DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The guitar has long been a gateway into the world of music, captivating beginners and seasoned musicians with its versatility and accessibility. From its portability to its wide range of tones, the guitar remains one of the most beloved instruments across generations.

Despite its popularity, the guitar industry has experienced fluctuations over the past decade. In 2017, The Washington Post published an article lamenting the “slow, secret death of the six-string electric,” raising concerns about the instrument’s future. The iconic Gibson brand filed for bankruptcy the following year, casting further doubt on the industry’s stability.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a resurgence in guitar sales. With people spending more time at home, many picked up the guitar as a new hobby, reigniting interest in the instrument. Guitar manufacturers Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor reported their highest sales. Fender Play, a guitar instruction app, saw an increase to 930,000 from 150,000 between March and June 2020. According to music industry research, guitar sales have continued to increase since 2020.

Brooklyn’s guitar scene

Nick Chalas, the general manager of the Guitar Center in Downtown Brooklyn, has witnessed firsthand the enduring appeal of the instrument. In January, the store relocated from the basement of the Atlantic Terminal Mall to a prominent storefront at 536 Fulton Street, drawing in more customers with its eye-catching display.

“The popularity of the guitar is because of the function and the sounds,” Chalas explained. “It’s all the different sounds that a good guitar can make. It’s a stringed instrument, but it sounds electronic. If it’s an acoustic, folk or Spanish guitar, you can get so many different sounds and moods from it. It’s mobile — you can bring it from gig to gig, or you can bring it to a party. It’s a lot easier than bringing a drum kit or an entire professional piano.”

Chalas also noted how easy it is for beginners to start playing. “When we do guitar lessons, we can have somebody playing at least a portion of a song on their first day. Plus, it’s really cool. Everybody does air guitar, right?”

The allure of used guitars

Orphan Guitars, a shop at 493 Court Street in Carroll Gardens, offers a shopping experience different from big-box stores like Guitar Center. In 2019, the Brooklyn Eagle reported that Orphan Guitars “favors playable, affordable, oddball instruments.” 

Store owners and employees say the instrument’s accessibility is key to its widespread appeal.

“You can learn a couple of punk rock chords in an afternoon and kind of play a lot of songs quickly if you’re musically inclined,” said Grady Walker, a musician and employee at Orphan Guitars since 2019. “I’ve shown kids who have never played before, and within six months, they’re pretty good.”

Walker and his colleague Alex Sherba agree that the biggest challenge for beginners is overcoming the physical strain on their fingers.

“Things that are hard about it are not music-related,” Sherba said. “It’s just getting over your fingers hurting for a couple of weeks, and then learning to tune your instrument is really the absolute hardest part.”

Regarding sales, Sherba noted that mid-range used guitars are often the most sought-after. “I think every guitar shop’s bread and butter is good used guitars between about $500 to $800,” he said.

He also commented on the quality of budget-friendly guitars today. “The really cheap new guitars today are so blandly good. There’s no fighting them or anything. If you want a brand new $200 guitar, there isn’t anything wrong with it.”