VINTAGE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES V75‑SVB £419
Whatever you think about the copy market, so long as makers respect a few key features – and those names, of course – it’s pretty much open season and has been that way for a number of years. In fact, the always affordable Brit-owned and designed Vintage brand might well have helped to force open the doors for many more prestigious brands to follow over the past 25 years. Like it or not, this whole ‘inspired by’ market is central to today’s industry.
Owner John Hornby Skewes (JHS), one of the UK’s largest and longest-running distribution houses, is tight-lipped about exactly how it’s survived in this market, so perhaps it’s best to let the guitars do the talking… We can’t remember a previous limited-edition Vintage range but that’s what we have here: three models in one colour only, 100 pieces of each. Case candy? Well, we get a 25th Anniversary canvas gigbag and a numbered and laminated certificate. Let’s go.
Starting with the V75 model, and what it lacks in originality is certainly compensated for by a very tidy build and, importantly, some very well-designed hardware by Trev Wilkinson, who worked directly with JHS to generate new Vintage designs until 2019. It’s a good weight for starters, there’s an attractive vintage tint to the high-gloss neck finish, and that celebratory Silver Burst finish is immaculate.
Key hardware is the Wilkinson WTB bridge made with the proper materials, string-through or top-load string anchorage, and compensated brass saddles. Then you notice the thick steel neckplate and Electrosocket-style circular output jack. The control plate is a heavy gauge and clearly well chromed. Yes, a little rounding on the quite sharp edges of the single-ply black scratchplate would raise the detail level… but we’re not going to throw the V75 out of bed for that.
The E-Z-Lok tuners are a typically ingenious Wilkinson design. Basically, they’re vintage-style Kluson-alikes but you’ll notice two holes at right angles in each string post. The idea is to thread
Our experience here is of improving quality… this once‑derided brand really does stand for affordable quality
the string through either then lock it off through the other hole. It certainly works but it can mean the string wraps look a little messy. You can, as here, simply use the top hole with your wraps underneath.
You’ll have to get used to some pretty odd/obvious letter codes for the pickups, though: if only Mr Wilkinson would give us names! Here, the WVTB (no prizes for guessing this one!) at the bridge has raised magnetic poles, although they’re all of the same height, and the WVTN (likewise) at the neck is completely hidden under the usual chromed cover, which is a little wonky-looking as delivered.