“I don’t subscribe to the idea that all vintage instruments are great”: Chris Buck on why cheap guitars can be just as effective as expensive ones
Does the fact a guitar is old and worn-in make it better? It’s a debate which continues to rage in the guitar community, particularly among lovers of vintage instruments.
While there are vintage guitar aficionados aplenty, many high-profile players tout the benefits of newer – and importantly, cheaper – instruments, and how they can often beat their vintage counterparts.
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Take former Steely Dan guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, for example, who recently told the story of how he opted for a $140 Squier Telecaster over its 1958 vintage counterpart. “I compared the two, and the $140 Squier Telecaster, to me, sounded better,” he said.
Now, guitarist Chris Buck has added his voice to the same side of the debate, telling Guitar World in a new interview that older doesn’t always mean better.
“I don’t subscribe to the idea that all vintage instruments are great,” he explains, “because I’ve definitely played some dogs. Some of my favourite guitars were made after 2020, and some were made in the ‘60s.
“There’s a synergy between you and a great instrument. That could be a $300 Squier or a $5,000 Gibson. It doesn’t matter. If it speaks to you, it’s the one.”
Of course, Chris Buck isn’t saying cheaper guitars always outcompete their vintage counterparts, and has a lot of love for some of the many vintage six-strings he’s had across his lap in his time.
They include the late Bernie Marsden’s ‘59 Gibson Les Paul Standard Burst – “The Beast” – a ‘62 Strat which forms part of his own personal collection, and a ‘62 Gibson ES-335.
“The moment I strummed it, I thought, ‘This is alive,’” he explains, recounting the first time he played the ES-335.
“The guitar’s a mess, but I fell in love with it. It’s got original PAFs and original electronics. It’s been resprayed. The headstock has had a catastrophic break – but it’s just such an amazing instrument.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
