|
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I’ve been playing guitars since 1959 and Ovations since 1971. Some of you have a lot more experience than me. While my Legend Limited 1651 has been my preferred acoustic/electric since ‘81, I also own and play a lot of other guitars, primarily solid bodies, but some semis and hollow bodies as well. My favorites are a ‘96 American Strat with Texas Special pups, and a ‘90 ES-135 with P-90s. I enjoy buying and looking at vintage gear, but I’m nearly always disappointed when I play them against my favorites. They look great on the wall, probably sound the way they were intended, but are less than satisfactory for serious playing. The exception is my Viper III which is in outstanding condition and the tone compares very well against the Strat. In fact, because of the neck length, it is slightly better for licks at the very top end. Anybody have a similar or different experience with vintage gear? Maybe I should quit buying gear sight unseen. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I bought my 1537 sight unseen from Noah, based on all the talk on this board. It's everything they said. Some of the people on here actually know what they are talking about, some of us are just full of BS. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Sometimes, our expections over gear we've lusted after for years, is not matched by the reality of the gear. I've had it happen a few times.
Am I one of the ones here who knows what he's talking about or am I one who's full of BS? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | I wish I knew how to play a lot better so I could make the comparisons. I have played some of my brother's higher end Tele's and it still brought me back to appreciate the necks on my ebay parts-plus Vipers and Breadwinners!
I can easily say that if you follow the "public idea" of what is best you are going to spend a lot of money and will still have to find what works for you!
M(built from Ebay)Woody |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Am I one of the ones here who knows what he's talking about or am I one who's full of BS? Yes |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Ithink some of the "vintage dissapointment" can be put down to the fact that there ain't that much great vintage stuff avaliable (that doesn't cost the earth).
Vintage in many cases has become a term simply meaning old.
During a recent trip, I couldn't believe the price of 70's Strats at Guitar Centre Hollywood.
The quality of new guitars has never been better. Unless your an investor, save your money. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | My issues are not so much with the necks, the feel or playability of a particular guitar. I don't find that these variances affect my playing ability that much. I thought I prefered really small necks (like the A neck on my '62 Jaguar or the 1-9/16 inch width on my ES-335 CRD), but the chunky necks aren't bad at all, at least not that I can feel. Instead, my issues are with the tone, pots and general sound. When you play one guitar after the other for hours on end, you really can note the difference. I can also affirm that the pickup on the Limited 1651 provides very good tone compared to the others. It may not be in a class by itself, but it sure doesn't take long to call roll. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Moody, I haven't figured out if those that knows what they are talking about are mutually exclusive of those who are full of BS. Sometimes the ones that seem to know what they are talking about sound really knowledgeable about things like string tubes. There is no shortage of talent here.
From that BS answer, I'm sure you can tell which camp I belong in. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Personally, I love the vintage stuff. A lot of times it may need a bit of TLC (especially tube amps!)to get it up to speed but then you're good to go for another 40 years or so.
Good guitars/amps usually stay good practically for ever if they are properly maintained. Crappy stuff will never be good no matter how old it gets.
My newest guitar is 25 years old and my newest amp is 44!
That being said,there is a lot of first rate new stuff on the market but I just like the vintage vibe...and the good stuff usually appreciates in value over time.
Wayne |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Bottom line is, don't buy trends --- buy what feels and sounds right to you. You can never go wrong. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | While I do like the vintage amps (and some of the newer boutique stuff like the THD univalve), I have personally come to believe that you can find the perfect axe regardless of make, model or age.
For me, it was my 2 warriors. After playing them, comparing them to my vintage gear, then comparing them some more, I sold off some pretty prime vintage stuff because for me the warriors just played better, sounded better, and I didn't have to worry about a ding dropping the value by a 1000 bills! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | After seeing your stuff in the gallery, Stephen, I'll forever trust whatever you say from now on. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Professor.....if only everyone on the OFC board was as wise as you ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Many vintage guitars are valuable for what they are and not their playability. Then there's some guitars that are truly special. I have a Gibson SG Standard that I bought in 1970, that I've been gigging with and playing throughout the past 30 plus years. I replaced the tuners, about 20 years ago (Schallers) and it is perfect in every way, intonation, action, playability and of course sound. That's the guitar I would make special provisions in my will for. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I was at the Guitar Show in Columbus Ohio last weekend. I found some of the prices for vintage guitars way out of line with the quality of the instrument. My first real guitar I bought new was a 1967 Gibson J-45. I still have it but I don't play it anymore because it just is not up to the quality of the other guitars I have today. Next time I go to a guitar show am taking that high school memory with me to sell. No way is it worth what they were getting for them.
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Tommy, the guitarist in the band I was in back in the '70s had either a '69 or '70 SG Standard. Maybe that was just a good year for Gibsons but his guitar (IMHO) was also a very special player. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Stephen, I think you right. I haven't felt one that matches up to my 1970 model. I guess Gibson had their good and bad years. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Idaho | My 1971 Gretsch Country Gentleman is still my favorite all electric. I now see them on grEtBay for as much as four times what I paid new. As nice a guitar as I think it is, I would never pay that much for one now. One feature I like is the 0th fret. Has Ovation ever built any guitars with the 0th fret? |
|
| |
Vintage Gear Disappointment
