Sound quality factored into cost of vintage guitars?

[Bill]

At a recent guitar show, I played three 55-56 Strats. I only had a chance to play them unplugged, but two seemed OK and one sounded awful--kind of like a banjo, but not due to buzz, just really plinky and thin with no sustain. I don't think it was a setup problem, just that it wasn't a good guitar.

However, all three were in the same condition and all three were about the same price--around $35K.

I was wondering, in pricing vintage guitars, does sound weigh into the equation anymore, or is it strictly condition nowadays?

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by Bill

I was wondering, in pricing vintage guitars, does sound weigh into the equation anymore, or is it strictly condition nowadays?

I don't think sound is the primary concern of collectors. They get all worried about things like them having the original, or correct pickguards, switches, pots, necks, etc...

I like nice old guitars, but I just can't be worried about that kind of thing. Or justify paying collector prices.

I've played a few old guitars that had a great vibe to them, but I've also played new, and used but not valuable guitars that had a great vibe too. So to me, if you're looking for a great guitar, vintage guitars are a very questionable way to get one.

Pete

[Larry F]

Interesting thought. I'm sure sound is a huge factor in violin world, since the collectible instruments are loaned to top players. Maybe in time, sound will become as bigger factor in vintage guitars (assuming they leave the vaults and make appearances again--if only on recordings).

[morroben]

I don't think sound is the biggest concern for people in that market. On the rare occasions I get to play a vintage guitar, I'm hardly ever blown away by the tone. One exception is a friend's '55 Esquire, which sounds great. The same guy has a vintage LP and two vintage Strats that are decent but not great sounding instruments.

[RichardL]

With the crazy prices that vintage guitars go for these days, playability is probably not a factor. These guitars aren't being snapped up by players but by collectors.

[Tim Armstrong]

The ones that sounded really good got played, and worn, and had things replaced. The ones that were mediocre or worse were put back in the case and left alone.

And now they're worth a lot more.

Strange world, isn't it???

Cheers, Tim

[zombywoof]

Quite simply NOPE. It is all age and condition. Any of us who were purchasing 50's Teles and Strats back when they were simply "used
guitars will tell ya you might have to go through a dozen till you found the one that had the tone and playability you were looking for.

[sidneystreet]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

The ones that sounded really good got played, and worn, and had things replaced. The ones that were mediocre or worse were put back in the case and left alone...

That is probably a pretty accurate assessment. And as you went on to say, the unplayed guitars, toneful or not, end up being the super-expensive museum pieces that the collectors are currently fighting over.

[0le FUZZY]

Sound quality factored into cost of vintage guitars?

... Knott at all at least knott on vintage TELECASTERs!! Its good and a factor iffin they still werk and if that equates tew sound then yes.

...Its jes sweet whence they sound good tew.







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[allen st. john]

I guess I'm a little less cynical than most of you.
Some collectors couldn't care less about tone. But there are some that do, and I think that this is reflected in the market. In those increasingly rare cases where you have two guitars of similar condition and originality, the better sounding one will command a small premium because there's a larger pool of potential buyers.
The other problem is that condition and originality are largely objective--the pickguard and all the solder joints are original or they're not--while tone and playability are subjective.
All that said, a beautiful original, but dead sounding old guitar will still bring a lot more than a funky, messed with tone monster from the same year.

A caveat: I've got much more experience in the vintage acoustic market, where I know this to be true, but I would think that this logic holds true for electrics as well.
best
Allen