Buying and selling of vintage guitar gear is a micro-industry in and of itself. Guitar and amp shows around the world are full of hungry investors looking to spend lots and lots of money for that elusive piece of gear that they just have to own. Beat up, road worn equipment is coveted and practically worshiped on a fanatical level.
With all of the technological advances made in electronics and manufacturing over the past 50 years, however, it would appear on the surface that guitars and amps should be so much better now than they have been in the past. So much so that I would have thought the vintage market to be almost non-existent today.
Au contraire! The vintage market is alive and well and, dare I say, thriving! But I have to ask: why?
Is it nostalgia? Could it be bragging rights? (“I have a ’65 Fender Bassman and you don’t” kind of thing.) Whatever it is, I’m not so sure I understand it, but I would like to.
In some cases I think I understand; hand-wired amps certainly have the blood, sweat, and tears of the maker poured into them. (One only has to listen to a Sommatone Roaring 40 to understand that.) But 40 years ago the materials could not possibly be as good as they are today, could they? Electronics are certainly better and more reliable now. I also kind of understand – to a point – how some old guitars would be valuable, as they have been broken in and they now play well. But $10,000 for a guitar? $40,000 for a guitar? Really? What’s the point? Or better yet, what’s the point of having a 30-year old amp that is one sneeze away from falling apart? Are they truly that much better-sounding than the amps of today?
I need help with this, folks. I’m completely open to the idea of vintage gear, but I’m having a real hard time understanding the need for these oldies-but-goodies. Someone much more attuned to the situation needs to come and enlighten me. Any takers?
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A long time ago my old man had a reel-to-reel audio player, which eventually failed, leaving him with a pile of tapes unable to be played. He lamented the loss of a wide and varied music selection he had recorded from all over the place, some rare that just weren’t available these days. He often talked about some of these fantastic songs that he would love to hear again.
One day I decided to try to re-source some of these songs, at least the ones where a recording still existed. I hunted high and low until I found some of them, and gave them to him as a birthday present.
They weren’t how he remembered them, but it was them. He played them maybe a few times and then put them on the shelf.
I think the bulk of vintage _anything_ is indeed nostalgia – cherished memories from long ago, wishing to be relived. But the moral of my story is that perhaps some cherished memories should stay just that
JAW
Great story, JAW. Thanks for sharing it with us. So for you, it comes down to nostalgia. I can dig that, but let me ask you a question. I think we can both agree that there are lots of people out there who have never previously owned something like a ’65 Bassman but want one now. Do you think it’s nostalgia for the sound, or because someone like SRV played one, or because they think it has a sound that no “modern” amp has?
Just exploring the topic a bit more…
Hey Josh, first up let me say I really enjoy your blog. You cover the whole gambit of guitar and music which is great – some stuff is beyond my interests, but much of it I’m ready to debate : ) Not sure if your blog is so big and famous that I shouldn’t both piping up (I think you know what I mean), but I think you are still in that great medium-startup phase, where even my comments and discussion are welcomed ; ) I can see you making this a popular read, which I guess is what you are after…a combination of the enjoyment of writing about what you are passionate about, and a little bit of salesyness on the side!
But anyway, on topic; I think nostalgia is contagious. Someone raves on about their cherished memories enough to convince another…or even, someone so passionate about a favourite band and the sound they hunt down whatever gear they were using at the time.
Then there is the rare/unique factor, but that’s with anything antique/vintage. “Don’t make them like that anymore” – well that’s just nostalgia again!
I suspect I’m the same as you – yes, new gear *is* better. Modern technology is better. Modern techniques are better. The catch to that statement is that the modern way to to build something is to build it down to a price, and build it to eventually fail so that it needs to be replaced – but that’s not the case with everything. Sometimes a manufacturer does actually want to build something they are proud of, not to make as much money as possible.
Everything, even todays best gear, will be superseded. The next model will be better featured. That’s technology. Quietly however, I think that is limited to technology in electronics – technology in craftmanship, eg building say acoustic guitars – is already “there”, nowadays it’s more about improvements in material and mass build quality. Technology in craftmanship is more about producing something different not so much about making it better.
Anyway I’m raving now, good luck in making any sense of this comment!
