Played a Vintage VSA 535 today...

ellandroadhero

335 copy - looks very cool as the horns are offset a little. Some people might hate that though.

Anyway I tried one in a shop and it surprised how cheap it felt as I've heard so many good things about Vintage. I hope the biggest issues were because it had sat in the shop for a while as the strings felt awful. The action was far too high although that could easily be altered.

I really loved the look of it but it just left me feeling cold.

Dave_Mc

I think I played a model along those lines (can't remember the exact one but it was a semihollow model) several years back and felt the same. I think that was before Trev Wilkinson got involved, though.

xSkarloey

ellandroadhero said:

335 copy - looks very cool as the horns are offset a little. Some people might hate that though.

Anyway I tried one in a shop and it surprised how cheap it felt as I've heard so many good things about Vintage. I hope the biggest issues were because it had sat in the shop for a while as the strings felt awful. The action was far too high although that could easily be altered.

I really loved the look of it but it just left me feeling cold.

So have I but you have to try a few I think. 

The Lemon Drop for instance is a much lauded guitar (at least it got some good reviews on real ease which Vintage have promulgated ever since). However, when I went to try with the intention of buying a few months ago, the specific guitar in the shop was poor to middling in several respects. 

Chalky

If it was the offset horns then I think it was the chinese version. The older korean ones feel much better.

stimpsonslostson

Like all cheaper guitars they're made to a price. I've heard that their QC can be all over the place, especially recently.

I've seen a few Vintages that were comically bad in their set up- how can a shop hope to sell a guitar that isn't set up to its best advantage is beyond me... Though that holds true for all brands & models.

From my experience, the most consistently good Vintage guitars are those produced shortly after Wilkinson got involved.
I was lucky enough to get one of the first Lemon Drops & it's excellent: Much better than the new one a friend bought after playing mine. So much so that I felt a bit guilty.
After a proper set up his guitar was MUCH better, but still felt a bit "cheap".

I also have one of their higher level acoustics, that's fantastic... But for what it costs, it should be!

Chalky

I've got a dozen Vintages, the newest are 2 x V52JDAB. Excellent quality. They get it right on some guitars but not on others. AFAIK they commission a batch at a time from whichever factory is offering the cheapest price. So you don't get consistency.

mart

Chalky said:

If it was the offset horns then I think it was the chinese version. The older korean ones feel much better.

That explains things - I was puzzled by the comment about offset horns, because the 535 I had didn't have them offset - it was exactly the shape of a 335. 

Pretty nice guitar actually. I sold it when I bought a Gibson, and the biggest difference I noticed was the weight - the Gibson weighed a ton and made the Vintage feel like balsa. I don't know what that implies about the difference in construction. I think the Vintage is supposed to be solid wood whereas a 335 is ply, isn't it, but shouldn't that make the Gibson lighter?

ellandroadhero

The funny thing is I'm still tempted by one, just need to find the right one if you guys are right!

Samgb

My Vintage V100 is a serious piece of wood. It's 9lbs or so I think. It's pretty well made the only issue I have is that I think it'd benefit from a new nut but for the money I paid (buttons on EBay) it is a very good guitar.

Phil_aka_Pip

I've been tempted by the 575 before but completely failed to find anyone that had one in stock. No, sorry mate, I will NOT order one on the off chance that I'm going to like it, I want to play before deciding whether to buy it

ellandroadhero

So the next question is - if I don't get a Vintage, what is the best bang for my buck guitar with humbuckers around the £300 price point. Epi dot or LP instead?

stimpsonslostson

Epiphone are pretty ubiquitous at that price- LP, SG, Dot... Take your pick!
Squier do tele customs etc (if you can find a Trohman signature those are great too).

I'd also look at the likes of Ibanez, Shechter & Hagstrom.

Obviously your money will go further second hand.

Phil_aka_Pip

ellandroadhero said:

So the next question is - if I don't get a Vintage, what is the best bang for my buck guitar with humbuckers around the £300 price point. Epi dot or LP instead?

Tokai

EDIT

... at any sub-£1k price point

ellandroadhero

Are tele customs true humbuckers?

I'd go tokai for sure if I could find something Japanese at that price...

EricTheWeary

LTD ? Quite often at big reductions. Made in the mystical guitar forests of Vietnam. The 200 and the 256 ( relic finish) are Les Paulish around the £300 mark.

ellandroadhero

Thanks will check those out.

Phil_aka_Pip

ellandroadhero said:

Are tele customs true humbuckers?

I'd go tokai for sure if I could find something Japanese at that price...

The chinese ones are good. V. good for the money

ellandroadhero

Nice. I will check them out.

jonnyburgo

If you can find an Italia Torino, get one, far better than an Epi Dot (Ive had a few Dots) and even better to me than a Sheraton. The pickups are escellent and the whole thing just feels really right.

I love mine and cant see myself getting rid any time soon, I think Hot Rox are doing them new for around £400.