What Year Starts Vintage?

Baxter and Jonathan discuss when a guitar becomes a vintage guitar. For a long time it was 25 years makes it vintage, but that puts us at 1996. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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[@jfrankcarr]

A vintage guitar is a guitar that a 45 year old wanted when they were 14 but couldn't afford at the time.

[@silverfr3ak]

One couldn’t be more precise! Everything outside this is hype.

[@northmanlogging2769]

facts

[@cleagymeen9465]

14 when the guitar was made?

[@newgunguy4176]

@@cleagymeen9465 Not necessarily, imo.

[@newgunguy4176]

In a personal sense, hell yeah!

[@JackRoadkill]

Years ago I worked in a music shop and we had a customer who used to go on and on about is '59 Strat. One day, as a treat, he brought it in to show me. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was actually a '79...

[@subzero308]

As a music shop u should have told him lol so he knew exactly what he had...

[@elmoreastro2929]

In 1973 I wanted a Strat but a new one was $595 which was way more than I could afford. So I had to buy second hand and paid $320 for a 1963 Strat from someone who was selling it because he wanted a new, 70s Fender.

[@younkinjames8571]

...and you still have it???

[@subzero308]

Times were so much better then... Wish I was in the 60s and 70s.

[@nathanielvargas3863]

“Buy the guitar for the guitarist you want to be.” That’s great advice which is why I bought a hello Kitty strat

[@1mespud]

Kudos!

[@5000rgb]

Lisa Loeb is awesome! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Lisa

[@rdanalytics9197]

When I started high school in 1984 a 1959 Les Paul would have been 25 years old. But, it seemed really old to me back then. By contrast, an Ibanez Jem came out in 1987, which would make it 34 years old today, but I still consider the Jem a "modern" guitar...strange...

[@IrishBog]

The best reason to get a 50s Gibson or Fender is so that you can then comment on people’s 60s guitar posts saying “Hmmm is anything after 1959 really vintage ? I mean really!!??”

[@CthulhusMyBitch]

100% on the Johnny Marr video, just call his sound twangy, heard he really likes that ;)

[@brianchandler8827]

Time to post my 1996 MIM Top loader Tele on Reverb for $6,000. No low ballers. I KNOW WHAT I GOT!

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

And that's the point for me. If you can get a top dollar vintage price for it it's vintage. Otherwise it's just a old collectable.

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

Wait what?! I have an 88 bought new in 89 Fender American standard strat mint when I was a kid. First playable guitar. It’s not considered vintage according to reverb or eBay prices. And it was bought where Seymour Duncan got his start way before I was around winding pick ups on and old record player. Maybe in ten yrs. but idk for sure. Right now the crappy 70’s are going up in price.

[@joeydurant6267]

That's what's crazy... A friend has a 90s MIM strat her dad bought her that she never learned to play... but when it was purchased new it was not really anything what so ever special and not even particularly expensive. It was nice for an instrument to learn on but MIM at that time was looked down on. Hell she'd probably give it to me tbh lol.

[@autistichead8137]

I think I became vintage a year or 2 ago when every NFL draft pick started looking like an infant. Then Phil won the PGA, now I’m a kid again

[@landonbailey]

Vintage guitars started in 1995. the brand that is. just to make things more confusing 🤪

[@andrewhess2978]

We’re going to need classifications for different eras, like golden age and silver age comics.

[@Phorce555]

I think this is a better way to look at it.

[@peterrebhahn1113]

The cork sniffing in this hobby knows no bounds. Beware the man with one guitar. Chances are, he knows how to play it.

[@AmericanVetMusic]

Priceless statement that just taught me a ton. I’m going to take a screenshot of this for future reference. Thanks for the advice. I’m already down from 18 to 5 guitars. I can easily drop three more so I just have an acoustic and electric. But which ones? 😳

[@AmericanVetMusic]

I got myself down to one acoustic, an acoustic electric, an electric and a bass. I got rid of two of my excess guitars. Thanks, man. You really opened my eyes. I had seen this sentiment before but for some reason, it really hit me this time around.

