1980s Hohner Model No. HGK614 Classical Guitar

Vintage 3/4 size classical guitar, plays and sounds real nice, made in Korea

I haven't been able to find any information on this particular model. Every search has come up with a Contessa series from 1975, made in Japan. But, this one was made in Korea, Contessa is nowhere to be found on the label and the style of the label and serial number tell me it's from the early 80s, probably 1983.

I'd never played a Hohner before and this is a nice guitar for what it is. Probably an entry level model back in the day, given the 3/4 size, which is a little bigger than the student sized Crown and Hondo classicals that were featured here recently. This is a nice beginner guitar.

I set this one up with a set of Draco by Martin flat strings and it has a nice enough tone to it. The smaller size neck makes it easier to play than a standard classical and the tuning machines and bridge have both stood the test of time. This is something that you can probably pick up for $40-60 if you're lucky, but anything over $150 is probably paying too much. Definitely better than the modern First Acts and Carlos Robelli guitars in the same price bracket or higher.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 207 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage folk-style acoustic guitar, another beautiful guitar that was sitting in a closet for about a decade

The younger cousin of the Carlos folk guitar that was featured here a little while back, this one looks and sounds a little better, with the cream colored binding and natural wood grains on the back really making it pop.

On top of the fact that it looks great, this one also plays about as nice as any acoustic guitar ever will. I set it up with a set of D'Addario Acoustic Light strings and they really sing resonating off of the stock brass nut and saddle.

The body is not only thinner than a regular dreadnought, but the width and height are also smaller scale, making this one the same size as a standard classical. These Carlos guitars have a cult following of sorts in the collector's market and I guess you can count me among the faithful.

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2000s Johnson Model No. JG-620-SC Acoustic Guitar

Another Chinese cutaway, this one living up to the reputation of a low-quality cookie-cutter guitar

This is one of those cases where I just picked something up because it was available real cheap and I was curious to know how this particular brand played, being that I'd seen a ton of them for sale over the last 8 months or so.

Everything that I'd read about these cheap Chinese acoustic guitars being virtually unplayable was true about this box. Even with a new set of strings and a proper setup, there was hardly any projection at all and even a few dead notes along the 2nd and 3rd frets.

The body was also warped, raising up along the soundhole, even though the bridge was completely flat against the body. Avoid at all costs, in the same league as Harmonia and Ariana. If the difference between this and say an entry-level Yamaha is even $60, spend the extra cash. The only way you want to come across one of these is if someone gives it to you for free. I guess it looks pretty, at least...

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2000s Jasmine By Takamine ES33C Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Newer Chinese cutaway acoustic guitar, but surprisingly of good quality

The second Jasmine that I've acquired in the last few months is another solid player, going against everything that I had read when browsing internet forums regarding these models made in China.

It looks like this model was built in 2008. Someone decided to paint the face red and it looks alright, but they didn't cover the soundhole when they did it. Another thing that stood out to me on this one was the tortoise shell binding along the body and fretboard, looks real sharp.

This guitar plays real easy and projects very well, along the lines of the older Takamines that I've played from Taiwan and Korea. The electronics seem to be above average too, with an EQ and two settings for the pickup. If you're in the market for an A/E and looking to spend around $150, it's a real good buy for a used guitar.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage high-end dreadnought copy, brass nut and saddle, made in Korea

This is the 2nd of this model that I've been lucky enough to find over the last few months and this one didn't need any repairs, unlike the previous copy that was featured. The body was a little more beat up, but it was still solid and there was nothing major wrong with it at all.

The brass saddle was sitting a bit too low and there was some buzzing because of it. I ended up passing it on to another longtime player here in So. Cal. This model was his first guitar way back when and he really wanted it for the sentimental value.

Hopefully I'll be able to find another, as both of these played and sounded so nice. Another Carlos from the same period will be featured tomorrow, I'm picking up as many of these that I can realistically get my hands on.

