How To Play Acoustic Guitar

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Acoustic Guitars - Why Buy Vintage?

The word "vintage" refers to the wine from Music Equipment Fs Epiphone Pr 5e Cutaway Electro particular harvest or crop. The term has been expanded to describe various things that are old or choice. In the world of guitars, this extension of the meaning of "vintage" is used designate an older, and usually a desirable, guitar. Most collectors and Banez Rgt42fx Rg Fixed Bridge Guitar Black 300usd players value guitars from the mid 1920s to about 1970. Guitars that were manufactured before the mid-1920s are often considered by collectors and players to be too crude and primitive in design. There are of course exceptions this rule, such as Martin and Washburn parlor guitars dating back to the Civil War era. Guitars after 1970 are not highly collectable, not only Heritage H 120 With Sound of their youth, but because of sub-standard manufacturing and material standards that developed during the 70's.

Why might you desire to seek out and purchase vintage acoustic guitars or other vintage stringed instruments? Well, there are actually two great reasons to buy vintage: Number one, you are a collector; and/or, number two, you are a player.

The collector of vintage guitars, like the collector of anything, is looking for examples from specific time periods--examples that are as pristine as possible with original everything: original finish, bindings, inlay, tuners, fretbard, Material Things Became Subject To A Christian Congregation bridge, bridgepins, etc.--all with the original case if possible. Some collectors do not even play their trophies--they just exhibit them. Being a player, it seems to me that to put a fine vintage guitar into retirement as a wall hanger is almost a sacrilege. Instruments are made to be PLAYED!

The player of vintage guitars is an entirely different animal. He is not so concerned with whether everything is original. Furthermore, he might not even care if much of the finish is worn off the guitar and it is replete with nicks and dings and even someone's Chstr Fig8 Jpg carved in the top! The main reason the player buys vintage is because of the SOUND. Through the aging of the wood and the vibrations over many years of playing, the sound of a vintage acoustic guitar opens up into something quite wonderful. Mellow, yet crisp; resonant; complex. Sometimes there is a haunting "aftertaste" of each note that really cannot be described.

Because they are collectable, vintage guitars can be quite pricey--however there are some great deals still out there, and there are many lesser known names that are much less expensive that the Gibsons and Martins--yet they have the virtues of vintage! One of my favorite guitars is a May-Bell arch-top guitar with a round soundhole made by Slingerland of Chicago during the Burnt Pick Crazy Guitar Solo By Scott Andresen Depression. My cost, including the work necessary to make this guitar playable, was $196.00! You can see this instrument at:

http://flatpickpost.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-sweet-may-bell.html

One caveat for the would-be vintage guitar buyer: Unless you are a luthier, or know one who works inexpensively, don't buy instruments from an online auction. If you're knowledgeable enough to recognize what the worst case scenario would be and have counted the cost, fine--otherwise, buy from a reputable dealer. Buying from a local dealer is great, but vintage instrument dealers are few and far between. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable buying a vintage guitar from dealer who will ship if the dealer offers and stands by a satisfactory return policy. Many dealers have websites with great photos and most of them completely understand that Easy Guitar Songs 5 To Learn Today playing the guitar you might not be satisfied and may wish to return it.

There is one more thing you might want to consider before buying vintage. In my experience with vintage instruments, there always seems to be at least one minor playing problem in even the best repaired and restored vintage guitar: a slight buzz here--a little rattle there. This is why I own one guitar that I purchased new. When you buy a new guitar, you start with a perfect saddle height, perfect neck angle, perfect fingerboard, perfect frets, etc. New guitars have their merits--but if had to make a choice between buying only new or buying only vintage--I'd choose vintage hands down!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Griffith is an avid acoustic guitar player and a vintage instrument enthusiast. He invites you to receive a FREE REPORT on a revolutionary acoustic guitar lesson kit, along with his weekly newsletter via email. just click on http://optin.flatpickpost.com

Check out Lee's blog, "The Gibson Sj200 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar With Premium Post" at http://flatpickpost.com

Apr 16, 2008 Apr 17, 2008 Apr 19, 2008 Apr 20, 2008 Apr 21, 2008 Apr 23, 2008 Apr 24, 2008 Apr 25, 2008 Apr 26, 2008 May 1, 2008 May 2, 2008 May 3, 2008 May 4, 2008 May 6, 2008 May 9, 2008