60 years of guitar design. No reissues. Just forward.

At #NAMM 2026, I had a chance to hang out with Andy Winston from Yamaha Corporation. We talked Chris Buck's signature #Revstar, the new #Pacifica SC, and we deep dived into the BB/7345 bass (the #BB734 it is on my wishlist, Andy!!! Jast saying... 😅 I do not have the patience for 5 strings! ) and most of all about why this amazing company keeps building more instrument than the price tag says.

Andy's words: "We don't do reissues. You're never gonna see us reissue a 1972." That's the philosophy. Draw from history. Build for tomorrow.

🎸 #ChrisBuck Signature #Revstar – Overwound P90s, stainless steel frets 🎸 #PacificaSC – Rupert Neve pickups, 5 sounds from 2 pickups 🎸 #MatteoMancuso Revstar – Coming Summer 2026 🎸 #BBBass – String-through body, active/passive, professional features at real prices

I own a Revstar. Bought my nephew a Pacifica. The BB734 is on my wishlist.

There's passion here. And value.

Part of our On Location Coverage at #NAMM2026.

Tons of content coming your way—I hope you like music ;)

#NAMM2026 #Yamaha #Revstar #Pacifica #ChrisBuck #MatteoMancuso #BBBass #GuitarLife Sean Martin, CISSP #guitars #bass #rock #musicians #art

https://youtu.be/i_z6UUQnLYY

Photos/Review: 10 Year Celebration of Ronnie Montrose Remembered Rocks The Grand Theater in Anaheim, CA on 01/24/2026:

#RonnieMontroseRemembered #Namm2026 #LivePhotos #LiveReview

Link: https://metalinsider.net/photos/photos-review-10-year-celebration-of-ronnie-montrose-remembered-rocks-the-grand-theater-in-anaheim-ca-on-01-24-2026

Some of the best conversations at #NAMM happen when you're not looking for them. I noticed a shirt that said "I Support #Musicians" and couldn't help but start talking to Michelle Wolff from the Guitar Center Music Foundation.

What followed was a conversation about #music programs being the first to get cut from school budgets. About 150 grant requests every quarter and only 30 getting fulfilled. About kids who might never discover they were meant to play an instrument. About veterans who could find healing through sound but won't get the chance. And about Michelle's own journey—an #opera major whose voice was taken from her by vocal nodules, who had to rebuild her identity, and who never stopped being a musician.

Give it a listen.

P.S. Sean Martin, CISSP and I recently met with Myka Miller, MM, MBA, Executive Director of the Guitar Center Music Foundation. We have some exciting plans to support their work. More soon.

The Guitar Center Company Studio C60 / ITSPmagazine Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-UhlD00yw8

#music #guitars #guitarcenter #namm2026

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we hang out with Hector from the Guitar Tech Adventures YouTube channel 🎸🔥
We dive into the world of guitars—repairs, mods, and real-life guitar tech adventures—and recap some of the cool gear and moments we both saw at NAMM Show 2026.

Hector talks about going to Musicians Institute to learn how to work on guitars, his time working at ESP, and later at Fender.
https://youtu.be/voBYcYG60QY

#TalkingGuitars #NAMM2026 #GuitarTech #GuitarTechAdventures #JohnnyBeaneTV

More content from our #NAMM2026 Coverage? Of course!
Here is the conversation with Burton Snowboards & Circle Strings!
#Snowboards and #guitars. Same wood. Same craft. Different ride.

At NAMM Media Day 2026, Sean caught up with Adam Buchwald and William Hylton from Circle Strings about their collaboration with Burton.

The concept: matching snowboards and custom guitars built from the same materials—including Burton's actual snowboard core.

William put it simply: "The body of this guitar is actually made out of the core material as well—it's pretty sweet, light, durable wood."

Vermont figured mahogany. Alakazam powder board curves in the design. Snowflake inlays inspired by Snowflake Bentley's historic photography.

Two crafts. One philosophy. Wood, precision, and riding your own line.

🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/J3ObVDR2UCk
🎧 Listen: https://itspmagazine.simplecast.com/episodes/burton-and-circle-strings-guitars-at-namm-2026-snowboards-meet-custom-guitars-and-it-is-awesome-a-brand-highlight-conversation-from-naam-2026

Part of our On Location Coverage at NAMM 2026.
Tons of content coming your way—I hope you like music ;)

#NAMM #BurtonSnowboards #CircleStrings #CustomGuitars #Snowboarding #Handmade #Vermont #GuitarLife #Luthier #music #musicians

I can finally talk about my work project over the past 18 months! - the NDSP Quad Cortex Mini was released last week at #namm2026. It had some interesting challenges trying to squeeze almost all of the electronic functionality into a box half the size of the original QC, but really happy with how it turned out – especially the analogue frontend and AD/DA performance.

#electronics #audio #guitar #bass #namm #pedals #effects #fx

It was closing time at NAMM Media Day. I didn't care.
Alexander Chadwick from PRS Guitars was right there, and I had questions that go beyond spec sheets.

We talked about #technology and #creativity. Whether innovation helps musicians or gets in the way. Why we chase vintage guitars like holy relics—and why the magical ones now cost more than houses.

His answer: "Our goal is to create a guitar that gets out of the way so the person can be more expressive."

That's it. That's what great tools do. They disappear so you can create.

#PRSguitars unveiled two limited editions at the show:
🎸 John Mayer Wild Blue Silver Sky – first matching headstock Silver Sky
🎸 Ed Sheeran Semi-Hollow Piezo Baritone – 27.7" scale, his original artwork on every guitar

But the real story isn't the gear. It's the philosophy behind it.

Technology isn't good or bad. It's how you use it.

Instruments aren't the destination. They're the vehicle.

🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/QYM2J5LeSNo

🎧 Listen: https://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com/episodes/prs-guitars-at-namm-2026-john-mayer-wild-blue-silver-sky-ed-sheeran-baritone-revealed-a-brand-highlight-conversation-with-alex-chadwhick-from-prs-guitars-naam-2026

This is part of our On Location Coverage at NAMM 2026. Tons of content coming your way—I hope you like music ;)

#NAMMMediaDay #NAMM2026 #PRSGuitars #JohnMayer #EdSheeran #MusicIndustry #Creativity #GuitarLife #ITSPmagazine #namm

Wow this is huge too. This would solve problems I was discussing last weekend with our drummer.

#NAMM2026 #GearSquad #Music #Drums

Yamaha Releases EAD50 Electronic Acoustic Drum Module A new high-spec model for use from home to the stage - News Releases - Yamaha Corporation https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2026/26012202/

Another very interesting announcement from #NAMM2026

#GearSquad #Guitar

Seymour Duncan MortalCoil® | Seymour Duncan https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/mortalcoil