Vintage Acoustic Guitars

I bought my first acoustic guitar when I was 13 years old with the help of my Dad who paid half; the other half came from the money I received from a six-day per week paper route. Playing the guitar became my all-consuming passion. I played that thing every single day starting off learning some very easy acoustic guitar songs - graduating into blues and rock guitar. I would practice for at least 2 hours or until my fingers became tired and sore. For those of us who share this passion for playing guitars tend to share a similar passion for collecting guitars as well. Each guitar I have owned and played had their own distinctive sound and character. It didn’t matter whether it was an electric or acoustic guitar, I collected both. Now that I look back over my playing and collecting career, I realize that the only vintage electric guitar that I ever wanted was the 1954 Fender Stratocaster. You know the one with the sexy shape, sunburst color, the sharp distinctive tone, with a tremolo arm or whammy bar that vibrates and generates passion! And it feels good to the touch – real guitar magic! The first vintage acoustic guitar that I played was a 1962 Hofner 457 arch-top with F-holes and a cut-away when I was nine; it belonged to my dad who was a jazz guitarist. Many years later I bought my own Hofner for the princely sum of $75 with a case; that was back in 1980. Current prices for this machine sit between $1000 and $1500.

Vintage Guitars

In the guitar world the term Vintage tends to apply to guitars built between the mid 1920’s to 1970 such as the 1961Les Paul Gibson SG, or the ’54 Fender Strat which after 50 years still sound great. Prior to 1920, guitars were not particularly well-made whilst guitars made during the 1970s were judged to be of very poor quality and do not have collectable appeal.

Guitars made before 1970 were often constructed of Brazilian Rosewood and were handmade whereas today most guitar manufacturing is controlled by machines and do not have the same appeal as a handmade version to those serious collectors.

2009 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide.

There is a lot to learn about vintage electric and vintage acoustic guitars which is why the serious collector needs to have at their finger tips the 2009 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide. With details of over 1,500 brands and over 1,000 black and white photos it provides key information on a changing market listing values based on comprehensive market research and analysis. It is an excellent tool for assessing and purchasing used instruments.

This is an absolute must for the library of any serious collector of Vintage Acoustic and Vintage Electric Guitars.

Do I still have that vintage acoustic Hofner guitar? No, I gave it to my brother in law!

A 1960’s Gibson Classic Vintage Acoustic Guitar – the Hummingbird – a very good looking and great sounding guitar. The 1960’s gave rise to the Gibson’s first square-shouldered dreadnought guitar. It has a beautiful mahogany cherry sunburst colored body (back and sides), with Sitka spruce soundboard. It has a black headstock with its split mother of pearl fretboard inlays, and very elaborate tortoise pick guard, plus engraved hummingbird motifs.

It has a very nice crisp crystal sound, rounded bass, and deep rich tones.

The Fender Palomino Acoustic guitar has a typical acoustic body with a strat-like neck strapped to it. Some very famous guitarists have used the fender acoustic guitars including: Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Joan Baez and Steven Stills. It has a great sound and is very easy to play. The Palamino has a maple neck, a solid spruce top and Rosewood back and sides. It has great action and has a great tone.

The Gibson super jumbo is a lovely looking guitar with a big sound and great tones! It has a Rosewood fretboard, Maple back and sides with a Siktka soundboard. It has Grover keys on a black headstock, an engraved tortoise pick guard.