Ideas for a 1979 guitar?

DeeTee

Hey all. I just had my birthday, and my thoughts are turning to my birthday next year, as it's the big 4-0. I'd quite like to get a guitar from the year I was born (stunningly original idea, I know). Bear in mind that I'm in Canada these days, but will be making a trip back to the UK sometime before next October, so I can look in both countries.

There is an issue though. I don't want to drop three or four grand on it because, frankly, I don't think I play enough to justify it. I think I can justify 1000GBP, maybe 1500. That pretty much rules out Fender or Gibson. '79 wasn't exactly their heyday anyway, so I don't mind. 

I was thinking of a Japanese guitar from that era, and have seen a few Grecos pop up in my price range. I like a variety of guitars, so I'm not locked in to an LP copy or anything. My only thing is I'm not big on trems, so it would have to be something pretty special to tempt me to get anything strat-like.

So, with those requirements in mind, any ideas? It's a year before the big day, so I can be picky!

richardhomer

Yamaha SG1000? They’re ‘the’ ‘classic’ guitar from that period for me.

guitars4you

Some nice Jap models in that era - Yamaha SG's - Ibanez AR Artist solid and AS semi acoustic - Some decent Aria pro PE Jap models 

Might just sneak in something like a USA Guild S300

Just a few thoughts for starters

guitars4you

Musicman  Sabre Electric from that era
G&L ASAT from that Era

breakstuff

Some sort of Jap Les Paul Custom would be my choice,or as @richardhomer says,Yammy SG.

Watch old episodes of Top of the Pops from around that era and virtually everyone was using the Yamaha.

gretschthumper

Epiphone Scroll (76 to 79)
https://imgur.com/a/7RGHJtk

DeeTee

I know those Yammy SGs are much loved, but I always thought they were ugly as sin. Shallow, I know. I've not had the chance to play one though, so that might change my mind.

I've seen an Aria Pro round my way recently, and I'd be tempted by that. An ASAT sounds like a cracking idea. The Epiphone Scroll looks like fun! I'm not sure I've got enough Prince funk to pull it off though...

meltedbuzzbox

Billy Corgan Strat

koneguitarist

I would look for an Anniversary strat from 79. 
Not all bad. 

DrCornelius

There’s a lovely 79 Gretsch Country Gent on here that used to be mine. I can’t remember what I sold it for exactly but I don’t think it was that far away from the top of your budget. It does Jangle to Jazz no problem and dirties up nicely for a bit of Neil Young noodling too.

scrumhalf

Fender Lead I or II?

mbe

scrumhalf said:

Fender Lead I or II?

There's a Hondo Lead on ebay for £1,000.

ICBM

koneguitarist said:

I would look for an Anniversary strat from 79. 
Not all bad. 

Indeed not. Someone I knew had one which had been routed out for three humbuckers and an MXR pedal circuit, apparently using a trained beaver.

The giveaway was that it only weighed as much as a Les Paul, instead of as much as a Marshall stack.

It actually sounded quite good too...

monoamine

Vintage MIJ from the 70s and 80s are amazing.
I have had about 20 over the years, these 2 are keepers
The telecaster is a 1979 TE85 flagship model
The Les Paul LS80 is 1980

DeeTee

@monoamine - I might have just made a slightly sexual sound. They're lovely.

impmann

I’m stunned that anyone would use the phrase ‘not bad’ and a Strat Anniversary in the same sentence. No accounting for taste, or lack of it, I guess but these are the very essential what was wrong with 1970s Strats. 

But hey... each to their own.

Speaking of which.... a 1979 guitar that is distinctive, of its time and affordable. Shergold. 

guitars4you

impmann said:

I’m stunned that anyone would use the phrase ‘not bad’ and a Strat Anniversary in the same sentence. No accounting for taste, or lack of it, I guess but these are the very essential what was wrong with 1970s Strats. 

But hey... each to their own.

Speaking of which.... a 1979 guitar that is distinctive, of its time and affordable. Shergold. 

the second I saw the header for your posting I was going to guess Shergold and yes a good cool option

Agree on the Anniv Strat - most are incredibly heavy and now IMO seriously over priced - the last 2 I was offered I turned them down for both those reasons

ICBM

There’s always Rickenbacker, if you like them. They didn’t suffer the infamous 1970s quality drop of the Big Two and a few of the other US makers.

Bigsby

guitars4you said:

Some nice Jap models in that era - Yamaha SG's - Ibanez AR Artist solid and AS semi acoustic - Some decent Aria pro PE Jap models 

Might just sneak in something like a USA Guild S300

Just a few thoughts for starters

Wow, when I read the post I didn't expect my first thoughts to be reflected in the first two replies - especially the Guild as those models seem to have been largely forgotten, and, in truth, were largely ignored at the time! But, as long as you like the distinctive 'axe' shape, they do represent a bargain today: Guilds were very well made at that time. I still have the single pickup version, the S-60, that I bought in November '78. It's about to go off to Feline to ensure it'll be fit for another 40 years.

Here alongside a much more modern version of the Yamaha SG:


Back in the day it used to sit alongside an SG700, which got traded for a Bond Electraglide. IIRC, other brands I'd been considering in '78 included Shergold, Vox, Westone and Aria - there were certain some good Japanese guitars on the market at that time.

fendergibson

Hamer or Dean I seem remember were the cool guitars from that period iirc.

guitars4you

Bigsby said:

guitars4you said:

Some nice Jap models in that era - Yamaha SG's - Ibanez AR Artist solid and AS semi acoustic - Some decent Aria pro PE Jap models 

Might just sneak in something like a USA Guild S300

Just a few thoughts for starters

Wow, when I read the post I didn't expect my first thoughts to be reflected in the first two replies - especially the Guild as those models seem to have been largely forgotten, and, in truth, were largely ignored at the time! But, as long as you like the distinctive 'axe' shape, they do represent a bargain today: Guilds were very well made at that time. I still have the single pickup version, the S-60, that I bought in November '78. It's about to go off to Feline to ensure it'll be fit for another 40 years.

Here alongside a much more modern version of the Yamaha SG:


Back in the day it used to sit alongside an SG700, which got traded for a Bond Electraglide. IIRC, other brands I'd been considering in '78 included Shergold, Vox, Westone and Aria - there were certain some good Japanese guitars on the market at that time.

The Guild Guitars from that era are cool - Not sure how much I personally like them but they can be picked up at a reasonable price as demand is not that high - So good news for those that do appreciate them

Sure Jon @FelineGuitars will sort you out and I bet when you have it back such a re-fret will further enhance how it plays - Good luck