Will the Guitar Market Crash in 2024? 

My next guitar will be used 😂! Great points on the guitar market. Over here we’re even considering used bread 😂. Loved the video, brother Paul 👍🏻

Most of the inflation is artificial, guitar market and everywhere else. In other words, it is not inflation at all. It is gouging. Gibson and Fender are raising prices $100 every year at this point. A made in Mexico Strat will cost as much as a Volkswagen in a couple of years at this rate.

An item is worth only what someone is willing to pay.🎸🎸🎸

I think the builders know the market will crash soon and they're milking it until then.

I am afraid that another channel was explaining that the USED guitar market has crashed because of the over saturation during lock down and the fact that all the people who tried to play and gave up - are now all trying to sell their guitars!!!! lol....

Playing guitar with educated ears and talent is a lost art . ✨🎸✨🇨🇦🇺🇸💥

It’s already started. And will continue to fall steeper through the year into 2025.

Here's hoping you're right, PG! I didn't realize you were in CT.. will keep an eye out for one of your gigs.

Good video! New guitars have been too expensive for me for a long time. The used market has some beautiful instruments and as you pointed out, you can often save up to 40% or more if you find a used guitar that you like. The fringe benefit is, if you decide to sell at a future time, you can recoup most of your money and often sell for a profit.

I haven’t purchased a new bass for 10+ years..always off the used market..tremendous value there and so many of the instruments I have purchased are in close to new condition while saving significant money. The market is flooded and slow but I have recently sold off some speaker cabinets and heads at my asking price… I guess it depends on what you’re selling. The Fender Custom Shop can only come down in price since that stuff is so overpriced to begin with. Another problem that might be contributing to this is the live music scene and the lack of venues to perform in.. people learn how to play a few songs and are stuck in a basement with their friends ( which is awesome ) it gets old when you can’t go out and do live performances..

Gibson prices are ridiculous. I agree with you. Big name guitar maker prices have gotten out of hand. Especially considering the cost of the materials to make it. $3000 for a guitar? Never. Stop paying for the name and the price will come down.

Hi Paul, totally agree with your analysis. Not mentionning high quality competition from overseas brands (Sire ...) or manufacturing process mastering (Epiphone Masterbilt or Inspired by Gibson, Squier classic vibes etc..). Lots of good brand new guitars with terrific sound at low prices on the market . What is happening with digital improvment on the combo amplifier market is also worth looking at. Great channel, all the best.

I'm a Martin gal, however, have other brands I like. Currently looking for Gibson L-00 Original Ebony. I have a price point for anything I buy. If it's met , great. If not , I walk.🎸🎸🎸🎸

So...if we don't sell our used guitars, we'll stop losing money on them??

For the last 20 years I have focused on off brands. I rarely buy used but I have bought damaged because I know how to repair. My favorite guitar is a Washburn WP-50 law suit guitar. I bought it in 1989 and it is a keeper.

From the UK here, I have listed three guitars One Gibson, One Fender and a Kramer. Three to four times all low priced for what they are. No buyers. 1 silly offer for the Gibson that's it. That was on Ebay.

Aliexpress sell amazing cheap guitars ( $150 - $550 ) for acoustic or electric guitars . Manufacturing costs are a fraction of that . STOP buying things that are over priced ... foods , clothes , guitars --- then the prices will fall . 🇨🇦🇺🇸

People have done videos on how Epiphone prices are stupid.

i had an american tele body on reverb for less than 300, lots of watchers and low ball offers but no buyer in 2 months. so i took it down and will hold it for a while.

In 1989 I purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Custom and a new PRS CE 24 Custom and when I was purchasing my first house I tried to sell them to help with my down payment 🫤 I couldn’t get more than $500 each both being in excellent condition 🫤 losing money on guitars is nothing new !

Paul , Guess I missed this one . Wow now this is a loaded video , I agree manufactures have flooded the market so much there`s no where they can go , just raise prices right ? Well you can`t live or eat a 6 string , most I know are choosing food over paying bills. Like you I spend Too much time on the "Verb" and yes buying new is a gamble I do not want to take. We went from 50 guitars a week not so long ago to 2500 a week now , 3 shifts as hard as they can go and dealers can not take anymore inventory , but new gear has financing , which I use all the time , I am apart of the problem. Buy used you need the cash which people do not have right now ,,, Yeah a few do but most , as with your window shoppers. I waited over three years to find and buy the right guitar and I have been looking again , I have fond some Great deals but not what I want and at this point the money is not there (tax season LOL) Now these acoustic`s went quickly , faster than I thought they would so yes you might be correct , it could be a buyer`s market. For acoustics a guy told me Gibson acoustic Norlin 73 to maybe 76 you can find reasonable , Epiphone early Japan as well as Fender Japan ,,,,, Gibson electrics ,,,, yeah right ! If you are dealing with G.A.S. , as most of us do ,, look at the used and look for something that is an odd ball that a collector will not want , say a Gibson with a bowl back that is in great shape or from up north ,,,,,Etc Now I have to add ,,, All or most of he collectors (guitars , guns , cars etc) are getting old or have passed and what do kid`s do these day`s Sell ,Sell,Sell so as we go forward more used will hit the market ,,,, well below Murphy Lab or custom shop prices ,,,,, Buyer`s market ! Retail has changed and we need to navigate these new waters ! Sorry for the book there Paul !

