Over the past couple of years, the guitar industry has experienced one of the most unique market cycles in its history. During the COVID boom, demand for guitars and gear reached unprecedented levels. Products sold as quickly as they arrived, inventories disappeared, and manufacturers struggled to keep up. By late 2023 and into 2024, production had finally caught up, and inventory levels across the industry began to normalize.
At the same time, nearly every major manufacturer implemented multiple price increases to offset rising production, freight, and material costs. While those increases made sense during a period of extraordinary demand, today's market looks quite different.
Consumers have become more value-conscious, dealer inventories remain healthy, and the pace of new gear sales has moderated. Higher retail prices, combined with abundant inventory, have created a more competitive environment where dealers are working harder than ever to maintain healthy margins.
One category, however, continues to outperform the rest: Used Guitars
We began seeing a significant increase in used guitar sales in late 2024, and 2026 has continued that trend at record levels. More players are consigning quality instruments, trading gear toward new purchases, and shopping for used guitars to maximize value. Whether it is a vintage guitar, a discontinued model, or simply a quality used guitar at a depreciated price, used gear has become one of the healthiest segments of today's market.
From our perspective, this is not just a temporary shift, it is a fundamental change in how many guitar enthusiasts are buying gear. The used market offers value, variety, and access to new instruments that often are not available at affordable prices.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of our local customers and the guitarists who shop with us online across the country. Thank you!