Vintage Bass Guitar
When you want to rock out oldskool, there’s only two ways to do it, and that’s with an Electric Vintage Bass Guitar or Vintage Acoustic Guitar. I guess there’s some people out there who want to rock out with both, at the same time, while riding a unicycle down the street backwards in their underwear. We call those people “San Francisco Residents”, but for the rest of us, no matter if we collect Electric or Acoustic, they definately sound a lot better if they are Vintage.
When I say Vintage, I’m talking about an axe made between the mid 1920’s till 1970. Guitar’s made before the mid 1920’s are, even with good workmanship, are fairly primitive and just sound rubbish, and after 1970, the quality went way down, and they just don’t hold any real value. If you want a collectable guitar, something that is both built properly, and is worth something from a collectors standpoint, mid 1920’s to 1970 is where it’s at.
Pre-1970, guitars were more often than not more of a hand-made type of article. Some of the wood used in these guitars you can’t even import into the U.S. anymore. Todays modern guitar, it’s more of a factory made type of deal. Mass produced for the masses.
Now, just because you may own a guitar, or are looking to purchase a guitar that was made in the ’70’s, of which there were very few made, you might think that you’re looking at something of great value. This isn’t always the case. Collectors of Vintage Bass Guitars or Vintage Acoustic Guitars need to know that many guitars made since 1970 can easily be replicated with currently available materials.
If they are not currently being produced, it’s simply because there is no significant demand for them.
There’s certainly a great deal of research and time that you need to put in before you can have a real appreciation of the differences and values of vintage electric bass guitars and acoustic guitars.
One guide that I think every serious collector must have, is the 2008 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide. If you want to be in the know about what something is worth, what kind of price range they can be bought and sold for, and what quality differences you are looking at, this mag has it al.
It covers guitars, amplifiers and related equipment – and has more than 1,400 brands and 1,000 photos, plus the “hows” and “whys” of the collectible instrumental market.
I think this is an absolute must have for someone who really is serious about building their Vintage Bass Guitar and/or Vintage Acoustic Guitar Collection.