How much longer will guitars remain popular?

H

Hector

Guest
I saw this question asked on another forum, so thought I would start the conversation here.

From what I have seen locally (in Europe) of people who are into electric guitars and playing / creating music as a typical "band", most are north of 40. There is also a lot of gloom and doom talk that the guitars we lust after and pay a lot of money for today will not be worth very much in 20 years time. And I'm curious as to what you all have experienced. Here's what I have seen locally:

1. A few years ago I sold an SG Special to a young kid (15). When they came by to pay for it and pick it up, they told me they had travelled a few hours on train to buy a brand new Fender for one kid, and to buy my SG. Their parents were rich, so it was pocket-change for them.

2. At the local music / guitar store the other day I saw a family consisting of Mom, Dad and the only son (about 10 years old) having walked in asking about an electric guitar so the son could start lessons (I think they walked out with a Squier Mini-Strat, small combo amp etc).

But that's about it. When I go to guitar stores either locally or even not so local, everyone is 40+, there is not a Squier or Epi in the house (if there are, there are only 2 or 3, never the 100 different flavours of Fender Strats, Teles and the smattering of Gibsons and the small pile of Metal guitars). If I want a "cheap" guitar, I need to order it online from the likes of Thomann.

Anyone else experiencing this ?
 
To be honest, and as much as it pains me, I don't think they are still popular. IMO that ship has sailed and I do think the value of all but the most rare guitars will decline over the next decade as we old guys get even older.

Music stores were active, vibrant, thriving places 15-20 years ago. I could see the decline a decade ago, when there was already far less foot traffic and the stock became more spare and focused on lower-end as opposed to mid- to pro-level gear. What I see now is bleak places that put their faith mostly in selling accessories to established players (read: older guys that still have a passion for it) and have better instruments for people to "try out" and then purchase online. In some instances the shops are catering to the very high end for people of a certain age that can now afford it.

Also, what I don't see is very many young people in bar bands any more. And I suspect that is because the "live music" crowd in bars seems intent on living in the past and doesn't want to hear any music made in the last 20 years or so. Which is really too bad because it disincentivizes even more potential players in my eyes, who definitely don't want to be in a band playing their dad's favorite songs (for that matter, I don't want to sit in a damn bar and hear regurgitated oldies from my youth).

Seems to me the handful of young players picking up the instrument and playing rock are doing original music...so maybe there is hope if they can break through and make rock music actually popular again.
 
eSGEe said:
From what I see the next gen and the ones under that (my grandkids) dont want to take the TIME to learn .....cuts into the video games and face snapchat cell phone time .......as I type this dutti g at the repair shop for my tire. ......on my cell phone ...
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But...do they care about music made with guitars? I mean, isn't that really the reason we all learned to play? The fact that "our" music was made with them and our heroes wielded them like excalibur? Me and my buddies had the attention span of a gnat, many many years before video games and cell phones, but we put in the time because it excited us and we were motivated by the music.

The last couple of generations, by and large and of course excluding the experimental college years, were weaned on music made with computers and drum machines. If there's a guitar in there at all it's not something distinct enough to pick out and go "I want to be able to do THAT" - instead, and kid with a computer (so, all of them) can make modern music instantly and with even a modicum of perseverance put together something that resembles their favorite tunes in no time.
 
gball said:
But...do they care about music made with guitars? I mean, isn't that really the reason we all learned to play? The fact that "our" music was made with them and our heroes wielded them like excalibur? Me and my buddies had the attention span of a gnat, many many years before video games and cell phones, but we put in the time because it excited us and we were motivated by the music.

The last couple of generations, by and large and of course excluding the experimental college years, were weaned on music made with computers and drum machines. If there's a guitar in there at all it's not something distinct enough to pick out and go "I want to be able to do THAT" - instead, and kid with a computer (so, all of them) can make modern music instantly and with even a modicum of perseverance put together something that resembles their favorite tunes in no time.
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That’s very true to an extent, one of my grandsons loves to play, guitar, bass, Keys, drums, and banjo, violin, I know that this may be an exception, but the neighbor behind us same age as my grandson plays both drums and guitar, and not only current music, but some oldies as well, Hendrix, Cream, The Who, Sabbath!
And this my brother’s is going to spread, and keep our good time music, Alive
 
gball said:
To be honest, and as much as it pains me, I don't think they are still popular. IMO that ship has sailed and I do think the value of all but the most rare guitars will decline over the next decade as we old guys get even older.

