Another One Bites the Dust

From the mid-1950s through some later point (please bear with me), the guitar was the iconic instrument of the most successful popular-music genre, which was rock.

In the early 1960s, EMI turned down the Beatles on the ground that "Guitar Bands" were a passing fad, soon to be forgotten.

I date the beginning of the end of the guitar's domination as "the" main instrument of rock to the forming of the first successful-on-a-worldwide-scale "synth pop" band, Depeche Mode. In 1980.

That was the Beginning of the End.

Depeche Mode's Mission Statement (which also was its Unique Selling Proposition) was to convey the emotional intensity of Neil Young, but using electronic instruments, primarily keyboards, instead of guitars: "Soul Music played by electronic instruments."

When did the guitar really get de-throned? Pick your date. 2000 is as good as any. The cohorts of young men who in past decades would get a cheap guitar and play it until they got bored or topped out on their abilities, or who even formed a little garage band, these days spend that time and mental and emotional energy on Gaming.

As long as I am going out on a limb, let me say that without "Orianthe" and Taylor Swift (and the "She Shreds" movement), all the musical-instrument stores would have gone bankrupt about 15 years ago, and all the guitar makers too. Not just Gibson.

So, La Commedia is not quite Finit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode#Artistry

RE: Another One Bites the Dust, posted on November 22, 2020 at 09:35:58
stator_99@yahoo.com Audiophile Posts: 527 Location: ohio Joined: August 24, 2003	My toy store? Nooooooooooo!!!!

RE: Not necessarily! They are restructuring debt. It's not a liquidation (yet)., posted on November 22, 2020 at 10:27:34
Jonesy Audiophile Posts: 3156 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Joined: September 1, 2005 Contributor Since: March 1, 2018	Some interesting history in your post I never knew about. Also hope GC restructures successfully. Cheers! Jonesy "I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."

RE: Not necessarily! They are restructuring debt. It's not a liquidation (yet)., posted on November 23, 2020 at 09:52:31

CG
Audiophile

Posts: 432
Joined: October 11, 2000

I'd guess the Gibson story probably enters into this, at least as a confirmation of the guitar biz instability.

There was a fellow not far from me who made a ton-o-money during peak guitar. He then sold his large local music store near the apex and stayed on as landlord for the new guys. In addition, he started a boutique guitar emporium of his own, appointment only. No more Fenders for him.

About 20 years ago, my wife went to see him to buy an acoustic guitar. She did end up purchasing a very nice one made to her desires. Anyway, one day I got talking to this guy about his business. He explained it all very succinctly.

His average customer was not somebody like my wife. In fact, he said that classical guitar players were lousy customers. They might buy one guitar every decade or two. Instead, his typical customer bought three or four guitars every year. They all were custom, semi-custom, or were signed by a guitar hero. The customers were pretty much all in some high end business, very often finance in NYC. He even explained that most weren't really very good musicians. (He offered that our 8 year old daughter was already better than his typical customer.)

About a decade ago, even his business slowed down. He was ok with that, because he'd already made his nut. Soon after, he passed away - not sure what the message in that part is.

My point is that the guitar business has slowly been sinking into the soup for some time now. Kind of like the home audio business, in fact.

RE: Another One Bites the Dust, posted on November 23, 2020 at 14:00:25
Goober58 Audiophile Posts: 5590 Joined: November 15, 2016	I'm not into guitars but there was this place in Rochester NY I went to when visiting family in Buffalo that had an instrument showroom in front and in back had a very large room full of vinyl, new and used. Very memorable. Think it was called Guitar Center.

A friend of mine owns well over 100 electric guitars..., posted on November 24, 2020 at 06:13:58
John Marks Manufacturer Posts: 7806 Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I. Joined: April 23, 2000	Yeah. The huge majority are Electras from Japan, but he also has a fine collection of Paul Reed Smith custom work in his favorite color combination. Ciao, john

I think there's a Guitar Center there, posted on November 24, 2020 at 06:43:14
MaggiesAndCats Audiophile Posts: 697 Joined: August 31, 2009 Contributor Since: July 16, 2010	But the place to go in Rochester is the House of Guitars. The vinyl is in the basement. Tons of it. I haven't been there in a few years, but it is a great place to shop for guitars, amps, and music. Regards, Steve

I go there for strings , posted on November 24, 2020 at 06:45:35
MaggiesAndCats Audiophile Posts: 697 Joined: August 31, 2009 Contributor Since: July 16, 2010	and other accessories, but shop local independent stores when I'm in the mood to look at guitars. Regards, Steve

RE: A friend of mine owns well over 100 electric guitars..., posted on November 24, 2020 at 07:33:41
CG Audiophile Posts: 432 Joined: October 11, 2000	Who has the room for all that?? Amazing!

I dug up a photo of a small sampling, posted on November 24, 2020 at 16:06:35

John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7806
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000

My guess is that he has lots of industrial shelving in his basement and I would hope some kind of finding aid. Or, the end of every case has a label.

Whereas I have had one violin most of my adult life. One of my brothers borrowed a student-quality viola I had years ago, and he has not seen fit to return it.

But, were I to win the Lottery, I am sure I would flirt with some more expensive violins.

I actually once, briefly, played a Stradivari that was from the batch that the old man was working on when he died, and it was finished by his sons, who by then, were at least 40 years old and therefore had 25 years at least of craftsmanship behind each of them. This would have been circa 1978 or 1979.

It was like getting out of an Oldsmobile station wagon and getting into an Indianapolis car.

jm

RE: I dug up a photo of a small sampling, posted on November 24, 2020 at 20:11:35
CG Audiophile Posts: 432 Joined: October 11, 2000	Those fiddles sell for between five and ten times the price of a modern Indycar. Then again, they don't become obsolete in a year or less.

The Great House of Guitars!, posted on November 29, 2020 at 15:35:57
Lupus Salictarius Audiophile Posts: 175 Joined: July 24, 2001	That place is a classic!

RE: Not necessarily! They are restructuring debt. It's not a liquidation (yet)., posted on December 1, 2020 at 09:44:44
J. Phelan Audiophile Posts: 810 Joined: May 12, 2009	Not true about peak guitar. Google "guitars are getting more popular rolling stone", from 2018.

RE: Another One Bites the Dust, posted on December 2, 2020 at 03:52:53
itolduso1000timesb4 Audiophile Posts: 235 Location: Canada Joined: March 7, 2018	Stuff happens when everyone has five guitars.

General Asylum

Another One Bites the Dust

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