Fender's Custom Telecaster model came about in the late 1950s in an attempt to attract some electric guitar market share away from its largest competitor. To accomplish this, Fender took the standard Telecaster model and added edge binding to the body - white strips of plastic inset into the wood on the top and back edges of the body. Instead of the standard Blond finish, Fender offered a Sunburst finish standard which its competitor was also known for. The most interesting bit of history for this model is that another competitor was responsible for helping to manufacture the guitars with ..read more

Check out this awesome vintage 1964 Gibson ES-330 in original Cherry Red finish in rare left handed version with diamonds on the upper bouts! I was thrilled to buy this guitar from its second owner recently. Original left handed Gibson guitars from the 1960s are so very hard to find but I'm always on the lookout for them. This one had everything I look for in a vintage Gibson lefty guitar: clean, nice condition, rare features, and completely original throughout.  Do you have a vintage Gibson left hand guitar that you're considering selling? I'd love to take look: Sell a Gibson. Perhaps t ..read more

I purchased this 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom in very rare two humbucking pickup variation from its sole owner since the early 1960s! It may look like a typical late 1950s Les Paul Custom, but remember that the vast majority of these with humbuckers came with three pickups. Gibson made very few (maybe only one batch? 20-40 examples) Customs with only two humbucking pickups. 1958 is my favorite year for the Les Paul, so this guitar represents a pinnacle achievement for this guitar collector. In my 15 years of buying vintage Gibson Les Pauls, this is the only two pickup Custom I've ever had the c ..read more

One thing that's remained constant over the past 15 years of buying vintage guitars is that it's impossible to predict what might surface next. This rare Fender Stratocaster, custom made for Roy Lanham in 1957 with rare Red finish and gold anodized aluminum pickguard, is an excellent example of the unpredictable nature of buying vintage guitars. I did not know the history of this guitar as I purchased it from the family of its second own, but my obsession with reading books about Fender history really paid off once I got it back to my shop. The "mineral streak" (or budding branch branch really ..read more

The Gibson ES-335 (and ES-345, ES-355) model has stood the test of time by being in continuous production since its introduction since 1958. Finding out how old is my ES-335 is not as easy as it sounds since Gibson used multiple different serial number styles from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s through now. It's important to match the serial number to the style of implementation to properly date an ES-335, ES-345, and ES-335.  Need help? I'd be happy to take a look at your 1950s or 1960s ES-335/ES-345/ES-355. If you have a vintage ES-335 then you can contact me at the button bellow: Ge ..read more

The original Gibson Les Paul Standard guitars made in 1960 are some of the finest the company has ever made. The third year for the "Burst", 1960 saw significant changes in the model and was the end of the Maple cap/single cutaway style Les Paul Standard. Read on for more information on 1960 Les Paul Standard features and the story of a very special 1960 Burst I purchased from its original owner "Rosie". Jump to the information you're looking for: Identification and features including serial numbers, neck profiles, and pickups How much did it cost in 1960 and now? Check out a scan of the origi ..read more

  Your vintage Fender Stratocaster can be very valuable to a guitar collector, but how does one determine how much could it actually sell for? I'm a vintage guitar collector and dealer with over 15 years of experience helping families understand how we price 1950s and 1960s Stratocasters and sell for fair market value. If you've inherited a vintage collectible Strat, you may wish to get professional help with identification and valuation. I would be happy to assist you in finding the value of your vintage Stratocaster. Fender Stratocasters made in the 1950s and 1960s c ..read more

The 1953-1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom, with its classic black finish and intricate pearl inlay, is one of our top picks among the 5 Les Paul models from the 1950s. It was the top of the line solid body electric guitar that Gibson made during the decade that spawned rock and roll. Guitar collectors (like myself) try our best to keep at least one 50s LP Custom in nice playing condition in our collections.  Jump to the Les Paul Custom information you're looking for: How much did a Les Paul Custom cost in the 1950s? How many Les Paul Customs did Gibson make in the 1950s? What does it sound lik ..read more

  Here is a nearly comprehensive list of Fender guitar serial numbers for Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazzmasters, and Jaguars made from 1950 until the 1980s (use this link if you think your Fender guitar was made in the last 20 years: New Fender Serial Numbers). Keep in mind that Fender serial numbers are not necessarily consecutive and the plates are easily swapped out using only a screwdriver. You can begin to date your Fender guitar by checking the serial number, then move on to the model specific pages for a more thorough view on the year your guitar was made.  How to ..read more

Hear the tone of a vintage Gibson ES-355 on Youtube!  We recently acquired this 1961 Gibson ES-355 in a rare mono configuration with added Bigsby tailpiece. Our friend Browan Lollar came in to show us how it sounds! Mono vs. Stereo: The ES-355 was offered in both mono and stereo configurations starting in 1959. While most players opted for the stereo version due to its "fancy new technology," the mono version remained the favorite among most guitarists. This particular 1961 model is a mono example, making it a rare find. Unique Features: This 1961 ES-355 boasts several unique f ..read more