Am I missing out?

[Hudman_1]

The Stratocaster is very simple and straightforward. There’s is absolutely nothing magical about pre CBS era Strats.

 

[sthebluesman]

You're not missing out on anything. Just yesterday I said my old Strats are just worn out good guitars. The neck wears down, the pickups get weak, the tuners loose, pickguards crack, pots wear out. It's much better to have a guitar that is in good shape and you don't have to worry about it getting stolen.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

You're not missing out on anything. Just yesterday I said my old Strats are just worn out good guitars. The neck wears down, the pickups get weak, the tuners loose, pickguards crack, pots wear out. It's much better to have a guitar that is in good shape and you don't have to worry about it getting stolen.

Heh.. bluesman don't start talking common sense on ST.. you'll be visiting the 'cornfield' and given short thrift in no particular order.. haha

 

[somebodyelseuk]

I find myself more and more looking at vintage Strats. The prices, as I’m sure most here know, can be quite crazy. I bought an all original 1979 Tokai Springy Sound ST80 last year hoping it would scratch that itch for a vintage Strat. I wouldn’t be making this thread though if I didn’t wonder how much I am missing out on with the Tokai instead of getting a vintage Fender. So, how much am I missing out on? Lol

I would say, no you're not.

'Old' doesn't mean 'great', it means old.
Some are great, some are dire, most are just good. These were just mass production instruments, at the end of the day. Their 'legendary' status comes from a drop in standards of what was being produced for a period of time, which is why Tokai et al became so popular.

Genera;;y speaking, you're more likely to get a better guitar from the Custom Shop, and I definitely wouldn't advise spending that kind of money on anything made during the '70s/'80s from either Fender or Gibson.

 

[Nokie]

Pre automation Fender guitars were more unique from one handmade Strat to the next handmade Strat.. Now that the wooden components are made on CNC machines they are pretty much identical from one part to the next depending on which computer program is making the part/s. What I mean by computer program is there will be a different program used to make a 1956 vintage reproduction Strat neck then the program used to make a 65 vintage reproduction Strat neck etc, etc, etc. If you want a Strat with vintage specs. buy a vintage reproduction model of the year that feels best to you. People who pay tens of thousands of dollars for "Vintage Strat" are SPECULATING that the market place for the instrument will remain stable and or increase in "Value". As long as there are people with more money than sense those SPECULATIVE INVESTMENTS will pay a dividend. I see a lot of posts where the prospective buyer rationalizes spending too much for an instrument by factoring "MOJO" into their decision. MOJO = a magic charm, talisman, or spell. In other words MOJO is non-existent.

Yes, there are many who buy vintage guitars as investments. I don't. I am speculating the trend will be downward. I realize the real guitar boom motivated by The Beatles on Ed Sillysyone and million selling guitar heroes such as Jimi and Eddie is in the past. It's great to see the Rock Schools out there with kids impressing their parents that they can play just like Jimmy Page or EVH - exciting the parents enough to spend money on guitars and amps. That should keep the market going for another generation.

Some of why one buys any guitar has to do with their level of commitment to the guitar. There are actually those among us who love their guitars but who would prefer to spend the discretionary big bucks on a nice sports car - and a classic Ferrari, for example, would be a better investment. Being much more into music than driving, and being in a happy marriage where I don't need the chick magnet, it's the overpriced vintage guitar for me. Yes, I love my more precisely assembled, modern tolerance, AV and CS Strats, and can enjoy the sound and playability every bit as well on them as I can on the vintage. But the vintage gets the edge for it's less precise, more handheld assemblage, it's light 6.75 lb weight, it's old brown shoe feel, It's market value is far from my primary interest in the old gut-bucket - my personal commitment to playing is what realizes the mojo in the guitar that is indeed an intangible and certainly wouldn't exist for me if I didn't have the old guitar.

 

[sikoniko]

People buy things because they want them. Everyone’s motivation is different and stereotyping is foolish.

 

[langstoneight]

missing out on an overpriced guitar with probably not your favourite neck-shape, outdated Freboard Radius and String Spacing - nope
the contours in the 50s were sexy though

 

[Bern1]

I always thought Freboard was an awesome song!

