!44: Acoustic Guitars - Why Buy Vintage? | !44: Guitar Hanger Wall Cheap

!±8± Acoustic Guitars - Why Buy Vintage?

The word "vintage" refers to the wine from a particular harvest or
crop. The term has been expanded to describe various things that
are old or choice. In the world of guitars, this extension of the
meaning of "vintage" is used designate an older, and usually a
desirable, guitar. Most collectors and many players value guitars
from the mid 1920s to about 1970. Guitars that were manufactured
before the mid-1920s are often considered by collectors and players
to be too crude and primitive in design. There are of course
exceptions this rule, such as Martin and Washburn parlor guitars
dating back to the Civil War era. Guitars after 1970 are not highly
collectable, not only because of their youth, but because of
sub-standard manufacturing and material standards that developed
during the 70's.

Why might you desire to seek out and purchase vintage acoustic
guitars or other vintage stringed instruments? Well, there are
actually two great reasons to buy vintage: Number one, you are a
collector; and/or, number two, you are a player.

The collector of vintage guitars, like the collector of anything,
is looking for examples from specific time periods--examples that
are as pristine as possible with original everything: original
finish, bindings, inlay, tuners, fretbard, frets, bridge,
bridgepins, etc.--all with the original case if possible. Some
collectors do not even play their trophies--they just exhibit them.
Being a player, it seems to me that to put a fine vintage guitar
into retirement as a wall hanger is almost a sacrilege. Instruments
are made to be PLAYED!

The player of vintage guitars is an entirely different animal. He
is not so concerned with whether everything is original.
Furthermore, he might not even care if much of the finish is worn
off the guitar and it is replete with nicks and dings and even
someone's initials carved in the top! The main reason the player
buys vintage is because of the SOUND. Through the aging of the wood
and the vibrations over many years of playing, the sound of a
vintage acoustic guitar opens up into something quite wonderful.
Mellow, yet crisp; resonant; complex. Sometimes there is a haunting
"aftertaste" of each note that really cannot be described.

Because they are collectable, vintage guitars can be quite
pricey--however there are some great deals still out there, and
there are many lesser known names that are much less expensive that
the Gibsons and Martins--yet they have the virtues of vintage! One
of my favorite guitars is a May-Bell arch-top guitar with a round
soundhole made by Slingerland of Chicago during the Great
Depression. My cost, including the work necessary to make this
guitar playable, was 6.00! You can see this instrument at:

http://flatpickpost.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-sweet-may-bell.html

One caveat for the would-be vintage guitar buyer: Unless you are a
luthier, or know one who works inexpensively, don't buy instruments
from an online auction. If you're knowledgeable enough to recognize
what the worst case scenario would be and have counted the cost,
fine--otherwise, buy from a reputable dealer. Buying from a local
dealer is great, but vintage instrument dealers are few and far
between. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable buying a vintage
guitar from dealer who will ship if the dealer offers and stands by
a satisfactory return policy. Many dealers have websites with great
photos and most of them completely understand that upon playing the
guitar you might not be satisfied and may wish to return it.

There is one more thing you might want to consider before buying
vintage. In my experience with vintage instruments, there always
seems to be at least one minor playing problem in even the best
repaired and restored vintage guitar: a slight buzz here--a little
rattle there. This is why I own one guitar that I purchased new.
When you buy a new guitar, you start with a perfect saddle height,
perfect neck angle, perfect fingerboard, perfect frets, etc. New
guitars have their merits--but if had to make a choice between
buying only new or buying only vintage--I'd choose vintage hands
down!