[@AmericanVetMusic]

I’m holding onto my 2013 Chicago Standard Dean ML79 for my nephew who is not even a year old yet. He will get it on his 30th birthday, to ensure he is mature enough to be a caretaker for the instrument. It will be 40 years old at that point. It’s already hung up with aging from playing it for the last ten years. It’s a beautiful piece of art. From one Uncle to a beautiful soul.

[@davetbassbos]

Easy: if an instrument is usually more expensive than its modern equivalent, it's vintage. If it's less expensive then it's used!

[@markcarey8178]

Just like Policemen looking young enough to be your kids - 25 years for vintage starts to look like yesterday - It's called getting old...

[@alexzanderrodriguez4103]

Anything before 2000’s is ancient to me

[@CasinoGuitars]

Good point:)

[@hkguitar1984]

LOL, I have boots older than 25 years! I purchased my Twin Reverb amp brand new back in 1976, I still use it daily. I’ve also a pair of 1980 combat boots which are still very serviceable, just take care of what you have and you’ll be fine.

[@rjohnson1690]

I recently heard a KZbinr say “it comes from an old movie called Oh Brother Where Art Thou.” Wasn’t that movie just released in theaters a couple weeks ago!? 🤓

[@rjohnson1690]

@@hkguitar1984 I wear a pair of WW2 issue combat boots almost daily.

[@MetallicA29]

They play Nirvana and the Black Album on Classic Rock stations.

[@davidR1136]

Learning about vintage guitars, bit coin, and a guy named Huffy....by far the best KZbin channel!!

[@chrisheadthehonchos7892]

Some of the confusion around what constitutes "vintage" results from how we've conflated it with other words like "good," "quality," "expensive", & "collectible." The more we can separate those ideas, the better I'll be able to accept that Norlin-era Gibsons are now vintage. (I have a '72 335 that I love dearly but have fought thinking of as vintage for reasons other people in their 50's will understand.)

[@craighoule3848]

I think vintage means more than just the age of the instrument. I have a ‘63 Epiphone Sorrento and a ‘67 Gibson es-120. Affordable vintage gear. For me “vintage” means feeling the energy of the guitar. What I mean by that is knowing that those guitars were made by hand by men and women who are probably no longer with us. Men and women who went to the factory every day, had families, kids, and grandkids. It’s an energy created by the guitar’s history, who may have played it or where it’s been. It pulls me to play the guitar. I feel that way towards 70s instruments as well, but by the 90s all of that is long gone for me. On another note, thanks Baxter for taking my call on the Hagstrom a while back.

[@tedstilles88]

I like the idea of Vintage being manufacturer specific. For example, Heritage and PRS both started in the 80's. I consider their early ones Vintage.

[@jacksondemarre8057]

I can’t wait until the Firebird X is considered a vintage guitar.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I found out the Fender custom shop relics made from 1995 to 1999 were made in Springfield, MO, which is where I was born. I decided I wanted one but there isn’t much purchasing info online for hunting down one of these strats according to where it was made. Now you guys are going to make it more unobtainable after this video; everyone is going to start buying up the 90s stuff!

[@danwilson9530]

Johnny Marr is more than worthy of a video. He deserves a series.

[@Mrbradlambert]

Yes to JM vid. One of my all time faves.

[@glassslide]

My first "real" guitar was a fender telecaster purchased new in 1981. It was and is the biggest POS Telecaster ever made in California (or anywhere else, lol) I have a 2008 '52 hot rod and a '64 reissue Telecaster from 2017 and those guitars are amazing!!! The "vintage" Telecaster.... That said, my first guitar teacher had a Norlin Les Paul Custom from around '76 or so and that was an incredible guitar, rang like a bell.

[@danriley903]

eric johnson, a respected tone connoisseur, once stated he thought a guitar had to be @ least 20 years old to reach it's minimal tone peak (or something like that) so...i decided to buy a lp 59ri from 2000, best guitar of multi hundreds iv'e played. can't imagine a real 59 being much better. tone more important than title. great vid!

[@erikscott1554]

I am a total Ibanez fanboy and love the models from around '92 to the mid 2000's. It still blows my mind to think of my 93' RT650 and '98 S540LTD as vintage. Lol

[@nurk_barry]

My little bro turned me onto Johnny Marr, not only is he a sick guitarist, he’s funny as hell to boot! Love you guys, keep up the good work!

