Why do people describe stuff as "minty?"

[LBS-bass]

I didn't read everything, but to get serious for a minute, this (mint) is a term that's borrowed from coin-collecting. Coins are made in a place called a mint, so when a coin is made it has been "minted" and a coin that has just been "minted" and never put into circulation is said to be in "mint-condition."

So, in collecting, mint basically means untouched.

As far as "minty" in terms of flavor, I guess there are several kinds of mint but they all have a sort of sharp coolness to their flavor in common.

Someone else has probably already said all this but I'm bored today. Sorry.

 

[bobyoung53]

In my opinion, mint means fresh from the factory, with a warrantee. Minty makes more sense to me than to call a used item mint.

To me 'mint' means a used item that's practically perfect, fresh from the factory is 'new'. Mint is way overused IMHO, 'minty' should be banned from the English language.

 

[jtg]

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.

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.

I have always thought it better to underpromise and overdeliver, leaving the customer hopefully pleasantly surprised but at least not disappointed. The over-not-quite-promising-but-insinuating and underdelivering leaves a bad taste.

p.s. I might post some stuff here in a bit, so please feel free to judge me by this standard.

 

[bobyoung53]

I didn't read everything, but to get serious for a minute, this (mint) is a term that's borrowed from coin-collecting. Coins are made in a place called a mint, so when a coin is made it has been "minted" and a coin that has just been "minted" and never put into circulation is said to be in "mint-condition."

So, in collecting, mint basically means untouched.

As far as "minty" in terms of flavor, I guess there are several kinds of mint but they all have a sort of sharp coolness to their flavor in common.

Someone else has probably already said all this but I'm bored today. Sorry.

They also call coins right from the mint 'uncirculated' or did when I was a kid. Oh, yeah, I'm bored too or I probably never would have posted in this thread although the term 'minty' has always been a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Minty is the best bait for bass. To them, it's irresistible.
​

 

[-Asdfgh-]

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.

In one instance I had a NOS because I think the entire batch probably failed quality control. Some minty basses may be in this category.

 

[Hot Rats]

Them youths and their slang!

 

[Michedelic]

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"

I place it in the same catagory as phrases like “plays like butter” and lame excuses like “need to thin the herd”.

 

[bobyoung53]

I place it in the same catagory as phrases like “plays like butter” and lame excuses like “need to thin the herd”.

I'm from Mass, we say "It plays like buttah"

 

[Michedelic]

I'm from Mass, we say "It plays like buttah"

That too. Wicked.

 

[bobyoung53]

That too. Wicked.

To be exact, "It plays wicked pissah like buttah!"

 

[fretno]

My ‘68 is in good condition. It’s mintiness wore off long ago and it kinda smells funny.

 

[Derry Murbles]

In my mind:

Mint=New condition. May have been played/demo’d a bit but there are no signs of wear.

Minty= As new or like new, but has been used a bit. Maybe a couple rehearsals, but still no signs of wear.

 

[Ronnie Thunders]

Previously mint

 

[Ronnie Thunders]

As close to mint as you can get without without your eyes getting wet

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Same people who say ‘plays like Budda” , or Ibby

 

[Ostie]

Check out the PG. It’s minty. If it was tort, it would be torty. And so on.

 

[Diminishedfilth]

I first saw that term in an ad for a Warmoth bass. That was about 15 years ago, and I've seen it a lot since, but still sounds like something a 1980's preteen boy (I was one), bartering baseball cards would say.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

 

[bassballs27]

Mint condition - For coins, it’s the condition of the coin when it’s left the mint before it’s circulated. Perfect is the better word.

Mint is really a subjective term because there are some builders that never reach perfection and some aren’t even trying to or it’s part of what do. So I guess that’s relative to the builder and mint can actually mean original condition. Genesis condition sounds better to me! Not trying to be religious!

Chocolate mint is an ice cream flavour.
Minty sounds like a flavour as opposed to an original state. I’ll go with bubble gum chocolate minty for my next classified and see what people think!