"Vintage" sound.

[Metalman]

Here is a good topic for discussion: what exactly is "vintage" sound? You buy a guitar that has that sound that is Vintage . . . just exactly what is it? I'll give my thoughts on this and then I would like to hear from other folks and see where this goes. (I know; this is something that should be brought up on a Fender forum; I'll get around to that eventually.)
I think it is the tone (s) that come from an older guitar, such as an old Fender Strat, or Tele, as opposed to a more modern instrument. Not so much the sound that was current when that year of guitar was made, such as the mid and late '50s, but the actual sound of that guitar.
With the Guilds, there is what I call it a dusty, type of sound that Guild steel string acoustics have that were made in the early to mid '60s. These babies have a different vibe, and different resonance than the contemporary Guilds now made in California.
Your thoughts?

 

[Neal]

Well, my first thought is that we have no way of knowing what the Oxnard Guilds sound like, given that they just started selling them. I have not even heard a sound clip.

 

[richardp69]

Personally, I don't try to place a label on sound, period. It just doesn't make sense to me because what might sound like vintage to you may not to me, what sounds like woody the same thing and what sounds modern ditto......We're all different and that's a good thing I think. I don't want to be put in a niche with everybody else. I'm me, period.


To me a guitar either sounds good or it doesn't and I don't get too hung up on whether it's 1 year old or 50 years old. I'll be the 1st to admit that I prefer vintage gear but not necessarily due to sound. I just like the thought of a guitar being around for many years, changing hands many times and living in different cities or even countries.

Probably makes no sense to many of you but it's my view on the topic.

 

[txbumper57]

Well, my first thought is that we have no way of knowing what the Oxnard Guilds sound like, given that they just started selling them. I have not even heard a sound clip.

Here is a clip of the M20 Neal from their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/guildguitars/videos/10153139792621105/

 

[fronobulax]

"Vintage sound" means way too many different things. Consider those of us who are "vintage". Should we talk about what we remember from the first time we heard an instrument or do we talk about how it sounds today?

 

[bluesypicky]

"Vintage sound" means way too many different things. Consider those of us who are "vintage". Should we talk about what we remember from the first time we heard an instrument or do we talk about how it sounds today?

^^^This^^^
Listen to a dozen bands from the 60's and 70's, and you'll hear a dozen different types of "vintage sound".

 

[powerwagonjohn]

I buy different guitars for the different sounds or tones if you will. Be the new or vintage guitars this usually means different construction or pick ups. I will say that growing up in the 60's and 70's that sometimes I will play a guitar and it will strike me that I know that sound from some song or record that I grew up with or someone new I am into. I have guitars ranging from my 1952 Gibson L-4 to 2015 FSR ash telecaster which all give me my sound and many others when I want it. Just my take.
Thanks John

 

[powerwagonjohn]

I buy different guitars for the different sounds or tones if you will. Being new or vintage guitars, this usually means different construction or pick ups. I will say that growing up in the 60's and 70's that sometimes I will play a guitar and it will strike me that I know that sound from some song or record that I grew up with or someone new I am into. I have guitars ranging from my 1952 Gibson L-4 to 2015 FSR ash telecaster which all give me my sound and many others when I want it. Just my take.
Thanks John

 

[dougdnh]

Whos to say what's a vintage sound - Chuck Berry? Jimmy Page? Charlie Christian? Duke Robilard? Hendrix? Guild player George Barnes?. To me, it's a clean somewhat woody sound, but it can be something totally different depending on your point of reference.