I've owned my share of vintage guitars (and synths/keyboards and drums too). While there is a certain vibe and je-ne-sais-quoi character about them which can be a joy to play, they are also usually the fussiest and most tempermental instruments I've owned. Constantly battling intonation issues, electronic issues, repair this or that. When they work they are great, but honestly at the end of the day as a working musician it's not worth the headache - give me new-ish gear any day of the week. Once setup new instruments are generally much more reliable and consistent (there will always be exceptions but I think it's fair to say). If I need to coax more character out of the sound I'll do it through pedals/effects/processing.
So then the question here (maybe someone already asked?) how does all of this bode for new tech bought today (I have a 2019 Player/Standard Strat and a 2021 G&L Fullerton Bluesboy ASAT as I re-enter the guitar world semi-retired now) for my grandkids 50-60 years from now? Does the quality fade if I don't do too many stupid things with this puppies?
What kind of strings do you suggest for a Tele, I don't know much about your product, can you enlighten me? Thanks, oh, love your playing, do you have any more playing I could listen to?
Most of us that own vintage instruments, own them for the "vibe". We play them at home and for recording sessions, but they rarely or never get "gigged out", depending on the make and model. We also own them, because they will continue to increase in value and collectability... That's it, in a nutshell.
Not necessarily. Vintage instruments may have providence based on musical history, association with famous players, but it’s perceived value. Bonamassa has even said that a guitar being vintage means it’s of a certain age, doesn’t mean it’s better. Today’s instruments are technically better guitars because we know far more about making things in 2023 than we did in the 1950s and the stuff produced by Fender’s Custom Shop, Tom Anderson, Sadowski, etc bear testimony to that. But certain old guitars are to be loved and I’m there with everyone else. Who wouldn’t cherish a ‘52 Tele, ‘54 Strat or a ‘59 Les Paul, etc?
You are not buying a vintage instrument because it SOUNDS better or because someone else can say "that is vintage" based purely by sound. While there is certainly something to be said for the more hands-on result in terms of QC quality (maybe), modern guitars are more consistent through the computer-aided manufacturing and much more exacting in terms of specs and tolerances. You buy vintage because you are enthralled by the history and legacy they represent, but I would never argue they are "better".
“Better” is super subjective when it comes to this kind of stuff. You can justify either side with its application, the player’s play style etc. I don’t think there’s a completely unbiased criteria that u can use to judge. Personally, some days/weeks/months I crave the feel, sound and roughness of a vintage guitar. Worn in, imperfections, a little loose on the electronics etc. other days/weeks/months I really want that roasted maple satin neck with stainless steel frets, split coil features and locking tuners for 1/4th the price of a real vintage guitar. 🤷🏽♂️
Couldn’t hear much of a difference. Never understood the value of the manufactured aging on the customs for the extra 2000 or so. I’d rather age it myself! Also re the neck, don’t a lot of players like to remove the finish? I now have an Ultra Tele with noiseless pickups. I hated that buzzy hum but some loved it. Thanks for this.
This isn’t a bad video. But this is the kind of video Stringjoy doesn’t need to be doing. There’s so many channels doing these kinds of pointless matchups and then summarizing the reasons why it was pointless. Yes, new guitars are more consistent but some select vintage guitars are great. What got me watching the channel and then trying the strings was information about parts of the industry-especially strings-that was rare elsewhere and actually interesting experiments.
Hey Robert! Appreciate the honest feedback. We're always trying different things over here and feedback's always a helpful yardstick to determine how different approaches hit with different people. We'll certainly keep it in mind.
@@Stringjoy Glad you took it in the spirit intended! I was just thinking of a good example: You’re now making coated strings, but I don’t think I’ve seen a lot of “behind the scenes” from you about how they were developed and how they are made. That’s a good example of the kind of thing I’d like to see.
I'd like to see a real vintage guitar compared to a relic from Fender or Gibson custom shop in a blind test, to see if the old ones still have enough mojo to make a difference (I doubt it).........?
Can’t hear much difference. I prefer guitar comparisons to be done on clean settings. The person playing (and added effects) can make most any guitar sound good. As for these two, they both sound good to my ears. It really depends on one’s budget.
As far as tone, the vintage one wins over the newer one hands down. The newer one doesn't sound as alive. Especially on that last example, I wasn't completely digging what he was playing, but the vintage guitar sounded pretty cool on that last example.
At 5:36, you mention a lot of vintage guitars are absolute trash. Seems we should consider that unless something is actually Broken, any of those can be put into excellent playable condition by a competent luthier for a few hundred dollars worth of nut work, fret work, fingerboard planing, neck angle adjustment, neck relief adjustment, saddle height adjustment, intonation, and pickup height adjustment. On another topic, seems to me most spankin' new guitars used to come horribly in need of a good set-up. Today, new guitars seems so much better.
No, current guitars are better built with better components and better designs. If you like playing guitars with designs from the 50's thats of course your choice and thats fine; however,I think it is quite objective that present day guitars are more ergonomic, more consistently built and way cheaper. Vintage guitars cost what they cost becuase of supply and demand; an ever growing demand for a limited amount of instruments results in those crazy prices. Vintage instruments dont command those prices because they play X times better or sound X times better, its because they are scarce.
I've owned my share of vintage guitars (and synths/keyboards and drums too). While there is a certain vibe and je-ne-sais-quoi character about them which can be a joy to play, they are also usually the fussiest and most tempermental instruments I've owned. Constantly battling intonation issues, electronic issues, repair this or that. When they work they are great, but honestly at the end of the day as a working musician it's not worth the headache - give me new-ish gear any day of the week. Once setup new instruments are generally much more reliable and consistent (there will always be exceptions but I think it's fair to say). If I need to coax more character out of the sound I'll do it through pedals/effects/processing.
