VINTAGE UNDERDOGS
Our recommendations of some of the best-value professional-grade vintage guitars money can buy
1. 60S HARMONY ELECTRICS
In its 60s heyday, Harmony was the USA’s largest manufacturer of electric guitars, with notable examples including the DeArmond goldfoilequipped Rocket models, the Dan Auerbachendorsed H78 and the Silvertone-branded, Gibson mini-humbucker-loaded Chris Isaak 1446L. This player’s-grade Harmony H75 was snapped up at Vintage ‘n’ Rare Guitars and is a fine example of a great-sounding vintage bargain.
“I think the old 60s Harmony electrics should be worth more,” says Luke Hobbs. “I mean, you can sometimes pick them up for about £700 to £800 hammer, so topping out at about a grand including fees. They’re great!”
2. SMALL-BODIED ACOUSTICS
This three-quarter size 1950s Gibson LG-2 belongs to guitarist Martin Barre who paid $15 for it at an early Jethro Tull gig.
“Not all of the 40s and 50s Gibson acoustics are crazy money,” points out V‘n’R’s Paul Tucker. “You can get some really fantastic small-bodied guitars, such as LGs, for a reasonable price. And there are ways into that old Martin world, too. For example, 40s and 50s small-bodied 15- and 17-series guitars offer a simple stripped-back design, but you’re still getting the same quality tonewood and level of craftsmanship you would expect from a higher-series Martin.”
3. KALAMAZOO-ERA EPIPHONE
“There are some fantastic guitars that will set you back a fraction of the cost of an equivalent Gibson,” says Paul Tucker. “Some of the Epiphone stuff has now gone up in price beyond most people’s reach but there are still under-the-radar guitars like the Broadway.”
Currently on sale at Vintage ‘n’ Rare, this 1964 Epiphone E252 Broadway features a full-depth, 17-inch-wide hollowbody archtop construction, a 25.5-inch scale length and dual Seth Loverdesigned mini-humbuckers. Clean, original and with the case it left the factory in, this is exactly the kind of golden-era Kalamazoo sleeper that’s worth looking out for.
4. 50S GRETSCHES
“Some of the late-50s Gretsches are amazing value for money,” notes Paul Tucker. “Chet Atkins [6119] Tennesseans have their limitations for some because they’re single-pickup [Filter’Tron] guitars – until ’61 when they go thinline and get the dual HiLo’Trons – but they can be massively affordable for what you’re getting. You can get a late 50s/early 60s single-cutaway 6119 with a Filter’Tron – a full depth, trestle-braced Gretsch with an ebony ’board – and you’re only one Filter’Tron away from a 6120 [Chet Atkin Hollow Body]. Plug that into a big Fender Tweed and that’s the Pete Townshend sound – for a fraction of the cost of an equivalent-year 6120.”
5. 70S GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOMS
“I think some of the coolest vintage guitars are affordable,” says Richard Henry. “I was having a conversation about a reissue Les Paul Custom that sold on eBay for just under four grand, and I thought, ‘I can buy an original 70s Les Paul Custom for less than that! And it’s cooler!’”
Take this 2010 Gibson Randy Rhoads 1974 Les Paul Custom as an example. 10 years ago, the VOS version cost £3,599 new, while £4,999 would buy you a hand-aged model – the kind of money you would pay for an original ’74 LPC on today’s market, let alone in 2010. Nevertheless, within 10 years, these Custom Shop artist LPCs have multiplied in price as collectables.
6. 60S TEISCO ELECTRICS
“The old Japanese Teiscos from the 60s are pretty cool,” says Luke Hobbs. “I get really excited when I see them. A lot of these brands copied the classic designs but they came up with their own stuff as well. They maybe weren’t best-sellers at the time but they’re starting to stand out a bit more now. I think there are a lot of contemporary guitarists who want to play these weird old things.”
This late-60s Teisco Spectrum 5 belongs to Andy Fairweather Low who first became interested in the brand via Ry Cooder. “I like Teiscos,” he tells us. “I thought it was a fabulous look.” [RB]
Old stuff can be good – but you’ve got to remember that just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s great. It can still be absolutely toilet-grade” says Matt Gleeson of Monty’s Guitars, who has set up and repaired a huge spectrum of old and new guitars during his 20-plus years as a pro guitar tech. “So try as many as you can get your hands on. One will be different to another example and one might speak to you more than another. Sometimes the ones that are a little cosmetically ropey are actually the better ones – but you won’t know till you check them over and play them,” he advises, adding that the most important thing is that the guitar connects with you in an easy and natural way. “I know that sounds a bit hippy,” he says, “but the most important thing is that the guitar resonates with you when you pick it up. Everything else is generally fixable. But remember that if it’s not already very well set up and cared for, you’re always going to have to budget for a little bit more on top to put niggling issues right.”
Since prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure, here Matt offers five tips for assessing whether a vintage guitar you’re thinking of buying is likely to be a bargain or a money pit.