Reissue and Vintage Guitars for the True Collector
Vintage Guitars from Gibson, Martin, Fender, Paul Reed Smith and More
If you enjoy rare vintage guitars as much as I do you know a beautiful vintage guitar is a work of art with deep rich sounds and unique hand crafted designs It doesn't get any better than the soulful sound of a rare vintage Gibson, Fender, or PRS guitar.
For that reason I showcase some of the best Golden Era vintage guitars including Fender, Gibson, and the ever beautiful Paul Reed Smith.
For the cash strapped guitar lovers among us I'll also show off current reissue guitars like the Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino reissue. This spectacular guitar has a vintage feel yet is loaded with modern technology at a reasonably affordable price.
If you have an extra $45K burning a hole in your pocket you may be able to pick up a vintage 1952 Gibson Gold Top electric guitar for your collection, or a much sought after Martin D-45 Dreadnought, but if you just love the look and feel of classic guitars there are plenty of affordable options to choose from.
Gibson Custom '68 Les Paul Custom
The Gibson Custom 1968 Les Paul Custom Flame Top electric guitar is one of those instruments you dream about as a kid and thanks to Gibson's Custom Shop we can enjoy this beautiful vintage guitar without closing our eyes.
The guitar's '57 Classic humbuckers deliver such a rich tone you'd think you'd curled up in a jar of molasses and had your face licked clean by an angel - (I don't know what that means either but it sounded nice when it rolled off my fingers) The Gibson '68 Les Paul Custom reissue is available in several beautiful styles including the Ebony (above), Antique Natural, as well as a stunning Triburst and a rich golden Washed Cherry.
The Gibson Custom '68 Les Paul Custom will set you back a pretty penny but if you are serious about your guitars like I am it is well worth saving your pennies for.
When reading through reviews on this stellar guitar I found one that sounds just about right... the reviewer stated "it'll break your back and your bank, but so will a supermodel! This one will still be around long after she's gone!" Sounds like the making of a blues tune to me.
Vintage Guitar Poll: Electric or Acoustic? - Lay it on the line what's your style....
Me personally, I'm an acoustic lover, nothing like a crackling beach fire with the soft sounds of an acoustic guitar to warm the night. But then again there is the rip shredding massive attack of a great electric guitar riff.... hmmm touch choice. You make the call.
Vintage electric or Vintage acoustic?
Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino
Elite '65 Casino true to the original made famous by The Beatles
The Epiphone Elitist Casino is gorgeous, but if you are a guitar player, and not a guitar collector, you want a guitar that sounds as beautiful as it looks, and this stunning starburst Epi fits the bill.
From my experience the P-90's give you that deep rich tone made famous by the Beatles and this Elite '65 Casino reissue certainly does justice to the original. Among serious guitar players the word has already spread about this classic inspired guitar because it is currently hard to get on Amazon (if you can't find a new one listed you can pick up a used one for a much more reasonable $1300-$1400)
Vintage Guitar Price Guides
Some great info before buying a vintage guitar
If you are serious about buying a rare vintage guitar for playing or collecting (or just curious to learn more about vintage guitars) the Vintage Guitars Price Guide from Vintage Guitar Magazine is a great resource of information. A must read if you are buying a vintage guitar as a gift for someone special (including yourself) - and as long as you are in the gift giving mood I know someone who'd love a vintage Gibson for his birthday...
Find information about vintage acoustic guitar sound, vintage guitar price guides, guitar body styles, sizes, and even the different types of wood used to make the best guitars, plus a whole heck of lot more.
Gibson Les Paul Standard Gold Top
I was just drooling over the 1952 Gibson Les Paul Standard Gold Top guitar auction I saw on ebay for a mere $45,000.
The Les Paul Standard Guitar debuted in 1952 as Gibson's first solidbody guitar, and has evolved over the course of time to represent the benchmark for all electric guitars. And the Gibson Les Paul Standard Gold Top electric guitar particularly is another one of those instruments I would dream about as a kid. Its rich melted butter gold top shines like the bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow, and the sound is equally rich in treasure.
I may not have the funds to pick up an original but modern renditions of the Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar can be enjoyed for a fraction of the price. Sure it is still a bit heavy in the pocket but for me it is well worth saving up for.
Real Musician's Favorite Guitars - The Best of the Best
Music aficionados and critics all have their own opinion about who makes the best guitar, whether you are diggin a rare Gibson Nighthawk, a PRS McCarty, or a wicked Fender Stratocaster you just can't go wrong.
But when you really start talkin' about the guitar legends you enter a whole new realm of vintage guitar nirvana. Which of these three famous pre-war vintage guitars would you most like to get your hands on?
What pre-war vintage guitar would you pick for your collection?
Find a Vintage Guitar Shop
Searching for that special vintage guitar for your collection is like treasure hunting, sometimes you get lucky and find a great old guitar tucked away in the corner of a garage sale or flee market. But if you have a certain vintage guitar in mind you'll have to go to the pros.
Below you'll find vintage guitar shops to start your search. From small specialty shops to the well known big stores you'll hopefully find a shop that has that guitar you need to complete your collection. If you know of a small vintage guitar shop that could use some customers leave a comment and I'll add them too.
Fuller's Vintage Guitar is a little shop in Texas (116 North Loop Houston, TX. 77008) that specializes in vintage guitars. Big names in vintage collectible guitars like Gibson, Fender, Martin, and Taylor as well as the little guys that can be even more hard to find and collectible.
© 2006 Rusty Quill