🎸 NAMM 2026: Gibson pulls back the curtain on its 2026 guitars

Legendary Les Paul models, long-awaited signatures, and over half a century of craftsmanship

At Namm 2026, Gibson offered an exclusive preview of its 2026 guitar lineup, placing a strong emphasis on handcraftsmanship, heritage, and the people behind every instrument. With more than 50 years of electric guitar production in Nashville, Tennessee, the company is using this moment to highlight the “blood, sweat, and tears” invested in each build.

Founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1894, Gibson relocated to Music City in 1975. Arriving at Namm 2026, the brand describes its presence as “a powerful statement of innovation, craftsmanship, and artist-driven purpose.”

That vision translates into an array of brand-new acoustic and electric models, an impressive roster of signature guitars across multiple styles, and more accessible pricing for one of its most celebrated pickup designs.

🔥 Gibson Custom: Inspired by the ’50s and ’60s

The Gibson Custom division approaches 2026 with a three-part launch: the return of the ES-330, new ’50s- and ’60s-inspired ES-330 models, and the introduction of Les Paul Studio Double Trouble guitars.

The ES-330 — a thinline hollowbody electric featuring twin f-holes — makes its comeback to Gibson Custom after an eight-year absence. Equipped with P-90 pickups, which are currently enjoying a renewed spotlight, the model appears as 1959 and 1962 reissues. Both are handcrafted by Gibson artisans in Nashville and offered in two distinct vintage-inspired finishes.

Its center-block sibling, the ES-335, also joins the lineup. These versatile guitars are built using the same laminated body press employed for the original ’50s and ’60s instruments. Period-correct details abound, from historically accurate plastics and neck profiles to era-appropriate pickups and finishes.

Both ES models are scheduled for release in summer 2026.

⚡ Gibson Les Paul Studio Double Trouble

Following the enthusiastic reception of the Les Paul Standard Double Trouble models inspired by the ’50s and ’60s last year, Gibson now reinterprets the concept within the Studio line.

Built on the streamlined Les Paul Studio platform, these guitars still feature the Double Classic White Burstbucker Pro pickups, complete with coil-tap functionality for sharper, more articulate tones. This move brings these coveted pickups to a new low price point of $1,599 — a notable highlight of the 2026 announcements.

The Double Trouble Studio models are set to arrive in spring.

🌟 Signature guitars for legends and modern innovators

Gibson’s 2026 signature range balances respect for established icons with celebration of players shaping the future of electric guitar.

This philosophy is embodied by a meticulously recreated Mick Ronson 1968 Les Paul Custom — honoring David Bowie’s legendary collaborator — alongside a new, soulful Gibson Custom ES-355 for Gary Clark Jr., a guitarist praised by Eric Clapton himself. The ES-355 will be released as a limited edition version of the custom guitar built for Clark six years ago, with a more affordable Epiphone model to follow.

As previously teased, a reissue of the Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V is also on the way, complete with his unmistakable black-and-white Medallion finish.

Finally, after years of anticipation, Lamb of God’s Mark Morton is set to receive his own signature Les Paul. The Les Paul Modern Quilt has undergone extensive road testing and is now ready for official release.

🎶 Acoustic legacy revisited

In the acoustic realm, Gibson looks back a full century. The Century Collection marks the 100th anniversary of the brand’s flat-top acoustics and promises “a sound you can feel in your bones.”

These minimalist 12-fret instruments echo early 20th-century design ideals, delivering an intimate and direct playing experience. The collection is expected to launch in spring.

Also returning is the Gibson L-1, first introduced in 1902 and reimagined as a flat-top in 1926. Deeply rooted in blues history, the L-1 will be limited to just 100 instruments and finished in a Cremona Burst lacquer.

A thermally aged red spruce top is paired with mahogany back and sides, maintaining the historic 12-fret construction. Additional features include a 25-inch scale length, bound ebony fingerboard, and a mother-of-pearl script logo on the headstock.

🛠️ Honoring the craft

For 2026, Gibson emphasizes that the story is as much about its craftspeople as it is about the guitars themselves.

“We want to tell the handcrafted side of this — all the work, the blood, sweat, and tears that go into these guitars,” Gibson’s Mat Koehler told Guitar World at Namm 2026.
“These instruments don’t go into machines that simply spit out guitars. They begin as trees and become finely crafted tools.

There are so many incredible stories within our workshops, and that will be a major focus for us this year — finally telling not only how the guitars are made, but who makes them.”

There’s a great deal to take in, but also plenty to celebrate. With Gibson strengthening its position on Reverb’s list of best-selling guitars in 2025, the 2026 lineup may push the brand even further forward.