Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • Take our survey to win a £300/$350 Ticketmaster gift card
  • Type beats
  • 86000+ free music samples
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • Three-chord trick

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Tuition

How to buy a vintage guitar

By Ed Mitchell
( Total Guitar )
published 7 October 2015

Grab a bargain with our guide

Introduction
(Image credit: Joby Sessions)

Introduction

Buying a vintage guitar can be a minefield of dodgy playability and overpriced mint-conditions, but there are still some bargains to be had out there – you just need to know what you’re doing.

Follow our 12-step guide on how not to be taken for a mug and you should get yourself a killer vintage guitar.

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
1. Research, research, research

1. Research, research, research

Do your homework. For instance, if you’re looking for a 1960s Gretsch Corvette, familiarise yourself with the specs. Buy a book on the brand of guitar you’re interested in, or research online.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
2. Get photos

2. Get photos

If you’re buying a guitar from an online auction, ask the seller to email you some detailed photos of the guitar. Be specific about what you want to see. Out-of-focus shots are no good.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
3. Date it

3. Date it

No serial number? You can often date a guitar from its features. Early Gretsch Corvettes had three-a-side headstocks; our guitar’s four/two confirms it’s a ’65 model.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
4. Check the spec

4. Check the spec

Ask for a list of features before you go to check the guitar out. Has it been altered in any way, or re-fretted? All this can affect its value, so it’s worth getting your facts straight.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
5. Pick up on pickup swaps

5. Pick up on pickup swaps

Find out if the pickups have been changed – that’s not always obvious just from a photo. Aftermarket units can seriously affect the re-sale value of a vintage axe.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
6. Check the frets

6. Check the frets

Ask about fret wear. If the frets need to be replaced or stoned you’ll have to figure the bill for the work into the seller’s asking price. Get a quote from your local repair shop.

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
7. Appreciate mojo

7. Appreciate mojo

Don’t expect an old guitar to look pristine. Cracks in its finish, worn patches and chips all add character. Vintage fanatics call this natural ageing process ‘patina’.

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
8. Look for neck breaks

8. Look for neck breaks

Find out if the neck has ever been broken. If it has, it should be reflected in the price. If you can’t visit the seller, ask for a detailed shot of the back of the neck and headstock.

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
9. Know your terminology

9. Know your terminology

Vintage guitars that have been altered to improve playability are often referred to as a player’s guitar, while mint or nearly mint examples are described as ‘investment grade’.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
10. Keep original parts

10. Keep original parts

Our Gretsch has all of its original parts but we’ll probably fit a new bridge in place of the primitive bar version. We’ll keep the original in a safe place in case we ever decide to sell the guitar.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
11. Be careful about modding

11. Be careful about modding

Do what you will with a vintage axe, but be respectful. Routing the body to change pickups or fitting a Floyd to a vintage Les Paul will spoil the guitar. You’ll regret it one day!

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
12. Compare with new examples

12. Compare with new examples

Be aware that not every vintage guitar is great: some suck. The thrill is in finding a good one. Try comparing an original guitar with a reissue; you might prefer the new version!

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
Ed Mitchell
Social Links Navigation
More about guitars
Neural DSP Quad Cortex update

Neural is going to bring its first Quad Cortex-compatible plugin out soon with Archetype: Plini X

Harley Benton Fusion-T 25th Firemist

Harley Benton Fusion-T 25th review

Latest
Atmospheric space shot with sunrise

Modern life getting you down? Here are 10 atmospheric DnB tracks that keep the ‘90s dream alive

See more latest ►
Most Popular
How to get the sound of Abbey Road's vintage plate reverbs

By Andy Jones6 September 2023

How to perfect your kick and snare with Arturia's Neve 1073 emulation

By Andy Price5 September 2023

How to use the Pultec 'low-end trick' to improve your bass and kick

By Andy Price4 September 2023

Computer Music 326 Autumn 2023: free downloads

By Computer Music30 August 2023

The 6 essential acoustic guitar chord groups every player should learn

By Total Guitar29 August 2023

The 5 chord progressions you need to play 100s of songs

By MusicRadar27 August 2023

Practical music theory: 10 things every songwriter and producer needs to know about chords

By Computer Music23 August 2023

Use the CAGED system to play guitar chords across the fretboard quickly and easily

By MusicRadar22 August 2023

How to make a Gorillaz‑style synth string patch

By Dave Gale21 August 2023

How to use distortion to enhance individual elements of your mix

By Jon Musgrave11 August 2023

Ditch the pick and start fingerstyle today with three guitar chords and this lesson

By Total Guitar10 August 2023

  1. Gibson Les Paul Supreme
    1
    The Gibson Les Paul Supreme is officially back – and the most expensive non-Custom LP is as luxurious, lightweight and versatile as ever
  2. 2
    Bitwig and PreSonus’s new open file format enables you to save projects in one DAW and open them in another, but will other developers support it?
  3. 3
    7 effects pedals that synth players need to try
  4. 4
    The missing piece for your ultimate pedalboard rig? Universal Audio announces the OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator pedal
  5. 5
    The Vaporizer 2 wavetable synth plugin is now free and open-source: a commercial-quality instrument you can download for nothing?
  1. DAWproject
    1
    Bitwig and PreSonus’s new open file format enables you to save projects in one DAW and open them in another, but will other developers support it?
  2. 2
    7 effects pedals that synth players need to try
  3. 3
    The missing piece for your ultimate pedalboard rig? Universal Audio announces the OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator pedal
  4. 4
    "Everybody around me kept saying, 'Norm, you can't carry on like this'": Fatboy Slim's career in gear, from tape to Atari to Ableton
  5. 5
    Roland’s Juno-60 synth plugin hits version 2: a new GUI, a better browser and control over the ‘analogue’ circuits

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.