The Guitar as Artifact and Icon: Identity Formation in the Babyboom Generation1

This chapter explores the meaning of the guitar particularly to those of the babyboom generation. In the light of the unprecedented success of Elvis Presley and the Beatles, the answer may seem self evident, but back in the big band era of the 1930s not many teens strove to be swing trumpet or saxophone players like their pop idols. The return of middle-aged baby boomers to the guitar, and especially vintage or expensive reproductions, seems to be more than simply acquiring another possession like a little red sports car, an expensive stereo, a make-over face, or an Armani suit. Gruhn’s long experience led him to believe that once people stop playing they would not return to the market in great numbers. However, by the mid 1980s, he noticed a change in his clientele – many individuals in their forties were buying vintage and collectable guitars, driving up prices in the process.