The problem that may kill Guitar shops but no one tells you

Wouldn’t spend a grand on a guitar I hadn’t tried , so happy to continue to visit guitar stores.

I don't see this happening in Canada, where Long & Mcquade, also sells, engineers, and rents its own line of amps, speakers, and PA stuff (made in Canada) through its Traynor and Yorkville brands. It also trades, repairs, and gives lessons for various instruments. I assume that despite their usual fairly large selection of guitars in their stores, they likely do most of their business renting out their own line of amps and PA stuff, along with offering drums, keys, amps, orchestral instruments, servicing, and giving lessons. All of it complements their web presence where anything purchased will be delivered right to the buyer's door from one of their cross-Canada stores. Their stores bring in shoppers beyond someone looking for a guitar, but a whole mix of people who would be interested in anything else but a guitar.

Small shops were the best. Sure, selection was somewhat limited but that was part of the charm.

A lot of good points here - sadly I think guitar shops are falling victim to (a) increased online sales for just about anything, so many bookshops, record shops etc. packing up! (b) manufacturers completely bypassing retail outlets ('eliminating the middle man'!), which a kick in the teeth for so many smaller businesses, and (c) the resultant financial pressure the above put on smaller 'local' stores that do not have the benefit of being in a big city where there are way more potential customers than small-town locations. I'm fortunate, living in HK, which is a 'duty free' city so prices remain 'reasonable' with no import duty / VAT etc. and 2 main dealers, Tom Lee & Parsons, who have flagship stores with plenty of inventory so it's easy to try out and compare instruments before buying (I have no desire to buy a guitar online) and both offer a decent warranty. We also have several smaller indie dealers who may offer one or two less 'major' brands like Sire, Suhr, Sadowsky etc. I look forward to visiting the new Swee Lee next time I'm in SNG! Cheers.

That concept of a dual purpose space like coffee and guitar is a good idea. I can totally see that happening.

Agreed, There's no longer need to go to guitar stores (i.e Office space), it's so costly, and you will need to use that "real estate" in something with more R.O.I (return of investment).👍 Physical space is really more for "experience" than the transaction of buying and selling a product.🔥If I need to buy and check new amazing guitars, I'll just visit "Reverb" and "Sweetwater". You can browse thousands of guitars with amazing photographs. It's enough to see amazing, beautiful guitars that will serve as inspiration for the next GAS. (which is just a Hedonic treadmill) but have to admit is still really satisfying even though the feeling will just last for a few days or weeks- it's very therapeutic and benefits your mental and emotional wellness. (another indirect consequence of buying Guitars on store and also online.)😅 Cheers.💯

We are a pickup manufacturer who occasionally does guitars and repair out of the shop but often the guitars and repairs can take a lot of extra time versus selling the pickups online. Here’s a whole range of services we CAN do but lately it’s been about finding the ones that keep everything moving forward.

Thanks again, you bring a unique perspective of the actual overall guitar market which impacts us all as guitarists, instructors like myself, store owners, band members, etc. and Why? We simply cannot do all the things we do in our loved craft if we can't get a guitar, and the gear needed for the end purpose of using them, IF we can't GET them. How we GET them is changing and like you I hope the actual experience as you put it does not go away. I live in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area almost out of on the edge of an adjacent county/ county not country. B'ham is not big by the world's standards having a metro area of about a million people. While nothing like NY, Chicago, etc, it is very typical of the US in some ways. We have 2 chain box guitar stores, and a handful of local ones that make most of their money in other ways such as lessons, luthier/tech service, serving local school music programs, etc. My point is... It is a real headache in our area and shared by people on my own YT channel to get a guitar setup, and almost unheard of to walk in and get an immediate "fix" to something as the luthier or techs are JUST TOO BUSY. So we DROP OFF and wait to be called, usually a week or more later. Maybe we'll see as you mentioned, that service need become something improved on, or done by itself to expedite this need for everyone from playing guitarist in bands, to parents that just bought an internet guitar and need a setup. Hopefully the market and needs will find their way and we all keep making joyful noises with our guitars. Thanks for your unique perspectives.

Guitar Sanctuary in Dallas Texas has a very nice ambience and host mini concerts and guest speakers Shark Tank Kevin O’Leary recently posted video of a vintage car dealer that had collectible guitars for sale.

I miss the days back in 2000-2003 when I would sit in the locally owned guitar/music shop & spend 3-4 hours playing different guitars on a Saturday. Can't say I'm a fan of reading the specs of a guitar online just to put down 10% so I could try it. I found one I REALLY liked, I got it, it looked great, it felt great then I played it. As soon as I played, something felt wrong. I avoided the newest/most expensive guitar I've ever owned because I didn't read about one piece of the guitar, other than that tiny spec I didn't even think of, it had EVERYTHING right for me.

Great insights as always. I think a social gathering guitar store is great. Pre-pandemic there was a local guitar boutique that was set up for hanging out, which I'd spend hours at every Saturday. Sadly the pandemic ended that and it never recovered. I see that your mic-adapter had a run in with some chewing! I also have many things that bear the marks as such. It's actually kind of a nice reminder of them.

Very interesting video, thank you very much! I think the internet has made markets, in this case the guitar market, more transparent. So customers have, compared to the pre-Internet time, more options where to buy a guitar and also to compare prices more. The competition became harder, which is usually a good thing for the customer. On the other hand, smaller traditional music stores are fighting to survive. Let us hope, that at least some of them will survive. Thanks again for all your really great work!!

While I understand your points, there is still something to be said for going to a shop to actually try the guitar. Rather than spending good money on something that's beautiful, but you hate playing. Then, you must re-pack the guitar, re-label the guitar, and take it to where it shipped from to be shipped back. Sometimes, like in the case of FedEx, they might not have a close location to take the package back to, causing frustration finding the place, and extra expense in driving there. In a shop, you just put it back on the rack and walk away if you don't like it. Or try something else you do like. It's a tough nut to crack. I can see people trying a guitar they genuinely like, putting it back on the rack, and then going home to order one cheaper online. This puts the shop owner in a terrible bind. I don't see the solution. I'm personally really interested in an S-series Ibanez. But, I don't want to spend that kind of money not knowing if I'll like it. I also don't want to pay the extra price to support a local shop, because money still doesn't grow on trees. What do you think the answer is?

I have never bought a guitar in a guitar shop in last 10 years sadly as none close enough and I have never had a problem with any of the instruments shipped thankfully

I miss blockbuster video for the same reasons

Guitar servicing is another angle. Setups, refrets, electronics, etc. Good, experienced and techs who care are hard find. Having one or two in an open setting would also generate traffic. And if the price is appealing many of these multiple guitar owners will save a lot of time going that route.

I came across your channel a couple of weeks back, great content Utkarsh! I was just thinking a few days back about how no one has gone into the economics of the guitar world and then I come across your channel 😄 keep it going, and I see you're into the automotive and watch world too and can offer great insights which I'd be interested in myself, think about it!

my luthier just bought a guitar shop. I will share this video so that options to add value can be considered

The new way forward is "music and" whether it's you as a musician or you as a shop owner.

Sounds like an amazing guitar shop