When I started out, I was pretty much in the same boat. I had a zero budget and played whatever guitar and amp I could scrounge or cloodge together. I cringe when I think about that now, but I was happy as a clam then and playing my butt off. I always coveted Les Pauls and Strats, but never had the money to buy one.
In the early eighties, I had a little better budget and bought a Marshall and a cheap Les Paul copy. I was in heaven. I had a real rig! Alas, by the the late eighties, I was out of the game and sold everything but my guitars. I didn't seriously play again for almost ten years, and when I did, it was acoustic.
After a divorce in '99, I decided to get back into playing. I bought a Les Paul, a Strat, and a Johnson modeler. I re-honed my chops and joined the band I'm in now in 2000. I found that my tastes were really getting defined. I actually began to realize exactly what I was seeking in sound. The Johnson served me well, but I missed "old school" real tubes. I missed the warmth of them. I missed the touch response of them. I missed the sag when the amp really digs in. So, I bought my Germino a couple of years ago and have never looked back. I have an amp that oozes "vintage", without any of the reliability issues.
Not so much of a "vintage" story - more like a "traditionalist" story and getting back to my roots. I have a very eclectic collection of guitars, but chances are I'll have a Strat, Les Paul, or an SG on if you see me playing.
Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity
Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.
Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.