What "Vintage" guitars would appeal to you?

Karl Hungus

I say "Vintage" because I'm sure everyone has different definitions of what would or would not be vintage. But the other thread about the vintage pickguard got me thinking, so I thought I'd ask, what older instruments appeal to you? Maybe they're just no in production any more, maybe it's just an older guitar that's still in production?

For me, it would have to be those oldschool Ibanez Universes. Some people will probably hate them, but I already own a 97 black model, and it's one awesomely kickass guitar. Some of them are pretty desirable though, and the old swirled ones would change hands for quite a bit of money:



I think the model I like the most at the moment is the UV7PWN, it's just so sexy looking:



There was much more variety in the colour back then, as well:



Pretty obnoxious colours, really, but I loved 'em. The current model is still pretty cool though, all shiny with the mirror pickguard, but it's been the same now for nearly 10 years:

Doctor J

For a start, I wouldn't call anything from the mid 90's vintage

Eoin Madsen

A 1982 Les Paul Custom Silverburst appeals to me for some inexplicable reason. I'll get one when I make my first €100,000 in record sales.

fourmations

the (expensive) classics for me please


'59 burst jazzmaster
'54 butterscotch telecaster
'59 les paul cherryburst


not really vintage but would like a charvel surfcaster as well

rgds

4

feylya

Give me a battered candy apple red strat and a well played black Les Paul with gold hardware and I'd be happier than Ancient1 in the Fender factory

SirLemonhead

You really do have a diverse taste in guitars Karl

Rustar

A '55 LP Goldtop.

Voodu Child

I don't really have any interest in vintage stuff just for the sake of being 'vintage'.

If you offered me a Strat that was 50 years old, or one straight off the shelf, i'd take the new one (monetary value aside;)). I don't really see why sitting around for decades magically makes a guitar more desirable. And this fabled '59 Les Paul' type stuff is a crock of sh1t, there was no pixie dust in the factory that year (or any other) and if they can't make a better instrument today then the luthiers there should be ashamed of themselves.

The only reason i'd be interested in a vintage instrument was if it wasnt made any more - like a one off, or a limited run, where you have to go vintage to get that particular model.

feylya

Definately agree with you there voodoo but there's something about the guitars I mentioned if they've been reliced. Although, I'd prefer to relic them myself

Voodu Child

Yeah see that's the thing....if it was my own guitar, you could think of it like 'that's happened the time i was drunk and did xzy', or 'that was where i slipped and made an ass of myself at that show in..' etc.

You know, you've scratched it yourself and it's got your own stories and experiences in every scuff and bash. But just a randow beat-up guitar....personally I don't see the attraction.

And don't even get me started on those Fender's where a 'master builder' goes at a brand new guitar with a chisel and they charge 20 grand for having the exact same pattern of damage as SRV or whoever... :rolleyes:

Parsley

I think Karl was aiming more towards what guitars aren't made, or aren't made the same anymore, as in the Universes. Discontinued models and colours and stuff, not just really old versions of the same guitars that are available today. But I could be wrong.

Rustar

voodoo_child wrote:

And this fabled '59 Les Paul' type stuff is a crock of sh1t, there was no pixie dust in the factory that year (or any other)...

I agree, that's why I picked the '55 as opposed to the '52. '52-'54 were badly designed and hard to intonate (Les Paul supposedly complained about this himself), and they fixed things in '55.

I'd just want a beautiful piece of history (yes, I'd want it to be "like new" when I got it, and yes, I would play it).

With the advent of CNC machines, you're almost guaranteed to get a better-playing guitar nowadays, even in the cheap section. As long as it's designed right in the first place.

I just happen to like butterscotch. So sue me!

Johnny Storm

voodoo_child wrote: »

And don't even get me started on those Fender's where a 'master builder' goes at a brand new guitar with a chisel and they charge 20 grand for having the exact same pattern of damage as SRV or whoever... :rolleyes:

+1

Although as long as there are plonkers willing to pay .....

EDIT to add: Vintage guits I like is the LP Jr with one P90 in sexy TV yellow

eoin5

I'd take a 70s Alembic if someone gave me one for nothing

dazberry

Parsley wrote: »

I think Karl was aiming more towards what guitars aren't made, or aren't made the same anymore, as in the Universes.