From what I've seen starting in 2018 was a increase in all used gear. An SD-1 used selling for $44.99 & a new one for $49.99. Buying new is a no brainer. Recently SG' are way too high $549.99 for a Standard & used is no better. I never buy Gibson or Fender or anything that's 1K or more. It's a piece of wood & with some time you can get cheaper guitars to play fine. I know of high priced guitars that don't play right. Too many people hear with their eyes & in the end they all do the same thing. People can dictate the market if they just have the will power to say no I'm not paying for that. Even used HB are selling for more then the new ones on Reverb. The used market is terrible! We seen in 2020 how we can change the price at the pump. Doesn't apply to food but in other areas we can change it. We seen it in the car market where dealers were paying you more then what you paid for your car. Solution is simply stop buying. I'm sure you all have more then enough guitars.

YT Algo brought me here, and I am grateful. And you, sir, I agree with your analysis. Unfortunately. 😢 Subbed.

I started playing guitar in 1965 and drums in '69 (I notice you play drums also, cool). Been gigging since 69, still gigging now. I was a Gibson man for 25 years, but when Henry J. bought Gibson in the 80s, I soon lost interest and started checking out many other brands. He simply placed Gibson prices too exorbitant for the average working musician who has to consider his player features and risk out on the gig. I gravitated more to Fender, Carvin, G&L, Ibanez, Godin, Yamaha, Agile, Taylor, etc., altthough I still own three Gibsons. Used is almost always the way to go, unless there is a seriously good sale price. I find the Japanese and Korean made models to be as good or better than the USA models. The Godin Canadian/USA built models are excellent too. And I have plenty of China and Indonesia made gee-tars too. I don't rush, take my time, research my options, and play a lot of the same models before I pick one. In short, don't be in a hurry. I have four dozen electric, acoustic, classical, synthesizer, 12 strings guitars, including 4 and 5 string bass guitars, all for about the cost of 4-6 new Gibsons. Yep, where there is a will there is a way. The Good Lord blesses too if you are a man of faith in Christ Jesus. I bought a brand new Taylor 514CE with OHSC on sale, sold it, bought it back over several years and have a grand total invested in it of $682.50. I praise the Lord for that one and that He bought it back to me years ago. Don't be in hurry, be smart, take your time, look around and you will find your good stuff in due season. Tip: if you get into something for a good price, it's a lot easier to sell it later and not lose money. Sometimes you make a little more, sometimes a little less, but it balances out relatively speaking for me over many decades of buying and selling, even when my first and ex-wife had me in dismal financial conditions. Things have been real good now since 2015, PTL. I have to be esp. careful now, living in an area flooded with military bases/personnel, as the military folks can buy high, but sell low when they gotta go. So my area is flooded with fire sale gear. Good buying, but horrible selling later, unless you get in real low, ha. In short, patience is a virtue, don't go for instant gratification. Good things come to him who waits.

Wonder what will happen to boutique builders? Their cost has risen significantly. I bought a used Bourgeois this year for $4700 and a new one cost 13k.

love buying anything pre 2008 or even pre-dating 2000s, there are so many quality fender models made in the original mexico plant or even korea and japan that far surpass any Indonesian made 2023 squire

It doesn't help that SamAsh is gone and Guitar Center is probably next to close shop.

I've been calling a guitar crash for the better part of 2 decades. It's inevitable. Fewer new players, aging players needing to liquidate, and a daily overproduction by manufacturers competing against their own used inventory already in the market. I'm just surprised it's taken this long to play out.

Inflation is caused by devaluing the dollar. If printing presses are running day and night and the dollar is not pegged to a standard, such as silver, the dollar is worth less and will therefore buy less.

Firefly

Look at Harley Benton: they are able to crank out excellent guitars with stainless steel frets! And for a price of a Squier starter pack guitar.... From what I've gathered, a HB guitar can be easily upgraded for about a 100 dollars and beat any Fender/Gibson/Charvel. Meanwhile, a Gibson is like 4,000 USD!

The ceos are eating up so much just get rid of them. Guitars will be more affordable

As far as cars & guitars go.....I'm keeping what I have. I will not throw my money away on those overpriced, Objects. I have 14 guitars, & 4 Cars..... All, perfectly "Tuned" to keep using in all my venues. Fender, Gibson, Ford & Chevy, can kiss my azz.😂

The guitar is going the way of the mandolin.when all people born before 1996 die the remaining people don’t give a sheet about guitars

With the sun flares, ruzzia and China, it might not be the only thing that crashes this year LOL.

Why do people always talk about resale value? Who buys guitars just to sell them? I just don’t understand. I have 31 guitars and I could get a crap about what their resale values are. Maybe some of you buys guitars just to sell but it just doesn’t make any sense at all to me. Just don’t buy the guitar.

It's very simple don't be dumb and buy overpriced junk like Gibson. There has been a lot of inflation in music gear fender gear is going up too.

What! Joe said we got inflation back to normal and there is no inflation....😂

It's already dead