With the likes of Fender, Gibson and Marshall returning to Anaheim at long last, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in five years – with secrets and surprises to match
NAMM 2025 is rapidly approaching, and with it, a tidal wave of fresh guitar gear announcements, celebrity appearances and exhaustive reporting from Guitar World.
The world’s biggest trade show for the music gear industry, the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Show has been running since 1902 – long before the electric guitar was even born.
This year’s festivities take place from January 21-25, making this the longest NAMM Show yet, with two extra days of events before the show proper kicks off on January 23.
2025’s edition is being touted as something of a return to form for NAMM, which was once the most important event in the guitar gear calendar, but has struggled to regain a foothold since Covid took its toll on the entire concept of the trade show.
Fresh-faced NAMM CEO John Mlynczak, who started in the role in May 2023, has been working hard to change that, however, convincing major industry players – including Fender, Gibson and Marshall – to refocus their efforts on the show, and build on the warm reception to 2024’s event.
It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. Fender and Gibson, for example, have giant meeting room spaces rather than floor exhibits – it hints at a return to the media and dealer focus of NAMMs of yore.
All of which gives more potential airtime to the brands who are exhibiting on the showfloor, as we saw at last year’s event, with the likes of Ibanez, ESP and Ernie Ball hoovering up much of the coverage.
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As per usual, we’ll have feet on the ground at the glamorous-ish Anaheim Convention Center, with grizzled NAMM vet Mike Astley-Brown and first-timer Matt Owen pounding the well-worn carpets in the quest of all that is good and gear-y.
But the show doesn’t begin when the doors open. Oh no: the show begins now, with our comprehensive guide to all the happenings from the major industry players. The rumors circulating the interwebs. Cryptic teasers we’ve sourced from our, erm, sources. Our own predictions, based on trends, prevailing winds and an old magic 8-ball we found in Mike’s desk.
But most importantly, we’ll be bringing you all the news that’s breaking in the run-up to the show. Keep this page pinned/bookmarked/favorited, because we’ll be updating it right through to the end of January 2025 when the dust has settled and we can figure out what the hell just happened and what the state of the gear industry looks like in 2025. And, of course, how badly drained our bank accounts are going to look by the end of it.
So, without further ago, here’s all the NAMM 2025 rumors, predictions and breaking news you need to know, all in one place. See you in Anaheim…
NAMM 2025: Electric guitar news
Fender's American Professional II Series could be due a refresh and/or a rebrand in 2025. (Image credit: Fender)
Well, the big news is that Fender is back – a genuine surprise after previous comments from CEO Andy Mooney. But while the firm has a big meeting room space for dealers and media (yay us), it won’t be exhibiting on the showfloor. Nevertheless, Mooney is promising “exciting new products”. Our prediction: given the healthy discounts on the American Professional II range (and Fender’s four-year series launch cycle), a refresh of the Professional line is on the cards. And is it too soon for a downsized Tone Master Pro?
Like Fender, fellow returning guitar giant Gibson has pitched up with a meeting room by appointment only. It’s likely to hold plenty of CEO Cesar Gueikian’s ‘Do Epic Shit’ creations – some of which look an awful lot like James Hetfield’s Explorer. Then there’s the small matter of Mark Morton’s surely imminent Les Paul. Oh, and just a thought: wouldn’t a Jimmy Page double-neck that costs under $9,999 be nice? Yes, yes it would. Fingers crossed.
Misha Mansoor sure has been talking about his new offset Jackson baritone a lot. And we know he’s pushing for a signature model. It’s probably a bit early for that kind of talk, but hey, a guitar journalist can dream…
From impromptu Ichika performances to displaying Steve Vai’s actual Hydra, Ibanez is reliably one of the most talked-about exhibitors each and every NAMM. In terms of launches, we’re hoping for Tim Henson’s first Japanese-made signature model and that long-awaited 8-string. And what about a new AZ shape? Offset AZs? Let’s make it happen, Ibby.
Misha Mansoor's Custom Shop Jackson Surfcaster: we want a signature model. And we want it now. (Image credit: Misha Mansoor)
At NAMM 2024, Yamaha unveiled the Pacifica Professional range, which blew away every member of the GW team who came into contact with it. Could we see some of its features trickle down into more affordable Pacificas? Those Neve pickups are something special. And then there’s the small matter of Matteo Mancuso, whose unwavering loyalty to the Revstar can’t have gone unnoticed at Yamaha HQ… right?
