90% of new guitarists abandon the instrument within a year, according to Fender

Fender CEO Andy Mooney
(Image credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Contrary to oft-reported stories on the death of the electric guitar, sales have actually been on the rise over the past several years. And according to Andy Mooney, CEO for industry giants Fender, a full 45 percent of the guitars sold in a year by his company actually go to new players. 

One problem? 90 percent of those beginners also abandoned the instrument within their first 12 months of playing.

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Richard Bienstock

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.