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1966 Fender Marauder field test prototype guitar in Sunburst finish with slant frets. This image shows a real original vintage example of the type II Marauder.

Unmasking the Marauder: Fender's Flagship Prototype That Never Was

If you've spent time looking through Fender's catalog from 1965, then you may have come across a strange listing at the top of the price list: "MARAUDER GUITAR with tremolo,...
1956 Gibson Les Paul Standard Goldtop History and Value

1956 Gibson Les Paul Standard Goldtop History and Value

1956 Gibson Les Paul Standard: Almost the pinnacle of the Les Paul While only four years into the run of the Les Paul model, the tweaks Gibson made to the...
1963 Fender Stratocaster with Burgundy Mist finish, mint green pickguard, clay dots, and veneer Rosewood fretboard

Everything You Need to Know About the 1963 Fender Stratocaster: Features, Value, and How to Sell Yours

The Fender Stratocaster made in 1963 is among my favorite vintage guitars ever made because of its value, tone, and original design. The Stratocaster model was only 9 years old in...
Fender Stratocasters: Better with a Hardtail?

Fender Stratocasters: Better with a Hardtail?

There is something different about a Fender Stratocaster that's been lovingly played and cherished for half a century. My favorite Stratocaster we've been fortunate enough to have in the shop this year, and frankly one of my favorite guitars of all time was a 1960 Fender Stratocaster in sunburst. Sounds boring right? Well, this Strat has a trick up its sleeve. It left the factory with a "Hardtail" configuration. 

How to sell vintage Fender and Gibson guitars for the best price

How To Sell A Vintage Guitar For The Best Price

Here are 4 simple tips to follow for how to sell a vintage guitar for the the best price. After 15 years of selling a couple of million dollars of...
1962 Gibson SG Special Cherry front of body, fretboard, p90 pickups, bridge, tremolo, controls

What's So Special About a Gibson SG Special?

In late 1960, Gibson decided to change the body style of a very popular model and it would eventually be known as the "SG". Many model variations came out of...
1959 Fender Telecaster Custom from first batch of production

Rare vintage find: 1959 Fender Telecaster Custom 1st Batch!

I'm excited to show off a rare vintage guitar find which came through the shop last week: 1959 Fender Telecaster Custom from the first batch of production! This exceptionally clean...
Gibson ES-355 1959 vintage original guitar with Cherry Red finish, mono output, and side pull vibrola in original brown and pink case

This 1959 Gibson ES-355 may have the earliest known side pull vibrato!

Check out this very fine example of the Gibson ES-355 model made in 1959 with a factory installed side pull vibrato! It has just come through our shop and is...
1957 Stratocaster year, how many were made, how much did it cost? 1957 Fender Stratocaster

1957 Fender Stratocasters: The Best Year for the Strat?

After owning a Stratocaster from every pre-CBS year, the ones that stick out to me as being the best are the two I've had that were made in 1957. 1957...
Fender Custom Telecaster guitar 1959 1960 with double edge binding and Sunburst finish

Fender's Custom Telecaster 1959 - 1966

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...
Vintage Gibson lefty left handed guitar 1964 red ES-330 with diamonds

Vintage Gibson Lefty Guitar: 1964 ES-330 Cherry Red with Diamonds!

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...
1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black with two humbucking pickups

1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom with two humbucking pickups!

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...