Old Timers and Old Timers

[Mycroft]

Not even close, compared with some of youse, who probably also still have your pre-K crayon set. I may have the longest tenured Froggy Bottom, though: a '96 that I've had since '99.

Oldest by age would be a late 30s (best I've been able to narrow it down) Kay-made Galiano acoustic squareneck.

[Steve DeRosa]

Got a circa-1875 Bay State Style Z "peanut" parlor (roughly equivalent to Martin Size 3), that cost me all of $100 in 1975 - old growth Adi/Braz, French polish, a V-neck sharp enough to slice tomatoes, gut/nylon strings only, and more volume/tone than anything this tiny has the right to have...

[C.F. Angee]

I'm calling it.

So far the longest tenure is 69 years: RichardP has owned his D-18 since 1950.

The oldest guitar is plus or minus 149 years: 383roller has a Martin New York from 1870.

Thank you, friends. My oldest guitar I've had new since 91, and it feels like the love of my life.

[kego]

Well, my first guitar was a christmas present when I was five in 1967 - a hardware store special with HUGE strings and impossible action. After a year of trying like crazy to master that thing my dad saw how much I wanted to learn and consulted my guitarist brother-in-law (who was a pro). The next christmas got me a 1964 Guild F-212 12 string. That thing was an absolute beast for a six year old, but it was the first "real" guitar I ever had.

Fifty-some years later I still have both of those guitars. The hardware store guitar still has blood stains inside from my busted five-year-old knuckles!

Thanks for starting me off right, dad!

[Ludere]

Not even remotely in the running, but my sister recently reunited me with an old friend ... the Silvertone Bass I got second hand in the early 70's ...

It had been in an attic since around 1985 (I totally thought it was long gone).

I didn't know wood could even twist that way ... wow.

I cringe whenever I look at it.

Not sure why I'm hanging on to it.

[sloar]

Ive had mine since I first started playing. Way, way back early last year. Its a 2005 Taylor 110 and I'll probably be posting this again in about 30 years. Definitely be a keeper for me.

[Duck916]

I'm going to claim to have the oldest guitar for a new player. Sort of.

I have a 1978 Yamaha CJ-838S that I bought new in 1978. I did play a bit in '78-79, but it didn't take. I stopped playing and the guitar sat in a closet for 39 years. I started playing for real in 2017. So, as a 2+ year beginner, I'm playing a 41 year old guitar that I bought new. (Actually, I don't play this one that much, preferring my Martin GPCPA4.)

[vindibona1]

I'm sure I won't win any contests, but I had a Kay classical guitar from 1965 until 2007; 42 years- and a Teisco bass from 1966 to 2007 gave them both away (stupidly along with a Sears Silvertone twin 12 amp). Next is my 1974 Alvarez Yairi purchased in 1980. My daughter technically owns it now, but it's been in the family for what?... 39 years. I also had a Gretsch Country Gentleman that I got in 1966 and sold in 1996, so 30 years. Now trumpets... I have a 1969 Getzen Eterna that I got as a HS graduation present. Still have it. That makes it 50 years old. I still play it from time to time.

Where I might win a contest is string longevity... That Teisco bass had strings put on it in 1965 and still had the same strings on it when I gave it away in '07.

[Mr. Jelly]

Does a reliced Pre-War count?

[Misifus]

Not a guitar, but I’ve got a bowl back mandolin from 1898. Still plays, but the frets are a little harder to use than modern ones.