Do you prefer old or new guitars?

Well my rather extensive experience of Denmark Street (I used to virtually I've there at one point) would suggest no!  You can often find a number of old Gibsons in Wunjo — J45s and J50s in particular. Often they seem to have been played out!  I did play a 15 year old Advanced Jumbo last year that was stunning though.

Of course, I have played some great vintage guitars over the years but then there is that price tag.  For the same price (or sometimes a fraction) you can buy a new guitar of real quality or commission one yourself from a luthier which (depending on the luthier) is always a better experience. 

One of the joys of a new — quality guitar — is the experience of the guitar settling down and opening out in sound. It is a great journey to go on. At Halifax I was able to compare my guitar to some of Adrian Lucas' new models and I'd forgotten how much the sound had opened out.

You can no doubt find some great vintage guitars though people tend to hang on to them. A modern high end guitar — whether individually made or produced by one of the boutique houses — will be more often than not better constructed, voiced more effectively and have a superb action. they often have a better dynamic range.

There will be those thinking 'hang on — he's talking about expensive guitars again. This need not be the case but when we are talking about vintage guitars we are talking about price.  Stroll around Denmark St and Oxford Street (Ivor's) and you may find superbly competitively priced guitars from the likes of Larrivee, Guild, Brook, Atkins and at a slightly higher price Santa Cruz, Bougouis and Collings. Of course, new built guitars are subject to price 'fashion hikes' as well — I'm not sure how Lowden can justify some of their prices when, say, a good Brook costs half as much.

I often try and visit decent guitar shops when I am out and about and have discovered some great gems. At Celtic Chords in Stonehaven I discovered the work of Steve Agnew — for a classic OO or OOO you really can't do better for just under £3k. DO you want to fork out that much on a battered J50 or commission roger Bucknall at Fylde to build you something far superior a the same price?

You do find great old instruments in Denmark Street but most of them really are well past their best (even if they were that good in the first place).SaveSave

I’d go for old but not played to death old. I once picked up an old Gibson on Denmark Street once. The guy in the shop said ‘it’s had a few bit’s replaced over the years”. Turns out it was new neck, frets, tuners, bridge and top! Very funny. It was like Trigger’s broom.

Does a vintage guitar actually sound "better" over a period of time or does it just sound "different". Like....different because it may have a different sound compared to the sound of guitars made today.
I might sound rather confused and garbled,(my usual state) but what I'm trying to say is that I like differing guitars with different sounds......irrespective of their age.

The sound is the only thing I go for.it may be battered but if it sings ....

Often - though not always - Denmark St flogs guitars that are knackered sound wise, for a
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The sound of acoustics definitely changes as they age - the hemicellulose gradually evaporates meaning the top gets lighter & stiffer over time.   Many people also believe that the vibrations produced by playing the instrument change its sound over time, but that is much more controversial & there's no scientific evidence for it.   Of course whether "different" means "better" is largely a matter of personal taste.

That said I do take your point on them being built differently.  Certainly the 'vintage' market as we know it was born out of a significant decline in the quality of the instruments from the big names hitting the market in the late 60s and early 70s as they scaled up their manufacturing.  I think the rise of computer controlled manufacturing means those issues are much less prevalent in a 2017 Martin than in a 1977 one.   The other significant difference is that in the 40s they were passing over tropical tonewoods for minor cosmetic issues that many luthiers would kill to get their hands on now supplies are scarcer.

I find it interesting that the discussion here has focused on the high end vintage market (I know I lead it that way a little with my aside about the 1949 J45, but it was pretty...).  My two main instruments are a 1940ish Gibson L50 & a 1972 Yamaha FG300 - I genuinely think they're both remarkable instruments for the money I spent on them & they offer much more bang for the buck than a new J45 or D28 would have.  The Yamaha in particular kicks the behind of any new acoustic in the £200 range to Timbuktu and back.

My oldest guitar is a Martin Parlour from the 1840s, the newest was built for me last year by Ralph Bown. It’s the sound and feel that counts not the age.

Come on guys, you know new guitars lovingly made by current British builders are by far the best, particularly by those builders who have were lucky enough to be up at Halifax. I have to declare an interest here.

Seriously I think we live in a golden age of guitar building, before I started building I played 'golden age' Martins and was always a little disappointed by them compared to some of the newer guitars I was hearing, that's why I started building. I honestly believe that the guitars of all six builders that were at Halifax could stand comparison with any vintage Martin or Gibson etc. Unlike the bowed stringed instruments, guitars do not last indefinitely due to their differing construction, even the great Torres instruments have not lasted, and modern replicas are tonally far superior to the surviving ones (OK I'm biased).