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17 Mar

What Is A Vintage Electric Guitar

Posted by Bernie 1 comment

Vintage Electric GuitarWhat exactly defines if you have a vintage guitar?  Nearly everyone assume that the term vintage means the item is over 35 years old.  This however is not the case with a vintage guitar.  Vintage guitars were made between 1920 to the 1970’s and there is a very good reason for these distinct dates.

Before 1920, electric guitars did not really exist and after 1970, the manufacturing of these instruments changed dramatically. This means there is this unique window of time between the 1920’s and 1970’s that defines the period where true vintage guitars originated from.

Allow me to explain.  Before 1970, most guitars were handcrafted and crafted by talented musical instrument makers. However after 1970, most guitars became mass produced, with computer calibrated machines and heavy-duty presses.

Furthermore, during this post-1970 time period, the components and materials from which guitars are mage also changed.  For example, Brazilian Rosewood was the best material at the time but after 1970 it became illegal to import this material to the United States and most other countries.  Although modern materials do just as good a job, these instruments simply do not have the same look and feel. An axe that was crafted in the post vintage time period is inevitably machine made, relatively easy to replicate and thus less rare.  True vintage guitars on the other hand are unique and may even have a few flaws which give it a certain charm.

Now that we have cleared that up we can start to look at the actual condition of the instrument.  It goes without reason that these guitars will be used.  Very occasionally you may come across one that was stacked away in a closet which means it could still be in a good nick.  If however you see a lot of repair work and fixes to the guitar it will lose some of its value amongst vintage guitar collectors.

This brings me on to previous owners.  If it can be proven that the particular instrument was previously owned, or even just played, by a well known artist, then the value of that guitar will go through the roof.  Real collectors would always have a photograph that shows the artist playing the particular electric guitar.

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  1. March 18th, 2010 at 07:17 | #1

    This is a great article, thanks for clearing that up. I get a lot of folks who claim to have a vintage electric guitar but I have always been skeptical about it. Now I know what to ask them so thanks for the great advice.

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