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1970s-80s Acoustic Control & Sunn Guitar Rig

Vintage half stack, featuring two of the top names in classic solid state amplification, ACC 150 head and Sunn 412L cab

This is a killer rig that I pieced together late last summer, the head was purchased from a student at UCI and is modified, someone put in an extra knob where the 2nd input jack was and it seems to control the volume and reverb. This was made in 1971 or 1972, from what I can find.

The cab was found in Huntington Beach and is loaded with (4) Made in England Celestion G12-80s. Sunn Amplifiers have been a big name since the 1960s, but with the Celestions being added later and the ACC head, it's basically a Sunn in name only.

Still kicks though, finding these old Celestions is easy, but you will have to pay for them, between $75-$150 each and these ACC heads generally run anywhere from $150-$350, depending on the model. Any of them that you find in working condition, you should give it a shot.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228MH Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, top-quality and in near-perfect condition, another gem of the Carlos brand from Korea

It's amazing to me that these guitars, which may have retailed for about $200 back in the 1980s, have aged so well and that there are so many of them still floating around out there.

This one is about as nice as any classical guitar that I've ever played, right up there with the Tres Pinos from a similar period that we also featured recently. The MH designation would indicate solid Mahogany, as the better-made Carlos guitar were rumored to have solid-wood construction.

If you find a Carlos acoustic guitar at a yard sale or pawn shop and it has the Egyptian Ankh style "L" on the headstock and soundhole, pick it up. Sometimes you can get lucky and score one for $50-$100, but collectors are known to pay anywhere between $200-$500, depending on the model.

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1984 Ibanez Roadstar II RB650 Bass Guitar

Another top-flight 1980s import, still a popular choice with collectors and musicians 30 years later

Like it's younger cousin that we featured yesterday, this is another super-nice Japanese Fender copy from Ibanez, with P/J pickup configuration and a maple neck. This model still has all of the original hardware, including the very hard to find "boomerang" strap holders.

Can't believe how fast this plays for a maple neck, most others seem to be really wide. This one needed a little work with the electronics and it has been beaten up a bit over the years, but it's still in perfect playing shape.

This was the top model of the Roadstar II Standard Series in 1984, but I'm not sure if they had a Deluxe or Custom Series that year. Either way, this is a great bass for gigging or recording and you can generally find a mid-80s Roadstar bass from anywhere between $200-$300.

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1985 Ibanez Roadstar II RS440 Electric Guitar

Vintage Super Strat, Made in Japan, original hardware and custom finish, classic guitar

This is a real beauty, an old-style Ibanez super Strat, with a vintage locking tremolo system. Someone stripped off the original white finish and treated it to give it a natural relic'd look.

On top of looking great, it also plays like a dream and is rock-solid. No dents or cracks anywhere and the frets still have some life left in them.

The original Ibanez pickups are still well-regarded to this day and the Pro Rock'R Top Lok tremolo system is generally seen as superior to the Edge systems that succeeded it.

All in all, this is a pro guitar. The Roadstar series has a great following in the collectors market and for good reason. These are much better than today's MIM Fender guitars and you can expect to pay anywhere between $300-$400 to get one in great shape.

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2000s Sunlite GCN1640 A/E Classical Guitar

Chinese acoustic/electric cutaway classical, good beginner or throw-around guitar

Sunlite is known more for making drums and hardware than stringed instruments, but it seems they made a foray into guitars at some point and I found this little guy not too long ago.

It's pretty much an entry-level guitar, the acoustic/electric and cutaway features make it a popular choice. It plays pretty easily, stay in tune well enough and sounds decent.

Not something you'd want to gig or record with, but if you need a cheap guitar to take to the beach or carry around in the trunk of your car, this one is perfect. About $150 is the most one should spend on one of these.

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1988 Alvarez Regent Model No. 5212 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage entry-level dreadnought, still plays great and sounds nice enough, made in Korea

Alvarez does have some top-notch acoustics floating around out there, but most of the ones I've played have been mid-level, at best. This one actually plays really fast, so it would be perfect for a beginner, but the adjustable saddle needs to be changed, because the action is actually way too low.

