Guitars Are Getting More Popular...

JezWynd

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guitars-arent-dying-theyre-as-popular-as-ever-w520494

Strangefan

I don't believe a word of it.  

thecolourbox

Guitar sales might be increasing but guitar usage probably isn't

JezWynd

I was quite surprised by the numbers - more guitars sold last year than in 2009. Add in the growth in women taking up the instrument and the current popularity of acoustics, thanks to T Swift and Ed Sheeran and perhaps the future isn't as dark as some (me included) have prophesied.

Whitecat

Probably true everywhere except the UK...

Bridgehouse

Bah. Who wants to play stinky old boring guitar like everyone else in the world?

I say go for a unique trendy instrument that nobody else is playing and make it the next big thing.

Jack_

JezWynd said:

and the current popularity of acoustics, thanks to T Swift and Ed Sheeran and perhaps the future isn't as dark as some (me included) have prophesied.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

thecolourbox

Jack_ said:

JezWynd said:

and the current popularity of acoustics, thanks to T Swift and Ed Sheeran and perhaps the future isn't as dark as some (me included) have prophesied.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Sheeran has been called worse on this site

fandango

Bridgehouse said:

Bah. Who wants to play stinky old boring guitar like everyone else in the world?

I say go for a unique trendy instrument that nobody else is playing and make it the next big thing.

Wot? You mean one of them bass guitars, like wot you plays to serenade the missus?

Bridgehouse

fandango said:

Bridgehouse said:

Bah. Who wants to play stinky old boring guitar like everyone else in the world?

I say go for a unique trendy instrument that nobody else is playing and make it the next big thing.

Wot? You mean one of them bass guitars, like wot you plays to serenade the missus?

Oh goodness no. Bass is far too popular. You even get bass players playing with rappers, dubstep artists, “house” musicians and even those en vogue funk artistes.

I was thinking more flugelhorn or single stringed African penis bow

AlexC

The guitar as we know it started life in the 12th Century. Swift, Sheerhan, whoever... good on them. 
We mustn’t get the use of guitar in popular music confused with all guitar playing. Also, it’s not really our concern what guitar manufacturers’ profit margins are (unless you are a guitar manufacturer.) 
There’s a lot more to the wonderfully rich world of guitar playing than Rock Bands with Gibson’s or Fenders getting on the Radio One playlist... Thank god.
People all over the world are making music with guitars and will continue to do so for a long, long time to come.

ICBM

thecolourbox said:

Guitar sales might be increasing but guitar usage probably isn't

This. I think it's unwise to see it as a resurgence in the guitar when it's now considered not unusual for a guitarist to own more than half a dozen guitars, and some several times that...

(Even taking HarrySeven out of the stats .)

mr-mac

ICBM said:

thecolourbox said:

Guitar sales might be increasing but guitar usage probably isn't

This. I think it's unwise to see it as a resurgence in the guitar when it's now considered not unusual for a guitarist to own more than half a dozen guitars, and some several times that...

(Even taking HarrySeven out of the stats .)

Exactly go back a generation it would be 1... 2 only if really lucky.  Even some tweenagers have more than that these days

JezWynd

ICBM said:

thecolourbox said:

Guitar sales might be increasing but guitar usage probably isn't

This. I think it's unwise to see it as a resurgence in the guitar when it's now considered not unusual for a guitarist to own more than half a dozen guitars, and some several times that...

(Even taking HarrySeven out of the stats .)

True but a lot of those are vintage, ie. used, guitars. The headline sales figures are still pretty impressive, esp when there hasn’t been a big rock player for a long time. A lot of those kids buying their first acoustic will go on to purchase electrics further down the line.