If an instrument “speaks” to you, it doesn’t really matter if it’s vintage or inexpensive it has a voice and a soul! As usual any guitar in Chris’s hands is magical!
I've owned probably 50 guitars over the years. One was a '58 Esquire that I tried time and again to fall in love with, but I just could not. Many guitarists just fawned over it, but it did nothing for me. So I sold it about 6 years ago. My collection is relatively small now, and my favorite player is a '92 Fender CS '62RI. Absolutely love it. However, two bandmates I played with for 15 years are convinced the best playing and tone I ever achieved was using an early '90s Fernandes tele copy I bought for $325. Unfortunately, that special guitar was stolen. Great tone and that special relationship can happen with ANY instrument - regardless of era or price. And this Chris dude can freakin' PLAY!!
Love this comment!! Undoubtedly there are some really great vintage & branded instruments out there for the big $$, but also undoubtedly some wonderful instruments out there that aren't monetarily "worth" that much. Especially true for electric guitars and basses
This dude Chris Buck is I think one of the best guitar players out there right now. Solos are so damned melodic and tasteful. Haven't been this impressed with a guitar player in a long time.
I've noticed some small subtleties in Chris's playing have changed over the last year. It just feels a bit less rushed and has more space between phrases. Really dialing it in now brother! The new "Slow Hand" is developing in front of our eyes. Killer shit for sure.
The main issue in the vintage hype issue is that there good ones and bad ones just as guitars from any period. The better ones would naturally survive, after having countless tweaks and setups. I would also add that at no time has guitar production been of a high quality as present day.
Right. Survivorship bias... Also, when people think about "hand made", they think about a luthier, taking their time to build a masterly crafted instrument. This was *production* hand-made, meaning "hurry up! finish that instrument already and start with the next one!". It doesn't mean it necessarily had to be a badly crafted instrument, because with time, you get really proficient at doing things at high speed. But it's not as good as a CNC process, that is almost exactly the same quality every time. Though, I think in the end, people connect with vintage instruments more on a sentimental level, than on a technical level. In my case, I prefer an instrument that's my own, that has my history in it. You have no idea who owned most of vintage instruments. It has its own past, but that past is not yours, it's its previous owners past. I prefer to create my own history for my guitar... (and also, that modern instruments have better quality).
At 20 years of age in 1974, I bought my first 'real' guitar...a '62 Fender Stratocaster in LPB. It wasn't 'vintage' in 1974, it was simply a 'used' or 2nd hand guitar! I walked out of the music store having paid $175. This Strat must have preformed in every smoke filled bar across America. When you opened the case, a wave of stale tobacco and spilled alcohol permeated your senses...enough to even make your eyes water. It was GLORIOUS!!!! The '62 Strat is still in the family!
I really miss that smell of well loved well gigged guitars from those days. Also miss the old used guitar prices. Traded a 70s les Paul deluxe I paid $175 for a 63 no bird on guard reverse firebird I. No nicks through finish, no crazing. Sold it for $400 to cover tuition in 81. 40 yrs of kicking myself. Lol, same year a local dealer offered me a 74 Dino for $9000 when I noticed it in his garage walking home from school. If only we knew then…..
Conversely, my first guitar in 1974, was a Woolworth's 'Audition' six-string electric - the action being so high, that I could have played bottleneck slide under the strings. Nice sunburst finish though.
@@thomascroft5076 🤣🤣I had one of those in 1967. I paid $25 dollars for it and I believe they put piano wire on it for strings. Simply an AWFUL guitar!😜😖
As someone who had their first guitar in the early 60s one thing is for sure that modern production methods have made guitars way more consistent from one to the other than could have been dreamed of way back then and of much higher quality while still affordable.
I agree. My first guitar, which I still have, is a 74 Strat which I got in 77. It's a great instrument and I love playing it, but I also have some new Fenders and they're pretty good too. If a guitar clicks with you, it doesn't matter if it's new or old.
Much agreed, Mr. Click. A bit of today's standardization mixed with some caring craftsmanship, especially in the pickups area, makes for better opportunities for more players to obtain a pretty darn good guitar these days. And folks need to remember that a guitar is only half their sound ...
Isn't that the point though? Thatvthe ones still doing the rounds and in good nic are the really good ones and "worth it"? I still think they are over priced and the fender 60s reissues, even the MIM ones are spot on! Great guitars! And the Epis too, just not so sure about the Gibsons lol.
I am an old guy as well, and I've been disappointed at the amount of quality/workmanship issues I see coming from the instrument factories over the last 35 years - stuff that I never saw in the 60s and 70s productions I originally played. The other companies like Schecter, I agree that they are made with updated machines and process. Those are amazingly consistent. But not the original two brands that I grew up with.
I think it's important to understand that in the mid-1960s, when Clapton, Bloomfield, et. al. were looking for upgrades to their Telecasters, they could not buy 1965 Les Pauls because Gibson wasn't making them then. Their *only* option was to buy a late 1950s Les Paul because that's all there was.
Apparently I heard the whole trend was conceived by Norman’s rare guitars in the 70s, he managed to convince many players to think that the earlier guitars were much better than their modern equivalents. Guitars are guitars they are either good or not regardless of its age or of the country it was made.