I'd love a 92/93 Eggle Berlin Pro or Dlx, either orange or green burst (and if I'm getting a bit carried away - falling leaves inlays and maybe even gold hardware - which would be tarnished at this stage tho'). Having said that I love my 94 Berlin Stage and 92 New York Standard, I'd happily settle for another 92/93 NY or/and a Berlin Std or Plus.

D.

fish-head

52 Telecaster, easy!

Karl Hungus

Doctor J wrote: »

For a start, I wouldn't call anything from the mid 90's vintage

And this is why I put vintage in quotes...

Besides, take it in context, in terms of 7 string electric guitars, the old UV's are about as vintage as they come.

Parsley wrote: »

I think Karl was aiming more towards what guitars aren't made, or aren't made the same anymore, as in the Universes. Discontinued models and colours and stuff, not just really old versions of the same guitars that are available today. But I could be wrong.

Well, that's certainly part of it, yes.

Like Eoin said, the Gibson Silverburst LP, now that's quite a unique guitar.

MasterOfSolos wrote: »

You really do have a diverse taste in guitars Karl

Thanks.

Doctor J

Karl Hungus wrote: »

And this is why I put vintage in quotes...

means humour is implied ... ehhh...

Karl Hungus

Doctor J wrote: »

means humour is implied ... ehhh...

So... The use of in the above most, means humour wasn't implied...? This is confusing.

red_ice

Vintage = 25 years and over

The only guitar thats ever done anything for me down below is this

darrenw5094

If i was totally minted....i would put in a bid for one of Hendrix's old Strats that appear now and again for auction. It doesn't get any better than that.

I read about one for auction and went for about £50000.
i did say if i was loaded....if i won the lotto, that would be the first thing i would buy.....who needs a Ferrari.

i would have to be buried with the fricken thing.

sei046

That sort of thing just doesnt appeal to me. The guitar is a guitar. We apply the mojo to it. These guys had nothing mystical to them at all. They were not special. They were just very good musicians, a trait which cannot be rubbed off on a guitar or its new owner. I dont like the aura people put around icons. There is no problem admiring a player for their new attitude or dedication to their instrument. But that is dedication, no more. No hocus pocus deals with the devil. If you look at the likes of Kurt Cobain and those boys, because they get famous they become superhuman, so sensitive, a visionary, we are not worthy. My arse....

These people are just that, people. They played their guitars the same way we play ours. Its physics guys, these guitars have no magic in them, just the subtle effects of time and playing on their parts that colours the sound a smidge. If your willing to pay hundreds of thousands more for that smidge, be my guest, but if like im sure most people are going to do, and lock the guitar in a cabinet. Then Congrats, you just bought a beat up old guitar, second hand.

Rustar

sei046 wrote:

If your willing to pay hundreds of thousands more...

Pay??? I never mentioned anything about paying! I have trouble parting with $400 for a guitar (although I had very little problem paying $600 for my Schecter ).
This is dreamworld time...I want mine free!

Cobain on the other hand.....defective from day one. I don't want any guitar that someone's already beat the crap out of.

Squirrel

Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty. The early Fretless Wonder models.

In acoustic I'd say a nice Gibson Dove, they're Custom Shop now apparently or so it says on Wikipedia anyway. I have an Epiphone Dove and I love it to bits so would adore the Gibson model.

Quattroste

A 59 LP Burst!!!! What a guitar. If I had one of those I'd be a much better player than I am now. I'd be famous and have women on every corner, no every string, no, no every fret and I'd have the biggest willy in the world

Real answer.......... I quite like the Gibson ES345 in Back to the Future!

Eoin Madsen

Rustar wrote: »

With the advent of CNC machines, you're almost guaranteed to get a better-playing guitar nowadays, even in the cheap section. As long as it's designed right in the first place.

That'd be true if we were all cut from the same die as well.

I think customisation or custom building is the real way to go... but old guitars with bad tolerances at least give you a random shot of getting something that suits you. If you don't like the play of the standard CNC model of telecaster being made... what are you to do now?

Doctor J

Try a strat?

Rustar

Eoin Madsen wrote:

If you don't like the play of the standard CNC model of telecaster being made... what are you to do now?

Try the "vintage re-issue". Or the goth model, til you find one that suits you.

Although, considering you're talking Tele, I agree with the Strat route.