Vintage Guitar pricing

[SpiderWars]

What are the best resources for finding pricing for vintage guitars? I'll probably only ever be able to afford 'player grade' guitars but they are all over the place regarding original pickups/hardware, broken necks, bridge mods, etc.

EDIT: The SG Jr I mentioned is gonzo.

 

[japetus]

Check out the Vintage Guitar Price Guide. Sometimes libraries will have them even, they are updated every year. They tend to be a little on the high side IMO but it gives you an idea. Also check completed auctions and reverb. Gruhns Guitar guide is also good for finding out the originality of the instrument, what parts it should and shouldnt have.

 

[SpiderWars]

Thanks. Yeah, I check Gruhn's site but have not dove into their guide. Good suggestion. Actually was able to visit them this year and play a couple of fretless wonders (NOT for me!). I left with a shirt.

 

[flatheads_4ever]

Vintage guitars is a slippery slope to head down. Watch out for the fakes.

I'm in love with old guitars thanks to Tom Bukovac. I really want an old ES-335, but that will probably never happen.

Ed

 

[SpiderWars]

Yeah, fakes are a concern too. Buk has had same influence on me. Also Phil X has me much more interested in guitars like SG Jr's...something still attainable. Tim Pierce made a video about player grade vintage guitars and that's probably all I'll ever be able to get. I just need to get smart on these things so when something pops up I can jump. The Gibson nut width change could be a big thing for some. And it would be extra cool if I could find a '64, my birth year.

 

[flatheads_4ever]

Yeah, fakes are a concern too. Buk has had same influence on me. Also Phil X has me much more interested in guitars like SG Jr's...something still attainable. Tim Pierce made a video about player grade vintage guitars and that's probably all I'll ever be able to get. I just need to get smart on these things so when something pops up I can jump. The Gibson nut width change could be a big thing for some. And it would be extra cool if I could find a '64, my birth year.

There are some great affordable vintage guitars and amps out there. Check out some old Guild Starfires and Gretsch Corvettes. A great old vintage amp are Ampeg Gemini I's. Good, swampy fender-ish tones. That's what the Stones used on their early records. I've had one for years.

Ed

 

[braintheory]

There are some great affordable vintage guitars and amps out there. Check out some old Guild Starfires and Gretsch Corvettes. A great old vintage amp are Ampeg Gemini I's. Good, swampy fender-ish tones. That's what the Stones used on their early records. I've had one for years.

Ed

Those old Ampeg’s are very overlooked. If you want cleans to mild breakup the Gemini II is my favorite Ampeg. I got mine for $380 and I consider it to have some of the best cleans. Every bit as good to me as my other all time favorite clean amps that cost me almost 10 times as much in some cases (‘64 Vibroverb, Copperpanel AC30’s, Hiwatt DR103). Sounds very warm, woody and fat

I have a ‘64 SG Jr and ‘57 Les Paul Jr myself and they’re among my top 3 favorite guitars I’ve owned. The ‘57 LP Jr is hands down the best guitar I’ve owned soundwise. The newer made guitars tend to sound comparatively uninspiring and sterile, especially the P90 ones. I’ve yet to try a modern made P90 that sounds half as good as a good vintage example and I’ve tried some new modern P90’s that cost almost as much as the real vintage ones. The SG and LP Jr imo are a lot of tone for the money and imo if you get a good one they can hold their own with any of the best vintage guitars I’ve tried at any price. If you’re buying a guitar for just tone rather than all the other crap most guys buy guitars for (looks, playability, frets, fit/finish, build, etc) then those guitars are VERY hard to beat, especially if you like that raw, snarly P90 vibe like myself. Huge p90 fan

 

[flatheads_4ever]

Those old Ampeg’s are very overlooked. If you want cleans to mild breakup the Gemini II is my favorite Ampeg. I got mine for $380 and I consider it to have some of the best cleans. Every bit as good to me as my other all time favorite clean amps that cost me almost 10 times as much in some cases (‘64 Vibroverb, Copperpanel AC30’s, Hiwatt DR103). Sounds very warm, woody and fat

I have a ‘64 SG Jr and ‘57 Les Paul Jr myself and they’re among my top 3 favorite guitars I’ve owned. The ‘57 LP Jr is hands down the best guitar I’ve owned soundwise. The newer made guitars tend to sound comparatively uninspiring and sterile, especially the P90 ones. I’ve yet to try a modern made P90 that sounds half as good as a good vintage example and I’ve tried some new modern P90’s that cost almost as much as the real vintage ones. The SG and LP Jr imo are a lot of tone for the money and imo if you get a good one they can hold their own with any of the best vintage guitars I’ve tried at any price. If you’re buying a guitar for just tone rather than all the other crap most guys buy guitars for (looks, playability, frets, fit/finish, build, etc) then those guitars are VERY hard to beat, especially if you like that raw, snarly P90 vibe like myself. Huge p90 fan

Hmm... Never tried a Gemini II.

The best modern P90 pickup guitars I've had were a couple of USA Hamer's (a goldtop studio and a korina semi-hollow artist) from mid '90's that I bought for next to nothing. I went through a P90 phase about 15 years ago. I hated the PRS McCarty with P90's

Ed