Vintage vs. New Acoustic Guitars [which is best for you?]

Should your next guitar be vintage or a newer acoustic guitar? I've got a story that'll change your perspective on vintage instruments, some concerns for vintage guitars, and a review of a *new* guitar that'll turn heads...

In today's Acoustic Tuesday at Home episode, I wanted to answer one question: are vintage or new acoustic guitars better? Ultimately, that led to lots of reflecting and few definitive conclusions.

So, be sure to let me know in the comments whether you lean towards vintage or new guitars!

But, this video is an excellent starting point to help you determine whether you like vintage or new acoustic guitars. To help you find your own pluses and minuses, I'll tell the story of the vintage guitar that changed the way I thought about guitars.

Additionally, you'll get to hear a brand new Furch guitar as reviewed by Brendan from Heartbreaker Guitars in Las Vegas, NV!

00:00 - Intro
03:09 - 1935 Martin 0-17 Story
08:56 - Vintage vs. New
17:03 - Q&A
26:36 - Heartbreaker Guitars: Furch Red Deluxe SR Review

[garyshields]

I pulled out my 1972 Guild D25 Cherry during the lockdown, had the neck reset to correct high action, had a couple of additional tweaks done, and it sounds great! I bought it in 1972. Happy 48 years old to it. I also have a new low end C5 Cordoba classical guitar. I love playing both for different reasons.

[thomasnowicki]

I wanted to give my own perspective on owning a vintage instrument. A few years ago I acquired a Manuel Galvez classical guitar which, after doing some research, I found out was made in El Salvador around 1950. It was scratched terribly all over and had numerous cracks on the back and sides, but it had an incredibly warm, rich, resonant tone. I had a luthier repair and cleat the cracks, dress the frets,
and since the tone was so good I had a pickup installed so that I could gig with it, thinking it would be a welcome addition to some of our fingerpicking tunes. I soon realized that with the noisy venues we played in, I was having too many feedback problems to play gigs with it. There was also still an annoying rattle around the bridge area which couldn't be traced, even after taking it to two different luthiers. After taking it to a third one he recommended a bridge reset, which solved the rattle problem. I guess the moral of the story is that a vintage instrument can be a wonderful addition to your guitarsenal, but be aware that they present their own unique problems and challenges, which the owner should be understanding about and aware of. Incidentally, I now play the classical at our church services, where it's obviously much quieter and the awesome tone adds so much to the music.

[HeartbreakerGuitars]

Great content Tony... another killer show! Cant wait for the new Season too!!

[stackedhippiechick]

If Trigger can still be played, I must say there is hope for vintage guitars.

[pbarru]

Love this show Tony. I have been the proud owner of a 1920 Gibson A model mandolin for over 40 years that I would definitely call vintage. There are plenty of new mandolins around that both play and sound better but I wouldn't let this one go for anything. It is like participating in Americana musical heritage every time I pick it up. I also own a 1974 Martin D-28 that I purchased used in 1975. This is not really vintage but I also didn't buy it new. It is such a part of my life after 45 years I couldn't imagine not having it. Every time I play it feels like being with old and dear friend. I have owned over a dozen guitars over the years but don't remember ever buying one brand new. The only guitars in my history that we might now call vintage ( a 60's Martin D-18 and 60's Gibson J-50) I both bought and sold (big sigh!) long before they were out of the ordinary. But I still prefer Vintage over New. When I am looking for a modern instrument I always look for used because they play and sound as good or better than new but are a much better value. The only brand new guitars I am drawn to are the custom built instruments by one of the scores of incredible luthiers around.

[jacsvihus]

Hey Tony, you hooked me into my first vintage: you demoed a 1920 Martin O18k for me back in the day and you made it sound so good I was hooked. Marcus Engstrom referbed it and it plays like a well done new guitar except it has a one of a kind unique sound. You may remember it? I have played one other similar and it was not the same. The sound that comes from old vintage outweighs the maintenance issues (which do exist but it is part of the fun) in my experience. I agree wholeheartedly about meeting the luthiers and building relationships.One of the best times I had with repairs was hangin in Marty Lanham's shop in Nashville and seeing all the stuff he was/is working on. Vintage fan big time. Hopeless Guitar Geek. I checked my files and I still have the Mov clip of your demo, priceless.

