What Vintage Guitars are waiting for someone to make famous?

[Jahn]

It's not that they are bad, they just haven't gotten any kind of respect due to lack of exposure and initial popularity. Look how long the Fender Bronco took to get credit before the Artic Monkeys finally blew that open. I'm not talking about a tiny boutique guitar no one has heard of - I mean a major company that made a concerted effort, but never made a long term impact...yet.

Below are my top three votes, and if you can name someone so famous that they already make these guitars a household desirable model, please correct me.

1) The Non-Reverse Firebird. Does this win, or what?

http://www.mansons.co.uk/shopping/images/items/1431/1431_1_large.jpg

2) Gibson L6S. Do you really think of Santana when you see this thing? Neither do I.

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/L6S-santana76S.jpg


3) Last but not least, the Fender TC-90. A modern "lost classic." Very good ideas all put together in a strange way.

http://www.computersunlimited.com/images_products/12500_big.jpg

[avincent52`]

The Fender Coronado?

They actually sound very cool (I've got a minty Lake Placid Blue Coro II) and are much less likely to feed back on modern PAs (although I play mine at home.)

allen

[Jahn]

The Fender Coronado?

They actually sound very cool (I've got a minty Lake Placid Blue Coro II) and are much less likely to feed back on modern PAs (although I play mine at home.)

allen


Nice call, especially the Wildwood ones! Dunno anyone famous using one!

http://pmblues.com/product_pics/791c.jpg

[twferrill]

http://www.premierguitar.com/Stream/StreamImage.aspx?Mode=News&Image_ID=A4385B60-9627-46DA-880A-CEEB0B275C3B&Image_Type=image
Dear Mr. Fantasy

[yellowecho]

The Fender Coronado?
They actually sound very cool (I've got a minty Lake Placid Blue Coro II) and are much less likely to feed back on modern PAs (although I play mine at home.)

jack white has been seen using them...
as has jonathan bates (mellowdrone) and the dude from the dandy warhols.

[MBreinin]

Epiphone Coronet.

[Jahn]

Epiphone Coronet.

Ah that's a good one. The LP Jr. gets all the glory, but this one has the guts too:

http://normansrareguitars.com/images/P/epi%20coronet%20f.jpg

[MBreinin]

Ah that's a good one. The LP Jr. gets all the glory, but this one has the guts too:

http://normansrareguitars.com/images/P/epi%20coronet%20f.jpg

Well Steve Marriot played an earlier 3 on a side HS version in Humble Pie, and later Johnny Winter played a Crestwood, I think, the two mini-hum version...but I don't think anyone as of late has been out in the public eye with one. And yes, they scream just as hard as a Junior.

[haslar]

jack white has been seen using them...
as has jonathan bates (mellowdrone) and the dude from the dandy warhols.

The guy from Clinic also.

[duckbunny]

http://www.marcelroy.com/56_59/58dsimmac/58ds1.jpg

Duo-Sonics?




-db

[Custom50]

The Fender Swinger/Musiclander/Arrow

http://www.abalonevintage.com/S.fender.musiclander.jpg

basically a chopped up musicmaster.

[nmiller]

Anything by Guild, but especially the M-75.

http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/carl/1830856/Photo2_cb7c2.jpg

[MBreinin]

Pete Doherty, of the Libertines and Babyshambles, routinely plays a Coronet. It was his main go to guitar with the Libertines and he still brings it out for certain Babyshambles songs.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2910/petedohertyny2.th.jpg (http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=petedohertyny2.jpg)

Cool! I have heard of neither band, nor him, but cool nonetheless.

Mike

[pir8matt]

Ampeg stud?

http://www.oldenburger-music-station.de/ampegsg.jpg

Granted, its just an SG ripoff, but you gotta look close!

[seiko]

http://www.marcelroy.com/56_59/58dsimmac/58ds1.jpg

Duo-Sonics?




-db

Even without any star cache these seem to have lept in price over the last couple of years.

[pir8matt]

The Peavey T-40 has been making a little comeback with some 'indie' bass players, but I haven't seen anyone making waves with the old T-60's yet.

http://gitar.hatarozo.hu/mods/block_art/images/3195843832_t-60-410.jpg

[MBreinin]

Even without any star cache these seem to have lept in price over the last couple of years.

