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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
I think it probably comes down to supply & demand. There are many items, musical instruments included that are from the 70s & 80s that are nowhere near as valuable as other similar items.

I would ask, is a vintage instrument expensive because of it’s age? To an extent, but age isn’t everything…
 
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Yeah in my opinion. I mean I am just some guy on the internet though so my opinion is just that. I wonder if the "classic rock" station you are talking about is strictly a "classic rock" station or just a rock station that plays a lot of classic rock?
The term golden oldies caught on for referring to early rock and roll, but calling 70s hard rock golden oldies didn't sound right so the term classic rock caught on. A new term to refer to 90s music hasn't caught on but an absence of a better label doesn't mean that the classic rock label is correct. Labels exist in order to communicate what something is. If the majority of people don't define Pearl Jam as classic rock then it's a bad label.

Yes, I definitely remember classic rock being 60s and 70s. Sort of before punk and new wave. And oldies as 40s and 50s. If all rock is now classic, including grunge etc., since it’s not metal or hip hop, and oldies is any dance pop before 2003, then they have changed the terms!
 
Let's remember that the word vintage has as its root vin - wine. Therefore, in its original usage, you might ask "What is the vintage of this cabernet?" and be told "1988." Vintage, unlike antique, does not imply "old."

When used about wine tho, as in "thats a good vintage", it means year. So, in that sense it DOES imply age.


It depends. If we're talking about Port Wine, only exceptional years are declared Vintage years.

"Considered by many people to be the jewel in the crown of Port wines, it is the only Port that matures in the bottle. Produced from grapes of a single year and bottled two to three years after the harvest, it gradually evolves for 10 to 50 years in the bottle. The charm of Vintage lies in the fact that it is attractive at practically every stage of its life in bottle. In the first five years, it maintains the ruby intensity of the original colors, exuberant aromas of red and wild fruits and the flavor of dark chocolate, all balanced by strong tannins, which combine perfectly with rich chocolate desserts. After ten years – and in addition to creating a medium deposit – it develops garnet red tones and reaches a delicious fullness of aromas and flavors of ripe fruits. As the wine approaches maturity, the color evolves towards rich amber tones and its fruit acquires greater subtlety and complexity and its deposit becomes heavier."
 
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Yeah in my opinion. I mean I am just some guy on the internet though so my opinion is just that. I wonder if the "classic rock" station you are talking about is strictly a "classic rock" station or just a rock station that plays a lot of classic rock?
The term golden oldies caught on for referring to early rock and roll, but calling 70s hard rock golden oldies didn't sound right so the term classic rock caught on. A new term to refer to 90s music hasn't caught on but an absence of a better label doesn't mean that the classic rock label is correct. Labels exist in order to communicate what something is. If the majority of people don't define Pearl Jam as classic rock then it's a bad label.

That station has always been a classic rock station. I used to work there years ago.

Find me a classic rock station that won't play Pearl Jam. Go ahead. I'll wait.

And if you do find one, I'll find you 50 throughout the country without even trying that will. That station I referenced is owned by a company that owns hundreds of stations. Their classic rock stations are pretty much all the same.

Also, ask your NON MUSICIAN friends if Pearl Jam, or RHCP, or whatever grunge band you choose are classic rock.

My daughters (10 and 13 years old) love listening to the "oldies station". The one they're referring to is basically a "mom" station that plays Whitney and Madonna and MJ and Lionel Ritchie.

Anyway, you guys keep the dream alive. I'll stick with reality. Poison, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Dokken, Pearl Jam, RHCP, Sound Garden, etc. All classic rock.

82 Fullerton Fender P bass? Vintage. All day long. And the prices reflect that.
 
Let's use Fenders as a guide since they probably best represent "Vintage", whatever that means.
Certainly Pre-CBS counts but the late 70's? I don't think so.
For me 60's or better (said the guy who owns 5 early 70's non-vintage P and J basses).

And the top of the poll was 40 years which is the 80's.
Not a great vintage for anything Fender IMO.
 
The term Vintage has multiple meanings

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The RHCP has a brand new album out this year. So... is that album classic rock too, or just their first couple albums?

It's so horrible it doesn't even matter. :roflmao:

Members of Pink Floyd are still touring and making albums too. So what.

Here's a list of albums released by CLASSIC ROCK ARTISTS in 2020.

Top 10 New Albums From Classic Rock Artists in 2020

On that list are Chris Cornell, Bonnie Jovi, and PEARL JAM.