Thinking of buying a vintage Mustang

George · Post by **George** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:15 pm

Long story short I'm going to NYC in the spring and I'm beginning to put aside a dream budget to spend on a vintage American guitar, hopefully a Mustang as a memento. Maybe $1200 as the ballpark figure.

What's a good deal considering things like OG condition; Pre/non-CBS; mint, used, WORN?

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:46 pm

If you can make it through New York while keeping a luxury item like that, props to you.

Secondly, I think you should be able to get a Competition Mustang for $1200 if you look around long enough and wait for the right deals. I've seen it. Definitely a Duo Sonic II is well within your price range, and in my opinion is just as preferable.

I, too, have pondered getting a vintage Mustang. However, I think I like the '73 RI too much.

Leisureclub · Post by **Leisureclub** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:50 pm

I want a 60's 22.5" mustang so bad that I can taste it. Really dont want to buy one from the internet though. Its a must play first sort of thing.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:55 am

If you're not set on specific aesthetics (i.e. comp stripes) I'd recommend aiming for mid '60s. I'd also second the duo-sonic II consideration, unless you're an avid trem user. A set of compensated saddles and BOOM, tuning as solid as a tele and even a wee bit of sustain thrown in.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:37 am

You can find a good vintage Mustang for under $1200... Shit if you look hard you can score one for under a grand .. They're out there and you can shop around . Check the Craigslist and whatnot .

Hate to say it but with Cobain dead 15+ yrs the prices kinda dropped . Now I'm seeing ET-270s for about $375-$400..

Post by **Mike** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 11:06 am

honeyiscool wrote:If you can make it through New York while keeping a luxury item like that, props to you.

Pfft. New York is not a dangerous city. Maybe in the 80s - now not so much, it's gentrified out the eyeballs.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:58 pm

there are rough parts in the outer boroughs but Manhattan below 110th street is safer than any other US city. its basically disneyland.

I live in new york, so I can give u a list of guitar shops to check when you're here, but off the top of my head

http://rivingtonguitars.com/

consistently has a good selection of vintage stuff

but check out

http://www.maindragmusic.com

and Craigslist, of course...

I hate to say guitarcenter, because they are scum, but they do have a good vintage showroom at the 14th st /union square store

Post by **Mike** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:03 pm

I stayed in a Hostel on 116th and it was completely fine - things might have got a bit more edgy North of 110th but it wasn't like Ganglands or anything, similarly Brooklyn was fine.

George · Post by **George** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:40 pm

stewart wrote:If you're not set on specific aesthetics (i.e. comp stripes) I'd recommend aiming for mid '60s. I'd also second the duo-sonic II consideration, unless you're an avid trem user. A set of compensated saddles and BOOM, tuning as solid as a tele and even a wee bit of sustain thrown in.

My ideal is a white mid-60's and maybe pre-CBS as I'd quite like a little piece of Fender history. I'm also set on one because I want to use different tunings without fucking up the trem, which most other guitars can't handle. It's the reason I loved my Jaguar actually, heavy beast that it was.

George · Post by **George** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:55 pm

brainfur wrote:there are rough parts in the outer boroughs but Manhattan below 110th street is safer than any other US city. its basically disneyland.

I live in new york, so I can give u a list of guitar shops to check when you're here, but off the top of my head

http://rivingtonguitars.com/

consistently has a good selection of vintage stuff

but check out

http://www.maindragmusic.com

and Craigslist, of course...

I hate to say guitarcenter, because they are scum, but they do have a good vintage showroom at the 14th st /union square store

Thanks buddy I'd really appreciate it!

66 Mustang at Maindrag is a bit out of my budget but looks ace.

jumbledupthinking · Post by **jumbledupthinking** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 6:53 pm

George wrote: 66 Mustang at Maindrag is a bit out of my budget but looks ace.

Great guitar, but are they seriously rating the condition of that as "very good"? - That said, would rock the shit out of that in a heartbeat

Good luck with your quest.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 9:15 am

Buying a guitar to commemorate your visit is an awesome idea but I'd be wary of paying crazy shop prices (esp crazy NY prices). Start snooping CL before you go and you might get a good bargain.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:57 am

There's a '76 (?) Mustang going for Â£550 on Glasgow Gumtree this morning, which might be of interest to someone in the UK.

Looks like it's the very same one that was going for Â£450 about a year ago, so the price should be negotiable, i reckon.

[/threadjack]

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:52 pm

yeah, nyc prices are pretty high-- even on CL prices are high for vintage gear-- my guess is that its b/c there are hundreds of young bands here all looking for old guitars to lend them some rock credibility

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:08 pm

Mike wrote:
honeyiscool wrote:If you can make it through New York while keeping a luxury item like that, props to you.
Pfft. New York is not a dangerous city. Maybe in the 80s - now not so much, it's gentrified out the eyeballs.

I'm saying it's expensive to live there.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 1:07 pm

honeyiscool wrote:
Mike wrote:
honeyiscool wrote:If you can make it through New York while keeping a luxury item like that, props to you.
Pfft. New York is not a dangerous city. Maybe in the 80s - now not so much, it's gentrified out the eyeballs.
I'm saying it's expensive to live there.

oh that is very very true. I have to work 2 jobs and moonlight as a male prostitute just to cover rent. All my food is stolen.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 3:18 pm

I got my 64 for 899 right here in buffalo. all it needed was a new nut and a setup. 30 bucks

purchased it this spring on a random trip to gc. saw it on the wall for that price and I jumped on it.

after waiting so long now for excalibur....I never even go out looking for stuff...the deals find me now

I bought it for liam actually. the neck is a A and perfect for him when he gets a little older

George · Post by **George** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:58 pm

robroe wrote:I got my 64 for 899 right here in buffalo. all it needed was a new nut and a setup. 30 bucks

purchased it this spring on a random trip to gc. saw it on the wall for that price and I jumped on it.

after waiting so long now for excalibur....I never even go out looking for stuff...the deals find me now

I bought it for liam actually. the neck is a A and perfect for him when he gets a little older

Yours is pretty much exactly what I'm after:

- OG
- white with tort
- Pre-CBS
- A width neck
- great wear to it
- M@J@

I'm quite resigned to the realisation that I will never get one for that good a price, however. Liam is a lucky boy!

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:25 pm

fuck no, not in NYC anyways.

take 5 hours out of your trip and drive upstate to the rumble seat and HOG

www.rumbleseatmusic.com
www.houseofguitars.com

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:26 pm

no thread hijacking but RS has a fucking 1980 les paul in BAHAMA BLUE

WAT ??/!!>?!!!!! ♫♪♫♫Ã¥AAÃ®

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