Old school dudes...

[DonP]

For the most part.. with exceptions of course... electric guitars under $600.00 from the late 70's through the late 80's SUCKED.

I don't think so. I'd have to say the Aria I bought in 1985 for around $300 was a very nice guitar. I still have it, although I've modified the heck out of it. I know I'll never sell it, I like it that much (and no wise cracks that it wouldn't be worth anything either :ROTF: ).

For those of us newbies, I think it was all a matter of luck in the 80s if you got a good axe or not.

[Racerx2k]

Well, that's why he said "for the most part". Obviously, there were exceptions.

[Robert Burns]

Well, I think fretwork is a lot better too. I've played a few older guitars that wouldn't intonate properly no matter what you did because the bridge wasn't placed correctly. The 'student models' were pretty much a joke - I had a fender mustang from the late 60s for awhile, and it was terrible! Jackson and a few other companies put some changes in that made a huge difference for me anyways, like jumbo frets on strats, flatter radiuses and hotter pickups.

Regarding wood - I think the average wood they used back in the 'good old days' was probably as good as the best stuff they can find now. Taylor guitars built an acoustic out of an old warehouse wooden pallet to see if it could be done!

Pete

Right Pete...my 1943 Martin D-18 has such a huge booming tone..
partly from the quality of the Mahagony, and Rosewood, but also because
the wood has "Soaked Up" sound waves for almost 70 years!
IMO the materials used were great... but even a $300 Ibanez fit and
finish is better than a 57' LP. I know its mostly in the "Wood" cause
that PS PRS i posted sounds magical. Its got to be the perfect blend of
wood and vibration thru the neck.

[jtr]

The Quality wood in the 50 & 60 was better 2 piece Les Paul bodies & tops Strats ect but all were hit or miss . Anyone that tell you that all old guitars are magic never own any. Gibson were more consistant than Fender but Fender are just two pieces of wood put together by 4 wood screws.The 70's was the dark period for guitars by Major manufactors that why BC rich, Charvel,Ect. and MIJ guitars did so well. Now the all guitars are more consistant and better players. Price in the 50's & 60's $500 could get you any guitar you wanted except handmade Jazz . I remember in 65 a new Strat was $365 list but so 335. Firebird 5 ,SG Standard & a Flying V were around $300 Les Paul Custom in 68 I think was $495 and all of them could be dealt down in price.

[atomic charvel guy]

I remember cherrysunburst les paul standards going for 350.00, and i agree, I had many Charvels, some to die for , and some were dogs, but for me when it was a magic one, it really was head and shoulders above the other brands when they got it right, or when the right body just happened to be joined to the right neck for that body, with the right pickup/ or pickups, i always thought chrome sounded the best to me when it came to hardware , for the bridge, tuning heads, etc. I know it means nothing, just a quirk of mine.

[straycat]

You know Tommy I feel the same way about my 87 USA Jackson super strat like you do about Elvis.
It has a maple body (which I would never had orderd)a J-1200 mid boost(which I would have never orderd)Maple neck /ebony board, 2 J-50s with coil taps and a factory Floyd.This guitar is a sonic marvel.Harsh and bitey but smooth and mellow, it can do it all.Its all funky and worn and had the shit played out of it but its the "bees knees"when it comes to monster tone.

[Carbophos]

The back in 50-s and early 60-s the pickups were wound inconsistently. I mean no-one counted the number of wounds or controlled the density of winding.

Also talking about Fender such stuff as truss rod adjustment from the 21 fret side or 3-piece saddles on Tele is just pain in the ass. Or plastic cap on a trem arm. Can't beilive that so many people still want to have them so much on NEW guitars just for the "vintage vibe".

The same way many prefer to see plastic-button Klusons on modern Gibsons though "kidney" Grovers tuners are much better. Hell, why not just put plastic buttons on Grovers?

As for sonic values, the oldest guitars available at the reasonable price are 70's. 70's Fenders are hit and miss and most of ash bodies are heavy like they are made of concrete. Also I believe that with the very rare exception it's possible to find used modern Fender at the same price and tone level.
70's Gibsons are more consistent though but most 70's LP's have maple neck. Some may prefer it this way, but to be fair it's not "true" LP feel . Good value anyway.

[atomic charvel guy]

You know Tommy I feel the same way about my 87 USA Jackson super strat like you do about Elvis.
It has a maple body (which I would never had orderd)a J-1200 mid boost(which I would have never orderd)Maple neck /ebony board, 2 J-50s with coil taps and a factory Floyd.This guitar is a sonic marvel.Harsh and bitey but smooth and mellow, it can do it all.Its all funky and worn and had the shit played out of it but its the "bees knees"when it comes to monster tone.

isn't it great to feel that way about anything , be it an instrument, a girl, song, etc. Cuz I hold that guitar in the highest level of reverance that a human being can possibly do. Glad you have the same with your axe Cat.

[OnlineStageGear]

I had a 78 Custom for a while. It played sweet and sounded great, but I just could't get into the deep wine red finish.

Matt

[straycat]

Well Matt thats when you contact RSguitarworks and get a killer refin.
Yeah Tommy is a real strange thing feeling like that about a guitar or anything for that matter.When it gets pulled from its case people scoff at the black and yellow crackle finish and say "Dude are the 80s back?"All that ends when she gets pulgged in. The L.P's get a sonic spanking.A 10.8 lb hunk of tree with the sweetest tone.

[atomic charvel guy]

wail the piss out of them cat!!!