Collecting Hall of Fame Vintage Guitars is a Great Investment
Ever imagined that a guitar might be a more lucrative investment than the stock market? Vintage guitars are becoming a hot item in the collectors' items industry, and there are few icons more recognizable to people in America than a rock super star and his guitar. Though a couple of weeks' savings might have bought a guitar in the 1960s, most of those guitars are selling for big bucks today. Not too long ago, George Harrison's guitar sold for a little below six hundred thousand dollars, or example. Eric Clapton's favorite Stratocaster from the 1970s, Blackie, sold for almost a million bucks.
You may be asking yourself whether a guitar can seriously be a excellent investment. After all, to the untrained eye, most guitars are similar. Even so, the right guitar can be really worth a lot to a collector. Guitars which have been owned by celebrities, or that are scarce or unusual, can command very high prices indeed. If you're concerned about receiving a return on your money, don't be. Vintage guitars have persistently perofrmed with far more stability than the stock market. There are a number of factors that collecting vintage guitars is an exceptional strategy.
For one, they're far more tangible in contrast to a stock or bond. They give you an beautiful piece to display, and are fun to collect too. Additionally, Guitars don't lose worth over time. In fact, it's simply the opposite - classic guitars persistently gain value as they get older, as long as you take the time to keep them in excellent condition. They're also ordinarily excellent instruments. If you're a musician and an investor, you'll value the outstanding action and tone of a real vintage instrument. The most famous classic guitar with enthusiasts is in all probability the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Stratocaster..
Right here is a small example: Let's say in 1959 you had $100.00. If you were to bury the $100.00 in a coffee can in your back yard or put it in your financial institution account and let it sit there drawing a couple percent interest inflation would gradually take this $100.00 and if you were to pull it out 50 years later you would discover that $100.00 may barely get you a nice supper for two. Having said that if you would have taken that exact same $100.00 and gone to the neighborhood pawn shop in 1959 and acquired a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar and placed it in the closet instead then you might drag it from your closet today and it may be worth well over six figures.
People are starting to recognize how much these instruments from the 50's, 60's, and 70's really meant to our culture.
There is a very limited supply and there still would seem to be a high demand for these pieces of culture which has proved to be a good alternative for those who have invested in these instruments, such as the Gibson Les Pauls' and Fender Telecasters and Stratocaster's from the era of the 50's, 60's, and 70's.
A excellent place to start out accumulating vintage guitars as an investment or hobby will be definetely to concentrate the study on obtaining guitars from the list below. This list contains guitars that have been inducted into Vintage Guitar Magazine’s Hall of Fame. There are, of course, other lists and other guitars worth investing in, but this is surely a good place to start. Two great locations to commence the search for these exquisite instruments are Bob's Vintage Guitars at http://www.bestguitaronline.com and the Best Guitar Shop at http://www.best-guitar-shop.com.
Gibson SG Standard - Inducted in 2009
By 1960, declining sales of the Les Paul model had Gibson wanting to revamp the guitar. So the company provided a radically redesigned, significantly thinner (and lighter!) body meant to much better compete with Fender's Stratocaster. However the things that made up its very heart and soul - in particular its humbucking pickups - remained. Nowadays, the early-'60s model is a true classic.
Gibson Les Paul Goldtop - Inducted in 2008
Les Paul attempted for years to convince Gibson it needed a solidbody in its family. Ultimately, Ted McCarty released a single-cut ~experimentation guitar to Les Paul for his approval. However its origianl bridge/tailpiece was far from perfect, the instrument worked as Gibson's test bed in the '50s. At some point, it attained the pinnacle amongst guitars and today sits among the top collectible vintage guitars. A vintage Gibson Les Paul Goldtop is a fantastic addition to any collection.
Gibson J-45 - Inducted in 2007
Martin's "dreadnought" flat-tops had been big and dominated the guitar industry of the nineteen thirties. By the early '40s, Gibson recognized it required a big flat-top to compete, and he J-45 ("J" for Jumbo, "45" indicating its price in dollars) was it. A 16" round-shoulded flat-top, even in the hard times of its launch, it obtained a really warm welcome and has ever since remained one of - if not the - most popular Gibson guitars.
Fender Jaguar - Inducted in 2006
Leaping on the speeding Fender bandwagon in 1962, it assisted the company reside on top throughout the decade, with its intricate new vibrato tailpiece, advanced electronics, and (commonly) a funky custom color. If you played instrumental rock and roll at the time, you either had one of these or you were most likely ignored!
Gibson ES-5 - Inducted in 2006
One of the first guitars built immediately after Ted McCarty took charge of Gibson, it helped solidify the manufacturer's place as the world's preeminent electric archtop guitar maker. Nowadays, its late-'50s variant with three PAF humbuckers and Switchmaster tone management is one of the most collectible of its ilk.
National Tri-Cone series - Inducted in 2005
Its warm, sustaining tone emanates from three aluminum "resonators" intended to help guitarists stand out in big-band or orchestra settings. However, soon after becoming launched, Nationals were adopted by Hawiian and blues players. Nowadays, the Tri-Cone generates what a lot of consider the ultimate acoustic blues tone.
PRS Custom - Inducted in 2004
The first production instrument from a company which has become the guitar's preeminent modern success story.
