NAMM 2026 BLOG

I’m writing this the day after landing from a long flight. Two days after saying goodbye to friends and colleagues. Five days after tearing down the stand.

But most importantly: one week after we unveiled an entirely new Chapman to the world.

Putting that moment into words isn’t easy. The buzz of revealing something we’ve poured ourselves into for 2025. The quiet panic of what if something gets damaged in transit? The nerves of waiting to hear what the famously vocal guitar community will think.

And then the payoff… watching someone hit their favourite riff and either break into a grin… or pull that unmistakable guitar face. You know the one.

This short blog is here to introduce the new line and the changes we’ve made while we wait on proper studio photos.

Thank you for sticking with us over the years. We’re genuinely excited to have you with us for the next chapter of Chapman Guitars.

Info on pricing and availability will be released soon. But ask your local dealer to contact us now and we’ll make sure they get the information they need.

2026: A RENEWED FOCUS

We’ve always been driven by one simple idea… Our guitars are designed around the player. In 2026 we have a renewed focus on the needs of today’s working musicians.

From the big changes to the small tweaks, every design choice in our new lineup is shaped by feedback from guitarists who put their instruments to the test night after night.

We haven’t changed our core philosophy, we’ve sharpened it. Our goal is straightforward: to build guitars you can trust to be responsive, inspiring, and true to your style.

That’s why every guitar now receives full QC amd approval from one of our luthiers, is designed with premium modern features, and is refined for the playability that makes our guitars stage-ready straight from the box.

Built for performance, shaped by experience, and crafted for musicians everywhere.

New for 2026, we have:

  • Carbon rod reinforced necks

  • Magnetic cavity plates

  • Spoke wheel truss rod adjustment

  • Updated carves for comfort and playability

  • Chapman pickups by Rob Chapman and Trevor Wilkinson

  • Plus, flame maple gloss tops with satin backs.

PLAYER READY CHECKLIST

And we still have; Stainless Steel frets, Glow in the dark side dots, TUSQ nut, locking tuners, weight relieved bodies, treble bleed, orange drop capacitors, gigs bags…

MODELS AND FINISHES

Law Maker Legacy

An update from last year’s model, this new iteration now features a Chapman humbucker in the neck and a smooth gloss top. It keeps the alder body and full rosewood neck, with modern feeling 14” radius and 42mm nut. We have changed the switch to a 3-way and a coil tap on the tone knob.

Tiger Eye Burst

Shadow Burst

Blackberry Storm

Azure Burst

Scout Legacy

New for this year. You may have known it as the ML1 but that too has gone through an update. The new Scout is the much requested double cut version of the Legacy series. Same spec as the Law Maker but following a poll online, with a 5-way switch.

Tiger Eye Burst

Shadow Burst

Blood Moon

Electric Sky

Scout Traditional

Also new for this year is the Scout Traditional. HSS pickups and a roasted maple neck give an interesting alternative for this model.

Tiger Eye Burst

Shadow Burst

Wildwood

Hot Cherry

A QUICK WORD ON PICKUPS

We’ll have more news on our new Chapman pickups soon, but for now, here’s the basic spec.

AND FINALLY… THE DPT HH

We’re honoured to be working with Pete Honore on his new signature DPT. The new HH model takes what was at the heart of the previous single coil model, and updates it with modern sounding pickups and gloriously colourful gloss finishes.

We’re still tweaking some of the design, but this should be finished by the end of the Summer.

Pete continues to champion the simplicity and traditional nature of the T-Style - no carbon rods or glow in the dark side dots here… locking tuners? Pah! Vintage split shaft do the job.

More information to follow on the DPT HH.

WATCH SOME VIDS…