Vintage Guitars
- Thread starter orlandocv
- Start date
jsouthard
Lean Left, Push left, Go Left.
I manage a Guitar Center (have for 10 years now).
Love vintage guitars, amps and pedals. I frequent....
http://www.gruhn.com/ & http://www.elderly.com/
I buy....
Impulse, on the spot. Usually on vacation or traveling. I have no idea how many guitars and amps i have bought & sold. Last year i sold 12 guitars (mainly for norton parts ;D)
joe
Love vintage guitars, amps and pedals. I frequent....
http://www.gruhn.com/ & http://www.elderly.com/
I buy....
Impulse, on the spot. Usually on vacation or traveling. I have no idea how many guitars and amps i have bought & sold. Last year i sold 12 guitars (mainly for norton parts ;D)
joe
Blake
the future is my friend
I love vintage anything. I've owned a number of vintage guitars over the years (playing for 10 years). Sadly, I don't have any at the moment. I do have a killer vintage amp. It's a Bogen CH-35. It's all tube and hand wired. It can't be broken and it sounds like nothing else I've ever played. I got mine in converted form for $150. You're lucky to find one now with the original tubes or with tubes at all and they have to be converted for guitar use but man it's totally worth it. My amp was previously used either in a Church, Hospital, or School as a p.a. system. As for guitars, I'm currently playing a reissue Fender Jazzmaster, 60's Telecaster w/ nocaster p'ups, Epiphone Casino, and a reissue Dano Pro. I have several other amps, drums, and bass stuff too.
What is considered vintage now? I was buying and selling a lot of stuff a few years ago, mainly Jackson/Charvel San Dimas-era or custom shop stuff or similar mid-80's stuff, but haven't gotten anything recently. Got a GMW made to my specs and a Les Paul standard that plays the best out of the few I've had. And a 87 Marshall Jubilee, so maybe a few more years and that qualifies as vintage? Need to get rid of the rest and just keep those. I wouldn't mind getting a Trussart, the right Nash or an old LP Jr some day, though.
biker_reject
Over 1,000 Posts
I don't really visit any, but I did try to find out more about my Gibson L6S. Not a hugely popular axe, but it's mine and I have been trying to learn how to play it for something like 20 years! Ha!
HAHA, bringing up a REALLY old thread to see if the folks that posted earlier could help me...
I'm in the market for a new guitar, not vintage, but if you know anything about vintage guitars, I assume that you know at least something about newer ones as well...
I've been looking at semi-hollow guitars, want that old style/rockabilly sound.
models I've been looking at (limited budget, mind you)
Gretsch 5120 - it's possible to get that distinct Gretsch sound with the cheaper model, with upgrades, and it will still cost less than a 6120
Ok, so that's the main one I've been looking at. The GC close to me is shit when it comes to selection.
Now, I went to another local guitar store in the southside of Pittsburgh, they had a few brands that I'm not so familiar with
Hagstrom
Hofner
Harmony
I've heard of all of these manufacturers, but I've never actually played one of their guitars...one that's sticking out is a Hofner 60's verythin reissue. It's less than $1000, has a Bigsby, is upgradable, as far as pups go, etc...here's what's frightening me, supposedly, only 70 were made world wide, with only 40 available in the US.
http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/archtops2/arch17.html
I really want something with a trem, preferably a bigsby, they just look rough and tough to me. If there are any other suggestions you can make, please do. My budget right now is somewhere around $700 for the initial purchase. upgrades can be picked up later.
I'm in the market for a new guitar, not vintage, but if you know anything about vintage guitars, I assume that you know at least something about newer ones as well...
I've been looking at semi-hollow guitars, want that old style/rockabilly sound.
models I've been looking at (limited budget, mind you)
Gretsch 5120 - it's possible to get that distinct Gretsch sound with the cheaper model, with upgrades, and it will still cost less than a 6120
Ok, so that's the main one I've been looking at. The GC close to me is shit when it comes to selection.
Now, I went to another local guitar store in the southside of Pittsburgh, they had a few brands that I'm not so familiar with
Hagstrom
Hofner
Harmony
I've heard of all of these manufacturers, but I've never actually played one of their guitars...one that's sticking out is a Hofner 60's verythin reissue. It's less than $1000, has a Bigsby, is upgradable, as far as pups go, etc...here's what's frightening me, supposedly, only 70 were made world wide, with only 40 available in the US.
http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/archtops2/arch17.html
I really want something with a trem, preferably a bigsby, they just look rough and tough to me. If there are any other suggestions you can make, please do. My budget right now is somewhere around $700 for the initial purchase. upgrades can be picked up later.
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
I picked up a new Epiphone SG a few years ago. Its a Chinese Gibson made to the same standards and all just its not made in the states... Got it an a decent amp for $500.
Im an ACDC/ Sabbath fan.
Im an ACDC/ Sabbath fan.
bobjohnson
Coast to Coast
The oldest guitar i have is a 60's Tesco strat copy. I love the old japanese clone guitars, nothing else sounds like them. I replaced the single kent pickup (only because it died) with a handwound humbucker, it sounds awesome. Im sad though because the neck is starting to warp and its not adjustable.
I also have a 70s gibson SG but i really dont like the way they play. Other than that i just have an almagamation of newer guitars, like a Fender Jagmaster (mix of a jag and a jazz master, its pretty cool), an MIJ telecaster, a samick electric/accoustic and a daisyrock heart shaped guitar ;D I only bought that last one because it was like 90 bucks and i couldnt pass up a guitar shaped like a heart. It actually plays and sounds really good for a cheap gimmicky guitar.
