Discontinued gear

[wheelema]

Is there any way knowing when a piece of gear is being discontinued, or perhaps when during the calendar year gear pimps tend to discontinue older products? Is CES and/or NAMM a death knell for existing products?

 

[kidkage]

I've managed to notice over the last few years that prices tend to drop around the holidays (as it does on most everything), then new gear is announced at winter NAMM, and the old gear seems to be phased out right around summer NAMM. By early October it's gone.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[mjbphotos]

Only when you see the price plummet, unless you have 'inside information'.