[Jess_Jones]

Had a 79 Guild D-25 that I bought from a guitar center that closed shortly after. It needed some love, bridge pins- new nut and a few new frets. The guitar body itself was a tank, a few dents and a couple of light scratches. Sounded the best out of every guitar I’ve ever owned after I fixed it up. The one that got away ☹️ but I love new and old guitars alike.

[maht]

Im full on vintage! Ive got my first brand new guitar ever this summer. Got a Norman St30 havana burst and I love it a lot. It was a gift from my bru. On the vintage side ive got my grandpa beater. Its full of imperfections but its also full of memories.
Love your channel!!!

[EarlyRiser--]

Great show Tony. Another reason for owning a vintage instrument might be the quality of the wood used. A few years ago, I was looking for a small-bodied guitar with a small neck. I was told that Martin used the same old growth mahogany for their 0-15, 0-17, and 0-18 guitars back in the day. I played a new 0-15 in a store and liked the fit. One music store was selling new 0-15's they commissioned Martin to make but I was told the wood was not equal to the vintage mahogany. Gryphon Guitars told me they rarely see the old 0 mahogany guitars come through. Then I found one on a Vintage Guitar site being sold for much less than the going price. The 0-15 still had all original parts, with the 11/16th neck, original chipboard case and was in excellent condition. The seller let me call his master Martin luthier who spent 45 minutes with me going over every detail of the guitar. He said he rarely sees an 0-15 in almost perfect condition with such amazing tone since they were used as beginner guitars. Being older it is such a pleasure to play a wonderful small-bodied vintage mahogany guitar. Yes, I baby it but since its 63 years old it deserves a little tenderness.

[texhaines]

Oh yes, learn by hearing especially if one is blind and can't see the paper. That's why I like Tony 's TAC lessons because he gives the tab AND does a great job walking the student through the lesson, no eyes required (ps TrueFire has similar experience for blind folks). Yes repetition, playing for others 6 days a week, for an hour or more. Thanks Tony, Victoria and Jenn.

[capohd]

I bought an 1988 HD28 new, and then sold my boutique Koa guitar just after. Since then I got a 1936 King acoustic bass, a 70s Stelling banjo and early Flatiron Mandolin. Recently I bought a 1962 Martin 000-18 that I absolutely love and my HD 28 is getting neglected. Now I want an affordable D18, likely from 50s or 60s, or a 1944 I know of that was rebuilt after severe damage. So yeah, I like vintage, but not collectible vintage. I like well worn and played vintage, as long as it’s got good playability and structure is good. The 000 -18 I got is the most playable instrument I own. Neck feels like butter, action is perfect, and sounds great. I can’t put it down. This is the kind of vintage I like. I’m not afraid of Tbar necks. They are some of the best I’ve seen, including this one.

[sharontiano]

For a few years I was hoping to round out my collection with a birth year mahogany guitar. I wasn't obsessed with looking but I was keeping my eyes open. Last year at ALF, in Music Villa - I saw a previously enjoyed 2015 000-15 hog on consignment. There was something appealing and I decided to forgo the birth year requirement and get it. Two days later, a 1947 0-17 also arrived on consignment. The sound, the way she looked - all spoke to me. She had a hulu girl sticker on the headstock with someone made her even more endearing to me. She wasn't my birth year either so I was going to walk away. But one of my dearest friends though, whom we often joke is my twin, heard me talk about this guitar and when I said the year and model exclaimed that this is the same one her mother has that she now plays. Once again, we could twin. That settled it. I needed that guitar. And when we finally compared serial numbers, it turns out they are very close to each other so we believe they are from the same tree. I have a whole backstory in my head about the lady on the headstock and she helped a soldier get through some hard times. Her name is YOLO and I hope to enjoy her for many many years to come.

