Washington Post: Why my guitar gently weeps. The slow, secret death of the six-string electric.

[teach1st]

Washington Post: Why my guitar gently weeps. The slow, secret death of the six-string electric. And why you should care.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/

The convention couldn’t sound less rock-and-roll — the National Association of Music Merchants Show. But when the doors open at the Anaheim Convention Center, people stream in to scour rows of Fenders, Les Pauls and the oddball, custom-built creations such as the 5-foot-4-inch mermaid guitar crafted of 15 kinds of wood.

Standing in the center of the biggest, six-string candy store in the United States, you can almost believe all is well within the guitar world.

Except if, like George Gruhn, you know better. The 71-year-old Nashville dealer has sold guitars to Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift. Walking through NAMM with Gruhn is like shadowing Bill Belichick at the NFL Scouting Combine. There is great love for the product and great skepticism. What others might see as a boom — the seemingly endless line of manufacturers showcasing instruments — Gruhn sees as two trains on a collision course.

“There are more makers now than ever before in the history of the instrument, but the market is not growing,” Gruhn says in a voice that flutters between a groan and a grumble. “I’m not all doomsday, but this — this is not sustainable.”

[longship]

1. I weep for the demise of the viola da gamba.

AKA Viol



Electric guitars? Bah!

[PJMcK]

2. Another part of this story

After 40 years in the music business, this story strikes me on several levels. First, there's an underlying problem in our society that goes beyond just the sales of electric guitars. Most schools today, particularly public schools, have cut their music programs so much that students don't learn about the art. Thanks, Republicans. When that happens for a couple of generations, the appreciation of music is diminished. When those students become parents, they don't pass on an interest in music or any other art to their kids. Throughout the breadth of the music and art worlds, this has been an increasing problem.

Second, so much of today's music is created using computers that anyone can have a studio quality set-up for a couple of thousand dollars. Many young people interested in music "play" their computers rather than a piano, bass or guitar.

Third, styles change. For example, when I grew up in the 1960's, many of my music heroes played the Rhodes or Wurlitzer electric pianos. By the early 1980's, polyphonic synthesizers were replacing acoustic and electric pianos. The Rhodes and the Wurly were discontinued. But now, there's a resurgence in "tine pianos" and several companies specialize in building and repairing those venerable keyboards. Their monetary value has increased tremendously.

Fourth, the music market is saturated on almost every level. The companies mentioned in the article are large and dominant but remember that there are lots of "mom and pop" music dealers struggling to compete with those behemoths. A buyer today has lots of choices.

Lastly, today's music business is so different than the era of the guitar hero. The function and financing of record companies and the concert business have evolved towards very different directions than during the 1950's-1970's. It's been fascinating to be a part of that history.

Thanks for posting the link, teach1st!