1981 Carlos Model No. 228 Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage Korean nylon string guitar, still looks and sounds great

This is a vintage lower level nylon string guitar that is passable for gigging and a great banger for the beach or parties.

Not sure exactly what happened with the bars inside the tuning pegs, as four of the six have broken in half. They're all still fully functional though, even if the G was a bit difficult to replace.

But, there is no damage to the headstock or neck, the only thing I can think is that maybe there were steel strings on there at some point and they ate through the bars? Guitar still looks and sounds great though. There are some small signs of wear, the usual rubbing and light scratching on the surface.

That's to be expected for a 30-year old guitar and even though this one is a laminate, it gets a nice tone and really does play great. I have a solid mahogany 228 in my personal collection and this one isn't too far off.

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1970s Taka Model No. TATG-300 Classical Guitar

Another nice Japanese import, this one in very good condition

This is the 3rd Taka guitar that I've found recently and the second of this particular model. In a strange series of events, I ended up finding one online and then another one locally before it arrived in the mail. What are the chances?

That local piece had a small crack and some discoloration to the chrome on the tuners, but this one here is in excellent condition. A few small scratches and even smaller nicks are sparsely scattered throughout and that has to be expected for a guitar of this age.

It was also set up with some new LaBella strings, but these were the flat clear strings. I prefer the Folk Singer strings, with the dark colored nylon on the higher strings. It's nice having both setups on the same model though.

I've never really been much of a classical player, but I'm always looking to pick up any old Japanese or Korean guitar that is reasonably priced, just to hear what they sound like. These Taka classicals don't seem to be as nice as the dreadnought that I've found recently, even though they look to be from the same period.

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1980s Hondo H314 Student Classical Guitar

Vintage Early-80s classical, student-grade, made in Japan or Korea 

Not up to the same quality as the Hondo II guitars that were manufactured around the same time, but this little box is a good first guitar for a beginner, because the small size makes it easier to play.

It's definitely better than what you'd get in a big box store for the same amount of money. These were either made in Japan or Korea and even if it's the latter, you'll get a higher-quality than the Chinese guitars being put out today.

Sound nice enough for a student model, but it's built to last and can be had online for anywhere around $60-$120.

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1970s Taka Model No. TATG-300 Classical Guitar

Vintage Japanese classical guitar, shows some wear and tear, but rock solid and well-aged

Now that I've been on the lookout for Taka guitars, they've been popping up all over the radar. This is the 2nd that I've gotten my hands on in the last couple of months and the first classical. This one has a TG distinction in the model number, but I'm not sure what it means yet.

There is a small crack on the bottom-right side of the body and a little chip in the binding along the fretboard. The crack doesn't go all the way through though, so there are no holes in the guitar and the sound is not effected at all. There is also a bit of discoloration along the tuning pegs, but these flaws are purely cosmetic and also don't really jump out at you.

I set it up with a set of LaBella Folk Singer strings as soon as I got it and it plays and sounds really nice. Once again, these can sometimes be found for as little as $50-60, but they play at the level of at least a $200 guitar.

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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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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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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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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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1970s-80s Carlos Model No. 236 Classical Guitar

Top-notch vintage classical, these Carlos guitars become unforgettable to collectors and longtime players

Once again, the sticker with the serial number was torn off by the time it got to me, so there is no way to know the exact year or even take a guess. Carlos guitars made in 1981 and 1982 have a date stamped on one of support strips inside the guitar, so this seems to be 1980 or before.

This was a rescue, it had no nut or saddle and there was a chunk missing just above the nut on the headstock. This guitar played and sounded so nice though, that I passed it on to a professional flamenco guitar player and he intended to use it for when he traveled, so the cosmetic flaws didn't matter at all.

I can't recommend these Carlos guitars enough. You can find them for as little as $50 in some cases and they're probably better than most brand names you'd pay $250-$300 for, even secondhand online.

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1960s-70s Granada No. CG-75 Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage Japanese classical guitar, the years have been kind and she sounds absolutely beautiful

Another little-known gem, this one was built in Japan and probably distributed through local music stores way back in the day. I found it on craiglist, but I've read stories of people digging them up at garage sales as well.

That's really the only information out there though, which factory it came from and which years they were distributed, no clue... **UPDATE AUG 2013: Granada guitars were built at the Matsumoku factory in the 1970s** It does play nice though and it had seen it's fair share of abuse, but was still rock solid.

This is one of those things where you can probably pick one up from anywhere between $25-$60 if you get lucky, but longtime players might be willing to spend $150-$200 to get their hands on a vintage MIJ classical.

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1950s-60s Victoria Model No. 26-3 Classical Guitar

Ancient guitar has been to hell and back, still sounds great, looks cooler than ever!

Not much is known about this guitar. A few sites have suggested that they were made as far back as the 1950s and if someone told me the 1930s or 40s, I'd be willing to believe them.

This one looks like it's been played endlessly, but the wear around the sound hole just adds character and the natural fretboard looks great. The bridge is pretty warped though and the top is sunken in a bit below the sound hole. But, despite all that, it is still in playable condition, it's rock-solid with no cracks and cosmetically there are very few nicks and dings for it's age. Sounds better every day since the new strings were put on too.

Worst-case scenario, it's looks great hanging up on the wall...

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1970s-80s Fender Classic FC-10 3/4 Classical Guitar

3/4-sized guitar is easy to play and perfect for younger students

 

This model was made by Fender between 1971-1982 and the serial number attached to this one suggests sometime between 1977-1982. Where exactlty it was made is the topic of debate in many an online forum.

This guitar is in great shape for it's age, it shows minor signs of regular use on the body and the neck is straight and sturdy. A quality vintage instrument from a big-time name in Fender. Sounds and plays real nice.

Top: Spruce
Back/Sides: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Solid Wood Construction

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1980s Carlos Model No. 226 Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, perfect example of why one should never judge a book by it's cover

Carlos guitars are another brand that has a cult following in the collector's market, as you'll come to find in the days ahead here at SCGM. This particular model is not one of the high-quality copies that collectors covet, the difference being the way the word Carlos is designed on the label inside the sound hole.

This is still a very nice guitar though, sounds and plays like a mid-level Yamaha. Like the Ibanez acoustic that was featured earlier this week, you can find these all over the internet, ranging from $50 to over $200.

Top: Spruce
Back/Sides: Mahogany
Fretboard: Spruce (painted)
Made in Korea

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