But women are gradually infiltrating the fraternity of guitar giants. Last week's Grammy Awards featured stars like Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, and Sheryl Crow. And with signs of a saturated male market, guitar makers soon may begin pinning their futures on female customers. Fender, for example, in 1995 came out with its signature Bonnie Raitt guitar, a narrow-necked electric. The industry's new marketing strategies reflect the realization that the male-dominated guitar culture wasn't the only impediment to luring female players.
Guitars perfectly tailored for men are often a bad fit for women.
The thing's designed for a football player. The shape is a problem, too. This year, Martin Guitar launched a limited edition acoustic guitar designed specifically with women in mind. The double-O body is several inches smaller all the way around. Moreover, the slender fingerboard and narrow neck are styled so smaller hands can better execute bar chords.