Modern vintage acoustic guitars. What do I even mean by that term? Acoustic guitars by their very nature are traditional things, are they not?
Yes indeed, and we guitarists are nothing if not collective in our love for classic guitars, both acoustic and electric. We attach romance to those instruments who’ve travelled through the years, sometimes in the hands of famous players and other times kept in cases under beds. We love the stories that come with these vintage instruments, but more than that (with acoustics certainly), we love the feel and sound of these old guitars. They do change over time, as we appreciate those changes.
But there’s only so many of these wonderful old guitars, and their prices are consequently high. Hardly anybody has the means to own one, far less the access, and so today we have many acoustic builders offering what I’m terming ‘modern vintage’ guitars. These are styled after old models, and have been made using processes such as torrefaction (moisture removed from timber via high heat, transforming the wood’s molecular structure and making it sound wonderfully resonant) to bring the experience of these antique museum pieces into the hands of many more players.
Here are some great examples for you to peruse…
My Modern Vintage Acoustic Guitar Choices at a Glance
Taylor Gold Label
Taylor are an excellent example of modern day, cutting edge acoustic guitar building. In fact, I’d say they pretty much define everything that’s great about contemporary builds, from their innovative neck joins to their quietly intricate inlay work. Taylor guitars are all about the ‘now’, aren’t they?
Well, yes and no! Have you checked out the Taylor Gold Label yet? They were released about a year ago, and the idea behind the series is to offer the same level of Taylor build quality and precision, but with a different aesthetic and a distinct lean towards those illustrious Pre War acoustic guitars that everybody loves.
So far, there are a small number of models available in a couple of body shapes such as Grand Pacific and the new Super Auditorium. The tops are torrefied, and there’s new neck joins and internal bracing to help give the player a real ‘modern vintage’ experience.
Martin Authentic
Martin are the standard upon which all acoustic guitars are compared. They’ve been producing instruments from Nazareth, Pennsylvania since 1838, 5 years after their inception. Martin are responsible for many of the things we now take for granted in acoustic guitars, including X-bracing inside the body and even the dreadnought shape.
Martin offer lots of different ranges to cater for what different players want. Some of these - such as the Modern Deluxe - are resolutely ‘today’ guitars (titanium truss rods, composite carbon bridge plates etc), while others are more directly referencing the brand’s history.
For a more vintage-modern Martin guitar, I’d draw your attention to the ‘Authentic’ range. These are top range instruments, made with passion and precision, using only the finest timbers such as Adirondack Spruce and Guatemalan Rosewood. More to the point, these woods are aged using Martin’s VTS process (their version of torrefaction, or ‘roasting’) and then finished using an aged lacquer. This all helps these guitars deliver that prized Pre War tone.
Gibson Murphy Lab
Gibson are one of the most desirable acoustic brands in the world. Another heritage company, they’ve been building acoustics in the US since the days of the American Civil War! They are known for their visual beauty, distinctive upper-mid tone and wide artist association (Elvis, Dylan, Sheryl Crow etc). Gibson models such as the J-45, SJ-200 and the Hummingbird as almost as famous as guitars like the Stratocaster or Les Paul.
Whilst almost all Gibson acoustics are based on classic designs from the Pre-War years (the 1920s and 30s) to the Golden Era of the 50s and 60s, some new models are particularly ‘Modern Vintage’. I’m thinking of the Murphy Lab acoustic guitars of course! Tom Murphy is an expert at recreating decades of wear & tear on new guitars, transforming them into minutely detailed vintage replicas. Gibson offer the Murphy Lab option on a few of their classic designs, with a choice of how scuffed and dinged they get! It’s a very sympathetic and realistic process, and turns a stunning new guitar into a time-travelled masterpiece of aged beauty.
Atkin Aged
Do you want a masterfully hand-built guitar, inspired by classic US acoustics but made in England? Do you want a guitar that can compete with all of the leading brands, made with top woods, with optional (excellent) ageing, and all for (often) less money than an off-the-shelf US guitar?
It has to be Atkin. These are real-deal guitars that are exciting and rewarding to play, and are fully hand made in small numbers by a tiny team in the Southeast. Most models are based on ‘Kalamazoo’ and ‘Nazareth’ guitars, but there’s enough originality there to make them their own.
Gretsch Jim Dandy
Gretsch may be the most idiosyncratic guitar brand out there that players actually use and buy. There’s actually a lot of eccentricity within the range (a rancher dreadnought acoustic with a Filtertron humbucker AND a Bigsby tremolo? On an acoustic?!!!), but they’ve combined that oddness with a cool factor that is just off the charts. Everybody looks good playing a Gretsch, and that’s more important than a lot of things!
Anyway, aside from those awesomely crazy Rancher models, Gretsch offer a range of Jim Dandy acoustic guitars that are a perfect example of modern vintage. Jim Dandy is not a person who has ever existed (Gretsch eccentricity right there), and the guitars are small bodied, short-scaled, economically made guitars that score highly in the kitsch department.
So why am I bothering to talk about them?
Play one and find out for yourself! Oh okay, I’ll tell you what I think. Gretsch Jim Dandies may just be the most fun you can have with a cheap acoustic. They have a very deliberate sound that is thin and reedy yet massively authentic to vintage acoustic guitar tones. Think of old blues records with a little fingerpickin’ and some bottleneck slide. These inexpensive guitars will get you there, with a very cool style and vibe. They are by no means trying to compete with your vintage D-28 or Hummingbird, and I have to say, that’s precisely why they are worth your time.
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