Akarsh Shekhar
DO GUITARS AGE LIKE
We ’ ve seen time and again how vintage guitars reach prices that are sometimes double the cost of a new instrument . Many people believe that the price in such a situation is higher only because the instrument is rare . Others believe that there is a huge difference between tools ( new and old ) due to different manufacturing techniques .
WINE ?
Do older guitars sound better ?
Some claim that electric guitars do not get better with age and their sound remains virtually unchanged over time . The only thing that changes is that the guitarist understands the instrument better and is able to find those strengths that give a much richer sound .
Others are of the opinion that the wood finally dries out , and microcracks in the body and neck give a special charm to the sound . Still , others will prefer to argue about vintage pickups and electronics in general .
Naturally , if a good guitar is in perfect condition and no one has ever played it , then its sound will be good in any case . However , a number of factors can make a guitar either better or worse .
How does an electric guitar age ?
There are two main things that can affect the sound of an electric guitar - the pickups and the amp . Because pickups are magnets with copper wire wrapped around them , the sound may become weaker over time . The reason for this is that the magnet itself loses its properties over time . However , this process is very long , and the likelihood that the effect will be even slightly noticeable after 5 years is small .
Additionally , another part of the guitar that may need replacing is the electronics . Alas , old potentiometers can spoil the sound , as the integrity of the contacts is damaged , traces of erosion appear , and friction in moving parts also plays a role .
Wood also ages . Depending on storage conditions , climate and temperature , guitars can age very differently . So , one guitar may begin to resonate better , while exactly the same one , but having been in different conditions , will sound a little worse .
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