Photos of your guitars

aintitthelife98 · April 19

I've asked my Sweetwater rep for their best price several times and generally they are willing to give 7-10% off unless it's a new, in demand item. Never hurts to ask!

DE4173 · April 20

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aintitthelife98 · April 20

I have a small collection of vintage acoustic guitars that I've been lucky to acquire over the last 7 or 8 years. I'm not sure if old acoustics are the popular theme here so I'll start with one and happy to post others if people are interested.

This is my oldest guitar. It is a 1933 Gibson L-00. It had lived a fairly rough life and had to have a fairly significant restoration done to it when I purchased it. It is all original other than the bridge though.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/6l/0h7953utdtkd.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/ix/8vr5fcdrlx79.jpg

DE4173 · April 21

Wow! 😲

Thank you for sharing!

Please post others when you have time.

benjs · April 21

aintitthelife98 said:

I have a small collection of vintage acoustic guitars that I've been lucky to acquire over the last 7 or 8 years. I'm not sure if old acoustics are the popular theme here so I'll start with one and happy to post others if people are interested.

This is my oldest guitar. It is a 1933 Gibson L-00. It had lived a fairly rough life and had to have a fairly significant restoration done to it when I purchased it. It is all original other than the bridge though.

Definitely please share! That's some really awesome finish checking - looks almost like a stained glass mosaic. I hope one day to be able to afford a pre-war Martin, but that's probably not realistic in my lifetime. Given that, an Authentic 1937 VTS D28 will have to be the new goal.

mcgruff10 · April 21

Wow! What a gorgeous guitar. Please share more!

DE4173 · April 21

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lexicondevil · April 21

I've never played a vintage acoustic, and I often wonder how they actually compare to a good, newer acoustic. I've considered getting one of those restored conversions of Kay or Harmony guitars by Stay Gold, but I would really need to play it first.

aintitthelife98 · April 22

lexicondevil said:

I've never played a vintage acoustic, and I often wonder how they actually compare to a good, newer acoustic. I've considered getting one of those restored conversions of Kay or Harmony guitars by Stay Gold, but I would really need to play it first.

Both options are great but different. The key, at least to me for vintage, is original finish and as much in the way of original parts and structure as possible. There is no substitute for aged wood and thin (and possibly checked) nitro finish. I also have a few ""new acoustic guitars and they are wonderful too but just different. Describing tone is really tough but I find old guitars to have this dryness and directness in their tone where I find new guitars tend to be more lush.

I will say that a company by the name of Pre-War Guitars has come to the closest in my experience to building new guitars that capture the tone and feel of vintage guitars. I own two of their guitars and they are amazing instruments but they still aren't quite all the way to the real deal. They are hard to beat for the money though as compared to vintage prices. Martin's authentic models are also fantastic guitars that do a great job of approaching vintage guitar tone.

aintitthelife98 · April 22

Here is my my next, oldest acoustic. This is a 1935 Martin 0-17. It's by far the cleanest vintage guitar I own with not a crack to be found and in completely original condition other than frets and a new saddle from when it's neck was reset. I was in the right place at the right time and able to trade into this guitar right before the world shut down for COVID. These all mahogany, small body guitars are great values in the vintage market. They punch well above their weight class.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/82/ypp7ojoo4kyr.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/1b/s8dn9eutkras.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/nq/3ffou1makn0m.jpg

lexicondevil · April 22

aintitthelife98 said:

lexicondevil said:

I've never played a vintage acoustic, and I often wonder how they actually compare to a good, newer acoustic. I've considered getting one of those restored conversions of Kay or Harmony guitars by Stay Gold, but I would really need to play it first.

Both options are great but different. The key, at least to me for vintage, is original finish and as much in the way of original parts and structure as possible. There is no substitute for aged wood and thin (and possibly checked) nitro finish. I also have a few ""new acoustic guitars and they are wonderful too but just different. Describing tone is really tough but I find old guitars to have this dryness and directness in their tone where I find new guitars tend to be more lush.

I will say that a company by the name of Pre-War Guitars has come to the closest in my experience to building new guitars that capture the tone and feel of vintage guitars. I own two of their guitars and they are amazing instruments but they still aren't quite all the way to the real deal. They are hard to beat for the money though as compared to vintage prices. Martin's authentic models are also fantastic guitars that do a great job of approaching vintage guitar tone.

Very cool. Thanks for the insight. I look forward to someday experiencing playing a vintage acoustic. The oldest instrument I have is a Martin ukulele that my father gave to me. It must be from the 50s or thereabouts. I should probably do a little research on it.

mcgruff10 · April 22

aintitthelife98 said:

Here is my my next, oldest acoustic. This is a 1935 Martin 0-17. It's by far the cleanest vintage guitar I own with not a crack to be found and in completely original condition other than frets and a new saddle from when it's neck was reset. I was in the right place at the right time and able to trade into this guitar right before the world shut down for COVID. These all mahogany, small body guitars are great values in the vintage market. They punch well above their weight class.

oh
my
goodness

I'm speechless

Photos of your guitars

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