Winter NAMM 2026
The Shiny, the Strange, and the "Wallet-Burners"
Winter NAMM has always been like Christmas to many guitar players. It’s that time of year when we get to see all the shiny new things that everyone brings out to kick off the new year. This year was no different, but also... sort of different! Unlike past years, some things this year really surprised me. In a good way, some things made me scratch my head, and then other things are definitely going to burn a whole hole in my wallet!
A Tribute Done Right
Before I get into the gear I am personally interested in, I want to shout out a guitar that I love that just came out: the ESP Alexi Laiho 20th Anniversary V. Alexi passed away about five years ago, and growing up, the ESP Laiho V was an almost mythical guitar to a young me who loved playing melodic death metal and was obsessed with Jackson RR-shaped guitars. I love how ESP has done a great job of continuing his signature line without getting tacky, especially when you compare it to how Dean Guitars has handled the Dimebag Darrell legacy.
The Desktop Revolution: Mini Cortex
First on my list of “Dang! That can have a place in my life” is actually the new Neural DSP Mini Cortex. While I was initially skeptical of the Neural DSP ecosystem—honestly, due to their branding and marketing. The Nano Cortex has actually become my everyday unit. I’ve even thought about parting ways with my Fractal FM3 multiple times to help fund a full-size Quad Cortex.
While I find it interesting that they went with a smaller scaled-down footprint and not a rack unit, I think context is everything. With all of these modelers—be it the Fractal units, the Kemper, Helix, or the Cortex—I believe they all sound good, but the context you use them in is the deciding factor. For me, the Mini Cortex would be something that sits on my desk, on a stand, plugged in full-time as a studio tool. I wouldn’t need the floorboard switching options. If I were playing out with a band, I would use the full-size Quad Cortex, but since my trusty old FM3 has lived its life on a desk, the Mini Cortex is a perfect fit—especially because it has the full functionality of the Quad Cortex.
The Nylon Trend: Abasi & Cordoba
While not necessarily for my personal style, the Cordoba Abasi Stage 7 really caught my eye. I really love that Tosin Abasi is once again working with other companies for his vision of what you can do with gear. When I was younger, I was a massive fan of Tosin’s guitar work, and I believe he and Javier Reyes have gotten more technical players into nylon string guitars than ever before.
I am already looking to get a Cordoba Stage in 2026, but this 7-string Nylon Stage model had me showing my partner, going, “How awesome is this?!” Along with that, Cordoba has come out with a more high-end version called the Cordoba Stage Artist. It’s a worthwhile upgrade and a new skew of a popular, proven platform. Bravo to both!
The “Eh” List: Seymour Duncan & PRS
A NAMM “Eh” from me is the new Seymour Duncan “Mortal Coil” active pickup. I see this as Seymour Duncan trying to jump into the space that Fishman has been dominating with their Fluence line for the past ten years. And while I love the JB and Jazz humbucker set, I am underwhelmed by the 50th Anniversary set. It is just a JB and a Jazz pickup with no real specification change apart from an image on the back. While the set doesn’t cost more than buying them separately, it doesn’t come with a Trembucker choice, which feels like a major loss.
Another major “Eh” comes from Paul Reed Smith. Really, guys, another John Mayer Silver Sky? We are on year ten now, just about; give it a rest. It’s the same guitar in a different color. “Oh, this one is limited?!” Oh whoop. It’s a hard pass as always from me on the Silver Sky. And then... an Ed Sheeran Baritone Hollowbody II?!
I want to say this: I would KILL for a standard Hollowbody II with a baritone option. The specs on this guitar are super cool! But to have such a specific signature appointment paint job on it may have alienated this guitar from many potential buyers. At least you finally put out the Semi-Hollow DGT in the core line! Now I just need someone to hand me an extra five grand.
Trends & Final Thoughts
I am seeing a major trend this year: a lot of nylon string guitars, which is cool! I’m also seeing that once again, for yet another year, the Dumble craze is a thing. But most exciting to me is that it seems most of the things coming out are fusion and metal-related. I am curious, just off of square footage alone, how much of this year’s NAMM is aimed at the technical side of guitar playing.
The 80s are still very much back! Suhr and James Tyler guitars are both huge brands for me this year. The Suhr Classic Studio has some Valley Arts Guitar vibes coming in hot, and the new JTG line James Tyler came out with last year has clearly been super successful. Pair that with my other big win—the additions to the Synergy System—and man, just give us a great new rack effects unit, and we are in 80s and 90s studio musician heaven!
All in all, this year’s NAMM was “okay.” We have had better. Maybe as a community, we are hitting the spot where there are just too many options. Apart from the Abasi Stage 7, which made me go “Oh, what’s that?!”, the 80s super strat revival, and what Synergy is up to, the only gear I’m truly eyeing is the Mini Cortex.
We will see what comes out during the rest of 2026, but for Winter NAMM, I’ll give it a solid “Okay” overall.