Summer NAMM 2021: New guitars, pedals, amps and more

NAMM is back! After two cancelled events, the trade show returns this summer for a two-day, in-person event in Nashville, Tennessee. Guitar.com will be in attendance, so check back here for the latest from Summer NAMM 2021.

When is Summer NAMM 2021?

Summer NAMM 2021 will take place on 15 and 16 July at its usual home: the Music City Center in Nashville.

Summer NAMM 2020 and Winter NAMM 2021 were both nixed due to concerns over COVID-19, so this event marks the first time in about a year and a half that the musical instruments industry can gather at a large scale.

Which brands will be at Summer NAMM 2021?

The big boys like Gibson, Taylor, Martin, Gretsch, Yamaha, Peavey and IK Multimedia are all heading to Nashville – with the notable exception of Fender and PRS Guitars (last-minute announcements notwithstanding).

As is the case for all Summer NAMM editions, many smaller or boutique builders will also feature at the event – Red Panda, ValveTrain Amplification and Walrus Audio are among them.

How can I attend Summer NAMM 2021, and what are the COVID-safety measures in place?

Members of the public must register to attend Summer NAMM 2021 here.

NAMM has worked with the city and local authorities, following international guidance, to ensure a COVID-safe event – or what the organisation dubs “Safe And Sound” guidelines. As part of this, there will be a reimagined floor plan, touchless experiences, daily deep cleaning and other best practices. You can find out more about Safe And Sound here.

New gear from Summer NAMM 2021:

• Check out the best-in-show highlights from Summer NAMM 2021 here
• Boss has launched the EURUS GS-1, a guitar with an onboard synthesizer engine
• KMA Machines has unveiled the Guardian Of The Wurm distortion
• Gallery: Gibson Custom Shop announces the collector’s edition 1958 Korina Explorer and Flying V guitars.
• Gallery: Gibson artist models for Tony Iommi, Jerry Cantrell and Nathaniel Rateliff will be out in August, along with Epiphone Slash Collection in July.
• Gibson announced the Non-Reverse Thunderbird as the latest addition to its Original Collection.
• Kramer has taken things back to the 80s with some incredibly graphic new S-types
• IK Multimedia launches first guitar pedals, the X-Gear Series
• Gibson may launch a new USA Standard version of Tool guitarist Adam Jones’ signature Les Paul, as well as a pair of limited-edition korina Murphy Lab guitars.
• Gibson has also unveiled the Exclusives Collection, a set of special editions of its 2021 electric guitars finished in either Olive Drab or Ebony.
• Billy Gibbons has a new signature guitar from Wild Customs, featuring a rotating pickup selector
• Schecter has released a set of new guitars aimed at speedy, heavy playing
• We might get a glimpse of the Gibson Custom Shop’s special signature model Marcus King.
• Epiphone has announced the return of the USA-made Frontier.
• Gretsch has a wealth of electric guitars planned for 2021, including a spread of hollowbody models for the Players Edition series and a Signature Falcon for Richard Fortus.
• Peavey has introduced the new version of the affordable Delta Woods range of acoustic guitars
• Walrus Audio has launched a new flanger pedal, the Polychrome.

What about new Fender gear for 2021?

While Fender and its brands, barring Gretsch, are not among the exhibitors for Summer NAMM 2021, the brand has announced a whole lotta gear for the year. Here they are:

• Fender Tone Master Super Reverb
• Fender Duel Pugilist and Dual Marine Layer
• Fender signature models, including guitars for Kurt Cobain and Primal Scream
• Jackson So-Cal 2PT, a signature guitar for Misha Mansoor
• Squier’s refreshed Affinity range
• Charvel signature models for Guthrie Govan and Rick Graham
• EVH 5150 Iconic
• Jackson Pro Series signatures for Chris Broderick
• Fender California Mini
• Fender accessories: glow-in-the-dark cables, pedalboards and more