The first electric guitar, invented in 1934, had an annoying hum which prevented it from being played at high a volume. Sixteen years later the Gibson Guitar Corporation, in collaboration with jazz great Les Paul, used double-coiled wires to cancel the hum and introduce to the world the Gibson Telecaster.
Gibson’s main competitor, and in the opinion of some it’s superior, was the Fender Corporation. Leo Fender, a onetime accountant and radio repairman, took up musical instrument manufacturing near the end of World War II. It was he who is credited with making “feedback” a tool to be used by guitar players rather than an annoyance to be tolerated. With its high frets and light weight, the Fender Stratocaster hit the stores in 1954 and quickly became the guitar of choice for many performing artists.
Vintage guitars from both Gibson and Fender are sought by today’s collectors who consider them not only collectible instruments, but “functional art,” As with any commodity, supply and demand greatly influence value. Many of the most popular vintage guitars were produced in limited quantities. For example, Gibson built only 643 Sunburst Les Paul’s in 1959, making this classic quite valuable due to it’s rarity.
Provenance can send value sky high. At a London auction in late 2003, the Fender Stratocaster played by Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock sold for $1,300,000, and Eric Clapton’s 1956 Sunburst Fender Strat (used for the original recording of “Layla”) brought a record $469,500.
As the would-be rockers of the 1960s and 70s reach retirement age we are seeing a record number of great guitars coming up for purchase.
When examining a used guitar, watch for original tuning pegs, bridges, and pick-ups. While upgraded hardware might make for a guitar that is easier to play, it will minimize the value of a vintage guitar. Make sure the nut holds the guitar strings in place and doesn’t rattle. Check the bridge. Pick-ups should be shielded from electronic interference with either epoxy or wax.
The quality of the wood used in the production of a vintage electric guitar is the key the the quality of its tone. Mahogany and maple are the most common woods of choice. For solid-body electric guitars, mahogany produces a warmer tone, and maple produces a brighter tone. Electric guitars that can provide an acoustic output should have a spruce top with a maple back and sides.
Less expensive vintage electric guitars will be solid maple. You’ll also find woods such as ash, alder, and in rare cases Brazilian rosewood. Whatever wood you prefer, remember that a vintage guitar, even though scratched and dented, should always have its original finish to retain it’s value.
In the mid-60s, as demand increased, quality decreased at both the Gibson and Fender factories. As a result, serious collectors tend to avoid guitars made after 1965. Until next time…….Linda.
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidator specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/WhatsInTheAttic