New Bass stuff at NAMM 2026

[kodiakblair]

I watched the Peter K Lee video earlier today.

 

Maybe it was just the stalls he visited but heehaw interested me. Plenty burl tops in evidence and bold colours ; all on the same old standard designs we had for decades.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

[SumOne]

You want something new and different instead of just re-releases and new paint jobs? .....we'll, this is what you get:

 

https://musictech.com/news/gear/groove-thing-music-buttplug-namm/

[NancyJohnson]

Well, as NAMM 2026 is more or less done and dusted, my personal opinion is that it was pretty underwhelming from a bass perspective.

 

The majority of (new?) basses just seem to be reissues/reboots of decades old designs and the amps/processing all a bit meh to be honest. 

 

Where's the innovation?

[SumOne]

 

3 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

Well, as NAMM 2026 is more or less done and dusted, my personal opinion is that it was pretty underwhelming from a bass perspective.

 

The majority of (new?) basses just seem to be reissues/reboots of decades old designs and the amps/processing all a bit meh to be honest. 

 

Where's the innovation?

https://musictech.com/news/gear/groove-thing-music-buttplug-namm/

Edited 4 hours ago by SumOne

[Homatron]

Haha... that ought to be added to the  IEM megathread.

[NancyJohnson]

5 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

 

Four grand.  Jeepers.  It's an SB-1000 with his name on it.  Can't you pick up an original one for a quarter of that?

 

Maybe this'll be the start of something for Aria.  The Buggles edition.  The Planet Earth edition.  Take a stock(ish) instrument, slap a facsimile signature on it, sell it as something special.

[40hz]

I said a couple of years ago, that it was only a matter of time before the Indonesian, Sterling by Musicmans went upmarket and started the slow creep into becoming 'real' Musicman Stingrays. This 'session' looks to be the start of that.

 

Give it 5 years and they'll be 'the' Stingray. With the Specials being a small run, 5k+ model.

[BassApprentice]

 

34 minutes ago, 40hz said:

Give it 5 years and they'll be 'the' Stingray. With the Specials being a small run, 5k+ model.

I look forward to the multi-page discussion about how the Specials are too expensive/reasonable value vs other builders such as Sadowsky, Fodera and the like 😂

 

I don't doubt the quality of the Sterling range, but everyone seems to be reaching for the top limit. Where's the fun in that 😒