Developing Nations is a small Baltimore-based builder run by Kevin Bernsten, who also operates Developing Nations Recording Studio in the city. The shop specializes in aluminum-neck electric guitars and basses, along with a line of in-house pickups, and shares its name with the studio where many of the instruments are tested and demoed.

The flagship DNG Standard pairs a black-anodized aluminum neck-through design with a poplar body and a Richlite fretboard, with the bridge pickup mounted directly to the neck for added sustain. Bernsten's pickup line — sold under the Developing Nations name — includes the Distor'tron humbucker, the higher-output Nihilist, the Left Hand PAF, Super Single, and D90 models, and these have shown up in custom builds from other aluminum-instrument makers as well.

The brand is closely tied to the heavy-music scene that runs through Bernsten's studio work; Spencer Hazard of Full of Hell is among the players who own custom Developing Nations builds. Output is limited and largely made-to-order, with instruments typically sold direct or through Reverb.

Developing Nations has 2 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars. Their gear is featured by 2 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock and Metal. Notable users include Spencer Hazard and Brooks Harlan.