something i learned from a different messageboard full of musos as opposed to musicians: one of the things that drove the vinyl resurgence was the fact that it was harder to make illegal copies.....theres still a generation loss in quality from music pulled from vinyl on digital record players...musos want the best quality as possible on whatever format and will seek these out. This is why a lot of vinyl purchases also include digital downloads direct from master...however, there is (was) a drive to just sell the vinyl product and forego any digital download....although still (surprisingly) popular, the vinyl medium still hasnt made enough of a comeback to return to physical format profits
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something i learned from a different messageboard full of musos as opposed to musicians: one of the things that drove the vinyl resurgence was the fact that it was harder to make illegal copies.....theres still a generation loss in quality from music pulled from vinyl on digital record players...musos want the best quality as possible on whatever format and will seek these out. This is why a lot of vinyl purchases also include digital downloads direct from master...however, there is (was) a drive to just sell the vinyl product and forego any digital download....although still (surprisingly) popular, the vinyl medium still hasnt made enough of a comeback to return to physical format profits
The electric guitar will never die, but to deny that it's popularity is plummeting one would have to be blind. The article pretty much says it all, as hard as it was to read on that black background with YUGE white letters (am I the only one who was annoyed by that?).
I'll add to the article that once upon a time playing guitar was very freaking cool. I work in a HS. Playing a guitar is not so cool anymore. Kids associate guitars with old men, hippies, and geeks. Seems like a big "Duh" to me that guitars are not selling the way they did in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Another thing the article doesn't mentions, although I pretty much skimmed it, is that I think youtube might be scaring some people away. Who the hell wants to work at playing for years to become competent when you see an 8 year old Asian kid who smokes 90% of the most famous guitarists of the 80s. I don't think that's inspiring anyone. I think it's intimidating them. But that of course is just my opinion. One could argue that with tab and "how to" videos it's also much easier to learn to play.
Truth be told however, it's the fault of these guys:
They're the new guitar heroes.
Ack!
There is another angle to your YouTube theory as well.
"Who the neck want to practice that much amd become thay hreat only to have YouTube videos recorded in your mom's basement be the pinnacle of your career?"
These "incredible" guitarists and bassists you see on YouTube rarely make it out out their houses with an instrument.
I think this article conflates business with music. There are plenty of bands with guitars in them. I think its more the gear nerd culture that is dying vs. people actually playing.
This argument bugs me. Sure, there are lots of YouTube creators recording for fun in the basement, but let's not discount that there are also lots of YouTube musicians making a solid living off their music. Maybe being a YouTube musician playing in a music video of your own in your basement doesn't sound cool to you, but to me (25 years old, by the way) that sounds tremendously cool. It's low key but is a lot of fun to do, and it can reach a worldwide audience. Just remember that being a "rockstar" to some people doesn't mean standing on the stage at a stadium concert...it might mean putting out a cool video that you recorded in your bedroom.
Side story...when my granddad passed away (20 years ago) he willed me his accordion. This was his pride and joy and as dear to him as any of our prestige basses are to us now. At the time I was told it was worth something like a hundred bucks.
So, I hung on to it for sentimental reasons. Then I finally said, screw it, hundred bucks or not, this thing needs to be in the hands of someone who will play it and love it. I put it up on eBay and it sold...
...for over THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Guess you never know...
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
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We just had the Electric Daisy Carnival (again) here in Vegas. Around 400,000 people attended. Some took helicopters to the speedway (where the event is held). The majority of the youth today would rather get together and dance with other scantily clad youth - (edit) and that means going to places playing this type of (non-guitar) music. Tastes change, foods change, styles change, music changes, life changes. What people liked 50 years ago isn't really what people like now. What we like now probably won't be mainstream 50 years from now. It is what it is.
Electric Daisy Carnival winds down
Electric Daisy Carnival winds down
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Hmm. Seems like wishful journalism to me. Write it and it shall be. The 6 string guitar and the 4 string bass will every burn out nor fade away.