Great playing and another fun video as always. Vintage acoustic guitars are a very different proposition requiring different consideration because the sound is entirely dependent upon the aged wood which is impossible to replicate in a modern instrument. I love guitars, pretty much ALL guitars... Don't you?!?!😉
I'm fortunate enough to have been able to have hands on experience with both Gibsons and Fenders from the early 50s and 60s, including an original Broadcaster and a Nocaster. That experience made custom shop pieces so much more appealing. I have no desire to own a 70 year old guitar anymore.
I understand the attraction of vintage guitars and gear. But, every electric guitarist I hold in high esteem has a long history of modding their guitars themselves, or by techs, or designing what they want and need to achieve their highest musical aspirations. I think that's a critical part of the journey to greatness.
For all the discussions and opinions I've heard about vintage guitars this has got to be the best and most compact summary out there. I absolutely love watching your videos Chris, I am still amazed you find the time inbetween your band duties! Have a good weekend :)
Between being left handed and probably not being able to handle the price tag anyway, I have never played a vintage instrument. However, they always look and sound cool especially when Chris plays them.
I’ve bought a crappy acoustic arch top, build in 1938. It’s had a bad neck reset, so the neck angle is off, very low frets and they used any wood they could find to build it. But it sounds very clear and unique and I love it. Granted, the fact that it has already existed for 85 years fascinates me tremendously as well, which adds to the playing pleasure.
In my relatively limited experience with vintage guitars, I have found that it’s much more about how the vintage ones feel, rather than how they sound. Of course there are guitars of any age that just don’t feel good to you personally. But the couple vintage ones I’ve played that were really nice, there was just a feel to them that I have never felt with a modern guitar. One example is a ‘65 Mustang I had. It felt absolutely amazing to play in such a unique way. Not to mention that the vibrato system played absolutely flawless and stayed in tune perfectly without any serious set up/modification. I’ve never used a modern Mustang that didn’t need serious work on the Vibrato to function properly.
Chris.......! How on on earth do you seamlessly to these videos together. You appear to start and finish on track with all the poiniant facts delivered in relavance priority without script. Unless, you have the route and content sellotaped to the wall behind the camera. Full of admiration! Thank you.....
As Chris said, solid guitars arrived in a burst of innovation in the 50s and early 60s and playing innovation hasn't really changed that much since the early 70s. Therefore it is no surprise that modern players lust after vintage instuments much in the way that violinists lust after a Stradivarius or Guaneri,
“approaching from the perspective of someone who can play a little”…. an understatement, if there ever was one, coming from someone whom I consider one of the best and original guitar players of this era. Hats off, everyone…
"There was a time" - GNR from Chinese Democracy. 9:01 --- Im assuming recorded originally by Buckethead. Just an amazing jam Chris - Well done!! - - -awesome feel
Great video - guitars are vehicles of sound, and so much more - emotions, history... I have an Epiphone Granada from about 1967, and it still amazes me how good and comforting it is after all these years.
Phenomenal assessment Chris. Certain instruments do absolutely transcend "just being a vintage guitar" and become a reflection of the immensely rich culture that they ushered in. It's easy to look back from "only" the perspective of 60-75 years in the future, but the 50s - 70s was a MASSIVE time for music, and modern culture. That said, I do not think these guitars will ever hold the value of say an Antonio Stradivari violin, which were the instruments of the Renaissance.
5:30 There's something really funny about seeing a price tag hanging off a real 1960 Les Paul. Like, is someone just going to walk into the store, look at the tag, and say "ok yep. this one" and walk to the counter to pay for it. Lol.
I recently bought a '73 blonde Tele with rosewood board as a bucket list, birth year guitar, from a shop in Cardiff that apparently you frequent Mr Buck. Yes, it has a dodgy tone pot and I needed to do a lot of work on the frets, but it plays and sounds amazing. I love both my vintage and modern guitars for very different reasons and at the end of the day, they are all part of a very nice tool kit. 😁😁
Boy I agree ...with each guitar its own distinctive beast.Its all up to playing enough of them to find what works for you .Thanks Chris for this discussion ,a very hype filled subject but when you find that one that works ,old or new magic can happen.
For me with guitars and gear it's all about what inspires you. If vintage does that and you can afford it then all good. I have a Revstar in the mix and you can guess who inspired that. Superb musicianship and interesting as always. Thanks Chris.
I love it when you dig in and make a guitar scream for mercy. And then I'm amazed when a 60-ish year old guitar doesn't fly apart at every point. Keep playing them for us.
The thing for me, as you point out is a guitars history. Aged through worldly interactions adds to that character. Struggle with the modern used / relic look just because it does not have the history to support its look..
