Who has the oldest guitars here?

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1918 Martin A-Style Mandolin

I've got an old Mando as well. Martin made some really fine flat-back mandolins in the early part of the last century. Mine dates back to 1918 and is basically mint, although the orignal canvas case is beat to hell.

also:

64 Martin D18
64 Gibson LG-0
60's Rick 330 (how do you date 'em?)
74 Gibson SG Deluxe (Bigsby)
80 Les Paul Deluxe (Gold-top, Mini's)

and one last oldie that is the same model year as this guitar player

55 Les Paul Jr
 
Hi Jonny

JonnyM said:
60's Rick 330 (how do you date 'em?)

Check out this site..... it has a lot of info on dating collectable guitars...pretty cool :)
You've got a lot of nice stuff....any pictures that I can drool over?
Take it easy,
Joe
 
a local tradibng site had a ad saying "old fender".

the dude wanted about 100 euro for it. turned out it was a pre CBS '63 totally original one... so price went up to 4100 euro and still bidding...

why would anyone pay so much for a really old beaten up (it looked bad!) fender???

Guhlenn
 
guhlenn said:
why would anyone pay so much for a really old beaten up (it looked bad!) fender???

Guhlenn

Because....the same rule that applies to antiques...applies to vintage instruments...
It is worth more (believe it or not) if it has not been re-finished....
obviously the condition of the original finish adds or subtracts to the value but, if you re-finish and old guitar....it loses a tremendous amount (if not all) of it's value on the collectable market...
Same thing goes for hardware and electronics as well...
Go figure...:)
 
I like the look of old guitars. My Firebird is is really beat up looking. The finish is all but gone on the back from 25 years of belt buckles rubing on it. There are a few gouges in the wood. But, the applonie inlay is still primo and it sounds so sweet.

New guitars play music, but old guitars ARE music.
 
Anybody ever see Willie Nelson's acoustic?
Hell...there is a 2-3 inch hole in it from pick wear....still sounds good though...
 
joro said:
Anybody ever see Willie Nelson's acoustic?
Hell...there is a 2-3 inch hole in it from pick wear....still sounds good though...

That's the only guitar he's ever had! I think I read that he bought it in a drug store when he was a kid.
 
Check it out....I think he calls it "Trigger"....
wn35.jpg
 
Thankyou Joro

I checked out that site. I'm printing out the Rick serial info to date my 330.

May fave guitar right now, is one I can't afford to by anymore so I picked up an excellent repro. It's a Gibson '59 LesPaul Special TV Double Cut made in 1995. My original 55 Jr. is just to precious to take out anymore. I use it to record, but it's llived a long hard life. When I got it (70's) it already looked like someone had used some kind of putty on the neck (fingerboard) as filler to build it back up to level, it shows though as white, incredible, this thing got PLAYED! too bad these axe's that we picked up used can't tell their own stories...


Oh and I just remembered. Does an origina Wood Dobro count as old.? Around 1930 I guess, until I use that site to make an attempt at dating it. The old wood round necks can sound really sweet, almost not "dobroish" if you get my drift, not nasty like their metal cousins.;) :D
 
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"That's the only guitar he's ever had! I think I read that he bought it in a drug store when he was a kid."

The Martin Co. sold their guitars in drugstores?............gibs
 
gibson les paul black beauty 58
(my fathers though, but i get to play with it ;) )
 
This question is for Foo. The National I have is an electric and is laid out sort of like a Les Paul in that it has two pick ups (and a transducer in the bridge) and a cut away on the bottom. Serial number is X89930.
Any help on how old this might be would be greatly appriciated. I'm pretty sure it's a 50's vintage.
 
Is it one of these?
vgr104.gif


That's Arlen Roth with a National Hawaiian guitar. They were made in the 60s.

If it is, do you want to sell it?
 
gibs said:
"That's the only guitar he's ever had! I think I read that he bought it in a drug store when he was a kid."

The Martin Co. sold their guitars in drugstores?............gibs

Wouldnt suprise me. My father has a 1948 Gibson acoustic that he bought brand new around 1951(it had probably been sitting on the shelf a while) or so in a general store kinda place in Arkansas. They didnt have Guitar Center back then, and especially in smaller towns, there wouldnt be a real music store.
 
1972 Tele Delux with a 1957 bridge pickup.
1952 Middleman very used but still writing music.
 
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