And Tomo is doing his best to make them famous. Didn't Johnny Lang play one when he was really young too?

Mike

[MBreinin]

The Peavey T-40 has been making a little comeback with some 'indie' bass players, but I haven't seen anyone making waves with the old T-60's yet.

http://gitar.hatarozo.hu/mods/block_art/images/3195843832_t-60-410.jpg

Carl Perkins played them, I think. A friend had one of these, it played pretty well. However, it was so ugly I needed a six pack in me before I could touch it.

Mike

[seiko]

Ovation Viper

http://http://www.chrisguitars.com/ova77viper-sb.jpg

[3th3r]

Anything by Guild, but especially the M-75.

http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/carl/1830856/Photo2_cb7c2.jpg

Brendan Benson, The Raconteurs:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/282900269_5466494653.jpg

[pir8matt]

Anything by Guild, but especially the M-75.

http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/carl/1830856/Photo2_cb7c2.jpg

Don't forget Kim Thayil!

http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/images/thayil.jpg

[uberpict]

Warren Haynes uses the non-reverse Firebird quite a bit, you can hear a lot of it on Gov't Mule albums. So I'll add a big +1 for that.

[Hootad Binky]

http://www.maxmulti.com/images/melody_maker.jpg

Gibson Melody Maker - lots of people have played them, but none very 'famously" (Joan Jett?)


http://www.joness.com/gr300/pics/XJS/XJ-S-01.jpg

Roland guitars - this one looks a bit like a Tregan.

[RobT]

All the ones I used to own but have since sold off or traded for less than what I paid for it.

[Jahn]

The Fender Swinger/Musiclander/Arrow

http://www.abalonevintage.com/S.fender.musiclander.jpg

basically a chopped up musicmaster.


Whoa. Now that's a good call.

http://www.abalonevintage.com/S.fender.musiclander.jpg

And might I add that just last year I would have said the semihollow Fender Starcaster but it seems to have taken off after Radiohead got a hold of it.

[nmiller]

I also forgot the Kustom K-200 series:

http://www.broadwaymusicco.com/Kust003.jpg

[jaxworlds]

here is my vote, it is a Gibson ES140T, look at this sweetheart.. I think Epiphone made it as a Sorrento.
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m4/jaxworlds_3/sunbursts/?action=view&current=es140T.jpg
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m4/jaxworlds_3/sunbursts/?action=view&current=es140T.jpg

[kovachian]

How about some old Carvins? Maybe a DC150 or something?
No?
Ok nevermind.

[soulohio]

It's not that they are bad, they just haven't gotten any kind of respect due to lack of exposure and initial popularity. Look how long the Fender Bronco took to get credit before the Artic Monkeys finally blew that open. I'm not talking about a tiny boutique guitar no one has heard of - I mean a major company that made a concerted effort, but never made a long term impact...yet.

Below are my top three votes, and if you can name someone so famous that they already make these guitars a household desirable model, please correct me.

1) The Non-Reverse Firebird. Does this win, or what?

Similar to=I have a Fender Toronado in sunburst...excellent guitar at a nice price. humbucker equipped, light and comfortable to wear and has a nice strat neck. thinking of selling it. the sunburst Toronados were the best.


3) Last but not least, the Fender TC-90. A modern "lost classic." Very good ideas all put together in a strange way.

http://www.computersunlimited.com/images_products/12500_big.jpg

I played one. Not a classic nor will it be one, in me opine. Didn't do enough of any one thing to make it memeorable and didn't sound or play so hot.

[george4908]

http://www.jazzhouse.org/jpg/nart/last05/ClarenceGatemouthBrown_RAndrewLepley.jpg
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown played the non-reverse Firebird.

http://jnjguitarcellar.com/images/Wanted/FramusNashville.jpg

Here's a candidate for discovery: Framus Nashville ('70s). Low on everybody's radar screen, but it was designed in consultation with Chet Atkins, used Bill Lawrence pickups, and was played by Peter Green for a while. That's not a bad pedigree. I used to have one. Fun guitar.

