NAMM 2026 Recap: Another NAMM has come and gone, and the 2026 edition has solidified the trends we saw in 2025: more compact booths, fewer products showcased, yet the Anaheim Convention Center was still buzzing with activity.
After making waves last year, Marshall was notably absent this time around. Fender opted for an off-site Custom Shop event, with its only presence on the show floor being the promotion of its new Studio Pro DAW. Iconic brands like Gibson, ESP, and PRS were only accessible through appointment-only rooms.
Despite these changes, NAMM remains a pivotal event in the gear industry calendar. Companies still prioritize their dealer relationships,and as media representatives,we’re grateful for the access we still have.
So, what insights did we gain? Where is the gear industry headed? And, most importantly, what will we be investing our hard-earned cash in?
Collaboration Over Competition
Amid ongoing tariff uncertainties affecting businesses of all sizes, a new spirit of collaboration is emerging within the industry. It’s no longer solely about competition; it’s about expanding the market by engaging with new players and sometimes partnering with complementary brands.
As a notable example, Laney collaborated with Brian Carstens, the amp builder for Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman Billy Corgan, to create the Supergrace pedal. This innovative product merges the vintage tones of Laney’s Supergroup with boutique high-gain distortion, showcasing how collaboration can elevate both brands.
Synergy introduced groundbreaking machine learning technology that allows Class D power amps to emulate the response of customary tube power sections. They partnered with Boutique Amps Distribution, utilizing this tech in their IR-Load head and the pedalhead, a compact power amp designed for pedalboards.
EarthQuaker Devices and Dr. Z unveiled the ZEQD-Pre, a tube-loaded preamp pedal touted as the ultimate tonal tool for the end of the signal chain.blackstar showcased the BEAM Mini,the first amplifier to natively support Neural Amp Modeler (NAM). Additionally, Third Man Hardware’s booth highlighted the numerous collaborations Jack White has fostered with various pedal companies.
It’s refreshing to witness brands uniting to propel the market forward. More of this collaborative spirit is certainly welcome! (MAB)
Neural DSP: The Modeling Powerhouse… or Is It?
Discussions about the amp modeling landscape can often become repetitive. With firmware updates and hardware launches,the risk of modeling fatigue is real.
However, Neural DSP has seemingly taken the lead, showcasing their new Quad Cortex mini at the event. This compact modeler features a touchscreen and was initially thought to be a middle ground between the Quad and Nano Cortex pedals.
In reality, the QC mini is essentially a full Quad Cortex with the same processing capabilities, albeit at a surprising price point of $1,399, which is close to the original Quad Cortex.
At first glance, it appears to undermine the competition from Line 6, IK Multimedia, and Fender, who are still years away from releasing their own premium, touchscreen-equipped compact modelers. Neural DSP has certainly taken the lead in this race.
That said, the narrative isn’t entirely straightforward. The high price of the QC mini opens the door for competitors to introduce their own compact models at more accessible price points.
For now, Neural DSP holds the crown, but the competition is heating up. (MO)
The resilience of Tube Amps – The Mid-Range Amp is Struggling
The future of tube amplifiers has been a hot topic of discussion lately. The tube shortages and supply chain issues stemming from the COVID pandemic and geopolitical tensions have forced many major companies to rethink their strategies.
Though,at NAMM 2026,tube amp designs appeared to be thriving. High-end, innovative tube amplifiers were abundant, with brands like Magnatone, Orange, Two-Rock, and Divided by 13 showcasing impressive new models.
Divided by 13’s Butch Walker signature model, the BW 1969, allows players to toggle between EL34 and 6L6 power stages, or even stack them for added versatility.
Orange’s OR60 is a single-channel amp that delivers a wide range of tones, while Two-Rock’s Studio-Overdrive offers exceptional gain, enhancing the brand’s reputation for headroom.
Notably, these are all premium models. Even the 8-watt Slack signature from Magnatone, the Lil Viper, comes with a price tag of $1,899. This trend indicates that tube amps are increasingly becoming luxury items rather than accessible options for the average player.
While this is somewhat disheartening, it also opens doors for boutique builders, which is an exciting development.
conversely, most of the mass-market amplifiers showcased were not traditional tube amps. Instead,there was a focus on pedal amps,modelers,and innovative practice solutions,with very few amps priced under $1,500 making an appearance.
This trend highlights the decline of mid-range amplifiers, which used to fill the gap between entry-level practice amps and high-end tube heads. Their absence is certainly noticeable. (MP)
Innovation in Gear Design
The Anaheim Convention Center typically showcases familiar designs, and this year was no exception (even Tokai’s ‘lawsuit-era’ replicas are making a comeback). Though, there seemed to be a heightened level of innovation on display.
The standout was the Casio Dimension Shifter, a device that attaches between a guitarist’s strap and their instrument, allowing for manipulation of any pedal with an expression input.This is innovation at its finest.
While it may seem like a niche product, its successful crowdfunding campaign indicates a strong demand among guitarists for groundbreaking devices.
