Collection: Vintage Electric Guitars
Vintage Electric Guitars (Pre-'79)
At Chicago Music Exchange, we proudly offer one of the world’s most respected selections of used and vintage guitars pre-1979. From 1950s Fender Blackguard Telecasters, 1960s Gibson ES models, pre-war and 60s Martin acoustics, and 1970s Stratocasters, to rare, collectible Custom Color electrics and one-off boutique finds, CME is the #1 destination for high-quality vintage instruments.
If your on the hunt for vintage guitars, used vintage guitars, pre-1979 guitars, 1950s guitars, 1960s guitars, 1970s guitars, vintage Fender, vintage Gibson, vintage Martin, or vintage electric guitars for sale, this page is exactly what you need to help you find exactly what you want.
Why Guitarists Want Used & Vintage Guitars Pre-1979
Vintage guitars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s offer something no modern guitar can fully replicate:
- unique resonance and aging
- decades of natural tonal development
- collectibility and long-term value
- superior craftsmanship in many eras
- iconic vintage pickups, wiring, and woods
- mojo, character, and real-world history
- investment-grade rarity
- Players also value vintage guitars for:
- hand-carved neck profiles
- old-growth tonewoods
- nitrocellulose finishes
- original electronics with vintage alnico pickups
These instruments are prized by professionals, collectors, studios, and musicians seeking the purest forms of classic tone.
A Short History of Vintage Guitars (Pre-1979)
The electric guitar’s golden era occurred between 1950 and 1979, when legendary companies like Fender, Gibson, Martin, Guild, Gretsch, and Rickenbacker established the designs still used today.
1950s – The Birth of the Electric Guitar Boom
- 1951 Fender Telecaster, 1954 Stratocaster\
- 1952 Gibson Les Paul
- 1950s Martin 18- & 28-series acoustics
- Rise of the P-90 and early PAF humbuckers
1960s – Innovation, color, and the British Invasion
- Custom Colors: Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White
- Jazzmasters, Jaguars, SGs, ES-335s, D-35 Martins
- Clapton, Hendrix, and Page turn electrics into icons
1970s – Hard rock, arena rock, and high-output tone
- Norlin-era Gibsons
- CBS-era Fender
- Increased global production
- Rise of super-hot humbuckers & more modern rock tones
Today, guitars from these decades are among the most collectible instruments in the world.
Most Popular Vintage Guitars (Pre-1979) at Chicago Music Exchange
Vintage Fender (50s–70s)
- 1950s Telecaster ("Blackguard")
- 1954–1965 Stratocaster (pre-CBS)
- Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Duo-Sonic, Mustang
- 1970s Stratocasters & Telecasters
- Custom Colors (extremely high demand)
Vintage Gibson (50s–70s)
- Les Paul Goldtop & Burst (’57–’60)
- SG Standard/Special
- ES-335, ES-345, ES-355
- Les Paul Custom
- J-45, Hummingbird, Dove
- 70s Norlin-era electrics
Vintage Martin (Pre-War – 1970s)
- D-18, D-28, 000-18, 000-28
- Brazilian rosewood classics
- 60s & early 70s dreadnoughts
Other Iconic Pre-1979 Brands
- Gretsch: Country Gentleman, Tennessean
- Guild: Starfire series
- Rickenbacker: 360, 330
- Epiphone Kalamazoo-built electrics
CME keeps many of these models in rotation, with vintage experts hand-inspecting every instrument.
Vintage Guitar Specs (Pre-1979)
- Vintage guitars are sought after for features like:
- PAF humbuckers (1957–1961)
- Grey-bottom & black-bottom Fender single-coils
- Kluson tuners
- Brazilian rosewood fingerboards (pre-1969)
- Nitro finishes
- Hand-wound pickups
- Original 50s–70s wiring harnesses
- Relic-free, naturally aged patina
Every detail impacts tone, collectibility, and value.
Famous Musicians Known for Vintage Guitars
Fender Vintage Users
- Jimi Hendrix – pre-CBS Stratocasters
- Eric Clapton – “Brownie” & “Blackie”
- Jeff Beck
- Mark Knopfler
- David Gilmour
Gibson Vintage Users
- Jimmy Page – ’59 Les Paul
- Duane Allman – ’57 Goldtop
- Billy Gibbons – vintage Pearly Gates
- Tony Iommi – early SG models
Martin Vintage Users
- Neil Young – ’60s D-45
- Eric Clapton – 000-42
- Elvis Presley – 50s Martin models
- Billy Strings
Influencers Using Vintage Guitars
- Chicago Music Exchange - YouTube - Nathaniel Murphy, “@zeppelinbarnatra”
- Rick Beato
- Rob Scallon
- Marty Music
- Andertons Main Channel
Vintage guitars remain among the most viewed and searched gear categories across YouTube and Google.
Vintage Guitar Price Points (Pre-1979)
Ranges vary widely based on rarity, originality, condition & provenance:
- $1,999–$3,999: 1970s Fender & Gibson
- $3,999–$7,499: Mid-60s electrics
- $7,500–$20,000: Early 60s, Custom Colors, rare acoustics
- $20,000–$350,000+: 1950s Gibson Bursts, Blackguards, Pre-War Martins
Chicago Music Exchange regularly sells instruments across all of these ranges.
Why Buy a Pre-1979 Vintage Guitar from Chicago Music Exchange?
One of the world’s largest vintage guitar inventories
- Expert-inspected, authenticated instruments
- Professional setups included
- Rare Custom Color, Blackguard, and vintage Martin models available
- Transparent photography and detailed, accurate listings
- Trusted by collectors, touring musicians, and studios
- Exclusive CME vintage videos & demonstrations
CME’s vintage department is globally respected for integrity, quality, and deep expertise.
FAQ — Used & Vintage Guitars Pre-1979
Are vintage guitars better than modern guitars?
Many players believe so—due to old-growth woods, hand-shaping, early pickups, and decades of natural aging.
Which vintage guitars are most collectible?
1950s–60s Fender (Strats/Teles), 1950s Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, ES models, and pre-war or 1960s Martins.
What affects the value of a vintage guitar?
Originality, condition, finish, color, pickups, wiring, hardware, and provenance.
Are 1970s guitars considered vintage?
Yes—70s Fenders, Gibsons, Martins, and Gretsches are now fully recognized as vintage instruments.
Should I worry about maintenance?
Vintage guitars should be inspected and set up by professionals—CME provides expert servicing.
Do vintage pickups sound different?
Yes—PAFs, early single-coils, and early P-90s are prized for unique magnet aging and hand-wound character.
Vintage Gibson Electric Guitars
There’s a gravity to a vintage Gibson that you can feel before you ever strike a chord—an unmistakable sense that the instrument has lived a life, traveled rooms, soaked up stages, and carried stories in its finish. At Chicago Music Exchange, our collection of Vintage Gibson Electric Guitars honors that legacy. These instruments aren’t just artifacts; they’re benchmarks of American craftsmanship, shaped by decades of hands, heat, humidity, and history.
From golden-era Les Pauls with their syrupy sustain to ES models that bloom beneath the fingers, these guitars remain reference points for builders and players alike. Every maple cap, mahogany body, and hand-wound pickup in this collection possesses its own weathered personality—nuanced quirks that new instruments can only imitate. We source and vet each vintage Gibson with the same reverence collectors bring to classic literature: with patience, curiosity, and a deep respect for what endures. For players seeking the warmth of a matured voice or collectors looking to secure a piece of musical lineage, our vintage Gibson selection is a curated celebration of what makes these guitars icons.
Vintage Fender Electric Guitars
Vintage Fender guitars have an uncanny ability to feel both familiar and electrifying, like rediscovering an old photograph with new eyes. At CME, our Vintage Fender Electric Guitars collection captures the magic of Leo Fender’s most inspired work—clean lines, graceful silhouettes, and sounds that helped define nearly every modern genre.
Here you’ll find sunburst Strats whose lacquer has mellowed into a soft gradient, Telecasters with wear patterns that read like maps, and offsets that carry the experimental spirit of a different era. The allure isn’t just in the aging or patina; it’s in the playability, the responsiveness, the way a vintage Fender seems to anticipate your touch. These guitars have already paid their dues on countless stages and studios, and the result is a resonance that feels wiser, more articulate, more human.
Each piece in our collection is carefully evaluated and documented, ensuring players and collectors get a true sense of its provenance and personality. Whether you're after the snap of a ’60s Tele, the chime of a pre-CBS Strat, or the soul of a well-loved Jazzmaster, these instruments provide a rare glimpse into Fender’s most storied decades—an invitation to continue the narrative they've already begun.
CME's 'The Vault'
The Vault at Chicago Music Exchange is where rarity meets reverence—a room built not simply to store exceptional guitars, but to honor them. This curated sanctuary houses our most extraordinary pieces: vintage treasures, limited-run oddities, masterbuilt instruments, and heirloom-grade finds that represent the absolute pinnacle of craftsmanship and collectability.
Every guitar in The Vault earns its place. Some arrive carrying the weight of history—decades-old finishes checked by time, hardware burnished by years of play. Others are modern marvels built by today’s finest luthiers, offering innovation wrapped in meticulous detail. But all share the same defining traits: exceptional tone, undeniable character, and a level of scarcity that makes each visit to The Vault feel like a discovery.
For musicians, it’s an intimate space to hear and feel instruments that rarely surface. For collectors, it’s a trusted haven where authenticity and provenance are paramount. And for anyone who loves guitars, The Vault stands as CME’s living archive—an evolving collection that celebrates the artistry, evolution, and enduring mystique of the world’s most sought-after instruments.