IYO what qualifies as vintage?

[Tico]

In your opinion, how old does a guitar have to be to qualify as 'vintage'?

[ohYew812]

To me, 'vintage' is a reference to an era, or other time period.

i.e. "pre-war"

But I'm wrong a lot.

[Silly Moustache]

OhYewis right - Vintage means nothing unless accompanied by a year or period.

"I have a '60s vintage Guitar" - right.
"He has a 2017 vintage guitar" - right
"That guitar must be vintage" - wrong.

[Rodger Knox]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

OhYewis right - Vintage means nothing unless accompanied by a year or period.

I agree with Mr Stache.
For me, if it isn't pre 1970, it isn't vintage. And not everything prior to 1970 is vintage.

[Steve DeRosa]

I love pre-war - and pre-1900 - guitars at least as much as the next guy, own/owned examples of both over the years...

Got a Beatle-era Gretsch Double Annie - bought new - that's not going anywhere...

My state DMV will routinely issue "historic" license plates to any vehicle 25 years or more old...

Some of the '80s/90s regular-production stuff is beginning to achieve collectible status - think pre-NT Taylors, late "lawsuit-era" Tak/Ibanez, MIJ Squier/Fender electrics, certain Gibsons/Martins, some Paul Rivera-designed Fender combos (anyone priced a mid-80's Super Champ w/factory EV lately?), among others...

Pragmatically speaking - and at the risk of committing acts of heresy and high treason around these parts - I'd go with the same 25-year rule for "vintage," particularly as it applies to discontinued models, and use the "antique" designation for 75+ year-old instruments...

[Tico]

Originally Posted by Rodger Knox

... For me, if it isn't pre 1970, it isn't vintage. And not everything prior to 1970 is vintage.

Ouch. My brain just hit a speed bump.

So, for you, is vintage a function of age or not?
If not, what else is vintage a function of?

[cmd612]

Remember that thread from the guy who poured red wine all over his guitar to celebrate "bonding" with it? That guitar was vintage.

[rob2966]

I don't tend to have a fixed year on it, but for me, in general, if it was made before I was born I will consider it vintage.

So, anything pre-"early 70's" for me I usually consider vintage.

For a 17 year old kid anything made 1999 or earlier could seem vintage to them and I wouldn't argue that, but obviously for me that wouldn't be the case.

That is also why I find it a word without any real meaning. It is a label often slapped on to artificially inflate the value of something old.

Later
Rob

[Tico]

Originally Posted by cmd612

Remember that thread from the guy who poured red wine all over his guitar to celebrate "bonding" with it? That guitar was vintage.

That depends on the wine's vintage.

[Long Jon]

I do ..........

[drplayer]

Originally Posted by Tico

So, for you, is vintage a function of age or not?
If not, what else is vintage a function of?

I can't speak for Rodger, but for me--with respect to guitars, cars, and other "collectables", this definition is how I view the term "vintage"...

--adjective

Representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars; vintage movies.

And IMHO, vintage guitars...so a combination of quality & age.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by Long Jon

I do ..........

Well, I'm an antique so you're a youngin to me.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by drplayer

I can't speak for Rodger, but for me--with respect to guitars, cars, and other "collectables", this definition is how I view the term "vintage"...

--adjective

Representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars; vintage movies.

And IMHO, vintage guitars...so a combination of quality & age.

Thanks.
Though it had not occurred to me, I also would factor quality into my use of the term vintage.

[Long Jon]

About 4 or 5 years ago, I had a 1986 Martin HD35 for a while .
It was a great sounding and playing guitar, in beautiful condition.

I was very pleased that it had an adjustable truss rod, I think that was the first year Martin started using them.

Boy Howdy ! Did I ever get shot down in flames by some of the Martin cognoscenti here for suggesting that it might be considered "vintage" !

Presumably, at some time in the future that particular guitar may cross some unseen dateline and achieve vintage status. (?)

[mercy]

To me vintage means pre-war. It is a joke to call a 1970 guitar vintage.