Affordable Vintage? Our Guide For What To Buy

Most vintage guitars are out of the normal price range, but here are some suggestions on some still affordable vintage guitars and amps! Let us know in the comments what your favorite vintage gear is and where you think there is still some value and opportunity in the market for an investment piece.

#vintage #vintageguitar #fender #Gibson

[AbaddonRD]

In '99 I bought a 1974 Gibson Custom SG (3 pickups) in walnut all original, including the case, for $1, 200. Still playing it! Love your show!

[flapjack]

I have a 1964 Harmony H-19 that I acquired back in 1998. It belonged to my friend's dad, spent it's entire life in the case, and when I blew my knee out, I traded my buddy two beat up snowboards for the guitar and some old Gibson solid state amp. The amp wasn't working, so I sold it to another friend for $50, and he had it working within a week. I still have that guitar. It's both the oldest guitar I own, as well as the one that I've owned the longest. It's very well built. Holds tuning well, rarely needs any adjustment. Never had any issues with it. Really fun guitar to play. Probably the best deal I ever made!

[gregpepper]

Picked up a ‘72 Guild D-40 player grade not too long ago. Best guitar I own! 50 years of play on the neck and a tone/resonance unlike any other acoustic I own!

[Bradkurily]

I got a 1967 fender mustang in Dakota red. It belonged to my neighbor growing up and his wife sold it to me after he passed away. I poo poo’d the mustang until I got one. It is so much fun to play and it really has a voice of its own.

[joeykelly]

The vintage market makes me glad I’m a Gretsch guy. The older Gretsch guitars tend to have a lot of issues (namely binding rot) and weren’t made very well past the late 60’s. No doubt in my mind that the best Gretsch guitars have been made in the past 35 years.

I bought a 2001 New Jet a few months ago and it’s fantastic! Hoping I can get the scratch for a few more Fred Gretsch, pre-Fender era guitars before the prices shoot up.

[joet]

I got a 1966 Fender Music Master II is Near Mint Condition recently for a great deal and I love it. That neck pickup is huge sounding!

[iwanttoplaywithspringsteen]

Got to say there is such a cool vibe going on. Had a look at the store tour and definitely the coolest guitar store I’ve ever seen . If I were in the USA and not in Scotland it would be on my must visit list . Proper cool the way things should be .. 6:32

[alexwoolridgeaw]

I have a 1961 Les Paul Jr, love it. Its headstock has already been broken and fixed. Aint gotta worry about it now. Im in it under 3 grand and its a cool geetar.

[seancollins]

i picked up a 1961 magnatone 410 custom last fall for 800! had it sorted out at a local shop, and it's amazing. it does its "thing" SO well, amd i insanely cool!

[Max-million]

I love the early 80’s Fender Bullets made in the USA and designed by legend John Page. Incredibly under the vintage radar.✌️🎸

[Funkybassuk]

I bought a ‘78 Jazz bass around 15-20 years ago for around £600. It had been modded by a previous owner and was collection only in a remote, rural part of the English countryside. I was the only bidder and still have it and love it.

A modded, effed-up late ‘70s Fender might still be just about affordable - but would it be any good? As Jonathan said, it would be on a case by case basis.

[Kovboi]

Got a 1977 Strat for a pretty good deal a few months ago. Absolute killer guitar.

[ronpopeil]

Picked up an all original (with the case) 1979 Ibanez ST200 and it is awesome.

[jonathanharmon]

I have a 1986 Rickenbacker 360 that’s amazing. It’s hard to wrap my brain around the fact that it’s now inching into vintage status. It was 11 years old when I bought it. I believe I paid around $850 for it. Those were the days.

[ryangunwitch-black]

There are some cool vintage Japanese guitars from the ‘60s but I won’t name any names because they’re still affordable and I want them to stay that way. Lol

[cdnnielsen]

Some '65-66 nonreverse Firebirds can still be had without breaking the bank. Light and fun to play

[deadstarr]

70s/80s ibanez stuff is nice i still want to get a rocket roll ii at some point

[myshow]

Love my CMI cs-212 system and I got a couple of sunns that. I'm very partial to as well. Gauge Master 2x12 and the little 1x12 SL160 that amp stays right next to my bed

[jorgeya]

Got myself a 65 Jaguar for a pretty reasonable price. Gonna need a refret soon but sounds amazing

[APMTenants]

60s Kapa and Framus guitars are undervalued