How your whole life is now a Sales Floor: Utkarsh Mohan on Music #59:

[@24ZEPACDC]

Guitars are the antithesis of this but we still keep buying them 😂

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I hate disposable tech! I have an almost pathological obsession with maintaining my stuff, trying to keep them operational and looking as nice as possible. I cook with cast iron, for example, and have music gear that is over 30 years old. I’ve been driving the same car for 18 years, etc… I dread buying new things when I have to, because so much of technology is cheap junk, and even some of the relatively reliable stuff will contain cheap components that will fail early, and then stuff falls apart when you try to repair the new stuff Rant over 😂 Perhaps that is another reason why I enjoy electric guitar so much! It’s easy to maintain and upgrade an electric guitar, without a lot of expensive specialized tools, and if you take care of one it can last a lifetime. To a lesser degree, tube amps are similar, though more dangerous. With a few hundred dollars worth of tools and some study one can play guitar until death relatively cheaply, relative to being a car or video game enthusiast

[@ministryofguitar]

Fully agree

[@petersouthwell5971]

That might be a BIG reason I appreciate the guitar so well as an art object... Not much stuff these days is built with guitar durability.

[@ministryofguitar]

Agree

[@danielrentel9747]

These are some amazing insights that everyone should finally acknowledge. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@randrothify]

The main reason nothing is built to last is because we have transitioned from the relatively simple mechanical to the complex and electronic. The more complex things are the more tightly coupled the components are and thus more potential points of failure are introduced. A mechanical wristwatch can last generations if maintained and looked after. Same thing with an electric guitar. What are the odds that an Apple Watch or a digital multi effects unit will last that long. Chances are something is going to break and either the replacement part or parts have long since ceased production or been superseded, or, the knowledge to even make a repair has disappeared. That doesn’t happen when replacement parts can be machined relatively easily and the principles of repair are widely understood and not design-specific.

[@thejuggernaut5327]

Built-in obsolescence is a concept at least a century old.

[@allenmitchell09]

Remember though that Utkarsh is from a developing country and from his perspective, the explosion of consumerism does probably coincide with the rise of the internet. But, from my perspective living in the US, the convenience of the internet helped capitalism no doubt, but it seemed like legacy brands transitioned into the internet age more so than the industrial revolution did in creating new businesses. Long story short, the internet might be the industrial revolution in certain areas.

[@ministryofguitar]

Great conversation. Two thoughts 1) Built in obsolescence is an old concept but it has been amplified in the post internet /ecommerce age 2) I fully agree that consumerism helped capitalism. I don't dislike it. It's all about balance. Money and wealth are ultimately imaginary concepts. The bigger question is, are more people improving the quality of their lives. Of late, I don't think consumerism is serving that purpose

[@thejuggernaut5327]

@@ministryofguitar yes, agree we have lost a sense of balance in most phases of life. We seem more focused on extremes. Also at play here is that we love to shop, particularly if there’s another void in our life that we’re attempting to fill. Many things that are built to last are discarded in favor of the newer product.

[@lonewolffgrey8983]

Your knowledge is much appreciated , thank you bro...

[@ministryofguitar]

Thanks for watching

[@user-mc6wg7zm8d]

Loved it. U read my mind..but nobody understands me on this.

[@ltgray2780]

I was taught "Planned Obsolescence" in grade school in the late '60's.

[@philfrank5601]

People had more common sense back then and couldn't be fooled as easily as people today, in many ways. They wanted to introduce planned obscelence for decades, but that's also how long it took to change people's minds and dumb them into thinking that they're getting a better deal (paying less up front) by buying something that was DESIGNED to break. The environment took a huge hit for our greed, too.

[@AlanW]

You are so right, respect and appreciate the things you have. I keep all my guitars on wall hangars and it brings me joy, like art would, to take a moment every so often and contemplate them. I have found a great strategy is to put off buying something until it really feels like you are suffering from not having it. This mostly applies to tools and furniture for me, but I feel has ensured that the things I have are of the utmost utility and has done wonders in avoiding any buyer's remorse that plagued me in my youth.

[@ministryofguitar]

I like the strategy you mention. Not buy something till you miss it. We could all do with that

[@dewey7330]

Products are made like that now because the world is built on consuming. We need to buy,buy,buy now it sad. And don’t even get me started with the health care in the US. But here in the good ol’ USA we just keep saying we are the best in everything and people believe it.

[@ministryofguitar]

Unfortunately what you say is very true

[@Michael-F4ul5kzbuck]

you making a great point it seems wise not to upgrade everytime the next new thing comes out.. .. but i add they charging more but using cheap production process on the scale for what they selling ...so the money they make is more but they spending less to make stuff and the profits get sent to the top guys in bigger portions while serving less quality..its simple evil at play or greed...they arent using the profit to pay more to the employees underneath or pay more for better production ..this problem is swallowing the world in whole...its a missbalanced equation they favor for themselves because they control it that way.... is this right or true what am saying? and they creating needs that we didnt have before...what do you think covid was.. creating a need for a cure to pay for.. how clever...make a problem to sell the cure...

[@Scott__C]

A couple of reasons, in my opinion. Marketing making people think they're useless if they don't get the newest thing, and shareholders of companies who, rather than reliable profitability, want the company to constantly have 10 times more sales every year, hence the new thing and the marketing.

[@ministryofguitar]

Agree. Marketing can be good if it drives awareness and education. Making people buy something they don't need, I'm not a fan of

[@Scott__C]

@@ministryofguitar Good to hear. I've known so many in marketing that only care about separating people from their money.