So then the question here (maybe someone already asked?) how does all of this bode for new tech bought today (I have a 2019 Player/Standard Strat and a 2021 G&L Fullerton Bluesboy ASAT as I re-enter the guitar world semi-retired now) for my grandkids 50-60 years from now? Does the quality fade if I don't do too many stupid things with this puppies?
Tones and playing off the charts. Appreciate the honest assessment. Brett and Dave’s Guitar Shop are class acts!
I'll take a new one any day. I don't want someone else's problems.
Great video! Thank you so much for making and sharing!😘
What kind of strings do you suggest for a Tele, I don't know much about your product, can you enlighten me? Thanks, oh, love your playing, do you have any more playing I could listen to?
I listened blindly and every time I gravitated toward your original '55. It's gotta be how that neck pickup sounds so gnarly more than anything else.
Most of us that own vintage instruments, own them for the "vibe". We play them at home and for recording sessions, but they rarely or never get "gigged out", depending on the make and model. We also own them, because they will continue to increase in value and collectability... That's it, in a nutshell.
Not necessarily. Vintage instruments may have providence based on musical history, association with famous players, but it’s perceived value. Bonamassa has even said that a guitar being vintage means it’s of a certain age, doesn’t mean it’s better. Today’s instruments are technically better guitars because we know far more about making things in 2023 than we did in the 1950s and the stuff produced by Fender’s Custom Shop, Tom Anderson, Sadowski, etc bear testimony to that. But certain old guitars are to be loved and I’m there with everyone else. Who wouldn’t cherish a ‘52 Tele, ‘54 Strat or a ‘59 Les Paul, etc?
Me
You are not buying a vintage instrument because it SOUNDS better or because someone else can say "that is vintage" based purely by sound. While there is certainly something to be said for the more hands-on result in terms of QC quality (maybe), modern guitars are more consistent through the computer-aided manufacturing and much more exacting in terms of specs and tolerances. You buy vintage because you are enthralled by the history and legacy they represent, but I would never argue they are "better".
“Better” is super subjective when it comes to this kind of stuff. You can justify either side with its application, the player’s play style etc. I don’t think there’s a completely unbiased criteria that u can use to judge. Personally, some days/weeks/months I crave the feel, sound and roughness of a vintage guitar. Worn in, imperfections, a little loose on the electronics etc. other days/weeks/months I really want that roasted maple satin neck with stainless steel frets, split coil features and locking tuners for 1/4th the price of a real vintage guitar. 🤷🏽♂️
Love watchhing you play! I want to be like you when I grow up. of course i"m 68 years young. Enjoying my guitar journey.
The most important element of guitar sound is the fingers that work the strings!
Couldn’t hear much of a difference. Never understood the value of the manufactured aging on the customs for the extra 2000 or so. I’d rather age it myself! Also re the neck, don’t a lot of players like to remove the finish? I now have an Ultra Tele with noiseless pickups. I hated that buzzy hum but some loved it. Thanks for this.
This isn’t a bad video. But this is the kind of video Stringjoy doesn’t need to be doing. There’s so many channels doing these kinds of pointless matchups and then summarizing the reasons why it was pointless. Yes, new guitars are more consistent but some select vintage guitars are great. What got me watching the channel and then trying the strings was information about parts of the industry-especially strings-that was rare elsewhere and actually interesting experiments.
Hey Robert! Appreciate the honest feedback. We're always trying different things over here and feedback's always a helpful yardstick to determine how different approaches hit with different people. We'll certainly keep it in mind.
@@Stringjoy Glad you took it in the spirit intended! I was just thinking of a good example: You’re now making coated strings, but I don’t think I’ve seen a lot of “behind the scenes” from you about how they were developed and how they are made. That’s a good example of the kind of thing I’d like to see.
I think either can sound great. I don’t have a preference.
I'd like to see a real vintage guitar compared to a relic from Fender or Gibson custom shop in a blind test, to see if the old ones still have enough mojo to make a difference (I doubt it).........?
I personally prefer to buy new, but I've played and heard some fantastic vintage instruments as well
Barely noticeable difference. If I were to pick one, I think it would be the '55... just a warmer tone.
Thanks. No negative shit over here.
Can’t hear much difference. I prefer guitar comparisons to be done on clean settings. The person playing (and added effects) can make most any guitar sound good. As for these two, they both sound good to my ears. It really depends on one’s budget.
As far as tone, the vintage one wins over the newer one hands down. The newer one doesn't sound as alive. Especially on that last example, I wasn't completely digging what he
was playing, but the vintage guitar sounded pretty cool on that last example.
At 5:36, you mention a lot of vintage guitars are absolute trash. Seems we should consider that unless something is actually Broken, any of those can be put into excellent playable condition by a competent luthier for a few hundred dollars worth of nut work, fret work, fingerboard planing, neck angle adjustment, neck relief adjustment, saddle height adjustment, intonation, and pickup height adjustment. On another topic, seems to me most spankin' new guitars used to come horribly in need of a good set-up. Today, new guitars seems so much better.
I'd rather see a comparison with acoustic instruments that don't rely on electronics.
Also before any guitar sounds good you have to be able to play! Slowly but surly I rise!
No, current guitars are better built with better components and better designs. If you like playing guitars with designs from the 50's thats of course your choice and thats fine; however,I think it is quite objective that present day guitars are more ergonomic, more consistently built and way cheaper. Vintage guitars cost what they cost becuase of supply and demand; an ever growing demand for a limited amount of instruments results in those crazy prices. Vintage instruments dont command those prices because they play X times better or sound X times better, its because they are scarce.
Mental mojo?
You're playing guitar because you're trying to be cool you probably need to be doing something else..