NAMM Show 2026 Buyer’s Guide: Part I

Accessories

D’Addario Launches XPND Core Pedalboards and Backline Core Transport Bags

D’Addario expands its XPND Pedalboard Series with two new products designed to simplify, strengthen, and elevate modern pedalboard setups: the XPND Core Pedalboards and the Backline Core Pedalboard Transport Bags.

XPND Core Pedalboards
Available in both compact 2-rail and larger 4-rail sizes, XPND Core Pedalboards include pre-applied hook-and-loop strips and an integrated cable management system for clean, secure setups. Players can easily upgrade with XPND Expansion Kits, transforming Core Pedalboards into a fully adjustable XPND Pedalboard that grows with their style and musical needs. XPND Core is the non-adjustable version of our revolutionary expanding pedalboard and designed for players who want a simple, ready-to-build layout with no setup time.

Availability & Pricing

XPND Core Small: $69.99

XPND Core Large: $129.99

Expansion Kits: $64.99-$111.99

Backline Core Pedalboard Transport Bags
Designed as the perfect companion to the Core Pedalboards, the new Backline Core Pedalboard Transport Bags offer players a tough, lightweight, gig-ready solution for transporting pedalboard systems. Each bag is tailored specifically to fit the Core 1 (single-row) and Core 2 (double-row) pedalboard sizes.

Featuring rugged exterior construction, reinforced handles, soft padded interior protection, and dedicated storage compartments for accessories and cables, Backline Core Bags deliver dependable protection and convenience for musicians on the move.

Highlights

Tailored Fit: Designed specifically for Core 1 and Core 2 pedalboards.

Durable Exterior: Heavy-duty fabric with reinforced straps.

Padded Interior: Soft liner safeguards pedals and gear.

Extra Storage: Interior/exterior compartments for cables and accessories.

Lightweight & Gig-Ready: Built for easy transport without added bulk.

Availability & Pricing
Available now through daddario.com and authorized retailers.

Small: $45.99

Large: $79.99

Fretted

FMIC Celebrates Iron Maiden’s Landmark 50th Anniversary with Signature Guitar Collection

In celebration of Iron Maiden’s landmark 50th Anniversary, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announces new releases from the Fender Custom Shop, Fender® and Jackson® – series of instruments set to honor the iconic band’s influential and enduring legacy. Since forming in East London in 1975, the trailblazers, often credited with having pioneered the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement with their genre-defining sound and theatrical live performances, garnering a dedicated cult fanbase and selling more than 100 million records to date worldwide.

Across the group’s five-decade spanning career, guitarist Dave Murray has been a mainstay on Iron Maiden’s 17 studio albums; with climactic solos, galloping riffs, and the band’s renowned multi-guitar harmonies cementing Murray as one of heavy metal’s most legendary guitarists. Celebrating the artistry and talent that has remained instrumental in defining the group’s signature sound, Fender Custom Shop (FCS) Masterbuilder Andy Hicks teamed up with Dave Murray to create a stunning new incarnation of his favorite Fender guitar in the Limited Edition Masterbuilt Dave Murray Stratocaster®.

To create the incredible Limited Edition Stratocaster®, Hicks worked closely with Murray to devise a high-performance guitar that could keep up with the rigors of global touring. Powerful, punchy and versatile, it boasts 21 medium jumbo stainless-steel frets and an oil-finished ‘60s-style Oval “C”-shaped walnut neck, offering exceptional comfort and effortless playability. Coupled with Murray’s tried and true combination of Seymour Duncan® Hot Rails® bridge and neck pickups and a JB Jr.™ middle pickup, it perfectly handles galloping rhythms and soaring leads. With premium parts upgrades, the unique and stylishly tasteful Stratocaster is flawlessly finished in NOS Olympic White.

Custom Shop Limited Edition Masterbuilt Dave Murray Stratocaster® ($11,000.00 USD, £10,399.00 GBP, €12,199.00 EUR, $18,999 AUD, ¥1,790,800 JPY).

The 2-piece select alder body is flawlessly finished in NOS Olympic White and is paired with an oil-finished ‘60s-style Oval “C”-shaped walnut neck for an incredibly comfortable, high-performance Strat®. With a flat-laminated, 9.5” to 14” compound radius rosewood fingerboard and 21 medium jumbo stainless-steel frets, this guitar plays effortlessly. Loaded with Murray’s tried and true combination of Seymour Duncan® Hot Rails® bridge and neck pickups and a JB Jr.™ middle pickup, this Strat is powerful, punchy and perfect for intricate, galloping rhythm parts and soaring leads. To keep up with the rigors of global touring, Murray and Hicks landed on a combination of premium parts upgrades ranging from the addition of an AxLabs® Tone Claw Locking Spring Claw and Heavy Duty Noiseless Springs to suite of FU-Tone components (42mm Big Brass Block and Tremolo Stopper, Titanium String Lock Screws, Saddle Mounting Screws, Nut Clamp Screws, Lock Nut Blocks, Saddle Inserts and Bridge Posts). After road-testing this latest incarnation of his favorite Fender, it’s easy to see why the Limited Edition Masterbuilt Dave Murray Stratocaster® is his new #1. Other premium features include Dave Murray signature neckplate, vintage-style tuners, Fender Custom Shop strap and certificate of authenticity.