[blankn]

I’m agnostic Tony. Just put a guitar in my hands. But I have a 46 j-45 bought at Carters Vintage years ago and a Santa Cruz OMPW that had a broken neck but I bought it after the local luthier repaired it to perfection. A good deal. So a similar story of repair.

[Indianawhiskeyandbourbon]

I, myself, love new and vintage. Not the same way. An old staple guitar like a vintage Martin D-18 will have a personality. When you hold it and play it, you can feel it's importance. It already has a soul. My brand new Martin D-28, I bought last year, when I pick it up and play it, my playing style is what is loosening the wood up and giving it its own unique sound. My old guitars are pre-marinated while my new ones are still being seasoned.

[texhaines]

My preference? Who am I playing for and what am I playing? I like old Martin guitar sound for some (Dad likes Gibson) and Taylor's guitars for others. So yes

[NoUseForAName]

I've always favored New guitars.. I just love the look of a new guitar..ahhh and that "New Guitar Smell" lol!! My newest New guitar is a Martin D-35.. I guess the main reason I prefer a new guitar is I love the idea of being the first of that guitars life or history. All the play time on that guitar is from me. I love when you can notice the guitar starting to "Open Up" and you can just feel the guitar isn't as Tight as it once was. Bought my D-35 this past April and literally every time I play I can hear the top opening up more and more as it's becoming less Tight or Stiff..

[Thepruz]

Quick story: I am a teacher and usually once a year a student will say, "I've got a guitar at home." I always ask them to bring it in, and every time it is a Sears guitar from the 1970's, made of plywood, with two strings on it. Last year a student told me he found a guitar in his grandma's shed and she gave it to him. I told him to bring it in. It turned out to be a 1957 Martin D-18 in its original case and had all its original parts. It was filthy, and the strings had to be 40 or 50 years old (they were pitch black). I cleaned all the grime off the fingerboard and the body, polished the frets, and put new strings on it. It sounded great! The finish was completely checked and crazed--front, back, sides, and headstock. The was a one centimeter crack along the bottom of the pick guard--but that was the only crack. Great, great guitar. That student still has it and says he'll never sell it.

As to vintage vs new, I do like to look for 20-year-old guitars with good frets, no cracks, and that are not all dinged up. Not vintage, not new. They are already played in and sound excellent. The major drawback is no warranty, but if it is in excellent shape when I buy it I can usually keep it in that condition and it will be a while before it needs an adjustment. Plus, you can usually get a very good guitar, like a Martin D-28 that does not cost as much as a new D-28.

[CarlosGonzalez-txcb]

Thank you Tony! I have a guitar that is somewhat of a vintage guitar. It was made in 2000 and it is the best one I own. Just like you said, that it allows the opportunity to forge a relationship with a luthier. In my case, I have forged a relationship with the original luthier. Every time I would visit San Antonio, TX, I would stop by and have lunch with him. He is about to build me a really nice classical as well with a spruce composite top and cocobolo back and sides.

[goldmelons]

i have just purchased a Japan vintage MORRIS MD-507 on Dec 3rd 2024 in 90% prestine condition. I am mind-blown. it sounds like mahogany and sitka in between, its brighter and resonates way better. probably due to the wood has aged and fully dried out. will buy it a new set of light gauge elixirs and will be my greatest buy for the year. so happy with it. i dont mind if its vintage, i am more of the craftmanship and sound quality. It sounds remarkably good, and it is low action. very minimal signs of use and for the fraction of the price, IT IS HARD TO BEAT.

[mikeadams]

Had a milestone birthday a few months back and struggled between wanting a guitar made in my birth year or a new guitar. Looked at all the options and then finally decided on the new model. Martin has made this decision much harder with the Re-imagined Standard series....they really nailed the look and finish.