Notes from the 2015 NAMM Show

I have been attending the NAMM show for five years now, I’m talking about the big one in Anaheim, CA and not the much smaller one in Nashville.
For those who don’t know, NAMM stands for National Association of Music Merchants and its annual trade show is the world’s largest expo of everything MUSIC.
I come here to connect with our vendors, music instrument builders and musicians as well as to get a first look at new products and what might be a hot product for the new year.
It is also a great and unique opportunity to learn how to run our business in a better, more efficient way.
I learn a lot just by seeing what other brands do and how they interact with the public as well as getting ideas on how to make Penny Lane Emporium the best musical shopping experience you can have.
Since I spend almost all my time looking at everything in the line of acoustic instruments and accessories here is what I think our musician friends and customers as well as our students might find interesting.

Kala’s new outdoor ukulele entirely made of plastic so you can take it in the water with you or on your paddleboard without worrying that the water would damage it. We already have a duke like that called Outdoor Ukulele but this new one from Kala is way more affordable and the quality is comparable. The Outdoor Ukulele comes in transparent and black and it is pretty cool and cost is $99 while the Kala comes in different colors and it’s only $39.99 and comes with a free beach sack.
Kala also unveiled their brand new line of solid Koa ukes all made in California. They are great quality uke and they look gorgeous. The top model the K-3 costs about $2,000.
I got to put my hands on three new tenor size Kanile’a ukuleles. The Koa flame is to die for and one model in particular even has a slotted headstock. I also got a Guitalele all premium Koa. You are gonna love it when you see it.
I signed up with Gold Tone banjos and some of their banjos are going to be shipping to Penny Lane pretty soon, including the new Cello Banjo featured by Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn on their recent tour.
Deering Banjos has, guess what, a new banjo ukulele with an 11in pot which actually sounds great! I got two of these babies coming soon too.
Alvarez has some really great looking and sounding new models and they will be shipping those soon as well. They come in OM, Dreadnought, Parlor and Cutaway electric-acoustic
Fishman has a new sound hole feedback reducer with a pickup in it. A great solution performing live at a very interesting cost.
We are going to get some really great padded gig bags made by Levy’s Leathers and they will have our logo embroiled on them. Cost is only $49
I signed up with a new service for rental of band instruments. They rent high quality (Conn-Selmer) and music teacher approved band instruments and they have a free first month option!
Gold Tone also makes resonator guitars designed by Beard, so there is a chance I can get one of those in at a fraction of the cost of a Beard resonator guitar.
Music Nomad has a new guitar humidifier with digital temperature and humidity reader. Cost is about $20 and will increase the life of your instrument by many years so it’s totally worth it.
Come visit us at Penny Lane soon and check out all the new toys and whether you are a seasoned musician or a beginner, I’m sure you’ll be happy you did!