Chris, this was a most refreshing video. The hype about “vintage” guitars has left me scratching my head for a while. I had a Les Paul Jr and an SG in the late 60’s, bought used but still relatively new. They were sold for a gold top Les Paul in ‘72, a ‘62 I believe. Sold that one too, played a mid-60’s sunburst strat for a while, but found I preferred the Gibson family and sold that, then got married and had kids and sold everything, amps and all. I only have the old Ibanez acoustic I bought in ‘69 today. Like the e-type Jaguar I owned briefly in this same period, I loved all those guitars but not enough to hang onto them as “investments”. I now have a modern Stratocaster and an Epiphone Les Paul gold top, and near as I can tell they play as well,or better than my old guitars did. Do I want a vintage ‘59 Les Paul? I’d actually take a 1964 4.2 liter E-type in trade for it!
1950 to 1958 was the golden era. ~2015 to now and beyond is the platinum era of guitars. The instruments that you can buy from under $1000 to $10000+ are every bit as good as the golden era guitars. They play better, are far more reliable, sound as good or better and are extremely consistent. I’m a huge believer in buying used 2015+ custom shop guitars. The value is unbeatable!
Oh there it is... I recognize that solo at 9:00 !!! (the main theme of it) And what a beauty it is! Love hearing it on the Les Paul.... I fact, I'd love hearing it on every guitar played by Chris Buck. There's just something about it that slays me.
In 1983 I bought a JV 62 Strat. Then one of Fender's first attempts to hark back to the golden age of their models. Now then that wax 20 years and those "vintage" guitars were out of my student finances. I still own that guitar today. In August this year it'll pass 40 years in my ownership. Itself now considered a vintage desirable guitar, funny given often other players dismissed it as "just a Squier"...
I bought a JV Series 50’s Strat ( also in 1983) & it’s the best Strat I’ve ever owned ( and I started gigging in 1964, playing Strats) Totally agree that the vintage thing can be over-rated, there were some dogs around even in those days) Never felt the need to replace the JV Strat, still have it, sounds great, and is now almost a vintage instrument itself, and all for £240.00!
Hello. You started out as my favorite guitarist on TH-cam. Now you are simply my favorite guitarist, next to Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, John Scofield, Warren Haynes...
I own a number of vintage instruments, and love playing them. The historical value and, because of that, the market value are what attracted me. And I agree, most modern instruments sound as good, or better, play as good or better, and are more reliable. Listening to Chris always reminds me that the sound generated by the instrument is truly in the hands of the player. A great player will always make any instrument sound great. Listen to Chris with Cardinal Black, Jeff Beck, Larry Carlton, Mike Bloomfield, Robben Ford, or any other gifted players and I think you’ll agree. Another awesome installment of FF… I agree about owning the Dino!😎
Old guitars and cars are like people, it's the individuality, their flaws and how they shine that give them their character. I like something with a story, some history, isn't that what life is about? The travelled path that makes us who we are.
Soulful playing as always, Chris! As a lefty, I'm a fair bit more limited with vintage kit - I think there were only 2 or 3 '58 'Bursts made, and McCartney already has one of them! I've just ordered a set of your Strat pickups from Radioshop to give my USA Deluxe a a bit of life. Those noiseless stock pickups are a bit... clinical. I'll shoot a video comparison when I've got them fitted :)
Thought provoking (nice playing, too - no surprise, there!). I own a 1968 Gibson Custom - played it all thru the 70's live, still play it in the studio. Sorta vintage, I guess, from the first run when they re-launched the Les Paul. It's 'a part of me', really - priceless. That said, I have zero desire to own 50's Les Pauls or anything else from that era even if I was a doctor / lawyer with money to burn. . . I'm perfectly happy with the few other guitars I have picked up along the way, including a recent 2018 Japanese made Gretsch Duo Jet and the recent Epiphone / Gibson '59 hybrid. Of course it's nice to hear good players enjoying classic instruments and I love the back-stories ('Lucy' anyone?) but I guess what I'm trying to say is the idea of buying a vintage instrument that has its own history doesn't appeal to me as much as finding one that clicks and making it part of my story . . . pretentious, a bit stoopid? Dunno, but there ya go 😀
Great video Chris. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. Very well done and appreciated Sir. You bring ups some great points. And the solo on the Black Les Paul Custom was so simply sick Brother!
Really candid video, considering Chris is clearly a fan of vintage instruments. Kudos! Yes, people connect sentimentally with vintage instruments. But the instrument offer today is unprecedented, and unquestionably superior to what was available before (I specifically mean this in the variety). You can get from absolutely novel ideas, to incredibly faithful recreations of vintage gear. It's amazing. I think in the end, people can do with their money whatever they want, without being judged. I would never buy something vintage, but that's me. If someone likes to buy vintage instruments, and they're happy with it, I see absolutely no problem, and I don't know why someone should see a problem with that. To each their own. Just do what you please and be happy. :)
I am fortunate enough to own a couple, one being a 57 strat, reality is it plays much the same as a custom shop model with maybe a very slightly warmer tone, is it better... well no just different, but after 40 years playing it was a lifetime goal to own, and it will stay with me till the end, it has history and I love that about it, I wish I could have seen it out playing gigs back in its hey day
Chris, you are one of the few players that leaves me with my mouth opened, drooling and my eyes filled with tears. Phenomenal, so much feel in your fingers!
