THE BEAST

At times, 2023 felt a bit slow in terms of guitar gear. NAMM was back with a big event, but it lacked some of the major firepower from bigger name brands. In a continuing trend, most big guitar or bass amp releases were in the digital or solid state category. Pedals continued to get more and more expensive, while interest in paying those prices dropped, leading to some slow sales during the summer and fall.

But 2023 is soon to be in the rearview mirror, and 2024 looks as promising as ever for our beloved guitar world. So here are three of my bold predictions and expectations for 2024. After this year's slog of news, I think we're in for a bit more exciting 2024!

Gibson And Epiphone Have A Lot To Deliver

2024 is poised to be quite a big year for Gibson and their families of sub-brands. A lot of buzz surrounded their purchase of the legendary Mesa Boogie amp company, but it feels to me that little has been done with the brand.

The return of Gibson-branded amplifiers in 2024 would be a welcome one for many, and it would do good to see them diversify a bit after their successful pedal launches. More importantly, though, Gibson could make a major splash by stepping into digital modeling, the way Fender has with their own classic amps.

Could a Gibson/Mesa Boogie digital or improved solid-state amplifier simulator be on the way? Fingers crossed, but I'd bet some Gibson-branded amplifier release is coming for 2024.

Epiphone, on the other hand has been chugging along, and the guitar world was enthused about the use of the open book headstock on some high-end Epiphone guitars. This is something I, and many others, have called for these past years. But something else we've all called for is the Dave Grohl DG-335 model to hit the market. 2023 was a year full of teasing this guitar, and 2024 is likely the year we'll finally see it.

Fender's Going To Need More Signature Guitars

Fender's had a habit of releasing more quantity than premium quality when it came to signature guitars. There is nothing wrong with this, and I find it quite commendable how many artists they've supported and collaborated with across diverse genres and makeups. But the truth is, they're going to need a home run soon.

The Tom DeLonge Stratocaster's return was supposed to be the big cherry on top, but the release fell pretty flat due to QC issues with many of the guitars. While Gibson has released a ton of high-end signatures for iconic artists while Fender preferred younger, niche artists, they still need a big flagship release soon.

My guess is that in the summer of 2024, just in time for the second wave of the Blink tour, we finally see the Tom DeLonge Squier Stratocaster and the Fender DeLonge Starcaster. I love what they're doing with their Fender Next program, Fender Play lessons, and overall focus on a younger, more diverse guitar crowd. But it's been a while since they've had a truly massive release go off without a hitch, and I'd think it's time to fix that.

Ibanez, PRS, and Ernie Ball Will Make The Leap

Last but not least, let's move on from the big F and big G. It feels to me like Ibanez, PRS, Ernie Ball, and maybe even others are starting to encroach on the top two spots in the guitar industry.

It was always Fender, Gibson, and then the next tier. However, the quality control issues that have plagued both legacy brands have invited a lot of musicians to check out these second-tier (but still huge) brands.

And let me tell you, they're knocking it out of the park. I've written so many times about how these three brands are actually making better-engineered and better-built guitars than the legacy brands. 2023 felt relatively quiet for Ibanez and EBMM, so I expect big things in 2024. Meanwhile, PRS had another stellar year after major hits with their SE lineup, new amps, and now even pedals as well.

In 2024, at least one, if not all 3, of these brands, will continue to majorly close the gap with the legacy brands. This is especially true as the younger generations of musicians, who certainly have a more open mind and modern taste in guitar work, increase their market share.