Vintage Only

[Mkf411]

Seems like every time I want to get something for guitars, someone points out that the older (Vintage) version of the product was better.

It's alwasy something like PRS used to make good guitars. Or if you want a Boss GE-7 equalizer, get one of the older Japanese ones cause they're better than the new ones.

If you want a Jazz Chorus JC-120 get one of the older ones with the metal switch, they're way better than the new ones.

I'll go along with some Vintage stuff being better, but not everything. Some of this loving everything old has to be BS.

Can anybody think of a new product that's actually better than the older one?

 

[proxy]

Re: Vintage Only

The new pod products over there predessors

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Vintage Only

The new pod products over there predessors

Good one, I had a feeling someone was going to come up with this one.

 

[mrid]

Re: Vintage Only

The new pod products over there predessors

I know you're being sarcastic, but that is some people's honest opinion. :laugh2:

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Vintage Only

That makes sence.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Vintage Only

So, the only place where guitar technology is making progress is in modeling? Or maybe it takes time for new products to catch on. I like modeling.

Anybody got a new Gibson or PRS that they think smokes the older ones? How about a new pedal that blows away the older version. Or a new Marshall that stomps some of the accepted greats?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Vintage Only

Hmm, in the synth world, there are just a few old ones that people want, for the most part it is the latest and greatest.

As far as guitar, I use newer instruments. I like the advancements in tuners, pickups, bridges as well as things like piezos and hex outputs.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage Only

Can anybody think of a new product that's actually better than the older one?

Sure: new Gibson Les Pauls and ES-335's and new Fender Teles and Strats are better than those they made 30 years ago, IMO.

It blows me away to see those junky CBS Fender Strats from the 70's going for $2000 - 3000! They're not vintage...they're just used.

Same thing for 70's Les Pauls...

Lew

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Vintage Only

I have to agree, based on hearing that even back when Vintage guitars were new you had to play 10 to find a great one. Now somehow they're all great. Buyer beware, some of them are far from original. If you were going to counterfeit money you wouldn't start with the one dollar bills. Same thing with guitars, if you're going to make a fake, make it a valuable fake. I bet there's more vintage guitars available today than were made originally.

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Vintage Only

I have to agree, based on hearing that even back when Vintage guitars were new you had to play 10 to find a great one. Now somehow they're all great. Buyer beware, some of them are far from original. If you were going to counterfeit money you wouldn't start with the one dollar bills. Same thing with guitars, if you're going to make a fake, make it a valuable fake. I bet there's more vintage guitars available today than were made originally.

you seem kind'a nagative on the whole vintage vibe.... here's my opinion. I'd rather have a 70's strat than a 90's strat, but a 90's strat than an 80's strat... BAM! reason: back then they didn't cost cut to the point of making a shoddy product. Unlike today (ahem*balsa wood & plywood*cough) where the whole point is to make a buck rather than turn out something nice. That's why vintage gear is almost always better (unless it's technological) the work ethic has gone down.

 

[B2D]

Re: Vintage Only

I tend to lean towards modern tones so I'm not a huge fan of USING vintage stuff, however I love some of the tones that come out of that. Plus I do like a little vintage flavor every now and then.

Plus theres a lot you don't hear about the BAD side of vintage stuff. Tuning machines from a lot of 50's and 60s guitars are weak and go out of tune easily. Echoplexes and some of the old tape echo machines used to rip and chew tape up when their motors weren't burning out... some gibsons and most strats that came out of the 70s were rather bad etc etc.

There's plenty of gear out there that blows away its vintage counterparts or are just plain awesome. Bogner Ecstasys are a good example. Fender's Strats are getting better everyday. I;m sure there's more examples but I can't think of them right now.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage Only

you seem kind'a nagative on the whole vintage vibe.... here's my opinion. I'd rather have a 70's strat than a 90's strat, but a 90's strat than an 80's strat... BAM! reason: back then they didn't cost cut to the point of making a shoddy product. Unlike today (ahem*balsa wood & plywood*cough) where the whole point is to make a buck rather than turn out something nice. That's why vintage gear is almost always better (unless it's technological) the work ethic has gone down.

