Every January, NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants) converges on Anaheim, drawing more than 75,000 attendees to experience the products and services of over 3,500 brands across the music, professional audio and live sound industries. Although the massive, multi-day 2026 event has already come and gone, NAMM 2026 left us fixated on a number of breathtakingly beautiful new instruments, impressive gear updates and in some cases one-of-a-kind technological developments.
Guitar makers PRS (Paul Reed Smith), Fender and Gibson each made significant impacts at different price points that had the industry buzzing in a number of ways. Aside from these three historic axe manufacturers, we were also left in awe by a groundbreaking new guitar-string technology from Elixir and an outstanding new must-have streaming product from Lutefish.
Paul Reed Smith
Who doesn’t love a pretty face? And when it comes to beautiful guitars, PRS Guitars’ John Mayer Silver Sky Limited in Wild Blue is hard to beat. Guitar aficionados already know the standard Silver Sky already sounds amazing, but with a matching headstock, the stunning blue Mayer model looks as great as it plays. Another PRS partner artist, Ed Sheeran, lends his name to the SE “Cosmic Splash.” Based on the world famous singer’s painting of the same name, this fresh model is the company’s first hollowbody baritone and comes with piezo-acoustic options. Both guitars are limited to 1000 units worldwide and retail at a fairly reasonable $2899 and $1599 respectively.
Fender
Fender is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year and the 75th anniversary of the Telecaster and the Precision Bass. And while new Telecasters have gotten updates like Hot Rails pickups and non-slab body contours, the new models in their always affordable Squier line really caught our eyes. The Squier Mini Strat ($199.99) is an ideal, reduced-size and easy-to-play instrument with a thin, lightweight body in an array of vibrant colors like Sea Foam Green, Shell Pink and Torino Red. Meanwhile Squier’s Mini Precision Bass ($209.99) is an equally great starter option for those with a smaller frame. It’s available in Black and Dakota Red, but the 2-color Sunburst is the way to go, if Spin gets a vote.
Out of the many new Squiers in Fender’s 2026 product line, the most alluring is the Canary Yellow Sonic Telecaster ($249.99), which boasts the slim neck, lightweight presence, chiming pickups and versatile tone we’ve come to expect from the iconic brand. (Full disclosure: This writer is partial to Telecasters and owns this guitar in Sea Foam!)
For more accomplished players looking to step up to a new amp, Fender unveils the 30th Anniversary edition of the Hot Rod Deluxe for 2026. Touted as “the quintessential backline amplifier,” this celebratory update on the always reliable 40 watt HRD sounds amazing thanks to modified preamp circuitry and looks incredible due to its Commemorative Black Western covering and ‘50s styled brown and gold grill. ($1299.99)
Gibson
Iconic guitar builders Gibson celebrated their heritage at NAMM ’26 by announcing the return of the historic ES-330 after an 8-year hiatus and displaying refreshed models of the ES-335 50s & 60s designed to honor the specs of the originals. But the Gibson Custom Shop was what left everyone who managed to get a peek behind the brand’s velvet rope awestruck. Seven one-of-a-kind masterpieces like the “100 Years of B.B.King” Lucille celebrated the blues icon’s posthumous 100th birthday with a majestic Purple Sparkle finish, a custom-engraved solid brass pickguard and hand-inlaid gold sparkle purfling. Meanwhile, the retro-futuristic “Atomic Age” Concept, the window-paned patterned “Metallic Mutant” 1959 ES-355 Reissue and the “Full Flame” SG Standard and the spaced-out finishes of the “Cosmic Stew” Les Paul Supreme must be seen to be believed.
Those in the market for new high-end guitars will want to check out Gibson Custom’s new Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, plus recreations of Michael Schenker’s 1971 Flying V and Mick Ronson’s 1968 Les Paul Custom, which were on display and will be available later this year, with pricing TBD. Fans of acoustic guitars will also be inspired by the brand’s “100 Years of Flat-Tops” celebration, highlighting the Century Collection of gorgeous, warm-sounding 12-fret instruments. These fairly accessible L-000, J-45 and J-185 models are expected to cost around $2000 when they become available in April.
Elixir Attune
Speaking of acoustic guitars, Elixir unveiled its all-new Attune Strings at NAMM ’26, ushering in a new era of Acoustic Guitar tone and feel. Boasting a secret groundbreaking new technology, Attune strings ($23.99)sound significantly better than standard acoustic strings, regardless of how hard, soft or long you play.
Elixir first rose to acclaim the mid-1990s, creating long-lasting acoustic strings that offered enhanced playability. The new durable, capable Attune strings build on the brand’s coveted reputation, delivering a crisp, clear sound with a remarkably natural feel. From the first strum, you’ll be a believer.
Lutefish
Imagine you’re in a successful band but your drummer is several states away. With the advent of Lutefish, distance no longer means a disruption for bands looking to practice or songwriters hoping to collaborate. If you’re looking for next-level remote jamming tech, your prayers have been answered with the amazing Lutefish Stream platform that puts musicians together live over the internet with ridiculously low latency and pristine audio.
At NAMM 2026, Stevie Wonder turned up at the Lutefish booth to demonstrate the streaming technology, which allows users in the United States and Canada to jam with musicians up to 500 miles away. Capabilities include 48k audio streaming and the ability to record and download sessions using browser-based controls compatible with any computer or tablet. Users simply connect directly to their routers using an ethernet cable using the company’s class-A preamps to create music together without lag.
Remarkably, a one-time device costs around $249 – $299, with a discount for band packs. After a two-month free trial, a standard recurring subscription fee runs just $12.99. Get more information here.