 

[Bazz Jass]

At the end of the day, player grade preCBS strats are still pretty affordable - price of a good used car, or a small boat. If you don't have need for a car or a boat, a preCBS strat might fill that gap nicely.

Think of all the poor Les Paul players in the world who are missing out on having an original Burst. That really isn't a thing mere mortals can aspire to huh?

 

[Oldiemurphy]

Lol, this thread’s still going strong and feisty. Props to the OP for stirring up a tumbleweed that will not quit. It’s starting to make me want to buy another guitar, regardless of the pros and cons of vintage, non-vintage, or reissue/inspired by vintage. But I’m gonna stay strong. Not gonna do it!

 

[Will Lefeurve]

At the end of the day, player grade preCBS strats are still pretty affordable - price of a good used car, or a small boat. If you don't have need for a car or a boat, a preCBS strat might fill that gap nicely.

Think of all the poor Les Paul players in the world who are missing out on having an original Burst. That really isn't a thing mere mortals can aspire to huh?

Well.. I'll agree with you as far as Les Paul busts are concerned Bazz..

Beg to differ on the 'pretty affordable' for a player grade 10/15k pre CBS though. Typical UK prices for player grade. To assume that, you have to be very much in the 'professional middle class' disposable income bracket. Or just plain old 'comfortably' off. In YUK anyway.

Most working people buy their 'decent' used cars using some sort of loan, either through the dealer, or bank, to spread payments and make it affordable. Same for boats, but I'd class them as a luxury item, a nice to have. I've never really given a thought to buying an expensive vintage guitar on tick. Maybe people do, I don't know.

My daughters often throw around figures like 10k/15k as though they were confetti. They do that because of the ridiculous telephone number house prices they've got used to. I always remind them, you just try saving up 10/15k in cash after your outgoings, they can't of course. When you have a family with everyday living costs, especially now with 'real' inflation running nearer to 20% as opposed to the government's 10%, its just not possible for the average Joe..

Just my thoughts on your thoughts anyway..

 

[Bazz Jass]

Well.. I'll agree with you as far as Les Paul busts are concerned Bazz..

Beg to differ on the 'pretty affordable' for a player grade 10/15k pre CBS though. Typical UK prices for player grade. To assume that, you have to be very much in the 'professional middle class' disposable income bracket. Or just plain old 'comfortably' off. In YUK anyway.

Most working people buy their 'decent' used cars using some sort of loan, either through the dealer, or bank, to spread payments and make it affordable. Same for boats, but I'd class them as a luxury item, a nice to have. I've never really given a thought to buying an expensive vintage guitar on tick. Maybe people do, I don't know.

My daughters often throw around figures like 10k/15k as though they were confetti. They do that because of the ridiculous telephone number house prices they've got used to. I always remind them, you just try saving up 10/15k in cash after your outgoings, they can't of course. When you have a family with everyday living costs, especially now with 'real' inflation running nearer to 20% as opposed to the government's 10%, its just not possible for the average Joe..

Just my thoughts on your thoughts anyway..

I hear ya I'll just add that good quality classical instruments (not even superb quality) are easily up with player grade preCBS guitar prices.

Pianos, violin family instruments and don't even get me started on the likes of tubas!

 

[Mr Dunlop]

I got a few players grade pre - cbs guitats at a good price and have owned several others.
One of my guitar heroes plays a 62. Drove 8 hour round trip for my 62 guitar. I could triple or quadruple my money on that guitar but the thrill of owning it is priceless.
If I find a custom color pre cbs strat a decent price I will surely snatch it up but these guitars are getting harder to find at decent prices.

 

[Nokie]

Lol, this thread’s still going strong and feisty. Props to the OP for stirring up a tumbleweed that will not quit. It’s starting to make me want to buy another guitar, regardless of the pros and cons of vintage, non-vintage, or reissue/inspired by vintage. But I’m gonna stay strong. Not gonna do it!

"Not gonna do it!" Is this to say it wouldn't be prudent at this juncture?