Here at Reverb we're always following sales and keeping our finger on the pulse of what's hot in the vintage and used guitar market. While prices on cornerstone vintage models from the likes of Fender and Gibson still haven't climbed back to where they were prior to 2008, most of these instruments remain totally out of the range of most players' budgets, leaving many guitarists to look for alternative gems in the quest for unique used gear.
Here are a handful of guitars we've seen climb in value recently.
Peavey T-60 and T-40
In the late '70s, Peavey introduced the T-series as its first attempt to break into the guitar and bass market. These instruments were built in Mississippi and included a number of different models of varying size and pickup configurations. The most common models were the dual humbucker T-60 and T-40 bass, which feature particularly thin neck profiles and shoulder-pain-inducing body weight.
The pickups on these guitars absolutely wail, and the thin neck profile makes this a totally suitable metal guitar in addition to other rock styles. In recent years, a new wave of players have uncovered the appeal of these instruments which is definitely starting to drive prices up. A few years ago, T-60s were selling in the range of $300. More recently, we've seen sales topping $700 for specimens in really great condition.
Tom Delonge Stratocaster
This Strat was designed for Blink-182's Tom Delonge, who also has a signature Epiphone semi-hollowbody model. This was a made-in-Mexico guitar and sold for around $500 when originally produced between 2001 and 2003. Lately though, we've been seeing this Strat fetch upwards of $800 to $900 on Reverb, especially for the snazzy Graffiti Yellow finish. Could the recent Blink-182 tour have sparked this heightened interest in this simple, single-humbucker Strat? It's hard to say, but for Blink fans, it's usually about All The Small Things.
See Tom Delonge Strats On Reverb
Guild S-200 Thunderbird
A lot of the more common vintage Guild solidbodies that come up are frequently seen as Gibson clones like as the SG-esque S-100 and the Les Paul-like Bluesbird. Before these models though, Guild's first foray into the solidbody market included the distinct S-200 Thunderbird with its unique wavy body-shape and kick-stand built right into the back of the guitar. The kick-stand was a neat idea but was not especially sturdy, so neck breaks are fairly common with these guitars, making it even harder to find one in good condition.
Muddy Waters was known to play one of these and more recently, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys has been seen with one as well. A few years ago, these typically sold in the neighborhood of $2000, but recent sales are surpassing the $4000 mark. For those interested in this body shape at a more reasonable price, keep an eye out for a DeArmond Jet Star.
Three-Pickup Harmony and Silvertone Archtops
As the one time largest guitar maker in the world, there are a ton of Harmonies out there, and at the very top of the desirability food chain sit the various three-pickup hollowbody models of the '60s. Model designations include the H75, H76, H77 and H78 for the double cutaway, and H59 for the single-cutaway Rocket model (not to mention all the Silvertone branded versions of the same guitars). Like lots of Harmonies, these guitars can be prone to condition issues. While they do pop up on the cheap, those in really excellent condition command much higher prices. Lately we've seen sales for these top $1500. This is another guitar you can file under the Dan Auerbach effect.
See Harmony Hollowbodies on Reverb
Squier Venus
The Squier Venus was made in Japan as part of the Vista series (which also included the similarly hot Super-Sonic). This model was a signature guitar for Courtney Love and was based on a few different vintage guitars. Say what you will about Courtney Love, but this guitar is sweet and has recently commanded prices of upwards of $800 for the Surf Green version. Along with the Delonge Strat mentioned above, this trend could be a testament to the growing power of '90s nostalgia.