As Iron Maiden celebrate their landmark 50th Anniversary, they remain one of heavy metal’s most influential and enduring forces. Defined by galloping bass lines, multi-guitar harmonies, operatic vocals and the ever-evolving presence of their iconic figurehead “Eddie,” the band’s unmistakable sound has inspired generations of fans around the world. With 17 studio albums and more than 100 million records sold, their legacy continues to shape the evolution of metal five decades on.

Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Janick Gers Stratocaster®($1,699.99 USD, £1,449 GBP, €1,749 EUR, $2399 AUD, ¥220,000 JPY) 

Janick Gers joined Iron Maiden in 1990, bringing his explosive energy and dynamic playing style to the band’s distinctive multi-guitar attack. Known for his energetic stage presence—featuring dramatic spins and guitar-flinging showmanship—Gers has contributed technical precision and melodic sensibilities to Iron Maiden’s sound for over three decades. The 50th Anniversary Iron Maiden Janick Gers Stratocaster comes in a classic Black finish and includes a 7.25” radius rosewood fingerboard with vintage tall frets and Seymour Duncan® JB Jr.™ neck and bridge pickups. Other features include a Fender® Vintage-style Synchronized Tremolo with bent steel saddles, 50th Anniversary neck plate and Gers’ signature on the back of the headstock. Offered in Rosewood Fingerboard, Black finish. Fender.com online exclusive guitar.

Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Dave Murray Stratocaster® ($1,799.99 USD, £1,499 GBP, €1,799 EUR, $2,999 AUD, ¥291,500 JPY) 

Dave Murray’s iconic Stratocaster models have part-shaped the band’s distinctive multi-guitar attack for decades. Combining the best features of Dave’s favorite Fender guitars – three Seymour Duncan® pickups, compound-radius fingerboard and a Floyd Rose® R2 double-locking tremolo – the 50th Anniversary Iron Maiden Dave Murray Stratocaster delivers legendary tone, superb feel and an iconic look that has been center stage throughout the band’s historic career. Offered in Rosewood Fingerboard, Black finish.

Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Steve Harris Precision Bass® ($1,699.99 USD, £1,699 GBP, €1,999 EUR, $2,799 AUD, ¥275,000 JPY) 

Steve Harris’ dynamic basslines have made him one of the most influential metal bassists alive. Harris has stayed true to his battle-hardened Fender® Precision Bass® over the years, and his new 50th Anniversary signature model now comes in an elegant Satin Black finish with an all-maple neck and body with complementing mirrored pickguard. Other ironclad features include a powerful Precision split P Bass® pickup, Fender® Vintage Precision Bridge, Fender® round-wound strings and Harris’ signature on the back of the headstock. A set of Rotosound® Steve Harris Signature flat-wound strings are included in the gig bag. Available in Maple Fingerboard, Satin Black finish.

Adrian Smith’s guitar legacy spans Iron Maiden’s most defining eras, from the band’s breakthrough albums in the 1980s through decades of global touring that have anchored their place in metal history. As the architect behind some of metal’s most memorable solos and a master of the band’s signature multi-guitar harmonies, Smith’s deep understanding of tone and performance drives every aspect of this instrument’s design. For this 50th Anniversary tribute, Adrian personally selected his favorite guitar elements from Jackson’s extensive lineup, creating an instrument that embodies the tonal versatility and performance reliability he demands both in the studio and on stage.

50th Anniversary Adrian Smith Jackson SC1 ($1,799.99 USD, £1,499 GBP, €1,799 EUR, $2,999 AUD, ¥264,000JPY) 

Adrian Smith’s iconic SC1 has shaped the band’s distinctive multi-guitar attack for decades. Combining the best features of Adrian’s favorite Jackson guitars – DP 100 DiMarzio® and Fender®’s Noiseless™  Sumerian Cobalt pickups, 12-16” compound-radius fingerboard and a top mounted Floyd Rose® double-locking tremolo – the 50th Anniversary Iron Maiden Adrian Smith Jackson SC1 delivers legendary tone, superb feel and an iconic look that has been center stage (or stage right!) throughout the band’s historic career.