Some noticeable blemishes on this one, a deep scratch on the face of the guitar and some light ones along the neck joint, but it still plays fine. The tortoise shell pickguard looks nice from afar, but it's pretty dull and cheap up close. Nice dark mahogany finish on the sides and back classes it up a bit though.

Not a great guitar by any means, but still alot better than most of the Chinese no-name boxes that are out there today. If you're looking for a cheap acoustic and this is an option, it's a much better buy at $100-$150.

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1960s-70s Crown Professional Flamenco? Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage classical guitar, a little beat up, but still plays great and a perfect beginner guitar

The small size and Japanese craftmanship make this a great first guitar. But this is another one that is real tough to find any information on. From what I've been able to dig up, these were made in Japan for distribution to department stores and local music stores here in the US in the late 60s and early 70s.

This one is beat up a little, with scratches throughout and a tiny little ding on the top side of the guitar. It sounds beautiful though and plays great. The size (slightly bigger than a student model) and light color of the wood on the back make me think it's a true flamenco style guitar, but I haven't been able to find any information to confirm, with no model number listed anywhere inside to trace.

This is a quality instrument, so if I stumble upon any other Crown Professional guitars that are playable, I'll pick it up if the price is right and I suggest you do too.

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2002 Ibanez Gio GSA 60 Electric Guitar

Budget-line HSS electric guitar, still better than today's new stuff, made in Indonesia

This is an early 2000s Ibanez beginner level guitar, but it's been well-maintained over the years and plays great. Surprisingly, this guitar does sound fairly nice too, so it could be something that you could rely on as a backup for gigging. 

Ibanez is known throughout the world of guitar players for making fast necks and that's why I recommend them to everyone that asks me what they should get for their first guitar. Those fast necks make the guitars easier to play and the beginners are less likely to get frustrated and stop playing after a couple of weeks.

Unlike the earlier generation RX Series guitars, this one probably isn't worth putting any money into, but the HSS pickup configuration still makes it versatile sound-wise and it plays nice enough that you'll get back what you paid for it. $100-$150 for this model is a fair price, easily the best I've played from the Gio line.

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2009 Esteban Crystal Star Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Acoustic/Electric guitar, limited run, part of the Rock On Collection 

 

These were limited to 5,000, feature artwork made of shiny bead-like objects on the body and headstock and has the artist's signature on the back.

This guitar plays real nice and both the acoustic/electric and cutaway features make it a very popular choice. These Esteban guitars get a bad rap on many guitar forums, but the 4 that I've had my hands on over the last few months have all been decent players.

That being said, they're still not worth paying too much for, about $150 is the absolute most anyone should ask for one of these.

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1980s Tres Pinos Model 113 Classical Guitar

Another top-shelf vintage classical guitar, this one made in Mexico, reportedly by hand and with solid wood construction

This is a fairly rare guitar, made sometime between 1984-1987 and originally purchased at a local music store in Orange County. Everything about this guitar is high-quality, the binding on the edges and back of the body and ivory tuning keys.

It sounds even better than it looks, as the 25+ years that the wood has aged produces a warm sound on the low end and crystal clear brights. The fact that it has spent most of that time in it's case means that it still looks great too.

This guitar rivals most Japanese guitars from the same period and is reportedly solid top and not laminate. If you can pick one up in good playing condition for under $200, you'll be very happy with your purchase.

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1960s-70s Kay? Model No. G440 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage parlor guitar, guessing on the brand, but it's nearly identical to others I've had, made in Korea

The label inside the soundhole only lists a model number and there is no brand marker on the headstock either. It's nearly identical to a Checkmate Model No. G235 that I also picked up right around the same time, so chances are they're related.

This one plays a little better, even though the neck is separating from the body, so it doesn't stay in tune for very long. Like every Checkmate acoustic guitar that I've ever seen, this one also looks great, which is probably the reason people still collect these to this day.

The double flowered pickguards just invoke the spirit of this one's glory days. These are purely for collectors, they don't play easy enough for beginners and they don't sound anywhere near the level needed for recording and performing.

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