NAMM 2020: Vintage launches new ProShop Unique guitars

19 Jan 2020 by Jef | Approximate reading time: 3 Minutes

Vintage launches new ProShop Unique guitars · Source: Vintage

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Vintage has launched a new ProShop Unique range of guitars at this year’s Winter NAMM. The new models have an aged and played-in look, making them stand out from the crowd.

Aged and played?

All guitars and basses in the new Vintage ProShop Unique Series, have wear and tear patterns applied to them at the factory, to mimic an instrument that has been lovingly owned and played for decades. Furthering the trend for ‘relic’ guitars, these models will be available for much less than Custom Shop and boutique prices. Each model is based on a well known guitar design and you will be familiar with them straight away.

Ageing process

The process to make each guitar involves applying different layers of paint and then ageing them to make them look worn, as if through years of play. For example, the Ventura Green V6 S-type model below has a body that was originally finished in Sunburst, but has been sprayed with a white acrylic undercoat and an acrylic Ventura Green lacquered topcoat, which has then been aged to reveal areas of the original Sunburst and natural wood.

The Vintage V6 ProShop Unique ~ Ventura Green:Tobacco Burst.

Vintage V6 ProShop Unique ~ Boulevard Black Fire

Vintage V52 ProShop Unique ~ Butterscotch

Vintage V75 ProShop Unique ~ Arctic White Matt

Hardware

The V6 Ventura Green/Tobacco Burst guitar comes loaded with Wilkinson WVS vintage-voiced Alnico V pickups and a Wilkinson WVC vibrato bridge, as well as Wilkinson WJ55 patented E-Z-Lok machine heads.

The Single Cut V100 Boulevard Black model comes equipped with a Supro Super Alnico in the bridge position and a Supro Vistatone humbucker in the neck. There is also a Bigsby trem and a set of Wilkinson Deluxe WJ303 machine heads.

You can follow the link below for more in depth details on all the hardware for individual models. Essentially, the hardware used across the entire range is high quality, branded stuff.

Goodies

Each instrument comes with a nice Vintage branded luxury gig bag and ProShop leather strap, pick-tin, tee shirt and ProShop certificate of authenticity.

Vintage V100 ProShop Unique ~ Boulevard Black

Vintage V120 ProShop Unique ~ Gun Hill Blue on Red

Vintage VJ74 ProShop Unique ~ Surf Green

Vintage VVB4 ProShop Unique ~ Antique Sunburst

Budget Relic?

As the range has only just been announced at NAMM, we don’t have all the official pricing yet. However, there are a few models listed on the Vintage ProShop Unique Series landing page below and there are a variety of prices on show for a couple of models, starting from £649.

I owned a Vintage V6 Thomas Blug ‘Summer Of Love’ a few years ago and it punched well above its weight and sounded great, so I would expect the same from all of these, too. Don’t be fooled into thinking these instruments aren’t for pro use. I found the neck and fretwork on my V6 was far better than certain American built instruments I have owned, and at a third of the price.

For a while, I also gigged a Vintage VS6VGHB Reissue Series Double Cut with Vibrola Tailpiece Gun Hill Blue and it was ace! Cost me very little money and was a solid, rock guitar. Personally, I have had nothing but good experiences with the brand.

Having said that, I’m not a massive fan of relic guitars, I own a couple and think a lot of the time musicians end up paying too much for an aged finish. Hopefully, with the new Vintage ProShop Unique Series you don’t have to do that.

If the price is right, then these will no doubt sell like hot cakes.

RRP – GBP 649- GBP 819