bash replica kit
Akai MPX8
If you want a super-compact, MPC-style pad-based sample launcher, this has got your name on it (quite literally if your name happens to be 'Akai' or 'MPX8').
NAMM 2013 VIDEO: Akai MPX8 eight-pad sample launcher announced
Arturia SparkLE
This little brother to the original spark software/hardware drum machine is smaller and more affordable.
NAMM 2013 VIDEO: Arturia offers SparkLE hardware/software drum machine
M-Audio Axiom AIR controllers
The M-Audio brand is still very much alive, as these slick-looking new Axiom controllers confirm. Each comes with a copy of the new Ignite composing software, too.
7 New Fender Amps
Fender has rolled out seven new amps for 2013, including the '57 Bandmaster, the Acoustasonic 15 and the updated Mustang II range.
The '57 Bandmaster will become part of Fender's hand-wired Custom series, while the updated Mustang series includes new amp models, new effects and intelligent pitch shifting. The Acoustasonic 15 meanwhile is a pint-sized acoustic amplifier that can also be used for vocals.
Fuzz Face Mini and MXR Talk Box
The Fuzz Face Mini, which is available in three iterations - the Fuzz Face Hendrix, Fuzz Face Silicon and Fuzz Face Germanium - and has been scaled down to make it less of a space hog on the average pedal board.
The MXR Talk Box meanwhile features a built in amp and speaker driver, and a not-at-all-medical-looking tube to sit happily in your musical mouth.
Billy Sheehan EBS signature drive pedal
We stopped by the EBS booth to checkout bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan's new drive pedal, and got a demonstration from the man himself.
NAMM 2013 VIDEO: Billy Sheehan demonstrates his EBS Signature Drive pedal
Joe Perry 1959 Les Paul
Gibson has unveiled the Joe Perry 1959 Les Paul, a stunning recreation of the Aerosmith guitarist's fabled Les Paul.
Available in Faded Tobacco Burst (aged and signed), Faded Tobacco Burst Aged and Faded Tobacco Burst VOS, the beautiful '59 Les Paulwill cost you upwards of $10,000 (£6325 approx), but for that you'll be getting a painstaking recreation of one of the most lusted-after Les Pauls out there.
Magnatone returns - details and video
Given the world's current obsession with all things vintage, it's perhaps an appropriate time for mythical US amp brand Magnatone to make its tube-powered return.
Originally manufactured between 1937 (initially under the name of Dickerson, after amp builder Delbert J. Dickerson) and 1969, Magnatone amps are now scarce, but were once seen in the back lines of many notable guitarists, among them Buddy Holly, David Gilmour and Neil Young.
MINI5 Rhythm from Vox
Vox has unveiled the MINI5 Rhythm, a pint-sized modelling amp tailor made for guitarists on the go.
The MINI5 is fully tricked out with amp models, effects and more rhythms than you can shake a stick at (in 4/4, or 6/8, or whatever you prefer, really). It even runs on batteries, so you can bring your musical stylings to the people, if that's your thing.
Ableton Push video demo
According to Ableton,"Push provides direct, hands-on control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds and structure, powered by Ableton Live running on your computer.
“High-quality, dynamic pads, buttons, encoders and a display combined with an innovative workflow allow you to play and compose musical ideas without the need to look at or touch your computer, and more importantly, without interrupting the musical flow.”
Future Music got a comprehensive overview of the features and capabilities of Ableton Push at NAMM 2013.