[@matthewrae5679]

Hello from Scotland. Wondered how you knew the geography and history (Rob Roy) of the Trossachs so well until you explained you'd been. Love the channel.

[@whodunitpros8555]

Yes Johnny Marr ! + signature model

[@stratplayer2]

Love Johnny Marr. His Smiths catalog has stood the test of time, yes do a video! Please :)

[@brushstroke3733]

I wish it was as cool to be an old person as it is to be an old guitar! Please ladies, think of me as vintage!

[@legbah7]

Yes, my 2020 Vintera 50's strat is better than my 1996 '57 American Vintage. More dynamic pickups, more accurately shaped neck, lighter, great action and a better finish. Can't sell the old one because it was the first guitar I bought, ordered it new from a store, like you used to do. The new stuff is great. Also, my R7 from 2019 is so much better than the '83 14 pound Les Paul I had in the '90's.

[@denniscoverband4369]

Great vid dudes, what constitutes vintage is always a thought provoking topic as time crushes on :) My question for Baxter would be how close would you say the vintage guitar market follows other markets with vintage offerings like cars, watches, video games etc? 🎸

[@JBG949]

Johnny Marr is the business. 🖤

[@JBG949]

Btw...I thoroughly enjoy your content

[@pierheadjump]

CASINO!!! Thanks ⚓️

[@indieguy81]

Yes please, do a video on Johnny Marr! People consider him "the Jag guy" now, but he didn't really start playing them until the last 10 years or so. He has an incredible collection of iconic instruments, including that beautiful '59 cherry red ES-355 that he played on a ton of Smiths stuff.

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

One of those Ibanez Reb Beach sigs would look GREAT in my collection!

[@Guilhem74]

Johnny Marr is such a creative force, he alone defined a whole new sound! Especially in the 80s, the age of show-offy unending metal solos (yawn...), he managed to come out of left field and impose such a lovely way of approaching guitar playing...

[@ericp8256]

Johnny Marr is a must.. Highly underrated...

[@erickmo1188]

Johnny Marr is absolutely worth talking about.

[@renealarcon3970]

"Vintage" is in the mind of the beholder. Cheers.

[@kkzooi]

my Epiphone vintage g-400 had vintage in the name when i got it new back in 2004

[@Shiloh7377]

Is that a les paul deluxe near Jonathan's head on the wall in the back ground?looks like mine tobacco burst....

[@dezb1]

I remember when I started playing guitar in the early 90s when vintage wasn't a thing and old guitars were just 'Second hand" the world's gone mad.

[@alkoenig85]

I don't care too much about vintage, I like what I got. Back in the day (60s/70s) I couldn't afford two guitars. I had a Stella 12-string once, that felt like it was made out of plywood and two-by-fours, that is now considered super collectible, I upgraded to a Guild as soon as I could. That was a vintage Guild, which was stolen from my car on Larimer Street one late night after a gig in 1972. I replaced it with an Alvarez flamenco guitar, which I played until 1988, when I ran into enough money to start collecting. The only real vintage piece that I have is an old "Lawsuit Takamine", which I always wanted back in the day, but couldn't afford. It sounds GREAT!

[@jr0706]

My ‘91 MIM Strat? It’s now 30 years old.

[@azmike3572]

That would make my '65 Mosrite sunburst Ventures Model a classic too.

[@rjohnson1690]

My 1989 Ibanez bass I bought in high school has to be worth at least $70,000 to $100,000 conservatively.

[@festushaggen2563]

I have a 1992 Gibson Les Paul Studio that I bought new that year. I don't think vintage when I look at it and have it in my hands. I see the golden era (50's - 70's), the quality materials, the handmade craftsmanship and the players that made these guitars famous that define true vintage instruments.

[@Frankie_Holt]

I have a 1987 MIJ 70s 3 bolt Strat. Needs fret work but I’ve had it since new

[@matthewking8944]

good video rock on.

[@brendanthompson4463]

I’ve got a 1991 Orville les Paul and a 1993/4 fujigen strat that I like to think are vintage! They definitely play like an old guitar

[@AndyDion]

Yes on Johnny Marr I always dig it when Baxter goes off on tangents like about the Italians lol 😂

[@IPLAYLOUD]

YES on Johnny Marr.