No change there; and I would expect that to be the same 50 years from now.
i know a number of guitar players, both acoustic and electric players, who bought lifetime instruments, and never bought any more. an ex bandmate bought his dream martin in his early 20s, and now he's over 50 and it's still his only guitar. a touring and studio guitar player i used to play with bought his guitars all more than 20 years ago, and never bought another, and i know a couple more who did the same thing.
many players aren't collectors, and once they buy a few good quality instruments, they may never buy again or not for decades. many others buy used. i haven't noticed less guitar players available in los angeles.
many players aren't collectors, and once they buy a few good quality instruments, they may never buy again or not for decades. many others buy used. i haven't noticed less guitar players available in los angeles.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
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I disagree with this. I know who Tosin is, but I wouldn't call him a superstar. I'm not sure I'd really call him a star. He's a fantastic musician who isn't really known in the mainstream. I think there really aren't very many "superstars" that are playing guitar and making people want to play guitar because of it.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
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But what they're listening to and how that music is made will probably be different.
This article ticks me off. I get it, a lot of the "Guitar Gods" have turned into old farts who aren't inspiring a generation of young kids to pick up a Fender or Gibson, but to sit around complaining that there aren't any new "Guitar Heros" is just absurd. There are certainly thousands of worthy "Guitar Heros" out there, recording and touring TODAY. Just because you don't like the style of music they make doesn't mean that they're not equally (if not more) worthy of those titles.
I know I'm just an edgy metalhead, but the type of people who push these stories are completely leaving out every genre that doesn't suit their sensibilities. When I try to think of guitarists with the power to inspire a generation, I don't think of Taylor Swift, I think of Misha Mansoor. Maybe if Fender wanted to get some of their sales back they should think about that.
I know I'm just an edgy metalhead, but the type of people who push these stories are completely leaving out every genre that doesn't suit their sensibilities. When I try to think of guitarists with the power to inspire a generation, I don't think of Taylor Swift, I think of Misha Mansoor. Maybe if Fender wanted to get some of their sales back they should think about that.
Many of them are likely not making any money at it. A friend of mine has thousands and thousands of hits on YouTube and he drives Uber for a "living". Until you get to millions of hits, you're a bedroom musician with tons if "cyber friends". Fat lotta good that does you. You'll be driving Uber between KFC shifts and living at Mom's house. Not success. Not at all.
Maybe if Fender or Gibson reached out to Tosin, supported him, made new instruments with him, and used their marketing power to push him out there, he could become a "mainstream superstar".
Tosin works with Ibanez, which is not an endorsement to shrug off, but Ibanez isn't Fender.
My local Guitar Center used to be mobbed, especially on weekends. Now it's almost a ghost town. They have expanded to include stuff like DJ equipment, but I don't see that selling, either. The same can be said about any of the New York City music stores I've visited, save for a few high-end places.
Yet the local rehearsal studios are going great guns, and lots of younger people I have met are playing guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, etc.
So maybe it is indeed the case that folks are buying more used instruments.
Yet the local rehearsal studios are going great guns, and lots of younger people I have met are playing guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, etc.
So maybe it is indeed the case that folks are buying more used instruments.
Youtube pays approx $1,750 for 1 million views. You could rack up 10 million views - a feat equivalent to hitting the sun with a hand-tossed snowball -- and still not make a poverty wage.
Incidentally, my girl just saw an artist at the Troubadour who boasts 17 million Youtube views. She says the place was nearly empty.
Most touring artists who aren't worldwide acts also make no money, and they to home to live at Mom's house and do guitar lessons in-between tours. Maybe being a bedroom musician on YouTube is an easier way to be a musician with an audience than busting your butt on the road.
I would argue that there are far more guitar players today - but there are also so many other options now besides Fender, Gibson, Martin, etc.
The main issue is that the guitar is not glorified like it used to be, it's quickly becoming a rhythm based instrument for accompaniment. This is all speculation, I have nothing to support this except anecdotes. Thanks for listening to my .02 cents.
The main issue is that the guitar is not glorified like it used to be, it's quickly becoming a rhythm based instrument for accompaniment. This is all speculation, I have nothing to support this except anecdotes. Thanks for listening to my .02 cents.
