Vintage Guitars - What Exactly Defines a Vintage Guitar? A Primer For New Collectors
I have a hobby, we all do, and its always healthy to have a hobby.
My hobby is hoarding vintage guitars.
Well to be more specific, I savor in hoarding vintage electric guitars from several brands.
I am very proud of my collection.
Not only am I proud of the collection but of all the experiences I had in acquiring these vintage musical instruments.
Nonetheless, there are a great deal of things that I wish I knew before making these purchases.
Working through the sometimes roughened road of obtaining these works of art have permitted me to pick up some tips and priceless knowledge about vintage guitars.
Just to give you a pointer, the most advantageous way to learn about collecting these fine pieces of art are to research from the Internet and primarily discovering from others when you your thinking about a purchase.
Here is a Primer What exactly determines a vintage guitar? The definition is true for any vintage guitar, whether it is electric or an acoustic guitar.
This is where a lot of confusion about the term takes shape.
Nearly all people think that the term vintage is pertaining to anything greater than 35 years old.
This is not the case in the vintage guitar marketplace.
A vintage guitar is made between 1920 and 1970.
There is a reason for these essential particular dates.
Before 1920, guitars were instruments that were too primitive.
After 1970, the manufacturing of these instruments transformed dramatically.
So there is this "sweet spot" between 1920 and 1970 which broadly speaking represents the time where today's vintage guitars were created.
Prior to 1970, most guitars were handmade and consequently were crafted by proficient musical instrument makers.
However after 1970, most guitars were made by machine on a production line controlled by computers and heavy-duty cutters.
A quick tip; if someone assures you that a guitar made after 1970 and it has had a supposedly little or rare production, it is not thought to be a vintage guitar.
The rational being it was made after 1970.
During this post-1970 time period, components in guitars changed dramatically.
For example, Brazilian Rosewood was the wood of choice for instrument crafters when making guitars during the vintage time period.
After 1970 this wood became illegal to import to the US and hence this material was never employed once again to make guitars.
Since guitars created in the post vintage time period were machine made, they were very easy to reduplicate and thus would have provided character and charm.
They no longer were exclusive pieces of art, handcrafted but were now mass-produced commercial products.
Defining the value of an electric vintage guitar is a trying proposition with a list of elements.
Is There Any Demand? The optimum way to see if there is any need for a particular guitar is to simply search different sources.
You should read a number of guitar magazines to see what other guitar enthusiast really want for it.
Another outstanding resource is to read on-line classified adverts looking for a wanted section.
In particular, brands that keep coming up in a wanted guitar section then you know that there is a sizable demand for this specific brand.
The next thing to do is to check on eBay to see the supply of a specific brand.
If they're not a great deal of supply to be filled by the demand you have explored, then you know that you have found a winner.
Condition of the Guitar Obviously the most desired "after" condition is new.
Seeing that these guitars are quite old, it is rare but possible to acquire a gently used guitar.
These guitars could have been stacked away and rarely used.
A frequent condition seen on the marketplace is described as "a beat up original.
" These guitars are on high in value, because they usually have all of their original parts and original finish.
If remedies have been made to the guitar, with new components then the musical instrument loses its value as well.
Owned By Special People Another factor in fixing the value of a vintage electric guitar is if someone special had previously played or owned it.
This can gain the economic value substantially, specially when your buyer is a fan of that said player.
I hope this is a good primer for you when you plan on buying a specific vintage electric guitar.
My hobby is hoarding vintage guitars.
Well to be more specific, I savor in hoarding vintage electric guitars from several brands.
I am very proud of my collection.
Not only am I proud of the collection but of all the experiences I had in acquiring these vintage musical instruments.
Nonetheless, there are a great deal of things that I wish I knew before making these purchases.
Working through the sometimes roughened road of obtaining these works of art have permitted me to pick up some tips and priceless knowledge about vintage guitars.
Just to give you a pointer, the most advantageous way to learn about collecting these fine pieces of art are to research from the Internet and primarily discovering from others when you your thinking about a purchase.
Here is a Primer What exactly determines a vintage guitar? The definition is true for any vintage guitar, whether it is electric or an acoustic guitar.
This is where a lot of confusion about the term takes shape.
Nearly all people think that the term vintage is pertaining to anything greater than 35 years old.
This is not the case in the vintage guitar marketplace.
A vintage guitar is made between 1920 and 1970.
There is a reason for these essential particular dates.
Before 1920, guitars were instruments that were too primitive.
After 1970, the manufacturing of these instruments transformed dramatically.
So there is this "sweet spot" between 1920 and 1970 which broadly speaking represents the time where today's vintage guitars were created.
Prior to 1970, most guitars were handmade and consequently were crafted by proficient musical instrument makers.
However after 1970, most guitars were made by machine on a production line controlled by computers and heavy-duty cutters.
A quick tip; if someone assures you that a guitar made after 1970 and it has had a supposedly little or rare production, it is not thought to be a vintage guitar.
The rational being it was made after 1970.
During this post-1970 time period, components in guitars changed dramatically.
For example, Brazilian Rosewood was the wood of choice for instrument crafters when making guitars during the vintage time period.
After 1970 this wood became illegal to import to the US and hence this material was never employed once again to make guitars.
Since guitars created in the post vintage time period were machine made, they were very easy to reduplicate and thus would have provided character and charm.
They no longer were exclusive pieces of art, handcrafted but were now mass-produced commercial products.
Defining the value of an electric vintage guitar is a trying proposition with a list of elements.
Is There Any Demand? The optimum way to see if there is any need for a particular guitar is to simply search different sources.
You should read a number of guitar magazines to see what other guitar enthusiast really want for it.
Another outstanding resource is to read on-line classified adverts looking for a wanted section.
In particular, brands that keep coming up in a wanted guitar section then you know that there is a sizable demand for this specific brand.
The next thing to do is to check on eBay to see the supply of a specific brand.
If they're not a great deal of supply to be filled by the demand you have explored, then you know that you have found a winner.
Condition of the Guitar Obviously the most desired "after" condition is new.
Seeing that these guitars are quite old, it is rare but possible to acquire a gently used guitar.
These guitars could have been stacked away and rarely used.
A frequent condition seen on the marketplace is described as "a beat up original.
" These guitars are on high in value, because they usually have all of their original parts and original finish.
If remedies have been made to the guitar, with new components then the musical instrument loses its value as well.
Owned By Special People Another factor in fixing the value of a vintage electric guitar is if someone special had previously played or owned it.
This can gain the economic value substantially, specially when your buyer is a fan of that said player.
I hope this is a good primer for you when you plan on buying a specific vintage electric guitar.
