NAMM trends, good or bad

[pingvuiini]

After perusing wintremutes wonderful gallery of photos from NAMM 2025, I noticed a disturbing trend: Jazz bass variants with pickguards that have a notch where a non existent jack plate would be. I can take a Jazz jack plate and no pickguard a la Jaco or only knobs with no jack plate or pickguard. But I find it abhorrent to have a pickguard with that notch and no jack plate. Gaugh!!

Post your own trend observations.

 

[Gorn]

Huh?

 

[Gorn]

Oh! You mean the notch in the pickguard next to the first knob? Jack plate = control plate?

There's only so many ways they can make a Fendery looking bass not look exactly like a Fender. I'm not mad at it.

 

[mikeoso]

I see one picture, the scond one, that's doing what I think you're talking about. Not hardly a trend. Guessing that maker, not a major one, wanted a pg that would fit other models. Everything else either has no pg or is notched for knobs. Like @Gorn said, "Huh?"

 

[richntiff]

My takeaway from the incredible, exhaustive, comprehensive job that he did, was that everything looked like it had been done before. I saw no innovation, no excitement. I just saw a whole bunch of gear that was mostly ridiculously expensive or too cheap to be of any use. New gear for the sake of new gear. None of it drove me to think I'd want to try to buy it. Just... bleah..... Not to take anything away from mr. wintremute - his photos, descriptions, and HUMOR were outstanding, and so very much appreciated. Apparently, I'm reaching a place in my life where I'm satisfied not looking for a shiny new thing.

 

[DJ Bebop]

My takeaway from the incredible, exhaustive, comprehensive job that he did, was that everything looked like it had been done before. I saw no innovation, no excitement. I just saw a whole bunch of gear that was mostly ridiculously expensive or too cheap to be of any use. New gear for the sake of new gear. None of it drove me to think I'd want to try to buy it. Just... bleah..... Not to take anything away from mr. wintremute - his photos, descriptions, and HUMOR were outstanding, and so very much appreciated. Apparently, I'm reaching a place in my life where I'm satisfied not looking for a shiny new thing.

Part of the problem for manufacturers is, fear. Fear that something innovative will not sell because it is not Fenderest in style. Regardless of what some say they want especially if its made by Fender. People say they want new and innovative yet when something is released that is new, very small sales are achieved. Either its not enough innovation or too much. There is a reason Fender still cranks out what it does and other follows in their footsteps. As I see it anyway

 

[gln1955]

The only thing I saw that was offensive were the clear pick guards.

 

[Chrisk-K]

My take is that too many basses have ugly headstocks.

 

[Bent77]

Missing the switch plate makes it look unfinished

And +1 to the clear pickguard

 

[musicmansf]

I think any rear routed J-style body need the knobs moved away from the neck pickup area and closer to the offset lower body section (or at least I’m about to find out soon why Leo didn’t think of that originally ).

 

[funkinbottom]

everything looked like it had been done before. I saw no innovation, no excitement.

Agree. Nothing really new as far as deign/ innovation. A lot of the same ol' FSO from a bunch of different companies.

 

[BismarckHerring]

Looks fine to me.

 

[carsonchilders]

I completely agree with you.

 

[Fynn]

I looked at the pictures before I read the post and I honestly didn't notice the missing plate. But now I can't stop looking at it.
Though I must admit that I'm generally not a fan of the jazz style body shape. The offset in the shape always looked kinda weirdly big. And adding to that the thinner necks you usually have on jazz basses, makes the body just look more massive and weird.

I'm not gonna make any friends with that comment.

 

[bofat]

That Tiny Bass on the left reminds me of the chubby kid in third grade. idk why

 

[luckydawgg169]

Agree. Nothing really new as far as deign/ innovation. A lot of the same ol' FSO from a bunch of different companies.

Exactly,

Fender has already over saturated the market…. Now the only other alternatives also look like the Fenders?…

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Of all the actual new trends at NAMM this is what you picked up on as a trend? Weird

 

[pfschim]

Of all the actual new trends at NAMM this is what you picked up on as a trend? Weird

don't leave us hanging bro, what new trends did he miss ??

 

[J Wilson]

Instruments are fashion.

Look at paint colors and hardware finishes from 20 years ago, not many still around.

 

[abarson]

re: the notch. Yeah, it looks odd.

My observations based on the NAMM25 threads here on TB and elsewhere:
1. Everyone and their mother is producing a FSO, predominantly of the J version. Ad nauseam.
2. Hardly any short scales, or hollow/semihollow basses. It's like the fad is over. Even Ibanez doesn't appear to have displayed any AFB/AGB models, only the TCB. Didn't see Guild in the threads. Huber was the lone representative.
3. Still a lot of cool unique finishes.