Chris, your'e so very eloquent! Brilliantly put, you have it in a nutshell. I have played a 1959 Les Paul. I count myself to be really fortunate, but at the same time, constantly kick myself for not buying it! I wanted to test an amp, I asked for two guitars, one with humbuckers, the other with P90's. The salesman brought a beautiful, immaculate '57 Goldtop reissue, and a 1959 Les Paul Special, the single cut version, before they changed to double, this of course had P90's. Both guitars were lovely, but the '59, oh my gosh! It was cream! The sound of those P90's was unbelievable! I think this guitar actually presented a case for buying a vintage instrument; £10,000 was however, still a lot of money to justify for just one guitar! However, was it worth selling all my other guitars, just to own this ONE.... that's a question that never leaves my mind, because, I think it probably 'was' worth selling all the others just to have this ONE. However, I couldn't resist buying the Goldtop, mint, Custom Shop Les Paul for £2,000.
Great vid and superb playing as ever; the piece played on the 3PU LPC is divine 👏 100% agree about the Dino, which nowadays is in a similar price bracket to a ‘58-‘60 Burst. If you had the LP with you when the Ferrari broke down, you could noodle away on it until the tow truck arrived! ☺️
I like your videos, Chris, and you're right that so much of the price premium for these older guitars is more about the perceived feel/style/vibe. It would be useful to know whether the sounds of the beautiful guitars in these videos were 'unfiltered' or whether you're using different effects/amp settings for each to bring out their distinctive characters?
All I know is I like playing my my 2013 LP Studio 50s Tribute more than my 70s LP Custom (sold in 90s), which was a boat anchor with horrible frets. I like that vintage informs newer models to hearken back, but not be limited by.
Come on Chris....! You know...KNOW.... that video was excellent! But when you play the little tune on the Black Gibson Les Paul 3 Pick-up model, well, I just about had to bolt down my soul. LOL! I am Vintage! So is my Gibson. And, I'll bet that one wanted to go home with you... no lie.
Although we receive many vintage guitars through our workshop, (including a 1956 Stratocaster recently), it's worth noting that most new production guitars offer better playability and performance. However, there's an undeniable magic in playing an instrument with such a rich history embedded in its every fibre.❤
Love vintage gear but I prefer my more modern fender american pro 2 strats to play . They are supremely playable and sound great . I mean like they evolve for a reason . Some times its gadgety marketing to keep a brand relevant but often it is actually a improvement. I appreciate the improvements with out straying to far from the original design.
To be clear,I can tell the difference between a humbucker and a strat pickup but beyond that, everything s feel. Worn in guitars feel good, that's about it for me and I've been playing for 50 yrs.
If you mean “vintage” in its true meaning, then by definition yes, you’re talking about an old guitar which has stood out as a good instrument. I really like player grade guitars that are great to make music with.
![Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 | เพื่อจักรพรรดิ ! [ตอนเดียวจบ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4M0ckYMA4-U/mqdefault.jpg)
So, vintage guitars; awesome or antiquated? 😉
Vintage all the way
Depends on the player. Not every player has the soul and ability to extract the music from a guitar.
Whatever gets you playing the most!
Vintange cost more because they are generally quite a bit better
@@Momentum88 Absolutely! This is the only answer that matters.
If an instrument “speaks” to you, it doesn’t really matter if it’s vintage or inexpensive it has a voice and a soul! As usual any guitar in Chris’s hands is magical!
If a guitar speaks to you....its time to see a psychiatrist :p
I've owned probably 50 guitars over the years. One was a '58 Esquire that I tried time and again to fall in love with, but I just could not. Many guitarists just fawned over it, but it did nothing for me. So I sold it about 6 years ago. My collection is relatively small now, and my favorite player is a '92 Fender CS '62RI. Absolutely love it. However, two bandmates I played with for 15 years are convinced the best playing and tone I ever achieved was using an early '90s Fernandes tele copy I bought for $325. Unfortunately, that special guitar was stolen. Great tone and that special relationship can happen with ANY instrument - regardless of era or price. And this Chris dude can freakin' PLAY!!
Love this comment!! Undoubtedly there are some really great vintage & branded instruments out there for the big $$, but also undoubtedly some wonderful instruments out there that aren't monetarily "worth" that much. Especially true for electric guitars and basses
This dude Chris Buck is I think one of the best guitar players out there right now. Solos are so damned melodic and tasteful. Haven't been this impressed with a guitar player in a long time.
It’s music! Loads of guitar wankers, but true musicians are like Chris.
I've noticed some small subtleties in Chris's playing have changed over the last year. It just feels a bit less rushed and has more space between phrases. Really dialing it in now brother! The new "Slow Hand" is developing in front of our eyes. Killer shit for sure.
The main issue in the vintage hype issue is that there good ones and bad ones just as guitars from any period. The better ones would naturally survive, after having countless tweaks and setups. I would also add that at no time has guitar production been of a high quality as present day.
