Re: List the Top 10 Classic Guitar Companies of the 2000's
I doubt there will be a lot of collectibility of guitars from this era. Certain custom shop guitars will always be heavily sought after, but because mass production has practically put a guitar in the hands of every teenager, I don't see a lot of guitars having any real value in the future. Anyway...
Gibson, Fender, Martin... have seemingly been around forever, and continue to be amongst the leaders in the industry. All three produce guitars that are considered timeless classics. With regard to Gibson and Fender, the work that comes out of the respective custom shops is second to none in terms of build quality and attention to detail.
Line 6 - Given the speed at which the digital industry is evolving, it may be a matter of time before these guys have their names up at the top of the list. They may never be known for the high degree of craftsmanship that goes into each individual product, but the research and development they've put into the digital realm is unprecedented. I do not believe that the true breadth of their impact on the guitar industry has even come close to being realized. However, given the evolution of digital technology, Line 6 stuff gets outdated very quickly, so I would not say that a 2005 Line 6 product will be worth much in 2025.
PRS – A true collector’s guitar, their instruments will continue to be sought after by collectors and players who demand both high build quality and timeless piece of artwork.
Schecter – Schecter isn’t the newest kid on the block, but they certainly do not have the street credit of a Gibson, Fender, or PRS. However, if they continue to produce their upper echelon instruments without raising the consumer cost, they may start to gouge into the market of those looking for high quality instruments that both play well and look phenomenal.
That is 6 solid companies… there are plenty of other companies producing great guitars, but none that I think will get much attention in 20 years. Jackson, as I see, is too deeply pigeonholed into the metal scene to really be much more than a novelty in 20 years. Great instruments? Sure, but not worth anything unless that’s your bag.