Music stores were active, vibrant, thriving places 15-20 years ago. I could see the decline a decade ago, when there was already far less foot traffic and the stock became more spare and focused on lower-end as opposed to mid- to pro-level gear. What I see now is bleak places that put their faith mostly in selling accessories to established players (read: older guys that still have a passion for it) and have better instruments for people to "try out" and then purchase online. In some instances the shops are catering to the very high end for people of a certain age that can now afford it.

Also, what I don't see is very many young people in bar bands any more. And I suspect that is because the "live music" crowd in bars seems intent on living in the past and doesn't want to hear any music made in the last 20 years or so. Which is really too bad because it disincentivizes even more potential players in my eyes, who definitely don't want to be in a band playing their dad's favorite songs (for that matter, I don't want to sit in a damn bar and hear regurgitated oldies from my youth).

Seems to me the handful of young players picking up the instrument and playing rock are doing original music...so maybe there is hope if they can break through and make rock music actually popular again.
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As much as it pains me to admit it.

I agree with the above post 100%, and so it goes.
 
since i got back in the loop in the studio...90% of the gear sites are just total bull.....the real world is recording--gigging & getting paid. I am close to checking out.of the sites completely..the gear bashing ..the very very inaccurate gear reviews by people who do not a/b correctly & forcing the "low weight" & "low volume" down my throat all day every day..and then wondering why they sound like crap & people dont show up for gigs & soundmen are pissed....
 
BFT Gibson said:
since i got back in the loop in the studio...90% of the gear sites are just total bull.....the real world is recording--gigging & getting paid. I am close to checking out.of the sites completely..the gear bashing ..the very very inaccurate gear reviews by people who do not a/b correctly & forcing the "low weight" & "low volume" down my throat all day every day..and then wondering why they sound like crap & people dont show up for gigs & soundmen are pissed....
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Love that outlook BFT, that’s why there are a small number of us who will continue to carry the torch, and pass it when necessary!
Cheers Mitch
 
BFT Gibson said:
TDPRI is KILLING music all in one grumpy jealous old man gear site..whatever they hate..i go out & buy immediately..lol ....bashing Gibson is total BS....Bashing fender is BS..Bashing Marshall is BS ....
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That's how I ended up here.

Not that site particularly, but a couple that follow their template.

So sad that people are so arrogant and entitled that they not only know what's best for themselves, but also feel the need to criticize me, and judge my character by what audio toys are appropriate for me.

I believe the term is "douche canoe"

And then @Mitch Pearrow SJMP invites you to a good forum lol.
 
steveb63 said:
That's how I ended up here.

Not that site particularly, but a couple that follow their template.

So sad that people are so arrogant and entitled that they not only know what's best for themselves, but also feel the need to criticize me, and judge my character by what audio toys are appropriate for me.

I believe the term is "douche canoe"

And then @Mitch Pearrow SJMP invites you to a good forum lol.
Click to expand...
Yes sir..its great to see you & mitch,mcblink, lrt, trident(not meaning to miss anyone if i did)..here with these guys...its a dream come true for me...the gear celebration & down right fun..we make of ourselves...the "REAL" reviews & a lil of our daily lives....i would be done on sites...Mitch i owe you 1..no i owe you 2 for that garage..kickin me in my arse & picking myself up & going back to the studio !! the sites had me so down..thinking Gibson into a Marshall cranked was a mortal sin..no way..its all things rock !!
 
Right back at ya brotha, I actually feel like I'm a part of this community.

I feel fortunate that the O.G.'s on this site welcomed me, I love it here.

Ya know @Mitch Pearrow SJMP is a helluva guy, we're all lucky to be able to call him a friend.

Play what you want, when you want, how you want and whatever you want, good music shines through little things like equipment.

Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not wisdom
Wisdom is not truth
Truth is not beauty
Beauty is not love
Music is THE BEST
F. Zappa, Boy do we need you these days Frank
 
steveb63 said:
Right back at ya brotha, I actually feel like I'm a part of this community.

I feel fortunate that the O.G.'s on this site welcomed me, I love it here.

Ya know @Mitch Pearrow SJMP is a helluva guy, we're all lucky to be able to call him a friend.

Play what you want, when you want, how you want and whatever you want, good music shines through little things like equipment.

Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not wisdom
Wisdom is not truth
Truth is not beauty
Beauty is not love
Music is THE BEST
F. Zappa, Boy do we need you these days Frank
Click to expand...
that was good !!
 
steveb63 said:
"douche canoe"
Click to expand...
Indeed! You are correct sir!
steveb63 said:
Play what you want, when you want, how you want and whatever you want
Click to expand...
That’s what this place was supposed to be founded upon! Share your positive experiences that you’ve had with your gear of choice, and learn from others that are open minded enough to share the same, from their experience. Don’t cram your beliefs down everyone’s throat along the way.
steveb63 said:
Music is THE BEST
F. Zappa, Boy do we need you these days Frank
Click to expand...
Believe me....I’m pretty sure that you and I are not alone ,here, in this sentiment.
I’m thankful for his contributions to my consciousness.

