5 COOL THINGS by Chris Rocha
Every year I always look forward to attending the NAMM show , a guitarist ’ s paradise . This year ’ s event , held in Anaheim , California , did not disappoint . The NAMM 2025 show was a treasure trove of innovative gear , exciting new products , and inspiring performances . I ’ ll share my 5 cool things I saw at the show .
The AEG - 1 Acoustic Guitar from LR Baggs . I specifically went to their booth to try it and experience it in its full glory . I ’ ve been totally sold on their acoustic pickups for some time now . I don ’ t even think there ’ s a close second when it comes to the sound they put out . I was very impressed with this guitar . It felt great and the tone shined right away . The electronics feature an all-discrete studio grade preamp with a multi-pole crossover system that seamlessly blends the HiFi Pickups and Silo Mic for an inspiring feel and sound in any position . I ’ d love to try it out at a live concert . I know that the sound guy will definitely like it . $ 1,599 reverb . com / shop / worshipguitarplayer
The performances were amazing . Cece Winans did the Thursday Yamaha Night of Worship , and she crushed it . She ’ s always been such an amazing singer and comes across so genuine . Jacob Collier , Jack White , Peter Frampton and Jon Batiste were some of the other performers I saw while at NAMM .
photo courtesy of NAMM
The new Ciari Trio HSS I played at the Ciari Guitars booth and used the new Trio HSS model , and it roared . Ciari has cracked the code in making a guitar that can fold in half as a travel guitar and not only look cool but sound and feel great . The bold , highgain crunch of the HSS with a ‘ 59 humbucker in the bridge , or the rich , balanced warmth of the HSH with dual humbuckers . This guitar performed great for me and I will definitely get me one this year . Ciari Guitars $ 1,599 and up … ciariguitars . com
The Nucleo reverb pedal from Cornerstone . This one definitely caught my attention . This pedal is just about to be released and the stuff you can do with it is insane . It ’ s a Paul Davids signature pedal and it makes a statement . The NUCLEO offers ambience and cinematic soundscapes with unique features like a special freeze , granular , various pitch shifting , modulation , presets , MIDI and more . Keep your on it and get one as soon as you can . Price TBD cornerstonemusicgear . com
All new firmware updates on Helix and POD Go This year was the 10th year anniversary for Helix and that pedal was a total game changer for me . I was able to try all the new amps , effects , cabs and features the new updates come with and I was extremely impressed . Line 6 keeps raising the bar and staying ahead of the other companies by continually innovating . I did a full demo livestream with the POD Go new firmware update and so many people were blown away by the tones I was able to create with it . Price : Free Line6 . com
In conclusion , NAMM 2025 was an unforgettable experience that left me feeling inspired , excited , and grateful to be a part of the guitar community . From sustainable guitars to digital innovations , boutique pedals to acoustic advancements , and performances that showcased the best of our industry , this year ’ s show had something for every guitarist . If you missed NAMM 2025 , mark your calendars for next year ’ s event – it ’ s an experience you won ’ t want to miss .
52 February 2025 Subscribe for Free ...