Martin Custom Guitar
This is the 2,500,000th guitar to leave Martin’s factory and built by their team. The guitar has been crafted from Belize rosewood and heavy Sitka spruce. Display built by Jody Betz.
Dreadbox Weaver
At $199, Dreadbox’s Treminator goes way beyond the traditional style trem. It offers five different waveforms, fade in/out controls, tap tempo, and a handful of “secret” functions when you hold down one of the footswitches. Think less bear in a box.
VegaTrem VT-2
Do you like Teles and wigglesticks? VegaTrem just gave us a quick look at the VT-2, which takes heavy-duty trem technology and applies it to T-style setups. Installation is non-invasive and the bar is smooth as silk. Pricing is TBD, but look for it this fall.
Manhattan Prestige Session One Basses
Famous session legend Neil Jason founded a new instrument company called Manhattan Prestige Basses and introduced his first model, the Session One, at NAMM. It’s an incredibly well-balanced instrument that sports an alder body, maple neck, Tusq nut, Luminay fret markers, and Wilkinson bridge. A rock-solid workhorse that sells for $999 on the street.
Audience EVO16
The Audient EVO16 is a complete recording solution that offers 8 inputs, phantom power, multiple headphone outputs and an inventive Smart Gain feature that makes adjusting levels a snap. Will hit stores soon at $499.
Pro Co Little Rat
The Rat’s classic tone has been shrunk into a micro-sized enclosure. It has the exact same circuitry and cutout as the original, just smaller. In order to save space, they removed the battery option, but it still sounds so bad. And a bargain at $79.
Blackstar St. James
Blackstar has spent the past two years developing a new line of ultra-powerful, ultra-lightweight amps. The St James series offers two different configurations (6L6 and EL84) that include a full 3-band EQ, two channels, reverb, responsive loading options, and in-depth editing via an app. Heads are $1,199, combos are $1,299, and the 2×12 box is $749.
Martin D-28 Rich Robinson Guitar
Martin has just released a new Rich Robinson signature model inspired by his father’s 50s model. It has rosewood back and sides, a thick neck, Sitka spruce too, and it’s the first artist’s model aged to replicate the original. It will cost $6,999 and be released in late summer.
Ernie Ball Music Man Tosin Abasi Kaizen
Futuristic shredder Tosin Abasi has just announced a new collaboration with Ernie Ball Music Man. The Kaizen is an impeccably designed 7-string that sports a mini humbucker in the neck, Steinberger tuners, a multi-scale neck with floating trem, and much more. Should be released at the end of the summer with a price to be determined.
Steve VaiHydra
One of the most incredible creations at this year’s show was Steve Vai’s Ibanez Hydra. It was featured prominently on Vai’s latest album and the detail up close is incredible.
Signature of Tom Quayle
Ibanez and fusion stylist Tom Quayle have extended their partnership with a signature singlecut model featuring a Seymour Duncan mini-humbucker in the neck and an Alnico Pro II in the bridge.
b3 Telstar Guitars
Gene Baker and b3 Guitars brought their crushed Telstar to the show. It pays an obvious homage to a pair of classic models, but this one features a 10(!) way switch, Lollar pickups, bolt-on graphite-reinforced double neck and MannMade hybrid tremolo. They will be sold exclusively through The Music Emporium and will start at $5,200.
Bigsby Audio Gamechanger Pedal
Gamechanger Audio’s new collaboration with Fender has resulted in a digital version of a seminal tremolo. The Bigsby pedal allows polyphonic bending up and down in addition to adjusting the speed of the vibrato. It feels smooth and natural and makes the most extreme Bigsby moves much easier. It’s available now for $379.
MXR and Third Man Hardware Double Down
Jack White’s latest Third Man Records pedal collaboration is the Double Down. Inside, there are two of MXR’s Micro Amp circuits in a single box. It has dual outputs with phase and buffer switches on the side. Should be released later this year.