A very happy 50th birthday to ESP, which is celebrating five decades of boundary-pushing Japanese guitar design. As per previous NAMMs, the company will be showcasing its latest wares via its ESP Presents livestream, which takes place on January 16. The firm is promising “best yet” LTD Deluxe models, plus new Signature Series guitars. Could we finally see the grand unveiling of a Mick Thomson model?
Could we at long last see an ESP signature model for Slipknot's #7? (Image credit: Fishman)
PRS Guitars won’t officially be exhibiting at NAMM this year. But the firm will be sponsoring events and stages and sneaking its products onto various booths. Paul Reed Smith’s band, Eightlock, will even be performing on Thursday night. But what you want to know about is the new guitars, and being the 40th anniversary of PRS, the company will be reintroducing older models, but brought bang up to date with its latest guitar-making techniques and appointments. And there will be the usual spec overhauls of existing models, too.
From what we’ve heard, Reverend’s plans are all over the map: more single-pickup models, unique pickup configurations, tons of basses, Floyd Roses as far as the eye can see – and a more traditional version of its spookiest model. Plus a new signature for an artist who performed at the show last year. A busy one, then.
NAMM 2025: Effects pedal news
A Whammy… in yellow?! It could only be MonoNeon's… (Image credit: DigiTech)
Speaking of Behringer, the firm also owns TC Electronic, which dropped the Plethora X1 just ahead of the show – a compact pedal with 14 effects and a MASH footswitch, primed to take on Line 6’s similarly targeted HX One.
In fact, with the launch of the HX One, Line 6 has filtered its HX tech down into every discernible form factor… except mini pedals. HX Mini? You heard it here first (and it may very well be wrong).
TC Electronic's Plethora X1 will be on display at the show for the first time. Your move, Line 6… (Image credit: TC Electronic)
The Fart Pedal – yes, that Fart Pedal – has a booth this year. It’s hard to know where else the firm can take the concept, but heck, we’re fascinated to see/smell.
With the launch of the all-conquering BigSky MX reverb pedal back in April 2024, surely we could see a similar treatment for another long-serving Strymon design. *cough* TimeLine *cough*
Similarly, Electro-Harmonix took its POG Polyphonic Octave Generator into its 3rd generation in 2024, adding a screen and features culled from the EHX back catalog. Could we see the format make its way to other pedals, and usher in a new era for the storied NYC FX co? And, as with Strymon, we could see a multi-function delay – a Canyon-meets-Deluxe Memory Man – fitting the bill. Forgive us if we’re repeating ourselves (delay joke).
The last pedal we saw from Eventide was its wild Jack White collab, the Knife Drop – a sub-octave fuzz and analog synth powerhouse. We know the company has some loyal users… We’d love to see some more collaborative innovations down the line.
Now the hype machine has died down just a little for the Nano Cortex, will Neural DSP be sharing something a little more in-between sized? A Medium Cortex, if you will.
NAMM 2025: Guitar amp news
It feels like an entire generation of players have come and gone since the last major Marshall amp release. That long drought could be about to come to an end at NAMM… (Image credit: Marshall)
The Spark 2 dropped this year. So we might see that tech make its way to the rest of the Positive Grid portfolio. Spark 2 Mini, perhaps?
In Blackstar news, all-star gun-slinger Doug Aldrich was spotted using prototypes of a mystery head from the firm on The Dead Daisies’ UK tour this year. Could a signature model be incoming?
The last Orange release was a compact solid-state combo for Orianthi, so we can reasonably expect the Aussie virtuoso to make an appearance at the show. As for new products, we can’t say anything… yet…
NAMM 2025: Acoustic guitar news
We can expect a new Taylor Guitars headstock soon to accompany a radically new range (or so we've heard). (Image credit: Future)
Guitar innovation from Taylor Guitars chief Andy Powers never seems to slow down. We hear he’s been at it again with a new design that expands Taylor’s sonic palette enough to warrant a new headstock and logo.
Rumor has it that Martin will unveil its 3 Millionth guitar, and based on the brand’s history of show-stopping 2M and 2.5M guitars, it’s bound to pull a few eyeballs at the show. Here’s hoping for a few more museum-esque exhibits, too, along the lines of the smashed Hateful Eight guitar that went on public show at NAMM 2024.
Breedlove will be dropping a new collection of guitars, promising “artistry, cutting-edge design and our commitment to superior sound”.
NAMM 2025: Pickups and accessories
DiMarzio has let us in on its 2025 plans early: a 5-string soapbar pickup for bass, 4-string Music Man style bass pickup, Cruiser T Neck pickup for Tele, and – most excitingly – a Matteo Mancuso signature set.
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