PRS Guitars Announces the Fiore HH

PRS Guitars recently announced the PRS Fiore HH, a dual-humbucker version of GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist, composer, producer Mark Lettieri’s signature model. An addition to the Fiore family, the Fiore HH offers a new configuration, changing from the original’s single-single-hum, to hum only, and swapping the Fiore’s maple fretboard for rosewood. It is available in both gloss and satin finishes. 

“For players who love the specifications and versatility of the original Fiore but whose sound revolves more around humbuckers, this is the guitar for you,” said Mark Lettieri.

With a swamp ash body, 25.5” scale length maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fretboard, and two-point steel tremolo, the Fiore HH offers another tonal platform for those searching for vibrancy, dynamics, balance, and clarity. 

The Fiore-H humbuckers have enough power and punch for high-gain lead tones but with a smooth top end that allows the pickup to be played clean, even with the volume knob wide open. By pairing these pickups with a master volume, two push/pull tone knobs, and 3-way blade switch, the Fiore HH brings exciting voicing options to players. Each tone control acts as an individual series/parallel selector for each pickup. When in series, the pickups offer the full humbucker sound – warm full lows and mids and an articulate top end. When in parallel, the pickups take on more of a single-coil sparkle with a slightly scooped feel and more brilliance. In all, players can explore eight tonal combinations. 

The original Fiore is still in the PRS Bolt-On Series catalog as well, in all of its single-single-hum glory. 

The First Ever Abbey Road Guitar: Gretsch Studiomatic

Gretsch and Abbey Road Studios partner to announce the LIMITED EDITION ABBEY ROAD RS201 STUDIOMATIC. Designed specifically for recording, the Studiomatic merges the iconic sounds of Abbey Road Studios and Gretsch into a guitar built for tonal flexibility, clarity and mix-readiness. For the first time, Abbey Road’s technology has been incorporated directly into the signal path of a guitar, with the integration of a circuit inspired by the classic RS 97 Rumble Filter, a technology designed in the 1950s by the EMI team at Abbey Road to remove very low-frequency and mechanical vibrations from recordings. The incorporation of this unique circuitry offers guitarists unprecedented tonal control, retaining clarity in complex arrangements without sacrificing warmth, allowing musicians to bring the coveted Abbey Road technology directly into their playing, at home, live or in the studio. In recognition of this groundbreaking innovation, Abbey Road Studios has assigned the Studiomatic a new Recording Studio (RS) number RS 201, marking the first time in history that Abbey Road’s legendary ‘RS’ numbering has been awarded to a musical instrument.

The partnership between Gretsch and Abbey Road Studios celebrates the legacy and innovation of two iconic brands that continue to empower musicians worldwide. Gretsch’s dedication to hand-craftsmanship and commitment to quality has pioneered new designs and manufacturing techniques, earning endorsements from legendary artists including George Harrison of The Beatles. Meanwhile, Abbey Road Studios, synonymous with iconic artists such as Kate Bush, Fela Kuti, Oasis and Amy Winehouse, has been at the forefront of recording technology since the 1930s. From the invention of stereo sound to the groundbreaking innovation of Artificial Double Tracking, the studios’ technical innovations have shaped the sound of modern recording. Designed with a shared dedication to sonic excellence, innovation and craftsmanship, the Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic continues this tradition of innovation, offering musicians cutting-edge tools to realize their creative vision.

With its unique and iconic history, Abbey Road’s mission has always been to unlock the greatest musical potential in every artist who walks through its doors. Innovation has always been at the heart of Abbey Road, and its engineers have consistently pushed technological boundaries, setting new standards for excellence in recording.

The Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic is a thin hollow-body guitar crafted for clear muddy low-end and low-mids. This guitar features Filter’Tron pickups that are both vintage inspired and modern voiced. This guitar features an onboard filter circuit inspired by the “Rumble Filter,” invented by Abbey Road engineers in the 1950s, allowing players and engineers to easily roll-off low end frequencies, to achieve recording-ready tone straight from the guitar. Crafted to address the challenge of making a guitar truly studio-native, the Abbey Road Studiomatic stands as both a high-performance instrument and a bold statement of intent from Abbey Road and Gretsch: a tool designed not only for performance but to empower artists and producers in shaping their sound with precision.

Pro Audio

Introducing the ARIA 2 from Sontronics

Sontronics, a British microphone manufacturer, is proud to announce the ARIA 2, a completely redesigned valve condenser microphone for vocals, voice over and acoustic instruments. The new model builds on the legacy of the original ARIA, one of Sontronics’ most successful and best-loved microphones, used in studios around the world by artists including Adele and Ed Sheeran.

“ARIA was one of our most-loved microphones, but we knew we could push things even further,” said Miles, product manager, Sontronics. “With ARIA 2, we’ve retained the soul of the original while refining every element of its design and performance.”

