🎸 NAMM 2026: Nylon-Guitar Tosin Abasi’s Reinventing Nylon

Tosin Abasi’s long-awaited nylon-string electric guitar finally becomes reality

At Namm 2026, one of the most talked-about releases of the year has officially arrived: Tosin Abasi’s long-rumored nylon-string electric guitar is finally here. After nearly three years of development, the project has emerged as something truly distinctive — both in concept and execution.

Like every instrument bearing the ABASI name, this new model doesn’t simply follow tradition — it reimagines it. For the first time ever, Abasi Concepts partnered with another manufacturer, joining forces with Córdoba, Yamaha Guitar Group’s renowned specialist in classical and Spanish guitars. The result of this collaboration is the Abasi Stage 7, a guitar that confidently breaks genre boundaries.

Abasi first hinted at the instrument during an interview with Guitar World at last year’s NAMM, explaining that the goal was to create a nylon-string guitar built on the same design principles as other Abasi Concepts instruments: multi-scale construction, a slim body, and advanced ergonomics. Importantly, the guitar was designed not just for traditional classical players, but for musicians seeking a nylon-string instrument for recording and, above all, for live performance.

At first glance, the Abasi Stage 7 feels like a genuine meeting of minds. It draws from Córdoba’s flagship solidbody Stage nylon-string concept and its Stage Pickup System, seamlessly merged with the ergonomic Larada platform developed by Abasi Concepts.

This “unique seven-string instrument,” tuned from B to E, was engineered with resonance, low-end depth, and tonal richness at its core. Those qualities are delivered through an extensively chambered mahogany body with custom internal bracing designed to enhance projection and sustain.

Playability takes center stage thanks to 24 fanned frets, a compound-radius fingerboard, and a satin-finished neck that ensures exceptional comfort, accuracy, and fluid movement across the entire range. Additional features include an oval side sound port, a flat C-profile set mahogany neck, a rosewood fingerboard, black top purfling, and a Fusion Fan headstock capped with a rosewood overlay.

Inlaid Córdoba and Abasi logos highlight the collaborative nature of the project, while a rosewood bridge with a bone saddle and a bone nut complete the refined aesthetic of this forward-thinking instrument.

Under the hood, every Abasi Stage 7 is equipped with Córdoba’s Stage Pickup System, co-developed with Fishman. Utilizing an undersaddle transducer combined with internal body sensors, the system delivers an authentic nylon-string voice without the harsh “quack” commonly associated with piezo pickups.

A professional-grade onboard preamp features side-mounted controls for Volume, EQ, and Body Blend, offering precise tonal shaping in both studio and live environments. Staying true to Abasi’s visual identity, the guitar is available in striking Ziricote, Acacia, and Whiteburst finishes.

According to Yamaha Guitar Group, the Abasi Stage 7 defines a bold new direction in nylon-string guitar design — modern, ergonomic, and unapologetically performance-driven. It invites a new generation of forward-thinking players to explore nylon-string tones and make them their own.

Amid the high-profile releases from PRS, Ibanez, Taylor, cutting-edge Pedal innovations, powerful AMP launches, advanced Cortex processors, and iconic instruments from Fender, Gibson, and EVH, the Abasi Stage 7 stands out as one of the most innovative and exciting guitars to debut at Namm 2026.