Is acoustic guitar an old man's instrument today?

[GF60]

And then there's this.



West

This is simply adorable! I love it! And at the same time, I am irritated that she plays and sings better than me.

 

[banjomike]

After talking to some retailers for a long time about this question, here are my conclusions...
The guitar is still the first choice of young folks as an aspirational instrument to play.
The kids still want one, but they are fewer than previous generations.

Making music is no longer the #1 thing teens think of as something they can to to become famous.
So the kids who do take up the guitar are all a few degrees more serious about learning to play it well than the kids of the past.

As beginners, these kids are much savvier about their first guitar than in the past; the internet helps them choose their beginning guitar without much preference for US-made instruments, a market segment the USA abandoned long ago. Only Martin is in it now, as far as I know.

The acoustic guitar is the first choice among the young, equipped with an undersaddle pickup, almost a standard accessory now. The kids tend to prefer small-bodied guitars, so the dreadnought is slowly losing its dominance as a body style.

The kids don't garage-band like they used to; nowadays, one player will record a loop, often using pre-made rhythm drum tracks, on a digital device, and then play the solo lead line over it. When they group, they do it on the net, wearing headphones, where they combine their individiual loops and add whatever they want. It's all done in the bedroom not the garage, and the music doesn't shake the house like it once did.
The young players are still as passionate as they ever were about making music. They're only doing it differently than we older players did.

To me, all this says the guitar is far from being an old man's instrument only.I think it's probably a healthy sign for the American

I think this bodes well for American-made acoustic guitars overall, if they remain being the ones most experienced players want.

 

[Papajerry]

I’ve never had an interest in electric guitars, I’m 76 years old and when I was in high’s school I heard a lot of electrics but they were all out of my price range. Still playin’acoustics n’ probably always will.

 

[adorshki]

Let's settle this once and for all:

So: Zombies and outlaws, yes. Old men: dream on.

 

[Rickenmaxer]

Interesting comments on the commitment level to take up guitar now compared to 40+ years ago. I definitely see the point. Anyone can make music with loops and virtual instruments on their phones these days. (I can attest it's a lot of fun and helps kill time on long plane trips.) And recording and mixing, while still requiring a particular talent, no longer requires the investment in equipment and distribution it once did. Hey, things change.

The 50s-60s folk boom followed immediately by the British Invasion made for a potent 1-2 punch for impressionable baby boomers of a like mind who wanted to make music. And, unlike a piano (popular in many homes since the early 20th century), guitars were portable and popular. With four or five well-practiced chords, you could minimally get a sing-along going or even start a band. In our current era of fragmentation, we're not likely going to see that sort of communal desire and opportunity again. But as technology shifts, we still see signs of life with some fairly well-known, well-selling artists in the public eye. From Ed Sheeran to Taylor Swift to Post Malone (that was a sweet Martin D-28 he featured on Super Bowl Sunday), there are artists who can and will influence kids to pick up a guitar, "take some time and learn how to play."

I'm sure I don't know 90%+ of them (after all, I fall in the "old guy guitarist" category myself), but I'm enthusiastic for anyone who has that spark and drive to learn and make music. More power to them at any age.

 

[adorshki]

I finally know what Taylor Swift sees in Kelce Travis.

 

[walrus]

I finally know what Taylor Swift sees in Kelce Travis.

But Malone has, literally, a multi-million dollar smile, including diamonds on his teeth. What's not to love?

 

[fuman]

Speak up, Sonny -- I can't hear you.

 

[GF60]

I finally know what Taylor Swift sees in Kelce Travis.

A slight correction...His name is Travis Kelce. Kelce is the last name. I know this because I'm a Chiefs fan, not a Swifty!

 

[adorshki]

A slight correction...His name is Travis Kelce. Kelce is the last name. I know this because I'm a Chiefs fan, not a Swifty!

Y'know, that must have happened when I was correcting the spelling of "Kelce" and I didn't notice. Getting tired of the goddam editing [••••]ups on this keyboard. Hi-lite shit to delete and it doesn't, or it selects opposite from side you wanted and then swaps word order. And only here.

Yeah, I'm pissed off enough to just quit.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Too bad he'll never be able to play a guitar that's older than he is.

When Keith was a lad, guitars had 4 sets of 2 strings.

 

[Boneman]

Guild themselves highlight beadoobee on their website, a young woman who wrote her viral hit on a Guild M20 and opened for Taylor Swift, so for sure young folks are still playing acoustic guitars. It’s just too cool of an instrument to be labeled old persons instrument. Heck I’d gather most LTGers probably have been playing since you were young making the original question moot

Q&A With Guild Artist Beabadoobee Ahead of Her Opening Slot on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour | Guild Guitars

guildguitars.com

 

[GAD]

Y'know, that must have happened when I was correcting the spelling of "Kelce" and I didn't notice. Getting tired of the goddam editing [••••]ups on this keyboard. Hi-lite shit to delete and it doesn't, or it selects opposite from side you wanted and then swaps word order. And only here.

Yeah, I'm pissed off enough to just quit.

If you have a technical problem with the site then a calm rational explanation of the problem via its own thread or even a PM will get you support.

 

[Westerly Wood]