My amp is kinda vintage i guess, its an early 80s Fender Princeton Chorus, with the red knobs and the springs for the chorus. I love it, but it cost me a lot of money (relatively) when i bought it.
I also have a 70s gibson SG but i really dont like the way they play. Other than that i just have an almagamation of newer guitars, like a Fender Jagmaster (mix of a jag and a jazz master, its pretty cool), an MIJ telecaster, a samick electric/accoustic and a daisyrock heart shaped guitar ;D I only bought that last one because it was like 90 bucks and i couldnt pass up a guitar shaped like a heart. It actually plays and sounds really good for a cheap gimmicky guitar.
My amp is kinda vintage i guess, its an early 80s Fender Princeton Chorus, with the red knobs and the springs for the chorus. I love it, but it cost me a lot of money (relatively) when i bought it.
phrige
I'm a pig, I'm A dog so exuse me if I drool.
I love looking at ebay, trolling the wierd 50's + 60's guitars. Silvertones, Airlines..
Amps too.
http://www.myrareguitars.com/ is a pretty sweet website
They have a great article section all about these kitshy and crazy old guitars,
http://www.myrareguitars.com/guitar-articles.html
Rob Roberge is one of my fav writers on the site, Def worth reading.
Rockabilly? Get an old Archtop with built in pickup, maybe old Harmony (usually around 300) and get either decent amp with nice reverb and tremelo.. or could get by with a nice reverb pedal.. that will prob be enough rockabilly edge to satisfy as you work your way into more obscure and harder to get gear. Good Luck ;D
oh and heres another great website to check out.
http://www.silvertoneworld.com/
Amps too.
http://www.myrareguitars.com/ is a pretty sweet website
They have a great article section all about these kitshy and crazy old guitars,
http://www.myrareguitars.com/guitar-articles.html
Rob Roberge is one of my fav writers on the site, Def worth reading.
Rockabilly? Get an old Archtop with built in pickup, maybe old Harmony (usually around 300) and get either decent amp with nice reverb and tremelo.. or could get by with a nice reverb pedal.. that will prob be enough rockabilly edge to satisfy as you work your way into more obscure and harder to get gear. Good Luck ;D
oh and heres another great website to check out.
http://www.silvertoneworld.com/
Dude, are you kidding? If you're gonna play rockabilly, you've gotta get a Gretsch. There is no other. It is rockabilly! I own a G5120, and you can snag them for around $500-$700 depending on model. I have a sunburst. It is awesome. You won't regret it man!!!!
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
One of my dreams is to own a double bass.
You listen to Reverend Horton Heat?
You listen to Reverend Horton Heat?
Yes Kant, that's the one I've played...and love.
BR, yes, been listening to a lot of the good reverend lately.
Kant, did you upgrade your pups like most do on the 5120s. I'm pretty much decided on getting it, but wanted opinions of the others as well. The hagstroms seem interesting with their "H" truss rods...they use an I beam style rod, that definitely looks to strengthen it a bit.
BR, yes, been listening to a lot of the good reverend lately.
Kant, did you upgrade your pups like most do on the 5120s. I'm pretty much decided on getting it, but wanted opinions of the others as well. The hagstroms seem interesting with their "H" truss rods...they use an I beam style rod, that definitely looks to strengthen it a bit.
Erch
Been Around the Block
4eyes said:
Keep in mind, I've never stuck with it long enough to really learn how to play, but I hear the best method is to just learn some of your favorite songs by tab. Keep expanding your library and vary what you're learning and soon you start to notice the patterns. Namely that E A and G show up in about even pop/rock song ever written. From there you pick up chord strumming, variations and alternate phrasings on the chords.
Good place to start is something like powertabs or guitar pro. You can find either around on the internet
Their accuracy varies from author to author but it's convenient to have sheet music, tab, and sound all at your fingertips.Of course the classical method would be to find somebody that knows how to play and make them your new best friend.
I've got cousins that "play by ear" , the way their brain works and mine aren't the same. :
I played sax in HS, and can read music, although for guitar tab is more logical. I may be too mathmatical, but I think if it ever "cllicks" it may make sense.
Maybe I just need to get hammered first ;D
I played sax in HS, and can read music, although for guitar tab is more logical. I may be too mathmatical, but I think if it ever "cllicks" it may make sense.
Maybe I just need to get hammered first ;D
biker_reject
Over 1,000 Posts
Gibson L6S
Blake
the future is my friend
TJEvans said:
I had a Gretsch G5120. It's pretty to look at, but it sounds VERY thin or very muddy, depending on pickup selection. I kept it for all of 2 weeks before selling for a used Epiphone Casino. I can give you a BIG +1 on the Hagstroms. Great guitars. Big and unique. The Gretches are all made in China, and quality is spotty. I've owned a host of hollow, semi hollow, and chambered guitars over the years.
The Epiphone Sheraton is hands down, a great deal (used). If humbuckers aren't your thing, try the Epiphone Riviera. It comes in many variations from full humbuckers, to mini humbuckers, to Gibson P-94s. If you like fully hollow body, try the Epiphone Casino (pre '03). They were built in the Peerless plant in Korea and are high quality instruments. Like the Riviera and Sheraton, you can find models sporting Bigsbys.
If the guitar doesn't come with a Bigsby, you can always buy one. You can find them used for $50-$80, and new for not much more. I'm mounting a Bigsby on sunburst Les Paul at the moment. Waiting on the wood filler to harden where the old tail studs were. I'm making a Keith Richard tribute Les Paul like the one he bought for the first US Stones tour.
