John Levan, Guitar Services Workshop proprietor

What to Look for When Buying a Vintage Guitar

By John Levan

A vintage guitar can be an excellent investment; however, it's important to distinguish the difference between a valuable, vintage instrument and just an old guitar. There are several prerequisites that will help you determine the difference. The key elements to look for are; condition, playability, tone, manufacturer, model, age and the state of originality. Let's examine these essential elements and how they will affect value. CONDITION The condition of a vintage guitar has a substantial effect on its value. Here are a few things to look for:

All of these ailments will lower the value of the instrument. Be sure to thoroughly inspect the instrument before you buy. It's also a good idea to have it evaluated by a reputable Luthier.

Playability

A guitar that plays well more than likely is in good or excellent condition. A common problem with many vintage guitars is the neck angle. To be specific, low (or under-set) neck angles. This results in high action and a low saddle, rendering the guitar very difficult to play. Worn frets, string nut & bridge saddles will also cause a guitar to play poorly.

Tone

Tone is a critical element to the value. I have examined many vintage guitars that played well, in good condition, but sounded like a tub of mud. These "dogs" will not be as desirable as the same model guitar with a broad dynamic and projection. A guitar made of fine woods, will produce the best tone. Most of these woods are scarce, making them more expensive to use.

Manufacturer

Many guitars are judged by the company or person who made them. Excellent craftsmanship, appointments such as inlays & purfling as well as the types of wood used will help determine the value of a guitar. Mother of pearl, abalone inlays are a plus. Likewise, Adirondack spruce, Brazilian rosewood, Honduran mahogany and Koa are also rare and desirable woods.

Forgeries

Several warning signs indicate a forgery. These include components of the guitar that don't match up to factory specifications. Some things to look for are decals, finish overspray, replacement hardware, wrong size fretwire, bridges, nuts & saddles. Forgeries, even well made, drive the value of authentic vintage instruments down. Buyer be ware! An appraisal by a reputable expert is worth its weight in gold.

Model

Some models are more desirable than others. This is predicated on the materials used, the craftsmanship and number built that particular year. A pre-war (before WWII) Martin D-18 is far more valuable than a 0-17 made the same year. The fewer guitars made, coupled with the demand for that model will help to determine the value of your investment. Before buying a guitar, a little research goes a long way.

Age

The age of a guitar can lend a few clues to how it was made. One of these advantages is that many, if not most, were made from air-dried wood. In other words, the wood was aged naturally and will be more stable as well and tonally pleasing than a modern guitar made from kiln-dried wood. Combined with the other elements previously discussed, age will help determine the current and even future value.

State of Originality

A guitar that is totally original, (as it came from the factory) will always be worth more than the same guitar that has been altered or even repaired. A "re-finished" or "customized" guitar will look better and maybe even play better, but will not hold its value as an original guitar will. A re-finished guitar, even done well, can be worth half of what it was worth with a checked or worn finish. In most cases, it's better to leave the finish alone. It's better to have a guitar that is ugly & original than pretty and worthless. Unfortunately, many of the vintage guitars out have had some time of modification or repairs done to them. Factory quality repairs that are un-detectable will have little effect on the value. However, work performed by an un-trained repair tech will greatly diminish the value. General repairs, such as neck re-sets and fretwork, many times are necessary to make the guitar playable and improve its tone. When done correctly, these repairs can increase the value. When restoring a vintage guitar, be sure that it is done by a reputable Luthier so that you don't lose on your investment.

To summarize, before purchasing your vintage investment, be sure you know what you are buying. Compare the instrument to the key elements in this article. I recommend that you have the guitar authenticated and appraised by a reputable expert, so that you can properly insure your investment.