Buying a Vintage Guitar (say Pre-1975) - What Would You Get?

[Steve DeRosa]

Birth-year ('53) Epiphone Devon - heck, with some smart shopping I could have two of them in the condition you describe for around $4K...

[lt20dbl]

I know this takes you out of the temporal parameters but I would skip the old stuff at that price and look for a used Martin Authentic.

[Proclaimer888]

Meh....Buy a J45 2018 Vintage and be done with it...Warranty, no issues, looks old, sounds old, cool looks.

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Birth-year ('53) Epiphone Devon - heck, with some smart shopping I could have two of them in the condition you describe for around $4K...

Birth year definitely a good thought, mine would be '55....opens up some interesting thoughts. To go with something different than my current group would be a '55 Gibson, Epiphone or a Martin 00-21...all interesting possibilities. Thanks

[archerscreek]

Unless I happened across another make of guitar ridiculously cheap, if I ever bought a vintage guitar it would either be a Gibson or Martin.

[mcduffnw]

Three important questions...

What style of music do you want to play with the guitar...and/or what kind of tone/dynamic response are you hearing in your head that you are chasing?

What kind of body size, shape would you prefer, and any preference on neck size and shape, nut width?

Is resale value...your ability to re-sell at some level of a profit or at least no or minimal $$$ loss...going to play ANY amount of importance in your decision?

duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by gmel555

If you were to buy a vintage (say ~1975 & earlier), good quality guitar with a budget up to ~$4k what would it be? Assume a guitar in good, ready or near ready-to-play condition (minor corrections like saddles, nuts, tuners, small fixable cracks okay). Cosmetics less important as long as it's structurally sound. Besides the obvious big names also think about Mossman, Grammer, early Larrivee, etc. Use your own playing style as a guide.

My choices would be

*Pre 1968 Martin D28, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides on a D28. Nuff said.

*J-45 from the late 1950s to early 1960s. The J-45 in that era had non-scalloped bracing and they were a bit punchy. I associate that J-45 tone with Lighting Hopkins, early James Taylor, etc...

[zombywoof]

I have never gone out with the intention of buying a guitar never mind a specific make and model. I just take each as it shows up. The only guitar I have spent $4K on though is my 1942 Gibson J-50 and that figure included a full restoration. But I have not bought anything that cost a sizeable chunk of change in many years. My last two purchases were both Harmonys - an all-mahogany 1942 H165 Stella (the only known surviving example) and a 1956H40 which has a Gibson P-13 pickup screwed in under the fingerboard extension. Also a fairly hard to find guitar.

Thing is as a previous poster has noted I would not limit myself to the big sexy name guitars. I do realize they have a certain "Wow" factor but two of my favorites are an early 1930s Galiano Jumbo and a similar vintage Kay Kraft-built Oahu "Nick Lucas" so nicknamed because the body shares identical specs with a Gibson NL. I liked the Oahu so much I ended up selling off my 1946 Gibson LG-2.

[Napman41]

Originally Posted by lt20dbl

I know this takes you out of the temporal parameters but I would skip the old stuff at that price and look for a used Martin Authentic.

This [emoji106]

[Jeff Scott]

'50s Gretsch Duo-Jet. No vibrato on mine, thanks.

[Dreadfulnaught]

For that kind of money I’d buy a LoPrinzi for $1500 and use the rest to take it on a trip to the Bahamas.
You can get a Larson Brothers instrument for 4K if you sharp carefully and are patient.

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by mcduffnw

Three important questions...

What style of music do you want to play with the guitar...and/or what kind of tone/dynamic response are you hearing in your head that you are chasing?

What kind of body size, shape would you prefer, and any preference on neck size and shape, nut width?

Is resale value...your ability to re-sell at some level of a profit or at least no or minimal $$$ loss...going to play ANY amount of importance in your decision?

duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

Good questions. It’s not about filling a particular playing style. My current guitar set ranges from a dread to a 000 12 fret short scale, 000 14 fret, also have a 12 string, a Larrivee L and a Taylor GA. I was thinking I’d enjoy being able to play something different with bumps, bruises and old mojo (whatever that is, LOL). Actually though, based on some of the earlier suggestions, since the smallest current size I have is a 000, a 00-21 or small body Gibson might just be the thing. Thx for your reply!

[Jim]

Good suggestions so far. I might add one more good choice to the list - a pre-1965 Guild F-50. You might be able to find a nice one for about $4,000.