Summer NAMM 2016: Evolution Guitars launches world's first modular guitar

SUMMER NAMM 2016: Regular NAMM-goers may have spotted Evolution Guitars at the show over the past couple of the years, but this year, the company plans to release its design for the first modular guitar to the public.

Four different faceplate sound profiles are available for the guitar: metal, jazz, rock/blues and hip-hop - the modular design means these can be swapped at will, and allows one guitar to possess an unlimited variety of tones and styles.

Each faceplate retails for around half the cost of the full guitar, although Players Package and Studio Package bundles will offer discounted bundles. Players keen to put their own stamp on the guitar can also work with Evolution Guitars Custom Shop to create customised faceplates.

We don't know much about specs so far, but the modular design packs a semi-hollow body, and cavities for two humbuckers - GHS provides the strings, while GuitarHeads.net supplies the faceplates' pickups.

The designs have been two years in the making, but there's no word on pricing yet. We look forward to a more in-depth video of those faceplates in action soon…

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.