[stratotonedude]

Gibson ES-325
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h54/roybrooks/IMG_0002-2.jpg

[postalblowfish]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f9/postalblowfish/del61.gif

Del played a Coronet,too,looks like.

How about this, a Fender Maverick? :

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f9/postalblowfish/fc.jpg

[Bulldog]

The first thing that comes to mind:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/starfire_range.jpg

Some famous players have used them: Jerry Garcia, Dave Davies, Greg Brown...

And yet, the value hasn't really gone up much. Gotta love the Guild mini-hums and the Guild logo Bigsbys! I'd love to get my hands on a III or V.

[Jahn]

That Fender Maverick looks like a Fender XII had a baby with a Jazzmaster and got infected with the Jazz Bass disease. At this very moment, a hipster is looking for that thing on eBay!

[jammybastard]

Noel Gallagher of Oasis made Epiphones fashionable in the 90's when he played Sheratons and Casinos (http://img.gkblogger.com/blog/imgdb/000/000/050/878_2.jpg).
Epiphone thanked him by making a Sig model that was overpriced and made in Korea (http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/image_galleries/031006_sounds_city_gallery.shtml?2),
:NUTS

Now he plays a full on vintage hollowbody Gibby.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Noel_Gallagher3.jpg

BTW - got $20k?
You can bid on his iconic Union Jack Casino for charity...
http://www.childlinerocks.co.uk/images/auction/noel1.jpg

http://www.childlinerocks.co.uk/auction_items.htm

[enocaster]

The Guild M-80
http://www.axguitars.com/pics/GM80/M80f.jpg
I have one of these and it's fantastic!


Dave Grohl talked up the RD for awhile, then moved on to every other obscure Gibson:
http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1977_Gibson_RD_Custom_72457025.jpg

The Guild SA 300A-D is neat, too:
http://www.rare-guitars.co.uk/guitars/GuildS300A-D/dave-hill-guild.jpg

[MBreinin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlrSwHHkCoc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5FqN59rfFI

Likely not to the taste of most TGP members, but at least it shows a Coronet in action, as well as a melody maker.

Not bad. Cool to see a Silver Fox like mine in action!

Mike

[Bulldog]

Let's face it, Guild just made cool guitars... that for some reason, haven't gotten the press of Gibson or Fender.

Always loved the guild thunderbird... seriously, is there a cooler headstock?

http://www.guitarcrazy.com.au/GuildTBird1964.jpg

http://www.hermann-anschlag.de/index-Dateien/image132.jpg
http://www.wlof-channel95.com/camnitz/sp1big.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54PV2_b4-ow - And On TV!

[Rumble]

The Martin electrics, coulda been a contender, but didn't get the love. I think the guy in Music Machine ('60s hit: Talk Talk) used one in photo ops, but never really played one. Seems like some guy a few years ago used one in a video. Here's my '66 GT-75 that I bought back in 1980, with stock DeArmonds and Bigsby. My plans for stardom with it didn't quite pan out...LOL

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2614/martingt75ne2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[DrumBob]

Yes, anything by Guild is right. Guild electrics have always been "sleepers" on the collectible market, except for the S-200 Thunderbird and the M-75 Aristocrat/ Bluesbird, both of which fetch thousands now.

If I had dough to burn, I'd buy up a few old Guilds and stash them away. Guild Starfires are great guitars, equal on par with ES-335s. I even like that pointy thing, the X-79. It feels like it's made of balsa wood.

[sleepingtiger]

The Gibson V2! A unique looking AND soundin guitar!
Mine is the one on the left(also pictured below), the one on the right belongs to someone else now....sigh....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/sleepingtiger/V2/43630014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/sleepingtiger/V2/43630015.jpg

All they need is someone like Grohl to play one & WHAM!...instant reissue!

Tony

[buchla300]

Gibson ES-330

[DANOCASTER]

I vote Gibson Marauder :dude

[Leonc]

Let's face it, Guild just made cool guitars... that for some reason, haven't gotten the press of Gibson or Fender.

Always loved the guild thunderbird... seriously, is there a cooler headstock?

http://www.guitarcrazy.com.au/GuildTBird1964.jpg

http://www.hermann-anschlag.de/index-Dateien/image132.jpg
http://www.wlof-channel95.com/camnitz/sp1big.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54PV2_b4-ow - And On TV!

