Finding Vintage Guitars

Collecting vintage guitars can be very fun and a lucrative collectibles hobby or profit making venture but it requires probably more knowledge than the average person will have but if you are willing to research it can be a reality. Most new collectors does not know where to start or where to focus your attention so here are a little guide. Among avid collectors you will find those who concentrate on a variety of brands from different time periods, while others are interested in particular brands or types of guitars.

 

 

Not typical among collectibles, antique guitar is in some cases less desireable to own than a vintage guitar. Typically, collectors consider guitars made before the 1920`s to be too simple, and instruments made between the 1920`s and the 1970`s to be highly collectible. But it is easy to focus on the more popular vintage instruments because most price guides will cover those years.

 

 

The materials they are made of can be part of the appeal. They were all of higher quality than today`s guitars. With that in mind, carefully check the condition of the material that is used for the guitar body to ensure it is without cracks and splits. The fretboard and soundboard should be in good shape. Always be aware of that rare does not always mean more vauable, some limited production instruments was limited because they were not popular.

 

National, Fender, Gibson, Martin and Dobro are some of the most popular vintage guitar manufacturers to consider collecting. Some would say that these brands are popular because of the collectors "herd metality", but they all have an active marketplace.

 

You should also consider whether to focus on acoustic guitars or electric guitars. On electric guitars there are more working parts to take into consideration, but these are very popular with collectors.

 

The Fender Stratocaster of 1954 and the Fender Jazzmaster of 1958 demand top dollar price because they are much sought after by collectors of vintage guitars. The Firebird series from the 1960’s are one of the famed collector models featured by Gibson guitars. Should I go for not so famous names of vintage guitars?

 

Experienced collectors take notice of the unfamiliar names because they know they can find rare designs from them. Check the quality of guitars from these German manufacturers; Hofner, Gretsch or Rickenbacker. After the war, classic guitars made by Europeans and Germans seem to have the same characteristics. The good old camaraderie between American and German guitar makers denotes that there are explicitly designed vintage guitars made by either of them. You might need to go outside of America if you are in search for these European or German collectible guitars.

 

However, you may also try online resources for further help. A guitar store owner that I personally know kept an old guitar for many years. She purchased it from someone who was in dire need of money. There was no manufacturer’s name on the guitar, so she indicated on it the regular 50% markup and exhibited it for several years. It had long been forgotten until one day, she received a phone call from someone inquiring about the old guitar. He asked if the guitar was still there and if the price remains at $150.00. She gave an affirmative answer and held it for him until he could get it. He bought the classic guitar the very next day.

 

After a few weeks, she got a call from the same customer thanking her for the good deal, and informed her that he had sold the guitar for over $1000! When she asked him how he did it, he simply said that he is an experienced vintage guitar dealer.

Upon seeing the guitar on your display, he did some study and took the risk. I acquired it, checked it thoroughly and found what I was after. The store keeper may have made his client happy but deeply regretted for not knowing that the guitar was worth ten folds than her selling price.

 

Whatever your interest may be, vintage guitars collections will definitely be very rewarding for you. If you have interest in vintage instruments, there are many quality vintage items that you may come across with.