For Sean Martin, walking the Gibson booth at NAMM 2026 is personal. As the host of Music Evolves, Sean brings a player's eye and a storyteller's ear to every conversation about instruments and the people who make them. Picking up a Gibson and feeling the weight, the finish, and the resonance is something he describes as holding a piece of art. Jeff Stempka, Brand Manager for Gibson USA and Gibson Custom, shares that same passion. A guitarist for over 30 years, Stempka calls his role on the Gibson marketing team a dream, and his enthusiasm is unmistakable as he walks Sean through the latest additions to the NAMM 2026 lineup. What is Gibson bringing to NAMM 2026? Stempka highlights several key launches, starting with the Les Paul Studio Double Troubles. Building on a successful refresh of the Les Paul Studio franchise and last year's Les Paul Standard Fifties and Sixties Double Trouble, Gibson extends that approach to the Studio platform. These modern collection guitars feature coil splits, coil taps, and pure bypass switching, offering players versatile tone options in a lightweight instrument. Stempka is equally excited about the evolution of the ES-335 portfolio, now available in dedicated Fifties and Sixties models out of the Gibson USA craftory. The logic mirrors the Les Paul Standard lineup: the Fifties version delivers a classic rounded neck profile, while the Sixties offers a slim taper for players who prefer that feel. How does Gibson stay connected to the artists who play its instruments? Stempka frames the relationship as one of service. The craftspeople who come to work every day in Nashville are thinking about the musicians who will pick up these instruments and pour their hearts into creating something new. Gibson is preparing to launch a new campaign, "Handcrafted in Nashville, Tennessee," that puts the spotlight on the passion behind every instrument that leaves the factory. For Stempka, the connection between maker and player is the heartbeat of the brand. When co-host Marco Ciappelli steps in to explore Gibson from a branding perspective, the conversation shifts to what makes someone reach for a Gibson even when the price stretches the budget. Stempka points to 131 years of craftsmanship and a deep understanding that people expect something meaningful from the Gibson name. His goal, and the goal of everyone at the company, is to exceed those expectations every day. He sees his role as a small but important opportunity to shepherd and steward the brand so that Gibson is still thriving 131 years from now. The conversation takes a historical turn as Stempka walks through a century of flat top acoustics and the foundational innovations of Orville Gibson and Lloyd Loar. While many fans think first of the Les Paul, Stempka points to the J-45 and the Lloyd Loar master model mandolin as equally iconic instruments that changed the trajectory of music. He recalls how artists like Eric Clapton took a Les Paul burst, plugged it into a stack, and turned it up, creating sounds that nobody at Gibson ever anticipated. That willingness to listen, learn, and evolve alongside the musicians is what Stempka calls the true meaning of innovation. At its core, Gibson helps players unlock something inside themselves, and that, he says, is beautiful. This is a Brand Spotlight. A Brand Spotlight is a ~15 minute conversation designed to explore the guest, their company, and what makes their approach unique. Learn more: https://www.studioc60.com/creation#spotlight GUEST Jeff Stempka, Brand Manager, Gibson USA & Custom, Gibson On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-stempka/ RESOURCES Learn more about Gibson: https://www.gibson.com Are you interested in telling your story? ▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full ▶︎ Brand Spotlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight ▶︎ Brand Highlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#highlight KEYWORDS Jeff Stempka, Gibson, Sean Martin, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand spotlight, NAMM 2026, Les Paul Studio, ES-335, guitar craftsmanship, handcrafted guitars, Nashville, music innovation, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, Lloyd Loar, J-45, functional art, artist connection, guitar branding More From Sean MartinMore from Music Evolves: https://www.seanmartin.com/music-evolves-podcast Music Evolves on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTRJ5du7hFDXjiugu-uNPtW Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/ Line of Sight Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7400591548452667392/ ITSPmagazine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazine Be sure to share and subscribe! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