Right. Survivorship bias... Also, when people think about "hand made", they think about a luthier, taking their time to build a masterly crafted instrument. This was *production* hand-made, meaning "hurry up! finish that instrument already and start with the next one!". It doesn't mean it necessarily had to be a badly crafted instrument, because with time, you get really proficient at doing things at high speed. But it's not as good as a CNC process, that is almost exactly the same quality every time. Though, I think in the end, people connect with vintage instruments more on a sentimental level, than on a technical level. In my case, I prefer an instrument that's my own, that has my history in it. You have no idea who owned most of vintage instruments. It has its own past, but that past is not yours, it's its previous owners past. I prefer to create my own history for my guitar... (and also, that modern instruments have better quality).
so happy to hear people who understand this topic... :)
At 20 years of age in 1974, I bought my first 'real' guitar...a '62 Fender Stratocaster in LPB. It wasn't 'vintage' in 1974, it was simply a 'used' or 2nd hand guitar! I walked out of the music store having paid $175. This Strat must have preformed in every smoke filled bar across America. When you opened the case, a wave of stale tobacco and spilled alcohol permeated your senses...enough to even make your eyes water. It was GLORIOUS!!!!
The '62 Strat is still in the family!
I really miss that smell of well loved well gigged guitars from those days. Also miss the old used guitar prices. Traded a 70s les Paul deluxe I paid $175 for a 63 no bird on guard reverse firebird I. No nicks through finish, no crazing. Sold it for $400 to cover tuition in 81. 40 yrs of kicking myself. Lol, same year a local dealer offered me a 74 Dino for $9000 when I noticed it in his garage walking home from school. If only we knew then…..
Conversely, my first guitar in 1974, was a Woolworth's 'Audition' six-string electric - the action being so high, that I could have played bottleneck slide under the strings. Nice sunburst finish though.
@@thomascroft5076 🤣🤣I had one of those in 1967. I paid $25 dollars for it and I believe they put piano wire on it for strings. Simply an AWFUL guitar!😜😖
As someone who had their first guitar in the early 60s one thing is for sure that modern production methods have made guitars way more consistent from one to the other than could have been dreamed of way back then and of much higher quality while still affordable.
I agree. My first guitar, which I still have, is a 74 Strat which I got in 77. It's a great instrument and I love playing it, but I also have some new Fenders and they're pretty good too. If a guitar clicks with you, it doesn't matter if it's new or old.
My 1st, circa 1964, was so beautiful and/but so utterly unplayable and unfixable...
I worked all summer to buy it and
Much agreed, Mr. Click. A bit of today's standardization mixed with some caring craftsmanship, especially in the pickups area, makes for better opportunities for more players to obtain a pretty darn good guitar these days. And folks need to remember that a guitar is only half their sound ...
Isn't that the point though? Thatvthe ones still doing the rounds and in good nic are the really good ones and "worth it"?
I still think they are over priced and the fender 60s reissues, even the MIM ones are spot on! Great guitars! And the Epis too, just not so sure about the Gibsons lol.
I am an old guy as well, and I've been disappointed at the amount of quality/workmanship issues I see coming from the instrument factories over the last 35 years - stuff that I never saw in the 60s and 70s productions I originally played. The other companies like Schecter, I agree that they are made with updated machines and process. Those are amazingly consistent. But not the original two brands that I grew up with.
That solo on the Les Paul Custom is a thing of beauty.
What a fantastic guitarist Chris is.
Your solos are always worth waiting for Chris, but I think you excelled yourself this week. Bravo maestro! 😉
Amazing indeed but are not improvised like in the past but are brilliant Cardinal Black solos😊
I think it's important to understand that in the mid-1960s, when Clapton, Bloomfield, et. al. were looking for upgrades to their Telecasters, they could not buy 1965 Les Pauls because Gibson wasn't making them then. Their *only* option was to buy a late 1950s Les Paul because that's all there was.
My "Vintage" guitars are from the mid to late eighties... and I bought them new. That's pretty much the only plus from getting old.
Apparently I heard the whole trend was conceived by Norman’s rare guitars in the 70s, he managed to convince many players to think that the earlier guitars were much better than their modern equivalents.
Guitars are guitars they are either good or not regardless of its age or of the country it was made.
Nice playing. Chris makes any guitar sound perfect.
Great playing and another fun video as always.
Vintage acoustic guitars are a very different proposition requiring different consideration because the sound is entirely dependent upon the aged wood which is impossible to replicate in a modern instrument.
I love guitars, pretty much ALL guitars...
Don't you?!?!😉
I'm fortunate enough to have been able to have hands on experience with both Gibsons and Fenders from the early 50s and 60s, including an original Broadcaster and a Nocaster. That experience made custom shop pieces so much more appealing. I have no desire to own a 70 year old guitar anymore.
Those licks played on the LesPaul burst are some of your best! Great stuff!
You are remarkably articulate-verbally and musically.
You've outdone yourself in today's solos. Fuck man, they're so good
You’re some man. That last jam. Man alive. Flawless as Rory Gallagher said.
I understand the attraction of vintage guitars and gear. But, every electric guitarist I hold in high esteem has a long history of modding their guitars themselves, or by techs, or designing what they want and need to achieve their highest musical aspirations. I think that's a critical part of the journey to greatness.
For all the discussions and opinions I've heard about vintage guitars this has got to be the best and most compact summary out there. I absolutely love watching your videos Chris, I am still amazed you find the time inbetween your band duties! Have a good weekend :)
Jeeeezuz, your playing is INSANELY good Chris!
