1960s Checkmate Model No. G 300 Acoustic Guitar

Great-looking vintage guitar, with double pickguards and exotic stock dye job on the back and sides

Checkmate guitars are low-to-mid level guitars made by Teisco, who manufactured guitars for over a dozen different Japanese companies in the mid-late 60s.

This particular model looks real sharp, but really isn't much of a player. Alot of people use these Checkmates as slide guitars and this one does feel a little bit like an electric guitar.

These guitars are can be found all over the place and that makes sense, as they were distributed throughout the country in their day. Finding one in great shape could be a bit of a challenge, it is 45+ years later and they probably weren't ever pampered by anyone either.

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1986 Takamine GX-100T Electric Guitar

Vintage lawsuit guitar, a rare solid-body electric made by one of the most-respected names in acoustic guitars

This is a very high-end copy of a Gibson Explorer, it was so nice that Gibson threatened Takamine with a lawsuit and they stopped making electric guitars altogether, from what I've been able to dig up.

The pickups look like Seymour Duncans and it's a possibility, they made the pups in the old Ibanez guitars. On top of that, this model also features neck-thru construction. Plays like butter too.

If you find one of these in even decent shape, you should pick it up, they generally go for between $500-$800 on most auction sites.

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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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1990s Ibanez Model No. PF5-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Vintage budget line 12-string guitar, Made in Korea, solid guitar to use at church or the beach

The serial number seems to indicate that this particular box was built in 1992, but it's tough to validate Ibanez acoustics from this era. Even though this guitar is bare bones all the way, it plays nice enough for what it is, I had it set up with D'Addario Acoustic XLs and the brights really sounded pretty.

I held on to this guitar for nearly 10 years, before I upgraded to a nicer Takamine from the same era and even used it to record some tracks. These made in Korea models don't seem to pop up as often as the newer Chinese-made guitars, but $150-200 should be the most to put out for one of the Performance Series guitars.

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1980s Aria Pro II RS Special V Electric Guitar

Made in Japan, by the famed Matsumoku guitar masters, with the classic black and white setup

Early-mid 80s Aria Pro II RS Special V Strat Style electric guitar, these are often said to rival Fender Strats of the same period and this one definitely plays like a dream.

Can't say for sure what year it is, the neckplate indicates 1982, but the Special V series supposedly only ran in 1983-84.
Either way, this is a killer vintage electric guitar and one that is offered at a price you'd pay for a new mid-level guitar, at best.

These seem to be more popular over in Europe, so you can sometimes find them here in the US for less than $200.

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1990s Customized Squier Short Scale Fretless Bronco Bass Guitar

In near-mint condition, customized with a fretless neck and a Seymour Duncan Cool Rail pickup

Showcased today is a customized Squier bass, upgraded with a nice fretless neck and a Seymour Duncan Cool or Hot Rails guitar pickup.

The candy apple red finish and speckled pickguard give this one a nice vintage look, helped along by the mini Fender Mustang body. Immaculate condition for a 15-year old instrument, with just some light scratches along the bottom and rear from regular playing.

The short scale makes this bass easier to play for students or anyone that has a hard time wrapping their hands around a normal bass neck. The fretless neck also plays smooth as silk and sounds just as good.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Made in Korea and in great condition for a 30+ years old acoustic guitar 

 

Here is a hidden gem, a top-quality Carlos guitar with a brass nut and saddle, reportedly constructed out of solid wood. This one needed a repair, as the bridge had begun to separate from the body.

Can't speak enough as to how nice this guitar sounds though and it plays great too. The dark (mahogany?) finish still looks beautiful and the structure of this guitar is still very sound, with no cracks or breaks.

Throw on a set of Grover tuners and you would think you were playing a much more expensive guitar. This is a copy of a Martin D28 or a Guild D25, but they are lesser known, because there were no lawsuits threatened against any of the Korean makers.

Thank you for looking. More high-resolution pictures here.