Ladies and gentlemen of the jury… knowing my audience, that would be “lady and mostly gentlemen of the jury…”
Some younger (and some older) players have taken to calling the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Strat “Grandpa” guitars. I intend to prove that such a statement is idiotic and stupid, both of which mean the same thing. There’s no such thing as a “Grandpa” guitar. Here’s why…
The electric guitar is a very well established instrument. Ever since around 1939, we’ve had electric guitar solos. Countless millions of players have been enthralled with this wonderful instrument which has found its way into almost every musical genre.
Indeed, the electric guitar is right up there with the acoustic guitar, the piano, and the saxophone. Has anyone ever called a Steinway piano a “Grandpa” piano? No. Has anyone ever called a Martin acoustic guitar a “Grandpa” guitar? No. They are timeless instruments. So is the Telecaster, the Les Paul, and the Strat, and a number of other famous electric guitars.
The younger players who slander the electric guitar are also fond of the phrase “Dad Rock,” meaning rock that their fathers enjoy. In serious music, this makes no sense. Classical musicians perform music that is 200 years old or much older. Jazz musicians often perform music that is 60 to 70 years old. Why is this an issue with today’s younger rock/metal players?
The answer is simple – they’re not serious about music. They’re more into the image than the reality. Or, they’re serious but extremely immature. As I once was. When I was 17, I thought Hendrix was boring, because I listened to the guys who took what Hendrix did to the next level. I didn’t understand that without Hendrix, there was no Van Halen or SRV. As I got older and more mature, I learned the error of my thinking.
So when you hear someone say “That’s uncool Dad Rock with a guy playing a Grandpa guitar,” just sort of smile at them and ignore them. Remember why people insult others – they do so because they’re lacking in self-confidence and they can only feel good about themselves by putting down others.
Dad Rock. What a stupid name. What happens when the kids who use that phrase have kids of their own? Beware any genre where it’s uncool to be older. Ageism is the next big target for the politically correct. Or maybe I just hope it will be.