JAW
I suspect it’s going to take a long time before I’m not able to respond to every comment that comes in. It certainly would be nice – in principle – to get to that point because I know then that the blog is successful. For now, however, you’ll have to be content with me answering you back.
All of the points you give make sense to me except for the rare/unique factor. And by that I don’t mean that you are wrong, but that I don’t see what the point of purchasing it for that reason would be. Doesn’t make sense at all.
I think there are a lot of different opinions out there. Here’s mine. When I got my 66 Fender Vibrolux a while back I was totally blown away by what that amp could produce. It wasn’t really that expensive.
Also those old amps are more reliable than many of today’s modern amps. Most amps today have channel switching which can be a little more difficult to fix then a one channel old Fender. There’s not much that can really go wrong with those amps if they are properly maintained which is not expensive.
Anyway that amp has put many new sounds in my fingers. It just makes me want to play when I hear the sound of it.
You can be the judge of the sound. Here’s a couple of videos of me playing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VkB5x8Z41w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h4BZy0Ppyk
I like your blog!
I do not look at vintage gear the same way any longer. After being a tech for 20 some odd years to me it’s just components assembled for an end product. Yes…there is a ton of nostalgia, vibe and history involved. Put that on the side for a minute. Now lets say you find a guitar or amp and don’t know the age. It sounds UNREAL to you and you HAVE to have it. It is very expensive but you have the money and it makes you happy. You understand that there could be some maintenance issues and accept that fact. Now ask yourself would you buy it? Take away the brand, model and big dollar bragging rights. To me gear is gear…old, new home-built, boutique, whatever. Gear is like tools to make music. You need to have tools that allow you to express yourself by playing your best. So having said all that I say pick what works for you regardless of vintage, trends or price. Just my take on it… -Billy
Great stuff, John. I can see what you’re saying about older amps being more reliable. I make the analogy to modern cars; there are so many more moving pieces and electronics that can go wrong, whereas an old Chevy from the 1970′s can basically run forever.
Thanks for adding your input!
Billy, I was hoping you would stop by and chime in!
I agree with you; if the guitar or amp sounds great then you should certainly consider buying it. But that goes for a guitar or amp of any age. Being a tech, do you see a lot of guys that buy vintage gear just because it’s vintage?
Josh- Yes and no. Not too long ago when the economy was crankin’ there were plenty of people buying vintage gear because it was vintage and had a vibe. It also sounded good or played good if we’re talking guitars. Most of the people buying vintage because it was vintage were people that were not that good at playing. Now mind you I have no issues with that at all like some people do. If you like it for whatever reason, whatever your skill level and can afford it I say go for it..!! On the other hand players were buying vintage because of the vibe and because the guitar or amp played and/or sounded great….to THEM. This is all subjective. I have played some unreal vintage guitars and amps and have played some dogs. I have also played some unreal current production guitars and amps while others were dogs…. I think it all depends on the gear and the player. So I hope that answers your question and if it doesn’t let me know and I will clarify….if I can..!!! -Billy
Your answer makes perfect sense, Billy, and thanks for responding! Unfortunately, I think there are literally millions of people who aren’t very good players at all but buy tons of expensive boutique and/or vintage gear so they can talk about it rather than actually having to get up and play in front of people. I don’t mean to infer that’s it’s not okay to be a bad player (certainly it is if you enjoy it), but it irks me to no end to see people hiding behind their gear rather than putting themselves out there and playing with it.
Some (not all) of the best players just use a guitar, half a handful of pedals and an amp… Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Jim Campilongo, Scotty Anderson…all the old school jazz players. If you can play…you can play. Some people that have a lot of money are not great players but have awesome gear. They may just love the sound a few chords make and that is awesome imo. It’s the ones that have all the hot gear, can’t play, do not know what they are talking about and try to correct everyone they talk to and hang with….you know what I’m talking about…. This is quite a subject my friend….!!!! -BP
Yes, I do. It’s that last group you mention that I was referring to the most. I’m a plug-n-play guy myself, though I would try to put myself up there with Gatton and Anderson.
Those guys are freaks of nature….LOVE THEM…!!!!
Got that right!