Ah youth... :smack: Regarding US made Fenders, CBS took over Fender about 1966 and proceeded to cheapen the product and continued to build mediocre guitars and amps right up until the new Fender company was started in the early 80's. Then Fender guitars started getting good again. Fender products are divided into pre-CBS guitars and amps and post-CBS guitars and amps. That CBS period was what started the whole vintage craze because we started avoiding the 70's guitars and amps and rediscovering the old stuff from the 50's and early 60's. Lew

 

[B2D]

Re: Vintage Only

Yeah I've played some pretty clunky 70's Strats... have you ever read the Fender 50th anniversary Strat book? some of the things that went on in the factories (or were going to happen) were horrifying!

As far as the 80's Fenders go, I've played several MIJ 80's fenders that were as good as, if not better than the MIA ones of the same period.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Vintage Only

it really is a toss up and some of the vintage stuff, even from good years is still junk. just like today. I really like vintage tones and i mix them with modern tones. All of my guitars are newer, none are true vintage gear, but that is why i like the antiquities so much. they let me mix modern guitars and vintage sounds. Shoot, look at the 1954 tele that lew has, good guitar but the pickups are lacking. what pickups are in there again, lew? still the fralins? my point is good gear is good gear whenever it was made and there are ways to get good vintage tones without dropping lots of cash. I would like a great early 50's tele or a 58/59 les paul but unless i find the best one, i will stick to reissues. the fenders i own are hands down better than the ones from the cbs era and i am sure many people here will say that their LP is better than a 70 something lp they played once. When it comes down to it, I think it is the vibe and the tone of vintage instruments that people want.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Only

I agree with Lew...I would rather have a new Fender over anything made after about 1970...same for Norlin made Gibsons, as well as Baldwin Gretches and many others as well...I am amazed at the prices CBS Fender bring...I have never played a great made Fender from the 70's or 80's...I played good ones but not great ones...I would rather have a partscaster or a Tokai or some other NON Fender that a "real" Fender from the 70's or 80's same goes for Gibsons, Gretches and others...it is an outrage!!!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vintage Only

When it comes to gigging, there's a very valuable rule of thumb that I have found to be true: VINTAGE GEAR IS OLD!! As such, it's not as reliable as a newer piece of gear, period.
I'm a high gain guy, and I love channel switching, so I would say that I prefer newer amps to their vintage counterparts, tho I still prefer tubes.
As for pedals and such, I hold to the theory that VINTAGE IS OLD! Why pay double price for an old pedal that will only get trashed at a gig?! If I'm going to spend $2-300 on a pedal, I want it to be the newest, best sounding gear technology today has to offer.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Vintage Only

anything over 25 years old is vintage, that doesnt mean that it is collectable or desireable or worth anything at all. there are many things that are old that are great. especially old acoustics, there was simply more good wood available.

mid 70's strats are not great as a whole (read as they suck), but i played a '77 hardtail that was really nice the other day so there are good guitars from crappy eras. ive also played a '56 tele that while it sounded nice played like a cow pie.
the whole vintage craze is a little over the top but i think there are some very nice things that are old.

there is also a bunch of oer priced crap with the "vintage" tag on it

 

[Biu]

Re: Vintage Only

I like high-gain too, but I also like tones from all over the electric guitar's existence. I think vintage gear infatuation is mostly for the looks and the well-used feel.

Personally, I don't care, as long as it does what I want it to

 

[hacker]

Re: Vintage Only

The Gibson Historic division makes some great guitars that compare to the 50s and 60s originals, excpet they're not old

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Vintage Only

I happen to think the new MIM Fenders are a whole lot better than the older MIM Fenders....as a matter of fact, I think the MIMs of today are the best bang for your buck guitars out there & probably the most under-rated.........And that mainly comes from people that played the old ones, considered them crap & think the new ones are the same crap. SNOBS!!! :laugh2: