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Antiques are big business. It seems that you can't drive through any small town in America without driving past at least three antique stores. Americans and, indeed, people the world over have a thing for find antique pieces. And musical instrument are no exception. While vintage guitars aren't generally considered antiques, they are old enough to become extremely collectable and desired by both players and professional collectors.
Generally, any guitar that is at least twenty-five years old is considered to be vintage. Their value then begins to increase, based on a variety of factors: age, condition, brand and rarity are all considerations to be made when considering a guitar's collect ability. Martin, Gibson and Fender are probably the most desirable brands to collectors, depending on the model. Early Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters from the 1950's can reach prices of $100,000 and over! Martin guitars from before World War II can become similarly valuable, depending on the particular model and, of course, the condition of the instrument.
If you have a guitar that you think may be vintage, it's best to get it appraised from two to three impartial sources before even considering a sale. There are several vintage guitar stores that specialize in dating vintage guitars. It's a great market to get into, because musicians and collectors alike prize fine vintage guitars for their beauty and tone.
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