Trends in the Guitar community.

[MarcB]

I wanted to start a thread, which will hopefully continue by members adding “trends” they’ve noticed within the guitar community.
This can be anything from playing techniques, gear prices, build quality or anything guitar related..

I’ll go first..

A trend doing the rounds, with traders, is that the market is flooded with new guitars, thus effecting the used market.

So I guess Gibson are trying to effect the used market by flooding new guitars to stores.. even the latest Chicago music exchange email states “we’ve got too many Gibson’s!”

I have seen many used guitars listed for over 5-8months which are now heavily discounted.. especially the LPs..

So is the guitar market flooded.. is the “cost of living” issue worldwide creating a flood of instruments by people selling or not buying?
or are Gibson making too many guitars?

 

[Bob Womack]

The guitar manufacturing world ramped up during COVID and guys stuck at home were sucking them up. But then the lock-downs ended and people have been called back to the office and don't have the fallow time sitting around they did during the bubble. Couple that with the fact that the impact of several years of inflation are beginning to pile up on the average family and guys are trying to dump their COVID indulgences for cash. Many of them aren't cutting the asking prices of their used gear, and so they stay listed forever. I'm watching a certain amp that Marshall recently took a price reduction on and people are still trying to sell their used ones for the same price they bought them at... before the reduction. You can now buy the same amp in the box shipped to your door for less than some people are asking - and they want to charge for shipping for the used ones on top of the higher price. Insane.

It isn't just the individuals, either. I'm finding that used gear at dealers is so close to the price of new gear that there's almost no benefit to buying used. And that is with the new gear sitting right next to it.

Bob

 

[jb_abides]

RE above: I think Gibson overproduced based on Lockdown marketing projections, hence the 'flooding' ... I don't think it was a conscious strategy to decimate the used market.

I do think they've been looking at models/combinations available in the used market that have crept up in price because of market scarcity, and looking to introduce competitive models to siphon away the used market; I suspect that's in the playbook. For a couple of hundred more than used, you get the 'new' and the warranty, advantage cashflow to Gibson.

To wit, they've been keen to add/remove Specials, Juniors, and there's a nudge-factor in double-cuts toward the Custom Shop. So, I think we'll see continued cyclical model runs for the 'oddballs' in USA, tied to some 'specialness' quality e.g. the Billie Joe Armstrong, Beato Thin Skins, Charlie Starr, etc.

Also, the bifurcation between Gibson Custom Shop and Epiphone IGC to the detriment of USA i.e. no more USA Firebirds, you need to go Custom Shop or Epi-IGC.

 

[MarcB]

I suspect the market will even out over the next few months to the point where the prices will have to reflect pre pandemic prices (or less) to simple shift used and new stock..which will then hopefully influence the one off seller prices.. as I’ve been seeing the same LP TH for sale for over 8 months at top end price with no budge on price.. and even when he reduces it by £200 it still doesn’t sell..
He should’ve taken my decent offer all those months ago.. lol.. but I’m gonna wait and see if I can snag it for less in a few months.. (doubt it)

(Edit) that said.. I’m kinda not really in a buying mood anymore..

 

[charliechitlins]

I remember The Great Natural Wood Scare, and The Great Brass Nut and Bridge Scares of the '70s.