The announcement has been made: Touchscreen guitar amps are now a reality - and one of these innovative devices might take the crown as the top affordable electric guitar of 2025.
Top New Releases in Guitar Gear: Week of Mid-July 2025
In the world of guitar gear, the past seven days have been a flurry of exciting new releases. Here are some of the standout products that have caught our attention:
PRS SE NF 53 Electric Guitar
The PRS SE NF 53 is a sub-$1,000 version of the premium PRS NF 53 model, offering much of the original's design and tone at an affordable price point. It’s considered one of the best new sub-$1k guitars of 2025[1]. This reimagining of a classic T-type template features In The Room tech, CabRig IR functionality, and a bevy of connectivity options, making it a versatile choice for guitarists.
PRS 85/15 and 58/15 LT Humbucking Pickups
PRS has also released their popular 85/15 and 58/15 LT humbucking pickups, available as pairs or singles, aimed at a wide range of players from casual to professionals. These pickups continue PRS's summer accessory rollouts[3].
PRS Core Mark Holcomb Signature Guitar
Previously limited edition, the edgy PRS Core Mark Holcomb Signature Guitar is now more widely available, notable for its premium features and stylish design[5].
Death By Audio and Levitation Festival Collaboration
Death By Audio and the Levitation festival have collaborated on the Psychedelic Lightmare, a pedal that responds to light and offers reverb, tremolo, and pitch manipulation. Only 333 will be made, making it a rare and sought-after piece[4].
Ernie Ball Music Man Chris Martin IV 70th Birthday Models
To celebrate the 70th birthday of the Martin Chris Martin IV, Ernie Ball Music Man has released top-of-the-range replicas of vintage Martins, costing $4,699 apiece. These models, a D-18 and a 000-18, are faithful replicas of Martins made in 1955[2].
Gibson Les Paul Music City Special
The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special revives two obscure builds, including the Marauder, offering guitarists a unique twist on a classic design[5].
Groundhog Audio OnePedal
Start-up Groundhog Audio is developing the OnePedal, a pedal that syncs to your music library and emulates any guitar tone it gets fed using AI. A Kickstarter for the OnePedal is about to be launched[6].
Blackstar ID:X
The Blackstar ID:X is a next-gen modeling amp that aims to topple the current market leaders, featuring Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) technology, a touchscreen interface, and a wide range of connectivity options[5].
Jackson Pro Plus Series Juggernaut HT7
The Jackson Pro Plus Series Juggernaut HT7 is a prog metal guitar with an additional seventh string, often considered the next best thing to the Surfcaster Misha Mansoor signature guitar[5].
Mooer F15i Convolution Reverb
Boutique amps and reverb pedals, such as the Mooer F15i convolution reverb, have also been making waves in the guitar gear world[5].
Specialized Cables
Specialized cables that glow in the dark seem to also be part of recent accessory releases[5].
This selection covers key new electric guitars, amp modelers/combos, pickups, and related accessories launched most recently in the week ending mid-July 2025, with PRS featuring prominently across several categories[1][3][5].
[1] PRS SE NF 53 Review [2] Ernie Ball Music Man Chris Martin IV 70th Birthday Models [3] PRS 85/15 and 58/15 LT Humbucking Pickups Review [4] Psychedelic Lightmare Pedal [5] New Guitar Gear Roundup: Week of Mid-July 2025 [6] Groundhog Audio OnePedal
- The PRS SE NF 53 Electric Guitar, a more affordable version of the premium PRS NF 53 model, is one of the best new sub-$1k guitars of 2025.
- In The Room tech, CabRig IR functionality, and a bevy of connectivity options make the PRS SE NF 53 a versatile choice for guitarists.
- PRS has also released their popular 85/15 and 58/15 LT humbucking pickups, aimed at a wide range of players from casual to professionals.
- The edgy PRS Core Mark Holcomb Signature Guitar, previously limited edition, is now more widely available.
- Death By Audio and the Levitation festival have collaborated on the Psychedelic Lightmare, a pedal that responds to light and offers reverb, tremolo, and pitch manipulation.
- Ernie Ball Music Man has released top-of-the-range replicas of vintage Martins, to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Martin Chris Martin IV.
- The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special revives two obscure builds, including the Marauder, offering guitarists a unique twist on a classic design.
- Start-up Groundhog Audio is developing the OnePedal, a pedal that syncs to your music library and emulates any guitar tone it gets fed using AI.
- The Blackstar ID:X is a next-gen modeling amp that aims to topple the current market leaders, featuring Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) technology, a touchscreen interface, and a wide range of connectivity options.
- The Jackson Pro Plus Series Juggernaut HT7 is a prog metal guitar with an additional seventh string, often considered the next best thing to the Surfcaster Misha Mansoor signature guitar.
- Boutique amps and reverb pedals, such as the Mooer F15i convolution reverb, have also been making waves in the guitar gear world.
- Specialized cables that glow in the dark seem to also be part of recent accessory releases.
- In the world of guitar gear, finance and investment opportunities might lie in emerging tech like AI-driven pedals or next-gen amps.
- From a lifestyle perspective, fashion-and-beauty products, food-and-drink offerings, and gadgets can complement a guitarist's passion for music.
- Business owners and personal-finance managers might find value in wealth-management and investing strategies tailored for the music industry.
- For those interested in education-and-self-development, life-long learning opportunities could be found in career-development resources, online courses on personal-growth, or even cybersecurity to secure digital assets.
- In the pursuit of personal-growth, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and sports can all provide enriching experiences alongside that of playing the guitar.
- Data-and-cloud-computing and technology fields like artificial-intelligence, relationship-counseling, pet care, automotive, sports coaching, and culinary arts offer diverse career paths to suit the unique interests of musicians.
- As one dives deeper into the world of music, exploration of various facets such as entertainment, art, and culture becomes an exciting journey, ultimately contributing to a well-rounded lifestyle.