[@LairdDavidson]

You pretty much sum up my position on this topic. I've never had a top paying job like you but I've never wanted one either. Yes the money might have made some things easier but time with family was more important. I buy stuff I don't need from time to time just because I like it and owning it makes me happy but I keep that to a minimum so that each purchase is special.

[@LairdDavidson]

BTW I used to live in Singapore for a while. Owning a car there is an astronomical expense. I couldn't afford one. However taxis and public transport are really good so I didn't miss not having my own vehicle.

[@ratwynd]

@@LairdDavidson I have not been to Singapore, but have spent time in Japan. It is the same there. It is not possible to even license a vehicle in many places unless you can prove you have a permanent off street place to park it when not in use. They have some very sophisticated and automated 'vehicle vending machines' I called them for automated parking in towers of vehicles.

[@ministryofguitar]

It is very expensive here. Unfortunately I'm too fond of cars and driving (it's a deep rooted childhood obsession). So that is one expense I have to grit my teeth and go ahead with. That said, I have found ways and means to make it work

[@LairdDavidson]

@@ratwynd I lived in Japan too. Those vehicle towers are crazy. 🙂

[@image30p]

A good meditation. I recently lost a lot of my possessions, because I was not able to maintain my residence. I lost my furniture, cooking equipment, televisions, etc. As well as my guitars, bass, keyboard. A lot of clothing. Things which I had hoped I would never need purchase again. I would advise anyone to have a plan, so this doesn't happen to you. Because I was able to re-establish an income and I'm building back what I lost. The fact that I stubbornly held onto anything that would fit in my car rather than disposing of it as many people advised, made that process much quicker and easier.

[@ministryofguitar]

I'm sorry to hear about the challenge you had, but wonderful to hear how you are building back

[@richardhighsmith]

Guitars and traditionally manufactured amps and pedals seem to be an interesting exception.

[@ministryofguitar]

I agree. Something I plan to talk about sometime

[@tinysherpa7180]

The marginal utility of the latest computer graphics card = buyers remorse !

[@ministryofguitar]

haha

[@andybond5002]

iPhones lasts still...my iphone4 lasted for 7 years...my Iphone 12 and 13 still lasts...yes things in Asia don't last...

[@loctran1648]

IPhone has been made in Asia since the beginning of time. If you want things cheaply made, then it won't last. Production site have little to do with the product quality, Apple (or any brands) want something made within the budget, then Asia (or any place in the world) produce the thing within the budget.. You pay more money doesn't mean it cost more money to make, especially with high-tech device, as the budget goes mostly into marketing and development cost.

[@stevepelham9010]

The squirell wheel never as to reach satisfaction. I have succesfully been avoding it all of my life.

[@gregpusczek4473]

It used to be called Planned Obsolescence

[@ministryofguitar]

True. It's been taken to a whole new level

[@scorchedearthdj]

cars are far more reliable now than even 30-40 years ago. they are more complex and thus, more difficult to repair on one's own, however they are more reliable than ever.

[@ministryofguitar]

Great point. I have a lot to elaborate on cars. I agree and disagree. The last few years has seen a smartphonification of cars which hasn't been great. that said, older cars were much more unreliable for sure

[@richardhighsmith]

Recently built cars have a lot of complex digital components that can cause the whole system to shut down if there is an error or things are outside of ideal parameters. I’m not a mechanic, but there seem to be many components that can only be supplied by dealership mechanics. I’m a big advocate of “Right to Repair” laws.

[@scorchedearthdj]

@@richardhighsmith yeah right to repair is important and these electronics make it impossible under various intellectual property laws and such nonsense.

[@scorchedearthdj]

@@ministryofguitar the electronic nonsense is out of control and completely unnecessary. you need to be driving your damned car, not playing with a screen.

[@philfrank5601]

Think about this: they could make cars today with the SAME level of reliability of old, and also with a long lasting design...something you can easily repair. They obviously choose not to do that.

[@Michel-r6m]

People want a quick fix and most do not invest in propper gear (hifi, guitars etc.). Making things cheap as chips allows you to have more than one hobby that dilutes the skills (instrument, photography etc.) as satisfaction and it is another happy customer 😅 and back to square one.

[@ratwynd]

True for some. But as another person commented about buying cheap stuff, "Cry once at checkout." I lived a lot of years in Alaska, where the philosophy is GO BIG OR GO HOME! But if your stuff breaks in the wrong place you won't get home. Maybe ever. So for optics and cameras, it is Zeiss or Leitz glass, guitars is Martin, Gibson and Gretsch, trucks older GMs, cars Audi, snowmachines is Polaris or Yamaha. Beginner tools are for beginners. But if you know you want to pursue something real, work, save some money and get real tools.

[@Michel-r6m]

Sure, yet gear has become so accessable to many people (guitars, amps, photocameras etc) you have a new demographic towards companies can sell to. In the past as in the video told there was dedication and effort in order to check gear out. My ex bought an Aria Pro II bass and Peavey amp and that was seriously tough finding those for a student friendly budget in the 90's 🤠 Awesome bass...and heavy!!!

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@Michel-r6mI had an '84 aria tsb standard...incredibly well built instrument, certainly better than your run-of-the-mill fender...sold it and used the money to buy a vintage fender which I still have, because the superior instrument felt boringly predictable and the fender is more "friendly" for lack of a better way to put it, it just makes me want to pick it up and play it and that's real value