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What guitar gear trends do you think the 2020s decade will bring? Let's have some fun speculating. Any predictions are welcome, including guitars, amps, pickups, electronics, software, pedals, and any other gear.
Inspired by the COVID-19 lockdown and the virtual jamming that happens online, I think the next possible step will be virtual reality jamming which may include products such as Boss Waza-Air headphones (https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...aza+headphones) integrated with virtual reality headsets/goggles. Imagine you and your friends/bandmates virtually performing in huge arenas and almost seems real.
Amp simulation/plugin software seems to be advancing rapidly. Many already sound great. They can only get better. As someone who only plays guitar at home and always while seated at my computer desk, I see myself eventually transitioning to using software.
More small and low-wattage amps, or at least the option to select 0.5W becoming a standard feature included on more amps.
I think continued improvements in string and polymer technology will result in better and better coated strings that replicate the natural feel of an uncoated string but offer longer string life and durability than are available with current coated strings.
A continued shift to Chinese production. Just extrapolating from current trends where I'm noticing even South Korean and Indonesian guitars getting increasingly expensive.
Personally I hope to see more retro/tribute style electric guitars. Ibanez has their Genesis line of retro/classic RGs, and ESP recently released (through their LTD brand) their '87 Series guitars. I like these throwbacks to 80s guitars.
Tangent: I realize the 80s were a fascinating decade for guitar design and evolution, but were there any significant guitars of the 1990s that are worth a tribute or reissue in the 2020s (30 years later)? Were the 1990s even a good decade for guitars? I can't really think of any groundbreaking innovations offhand, but I think it was a good decade for the refinement of 80s style guitars. To me, some of my 90s-built guitars are my best 80s-flavored guitars, though this may be an uninformed opinion since I don't own enough 80s-made guitars to fairly judge.
Inspired by the COVID-19 lockdown and the virtual jamming that happens online, I think the next possible step will be virtual reality jamming which may include products such as Boss Waza-Air headphones (https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...aza+headphones) integrated with virtual reality headsets/goggles. Imagine you and your friends/bandmates virtually performing in huge arenas and almost seems real.
Amp simulation/plugin software seems to be advancing rapidly. Many already sound great. They can only get better. As someone who only plays guitar at home and always while seated at my computer desk, I see myself eventually transitioning to using software.
More small and low-wattage amps, or at least the option to select 0.5W becoming a standard feature included on more amps.
I think continued improvements in string and polymer technology will result in better and better coated strings that replicate the natural feel of an uncoated string but offer longer string life and durability than are available with current coated strings.
A continued shift to Chinese production. Just extrapolating from current trends where I'm noticing even South Korean and Indonesian guitars getting increasingly expensive.
Personally I hope to see more retro/tribute style electric guitars. Ibanez has their Genesis line of retro/classic RGs, and ESP recently released (through their LTD brand) their '87 Series guitars. I like these throwbacks to 80s guitars.
Tangent: I realize the 80s were a fascinating decade for guitar design and evolution, but were there any significant guitars of the 1990s that are worth a tribute or reissue in the 2020s (30 years later)? Were the 1990s even a good decade for guitars? I can't really think of any groundbreaking innovations offhand, but I think it was a good decade for the refinement of 80s style guitars. To me, some of my 90s-built guitars are my best 80s-flavored guitars, though this may be an uninformed opinion since I don't own enough 80s-made guitars to fairly judge.
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