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When is a bass "vintage"?

How old does it need to be to be vintage?

  • 10+ years

    Votes: 3 1.4%

  • 20+ years

    Votes: 54 24.4%

  • 30+ years

    Votes: 90 40.7%

  • 40+ years

    Votes: 52 23.5%

  • Older than me atleast

    Votes: 22 10.0%
  • Total voters
    221
#42
For those of us of a certain age, there is a loose cut-off somewhere in the mid-sixties where all the major manufacturers suddenly increased their output dramatically in response to the explosion of bands / demand for guitars. From my own personal experience, my circa 1970 basses (Fender and Gibson) were decent starter basses, but were quickly sold when I found my two early 60s Ps. Not to say that every early 60s bass is a gem, but I found two that are. So pre- 1965/1966 as a cutoff?
 
#43
Bass4Brkfast said:
Applying buzzwords like "vintage", "cool", "rare" or "classic" to an instrument listing denotes the seller is looking to cash in on those buzzwords for perceived value to the potential buyers.
Based on that, as a buyer, I would be biased to think the item is priced high, or at least higher than what one may consider a "good deal", even when the price is probably fair.
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This ^

Nothing makes me roll my eyes harder than a listing (anywhere) where someone tags it with "Vintage", "Classic", or the bane of all looking for older video game consoles...."retro" :vomit:

It's useless, just list it as what it is. If someone doesn't feel like a bass made in the 80s is "vintage", then putting that in the listing title isn't going to change their mind :rollno:
 
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#44
lexington125 said:
For those of us of a certain age, there is a loose cut-off somewhere in the mid-sixties where all the major manufacturers suddenly increased their output dramatically in response to the explosion of bands / demand for guitars. From my own personal experience, my circa 1970 basses (Fender and Gibson) were decent starter basses, but were quickly sold when I found my two early 60s Ps. Not to say that every early 60s bass is a gem, but I found two that are. So pre- 1965/1966 as a cutoff?
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So a 67 Hoffner or Rickenbacker can't be vintage?
It cant be 1965 cutoff just because of Fenders.
 
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#45
Based on how the used market is lately and the 'stories and provenance' some like to use to justify the prices charged, 'vintage' seems to now start around 15 years ago.... mid/late 2000s. In other words - it's a marketing term to generate added interest, much like a dubious story used to up the price: 'Flea breathed on this 2007 Fender Standard Jazz Bass back stage after a RHCP concert and then played a G-Major scale on it. This bass has MOJO'!
 
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#47
FWIW, the largest musical instruments retailer in the U.S. (GC) defines "vintage" as "25 years or older" judging by their listings. Whether that's correct or not is a matter of a different debate, but I presume that a large segment of the buying public would agree with such an evaluation.

While I voted for the last option in the poll - hey, nothing younger than me can possibly be classified as vintage, not on my watch anyway - I maintain varying demarcation points for different companies whose instruments I'm interested in, backed with a reasoning of my own that likely wouldn't fly for anyone else....:)
 
#49
This has been discussed before, in my opinion and understanding vintage doesn't mean age the way that classic or antique does.
With cars antique is 45 years and classic is 20, but vintage refers to a specific time period, 1919-1930. So where as all cars will eventually be a classic and then an antique, no cars after 1930 will ever be vintage.
This is the same with guitars and basses. They will be classics, but only guitars from the original era of the electric guitar (1950s and 1960s) will ever be vintage.
 
#52
H K said:
When used about wine tho, as in "thats a good vintage", it means year. So, in that sense it DOES imply age.
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That's not entirely true. In wine it means time, place and quality as there's a lot more to wine making than simply age. Not all wines from 1922 are good.

Similarly, in guitars, it means old AND of desirable status to guitar collectors. Knowing what IS or ISN'T desirable can be a bit subjective, but dealers and collectors generally agree on what's what.


