A well-maintained vintage guitar can rock just as hard in a new musician’s hands as in a famous one’s hands. However, these instruments should be handled carefully and stored securely.

Guitars are highly modular instruments by design, and many tinkerers replace pickups or tuning gears. But swapping out parts lowers value for vintage buyers looking for all-original guitars. For more vintage guitar collectors, click here.

The Burst Guitars

One of the most popular guitars in history, the Gibson Les Paul Standards, produced from 1958 to 1960, is coveted by many collectors. But these sought-after solidbodies are also the subject of much fakery. Gibson used hide glue to join the different pieces of wood so the finished product tended to vitrify, creating an outer shell that separates the core from the acoustic tonewood inside.

The nitrocellulose paint faded, leaving an almost-feather-like holographic appearance complemented by a stunning wood grain pattern. Having been kept away from the spotlight (and plectrums) since 1959, this example with serial number 9 2208, nicknamed ‘Greeny’, is in pristine condition with minimal fret wear and an unfaded red pigment finish that puts it in a class of its own. But Greeny isn’t the only under-the-radar Burst to turn up in recent years. Last year, a previously unknown 1960 with the serial number ‘Sunny’ turned up at Vintage ‘N’ Rare Guitars.

Les Pauls

The Les Paul is considered the most iconic of all solid-body guitars. This classic features single-coil P90 pickups, a trapeze tailpiece that some players find clumsy, and a mahogany slab body with a maple top. This model first came on the market in 1952, and its price tag was equal to a month’s salary. For more vintage guitar collectors, click here.

Between 1958 and 1960, the Les Paul underwent a series of slight changes. The neck’s profile was reduced, slightly less clubby than the previous model. In addition, the fret wire was changed to a thinner material that’s easier to play.

Many famous musicians, including Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and Peter Frampton of Humble Pie, used Les Pauls in their careers. Gibson also offers a replica of the 1959 Les Paul Standard that Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin used. It’s available through the Gibson Custom Shop and has a Seymour Duncan humbucking pickup set.

Martin Dreadnoughts

With its big, bold sound, the Martin dreadnought has become one of history’s most recognizable acoustic guitar shapes. Many famous musicians from various genres have used it, including folk, bluegrass, and rock artists.

Many acoustic guitarists prefer this model’s classic herringbone pattern and scalloped bracing, and its spruce VTS top produces impressive bass response and crisp high notes. Its East Indian rosewood back and sides offer rich mids and deep, low-end warmth.

A century after the first Martin dreadnoughts were made, this instrument is still among the most coveted in the industry. Its ebony fingerboard, multi-stripe binding, and snowflake inlays give this guitar an elegant and vintage look. Its Adirondack spruce top is torrefied, which bakes moisture out of the wood for an exceptional tone. It also features a dovetail neck joint and construction using natural protein glue. This guitar will surely please any collector with its rich, full sound and timeless appearance. For more vintage guitar collectors, click here.

Fender Stratocasters

Almost every modern guitar player is familiar with the Stratocaster. Blues musicians like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan often use it. Interestingly, Clapton played everything but a Strat early in his career, favouring Gibson SGs and Les Pauls, until his ‘Blackie’ Strat landed on his lap in the late ’50s.

Strats are generally easy to modify, allowing players to customize their instruments to suit their tastes. Blackie, for example, was an amalgam of a few different Strats.

Today, Strats come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you like to play smooth R&R, where solos take centre stage or rock, there’s a Strat to match your style. Depending on the model, you can choose from humbucking or single-coil pickups and have your choice of fretboard materials, including maple (as on this one), pau ferro and rosewood. You can also indulge your dive-bomb fetishes with a Floyd Rose tremolo. The Strat’s versatility speaks to its popularity and ability to serve as a blank canvas upon which you can infuse your personality.