For all the arguments about whether the guitar is dead or not, one topic people don’t often discuss is the death of analog gear and rigs, even among veteran musicians. Just like when Pro Tools was introduced to recording decades ago, we stand at a cross roads in guitar technology that has many people choosing between the old way versus the new way. Guitar bodies are being produced with new shapes, and new substances such as carbon fiber, metal, acrylic, and recycled skateboards. While good old fashioned wood Strats and LPs will always have a home in our heart, will this recent aluminum guitar craze carry on? Let’s dive into some questions like this and take a measured approach at what’s fact versus fiction.
Profiling Amps Will Replace Tube Amps
Every day it seems like a new article comes out claiming more and more touring musicians or guitar idols are turning to profiling amps. Mark Knopfler, Steve Morse, and Matt Heafy all use the Kemper system. The AXE FX system has an ever greater list featuring Misha Mansoor, Steve Vai, The Edge, John Petrucci, Alex Lifeson, and many more guitar superstars. These products essentially replace your amps, pedalboard, pre-amps, and anything else you use in your rig. Once they are programmed they can be directly hooked up the PA speakers, a venue’s sound system, or can go directly into a recording board.
While these are definitely for the more technologically savvy player, plenty of younger players are turning to these for consistent tone night after night and lighter carrying cases to take on tour. While I’ll always prefer playing through combo amps or stacks, it is much easier and cheaper to transport a couple of speakers, a foot controller, and these small super computers. Whether you like it or not, I believe these things are here to stay, and will only continue to win over more and more musicians. While traditionalists like Dan Auerbach or Jack White will always stick to amps, I wouldn’t be shocked if the trending, futuristic indie and metal guitarists leave them behind.
What Will Future Guitars Look Like?
Dating back to the ’60s, companies were messing around with alternate materials to make electric guitars. Most famous is the JB Hutto Res-O-Glass guitar that has been made famous by Jack White in the past decade or two. Recently, carbon fiber acoustics have been produced but have achieved only limited success, while higher end luthiers have pursued other, more unique attempts. We’ve seen a Swedish technological group 3D print an all metal, indestructible guitar, we’ve seen an instagram artist create guitars out of epoxy resin, and finally a huge spike in aluminum bodied instruments.
While many of us agree nothing can beat a good, handmade wooden Stratocaster, in an era of unprecedented technological advancement I would be surprised if many attempts along these lines are not made with commercial retail in mind. Furthermore, thanks to social media and the internet, the need to be unique, stick out, or get noticed is becoming a bigger and bigger part of any musician’s arsenal of tools. Realistically, it is probably too soon to worry about guitar construction or designs changing any more than the addition of extra strings, new pickups, or oddball shapes. But be prepared, it’s likely coming at some point in a millennial’s life time.
Guitars For Idiots 