Pick #5

Rim Riser USA. - Well, all I can say is 'simple is better'. In this case, you can't get much more simple than this product. You attach this Rim Riser to your snare rim, wherever you desire. While playing, the lifted rim allows better cross-sticking, rim clicking, stick control, sound consistency, and gripping than on a standard drum rim. Available in seven different colors to match your kit. A definite performance enhancement to your style, sound, and polished skills time after time.
Please visit their site for more information: www.RimRiserUSA.com

WackMaster Drums - I could never seem to get my hi-hat cymbals in the right spot. I was always having to re-adjust them over and over again. Not any more. With this new product, you can adjust, re-adjust, and re-re-adjust your hi-hat cymbals with the twist of your wrist. No need to worry anymore about other people messing with your setup. This product is like the memory button for your adjustable car seats, but it is for your hi-hat. It allows you to keep your feet where they are, whether you are playing double bass or another pedal feature. You can make slight pitch changes on the fly. Open to closed, slightly open, tightly closed, it doesn't matter, you can adjust it all whenever you want with the twist of your wrist. This product will fit into most hi-hat stands. Simply take out your old top-half of the hi-hat stand, and replace it with the WM3.
Please visit their site for more information: www.WackMasterDrums.com

Pick #4

Pick #3

The Slapstik - Another simple idea that has made the top 5 picks at The Drummers Lounge this year. The Slapstik features a pivot-tip that enables the drummer to get double notes from each motion. You get the down hit as well as the up hit. Top of the cymbal, bottom of the cymbal. It takes sixteenth notes out of both hands, and puts them into one hand. That leaves your other hand to messing around the kit a little more. The technique to learn to play with this stick is very simple and does not take long to learn. You will be doubling your notes in no time at all. This flexible tip stick will certainly allow you to gain more control and skill over those hard-to-play notes with single sticks.
Please visit their site for more information: www.TheSlapstik.com

Music With Colors - This pick is near and dear to my heart. The concept is to help teach percussion to kids and early development ages. The 'hand' designs are removable and can be applied to just about any surface. They are placed on conga heads, bongo heads, preschool table tops, park table and surfaces, and can be removed and reused again. This product could be taken into schools, parks, hospitals, etc. Imagine the time savings of not having to re-explain hand placement to each and every child, adult, patient, or any other interested party. Simply place the 'hands' on the drum head or surface to be used, and away you go. The hand designs feature a full hand hit as well as finger hits as shown in the picture.
Please visit their site for more information: www.MusicWithColors.com

Pick #2

Pick #1

Pro Cymbal Inc. - Located in beautiful Studio City, CA, this was by far the most impressive new service and product I have seen in years. I am not comparing this to any custom drums you might have seen (like a golf-cart drum set), or a new racking system to hold your drums and cymbals. I am strictly talking about the product that will save you the most time, give you the most benefit, the most bang-for-your-buck, the most reward, and the greatest new look to your warn out, fingerprint covered, oil stained cymbals. Imagine being able to clean your cymbals in just minutes, not hours. No more filling the bath tub. No more bottles and bottles of cleaner wasted. This system is outstanding. Simply 'lock in' the cymbal you would like to clean and polish. Control the spinning speed inside the containment drum with a foot pedal. Apply a very modest amount of cleaner to your rag, and away you go. At most you will use a couple of different rags, one for each step from 'dirtiest' to 'final polish'. There is no liquid flying around. No liquid dripping everywhere. No cleanup outside of the containment drum, and from what I saw, there was not even any cleanup needed inside the containment drum. I am sure this had to do with the skill of the user. Graphics and logos are safe with this cleaning method and materials. I look forward to seeing this service offered at every major drum store. Approximately 5 minutes per cymbal side and your done.
Please visit their site for more information: www.ProCymbal.com

The Anaheim Convention Center is a perfect spot for this show. There are restaurants galore, hotels everywhere, parking is abundant (and not terribly expensive), and of course the people. Southern California boasts enough celebrities, musicians, and executives. Then bring The NAMM Show to SoCal and you have brought everyone together for a music-industry spectacle like no other.

Of course, this show would not be complete without the custom drum kits that were proudly displayed. The music industry has always been a little over-the-top, but there are some really crazy custom kits out there! Custom drum sets are quickly taking up all of the floor space, as compared to your standards and popular kits by any maker.

If you can think of it, there is probably a company out there that can make it for you. All you need is a little imagination.

Ludwig - 100 Years

While there were many drum makers that were celebrating longevity in the industry (like Ludwig at 100 years), there were plenty of start-up manufacturers ready to supply standard and custom kits. With so many kits set up and ready to play, from all over the world, this is truly a drummer's paradise. Not only were there new drums, but hardware, cymbals, sticks, mallets, drum heads, cleaners, and the list goes on and on. Factory Metal is one booth that will keep your interest for a while. They manufacture cymbal effects. Nothing you see is normal. Everything is custom looking, custom sounding, and adds to your setup in every way. From flat china's to cross shaped cymbals, square shaped effects to hi-hat jinglers. I really look forward to the coming years to see what Factory Metal comes up with next.

Just walking around the showroom floor at NAMM is an experience. There are drummers, percussionists, and other musicians playing new equipment, showing off their chops, talking with old friends and meeting new ones. There is a feeling of brotherly friendship between all attendees, famous musicians and store employees alike.
Have you ever wanted to see your favorite drummer up close? Here you can, and they are happy to show you a thing or two. Also a great time to find out when the next clinic is. This is a perfect place to learn some new chops, new grooves, or a technique you have been trying to perfect. The willingness to help out a fellow musician, at any level, is only at the NAMM Show.
Competition aside, there is almost a silent understanding that we are all in the same industry, working together to provide the next generation with quality instruments and equipment.

I was very impressed this year with the overwhelming effort by all of the manufacturers to find a direction for the future of the music industry and go after it. Ever manufacturer has their eyes on the next generation, the next new look or sound, a new technique or piece of equipment that will progressively move the industry forward. It was obvious to me that there was a concerted effort to think outside the box and take their products to new levels. This industry can't afford to stand by and watch the next generation lose interest in music. So with this age of technology we live in today, we have to collectively think of ways to keep the interests of the new lineup of musicians. We have to continue to push the envelope of design and custom thinking. We have to change the way we have done business for years and years. We have to sell to the new generation.

Besides my 'Top 5' picks for NAMM 2009, this group deserves an honorable mention. The group is 'The Trouble With Boys' and I will be doing a follow-up interview with the drummer very shortly. They performed on the John Lennon Educational Tour stage. They rocked the courtyard. Their solos, their stage performance, their musicianship, and their down-to-earth-were-just-kids awareness was very refreshing. Please come back and read the follow up on this band in the near future. You will be amazed, shocked, and enthralled to hear their story.