[@jowyong6769]

Johnny Marr IS WORTHY!!!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

Vintage is anything older than I am. I was born in 1968. I can’t wrap my head around the idea that 1996 is vintage, I graduated from high school in 1986

[@cautiousoptimist1926]

My wife was born in '68. She cringed a little when I told her that Duran Duran are celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band.

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

It’s not vintage at being a 96.

[@ivansitogonzalo3341]

I just got my first Gibson, 1993 Les Paul classic 1960, from original owner who kept it in its case, for 28 hundred.. will come back to this comment section when it’s officially vintage

[@Rogijimbex]

Yep on Johnny Marr

[@mophead1666]

1000% on the Johnny Marr video. He is to Jangly Indie Rock Riffs what Tony Iommi is to Metal riffs.

[@Guastella7]

yes on the Johnny Marr video

[@ehiracheta]

My 83' Gibson LP custom I don't really see as vintage, but I know others do. I got rid of the Tim Shaw pickups because they were unpotted and feedbacked endlessly with my High Gain playing style. Sold them off, rather than throwing them away. I didn't know they were valuable and still don't understand why they are valuable. So thin sounding. It'll probably hurt the resell value of my LP...IF..I were to sell it. No plans for that. Right now it's rockin' a PRS 57/08 set and it's a massive improvement all around.

[@chris_2714]

80s superstrats have been going up in price rapidly. 10 years ago you couldn't give them away!

[@Nightshade1881]

I got an 89 USA made HM strat for $450 last year :)

[@erickmo1188]

I think there are two factors of buying vintage: “Golden ear guitar” vintage buyers where people want that old 50’s or 60’s or (early) 70’s era guitar of their heroes And then the “Buyers of birth era” where a guy in his 30’s or 40’s or 50’s is now chasing a guitar that is similar in age due to nostalgia. I get both.... but won’t really ever do either because I truly believe that this is the second golden era and most companies are building the best stuff that they ever have.

[@MrStonerpark]

I agree. Just look at the Epiphone 1959.

[@erickmo1188]

@@MrStonerpark I haven’t played one yet, but my vintera modified tele is every bit as good as any American standard I ever had. And my American original strats and Teles are just as good as my custom shop fenders. At a FRaCTiON of the prices. And the custom shop fenders.... I won’t ever let them go. Not even for a vintage piece.

[@CitizenofMelee]

So, my newest guitar is from 97, a California series Telecaster. My oldest is an 85 SG.

[@jesselawson224]

I remember seeing a 1981 silver burst les Paul at carter vintage for 2k, like 10 years ago and of course I couldn’t afford it and now they are like 8k

[@joshdickens8281]

Vintage is anything prior to your tenth birthday, give or take a few years. At least it feels that way now as an adult.

[@mikebrison1838]

Vintage is the guitar I finished building last week that had a couple unintended scratches on it

[@electricurinal]

My 1999 Am Std natural Ash Telecaster should be worth BANK in a couple years! Last year of the original Am Stds... all original. Perfectly bookmatched ash body.... actually plays and sounds like a dream. I'll take $4999. ;)

[@codysroom6303]

my 2000 or 1999 jackson kextmg kelly kneck through with active emgs 81/85 set. Will it be considered vintage in 3 or 4 yrs by the 25 year vintage (rule)?

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

No

[@tomfoolery8015]

First view, first comment...woo hoo. Love your videos. Thank u for the content.

[@jesselawson224]

Yes Johnny Marr is amazing!

[@BoyitoEnnui]

I got one of the last decent priced 60s Jaguars 2 months ago. . I guess all us Xrs are vintage now that have seen 90s guitars in the vintage sections.

[@tball5677]

So my 1989 Squire II is now a vintage guitar! Oooooo I feel so trendy.......

[@cdnnielsen5964]

totally agree with the main point here, Italian ladies have great style, si!

[@wonicles]

Nothing is vintage until it gets that vintage smell. You know what I'm talking about.

[@natashanyxx9486]

Depends.

