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Buying Antique Guitars versus Replicasby Len Verrett
Generally, you should start with a good replica if possible. With replicas, an average player will enjoy the sound and appearance of a period guitar, and have a good working instrument that will endure heavy practice and wear and tear. Assuming you buy a good guitar, with a replica, everything works: there are no cracks, buzzes, fret problems, repair issues, intonation problems, cosmetic blemishes, etc.. A replica will generally allow higher tension strings at normal tension, but check with the builder first to make sure. An antique guitar is a lot like driving an antique CAR - it is neat to have a genuine Model T Ford, but you would not want to drive the antique to work every day or take it on the freeway. Personally, I prefer playing the replicas as a musician. The new guitars are loud and responsive, with no problems, and they can be played hard. As long as the guitar conforms to the design and materials of the period, the experience of playing a replica is every bit as satisfying and interesting as the original, and probably more so. Since the top of the guitar is made of wood, new guitar tops have more elasticity and therefore they are louder than old tops. It is said that a guitar top will "wear out" after 30-40 years. While this is not exactly true, it is true that the guitar will get less loud and change its sound character over time, especially if the wood gets old and brittle. Volume is not everything, however, since nowadays we have amplification, and the tone can become more mature and deeper in an old instrument (the same applies for old violins, etc.). If you play an original antique, it will not sound like it did originally anyway due to the effects of age on the materials, and the high likelihood of subsequent repair jobs an alterations. An antique is also a lot of responsibility to preserve its historical value, since it is undoubtedly one of a kind and bordering on extinction. If you are not prepared to take pains to keep the guitar from additional wear and tear, I strongly suggest to get a replica and not a real antique. You have to worry about exposure to central heating, humidity levels, etc. These guitars have already had a lot of wear and tear. A replica preserves the antique for the occasional "Sunday Drive" and keeps it alive for future generations. It is also important to undergo repairs and restoration in a manner that preserves the historical styles. Antiques are fragile, and have defects to work around due to their age. Even the period guitar in the best condition is said to be in great condition "for its age" - meaning that no guitar that is over 150 years old is going to be free of problems. Do not expect it to be free of rattles, buzzes, and have perfect intonation. Guitars that are playable are sometimes called "players" - meaning that it can be played for occasional use, not that you can practice on it 2 hours a day for the next 10 years. If they are not said to be playable, you can assume that the guitar requires restoration to play at all. That being said, an antique guitar has its own strong appeal. There is something special about holding a piece of history in your hands. Replicas do not usually capture every last full detail of workmanship and ornamentation. The guitars tell their own story. A replica is usually very close, and good enough for today's demands, but there is sometimes no substitute for the real thing. Back then, hand craftsmanship was important, and luthiers had apprentices and craftsmen who really took the time to build the guitar. You will see highly ornamented vine inlays, purfling, etc., that were incredibly labor-intensive. No matter how good the replica, I have always observed first hand that the old guitars just sound different. It is subtle, but real. No luthier today builds exactly like they did back then. Nobody knows EXACTLY how they did things, though we know GENERALLY how they did things. There are different tools, different glues, varnishes, and so forth. Also, today, we do not always have access to the same choice quality of woods available in the 19th century. Also, there is no substitute for 150 years of wood aging - an open, deep, "woody" sound. Of course, that means that the guitar sounds different today than when it was built, due to 150+ years of aging. ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission from EarlyRomanticGuitar.com. |
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