And don't forget:

http://www.hotoke-blues.com/phtograph/electric/3.jpg

Some excellent footage here too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25iA2XPzuA

[dtube]

I think the early LP Classics, 90-92, are destined to leave the "player" category and take off. Right now, plaintops in good condition are routinely selling for $1300 or so on Ebate - Plus tops are $1500 or so. Those had the super-skinny neck and historic appointments. I have a 91 Plus that I absolutely love.
-Darren

[Alvis]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/ayhcult/Saddam.jpg

[Hootad Binky]

http://musicproducersforum.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/gibson-reverse-v-cropp.jpg

[stratotonedude]

The Martin electrics, coulda been a contender, but didn't get the love. I think the guy in Music Machine ('60s hit: Talk Talk) used one in photo ops, but never really played one. Seems like some guy a few years ago used one in a video. Here's my '66 GT-75 that I bought back in 1980, with stock DeArmonds and Bigsby. My plans for stardom with it didn't quite pan out...LOL

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2614/martingt75ne2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Johnny "Guitar" Watson used to play one of those.

[stratotonedude]

Gibson ES-330

Slim Harpo, Grant Green. And for awhile one of the guitar players in Dream Syndicate played an ES-330.

[buchla300]

http://musicproducersforum.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/gibson-reverse-v-cropp.jpg

Vintage? :crazyguy

[Mattbedrock]

S1:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj91/Mattbedrock/Marauder.jpg

Melody Maker:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj91/Mattbedrock/MelodyMaker.jpg

Breadwinners & Deacons:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj91/Mattbedrock/Ovations.jpg

RD's:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj91/Mattbedrock/RDCustom.jpg

Corvus:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj91/Mattbedrock/GibsonStrats-1.jpg

I've got more screwed up stuff without pictures: Marauders, L-6S, E2's. I love that stuff!

[joe324]

Gibson ES-325
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h54/roybrooks/IMG_0002-2.jpg

Caleb Followill from Kings Of Leon.

http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/9/5/1/9/7609159.jpg

[Guitarworks]

Epiphone Genesis!

[b2sc]

How about 70s/early 80s Deans. Anybody remember this ad.....??????



http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/b2sc/DeanAd.jpg

[FloridaSam]

http://img109.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/06/23/kramer2-4ay8o2ekv.jpeg

[fender753]

http://www.marcelroy.com/56_59/58dsimmac/58ds1.jpg

Duo-Sonics?




-db

Tomo Fujita! :)

[stratotonedude]

Caleb Followill from Kings Of Leon.

http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/9/5/1/9/7609159.jpg

Oh God, NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!

[Demioblue]

I'm still waiting for this model to take off in a BIG way!
http://www.keithrichards.com/desks/04.jpg

[GibsonSGgirl]

I'm waiting to make the 1980 Gibson SG Standard and the 1988 Fender US '57 RI famous...it might take awhile tho, as I'm not in a band...

:BEER

[violetlove]

And thus we see natural selcetion at work. It's not that the LP and Strat designs were known to be so good as they ewere conceived. They were known to be good as they stood teh test of time, and their malformed brothers fell by the wayside.

[Hootad Binky]

What was that weird (12-string?) electric with the tiny body that Ric Ocasek used to play? I think Brian Jones also played one. haven't seen them in years and couldn't find a picture, either.

[franksguitar]

Well Steve Marriot played an earlier 3 on a side HS version in Humble Pie, and later Johnny Winter played a Crestwood, I think, the two mini-hum version...but I don't think anyone as of late has been out in the public eye with one. And yes, they scream just as hard as a Junior.

If I'm not mistaken the late Rod Price of Foghat used one for slide.

[franksguitar]

What was that weird (12-string?) electric with the tiny body that Ric Ocasek used to play? I think Brian Jones also played one. haven't seen them in years and couldn't find a picture, either.

A Vox.

[hanleyk]

another vote for gibson marauder.

single coil - bridge. humbucker - neck.

i used to play one through a marshall 1ooW. unbelievable.

