What’s a 1995 Stratocaster Plus Deluxe worth? Is it a vintage guitar? The answer is, obviously, as much as someone will pay for it. At 20+ years old, guitars like these are the “new vintage”. A quick check on Reverb indicates that prices for many 1990s era guitars are trending up. Let’s look at this phenomenon, and see what’s behind it.
Is There 90s Vintage Mojo?
The value of vintage guitars from the 50’s and 60’s is undeniable, as evidenced by the valuations, even for “player-grade” guitars. It’s not simply because they are old guitars, because there are a lot of old things that have no perceived value. It’s due to a mix of nostalgia, collector/investor mentality, and curiosity. In fact, we’ve come to accept that guitars that date from the beginning of the electric guitar era are prestige items, regardless of whether they actually sound or play better than a new guitar.
Are 1990s Guitars Considered Vintage Guitars?
Based on age alone, yes. As an example, let’s take the Fender Strat Plus Deluxe in question. In this era, Fenders QC was questionable, the guitars were heavy, the Lace Sensor pickups were not “vintage” sounding, the Fender Floyd Rose Bridge bridge was a PITA, and the LSR roller nut was unnecessary. In other words, this guitar had a kitchen sink list of features that are no longer used, for one reason: They didn’t sound that good, or the features and “improvements” weren’t deemed necessary (when was the last time you saw a roller nut on a production guitar?).
What’s Really Going On
Here’s what’s really going on: Certain sellers, some with YouTube Channels, have been buying up examples of these guitars, then puffing and promoting them to increase their perceived value. This plays into a buyer’s nostalgia, just like we see in the real vintage guitars from the mid 20th century. And this is OK—as long as people know what they are getting. What’s not OK is convincing people that a 25- year-old strat with a 4 piece alder body that weighs 9 lbs. with a veneer ash top and fret wear is a better deal than a brand spankin’ new Fender. Most of the time, you are better off buying a brand new guitar.
Modern Guitar Quality
Quality and consistency has improved across all price ranges since the 1990s. Much of this has to do with the development of CNC machining, which enables guitar makers to attain a level of consistency that was previously unattainable. This extends to entry level guitars as well.
With so many small builders using the web and social media to promote and distribute, larger guitar makers have had to up their QC game to compete. Quality Control at the big manufacturers in the modern era is possibly as good as it’s ever been. Taylor and PRS have been making extremely high quality factory guitars for years, and Fender is in a better place financially than it was in the 90s. Both Fender and Gibson had record sales in 2020.
Buyer Beware!
The mid-grade production guitars of the 80s and 90s were OK guitars at the time. And, they are OK guitars now. That said, in the majority of cases, you won’t be getting better quality. Because of the quality improvements of the past 25 years, most of the time you are better served by buying a new guitar at a similar price. If you are considering a “new vintage” guitar, I advise you to do some research. In particular, ask what exactly you are looking for that you cannot find now.
When To Buy a 90s Vintage Guitar
There are times when it makes sense to buy a “new vintage” guitar. The primary reason is if you are set on buying a model that is no longer available. In that case, your options are limited, and you have to decide how much you really want a particular discontinued model. Also, you should determine if there is a current production substitute that will fit your needs. Most of the time, there is.
Secondly, some manufacturers are known to have “good years”, eras where their instruments are particularly desirable. Reasons for this include ownership priorities (e.g,. early-mid 1990s Gibson comes to mind), or a new or revitalized company with something to prove. For example, Schecter USA has had various reincarnations, and has had some great years in the mid 1990s. Schecter USA-made guitars from this time were very high quality, and still sell for reasonable prices on the used market.
Conclusion
Guitars that have some age on them usually need some work, so you’ll want to factor that in when you are deciding on the price you are willing to pay. Having a good guitar tech is essential, so see our article on how to find a guitar repair shop.
Don’t get me wrong, I buy used guitars too—but it’s not wise to pay new guitar prices for them. Do not be led to believe that older is better, because much of the time it is not. If you do buy a “new vintage” guitar, know why you are buying it. If you are game for buying a guitar from 20+ years ago, we recommend that you offer a fair price, but don’t overpay. What matters in the end is if you are happy with what you buy, regardless of if it was made in the 90’s, 50s, or yesterday. Happy Playing!