I’ve just realized what a unique style you have. Very special, not just great playing, but truly original.
These videos make my fridays! Great job, Chris. Keep it up!
That solo at 09:35!! Very similar to one of my favourites - there was a time from Chinese democracy. Incredible. Great work!
Between being left handed and probably not being able to handle the price tag anyway, I have never played a vintage instrument. However, they always look and sound cool especially when Chris plays them.
The solo you open with is brilliant
I’ve bought a crappy acoustic arch top, build in 1938. It’s had a bad neck reset, so the neck angle is off, very low frets and they used any wood they could find to build it. But it sounds very clear and unique and I love it. Granted, the fact that it has already existed for 85 years fascinates me tremendously as well, which adds to the playing pleasure.
In my relatively limited experience with vintage guitars, I have found that it’s much more about how the vintage ones feel, rather than how they sound. Of course there are guitars of any age that just don’t feel good to you personally. But the couple vintage ones I’ve played that were really nice, there was just a feel to them that I have never felt with a modern guitar. One example is a ‘65 Mustang I had. It felt absolutely amazing to play in such a unique way. Not to mention that the vibrato system played absolutely flawless and stayed in tune perfectly without any serious set up/modification. I’ve never used a modern Mustang that didn’t need serious work on the Vibrato to function properly.
All the Mustang vibratos work well.
Chris.......! How on on earth do you seamlessly to these videos together. You appear to start and finish on track with all the poiniant facts delivered in relavance priority without script. Unless, you have the route and content sellotaped to the wall behind the camera. Full of admiration! Thank you.....
Holy shit! I recognize that solo anywhere on your 57' custom jam! Well done sir and glad to see that masterpiece of a song getting some love!
As Chris said, solid guitars arrived in a burst of innovation in the 50s and early 60s and playing innovation hasn't really changed that much since the early 70s. Therefore it is no surprise that modern players lust after vintage instuments much in the way that violinists lust after a Stradivarius or Guaneri,
In my experience, a good guitarist can get great sound out of any combo of guitar and amp. It's all about feel and sensitivity to tone.
“approaching from the perspective of someone who can play a little”…. an understatement, if there ever was one, coming from someone whom I consider one of the best and original guitar players of this era. Hats off, everyone…
True that mate
That solo at 5 mins was fire!🔥🔥🔥
Your Fiesta Red frenzy at the end was awesome!
"There was a time" - GNR from Chinese Democracy. 9:01 --- Im assuming recorded originally by Buckethead. Just an amazing jam Chris - Well done!! - - -awesome feel
Great video - guitars are vehicles of sound, and so much more - emotions, history... I have an Epiphone Granada from about 1967, and it still amazes me how good and comforting it is after all these years.
Lovely controlled bends through the intro Chris! 🔥🔥🔥
Always a pleasure, Chris.
Phenomenal assessment Chris. Certain instruments do absolutely transcend "just being a vintage guitar" and become a reflection of the immensely rich culture that they ushered in. It's easy to look back from "only" the perspective of 60-75 years in the future, but the 50s - 70s was a MASSIVE time for music, and modern culture. That said, I do not think these guitars will ever hold the value of say an Antonio Stradivari violin, which were the instruments of the Renaissance.
Always a great video and topic, but it was really nice to hear that GNR solo at 9:00
5:30 There's something really funny about seeing a price tag hanging off a real 1960 Les Paul. Like, is someone just going to walk into the store, look at the tag, and say "ok yep. this one" and walk to the counter to pay for it. Lol.
I recently bought a '73 blonde Tele with rosewood board as a bucket list, birth year guitar, from a shop in Cardiff that apparently you frequent Mr Buck. Yes, it has a dodgy tone pot and I needed to do a lot of work on the frets, but it plays and sounds amazing. I love both my vintage and modern guitars for very different reasons and at the end of the day, they are all part of a very nice tool kit. 😁😁
My god Chris. The jam on the 57 Gibson LP was amazing. Somehow your playing gets better ... Remarkable
One of the most balanced and insightful videos I have seen on the subject. Well done Chris !😊
Oh my! I love that 1957 Les Paul Custom! Thank you Mr. Buck for all your videos!
Boy I agree ...with each guitar its own distinctive beast.Its all up to playing enough of them to find what works for you .Thanks Chris for this discussion ,a very hype filled subject but when you find that one that works ,old or new magic can happen.
For me with guitars and gear it's all about what inspires you. If vintage does that and you can afford it then all good. I have a Revstar in the mix and you can guess who inspired that. Superb musicianship and interesting as always. Thanks Chris.
1965 harmony bobkat. The old DeArmond pup sounds incredible and at 400 bucks, I'm not afraid to play it or have it sitting around the house
Loved that play-out on the strat. Sounded 'kin awesome. 😀
I love it when you dig in and make a guitar scream for mercy. And then I'm amazed when a 60-ish year old guitar doesn't fly apart at every point. Keep playing them for us.
Very Steely Dan like with the opening jam. FAbulous playing, music making, as always, Chris!
