Who Buys Vintage Guitars, Basses & Amplifiers?
Sell Your Vintage Guitar, Bass, or Amp with Confidence
If you’re searching for who buys vintage guitars, you’re likely looking for more than just a price — you’re looking for accuracy, integrity, and experience.
At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, I buy vintage and high-quality used guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, and entire collections, offering market-accurate evaluations backed by over 30 years of real-world buying and selling experience.
Whether you’re selling a single instrument or an entire estate, my goal is simple: clear information, fair market pricing, and a professional, pressure-free process.
Please always feel free to reach out to us at any time! You can email using the contact form below, or call us us directly: (530) 570-1525.
We love talking guitars and look forward to hearing from you!
We Buy Vintage & Used Instruments
I actively purchase:
- Vintage electric and acoustic guitars
- Vintage bass guitars
- Tube amplifiers (vintage and boutique)
- Effects pedals
- Speaker cabinets and related gear
- Complete collections and estates
From pre-war acoustics to classic Fender and Gibson electrics, boutique amplifiers, and well-maintained modern instruments, every piece is evaluated individually based on condition, originality, demand, and current market trends.
How Selling Your Vintage Guitar Works
Selling a vintage instrument doesn’t need to be complicated.
Here’s how the process typically works:
- Start the Conversation
Send photos and details about your instrument or collection. I’m happy to offer guidance before any commitment is made. - Market-Accurate Evaluation
Values are based on actual selling data — not inflated asking prices or outdated guides. - Clear Options, No Pressure
You’ll receive honest feedback, realistic expectations, and straightforward next steps. - Secure Payment & Professional Handling
Transactions are handled carefully, discreetly, and professionally.
This approach is designed to protect both the value of your instrument and your peace of mind.
Why Sellers Choose Mahar’s Vintage Guitars
Choosing the right vintage guitar buyer matters.
Many sellers come to me after encountering:
- Inflated promises that fall apart later
- Buyers without real market experience
- Confusing or aggressive sales tactics
What sets Mahar’s Vintage Guitars apart:
- 30+ years of buying and selling vintage instruments
- Ethical, defensible valuations
- Experience with estates, collections, and insurance documentation
- No pressure to sell
- Trusted by collectors, musicians, and families
If an instrument isn’t a good fit, I’ll tell you — and explain why.
Selling a Vintage Guitar Collection or Estate
Estate and collection sales require additional care.
I regularly work with:
- Families settling estates
- Trustees and executors
- Long-time collectors downsizing
- Musicians transitioning collections
In these situations, accuracy and transparency are critical. I provide clear guidance, realistic timelines, and professional documentation when needed, helping sellers make informed decisions at every stage.
What Your Vintage Guitar Is Really Worth
The value of a vintage instrument depends on more than age alone.
Factors include:
- Originality and condition
- Historical desirability
- Current collector demand
- Recent verified sales data
My evaluations reflect what instruments are actually selling for today, not speculative asking prices or outdated price lists.
Start the Process — No Obligation
If you’re considering selling a vintage guitar, bass, amplifier, or collection, I’m happy to help you understand your options.
There’s no obligation and no pressure — just straightforward guidance from an experienced vintage guitar buyer.
👉 Contact Mahar’s Vintage Guitars to Sell Your Vintage Instrument
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you buy instruments outside of California?
Yes. I work with sellers nationwide and can help coordinate secure shipping when appropriate.
Do you offer appraisals?
Yes. I provide both casual evaluations and formal written appraisals for insurance, estates, and collections.
What brands do you buy?
Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Marshall, Vox, and many others — including boutique and lesser-known vintage brands.
Do I have to sell?
No. Many conversations never turn into sales, and that’s perfectly fine.
INSPECTION/APPRAISAL
Inspection is the first—and most crucial—step when selling a vintage piece. It sets the stage for accurately determining value, and of course the asking price.
Cutting to the chase: Vintage instruments that are fully functional, playable, and include every original part—down to the last rusted screw—are the rarest, and command the highest prices. However, that doesn't mean that less-than-perfect or 100% original instruments aren't desirable!
On the contrary—a properly refinished instrument can be more financially accessible to a larger audience, while expected maintenance, like replaced frets can attract buyers prioritizing playability over provenance. Note that potential buyers commonly seek further details, however, such as whether or not replaced frets are consistent with the originals. This is why experienced, hands-on evaluations are so crucial - they provide buyers with necessary assurance. In-hand evaluations are also perfect opportunities to photograph and document the details interested buyers will almost certainly ask for.
IMPORTANT: Inspecting high voltage tube amplifiers should only be done by a qualified amp tech or electrician. You risk not only damaging your vintage amp poking around it, but also serious injury and death working around lethal tube amp voltages - voltages that can remain lethal long after the amp is powered off.
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SETTING A PRICE
Understanding what you have is the most important part of setting a price, but there are other important considerations when pricing as well, such as how active the market is - both generally, and for the item in question - as well as how motivated a seller or shop is to sell an item.
Weighing these variables isn't always easy and there are certainly consequences. Price too low, and you'll leave money on the table, but aim too high, and your instrument may sit unsold. Buyers can be wary of instruments that linger.
If you’ve shopped vintage guitars, you’ve probably noticed that seemingly identical models from the same year can command very different prices. Some sellers may place a premium on a specific finish, weight, or wood appearance, while some collectors may not be motivated to sell for less than top dollar and are content to keep their instruments.
In most cases it's far less mysterious. Prices typically differ based on varying degrees of originality (original parts and finish), previous repairs or modifications that may or may not be obvious, and other tangibles, such as a recently performed neck reset.
Some examples:
- A recent poly refinish will almost certainly impact price more than a factory nitro finish done long ago
- Expected maintenance, such as a quality re-fret or neck reset may actually provide incentive to player - provided the work was done well and is consistent with original examples.
- Destructive modifications, such as custom pickup routes, drilled holes for replacement tuners, or a Floyd Rose will most certainly affect value.
The real challenge is estimating how these details affect value, i.e., assessing the quality of work and materials—and that’s where expert insight makes a difference.
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SELLING AND SERVICE
Once you've set a price, you’re ready to sell! Armed with detailed photos and a thorough written description—including the good, the bad, and the ugly—you ensure a complete and accurate listing. Transparency is crucial in the vintage market, where inaccurate representation can lead to stressful conversations and returns.
Once an item is posted, what's next? Suffice to say that selling is rarely a "set it and forget it" process.
There are likely to be requests for specific neck measurements, current setup specs, extra photos from different angles, and in some cases, video and sound samples. Responsive and knowledgeable responses are important to successful selling.
Early offers may start rolling in quickly—some may seem unreasonably low, while it may feel too early to entertain more tempting ones. Opportunistic buyers may test your knowledge, looking for any opportunity to negotiate the price down.
Ultimately, for some, selling is a blast. For others, it can be rollercoaster of stress and annoyance. Will low ball offers vex and rattle you? Are you afraid you might take a low offer? Will you be comfortable negotiating with multiple prospective buyers at once?