Is something wrong with me?

[Low_fidelity2100]

I read peoples threads raving about "whatever" vintage guitar, and how its so amazing, and how nothing modern can compare to it. Or the "This Custom shop Gibson/Fender/Jackson/Charvel/etc.. Was the most amazing thing EVER!" Going on and on about how its they're own personal holy grail. The typical GAS threads. But I've never been able to really relate...

I've played a number of true vintage guitars myself, some that some of you would probably soil yourself just being in the same room with them (like the 58 LP custom my Cousins husband has). I've Gotten to play peoples one of a kind Gibson Custom shoppe Murphy aged LP, with artificial Jimmy page sweat or whatever on it. I've gotten to play a couple of the EVH Art series guitars...etc..

But I've never had one of those moments with any Vintage/Custom/one of a kind guitar. These guitars that everyone else considers to be the be all end all of guitar, I've NEVER played one of those and thought "I MUST HAVE THIS, THIS IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!!!" Its just never happened. I've never had that moment of "this is what its all about."
I mean Playing a 58 LP Custom is definitely alot different than a 57 LP custom reissue. A real 53 telecaster definitely sounds and feels different than a 52 Reissue. Theres definitely something special about a Gibson Custom shoppe Murphy aged LP, something a production line LP doesn't have.

I see the virtues everyone else See's in these guitars, I just...I dunno...I've never actually wanted one for myself. If I had the money right now, I'm pretty positive I wouldn't buy a vintage telecaster, or 335, or whatever. I just don't think I would. While they're definitely special, and different than a new guitar. I just don't feel like I even want to own one. I have no idea why, no real reasoning. I've just never been inclined to lust after vintage/custom/one of a kind Guitars.

I'm sure this makes me totally weird. Don't get me wrong I DO understand the reasons why people do Lust after them, I really do. I've just never really lusted after any myself, and I seriously have no idea why.

I think old gold top Lp's are beautiful, I Love the sound of an original late 50's LP special, or the feel of a '61 Strats neck. I do love all the same things everyone always talks about. But I have honestly never even thought about ever wanting to own a vintage guitar.

So, am I the only one? Haha. Am I the only person that looks at/plays a vintage guitar and goes "wow thats a nice guitar, I love (insert whatever) about it." And then Thats it? I can't be the only person that digs em, but really doesn't want one no matter how good it is. Or am I? haha

[wahwah]

I don't think that's so weird. You can appreciate what's good about vintage instruments, but it just might not apply to what you like in a guitar. For a lot of players, a vintage instrument isn't going to make any difference to the way they play and simply isn't an important issue. For me, it comes right down to the individual instrument, and having played many over the years, there is no guarantee that just because a guitar is old that it will be good. I've played some barking dog L series Strats, and some dead lump of wood old LP's. But I'm so used to my '68 Strat after all these years that new guitars generally feel like plastic to me, and sound small by comparison. It's to each their own, and there's nothing saying that everybody should hanker for a vintage guitar.



Cheers............................wahwah

[Metalblaze]

I'm on the same field too. I like their looks or their sound, but I didn't care to even take them in my hands and play them, he.

[xypher]

Same here. I have no particular attraction to vintage strat/teles.. To me they equal to modern strat/tele.. It cud be because i dun really dig those kinda guitars. Old guitars look very tame to me.. i prefer stuff like a strat with a floyd rose, a lespaul with open coils.. etc.
So that cud be why i am not extra-attracted to vintage guitars.

If i had the money i wud buy a new guitar and get an amp upgrade rather than get vintage guitar.

[cream123]

I don't feel a need to own the really spendy stuff....even if I did have the money.


However, I do own cheaper vintage guitars that do their jobs very well. But I've always seen a '58 or whatever LP as a waste of money.

[75lespaul]

You're not weird at all. In fact, that's better for you, haha. You don't have to sit there and get upset because the guitar you really want costs more than two new cars or something. It may be that you're young also. When I was in my mid 20s, I played a 62 or 64 strat and was wondering what the fuss was about. As a matter of fact, I thought it played and sounded like crap. I was also a Les Paul and humbucker nut and a hard rock/metal lover then and maybe I didn't know what made the guitar so great? Or it could be that it was just not a good 62/64. Anyway, over the years I've kinda fine tuned what I like about a guitar and that 59 strat I played seemed to be the perfect fit. Yes, yes, yes, but it will stay on that wall for $13k.

My gas seems to be directed towards strats only. I've got two pancake Les Pauls, which everyone seems to want to vomit when they hear that word, and I think they are two of the best playing and sounding Les Pauls I've ever heard. Both from the 70s which isn't considered a good era for Les Pauls either. No, I'm looking for that great strat and I still haven't found it. I've owned a late 70s antigua colored strat (blah), a 76 cream (neck swung around like a second hand), a Mooretone custom built (sound was perfect, action left something to be desired as it got older), a MIM 62 (poly thick as a brick) that I took the neck off of and put on this 76 Washburn body I have and it buzzes all over like crazy. I think what happened was when I played that 59, it may have been the first really good strat I ever played--kinda like popping my cherry--and like a fool, fell in love with it. I'm going to take some time, starting later today and do something I've never done, which is go into a music shop and play every strat in the store. I'm hoping that will cure this gas I've got for vintage strats. The 62 Hot Rod is looking VERY enticing indeed.

[Mononoaware]

Another vote of support here. Probably a sign of early maturity; play what feels right and sounds right, and screw the age. A huge part of the overheated vintage market, IMHO, is due to a collective Baby Boomer mid-age crisis.

My plan is to play good vintage guitars when I'm vintage; I'll hold on to the good cheapies I have now and let them age along with me.