\"Once again, our panel combed the show floor at NAMM and came back with some great picks. My only regret is that this industry is so creative, we cannot begin to note every product deserving of this kind of recognition. Still, it’s a very good start and bodes well for gear in 2009.\"

The experts panel was asked to discuss their choices in four specific categories:

• Something Small — a great product that’s either small in price or small in size.
  
• Gotta Stock It — a product that retailers wished they had last Christmas.
  
• Companies to Watch — an exhibitor who is making a difference with trend-setting products or trend-setting services.
  
• Best In Show — the best product or service that panelists saw at NAMM.

Something Small
Winning drum/percussion product in the category Something Small was HQ Percussion\'s EcoPad. The panelists stated:

\"The rubber playing surface is made from recycled tires, and the base is made of residual wood waste. It feels great, and no trees are being harmed.\"

Gotta Stock It
Todd Sucherman\'s \'Methods & Mechanics\' dvd, released by Alfred Publishing, was named \"tremendous, inspiring, and entertaining\", and was one of the winners in the category Gotta Stock It.

Also named were the Latin Percussion\'s shaker models VariTone, Cyclone and Wah: \"Drummers like bright, shiny things. You can never have enough toys.\"

Companies to Watch
A boutique drum manufacturer that has launched lower-cost models, GMS Drum was selected for the category Companies to Watch:

\"They’ve been around for over 20 years [as a company] that does high-end, custom drums. However, through the years, they’ve been expanding their lines so more people can buy a GMS kit. They are creating lessexpensive lines, while still maintaining tremendous quality.”

Also included in the category Companies to Watch was Roland for their HD-1 Drum Tutor. Explained one of the panelists:

\"I think it is important that we find things that bring us back into the public light again. We are where music starts. So we are looking for products that do that. So, here’s the drum tutorial software for the HD-1. I’m really excited about this.\"

Best In Show
Last, but not least, Pearl\'s new Eliminator Demon Drive pedals were named in the category Best In Show:

\"It’s unbelievable what this pedal can do. Usually on a left pedal — no matter what you do — there is a little bit of a delay. The left pedal doesn’t always feel as good as the primary because it’s not direct. It’s amazing how precise the left feels to the right on this pedal.\"