Guitars have seen a huge spike in sales over the pandemic, according to the New York Times
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Guitars have seen a huge spike in sales over the pandemic, according to the New York Times

The feature – which also humorously makes reference to the guitar as a ‘boomer relic’ – details the instrument’s recent resurgence, arguing that 2020 might even go down as one of the most successful years for the guitar in a long time. 

 

While noting that the industry was shrouded with uncertainty when several factories were forced to close in April, several of the musical instrument sector’s biggest players, including Fender, Gibson, Martin and Taylor, have all experienced healthy sales in the US summer period, with Fender even supposedly reaching a new sales record over the period. 

 

Discussing the company’s sales success, chief executive Andy Mooney told the Times that 2020 will be “the biggest year of sales volume in Fender history, record days of double-digit growth, e-commerce sales and beginner gear sales… I never would have thought we would be where we are today if you asked me back in March.”

 

Of more pertinent interest, however, is the amount of young adults and teenagers who are picking up the guitar, with the Times noting a significant shift in more female players helping to drive the so-called guitar revival. This claim can be supported by analysing data from Fender’s wildly successful educational app, Fender Play, which saw its user base grow by 150,000 between March – June and new female users increase from 30% to 45% in the same period. 

 

 

Head to the New York Times to read the feature in full today.