JUNE 23 I NAMM I BEST IN SHOW
Best In Show Highlights Best of Summer NAMM

What was hot at NAMM Summer Session? For starters, 24 new products or services selected during Best In Show, the NAMM University session where industry retail experts discussed their favorite gear at the convention.

Six panelists, who represented single-store operations, small- to mid-sized chains and one of the industry’s top trade magazines, shopped the show in search of their favorites. On Sunday morning at the Nashville Renaissance, the panelists discussed their choices for four categories in front of more than 250 NAMM attendees. Here are the results:

Best In Show — The best product or service that panelists saw at NAMM.
VoiceLive Touch, TC-Helicon (Selected by Zach Phillips)
Ibanez Montage, Hoshino USA (Selected by Mike Guillot)
iTab, Music Distributors Group (Selected by George Hines)
DBZ Guitars (Selected by Brian Reardon)
Keystone Series Drum Set, Ludwig Drums (Selected by Victor Salazar)
NAMM University Idea Center (Selected by Gordy Wilcher)

Gotta Stock It — A product that retailers need to stock right now, if they haven’t already got it.
VHT Special 6 Series Amps, The Music Link (Selected by Phillips)
Zoom H1, Samson Technologies (Selected by Guillot)
iRig, IK Multimedia, distributed by Hal Leonard (Selected by Hines)
V256 Vocoder Voice Pedal & Voice Box Pedal, Electro-Harmonix (Selected by Reardon)
Puresound Custom Pro Series Snare Wires, D'Addario (Selected by Salazar)
Austin Guitars, St. Louis Music (Selected by Wilcher)

Companies To Watch — Exhibitors that make a difference with trend-setting products or services.
Rock On Audio – New company with an inexpensive wired, in-ear monitor solution for musicians. (Selected by Phillips)
Yamaha Corp. of America – Attention to detail and retailers fuels Yamaha’s 50th anniversary in the United States. (Selected by Guillot)
Rapco/Horizon – Partnering with such companies as Taylor Guitars and offering inspired products, including the LTI Blox Laptop interface. (Selected by Hines)
Reverend Guitars – A great indie brand for independent retailers with high-quality and true-value pricing. (Selected by Reardon)
Remo – Innovative synthetic drumheads that mimics the feel and sound of animal skin heads. (Selected by Salazar)
Samick Guitars USA – Great designs with great price points and margins. (Selected by Wilcher)

Something Small — A great product that’s either small in price or small in size.
Planet Waves NS Capo Tuner, D'Addario (Selected by Phillips)
Uni-Stand, Hamilton Stands (Selected by Mike Guillot)
CooperStand, Coopercopia (Selected by Hines)
StoneWorks Picks (Selected by Reardon)
Rhythmic Designs by Gavin Harrison, Hal Leonard (Selected by Salazar)
John Thompson's Modern Course For The Piano/Popular Piano Solos, Willis Music (Selected by Wilcher)

This year’s panelists were:
• Zach Phillips, editor of Music Inc. magazine, Elmhurst, Ill.
• Mike Guillot, director of purchasing for Mississippi Music, a four-store chain based in Hattiesburg, Miss.
• George Hines, owner and president of George’s Music, a 10-store chain headquartered in Berwyn, Pa.
• Brian Reardon, owner of Monster Music in Levittown, N.Y.
• Victor Salazar, general manager/events coordinator of The Drum Pad, Palatine, Ill.
• Gordy Wilcher, owner of Owensboro Music, Owensboro, Ky.
• The panel was moderated by Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. magazine, Elmhurst, Ill.