Vintage, Rare And Collectable Guitars
Perth, West Australia
AUSTRALIA'S NUMBER 1 VINTAGE GUITAR DEALER!!
Back to Home-Page Defining New, Used and Vintage Instruments
New instruments by definition are pieces received straight from the
manufacturer and are in perfect condition with warranty. In most cases these
are commercial utility grade products, but as previously stated this is
indeed a new "golden age" of guitar building. Some new instruments,
especially those produced as limited run custom shop models from major
manufacturers or handmade products by individual builders are extremely high
quality and are likely to be very good investments.
Used refers to models still currently in production (but not under warranty) which are not sought after as collectibles. These are frequently very fine utility instruments and generally sell for significantly less than a new or collectible vintage instrument. Since a well-made instrument can last several hundred years with good care, a used instrument can be an excellent choice for someone simply desiring good utility. A used guitar - even if it is not a highly sought collectible - tends to hold its value very well and can be a good long-term investment.
Vintage instruments made during the so-called "golden era" for guitars, banjos, and mandolins are the items most sought by collectors and which have appreciated the most in recent years.
The pre-1880 minstrel era banjos are highly sought by collectors whereas the classic era banjos of the late 1880's through 1910 exhibit exquisite workmanship, beautiful ornamentation, and a superb old timely sound. The greatest mandolins were produced in the period of 1905 through the mid 1920's. The late 1920's through the 1930's saw the development of steel string guitars, and it was during this period that some of the finest quality instruments of that style were produced. Electric guitars were first introduced during the 1930's, but it was not until after World War II that their development really took off. The golden era for collectible electric instruments is the 1950's through mid 1960's.