2023: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2023)

[WatchTheGuitar]

Struggling to recall any synths from NAMM, a ‘shit show’ minus the usual meaning involving chaos, was just uber meh.

[foosnark]

Struggling to recall any synths from NAMM, a ‘shit show’ minus the usual meaning involving chaos, was just uber meh.

Cascadia was the only one I could think of.

From what I've seen it was a lackluster NAMM all around, not just for synths. Big trade shows in every industry have lost their relevance. They've been gradually replaced by the internet over the last several years anyway, but it was the pandemic that showed how unnecessary they are. Plus the economy has been in the toilet in general, and parts shortages have made trying to meet a specific trade show deadline for a product release a nightmare.

Musikmesse gave up entirely.

E3 was cancelled for 3 of the last 4 years (and was online only in 2021). For 2023, the reason was lack of interest from game publishers -- so it's probably dead.

I hope Superbooth is going to hold on -- perhaps its tighter focus will keep it going at least for a while. Smaller stuff that's a bit more regional in nature (like Knobcon) should also probably be OK, I hope.

[vurt]

the smaller ones do better, mainly because the locals who attend, tend to keep going as it's a way to meet all the people you chat to online once a year.
the cost is lower to arrange, and it doesn't really depend on all the big players hiring a booth.

we've seen the same thing with comic related stuff here.
used to be the big comicon events, 3 a year at the arena, then it went to one.
but all the little local ones in church halls or local leisure centres, seem to be just as regular.
i prefer these anyway, as you get local people selling old stuff, the big ones now are all the chain stores selling the same stock on every booth

[WatchTheGuitar]

I think Superbooth will survive like vinyl has, the edgy focused alternative to broad equipment shows.
tbh I never understood really how the guitar world is supposed to get it up every time Fender or Gibson release their 60th retreads of the exact same products. When they do try and innovate - like when Gibson added robot tuners - everyone hated it. They just seem to be trying to tout Coke Classic year on year.

[vurt]

well epiphone have put out a purple explorer
that's different, usually tobacco or black.

[cryophonik]

Superbooth 2023 vendors list:

https://www.superbooth.com/en/messe-and-exhibitors.html

I suspect it will blow NAMM away.

[vurt]

thomann uk, does stuff actually come from the uk somewhere? or do they sneak import duties on
because if it does come from the uk, why does everything seem to take a week?

[WatchTheGuitar]

thomann uk, does stuff actually come from the uk somewhere? or do they sneak import duties on
because if it does come from the uk, why does everything seem to take a week?

All the Thomann stuff I’ve ever had has come from Germany, but I’ve never been hit with import duty. Even since taking back control (of less than we had before).

[vurt]

thomann uk, does stuff actually come from the uk somewhere? or do they sneak import duties on
because if it does come from the uk, why does everything seem to take a week?

All the Thomann stuff I’ve ever had has come from Germany, but I’ve never been hit with import duty. Even since taking back control (of less than we had before).

thats odd, because we should?
not that i want to, id just rather be sure.

i know the normal thomann is in germany, so does thomann uk, just deal with all the customs for us? again, seems odd.
why cant it be easy

thanks though.

[thecontrolcentre]

All the Thomann stuff I’ve ever had has come from Germany, but I’ve never been hit with import duty. Even since taking back control (of less than we had before).

Same here, but I always get hit with import duty when buying from the US. Once paid £25 duty on a $10 melodica. I presume we have a different trade agreement with the EU (?)

[WatchTheGuitar]

The only time I didn’t have to pay duty for US to UK shipping was some slightly dodgy company that sold me an Archos AV500 and wrote “repaired item return” on the invoice and box.

[Shabdahbriah]

Superbooth 2023 vendors list:

https://www.superbooth.com/en/messe-and-exhibitors.html

I suspect it will blow NAMM away.

I was massively underwhelmed with the (very) few NAMM videos I watched. Superbooth is by far a more well thought out and thriving venue (imho), particularly for things of interest to me.

[whyterabbyt]

thomann uk, does stuff actually come from the uk somewhere? or do they sneak import duties on
because if it does come from the uk, why does everything seem to take a week?

Thomann have always shipped from deutchlandia, as far as I know. Its Digital Village who do the sneaky 'we're in the UK honest guv' thing.
Expect non-UK power plugs on everything from both.

[whyterabbyt]

All the Thomann stuff I’ve ever had has come from Germany, but I’ve never been hit with import duty. Even since taking back control (of less than we had before).

Same here, but I always get hit with import duty when buying from the US. Once paid £25 duty on a $10 melodica. I presume we have a different trade agreement with the EU (?)

Its not the import duty that pisses me off, its the fact that the courier companies charge more on top to charge you the duty than the f**king duty costs.

[ghettosynth]

I hate looking/shopping for guitars. What are some cool tele style guitars not made by fender?