[@Nonexistanthuman]

I 2nd the #JohnnyMarr video, One of the reasons why I have a telecaster body guitar :)

[@ralphus6472]

Picking nits here, but that pretty blue strat is a Plus or DX, not an Ultra. Those had dually red lace sensors in the bridge.

[@pierrederesistance]

I'm with you, 65 is the end of the period people are talking about when they talk about vintage guitars. Maybe we need a new name for that period so people on Facebook marketplace can still use vintage to sell their American standard strats.

[@solan417]

Does my 1991 Ernie Ball Music Man EVH count yet ?

[@SV-wb8kh]

50 years should be the benchmark Imao.

[@msspi764]

Cool! My early 1990's Korean made Epiphone Les Paul is vintage! So I can tell people I play a "vintage Les Paul." Of course I replaced and upgraded all the electronics and wiring and the nut and bridge so it isn't worth as much now. Seriously, vintage is a moving target that doesn't move. Vintage will always be 50's for me because I grew up when all of the '60s stuff was new, so it will always be newish to me. To me if you can remember seeing it new it isn't vintage. But you can't price something based on the age of the customer.

[@mrlaws1969]

What is a 1971 telecaster dakota red lefty worth routed out for a humbucker. Know guy selling for $5000

[@lucyfuir6386]

Just about a year ago I realised that my les Paul hit 25 years old and my explorer is 27.

[@northmanlogging2769]

So, I have a 96? LP studio Gem, in amethyst (blech) its super ugly, super thrashed... cough I mean "organically reliced" sounds killer plays great so what yer telling me is I can get 10g's for it?

[@omikl]

I still have trouble thinking of my '74 Ibanez I bought in '78 being vintage, never mind the '95 Les Paul Classic I bought in '96 in Hong Kong...

[@jasonmagyar1643]

I think 25 is technically a fair number, mainly because it is kinda the definition. I've even seen it as low as 20. There is a term, "True Vintage", that is estimated at 50 years old. I think that's more of what we want it to be across the board. And like I read below, it means we are all getting freaking old.

[@jeremyward493]

Funny to think that my 1997 American Standard strat is gonna be vintage next year. I bought it brand new from Gutar Center way back then. I have a 2013 MIM strat that I think sounds way better, but that neck on my 96 really does feel nice.

[@bryantwalley]

to me there seems to be a natural transition. things before 1984 I put in the old category. things from 84, 85, 86 are the transition point. 1987 forward are modern.

[@robertwillett4122]

I was born in 65, and l feel vintage....

[@evalonious]

It's only vintage if I'm selling to Jonathan! 😅🏁❤️

[@worldsheaviestjamband93]

Whenever I talk to a 12 year old student...1996 seems SUPER vintage. Kurt Cobain?!? Oh my dad told me stories about him! I’m old now...

[@brisleeadams]

Good! My MIJ Tokai Love Rock will officially be vintage in 2 years (if I don’t sell it earlier to pay my rent) ;)

[@Shadowschmatt53]

Yes, all in on Johnny Marr. An opportunity to redeem yourself for a prior focus on John Mayer.

[@jesselet5073]

I truly believe we need to move forward with time so 25 years is gonna be vintage for me

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

No it’s not vintage yet.

[@harrysachs2274]

Also, while I was in the airport in Rome, I had a pair of real Versace sunglasses I splurged on while there stolen off the top of my head. Fucking unreal the thieves skills.

[@USTTRM]

I had a similar experience there. Guys started a fight in a waiting area. While everyone had there focus on the fight their accomplice went through the crowd picking pockets. Mine as well unfortunately.

[@harrysachs2274]

@@USTTRM seriously. I fancy myself as pretty fucking vigilant and wary, I live in Philadelphia, it's pretty sketchy. I couldn't believe it. I've seen gypsies in action in NY a couple years ago, and noticed a male/female team and took note but I lost sight while in line.

[@SvenMayhem]

Yes, to a Johnny Marr episode.

[@smalltowninnewmexico]

is my 1980 Yamaha 12 string (made in japan beauuuutiful) considered vintage? theres a bit of checking occuring too. i love her dude

[@keithm2327]

Now couldn’t soon enough for Johnny Marr video

[@autistichead8137]

Speaking of hair metal, my optometrist in NYC was the drummer for RATT