Why do people describe stuff as "minty?"

[Bulky Bass]

Many Reverb sellers seem to be the most guilty of exploiting the “mint” category.

So many times I’ll read listings like this:

Bass is in excellent condition save for a few scratches on the pick guard, a dent on the headstock and a finish chip by the neck pickup that is barely noticeable. Also, the pots are scratchy. Other than that it’s mint!

This basically describes a fair” condition instrument. Drives me bonkers!

 

[BadSanta1281]

I just did some searching of the various slang dictionaries and found out that "minty" does not mean what I thought it did.

Hahaha... I just did the same.

Look it up and you may not describe your stuff as minty anymore.

 

[Tony In Philly]

What would a Relic in mint condition be described as?

 

[Rabidhamster]

It’s either as-new pristine, or often much more likely the seller has poor eyesight and/or memory

 

[Tom Bomb]

minty

Freshly minted, lightly, figuratively fornicated with, but then abruptly cryogenically suspended.

'This bass, considering its vintage, has clearly been minty (trans. - min(imally) t(eased).)'
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[MarshallAC50Stack]

Is “minty” a slightly lower condition than “mint”?

I have always thought so but I suppose it could be similar to a beatnik term: "Like mint, man."

 

[gln1955]

It's just a word that I think everyone really knows what it means if they think about it for a millisecond before going into old man grumpy mode. The seller could have also used like new or pristine to describe it's condition, but I'm sure some on here would find fault with that too.

 

[covermego]

Total rabbit trail, but this ^ is the only color that I think a mint green pickguard looks good on.

I see what you did there..... "Rabbit Trail" and this color remind me of those Easter candies in those trippy pastel colors..................... But wait.... there's more.....

Shell pink is my favorite pairing.

........ Ummmmm, I rest my case ........................

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Learn something new every day.

I thought it meant it smells like a peppermint LifeSaver.

Yes because it tastes good. Lol!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

"Mint condition" was originally used to describe uncirculated coinage.

I thought it was an unsucked sweet.

 

[Pauly 4001]

I believe that to be mintish. Mint julips are minty.

The empty glass that a Mint Julip came in is “Minty” with a sweet sticky residue

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Many Reverb sellers seem to be the most guilty of exploiting the “mint” category.

So many times I’ll read listings like this:

Bass is in excellent condition save for a few scratches on the pick guard, a dent on the headstock and a finish chip by the neck pickup that is barely noticeable. Also, the pots are scratchy. Other than that it’s mint!

This basically describes a fair” condition instrument. Drives me bonkers!

I used to collect WW2 stuff and the classifications were mint (looked like it had never been issued), unissued (hadn't been issued) and above that was still in the packaging, like a jeep spark plug in greased paper in a cardboard box which could be found sometimes, sometimes by the hundred in some old warehouse in Buffalo or something. It didn't mean "like new apart from dents". Sometimes unissued could be stained as I presume that came from a warehouse that had flooded and they decided to ignore the 5000 water bottle covers at the back and they dried out over the following 50 years

 

[Rojd]

I've seen basses on GC website listed as new, gone into the store near me where it's located, and it's been ridden hard and hung out to dry. But because it's never been sold, they still classify and sell it as new, lol.

 

[Mastermold]

Fresh thread!!

 

[devnulljp]

I suppose it’s better than “dead nuts mint”, a description I’ve seen more than once.

Or the old classic “dead nuts mint except ... ” where the ellipsis leads to a bad refinish, big divot out of the back of the neck, bucklerash, huge scratches by the output jack, and a bent tuner.

It means it's not mint, but the seller wants to charge as if it were.
puffing

Exactly this. I didn't know that's what it was called. Same as "soft case" instead of gigbag. Planting the idea that it has a case, when in fact it comes in a thin plastic sleeve, with perfect plausible deniability.

 

[Michedelic]

Is there a catagory of “virginy”(as opposed to “Take Me Back To Old Virginny”)?

 

[Williethump]

I used to collect WW2 stuff and the classifications were mint (looked like it had never been issued), unissued (hadn't been issued) and above that was still in the packaging, like a jeep spark plug in greased paper in a cardboard box which could be found sometimes, sometimes by the hundred in some old warehouse in Buffalo or something. It didn't mean "like new apart from dents". Sometimes unissued could be stained as I presume that came from a warehouse that had flooded and they decided to ignore the 5000 water bottle covers at the back and they dried out over the following 50 years

In hardware terms we call it 'new-old-stock' if still brand new, never used or issued and manufactured many years ago. The US military built huge numbers of spares and replacement parts for every piece of hardware in WWII, hence P-51 Mustangs and F4U Corsairs are still flying today.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Please Note: Images form part of the deception.
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[E2942]

I can almost guarantee they haven't actually tasted it.

 

[bobyoung53]

Is that like not quite mint but close? Help me out here...

I think it's a term used by "cool" frequent sellers that insinuates the equipment is in mint condition but gives them an out if you complain. I hate the term myself. It makes me want to email them and say "Grow up Junior"