Posted on 02/02/2026 6:16:47 AM PST by LouAvul
I browse various classifieds and see more and more ads for people selling their guitars. And the same guitars seem to languish on the market.
With the evolution of techno music, Eddie Van Halen and Angus Young guitar licks don't seem to be instant crowd pleasers/chick magnets like the old days.
Or, am I just out of touch?
You don’t hear “Stairway To Heaven” or “Dust In The Wind” around the guitar shops anymore.
This topic might Trigger people.
The guitar instrumental is extinct on pop radio for quite some time now.
The Leon Russell Philharmonic!
I would say all sorts of Western culture are on the decline, a lot of being due to cell phones.
It’s too hard
I don’t know whether there has been a decline in the number of people playing guitar.
However, I can tell you that there has been an absolute explosion in the variety of choices for electric guitars and basses on the market in the last couple of decades. This also applies to amps and effects.
You can get a good quality instrument without spending a lot of money.
The number of vendors out there is absolutely staggering.
“Dropped once. Never played.”
Heh heh. I just *snocked*.
Retirement homes are full of residents that wished they kept up with piano lessons as a child.
“No melody, no joy, no nothing. Just unpleasant vocals over some kind of thumpy backdrop of noise.”
Nicely put. Guess that’s what a sizeable audience wants to listen to.
Fun fact....Glenn Campbell couldn’t read a lick of music. He was one of the “Wrecking Crew” of studio musicians that made the acts you saw and heard on the radio, famous.
The price of a new good Martin or Taylor acoustic is staggering from a music store. Way better off getting one from eBay for pennies on the dollar.
Like shopping malls and kids riding bicycles, musical instruments of all sorts are going to quickly become relics of the past.
“Snock, Snock, Snockin’ On Heaven’s Door” too! LOL.
I’ve been playing Bass Guitar since Highschool (1984 grad). I’m always surprised to meet young folks who are interested in the guitar or bass as there are so few of them! Ran into a young guy this weekend in an antique store buying a bass guitar. Of course I talked his ear off, but the bass he was buying was very good quality and he was getting for a steal. Also not sure if you heard about the demise of G&L Guitars a few months ago. This was Leo Fender’s company after he sold the original Fender Corporation. All G&L Guitars were made in Fullerton, CA. No more unfortunately.
Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" features not just one but two electric guitar solos. I was shocked when I heard this. I'd not heard an electric guitar solo in a pop song in what seems like eons. Olivia Rodrigo is another modern star churning out smash pop hits full of distorted power chords.
The used market is sluggish right now because, as mentioned, tons of guitars were sold during Covid at high prices and people are now trying to sell them without losing their shirts. The market is flooded. There's a lot of brands that Guitar Center isn't even taking anymore. GC's website is full of used Firefly electrics at $400-$500 for models that you can buy new today for $250.
I hope this is true, as I am looking to buy a decent used Strat and the prices are too high.
“Learning music is hard and for some reason most seven year-old children don’t want to practice, practice, practice. And that is what it takes to get good.”
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My son often gets compliments about his playing. When asked by aspiring guitarists for advice he tells them to practice, practice, practice.
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