Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

[voggin]

A local musc store in my town just started carrying these. Apparently it's a UK company that makes these guitars in China. they have Wilkinson (I think) hardware.

I played a road worn SG copy with soapbar pickups. It was quite nice, the finish wasn't too thick, and the tone was nice from the P90's. Seemed like a nice guitar for $400.

I'm not asking because I want to buy one, but a friend's kid has graduated from cheapo electric guitar/amp kit, and seems to be sticking with the guitar. His parents have asked me to look into a guitar for around $500. I of course suggested used, but you know how non-musician/parents can be about gifts being new. Wondering if anyone, esp. my Commonwealth brethren in the UK, know anything about these guitars.

Thanks

 

[Kam]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

My SG copy is a Vintage. It's a great guitar. Some of the best low-priced guitars around, in my experience.

 

[voggin]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

My SG copy is a Vintage. It's a great guitar. Some of the best low-priced guitars around, in my experience.

How are/were the stock pickups? Is yours a humbucker model or P90?

 

[Kam]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

How are/were the stock pickups? Is yours a humbucker model or P90?

Humbucker. They're Wilkinson pickups, though made...somewhere foreign. I dunno. They were pretty decent. A step above Epi and Squier pups but not even close to Duncans.

Actually, the neck was pretty decent. It had nice cleans and a real warm lead tone. A bit muffled for rhythm, though. The bridge was a bit thin and could get a little too sharp with distortion. Not bad at all, though. I happily played those things for about three months until I could afford to replace them. The guitar really came alive once I did.

 

[voggin]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

Thanks, Kam. I think I'll give it a more serious play this weekend. I really liked the feel of the finish, not too glossy or thick. I always prefer cheaper guitars that are more basic, like an SG, so they don't have to spend time and money on binding and inlays and crap. I loved the P90 one, but the kid will probably be better off with humbuckers.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

My les paul copy is a vintage and I can't fault that either.

they are seriously ****in' awesome for the money, try the vintage, try other les pauls like epis and gibbys and see what i mean.

they are honestly a great company who make brilliant guitars. they are so well made for the money the guys from Saxon play them.

EDIT: just so you know, the pickups on mine were very good too for what they are, plenty of tone for non top notch PU's. although now my bridge PU is a mighty mite motherbucker.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

At a local store they have a Peter Green LP. It has the backwards neck pickup and is road worn. It seems like a really good guitar for the money.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

At a local store they have a Peter Green LP. It has the backwards neck pickup and is road worn. It seems like a really good guitar for the money.

oh the lemon drop, yeah same body and equipment as mine bar the stock pickups.... i think... same series anyway, well built, very nice sound. another one to look for is the JBM model (Jazz blues model) which is very nice and has a different range of tones

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

The Vintage brand is run by UK-based distributor JHS (also associated with the brand name Encore). The guitars are sourced from Korea and, more recently, China. Quality control is still a little hit and miss. Trev Wilkinson has been associated with JHS for quite some time. His MIC pickups and hardware often feature on these instruments.

As with most instruments in this price sector, most Vintage brand guitars and basses are playable but would benefit with some fine fettling by a luthier.

Would I exchange my Fender AVRI Strat for a Vintage Icon? Nope! Would I consider a Vintage version of the new Fret-King JD Signature model? Maybe.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

Meon Drop? Surely, you meant Lemon Drop?

The Vintage brand is run by UK-based distributor JHS (also associated with the brand name Encore). The guitars are sourced from Korea and, more recently, China. Quality control is still a little hit and miss. Trev Wilkinson has been associated with JHS for quite some time. His MIC pickups and hardware often feature on these instruments.

As with most instruments in this price sector, most Vintage brand guitars and basses are playable but would benefit with some fine fettling by a luthier.

Would I exchange my Fender AVRI Strat for a Vintage Icon? Nope! Would I consider a Vintage version of the new Fret-King JD Signature model? Maybe.

yeah I missed the freakin' keys, it's been edited now...

I do agree with the fine fettling, sometimes even just a damn good setup fixes the problems like with mine and its beautiful. I turned down a Tanglewood LP which was £130 more than the vintage, cause the one i got felt right and so good to me.

also Fret king guitars are great too.

They're ok, but i'd think that in the USA you can probably get more for your money.

There's all sorts of possibilities from Schecter, Ibanez, Jackson, Sterling by Musicman, etc...

Yeah but that's only because those stupid companies charge less in the USA. that's all it is. It's like over here, the RRP of a Mexi Strat is £500 thereabouts, IMO way too much for what they are. thats why I stick with Squiers and constantly look secondhand.

Ibanez you have to be careful the lower GRG range is diabolical and I have heard that and read that from barious people in shops, online reviews and comparisons and such.

Schecters I would look at but again hit and miss. the lower names and ranges are all hit and miss.

personally, get the kid themselves to try it, see what they think.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

A local musc store in my town just started carrying these. Apparently it's a UK company that makes these guitars in China. they have Wilkinson (I think) hardware.

I played a road worn SG copy with soapbar pickups. It was quite nice, the finish wasn't too thick, and the tone was nice from the P90's. Seemed like a nice guitar for $400.

I'm not asking because I want to buy one, but a friend's kid has graduated from cheapo electric guitar/amp kit, and seems to be sticking with the guitar. His parents have asked me to look into a guitar for around $500. I of course suggested used, but you know how non-musician/parents can be about gifts being new. Wondering if anyone, esp. my Commonwealth brethren in the UK, know anything about these guitars.

Thanks

Where's the vintage part?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

Where's the vintage part?

Some smart Alec noticed that nobody had registered the word "vintage" as a trade mark. (Kinda like Hartley Peavey now "owns" the word "classic" and only Larry DiMarzio can make double creme bobbined open humbuckers.)

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

forgot about the blacktops.

yeah **** the vintage idea voggin, go for a blacktop. you won't regret it

 

[voggin]

Re: Anyone know anything about Vintage guitars?

forgot about the blacktops.

yeah **** the vintage idea voggin, go for a blacktop. you won't regret it

Yeah, it wasn't so much that I was set on the Vantage for my friend's kid, more that I had never seen one before. I'd probably be more inclined to recommend a brand I was familiar with, but I have to say I was quite impressed with the feel of the Vintages. The finish was quite thin and satin-y, not like the thick coat on my prs se or epis, etc. I'm not sure where I land on the whole finish=tone debate, but it felt quite high-end.

I didn't spend much time with the humbucker model, but the P90 clones sounded quite nice. Gave it a Les Paul Junior kind of vibe.

Always nice to see more decent cheaper stuff out there. Especially nice to see P90's in that price range rather than the usual shredsticks.