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Tips on Collecting Hall of Fame Vintage Guitars

Written by vintage on June 12, 2010 – 4:58 pm -

Ever thought that a guitar might be a more reliable investment than the stock market? Vintage guitars are becoming a hot item in the collectibles market, and there are few icons more recognizable to Americans than a rock star and his guitar. While a few months' savings might have bought a guitar in the 1960s, some of those instruments are selling for big bucks today. Recently, George Harrison's guitar sold for a little under six hundred thousand dollars, for instance. Eric Clapton's favorite Stratocaster from the 1970s, Blackie, sold for nearly a million. While celebrity collectibles have been a good investment for years, guitars themselves have largely been overlooked. However, the guitar was perfected between the 1930s and the 1960s, depending... more


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Posted in ES, Fender Bass, Gibson, Gretsch, Les Paul, Martin, Rickenbacker, Stratocster, Telecaster, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Bass Guitars, Vintage Electric Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »

Tips on Determining the Value of a Vintage Acoustic Guitar

Written by vintage on February 6, 2010 – 4:43 am -

There are many people out there with a vintage acoustic guitar or vintage electric guitar that really don’t know much about what they got? They don’t have a clear idea what their antique guitar is worth? Or even the age? Or where to look to find out this information or even the value of the information they find. Well, you could always go to your local music store and get an estimate. You may learn a few things there. But, what do you know about their background and expertise? About their honesty? Well without saying too much negative about the local music stores, I will just say most of them are not experts in this field and probably are basing quotes on local pricing values and their limited knowledge, not qualifying them as an expert. There... more


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Posted in Gibson, Martin, Vintage Acoustic Guitars | No Comments »

Gibson J45 Standard Rosewood Electro Acoustic

Written by vintage on December 5, 2009 – 5:38 am -

The J-45 has been Gibson’s top-selling acoustic guitar for years. Nicknamed, The Workhorse, and first introduced in 1942, Gibson’s most popular acoustic is now the icon of its round-shoulder, dreadnought line, world renowned for its full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Subtle changes to the bracing of its predecessor, the J-35, made Gibson’s J-45 one of most technically advanced guitars of its time. Nickel Grover Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the J-45. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing,... more


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Posted in Gibson, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »

Vintage Guitar Market Out Performs Wall Street

Written by vintage on October 16, 2009 – 4:35 pm -

In April of 2007 the Vintage Guitar market saw gains in value of over 50%. Yes this was a bumper year with gains above the norm, but gains in value have been happening for the last 30 years and have never gone backwards. Vintage Guitar magazine the market bible on all things Vintage Guitar, developed the "The 42-Guitar Index" in 1991. It tracks the ongoing values of excellent condition original pre-1970 Gibson, Fender and Martin guitars. Pre 70's because those instruments are the most valuable, however guitars from after 1970 are starting to rise steadily. The average value of an instrument in their index for 2007 is a very healthy $19,706, and that represents a staggering 438% increase since 1991. This equates to an average of 27% compounded... more


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Posted in ES, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guitar News, Les Paul, SG, Stratocster, Vintage Electric Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »

Starting your vintage guitar collection

Written by vintage on July 26, 2009 – 9:03 am -

Lou Carlozo It may sound like rock-opera fiction, but it happens: Weekend Warrior hits garage sale and buys dusty old Fender guitar for $50 (or, cleans attic and finds the Gibson he bought in high school for $100). He visits a guitar shop in "Antiques Road Show" fashion -- and discovers the "beat-up axe" is a vintage collectible, worth $10,000. Or $20,000. Or $100,000. The vintage guitar market has declined like other investments in this recession. But if you have cash to seed a small collection, why not start a fun hobby that's financially savvy? After all, when your 401K takes a beating, you're broke. When your vintage guitar takes a beating, it may continue to appreciate anyway, just because it looks so cool. Besides, who ever plugged a... more


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Posted in Epiphone, Fender, Fender Bass, Gibson, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Ibanez, Martin, Stratocster, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Bass Guitars, Vintage Electric Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »

Lovely axes to grind at Montreal Guitar Show

Written by vintage on June 30, 2009 – 4:41 am -

By Bernard Perusse, The Gazette June 29, 2009 Rediscovering his inner Hendrix inspired Jazz Festival marketing vice-president Jacques-Andre Dupont to launch musical instrument shows and a blues camp. If Jacques-André Dupont hadn’t had one of those benign midlife crises, it’s entirely possible that a depressed 15-year-old kid wouldn’t be healed by playing the blues this summer. If Dupont hadn’t rediscovered his inner Hendrix, guitar fanatics from all over the world might not have a place in Montreal to gather every year and talk guitar geek. Most important, if a meeting with Montreal International Jazz Fest sponsors hadn’t been cancelled at the last minute, he might never have walked into Steve’s Music Store in Toronto. That unexpected... more


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Posted in Epiphone, Fender, Fender Bass, Gibson, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Ibanez, Martin, Stratocster, Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Amplifiers, Vintage Bass Guitars, Vintage Electric Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »

Gibson Dove Acoustic Guitar

Written by vintage on January 17, 2009 – 9:51 am -

Gibson Dove Guitar (1962 - 1996) The Gibson Dove is a flattop steel string acoustic guitar made by Gibson Guitar Corporation. First made in 1962 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, it was Gibson's second square-shouldered dreadnought (based on the Martin D-style dreadnought), after the introduction of the Gibson Hummingbird in 1962. Both guitars have solid spruce tops and engraved pickguards. The Dove has solid maple back and sides instead of the solid mahogany used for the Hummingbird, and the Dove has a longer scale length (25.5" vs 24.75"). The Dove's longer scale length and maple back and sides make it a louder, brighter guitar than the Hummingbird. The double parallelogram fingerboard inlays, the two doves on the bridge, and the dove on the pickguard... more


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Gibson B Guitars

Written by vintage on January 8, 2009 – 5:36 pm -

Gibson B Guitars   Gibson B-15 Guitar (1967 - 1971) The Gibson B-15 was introduced in 1967 and ended productions in 1970. It was named the student model.  It was made of wood and had a mahogany body, spruce top and natural finish color. The Gibson B-15 are not worth mega dollars but have steadily increased in value year after year. Gibson B-25 Guitar (1962 - 1977) The Gibson B-25 was introduced in 1962 had a flat top ,made of mahogany wood body , bound body and ended production in 1977 , these guitars were made in cherry sunburst color. During the same years Gibson also produced the B-25 N which was the same guitar but stands for natural finish . The B-25 are worth a little more than the b-25 n because of their cherry sunburst color . Gibson... more


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Posted in Vintage Acoustic Guitars, Vintage Guitars | No Comments »