The Golden Age of Guitar Gear Is Ending (And No One Wants to Admit It)

Are we seeing the first signs of the end of the Golden Age of Guitar Gear? After 8 years on YouTube and 600+ demos covering amps and pedals, I've been noticing something shift — both in the audience and across the industry. This isn't clickbait. This is data, observation, and a few uncomfortable questions.In this episode, I break down:- Which major retailers have closed or declined (Sam Ash, Sweetwater, Guitar Center)- Why analog companies like EHX, JHS, and Wampler are pivoting to digital and courses- The shift from traditional retail to direct-to-consumer models- What Reverb.com's growth tells us about where buyers actually are- Why the standard gear demo format is dying — and what comes next- The real-world economic pressures (inflation, tariffs) squeezing everyoneThis is TL Toneworks going full podcast mode. Chapters below — jump to whatever hits closest to home.Podcast Audio Format: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-swrkm-1ac401d---🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 Is the Golden Age of Guitar Gear Ending?00:36 What “Golden Age” Means for Guitar Players Today02:24 Guitar Gear Companies That Shut Down (2020–2026)02:32 Why Music Stores Are Closing (Sam Ash, PMT, Bax Music)04:21 Why Guitar Pedal Companies Are Going Digital06:44 Why Brands Are Selling Direct to Customers (DTC Shift)11:07 How Inflation & the Economy Are Hurting Guitar Gear Sales12:57 Guitar Center, Sweetwater & the State of Big Retail17:34 Reverb.com & Why Used Guitar Gear Is Exploding21:46 Why Guitar YouTube (Gear Demos) Is Losing Interest25:14 What Happens Next for Guitar Gear?TL Toneworks is a podcast about guitar tone, gear culture, amp modeling, pedals, recording, and the changing world of music equipment.Hosted by Jonathan Guillemette, each episode explores the real conversations happening in the guitar community — from digital vs analog gear to the future of guitar content creation and the music industry itself.🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TL_Toneworks  📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tl_toneworks/