At the heart of ARIA 2 is a brand new large-diaphragm capsule, developed in-house to deliver a smoother, more open sound with beautifully balanced mids and detailed high frequencies. This new capsule captures vocals and instruments with clarity and warmth, making it ideal for studio use.

The upgraded internal circuitry has been tuned for higher polarization voltage, resulting in greater sensitivity, lower self-noise and a cleaner, more dynamic signal straight out of the box. Whether you’re recording vocals, spoken word or acoustic instruments, ARIA 2 helps your sound sit naturally in the mix with minimal post-processing.

Its new black finish with gold accents gives ARIA 2 a sleek, refined look, while the engraved detailing and robust metal body reflect the quality of its build. Each mic is supplied in a custom ABS flight case with laser-cut foam for secure storage and transport. 

As you come to expect from Sontronics, the ARIA 2 is designed, engineered and hand-built at the headquarters on the south coast of England. Plus, it’s backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, giving professionals and creators long-term confidence in their sound.

From high-end recording studios to remote VO setups, ARIA 2 is designed to deliver exceptional results across a wide range of applications. It’s already being used on records, albums, and video game scores, proof of its adaptability and world-class quality.

DPA Microphones’ N-Series Wireless Mic System Now Available in the United States

DPA Microphones announces the immediate availability of its new N-Series Digital Wireless Microphone System for customers throughout the U.S. In addition to the wireless receiver, plus bodypack and handheld transmitters, the system also ships with the brand’s new 2024 Vocal Microphone, which was designed specifically for the N-Series.

A fully digital, true diversity wideband solution, N-Series delivers DPA’s well-known sound quality in a robust and easy-to-operate format that is well-suited for a wide array of live, house of worship and corporate events as well as installed systems applications.

In addition to the dedicated wideband capabilities available with each N-Series device, the extreme flexibility of the solution makes it an invaluable investment for live event rental companies. The system’s industry-standard connections enable it to be used with a variety of microphones, including several DPA models.

“We are excited to bring the N-Series to professionals here in the United States,” says Christopher Spahr, vice president of Sales & Marketing, DPA Microphones North America. “Great sound involves every stage of the signal path, so our engineering team has taken its expertise beyond the microphone to create a wireless system that embodies DPA’s renowned transparent sound quality. In an era of increasingly crowded RF environments, the N-Series provides engineers with unmatched reliability, flexibility and clarity in a true diversity, true digital and true wideband system that’s also simple to use.”

Band & Orchestra

Chambord CAS-50 Alto (Cognac) from Château Wind

The Chambord 50 Series combines rich, dark sound with exceptional craftsmanship. Its big bell boosts volume and warmth, while the ribbed construction ensures durability and clarity. The High F# key expands your range, and double arms on bell keys provide smooth action. In addition, the Chambord 50 Series offers a variety of exquisite finish options, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your personal style. Elegant engraving and mother of pearl key buttons add a luxurious touch. Perfect for both professionals and enthusiasts, the Chambord 50 Series delivers outstanding sound and style in one stunning instrument.

Brass

Big Bell

Ribbed Construction

High F#

Double Arms on Bell Keys

Luxuriant Bell & Bow Engraved

Mother of Pearl Key Buttons

Piano & Keyboard

Casio Expands Celviano Digital Piano Line with Elegant New Gray Beige Finish

Casio has announced that three of its acclaimed Celviano digital piano models—the AP-750, AP-S450, and AP-S200—will each feature a stunning new Gray Beige finish. These new options will be available beginning October 7.

Currently offered in Black, Rosewood, and White, Casio’s Celviano line now adds Gray Beige—a warm yet sophisticated neutral that complements any décor and brings timeless elegance to living rooms, music rooms, and multipurpose spaces.

Casio’s Celviano series has established a reputation for outstanding sound quality, dependable craftsmanship, and advanced technology. From the finely textured simulated ebony and ivory keys to the carefully sampled Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, and New York Grand Piano Tones, Celviano pianos bring world-class music-making into the home with elegance and sophistication.

“For decades, Casio has brought music into people’s lives,” said Brian Piccolo, senior GM of Sales for Casio’s Electronic Musical Instruments Division. “The new Gray Beige finish makes Celviano pianos both exceptional instruments and stylish additions to any home.”

Pricing and Availability

The Gray Beige finish is currently available, for the following models at leading music retailers nationwide and at CasioMusicGear.com:

– AP-750 (Black, Rosewood, White, Gray Beige) – $3,399 MSRP
– AP-S450 (Black, Rosewood, White, Gray Beige) – $1,999 MSRP
– AP-S200 (Black, Rosewood, White, Gray Beige) – $1,499 MSRP