The thing for me, as you point out is a guitars history. Aged through worldly interactions adds to that character. Struggle with the modern used / relic look just because it does not have the history to support its look..
would be interesting to see a poll if people would prefer vintage instruments or hypermodern instruments
As always Chris’ guitar playing is awesome, the content of the videos is just another bonus.
OOOOOOOOOH Congrats on 200K SUBS!!! Well deserved!
Chris, when most people play guitar, I only hear something. You help me to feel something! Your work is so emotive. Rock on, brother!
Chris, this was a most refreshing video. The hype about “vintage” guitars has left me scratching my head for a while. I had a Les Paul Jr and an SG in the late 60’s, bought used but still relatively new. They were sold for a gold top Les Paul in ‘72, a ‘62 I believe. Sold that one too, played a mid-60’s sunburst strat for a while, but found I preferred the Gibson family and sold that, then got married and had kids and sold everything, amps and all. I only have the old Ibanez acoustic I bought in ‘69 today. Like the e-type Jaguar I owned briefly in this same period, I loved all those guitars but not enough to hang onto them as “investments”. I now have a modern Stratocaster and an Epiphone Les Paul gold top, and near as I can tell they play as well,or better than my old guitars did. Do I want a vintage ‘59 Les Paul? I’d actually take a 1964 4.2 liter E-type in trade for it!
Someday, probably not to long from now, people will pay extra for a guitar that can be proved to have been played by Chris Buck!
It s the 🙌 Feel of the guitar that matters and Chris your Feel is awesome 🎸😊
1950 to 1958 was the golden era. ~2015 to now and beyond is the platinum era of guitars.
The instruments that you can buy from under $1000 to $10000+ are every bit as good as the golden era guitars. They play better, are far more reliable, sound as good or better and are extremely consistent.
I’m a huge believer in buying used 2015+ custom shop guitars. The value is unbeatable!
Oh there it is... I recognize that solo at 9:00 !!! (the main theme of it) And what a beauty it is! Love hearing it on the Les Paul.... I fact, I'd love hearing it on every guitar played by Chris Buck. There's just something about it that slays me.
Great playing Chris! Thanks for the video
In 1983 I bought a JV 62 Strat. Then one of Fender's first attempts to hark back to the golden age of their models. Now then that wax 20 years and those "vintage" guitars were out of my student finances. I still own that guitar today. In August this year it'll pass 40 years in my ownership. Itself now considered a vintage desirable guitar, funny given often other players dismissed it as "just a Squier"...
I bought a JV Series 50’s Strat ( also in 1983) & it’s the best Strat I’ve ever owned ( and I started gigging in 1964, playing Strats) Totally agree that the vintage thing can be over-rated, there were some dogs around even in those days) Never felt the need to replace the JV Strat, still have it, sounds great, and is now almost a vintage instrument itself, and all for £240.00!
An interesting experience for sure but Il bet your Yamaha Revstar brings the same inspiration if not more! Thanks for sharing!
I like how Chris actually plays the chord changes. Tasty! 👍🏽
Man you gotta love Friday Fretworks !
You got to love Chris Buck as historian--- and extraordinarily gifted player.!
Having a new guitar and breaking it in yourself over the years cannot be underestimated
It looks painful on the fingers when you play, but the sound is so wonderfully healing to my ears.
Hello. You started out as my favorite guitarist on TH-cam. Now you are simply my favorite guitarist, next to Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, John Scofield, Warren Haynes...
I own a number of vintage instruments, and love playing them. The historical value and, because of that, the market value are what attracted me. And I agree, most modern instruments sound as good, or better, play as good or better, and are more reliable. Listening to Chris always reminds me that the sound generated by the instrument is truly in the hands of the player. A great player will always make any instrument sound great. Listen to Chris with Cardinal Black, Jeff Beck, Larry Carlton, Mike Bloomfield, Robben Ford, or any other gifted players and I think you’ll agree. Another awesome installment of FF… I agree about owning the Dino!😎
Old guitars and cars are like people, it's the individuality, their flaws and how they shine that give them their character. I like something with a story, some history, isn't that what life is about? The travelled path that makes us who we are.
Soulful playing as always, Chris! As a lefty, I'm a fair bit more limited with vintage kit - I think there were only 2 or 3 '58 'Bursts made, and McCartney already has one of them! I've just ordered a set of your Strat pickups from Radioshop to give my USA Deluxe a a bit of life. Those noiseless stock pickups are a bit... clinical. I'll shoot a video comparison when I've got them fitted :)
Thought provoking (nice playing, too - no surprise, there!). I own a 1968 Gibson Custom - played it all thru the 70's live, still play it in the studio. Sorta vintage, I guess, from the first run when they re-launched the Les Paul. It's 'a part of me', really - priceless. That said, I have zero desire to own 50's Les Pauls or anything else from that era even if I was a doctor / lawyer with money to burn. . . I'm perfectly happy with the few other guitars I have picked up along the way, including a recent 2018 Japanese made Gretsch Duo Jet and the recent Epiphone / Gibson '59 hybrid. Of course it's nice to hear good players enjoying classic instruments and I love the back-stories ('Lucy' anyone?) but I guess what I'm trying to say is the idea of buying a vintage instrument that has its own history doesn't appeal to me as much as finding one that clicks and making it part of my story . . . pretentious, a bit stoopid? Dunno, but there ya go 😀
Love the solo with the 57 custom and the nod to GNR there was a time! amazing
I love P-90s in the new Yamaha guitars. They have a very rich sound to them.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that intro though, gawd damn 🤌
Great video Chris. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. Very well done and appreciated Sir. You bring ups some great points. And the solo on the Black Les Paul Custom was so simply sick Brother!
