"My guitar collection doesn't currently include a PRS Silver Sky, but it seems like that could soon change as I've found myself drawn to new guitar gear this week, discovering a dilemma I was previously unaware of solves itself"

The guitar industry is buzzing with excitement as 2025 brings a host of new releases and updates, blending tradition with innovation. From fresh finishes on iconic models to boutique tube amplifiers and a mix of historically-inspired and modern electric guitars, this year is shaping up to be a significant one for music enthusiasts.

PRS SE Silver Sky Updates

PRS, in collaboration with John Mayer, has unveiled four new colorways for the highly-regarded SE Silver Sky model. Inspired by traditional American fashion, these new finishes include time-tested hues such as Trad Blue, Derby Red, Laurel Green, Dandy Lion (for rosewood fingerboard), Moon White, Stone Blue, Summit Purple, and Nylon Blue (for maple version). Each model retails at around $849. Additionally, PRS has released a wild signature guitar for Herman Li and the well-reviewed SE NF 53, considered one of the best sub-$1,000 guitars in 2025. Despite rumours, PRS has emphasized that they are not aiming to displace Fender or Gibson at the top of the electric guitar hierarchy [1].

New Guitar Amplifiers and Amp Modelers

NAMM 2025 saw some notable highlights in the amp department. The Bad Cat Era 30 Amp Head, with 30 watts of handwired tube power, two channels, a 6-position Depth control for bass tailoring, an effects loop, and a robust tube lineup (EF86, 12AX7 preamp tubes, EL84 power tubes, and a 5AR4 rectifier tube), was a standout. This amp head, paired with matching Bad Cat Celestion-speaker-loaded cabinets, offers versatility and premium boutique tone. Other NAMM 2025 amp highlights include the BOSS Waza Tube Amp Expander Core and new models in EVH's 5150 Iconic EL34 Series with various combo amps [2].

Other Notable Electric Guitar Releases

Fender continues to impress with the American Ultra II Telecaster, lauded for its modern playability while preserving classic Tele tones, making it a top overall pick for 2025. Sterling By Music Man's Intro Series Cutlass is recognized as a great budget-friendly, versatile guitar suitable for beginners and modders. Gibson’s 2025 collection offers historic recreations like the Custom 1939 SJ-100 as well as the Epiphone J-180 LS, featuring premium appointments including a solid spruce top, mahogany body, bone hardware, L.R. Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup/preamp, and color options both standard and exclusive. Gibson has also been experimenting with non-traditional woods (poplar) in some models, hinting at future changes to classic body/neck wood pairings [3][4][5].

Other Notable Releases and Updates

Buster Odeholm has announced a new amp sim called the Thall Amp, designed for heavy riffing.
D'Addario has created jack plugs to prevent accidentally plugging guitar cables into the wrong jack.
The Blackstar Polar Go is a pocket-sized gadget with XLR combi inputs and a rechargeable battery.
Kiesel has revived its DC127 guitar model for a limited-time-only run.
Epiphone's new Inspired by Gibson Custom acoustics collection offers six examples of exclusive and expensive builds at low price points.
Neural DSP's Archetype: Nolly X, Parallax X, and Archetype: Cory Wong X plugins are now fully compatible with the Quad Cortex.

In summary, 2025’s highlights in the guitar industry span fresh finishes in iconic models like the PRS SE Silver Sky, new boutique tube amplifiers with advanced tone-shaping capabilities, and a mix of historically-inspired and modern electric guitars from industry leaders like Fender, Gibson, and Epiphone. These updates emphasize a balance between tradition and innovation across instruments and amplification.

[1] PRS Discusses Headless Guitars but Emphasizes They Aren't Aiming to Displace Fender or Gibson at the Top of the Electric Guitar Hierarchy. Guitar World. 2025. [2] NAMM 2025: New Amps and Gear from EVH, BOSS, and Bad Cat. Premier Guitar. 2025. [3] Gibson Experiments with Non-Traditional Woods in Some Models. Guitar Player. 2025. [4] Fender American Ultra II Telecaster: A Modern Playability with Classic Tones. Music Radar. 2025. [5] Sterling by Music Man Intro Series Cutlass: A Versatile and Budget-Friendly Guitar. Guitar Center Blog. 2025.

The PRS SE Silver Sky model has been updated by PRS in collaboration with John Mayer, introducing four new colorways, including Trad Blue, Derby Red, Laurel Green, and more, retailing at approximately $849.
The Bad Cat Era 30 Amp Head, with its handwired tube power, 6-position Depth control for bass tailoring, effects loop, and premium tube lineup, was a notable highlight in the amp department at NAMM 2025.
The Fender American Ultra II Telecaster, renowned for its modern playability and preservation of classic Tele tones, has been lauded as a top overall pick for 2025.
Sterling By Music Man's Intro Series Cutlass has been recognized as a budget-friendly, versatile guitar suitable for beginners and modders.
Gibson’s 2025 collection offers historic recreations like the Custom 1939 SJ-100, as well as the Epiphone J-180 LS featuring premium appointments and a mix of standard and exclusive color options.
Epiphone's new Inspired by Gibson Custom acoustics collection offers six exclusive and affordable builds, while the Archetype: Nolly X, Parallax X, and Archetype: Cory Wong X plugins from Neural DSP are now fully compatible with the Quad Cortex.
Other updates in the guitar industry in 2025 include Buster Odeholm's new Thall Amp designed for heavy riffing, D'Addario's jack plugs to prevent incorrect guitar cable connections, and Kiesel's limited-time DC127 guitar model revival.