Play on brothers! And share the gold that you find along the trail!
 
I have found myself saying this about that:
"The musicians of the future will likely make excellent music
on instruments that haven't been invented yet."

I sort of believe this, although the definition of "classical music" is:
Music that people like for a long time, regardless of what language they
speak, or how much money they have (or don't have)... or what kind of
music they regard as traditional...
...therefore: people love the music of Amadeous Mozart, or Ludwig Beethovan
now and in the past, and likely in the future. AND so they love the tones of
well made violins, cellos and flutes, harpsichords, pianos and trumpets.
Those will always have a following, and an audience. A couple hundred years
of trends that come and go verifies this.

What's that have to do with guitars? nothing.
But guitar music has a few things going for it... guitar music makes ordinary
people feel like dancing. That is actually priceless, and people love to dance
and dancing is good for us as individuals, and also good for us as a society.

Some forms of music appeal to the head...
But guitar music goes right to the heart.
This is also priceless. Music for the head has a place in the world...
it's stimulating intellectually, and that's a good thing.

But guitar music goes to the heart, and lower down... and it makes
people want to boogie... and we need both the intellectual and the
physical stimulation in order to be complete. You might have to trust
me on this... but I'm right. If your music pulls people up on their
feet to shuffle around as best they can, your music has a future.

Not to say that other instruments don't get people dancing...
consider the djembe... Something about this instrument seems to
get women's hips to swaying and men's feet to stomping,
and that also is priceless. There's no substitute IMHO.

Consider Flamenco guitar styles...

When the power goes out (not if...) we will still be able to make
excellent music on acoustic guitars. $4000 dollar Les Pauls will have
no value, but a $400 Takamine can do a gig, and its owner can get paid
and get laid and that's really why we play music, isn't it?

100 years ago, guitars existed but were not popular (in the USA).
100 years ago, bands played without electricity, so the front line
was the trumpet players, and the clarinet players, and the sax players...
...horns and reeds eh? The bass player stood in the back line, next to
the guitar player and the drummer, and they were called the "rhythm
section." They got no respect. The front line players got all the chicks.

Leo Fender changed all that... *grins... So that a four piece band could
get the people up dancing, and make as much money as the seven to nine piece
combo did, but share among fewer guys. Send the trumpet and trombone
players walking' down the road, along with the straw hat banjo guys and
the clarinet players. Tell that saxophonist to come to practice tomorrow.

So someone else will do that again. It's inevitable, and it's good for the music
biz... to have its butt kicked repeatedly. Every time it gets too sanctimonious,
and too rigid in its scope... it needs to get slapped down by young people who
make music that is compelling and is nothing like classic pop.

Laissez les bon temps roullais... (let the good times roll).
I've finished speaking.

 
BFT Gibson said:
TDPRI is KILLING music all in one grumpy jealous old man gear site..whatever they hate..i go out & buy immediately..lol ....bashing Gibson is total BS....Bashing fender is BS..Bashing Marshall is BS ....
Click to expand...

I have experience this same thing on multiple forums, from MLP to the now defunct UKLP forums (and even ESG from time to time). The Squier forum seems ok.

The only place where I find meaningful discussion and a friendly atmosphere to discuss music and instruments is here and on the Framus/Warwick forum.
 
There is a place for lower end gear. If my kid wanted to learn guitar, I'd by a cheaper guitar for him (like a Squier). I get several gear catalogs every few months (GC and SA). I like to hold on to them for a while. They always say: New Gear on the cover. But all they list is the same high end gear over and over. They list a few upper end Squiers, but they should list Bullets for beginners. Same thing with pedals. No, I don't think it's related to the decline, but it may hurt retailers. I just wanted to vent.
 
Chubbles said:
There is a place for lower end gear. If my kid wanted to learn guitar, I'd by a cheaper guitar for him (like a Squier). I get several gear catalogs every few months (GC and SA). I like to hold on to them for a while. They always say: New Gear on the cover. But all they list is the same high end gear over and over. They list a few upper end Squiers, but they should list Bullets for beginners. Same thing with pedals. No, I don't think it's related to the decline, but it may hurt retailers. I just wanted to vent.
Click to expand...

I watched this last night, apparently there have never been so many guitars being purchased as there are today.. So, is it people like us buying tons of cheap Chinese made guitars, or new/young players?

 
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