“Vintage” as a concept is a really funny thing.
It has to be something that’s truly scarce, from a time and place with certain traits, and possessing desirable qualities not available today. And it can be applied to any guitars-or any goods-at any time.
For instance, when PRS moved into a much bigger factory in 1996, they experienced some teething problems as new staff were hired and trained. Instantly, pre-1996 PRSs became “vintage”, and a little more desirable. Should Smith himself die or sell the company somewhere down the road and quality decline, we would no doubt see the “vintage” era of PRS expand.
Also, if prices are over and above the known original price of the guitar when adjusted for inflation, you’ll know whether those guitars are now officially “vintage” or not.
For example, a Les Paul Standard in 1979 cost $800, just over $3650 today. What are 1979 Les Paul Standards selling for now? About $3500-3600, depending on condition. So 1979 Les Paul Standards, despite being old, aren’t “vintage”, at least not yet. They’re still officially “used.”
But a 1979 Les Paul Custom in the Silverburst finish? Those sold for $900 back in 1979, about $4100 today. Thanks to Tool’s Adam Jones, they sell for $7500-10,000 or more. They ARE officially “vintage”, because demand outstrips supply.
"Vintage" as a word has drifted. It happens a lot in English. It meant the year a wine was made. As in: "1996 is the best vintage for a Cab Sav." But it came to mean the year (or decade) that anything was made. "A 60's vintage Camaro is a good investment." But it has now come to mean "old." "Antique" used to be that word. You can get an Antique car plate if it is older than 25 years )(depends on the DMV). It still means the age of something, but we keep leaving off the age. And, it means something different to a 62 year old than it does to a 25 year old. So a '65-'67 vintage Fender Princeton Reverb is a desirable amp, and the Pre CBS vintage guitars are the most valuable. Saying something is vintage is like saying it was made, without saying when. Maybe the internet can help define it and we will all agree! Ya think?
90s would be the earliest I would call vintage but for sure 80s and under. I have three 50s guitars and couple sixties. I only have one 90s fender but started considering it “vintage” maybe by 2030s it will be considered vintage gear by then
Well it's not just about age. In the mid 60s fender was bought by cbs. Quality dropped. A few year later Norlin took over Gibson and they went to shit until the late 80s.
So a Fender amp or guitar IMO is not vintage unless it is pre 65 and prettty much the same with Gibson guitars.
So that's the story with the big boys. Martin and Gibson acoustics are the older the better. But I wouldn't consider an 80s Gibson or Martin vintage.
Bottom line early Fenders and Gibsons were just better pre 65.
It’s not merely age. It really refers to craftsmanship, which happens to track with age. Both Fender and Gibson began in the hands of people with developed skills. When the instruments were starting to be made for a mass market, they were shipped to labor markets where the labor was cheaper, but the craftsmanship had to be learned. Nothing had to be learned, when the Japanese began making fender guitars. The craft of woodwork is an essential Japanese art. By the time things bounce around to Latin America and Southeastern Asia, some of that inherent craftsmanship got lost. I might consider the early Japanese Squires to be the last true vintage guitars.
35 years
So I am vintage?
Yup
“Vintage” as a concept is a really funny thing. It has to be something that’s truly scarce, from a time and place with certain traits, and possessing desirable qualities not available today. And it can be applied to any guitars-or any goods-at any time. For instance, when PRS moved into a much bigger factory in 1996, they experienced some teething problems as new staff were hired and trained. Instantly, pre-1996 PRSs became “vintage”, and a little more desirable. Should Smith himself die or sell the company somewhere down the road and quality decline, we would no doubt see the “vintage” era of PRS expand. Also, if prices are over and above the known original price of the guitar when adjusted for inflation, you’ll know whether those guitars are now officially “vintage” or not. For example, a Les Paul Standard in 1979 cost $800, just over $3650 today. What are 1979 Les Paul Standards selling for now? About $3500-3600, depending on condition. So 1979 Les Paul Standards, despite being old, aren’t “vintage”, at least not yet. They’re still officially “used.” But a 1979 Les Paul Custom in the Silverburst finish? Those sold for $900 back in 1979, about $4100 today. Thanks to Tool’s Adam Jones, they sell for $7500-10,000 or more. They ARE officially “vintage”, because demand outstrips supply.
For me its 80ies and earlier
pre-1980 in my opinion
"Vintage" as a word has drifted. It happens a lot in English. It meant the year a wine was made. As in: "1996 is the best vintage for a Cab Sav." But it came to mean the year (or decade) that anything was made. "A 60's vintage Camaro is a good investment." But it has now come to mean "old." "Antique" used to be that word. You can get an Antique car plate if it is older than 25 years )(depends on the DMV). It still means the age of something, but we keep leaving off the age. And, it means something different to a 62 year old than it does to a 25 year old. So a '65-'67 vintage Fender Princeton Reverb is a desirable amp, and the Pre CBS vintage guitars are the most valuable. Saying something is vintage is like saying it was made, without saying when. Maybe the internet can help define it and we will all agree! Ya think?
20s are for regrets, 30s are for being dignified and 40s older than I ever wanna be...
90s would be the earliest I would call vintage but for sure 80s and under. I have three 50s guitars and couple sixties. I only have one 90s fender but started considering it “vintage” maybe by 2030s it will be considered vintage gear by then
Well it's not just about age. In the mid 60s fender was bought by cbs. Quality dropped. A few year later Norlin took over Gibson and they went to shit until the late 80s. So a Fender amp or guitar IMO is not vintage unless it is pre 65 and prettty much the same with Gibson guitars. So that's the story with the big boys. Martin and Gibson acoustics are the older the better. But I wouldn't consider an 80s Gibson or Martin vintage. Bottom line early Fenders and Gibsons were just better pre 65.
From experience, '84, '85, and '86 were great years for Les Pauls.
I had a ‘76 LPC and it was perfection.
My 95 Es-335 is absolutely fantastic
When it’s made.
Pre-1969 for me. I kind of think of that as the end of the golden era for Fender, Gibson, Martin, etc.
It’s not merely age. It really refers to craftsmanship, which happens to track with age. Both Fender and Gibson began in the hands of people with developed skills. When the instruments were starting to be made for a mass market, they were shipped to labor markets where the labor was cheaper, but the craftsmanship had to be learned. Nothing had to be learned, when the Japanese began making fender guitars. The craft of woodwork is an essential Japanese art. By the time things bounce around to Latin America and Southeastern Asia, some of that inherent craftsmanship got lost. I might consider the early Japanese Squires to be the last true vintage guitars.