NAMM 2022: New guitars, pedals, amps and more

For the first time, the NAMM Show has combined with Summer NAMM for an epic three-day edition in Anaheim, California – marking the first time a full NAMM show has taken place in its traditional home since before the pandemic.

As always, we’ll be keeping you up to date on the biggest product announcements from the show – so check back often for the latest.

When is NAMM 2022?

The 2022 NAMM Show takes place from 3 to 5 June at its usual grounds of the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California – usually we’d see the main NAMM show in January, but for this year (and 2023) the show has been pushed back to try to safeguard it from COVID-related cancellations, which did for the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Anaheim show.

Summer NAMM returned to Nashville last July, but will be on hiatus this year. At three days, the 2022 NAMM Show show is a day shorter than a traditional Winter NAMM, and the same length as a regular Summer NAMM in Nashville.

Which brands will be at NAMM 2022?

The big news on this front is that NAMM 2022 will go ahead without the three biggest players in the electric guitar world – Fender (including Squier, Gretsch, Charvel and Jackson), Gibson (including Epiphone, Kramer and Mesa/Boogie) and PRS have all declined to exhibit this year. This doesn’t mean that these brands aren’t taking advantage of it being NAMM season, as they’re still in the gear-releasing spirit.

However, there are still plenty of massive names that will all be bringing their wares to the Anaheim Convention Centre, including Martin, Ibanez, Yamaha, Taylor, Rickenbacker, Seymour Duncan, Walrus Audio, Ernie Ball Music Man and scores of others.

What’s more, the lack of the three traditional big guns should give the smaller boutique makers, many of whom have seen their businesses explode during the guitar industry’s unprecedented boom during the pandemic time to shine.

New guitar gear from NAMM 2022:

Here’s what has debuted at and around the NAMM show so far:

• Bondi Effects’ Sick As overdrive is back for a third iteration
• Ibanez announces a new signature model for Tom Quayle
• ESP’s Exhibition Line-up has some very interesting electrics
• Takamine drops 60TH anniversary acoustic, along with six new models
• ESP shows off a new V-shaped signature guitar for Kirk Hammett
• Yamaha unveils new anniversary all-black and all-white finishes for the THR30II desktop amp
• Ciari’s Ascender offers a fuller take on the foldable travel electric
• Suhr introduces a new signature guitar for Pete Thorn
• Ibanez introduces a range of new signature models for artists including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and more
• Reverend guitars celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Metallic Silver Freeze Finish
• Abasi Concepts goes double-cut for the first time
• Laney introduces a new delay pedal, the Difference Engine
• Eastman introduces an all-new, all-original guitar design the Juliet
• BluGuitar launches the AMPX after introducing it back at NAMM 2020 
• Silvertone returns with a new 1444 bass
• SolidGoldFX reinvents its Fuzz Face-inspired If 6 Was 9 Pedal with smart controls
• Martin Guitar announces historically inspired acoustic guitars, along with new ukulele models
• Jackson drops 10 revamped styles for its Jackson X series
• BC Rich partners with Stranger Things to release a special-edition Warlock
• Guild rides the retro wave with the Surfliner solid-body electric, priced at an affordable $449
• Manson Guitar Works introduces the MBM-2 Matt Bellamy Signature electric guitar series
• Old Blood Noise Endeavors teams with CHVRCHES on the Screen Violence reverb and overdrive pedal
• Gretsch introduces limited-edition Sparkle Jet electric guitars
• TC Electronic announces the scaled-down Plethora X3 multi-effects with TonePrint algorithms
• Taylor goes all-koa with the 700-series acoustic guitars
• Blackstar’s St James amplifiers are said to be the world’s lightest valve amps, thanks to some clever engineering
• Ernie Ball Music Man have a signature Artist Series Cutlass for guitarist Jason Richardson
• Two Notes’ new Revolt pedals are analogue amp simulators for guitar and bass
• Revv’s new Tilt overdrive is a signature pedal for Shawn Tubbs