For me, your entire premise breaks down differently than the zero-sum choice you present. In playing anything, I think the key is to have the right tool for the right job. </p>
On Tony's guitar sidebar, I think it's harder to argue the superiority of modern 6-string guitars. Vintage guitars are about more than yuppie collector panache, though this panache has certainly driven the prices through the ceiling. In the last 15 years, though, manufacturers have reacted by producing good modern instruments again. Preference here is strictly a matter of taste (and willingness to throw around money, unfortunately), but there's no problem setting up a vintage Tele, Strat, or Les Paul to play every bit as well as a modern one, IMO. OK, shredding machines are different, but I don't think that's what we're talking about here. </p>
On the other hand, with steels: I think older steels can be set up to play great (I have played a few that seemed to play pretty close to modern steels, I had a chance to compare side-by-side), but it seems to be much more of a challenge to make that happen. I think this has probably helped keep prices, frankly,
very reasonable, especially compared to comparable 6-strings. Holy grail vintage 6-strings trade in 5 or 6 figures, but holy grail vintage steels are still
well within 4. If a dealer or repairman has the know-how to make a vintage steel play really well, I think it's worth the extra dough. If what I want is a great playing old-school Bud S-10 or p/p Emmons, why would I flinch at 2 grand when practically any new S-10 would cost more than that? The trouble is finding the right one and getting it set up right, I think.</p>
My approach seems to prefer either an S-10 (for classic country) or S-12/14 U for anything else. I won't bore you with why, nor do I want to even accidentally turn this into a D-10 vs. Universal war. The point is that steel configuration sometimes forces the choice of school. </p>
So I hope to eventually find the right Sho-Bud and p/p Emmons S-10s that do it for me. I've sold one of each that weren't right for me. Maybe the Bud will have to be a Marrs refurb. Till then my little BMI works great. </p>
Otherwise, my preference for Universal seems to force me into the modern-school. My only Universal guitar is an 80s Sierra S-14U, it sounds and plays great, but is heavy enough to eventually restrict its use. I'll also have to struggle to figure out whether I trade my MSA D-10 Classic for an older S-12U MSA (which I still consider modern-school), something like a more modern MSA, Carter, Zum, Mullen, Fessenden, or a gearless Williams, Sierra or GFI. </p>
My long term goal is to have 2 old-school S-10s and 2 modern-school S-12/14Us. Of course, I'm open to impression, I could change my mind.
</p>
bob
