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The short answer is, yes - you can go buy a new guitar that is every bit as good or better than most/all "vintage" instruments. It has less to do with CNC (that is what has helped with consistency of builds, especially on the low end), and more with experience. There are guys doing fretwork now that are ridiculously good. And you can get most any electronics you want, including old-spec alnico, etc. There certainly are some vintage instruments with mojo - whether it is the amount of finish, particular pieces of wood, moisture content, phase of the moon...whatever it is it works. But the same can be said of new instruments.
Vintage guitars/basses are mostly hype and style. Right now 70's Fender basses are climbing in price - mostly because guys want a "vintage" axe. I was alive and playing in the 70's. The guitars just frankly weren't that good. There were exceptions, but most were average to dog status. But now they're cool. Frankly, Fender right now is making guitars and basses as good as they've ever made, and certainly with more consistency. You still have to search to find "the one" but they are pretty solid.
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