I think you nailed it, BGD. I think there will be a lot of trips to many pawn shops for serious guitarists, and they'll pay a pretty penny for the original, beautiful instruments.
So, I have a theory (not a "conspiracy theory") but it ties in with what you wrote there at the last. Not sure if it was The Beatles who first used this thing, but they certainly used it. It is the Mellotron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUcfB5Whp4I
, later of course came the keyboards and something I saw last night on YT (forget what it was called) an electric guitar that had so many switches/pedals it could sound like a trumpet.
We got used to hearing the Mellotron with Strawberry Fields and then I heard it played by Mr. Robert Webb of King Crimson. Before the Mellotron came the Moog of course and so on.....
Whenever I think of these things, I get a little sad and try to remember when I had to learn to tie my shoe laces or tell time. Now there's Velcro and LCD's. Then I think of our friend Classical Guitar and how much he loves his guitar, and it makes me hope that the Millenials don't fall into the "you don't have to know how to play" trap. It was the same thing for me when they came out with those skeleton-looking electronic drums. Sorry, but I would not attend a concert with a drummer such as this.
I hear you: "What about pedals, Bill? Pedals are a different animals, I believe. You still have to know the notes on the neck and I still have to know my paradiddles, right?
I'd love to hear some more opinions.
Thanks
Bill
Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com