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Almost all of the most popular rock music was made with Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls and SGs. Because of the desire of players to emulate their guitar

Almost all of the most popular rock music was made with Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls and SGs. Because of the desire of players to emulate their guitar heroes, these guitars (and their knockoffs) still make up the bulk of guitars made and sold. Unfortunately, it seems that all attempts at significantly improving on these nostalgia laden designs are doomed to be relegated to an "uncool" fringe. As guitar oriented music seems to be sunsetting, I assume that these tired old designs will continue their dominance. As a guitar player who cares much more about ergonomic design and technical innovation than the trapped imagination of nostalgia, I hope for a new wave of guitar music and a guitar technology renaissance, but I doubt it.

copperx 4y ago
> As guitar oriented music seems to be sunsetting What do you mean? That guitar music isn't "charting" is not an indicator of anything, especially with streaming. It's not the 90s anymore. Rock isn't the music of youth since 20 years ago, but guitars still sell extremely well.
- wintermutestwin 4y ago
  I mean that kids are taking up the guitar less and less. The vast majority of guitar sales $ comes from the older generations who will eventually age out of buying guitars.
  - skyyler 4y ago
    This is strange because the numbers I'm looking at show guitar sales have been rising steadily since 2012. Where do you get your data?
- kwakja 4y ago
  Agreed, and guitar-oriented music isn't the same as it used to be - or at least from the observations I've made as a sample size of one, that which resonates with newer generations. Polyphia is one of the big bands that are fully instrumental and also maintain the spirit of virtuosity (more aligned with metal than rock, but the guitar-centric piece is there). There are other amazing guitarists and artists in a fairly interconnected community such as Jason Richardson, Plini, ichika, covet, etc. I would likely agree overall interest has waned as it's not as mainstream as it used to be. But I'm more inclined to say guitar-centric music seems to be going through more of a transformation to fit the mainstream or certain niches than sunsetting as GP said.

copperx 4y ago

> As guitar oriented music seems to be sunsetting What do you mean? That guitar music isn't "charting" is not an indicator of anything, especially with streaming. It's not the 90s anymore. Rock isn't the music of youth since 20 years ago, but guitars still sell extremely well.

wintermutestwin 4y ago
I mean that kids are taking up the guitar less and less. The vast majority of guitar sales $ comes from the older generations who will eventually age out of buying guitars.
- skyyler 4y ago
  This is strange because the numbers I'm looking at show guitar sales have been rising steadily since 2012. Where do you get your data?
kwakja 4y ago
Agreed, and guitar-oriented music isn't the same as it used to be - or at least from the observations I've made as a sample size of one, that which resonates with newer generations. Polyphia is one of the big bands that are fully instrumental and also maintain the spirit of virtuosity (more aligned with metal than rock, but the guitar-centric piece is there). There are other amazing guitarists and artists in a fairly interconnected community such as Jason Richardson, Plini, ichika, covet, etc. I would likely agree overall interest has waned as it's not as mainstream as it used to be. But I'm more inclined to say guitar-centric music seems to be going through more of a transformation to fit the mainstream or certain niches than sunsetting as GP said.