1965 Epiphone Emperor
Written by vintage on December 2, 2011 – 10:51 am -By George Gruhn . The Epiphone Emperor has a long, convoluted history. It first appeared in Epiphone’s catalog in late 1935 as a response to Gibson’s Super 400, which was introduced in late 1934. Epiphone went one better on Gibson’s 18?-wide Super 400 by making the Emperor 18 1/2 wide. This was the top model in the Epiphone line. By 1937, the elaborate trapeze tailpiece was replaced by the classic Epiphone Frequensator, with separate sections for the three bass strings and three treble strings. The original inlay pattern on the fingerboard of the Emperor consisted of three separate pieces of pearl. The abalone wedge in the center of pearl block inlays was introduced in the 1940s. Although Gibson introduced its Premier model cutaway guitars... more
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The Gibson Flying V: 20 Essential Facts
Written by vintage on July 16, 2011 – 10:20 am -by Michael Leonard Designed 54 years ago, but still looking like the future, the Flying V is a Gibson icon. Back in 1957, Gibson’s then-President and chief designer, Ted McCarty, undoubtedly had an eye on the ‘50s tailfins of cars by Cadillac and Chrysler when he designed the V, part of Gibson’s 1958-launched Modernistic line alongside the Explorer and super-rare Moderne. The Flying V has a rich history in music of all genres. You’ll be needing this Flying V 101 to impress your buddies. 1. Ted McCarty’s earliest 1957 prototypes were made of mahogany, and had the ‘V’ sides but a rounded Les Paul-like rear bout. These were simply too heavy, so the cut-out bottom was added to the design and the wood changed to Korina (aka Limba).... more
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The bluesy sound of Muddy Waters
Written by vintage on April 4, 2011 – 10:08 pm -By The cliché runs that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but trying to “flatter” the greatest of the great is no easy task. Especially when Muddy Waters, arguably the finest of the first generation of electric bluesmen, is the subject. Muddy’s early hits for Chess Records like “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” “Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” “Louisiana Blues,” “Walkin’ Blues,” “Long Distance Call,” and “Honey Bee,” defined the recorded sound of early electric blues: dirty, gritty, stinging, growling, sweet and supremely emotive. It’s nearly impossible to get to that sound without vintage gear and a touch developed playing an acoustic guitar loud ‘n’ strong enough to cut the din of a Saturday night fish... more
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Clapton Guitars Bring $2.5 million at Auction
Written by vintage on March 19, 2011 – 6:58 pm -By Ward Meeker Collectors, fans and musicians gathered at Bonhams New York yesterday for a sale of 75 guitars and 55 amps from the collection of Eric Clapton. The items were auctioned to benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua. With 100 percent of the lots sold, the final auction total more than tripled pre-sale expectations, with proceeds going to the drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre founded by Clapton in 1998. Bidders from all four corners of the globe battled throughout the 4 ½ hour auction and included clients from the U.S., Asia, Australasia, UK, Europe, and the Caribbean. Notably, a private Russian Eric Clapton fan and collector showed keen interest in the room and Asian participants included those from Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. “It... more
Tags: eric clapton, Guitar Events, Vintage Guitars
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Vintage Gretsch Guitars
Written by vintage on February 16, 2011 – 6:34 pm -Founded in Brooklyn in 1883, Gretsch started out making banjos, tambourines, and drums. It didn’t really get into guitars until the 1930s, when the guitar began to overtake the banjo in popularity. Evidence of that shift could be seen in the success of the L-5, Gibson’s fast-selling acoustic archtop, with its trapeze tailpiece and a pickguard that seemed to float above the f-holes carved into the instrument’s body. Gretsch answered in the mid-1930s with the American Orchestra line of acoustic guitars, which started at $25 each. These guitars had spruce tops, maple backs and sides, and either rosewood or ebony fingerboards. By all accounts, they did little to slow down Gibson. In 1939, Gretsch came out with a true competitor, the Art Deco-styled... more
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Gibson Byrdland is the 2010 Inductee to the Vintage Guitar Hall of Fame
Written by vintage on February 12, 2011 – 4:15 pm -It's a distinct few who have been immortalized in Vintage Guitar magazine's Hall of Fame. And the elite who are members owe the honor to you, faithful reader, because it is you who each year selects the people and instruments to enter the esteemed VG Hall of Fame. Gibson Byrdland The Gibson Byrdland, introduced in 1955, has one of the more unusual stories of any artist signature model. For starters, it was named after two artists, neither of whom would have been the first thought that came to mind upon hearing the model name. The model name carried a stronger reference to the phonetically identical Birdland jazz club, even though both of the Byrdland's signature guitarists were known as country guitarists (for an extra twist of irony, both... more
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1961 Fender Stratocaster Guitar
Written by vintage on October 22, 2010 – 11:48 pm -The Fender Stratocaster guitar is probably the most popular solidbody electric guitar ever made. Early models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Strats do seem to have been easily modified (due to their "bolt together" nature). In 1961 Fender started using a more robust red dye for their three color sunburst. Also the dark brown part of the sunburst around the edge of the body is slightly more black. Hence the sunburst finish on a 1961 Fender Strat is much bolder looking. Fender also felt the need to add patent numbers to the peghead during... more
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The State of the Vintage Guitar Market
Written by vintage on July 28, 2010 – 3:08 am -On Location at the 2008 Arlington Guitar Show and Auction. While on the floor in Arlington, we decided to get the dope straight from the dealers. In this segment, we tackled vintage guitar market questions and concerns with several dealers and buyers. What I take from these interviews is that there is still a promising financial future in investing in vintage guitars. As has always been the case, some guitars will appreciate in value more than others. Now might be a good time to buy while prices are down if you are willing to hold onto the guitar for a while. Read More →
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Posted in ES, Fender, Gibson, Guitar News, Les Paul, SG, Stratocster, Telecaster, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Bass Guitars, Vintage Electric Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »
CNN discusses investing in vintage guitars
Written by vintage on July 6, 2010 – 3:53 am -Is investing in a vintage guitar a "sound investment?" Doug makes a brief appearance in this clip about investing in a different type of alternate investment. From a segment that appeared on CNN's "Your $$$$$" with Ali Velshi and Christine Romans. Rudy Pensa’s interesting comments on investing in vintage guitars. Read More →
Tags: fender vintage guitars, financial investments, investing in vintage guitars, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, vintage gibson guitars, Vintage Guitars
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Tips on Collecting Hall of Fame Vintage Guitars
Written by vintage on June 12, 2010 – 4:58 pm -Ever thought that a guitar might be a more reliable investment than the stock market? Vintage guitars are becoming a hot item in the collectibles market, and there are few icons more recognizable to Americans than a rock star and his guitar. While a few months' savings might have bought a guitar in the 1960s, some of those instruments are selling for big bucks today. Recently, George Harrison's guitar sold for a little under six hundred thousand dollars, for instance. Eric Clapton's favorite Stratocaster from the 1970s, Blackie, sold for nearly a million. While celebrity collectibles have been a good investment for years, guitars themselves have largely been overlooked. However, the guitar was perfected between the 1930s and the 1960s, depending... more
Tags: fender jazzmaster, fender stratocaster, fender vintage guitars, gibson acoustic guitars, gibson es-335, investing in vintage guitars, les paul, martin acoustic guitars, vintage fender stratocaster, vintage gretsch guitars
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