NAMM 2026 Standout: The Nik Huber Dolphin II Standard

Some guitars don’t need hype. They just need to be played, and this Dolphin II Standard stood out to us the moment we picked it up at NAMM 2026. The one-piece Spanish cedar body is light, resonant, and incredibly alive in the hands. At just 7lbs 3oz it feels balanced and responsive on a strap, with a warm, open, woody character and exceptional clarity that translates beautifully through an amp.

How It Plays

The mahogany neck with Nik’s Dolphin Standard carve fills the hand comfortably, and the 25.5" scale feels easy and familiar. The bound East Indian rosewood fingerboard has a compound 10" to 14" radius, so chords stay comfortable down low and bends stay smooth and clean up high. The 22 medium jumbo frets and polished bone nut at 1.67" keep everything gliding along, and the abalone dot inlays keep the look clean and understated.

How It Sounds

A Häussel Vintage Humbucker in the neck and a Häussel 1959 Humbucker in the bridge deliver articulate cleans, rich harmonic overdrive, and classic PAF-inspired depth. A master volume, a master tone, and a 3-way toggle keep the controls simple, and the push/pull coil tap adds a brighter, snappier voice whenever you want it.

The Look

Finished in Antique Cherry semi-gloss with multi-binding on the body, this one is understated, refined, and unmistakably Huber. The ebony peghead veneer carries the mother-of-pearl and abalone Nik Huber signature, and the East Indian rosewood backplate ties in with the fingerboard. Aged nickel hardware, Gotoh/Nik Huber 510Z tuners with ebony buttons, the adjustable stoptail bridge, brushed black pickup rings, and brushed black and silver top hat knobs finish it off, and it comes home in a hardshell case.