5 Factors That Affect The Value Of A Vintage Guitar

There are thousands of vintage guitars for sale at antique stores, music stores, and specialty guitar shops. Collecting these guitars is a great way to become connected to music and history, but some vintage guitars are more valuable than others. Here are five factors that determine a vintage guitar's worth.

Condition

Like coins and other collectibles, vintage guitars are rated on a scale with the ratings "mint," "good," "fair," and "poor." Obviously, a guitar in mint condition is worth the most. One in good condition will also have a substantial value. The value declines sharply for a guitar in only fair condition, and those in poor condition are not worth much, even if they are a rare or otherwise desirable model. Those in poor condition are usually purchased for a steal and parted out to repair other guitars.

Alterations

A guitar that has not been modified at all over the years is generally worth more than one that has been altered. If an old owner put a sticker on the body, or if they refinished it to remove scratches, this devalues the instrument. 

Crisp Tone

It's a good idea to play the guitar — or at least ask the seller to play it for you — before you purchase it. Even if you only plan to display the vintage guitar as a decoration, its value is impacted by the way it sounds. You want a guitar that generates a really crisp, clear sound. If you notice any buzzing or muddiness in the tone, this decreases the guitar's value. If you're worried that an unclear sound is coming from poor adjustments, have a guitar tech make some adjustments and listen to it again.

Type of Wood

Years ago, many guitars were made from prized woods like Brazilian rosewood or mahogany. These guitars are worth more than those made from more common woods like white oak or maple. If the guitar has a lot of specialty embellishments made from decorative woods like ebony or purpleheart, this increases its value, too.

Warping

If the guitar is warped anywhere, this decreases its value pretty significantly. You will want to look down the neck to ensure it still looks straight, and then look across the body to detect any warping there.

If you are unsure how much a vintage guitar is really worth, consider having it appraised. A professional can not only give you an estimate of a guitar's value but can also describe how they arrived at that value. Contact a professional near you in order to learn more about how to build a vintage guitar collection.