Gretsch White Falcon - Inducted in 2004
Like a lot of excellent guitars, it has developed in a number of versions. But it has been a classic since day one, for both its sound and utterly unique aesthetic.
The 1954-'56 Gibson Les Paul Custom - Inducted in 2003
Can you say "Black Beauty?" However Gibson didn't give it the name, Les Paul himself chose black as the secondary color for the guitar bearing his moniker. Gibson did, however, use it to experiment with a three-pickup configuration and to implement its famed Alnico-magnet pickup. A vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar is surely a top collectible.
Fender Jazzmaster - Inducted in 2002
Created and marketed by Leo Fender to cut into Gibson's jazz market, it supplanted the Stratocaster at the top of Fender's series in 1958. And though its sound kept it from catching on with jazzers, garage surf bands of the day ate it up. It is one of the most copied solidbody styles of all time.
Gibson SJ-200 - Inducted in 2002
A landmark amongst acoustic flattops, the SJ-200 was developed for cowboy guitarist Ray Whitley, and any cowboy worth his salt played one. Its popularity carried over to other genres, and by no means faded. From its jumbo-sized, sunburst-finished body to its ultra-fancy pickguard, bridge, and headstock, it was considered the consummate flat-top.
Gibson ES-150 - Inducted in 1999
Gibson's first electric Spanish guitar was additionally the first good-quality electric to hit the marketplace. Favored by Charlie Christian, it housed Gibson's first pickup, which is still in high demand and regarded as a classic.
Martin D-45 - Inducted in 1998
Initially the fanciest of Martin's innovative dreadnought series. If you had one of the 96 produced in the 1930s and beginning '40s, the net worth would be considerably larger than it is now.
Rickenbacker 360/12 - Inducted in 1997
They were good enough for George Harrison and gave us the "jingle jangle" of Roger McGuinn. Which's more than adequate for the 360/12 to be the only 12-string in the VG HoF.
Gibson Flying V - Inducted in 1996
One of the most different guitar styles ever before created, but it wasn't a hit when it came out in 1958. Rock and rollers discovered it in the late '60s and the V still can make a distinctive statement nowadays.
Gretsch 6120 - Inducted in 1996
If you play rockabilly, you better have one of these! Launched as the Chet Atkins Hollowbody in '54, the 6120 soon shed the "G" model and western inlays of the beginning versions, but in no way lost the Western Orange finish or the awesome twang.
Fender Jazz Bass - Inducted in 1995
With its two specifically created pickups, offset waist, and slimmer, narrower neck, the Jazz Bass was intended to be much more tonally versatile, slicker-playing descendant of the Precision. The reality is they were available in Fender custom colors (usually with matching headstock) helps make it all the more excellent.
Gibson L-5 - Inducted in 1994
Introduced in 1922 and with a style guided by the legendary Lloyd Loar, the L-5 was the first state of the art archtop guitar. Originally a non-cutaway acoustic, the L-5 journeyed through quite a few changes, in the end becoming a single-cutaway with two humbuckers.
D'Angelico New Yorker - Inducted in 1993
George Gruhn explained in the March 2000 issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine, "The New Yorker is significant due to its superb quality and aesthetic artistic appeal," and is "one of the finest guitars in the history of the instrument."
Gibson Super 400 - Inducted in 1993
Introduced in 1934, with its 18" body and deluxe features, the Super 400 was the largest and most costly guitar in the Gibson family. Its influence was quickly apparent in the designs of many of the excellent archtops built by others. Regardless of whether the earlier non-cutaway acoustic version or the later double-pickup cutaway, it remains a true work of art.
Fender Precision Bass - Inducted in 1992
The first bass in the VG Hall, and why not, it only forever revolutionized how the bass was played. One of the most innovative concepts in modern music history.
Gibson ES-335 - Inducted in 1992
Created during Gibson's "golden era," the semi-hollow body ES-335 wedded archtop appearance with solidbody performance. No matter whether it has dot inlays or blocks, it stays one of the hottest styles in guitardom.
Martin D-28 - Inducted in 1991
The D-28 launched Martin's line of unbelievable big and loud dreadnoughts in 1931. The D-28 has impressed many guitarists and builders, and continues to be one of Martin's most popular and most famous models.
Fender Telecaster - Inducted in 1991
Leo Fender's timeless classic is about as simple as an electric guitar can be, but still has the magic to appeal to guitarists playing just about any style of music. Every guitar player has a Telecaster (or should). Along with the Strat and Les Paul, the Tele is among the most popular designs around. A vintage Fender Telecaster guitar may also be a excellent addition to a vintage guitar collection
Fender Stratocaster - Inducted in 1990
The VG Hall of Fame was started in 1990 and they had little question the Strat would be among the first guitars chosen for inclusion by our readers. Three single-coils, a vibrato (normally), and that excellent contoured, offset-double-cutaway body. Some 50 years after its introduction, it remains one of the most famous styles.
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Sunburst) - Inducted in 1990
Additionally an simple first-year selection, Les Paul Standard was introduced with a sunburst finish in 1958, and the '58 to '60 models are the most valuable vintage solidbody guitars. The Les Paul Standard is a classic no matter which finish it bears. Consider a vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard for your collection.
With this information in mind, today will be definetely a good day to visit Bob's Vintage Guitars and commence the search for one of the excellent collectible vintage guitars. The site showcases a lot of information about vintage guitars and has a store withgreat prices.