Really candid video, considering Chris is clearly a fan of vintage instruments. Kudos! Yes, people connect sentimentally with vintage instruments. But the instrument offer today is unprecedented, and unquestionably superior to what was available before (I specifically mean this in the variety). You can get from absolutely novel ideas, to incredibly faithful recreations of vintage gear. It's amazing. I think in the end, people can do with their money whatever they want, without being judged. I would never buy something vintage, but that's me. If someone likes to buy vintage instruments, and they're happy with it, I see absolutely no problem, and I don't know why someone should see a problem with that. To each their own. Just do what you please and be happy. :)
I love vintage, but there are some damn good brand new guitars too!
Love your 116610 Submariner by the way!
I am fortunate enough to own a couple, one being a 57 strat, reality is it plays much the same as a custom shop model with maybe a very slightly warmer tone, is it better... well no just different, but after 40 years playing it was a lifetime goal to own, and it will stay with me till the end, it has history and I love that about it, I wish I could have seen it out playing gigs back in its hey day
Chris, you are one of the few players that leaves me with my mouth opened, drooling and my eyes filled with tears. Phenomenal, so much feel in your fingers!
Chris, your'e so very eloquent! Brilliantly put, you have it in a nutshell. I have played a 1959 Les Paul. I count myself to be really fortunate, but at the same time, constantly kick myself for not buying it!
I wanted to test an amp, I asked for two guitars, one with humbuckers, the other with P90's. The salesman brought a beautiful, immaculate '57 Goldtop reissue, and a 1959 Les Paul Special, the single cut version, before they changed to double, this of course had P90's. Both guitars were lovely, but the '59, oh my gosh! It was cream! The sound of those P90's was unbelievable! I think this guitar actually presented a case for buying a vintage instrument; £10,000 was however, still a lot of money to justify for just one guitar! However, was it worth selling all my other guitars, just to own this ONE.... that's a question that never leaves my mind, because, I think it probably 'was' worth selling all the others just to have this ONE.
However, I couldn't resist buying the Goldtop, mint, Custom Shop Les Paul for £2,000.
Great vid and superb playing as ever; the piece played on the 3PU LPC is divine 👏 100% agree about the Dino, which nowadays is in a similar price bracket to a ‘58-‘60 Burst. If you had the LP with you when the Ferrari broke down, you could noodle away on it until the tow truck arrived! ☺️
I like your videos, Chris, and you're right that so much of the price premium for these older guitars is more about the perceived feel/style/vibe. It would be useful to know whether the sounds of the beautiful guitars in these videos were 'unfiltered' or whether you're using different effects/amp settings for each to bring out their distinctive characters?
Man the part played on the 60 burst was fire
All I know is I like playing my my 2013 LP Studio 50s Tribute more than my 70s LP Custom (sold in 90s), which was a boat anchor with horrible frets. I like that vintage informs newer models to hearken back, but not be limited by.
Come on Chris....! You know...KNOW.... that video was excellent! But when you play the little tune on the Black Gibson Les Paul 3 Pick-up model, well, I just about had to bolt down my soul. LOL! I am Vintage! So is my Gibson. And, I'll bet that one wanted to go home with you... no lie.
well said
That opening on the jazzmaster was some of the nicest phrasing I’ve ever heard. Even from you, which is really saying something 😳
Great video Chris, as always, very thought provoking, for instance, who is this Dr. Keith guy?
Although we receive many vintage guitars through our workshop, (including a 1956 Stratocaster recently), it's worth noting that most new production guitars offer better playability and performance. However, there's an undeniable magic in playing an instrument with such a rich history embedded in its every fibre.❤
Love vintage gear but I prefer my more modern fender american pro 2 strats to play . They are supremely playable and sound great . I mean like they evolve for a reason . Some times its gadgety marketing to keep a brand relevant but often it is actually a improvement. I appreciate the improvements with out straying to far from the original design.
Nice to see the red Strat again! You’ve been hiding it since it left Huw’s repair bench. ☺️
To be clear,I can tell the difference between a humbucker and a strat pickup but beyond that, everything s feel. Worn in guitars feel good, that's about it for me and I've been playing for 50 yrs.
@@BryanClark-gk6ie if you can play, guitars don't make a difference. Are YOU mature enough to understand that?
Holy shit, what is that backing track around the five minute mark, when the '60 Les Paul arrives? Crazy fantastic playing, Chris.
That 57 les Paul sounded sweet! Nice piece of music you played on it. Brought out the best in that instrument.
If you mean “vintage” in its true meaning, then by definition yes, you’re talking about an old guitar which has stood out as a good instrument. I really like player grade guitars that are great to make music with.