Polyend,a name not often mentioned in Guitar World,introduced Endless,an open-source pedal that enables users to create effects from prompts. This pedal is essentially ChatGPT in pedal form and represents the most impressive use of AI in the gear world to date. It also sounds fantastic.
Not all technological advancements require electricity, though. Strandberg unveiled a new tremolo design, the arc TILT, which promises smoother motion and improved pitch stability.
Gibson took the prospect to gather feedback on a concept offset guitar, the Atomic Age. A fresh guitar shape from one of the oldest guitar manufacturers? Now that’s a surprise! (MAB)
The Evolving Practice Amp Market
One of the most surprising developments at the show was JBL’s entry into the guitar market with the BandBox, an AI-powered smart practice amplifier.
Available in two models, the Solo and the larger Trio, the BandBox stands out for its ability to use AI to separate song stems, allowing players to isolate or remove vocals, guitar, or drums from any track in real time.
Shania Twain’s guitarist, Lindsey Ell, demonstrated the technology live, showcasing its impressive capabilities to quickly adjust track mixes and alter song pitches.
While it’s still early days for JBL’s amp-modeling technology, there’s potential for collaboration with established amp brands to refine the tonal aspects.
The BandBox signifies a shift in the practice amp market: gone are the days when players had to settle for mediocre sound quality.
With the introduction of products like the Positive Grid spark, musicians are now seeking practice amps that genuinely enhance their playing experience. (MAB)
Pricing Uncertainties
As with any manufacturing sector in 2026,the music gear industry is heavily influenced by imports,and the ongoing tariff and global trade issues continue to create important challenges.
It’s arduous to provide a comprehensive overview of the disruptions affecting production across the industry, from components to materials and machinery. While politics are typically avoided at NAMM,the impact of these issues was evident.
Brands seemed more cautious than ever about revealing pricing for their 2026 product lines, especially for items not set to hit stores instantly.
This caution is understandable: predicting costs and establishing viable profit margins and retail prices for the next six months to a year has become increasingly complex.
Some companies are still grappling with how to price their existing products, leading to varied approaches.For example, Solar introduced ‘Sweet prices’ for the U.S. market,offering a single fixed price that encompasses shipping,tariffs,and fees,ensuring players know the total cost at the time of order.
Additionally, manufacturers are facing challenges in securing memory chips, which are in high demand from cash-rich AI companies. This could lead to further price pressures in the future. (MP)
Nylon Strings for modern Players: A New Category Emerges
Forget the classical guitar gathering dust in the corner; nylon strings are making a comeback.Ibanez introduced the TOD100, a premium version of Tim Henson’s popular nylon-string guitar, featuring a fishman Acoustic Matrix undersaddle pickup and upgraded tonewoods.
Tosin Abasi also fulfilled his promise of a Larada nylon-string guitar, partnering with Cordoba to create a model priced at $1,499.”It’s like my dream classical guitar,” he shared. “It’s thin, feedback-resistant on stage, and when recording directly, it delivers a tone that sounds like a high-quality mic’d nylon-string guitar.”
These guitars may not produce much volume unplugged; they are designed more like electric instruments, with contours and playability to match. With two of today’s most innovative players putting their unique spin on the design, this trend hints at the evolving landscape of guitar playing. (MAB)
The Headless Guitar Movement: more Than Just a Trend
Those who believed the resurgence of headless guitars was merely a passing trend may need to reconsider. five years ago,few would have predicted the continued growth of the headless guitar market.
Strandberg has played a significant role in this evolution, redefining the possibilities of headless guitars while emphasizing ergonomic design for player comfort and health.
As more players recognize the advantages of headless designs, other brands are following suit. Ibanez, Kiesel, and Schecter have joined the movement, and now there’s a push to make these guitars more accessible.
Donner’s HLX-500, dubbed “the ultimate modern headless guitar,” is priced at just $330 and features an ’asymmetrical neck profile’ inspired by Strandberg’s designs.
Cort, known for its affordable guitars, has also introduced its own headless models. While strandberg continues to set the standard,this movement is gaining momentum and expanding into various market segments. (MO)
Player Feedback Driving Product Development
A promising trend observed at this year’s NAMM is the extent to which manufacturers are genuinely listening to players regarding their gear specifications.
While companies have long claimed to prioritize player feedback, the introduction of stainless steel frets on Epiphones and Yamaha’s new signature model for Chris Buck, the CB502, suggests that they are finally paying attention to consumer demands.
Historically, the industry has often prioritized pricing over player needs, but we are now witnessing the emergence of signature models that offer more than just cosmetic changes, along with significant upgrades to affordable lines.
this could be seen as a continuation of the trend toward premium offshore products, but it may also reflect the challenges and risks facing builders and guitar importers in 2026-there’s little room for error.
Alternatively, it could simply indicate that management is genuinely understanding their customers, responding to feedback, and meeting them where they are.
Regardless,it’s encouraging to see this shift. (MP)
