The Slow Secret Death of the Guitar

Good article. There’s another element not touched upon, which I became aware of in the 1990’s. I met some young guys in L.A. who had a band playing showcases (not paying gigs), trying to build a following and get a record deal. When they talked about what they did after leaving their day jobs the night before, it was watching porn and playing video games. I asked the bass player if he practiced his instrument as well, and a sheepish look crossed his face. The answer was obviously no. His bandleader/guitarist/songwriter told me, in so many words, "We're not trying to be musicians, we’re trying to become Rock stars". They were just in it for the money and the women. I doubt they played music after turning thirty, when their dream of Rock stardom was obviously not going to come true.

Guitar Center has never been profitable. I beileve an article I read many years ago, they have been in debt since they went public.

This isn't a surprise. I say it's simply part of the process. The slow death of R&R which was occurring by the late 70's, and interest in general, certainly changed music  and listener tastes.

What teenage kid by the 90's was listening to 70's and earlier guitar-centric music, and got inspired to spend time in the "woodshed?"(does anyone even know that means anymore?)

R&R was  diluted by the mid 70's and "spectacle" was holding the attention of the masses just as much as the music.

There still seems to be up and coming Classical and Jazz musicians. I'm listening to the NPR Classical station and every Sunday is the program, "From the Top," It's young classical musicians performing . The program usually includes an amazing Classical guitarist, of course playing..an acoustic guitar.