There are vintage guitars available, however, when you know where to look. Certain websites have a solid reputation for providing the rare guitars you are seeking so that you can achieve the aesthetic and sound that you are looking for.
The Best Places To Buy Vintage Guitars Online
We chose these award winners based on the following criteria:
- Variety and quality of guitars
- The ease of using the company website
- Uniqueness and story behind the company
- Responsiveness of customer support
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]WITH HUNDREDS of places to buy vintage guitars online, we had a very hard time narrowing this list down to the top 15. After looking at hundreds of places to buy rare guitars, HERE ARE THE 15 BEST PLACES TO BUY VINTAGE GUITARS ONLINE:[/su_note]
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1) Norman’s Rare Guitars
Norman’s Rare Guitars has been in business since 1975. Norman Harris sells guitars to people from all across the country, including some famous musicians. He is constantly acquiring new guitars so that his stock is always changing and having something new for you to explore.
You can find guitars for a variety of music styles, such as rock and folk music. He offers a variety of brands, such as Benedetto, Gibson, and Fender. You can also get an appraisal for your guitar or have repairs made via this business. Find other accessories that you need to create and perform music, such as replacement strings or a new pedal to diversify your sound.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Normansrareguitars.com[/su_note]
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2) Gary’s Classic Guitars
Gary’s Classic Guitars specializes in the finest rare and vintage guitars. Gary offers a diverse selection of acoustic and electric guitars. You can explore a variety of well-known brands, such as Guild, Rickenbacker, Martin, Fender and Gibson. Every guitar that they sell goes through a rigorous inspection process to ensure the highest level of quality.
Gary has been playing, collecting and dealing in vintage and rare guitars for over 25 years. It was 1993 when he started this company and decided to acquire and sell guitars full-time. They also buy guitars from people who are looking to sell, and their website has a wish list of the ones that they are looking for.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Garysguitars.com[/su_note]
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3) Rock n Roll Vintage
Rock n Roll Vintage is a full-service guitar and pedal shop. They offer guitars and accessories from more than 90 brands, so it is easy to find the exact item that you are looking for. Examples include vintage Gibson Les Pauls, Gretsch, Telecasters, Stratocasters and Rickenbacker. This company has been in business for more than 35 years.
They offer acoustic, traditional and bass guitars. Rock n Roll Vintage also has a repair shop where they will diagnose the issue with your guitar and make the fix. Find a variety of professional audio equipment, pedals, synthesizer equipment and amplifiers to compliment your music creation and gigging experience. This business also buys guitars for resale in their shop.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Rocknrollvintage.com[/su_note]
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4) Retro Fret
Steven Uhrik is the founder of Retro Fret. He began his journey in high school when he started building guitars in his shop class. He opened his first shop in SoHo in New York City in the late 1970s. Steve started out repairing and restoring vintage and classic guitars. After outgrowing his small shop, he opened Retro Fret in Brooklyn in 1983. Uhrik works with a team of experts that know how to repair, restore and acquire guitars from decades past.
They specialize in electric, acoustic and bass guitars. However, they also offer a variety of other stringed instruments, such as mandolins, banjos and ukuleles. Find effects equipment and amplifiers too at Retro Fret. This business also offers repair services for guitars and other stringed instruments.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Retrofret.com[/su_note]
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5) Carter Vintage Guitars
In 2012, Walter and Christie Carter started Carter Vintage Guitars. Their goal was to provide fine instruments for people who were seeking a unique instrument. Walter had 25 years of experience selling guitars, including working as an in-house historian for Gibson before starting this company.
At Carter Vintage Guitars you can discover an array of traditional and bass guitars. They also have effects, amplifiers and other accessories, such as picks, pickups and capos for your guitar. This company has a variety of banjos and mandolins to choose from too. Walter and Christie Carter also stock drums and ukuleles. Sometimes you can find other miscellaneous vintage or rare instruments in this shop.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Cartervintage.com[/su_note]
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6) Rumble Seat Music
Rumble Seat Music specializes in buying and selling guitars from past eras. They offer a variety of brands such as vintage Les Pauls and Gibson guitars. Since this company offers purchasing and consignment services, their inventory is constantly changing, making it easier to finally find that classic instrument that you have been looking for.
Explore their variety of bass, electric and acoustic guitars. You can also find the amplifiers and pedals you need to create your distinct sound when you are playing. If you want to know what your guitar is worth, you can take advantage of their appraisal services.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Rumbleseatmusic.com[/su_note]
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7) Pittsburgh Guitars
John Bechtold now owns Pittsburgh Guitars. All of his employees are musicians so they have the knowledge necessary to help you to find the perfect instrument for your needs. Pittsburgh Guitars has sold guitars to a variety of big names in the music industry, such as Ray Davies, Russell Crowe and Peter Tork. Carl Grefenstette started this company in 1979.
