At Summer NAMM 2017, the French company BAM released some of its new cases, including three new models for acoustic guitar — OM, Grand Concert, and 000 sizes. Cases come with injected foam cushions on the inside, which give the guitar added suspension, and a removable accessory pouch. The outside is a tripleply structure made of…

At Summer NAMM 2017, TKL released some of its new cases, (all handmade in Virginia) one of which was a Concept Dreadnought Case, a lightweight, durable hardshell that comes in a multitude of sizes (Double 0, Triple 0, Small Jumbo, and Jumbo were all mentioned) and colors (black, white, gold, slate blue, and silver). Also demoed was a…

The fine Danish company T-Rex Engineering made a splash a the 2017 Summer NAMM in Nashville by spotlighting their new SoulMate Acoustic multi-effects pedal, which, as the name implies, is aimed squarely at acoustic guitarists. Like all of the company’s products, the SoulMate Acoustic is designed to be both compact…

At Summer NAMM 2017, Eastman introduced some of its new guitars, including a few ThermoCured flattops, a new variation on Eastman’s E20D and and E20 OM models. Eastman is working with a new pickguard manufacturer, so the guitars demoed feature new, more authentic-looking pickguards. Also introduced was Eastman’s Custom Edition, a new series of USA-modified instruments. Featured…

At the 2017 Summer NAMM show, Composite Acoustics, the maker of rugged carbon fiber guitars, displayed some of the results of its recent finishing updates. Instead of the standard gloss, each Composite Acoustics guitar now has a satin-finished back, which is both more durable and easier to maintain. The company’s red and blue finishes…

At the 2017 Summer NAMM show, in Nashville, Connolly Music Company introduced the new Faith Naked Series dreadnought, a minimally appointed, oil-finished workhorse with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. At $599, this instrument offers a great value for an all-solid-wood guitar. Connolly also showcased a new amplifier, the Genzler Acoustic…

At Summer NAMM 2017, Bedell Guitars introduced its new Revolution Series, which featured a dreadnought with a red spruce top, cocobolo back and sides, and a compound tapered dovetail neck joint. In addition to dreadnoughts, the Revolution Series also comes in orchestra and parlor body shapes. Watch more videos from Summer NAMM…

At Summer NAMM 2017, Breezy Ridge introduced the new Musica Pro, a chair with flexible adjustment possibilities that can accommodate players of all heights and instrument types. The legs offer a 15-cm height adjustability, and the depth, height of the backrest, and tilt are also similarly modifiable. Watch the video for more info on the Musica…

At Summer NAMM 2017, Gretsch Guitars released its new Limited Edition Jim Dandy 24″ Scale Flat Top Guitar, a parlor-style model with an agathis body, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, 18 vintage-style frets and pearloid dot inlays, and a bronze-burst finish. Watch the video for more info from Dave at Gretsch. Watch more…

The Canadian parent company Godin Guitars brought some interesting new models to the 2017 Summer NAMM show, representing great value in North American–made guitars. The Art & Lutherie Roadhouse is a parlor guitar that takes its cue from Depression-era flattops. It features a solid spruce top and laminated wild cherry back and…

In the late 1990s, engineer and luthier Cory Batson started building unconventional acoustic guitars one at a time in his Nashville area workshop. At the 2017 Summer NAMM show he introduced some Korean-made Grand Concert models, whose designs conform as closely as possible to his original boutique instruments in terms of…

Ovation fans were understandably disappointed when the company shut down its U.S. operations in 2014. But things are now back in full swing at the old factory, in New Hartford, Connecticut. The Adamas line is in production, as are the Custom Legend USA and Elite lines. At the 2017 Summer…