The State of the Vintage Guitar Market
Written by vintage on February 19, 2009 – 12:13 am -ShareThe video points out that vintage guitars from dealers are selling at a premium today. This is primarily due to a marketing correction. Dealers who paid the market price for a guitar 3 or 4 years ago are now having a difficult time getting their money out of the guitiar. However, good deals can still be found from individual sellers. And vintage guitars are still a good long-term investment. US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First Vintage... more
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Posted in Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Electric Guitars | No Comments »
1957 Fender Stratocaster Guitar
Written by vintage on February 17, 2009 – 5:18 am -ShareThe Fender Stratocaster guitar is probably the most popular solid body electric guitar ever made. Early models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Strats do seem to have been easily modified (due to their "bolt together" nature). The 1957 Fender Stratocaster is considered a "classic" year by most with its two-tone sunburst finish on an Alder body wood with a Maple "V" neck. The change in plastic from "bakelite" (polystyrene) to ABS took place in the spring of 1957. Though I personally like the look and feel of "Bakelite" plastic... more
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1959 & 1960 Fender Stratocaster Guitar
Written by vintage on February 17, 2009 – 5:13 am -ShareThe Fender Stratocaster guitar is probably the most popular solidbody electric guitar ever made. Early models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Strats do seem to have been easily modified (due to their "bolt together" nature). A lot changed with the 1959 Fender Stratocaster. By mid-1959 the maple fingerboard was changed to a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and "clay" dot fingerboard markers. Personally I liked this change, as the sound of the Strat got deeper because of the rosewood. Unfortunately the backshape of the neck... more
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1961 Fender Stratocaster Guitar
Written by vintage on February 17, 2009 – 5:09 am -ShareIn 1961 Fender started using a more robust red dye for their three color sunburst. Also the dark brown part of the sunburst around the edge of the body is slightly more black. Hence the sunburst finish on a 1961 Fender Strat is much bolder looking. Fender also felt the need to add patent numbers to the peghead during 1961. Still has the "slab" rosewood fingerboard, but the back neck shape is larger (and more comfortable in my opinion). Serial number range for the 61 Fender Stratocaster are generally 55000 to 72000 (on the neck plate). If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, use the serial number and the general features of the guitar. The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate.... more
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Appraising a Gibson Archtop Guitar
Written by vintage on February 13, 2009 – 9:22 pm -ShareI have for your viewing a video that points out the important points to look for when determining the value of a vintage guitar. A Gibson Archtop guitar from 1936 is used in the video. US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First 1946 Gibson L 7 Acoustic Guitar Archtop L7 L 7 w Original Hard Case $3,249.99 Time Remaining: 16d 10h 41m Buy It Now for only: $3,249.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list Vintage 1917... more
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Martin D-18 1937 Acoustic Guitar
Written by vintage on February 9, 2009 – 3:14 pm -ShareThis special edition D-18 acoustic guitar is Martin's loving recreation of the original 1937 guitar, now a highly sought-after collector's item. Crafted with mahogany back and sides, a solid Adirondack top with the X-brace and scalloped braces of the period, hide glue, vintage toner on top, ebony bridge with long saddle (2-5/16" string spacing), and a tortoise pickguard. The neck is also formed exactly as the original and reinforced with a traditional non-adjustable T-bar. Ebony fretboard (1-3/4" nut, 25.4" scale), small abalone position dots, fossil ivory nut and saddle, ebony bridge pins, 30's style hardshell case. The features and details add up to a true masterpiece of the luthier's art, with all the storied sound quality... more
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Martin D-45 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Written by vintage on February 9, 2009 – 3:13 pm -ShareThe D-45 is the most ornately anoited guitar in the Martin line. Martin has put more than 900 individual pieces of abalone into the bindings and inlays of the top, sides, back, and rosette of the D-46 Dreadnought Acoutic Guitar. Large 'C.F. Martin' abalone letters adorn the headstock; abalone hexagon inlays are used as position markers on the bound ebony fingerboard. Solid spruce top and traditional Martin bracing pattern generate fantastic tone from this beautiful guitar. Features rich solid rosewood sides and 2-piece back. Limited lifetime warranty. The D-45 Dreadnought includes a deluxe Martin hardshell case ($190 value). Martin D-45 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Features: • 900-piece abalone bindings and inlays • Abalone... more
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Buying Vintage Guitars as Investments
Written by vintage on February 3, 2009 – 5:46 pm -ShareClick the link above or to the right (read more) to view an interesting video about collecting vintage acoustic guitars as an investment. Share Read More →
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Indentifying the Year of Production for Fender Guitars
Written by vintage on February 3, 2009 – 3:34 am -ShareFender Serial Numbers, 1950 to Present Serial numbers compiled from Guitar Info Guy. Pre-1977 Fender guitars have a serial number on the bridgeplate or neckplate. Serial numbers are basically chronological, but there is some overlap amoung years. Fender serial numbers were assigned like this: bin with serialized plates/bridges. Assembler reached in and grabbed one (or many). Put them on the instrument(s). As you can see from this over-simplified example, serial number assignment was fairly random. Just keep this in mind. The only truely definitive way to date a pre-CBS fender is to look at all the dates on the instrument (body date, neck date, pot dates). The serial number can only generalized the age of the instrument within... more
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