Pittsburgh Guitars offers a variety of guitars that they acquire from people all over the country. Their inventory is constantly changing, so you can find the guitar that best meets your needs. In addition to instruments, Bechtold and his staff also offer a variety of guitar gear, repair services and guitar lessons.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Pittsburghguitars.com[/su_note]
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8) Wildwood Guitars
Wildwood Guitars is comprised of several avid guitarists with strong knowledge of vintage instruments. This group believes that there is nothing like a guitar from past eras. They have a different sound and the level of quality far surpasses the mass-produced instruments that are commonly available today.
This company gravitates toward instruments from a variety of decades (such as the 1950s and 1960s) because they have a different feel. Wildwood Guitars believes that the right guitar can evoke a level of emotion that is missing from a lot of music today. Explore the variety of acoustic and electric guitars that this company offers. You can also find different accessories to help you to get the most out of your guitar.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Wildwoodguitars.com[/su_note]
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9) Willie’s American Guitars
Willie’s American Guitars strives to find the best guitars and gear that they can. They put emphasis on integrity and only work with manufacturers that meet their rigorous standards. Their ultimate goal is not profiting, but supplying instruments that have the right playability and tone for all of the musicians that they do business with.
You can look at their selection of bass, electric and acoustic guitars to find the style and tone that best meets your preferences. They offer different amplifiers and other effect’s accessories to compliment the style of music that you create and play. Willie’s American Guitars also has a diverse array of banjos, mandolins and ukuleles to choose from.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Williesguitars.com[/su_note]
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10) Cream City Music
Cream City Music got their start in 1999. They have a showroom that they started using in 2006 that is packed with more than 1,000 vintage instruments and other related accessories. This Milwaukee company staffs experienced musicians who are experts in the instruments and other items that they sell.
Check out their selection of acoustic, bass and electric guitars. You can find the best effects, pedals and amplifiers to go with your guitar. Cream City Music also has a variety of other accessories, such as picks and strings, and parts for your guitar. They offer free appraisals and also purchase guitars to sell in their shop.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Creamcitymusic.com[/su_note]
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11) Austin Vintage Guitars
Austin Vintage Guitars started out small but they have since morphed into a company that not only offers a variety of unique guitars, but also a place for musicians to meet and learn. Their inventory includes a variety of new, vintage and used guitars. This company has been in business since 1998.
You can buy and sell guitars here. If you have a specific guitar that you are in the market for, you can let them know and the staff will keep a look out for you. The inventory changes daily on their website, so if you are seeking something special, they encourage you to look daily to see if the guitar that you desire is now available.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Austinvintageguitars.com[/su_note]
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12) Vintage Guitars US
Vintage Guitars US was founded in 1961 as Rhythm Band Inc. Initially, the company specialized in items for music classes for elementary schools. In the early 1970s, the International Music Company was born to manufacture and distribute a variety of electric guitars, accessories, acoustic guitars and amplifiers. It was 1985 when this company became the shop that people know today.
Explore their diverse selection of guitars from today and decades from the past. Vintage Guitars US has a variety of series and brands that they offer. This company also has builders that work to create guitars and make repairs to the vintage ones that come through their shop. You can easily find a wide variety of options, making shopping for your next guitar easy.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Vintageguitarsus.com[/su_note]
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13) Imperial Vintage Guitars
Imperial Vintage Guitars has more than 30 years of experience selling, trading and buying vintage amplifiers and guitars. Their staff is highly knowledgeable and passionate about stringed instruments. Whether you are looking for a Gretsch from the 1950s or a Fender Telecaster from the 1970s, you can find it at this company.
Imperial Vintage Guitars maintains a diverse inventory of new, vintage and used guitars that are of the highest quality. You can also find other stringed instruments, bass guitars, amplifiers and other accessories. Take advantage of their repair services, or sell your guitar or other musical accessories to Imperial.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Imperialvintageguitars.com[/su_note]
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14) Bluesman Vintage
Bluesman Vintage has worked with a variety of well-known guitarists, such as Tim McGraw, Johnny Hiland and The Band Perry. They sell a variety of vintage and classic guitars, as well as new ones. Explore the variety of pedals, amplifiers and other accessories to use with your guitar to produce the exact sound that you are looking for.
This business works with musicians of all levels, such as gig musicians and international recording artists. You can also get guitar lessons from Bluesman Vintage. Their instructors have years of experience playing the guitar, performing live and in recording studios. They can help you to find the right sound for the music that you want to create while you are busy learning the basics of this instrument.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Bluesmanvintage.com[/su_note]
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15) Thunder Road Guitars
Thunder Road Guitars is a family-owned business that emphasizes love of instruments and superior customer service. They make it their personal mission to help you to find the guitar or accessory that you have always wanted to add to your collection. Thunder Road Guitars has brick and mortar locations in Portland and Seattle, and they sell worldwide via their website.
You can browse their physical or online store to seek out the guitars that best meet your needs. Once you narrow down the list of rare guitars you want to buy, you can also check out their amplifiers to find the one that best compliments your musical style. This company offers lessons and repair services for their customers too.
[su_note note_color=”#D4DFF8″ text_color=”#111111″ radius=”1″]URL: Thunderroadguitars.com[/su_note]
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Every professional guitarist loves having their own custom acoustic guitar. If you want to know more about it, check out How to Build a Custom Acoustic Guitar.
