#46
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I am like jt1. I'm in it for the stories. To keep these instruments making music (if you can call my playing music). To feel inspired by holding and feeling the vibrations of the 80 year old wood. To take them out of attics, out from under beds, and storage sheds. Keep saving and you can take a stepwise path to getting into vintage guitars. You don't need to spend a large fortune on a guitar until you have a really large fortune.
Most people that say negative things about vintage guitars do not own them or simply repeat internet "knowledge". All acoustic guitars will need a re-fret and a neck re-set in their lifetimes. Some after 5 years and some after 40 years, but it's scheduled maintenance. Once re-set, there is very little maintenance. It is rare for a guitar to ever need a second re-set. Sure folks didn't have heat, air conditioning, or humidifiers back in the 30's. But once the guitar is brought back to life, it is indeed alive, and nowadays we do have heat, a/c and humidity control. The guitars in bad shape can be brought back and will not go back into bad shape any more than any newer lightly built guitar. The guitars in poor shape can be left for those more adventurous. A good dealer will guide you. Another thing is that a vintage guitar is much less prone to humidity changes now that the wood is old and movements have occurred. You can start with Stella, Harmony, Kalamazoo, Gibson, and then the perhaps Martin. I have too many guitars and the average age is 64. My 1936 Kalamazoo is worth $1,200, the '37 00-17 about $4,500, the '33 OM....a lot more. I like them and play them equally. It's not about the money that makes them valuable. My favorite today is the '37 000-18. Purchased from the original owner, age 92. His dad bought it new for his 12th birthday. The guitar came to my attention when he tried to trade it in for a garage door opener. Best of luck, |
#47
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Well said Jim. I love thinking about who has held and played the guitars I'm watching over for now, what songs were played on them, where they've been. If they could only talk as well as sing!
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Bill Guitars: 1910's Larson/Stetson 1 size guitar 1920 Martin 1-28 1987 Martin Schoenberg Soloist 2006 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2016 Froggy Bottom L Deluxe 2021 Blazer and Henkes 000-18 H 2015 Rainsong P12 2017 Probett Rocket III 2006 Sadowsky Semi Hollow 1993 Fender Stratocaster Bass: 1993 Sadowsky NYC 5 String Mandolin: Weber Bitterroot |
#48
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Quote:
I sad that a few mails back, but as usual, some simple concepts like this are often ignored. Tonight I'll be playing my vintage 2007 Collings. Smoke if you got 'em.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#49
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Loving this thread. Add me to the list of people who believe that a great guitar benefits from age. I was a convert from the first time I played one: I was pulling Martin D-18s blindly off Lark St's rack. I pulled one that seemed a bit more worn, but I wasn't paying attention - I hit a chord and everything changed. Stepping into a 1940 D-18 blindly was a great one-timer.
I currently have two late 20's/early 30's smallbody Martins and a '46 J-45. They have been really straightforward to maintain, and each provides a standout playing experience. Bar frets on a smallbody Martin are their own Thing. I didn't understand how they were different until I got my hands on one. The "ledge-iness" of bar frets and the overall feel of the neck have their own responsiveness. I took steps along the way as I learned what worked for me, and am still learning, but have loved the journey.
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An old Gibson and a couple of old Martins; a couple of homebrew Tele's |
#50
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Vintage guitars are definitely hit or miss, especially when looking for a "affordable" one. My number one rule I learned over time was don't buy other peoples junk!
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-Tim |
#51
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Proceed with caution.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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