Guitar Summit 2024 - part 4

Nobels

Nobels has been around for far much longer than many people realize. I met them for the first time in person back in 1993 and even then they had been around for a while. Now, this "other" green pedal is all the rage and for good reason as it certainly adds another flavour to your sonic menu. Here's the original ODR-1, the ODR-1X and the ODR-mini2.

NS Design

Ned Steinberger was the first headless design I recall ever seeing. That was a guitar and then he's been expaning into basses as well.

OctaveTech

The Octave took me completely by surprise. It's actually a mini computer designed specifically for musicians running a modified version of Windows 11. It's configured with 16GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, a 24-bit 192 kHz studio quality audio interface, WF-fi 5G/Bluetooth 5.2 and lots of connectivity. It also includes a programmable Bluetooth/USB footswitch.

It comes preloaded with special editions of TH-U and Gig Performer software for us guitar players but you can load any VST plugin software in it. They specifically told me they had tried it with Guitar Rig and NeuralDSP and Scuffham S-Gear. If I got the market material right, you can also load a DAW and other plugins like FX and softsynths.

It looks solid but they have considered the fact that you probably don't want it on the floor, hence the included footswitch. To make it easier to keep the unit off the floor, there's a threaded hole with microphone standard dimensions in the bottom so you can mount it on a michrophone stand.

Lots of connectivity on the back more on the sides.

The spec sheet.

Ojigi

This is not a musical instrument but you need sustenance to be able to visit the Guitar Summit properly. I found Ojigi by "accident" as it was on the way from Rosengarten to my hotel. The food was traditional Japanese with a few modern twists that worked remarkably well. Very probably the tastiest Japanese food I've had outside of Japan.

I was treated with food not only for the taste buds but also for the eyes. I ended up going there three days in a row. Highly recommended!

Ortega

When I was doing my Hall E Crawl videos at NAMM with Craig Anderton, he always wanted me to do a quip about Ukuleles. So Craig, if you read this report, this one's for you.

Pagelli Guitars

There are very few luthiers whom I really consider as much visual artists as luthiers and on the very top on that list is wife and husband team of Claudia and Claudio Pagelli from Switzerland. Since I first noticed them at the Frankfurt Messe a very long time ago, they have consistently showed instruments that are as stunning to play as they are to look at.

And even though many of the instruments they make are remarkably different, I can still see design elements that are unique to them. One of my dreams if I win big on the lottery is to create a Pagelli Art Gallery so more people can experience these works of art.

Palmer

Palmer showed a new line of DI boxes.

There are people who are hesitant buying load boxes/speaker simulators with a lot of digital wizardry in them as digital stuff that need iPads/mobile phones to reach full functionality are already beginning to get obsolete and the investment is rendered useless. If you belong to this group of players, then I can recommend you take a serious listen to the Palmer Supreme Soaker. I was pleasantly surprised when I gave it a serious go at the summit. The fact that it's analog also mean that there's no latency to deal with. Please note that my own picture from the summit was useless so photo credit here goes to Palmer/Adam Hall.

Paoletti Guitars

Tired of your typical Strat that looks like everybody else's average kind of boring Strat? Then Italian maker Paoletti may be what you want. These are not just instruments for looks as they really do feel and sound good.

Want a Tele style, but a cool one? Don't worry, Paoletti has got you covered!

PB Guitars

I have a feeling Peter Bachmaier has been influenced by visionery luthier Ulrich Teuffel and then put his very own personal stamp on his instruments.

I'm thankful to the brave luthiers all over the world, like Peter Bachmaier, who in the face of player's conservatism has the guts and ambition to push guitar design forward. May they succeed and may guitars last as long as the earth still houses human beings.

Pereiera Guitars

I first became of Pereiera Guitars by watching Simon Gotthelf's Youtube videos. After having had this chance to play two of them, I now definitely see why Simon likes them.

PRS Guitars

PRS didn't have a booth of their own but they did send quite a few of their top of the line guitars to one of their dealers. Personally, I was hoping for a much larger presence from PRS as there are many guitars from the Core Series that I never get to see in my local music stores.

Redemption Guitars

Interesting variations of cutaways.

I never took the time to try this one which I regret as I'm really curious about how this sort of cutaway feels and I also like small body acoustics so I would like to hear it as well.

REVV Amplifiers

In my mind REVV is probably the most interesting amp manufacturer at this point in time as they really seem to get the needs and wants of today's guitar players. Both concerning sounds and functionality. You can design your dream amp on their web site and they had a competition where you designed a D20 and then you had the chance of winning it. I designed a blue one to match my Tyler Classic Daphne Blue with Bacon.

You can also get the D20 in a lunch box version.

This is my dream amp. Maybe in a slightly less ostentatious appearance though. But the sounds in this amp are just what I want and with the added flexibility of the Two Notes speaker simulation built in, it's so practical in the studio.

Roadrunner Guitars

The designers over at Roadrunner certainly have the nack of making guitars that look familiar but still sort of unique.

I really like this cool retro design.

Rodenberg Amplification

Being a Steve Lukather fan since the first Toto album, I always check out everything he's associated with and it is quite possible this will end up on my pedalboard.

Ruf Guitars

If you're into finishes that harks back towards hair metal then Ruf Guitars should be on your radar as it's not only the finishes that takes you back to the 80's but also shapes and configurations.

Schmidt Gitarrenbau

There's something in the soft shapes that really appeals to me. I got to try the purple guitar and it was a really fine instrument.

Schwarz

While I do love new and forward thinking instruments, I also have a soft spot for vintage designs even though I wouldn't pay vintage prices even if I had the money. I would rather got to Schwarz and have him build me what I want as his guitars are just so good. Missing from the picture is a small block Cardinal 335 style guitar. I understand why it's not there as I'm sure many beides me realized what great guitars he makes. I have tried a few of his 335 style guitars and they definitely equals some really fine vintage Gibson ES-335 guitars I've played over the years. If I had the money I would have bought every guitar he brought to the summit.

Seb Gavet Guitars

Among the designers of headless guitars Seb Gavet had a really ergonomic design that worked well for me.

Aesthestically they also work fine.

Shabat Guitars

Avi Shabat is one of my top five favourite bolt-on neck guitar builders. Apart from building top quality guitars, what makes me love his work is his oh so comfy necks and the humorous design language he shows if you let him.

Close up of the Dweezil Zappa Signature Model. Lollar pickups and a Vega trem. I tried it and it had Dweezil Zappa's requested string gauges and that felt really weird in a funny way. You can get it set per your wishes.

Shark Guitars

The first both I saw when entering the summit was Shark Guitars from Turkey. All the guitars and all the switches and buttons caught my interest, so here goes.

The idea here is that you first decide on a shape and neck and then select hardware and electronics.

The pickups come as exchangable modules that you can switch without having to solder anything or even remove the strings.

Here's the back showing the pickup holders in place. You can also see the electronics for the built-in effect modules.

Yes, you read that right. They have effect modules you can also exchange for different playing scenarios.

I don't know if I got this right, but if I remeber correctly, then you can also buy external boxes to which you can connect the effects modules.

This is their own locking tremolo system and it has a clever way of locking the trem from moving if you suddenly want to detune the guitar or just lockit for some country double stop bends.