[Custom50]

i too used to own a marauder, it was a great guitar. wish i still had it.

[Rumble]

Johnny "Guitar" Watson used to play one of those.

Interesting. I don't know much about him, will have to give a listen to some of his works.

[jeffwith1f]

The RD had it's day with Dave Ghrol already. Also I think I saw the guy in Crowned Kings playing one. If they went astronomical, I'd be good with that, because i have one, and paid not too much for it.

The Reverse V would be awesome as well. They have a vintage version as well. The original 400 from GOTW. it only took Gibson 200 days to reissue them. they are just that hot people.

finally. The Moderne. I so want someone to make that puppy famous. in fact..I want to make it famous. either way, mine will be worth more. Muahahaha!

http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users16/jeffwith1f/default/WebTrioNaturals--large-msg-1197251193.jpg

[sliberty]

Coronets rule. I have a 64. Steve Marriot of Humble Pie used to play a Dwight guitar, which was a private labeled Epiphone Coronet. It said Dwight on the 3x3 headstock, and there was a D on the pickguard. His tone on the Fillmore album is flawless.



Ah that's a good one. The LP Jr. gets all the glory, but this one has the guts too:

http://normansrareguitars.com/images/P/epi%20coronet%20f.jpg

[Leonc]

Coronets rule. I have a 64. Steve Marriot of Humble Pie used to play a Dwight guitar, which was a private labeled Epiphone Coronet. It said Dwight on the 3x3 headstock, and there was a D on the pickguard. His tone on the Fillmore album is flawless.

Love my old Coronet (it happens to be a '61 3+3 model in cherry red). It's a little screamer fo sho! But my real secret weapon is the '65 Guild Thunderbird S200!

http://www.patchwerkz.com/leonsGear/guild65Thunderbird/Thunderbird2.jpg


I guess the recent "Billy Bo" has sort of similar aesthetics and I think there was actually an Asian reissue of this guitar (but with regular humbuckers and run of the mill hardware/wiring). Neither of those will deliver what this oddball does.

These guitars were really unique and amazingly usable. Don't be fooled by the bizzare "melted Hershey bar" look--the thing plays like a dream (neck feels like a late '50s LP Std) and the sounds are just fantastic. Those old, smallish Guild humbuckers are just chock full o tone! This thing will scream like a classic Les Paul, with all the mahogany/rosewood girth. But you can get very Gretschy-like sounds out of the bridge pickup too. They clean up great and have become some of my favorite sounding pickups.

Flip one switch and you can really attenuate the top end and get very old-school jazz sounds out of it. The guitar is balanced very well and extremely comfortable and easy to play, standing or sitting. Who'd a thunk it?

[Bluedawg]

The RD had it's day with Dave Ghrol already. Also I think I saw the guy in Crowned Kings playing one. If they went astronomical, I'd be good with that, because i have one, and paid not too much for it.

The Reverse V would be awesome as well. They have a vintage version as well. The original 400 from GOTW. it only took Gibson 200 days to reissue them. they are just that hot people.

finally. The Moderne. I so want someone to make that puppy famous. in fact..I want to make it famous. either way, mine will be worth more. Muahahaha!

http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users16/jeffwith1f/default/WebTrioNaturals--large-msg-1197251193.jpg


Another one for the RD here.

I still have my RD standard that my parents bought for me new.

:banana

[Don Grafico]

Even without any star cache these seem to have lept in price over the last couple of years.
http://fenderduosonic.blogspot.com/2008/04/famous-fender-duosonic-players.html

[Don Grafico]

[QUOTE=Hootad Binky;4624564]http://www.maxmulti.com/images/melody_maker.jpg

Gibson Melody Maker - lots of people have played them, but none very 'famously" (Joan Jett?)



Pat Travers.

[Don Grafico]

Gibson ES-330

Grant Green.

[Don Grafico]

I vote Gibson Marauder :dude

Paul Stanley.

[Jahn]

http://fenderduosonic.blogspot.com/2008/04/famous-fender-duosonic-players.html

Good call on that one. I reckon more than one slacker has drooled over what's wrapped around that Duo-Sonic.

http://www.rockinpa.com/images/auto_liz_phair.jpg