These days, musicians are involved in all manner of licensed lifestyle products, from home goods to fashion apparel to foods and beverages. But they also continue to lend their expertise to core musician-branded products such as musical instruments and accessories, whether or not they have expanded into the lifestyle realm as well. A case in point: guitarists and bands lending their names and knowledge to the development of signature amps and pedals. Here are some recent examples of new and extended partnerships:
- The short-lived but influential band the Sex Pistols this month released an 81-unit edition of a Marshall JCM800 stack to mark the band’s 50th anniversary. The components are bright pink and yellow, like the cover of the 1977 album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, and feature a 50th anniversary badge. Guitarist Steve Jones, who has used the company’s amps for years, worked with Marshall to develop the collectible modular amp set-up.
- Slash, guitarist for Guns N’ Roses and other groups, and long-time partner Magnatone released the latest amp in the Slash Collection in January 2026. The Lil’ Viper 8-watt combo amp features a Purple Python color scheme. As with the other products in the line, Slash worked with the company to develop the amp, which is the most portable offering in the range.
- Billy Corgan, front man of Smashing Pumpkins, collaborated with Laney and amp designer Brian Carstens of Carstens Amplification to introduce a Supergrace loudpedal amp, announced in January. The product combines a Laney Supergroup circuit and a Carstens Grace high-gain channel into a single dual-amp format that allows for both modern and vintage sounds. Corgan, who has worked with Carstens since 2020, helped develop the new hybrid.
- Iron Maiden and the late Eddie Van Halen are both featured in new MXR guitar effects pedals released by Dunlop to the trade in January. Guitarist Van Halen began working with the company on a high-gain pedal in 2015, and the amp-in-a-box style product, featuring the guitarist’s initials, was finally released this year. Iron Maiden’s special-edition Dunlop Cry Baby wah pedal is designed with cover art from the band’s Killers album. Unlike most of the examples here, which have unique features designed with the artists’ input, this latter release is a typical GCB95 Cry Baby Standard with a collectible custom exterior design.
- Blues guitarist Joey Landreth paired with Revv Amps last March for a signature D25 combo amp. This was his first signature amp after having consulted with the company for years on other products, including the Dynamis series of which the D25 is a part. Landreth also has a Golden Boy overdrive pedal in collaboration with Jackson Audio, released in 2023.
Note that January is prime time for the release of new amps and related equipment, as many of them debut at the NAMM Show, the annual industry exposition sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).
Comments are closed.