Good guitars from 1975-help needed

Bowks

I am toying with getting a guitar from the year of my birth, but I am well aware that the mid seventies did not represent the glory days for Fender or Gibson. I could try to find an Ibanez Artist 2663 which would be right up my street.

However, before I write off any others, what gems do you lot know of that I should keep an eye out for?

JerkMoans

Yamaha SG2000?

Bowks

JerkMoans said:

Yamaha SG2000?

1977 :-(

DrCornelius

Fender Musicmaster short scale bass - loads of fun

Musicwolf

Ovation Breadwinner - I took up guitar in 1977 (got an acoustic for Christmas 1976), this was the guitar that I lusted after.  It just screams 1975.

Good luck finding one

HarrySeven

Do you really, really, REALLY hate Norlin-era Les Pauls?

If not, try a couple, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Funkfingers

Fender Telecaster - Custom, Deluxe or mk2 Thinline … not necessarily in that order.

Gibson L6

maltingsaudio

Got to be a John Birch Super yob or a Göran Malmberg

munckee

One of the best guitars I have ever played was a 76 Tele. I have a brilliant 79 Strat. 

Fenders and Gibson’s will cost a lot more though of course. 

ICBM

Rickenbacker
Guild
Hamer

Moleman

ICBM said:

Rickenbacker
Guild
Hamer

Hamer didn’t start building production guitars until the Sunburst in 1977. Anything before that year will be a custom, one-off instrument that will be crazily rare and expensive - especially in Europe.

pintspiller

Don't rule out Gibson's and Fenders. When somebody says something is not good, they may just be stick in the muds who think decimalisation was a mistake or all the good films are only on Betamax.

viz

What’s wrong with a good old 70’s goldtop les paul? I have one from 1978 and it’s a corker. 

blobb

Greco

Stuckfast

Shergold?

St_Hubbins

DrCornelius said:

Fender Musicmaster short scale bass - loads of fun

Agreed. Mid 70s Mustang and Musicmaster basses are great.

Iamnobody

A Travis Bean would be nice...and expensive.

stratman3142

Iamnobody said:

A Travis Bean would be nice...and expensive.

I remember going to an audition in my youth in winter and one of the other guitarists had a Travis Bean. I was very impressed, then he said I have a problem, wrap your hand around the neck which was aluminium. It felt like grasping a block of ice.

Iamnobody

I’ve never played one. My knowledge extends little beyond the fact Yannis out Foals plays them almost exclusively. And I like the look of the headstock - never thought about the necks being cold...

Being a ‘78er I’ve looked into this decade. Still have eBay searches set in case the ‘right’ one comes along. Most likely to be something Japanese given the 70s US made guitars are being advertised at silly money most of the time.

CasperCaster

HarrySeven said:

Do you really, really, REALLY hate Norlin-era Les Pauls?

If not, try a couple, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Not 1975, but to confirm Mr H7's comment, one of the best guitars I have ever played, and definitely 'the one which got away' was a 70's Les Paul Deluxe. It had all the 'wrong' features - maple neck, volute, pancake body. Yet it played and sounded truly superb. Sadly I couldn't raise the cash and I've regretted not buying it for nearly 30 years....

Tadragh1

1975 Fender Telecaster should be just fine - a Deluxe (no other option than 70's here), or just a normal one (with a 4-screw mount).