There's a lot of cynicism about the term because it is so often misused by people who don't understand the history of guitars. OR they don't understand or appreciate the concept of guitar collecting itself.
 
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#53
two fingers said:
I always use the comparison of what was "vintage" back in the 80s. In 1980, a 1960 Fender was "vintage". That's only 20 years.

In 1985, Led Zeppelin IV was "classic rock". It came out in 1971. That's 14 years. So, yes, Pearl Jam is classic rock today. Period. End of story. There is no debate.
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I disagree. I think the problem is that we assume that terms like vintage and classic rock refer to the age of the subject in question, when in reality it refers to a specific time period. Is Led Zeppelin "golden oldies"? No, it is classic rock. Oldies usually refers to pre-british invasion rock and roll. Classic rock usually refers to 1960s and 1970s rock and roll. Vintage refers to the "golden era" of electric guitars which is 1950s and 1960s.
 
#54
sxaxsx said:
I disagree. I think the problem is that we assume that terms like vintage and classic rock refer to the age of the subject in question, when in reality it refers to a specific time period. Is Led Zeppelin "golden oldies"? No, it is classic rock. Oldies usually refers to pre-british invasion rock and roll. Classic rock usually refers to 1960s and 1970s rock and roll. Vintage refers to the "golden era" of electric guitars which is 1950s and 1960s.
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To someone who is twenty years old right now, Michael Jackson is oldies and Pearl Jam is classic rock. Period.

And while we're at it, 80s Michael Jackson plays on the oldies station around here. Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, STP, etc. all play on the classic rock station. Those stations aren't local mom n pop stations. They're owned by huge international corporations. Are the execs at those stations wrong?
 
#58
I have a 22 year old Korean made LTD B205. I cant call it vintage,,,,probably never will
One definition: of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing:
Basically old does not mean vintage. Like a 40 year old P bass copy. Our 40 year old Glarry will be hard pressed to call it vintage compared to a 40 year old USA Fender P bass. Even a 40 year old Fender MIM will be a hard sell as vintage other than being 40+ yrs old.
Sometimes vintage means its old and I am going to charge you more.
 
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#59
I don't know that there's a clear standard. To me (though not to the market) vintage has a connotation of being something special. It chaps my hide that those 70s instruments you couldn't get a buyer for at 250 are now commanding a premium, whereas I see some intrinsic value to the 50s and 60s instruments, even If I can't afford them
 
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#60
two fingers said:
I always use the comparison of what was "vintage" back in the 80s. In 1980, a 1960 Fender was "vintage". That's only 20 years.

In 1985, Led Zeppelin IV was "classic rock". It came out in 1971. That's 14 years. So, yes, Pearl Jam is classic rock today. Period. End of story. There is no debate. (Pearl Jam's "Ten" was released in 1991.... which was THIRTY ONE years ago.... more that twice as long as 1971 to 1985.)

Many here simply think that the 50s and 60s were the "golden age" of instrument production and rock music. Anything after that isn't "vintage", or "classic rock".

That is utterly ridiculous. It's egomaniacal, in fact. It's "Unless it's from MY TIME, it's not cool."

In short, the term is "loose". Use it if you want. I won't put off anyone who is interested in your bass. If it does, that person would likely be hard to deal with anyway. If you get an email from some jerk who says "I'm interested in your bass, but it ain't vintage", RUN, don't walk, away from that offer.
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Wrongooo! :spit: You can say "period" at the end of all the sentences you want to Two Fingers as if it were some authoritative, definitive statement to crush all other opinions but really all it sounds like to me is that you might be texting. :spit::spit:

That clarified, Pearl Jam to me is 'grunge' not 'classic rock' - stuff from the late 60's, 70's, and possibly some bleed-over into the 80's may be considered 'classic rock' - we straightened out on that now?

Okay, leaving now to go correct some other ignoramus in a different thread...

(Did I just practice some Seagull Management?)

:D

Raz
 

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