1959 Les Paul Standard, Sunburst
Provenance verified via 1963Billboard receipt + original owner’s gig logs (1964–67); full XRF alloy report included.
Vintage Guitar Commerce & Curation…
Where Provenance Is the Proof
For collectors, players, and luthiers who demand verified history—not just serial numbers—on vintage instruments of enduring cultural value.
Featured Guitars
Every listing carries irrefutable provenance: auction records, owner logs, repair histories, and—where applicable—artist-signed documentation. We don’t list guitars; we archive instruments with documented cultural weight.
1963 Fender Stratocaster, ‘Fender Blue’ Finish
Tied to 1965 Motown sessions (Studio B ledger #447); original tuners, bridge, and pickups unrestored.
1922 Martin D-28, Reborn by James D’Angelo
Full structural overhaul documented in luthier’s workshop journal—neck reset, top bracing, and top-rib repairs with historically matched spruce.
Artist Spotlights
We track instruments through performance history—stage wear, setlists, and technician notes—turning serial numbers into biographical artifacts.
- David Gilmour’s ‘Black Strat’ EvolutionTrace the guitar’s modifications from 1970–1984: pickups swapped after Saigon session, trem bar replaced post-Waters’ Paris gig.
- Merle Travis’ 1937 D-45Documented in his 1956 WSM session logs; pickguard replaced with original material by C. F. Martin Co. in ’58.
- Nancy Wilson’s 1964 JazzmasterShipped to her in ’65 per Capitol Records artist order form; bridge pickup replaced during 1971 Moondog Theatre tech check-in.
Maintenance & Repair Library
Not generic tutorials—authored by master luthiers with workshop-grade precision: fret leveling on curved fingerboards, humidification protocols for historic woods, and finish repair that honors patina as part of the instrument’s truth.
01
Fret Dressing on Rosewood vs. Ebony
Why ethanol-based cleaners compromise historical binding integrity—and which solvent mixture preserves celluloid.
02
Neck Reset Timing for Pre-1945 Instruments
Seasonal humidity thresholds, bridge lift detection, and how neck angle shifts during veneer settling.
03
Vintage Pickup Degaussing Protocols
Magnet remanence testing with gauss meter calibration and safe demagnetization curves for Alnico V vs. Cerametal.
Authentication Portal
Submit high-res images (front, back, headstock, serial, internal cavity) for triage by our verification panel—including luthiers, appraisers, and archival researchers. We respond in 48 hours with a preliminary provenance report and recommended next steps.
- 01
Serial Number Triage
Cross-reference with factory ledgers, dealer invoices, and shipment manifests.
- 02
Hardware & Finish Analysis
Microscopic comparison of lacquer orange-peel, pickguard grain, and switch markings against era-specific reference sets.
- 03
Contextual Cross-Check
Match wear patterns to known playing styles or road use (e.g., pickguard scorching near humbucker in ’72–74 Stratocasters).
Restoration Services
We restore instruments only when the repair preserves more original material and historical integrity than replacement. Every job produces a restoration journal—photographed steps, material sourcing, and the why behind each decision.
Case Study: 1935 Gibson L-5CES
Refinished using nitrocellulose lacquer matched to original UV-reactive resin; original Vibrola tailpiece rebuilt with 1935-spec springs.
Case Study: 1951 Broadcaster
Neck alignment corrected using period-correct French polish method; original knob re-gilded with 98% pure tin-tin alloy.
Case Study: 1967 Fender Telecaster Custom
Fretboard resurfaced via hand-scraping (no sanding); vintage-spec fretwire from Germany’s only remaining hand-filed billet supplier.
Collection Catalog
Search across 2,400+ verified instruments with granular filters: era (pre-war, golden age, post-reissue), maker (with workshop variants), model lineage, and playable condition (concierge-level service readiness). For professionals only—registration requires dealer or institutional verification.
- Pre-1942 American AcousticsIncludes D-18s with diamond fret markers, early X-bracing variants, and original label overprints.
- 1954–59 Fender Solid-Body PrototypesEspecially rare: Esquire with asymmetrical neck profiles, ’54 Tele neck-through prototypes.
- Japanese Reissues (1977–85)Cort, Teisco, and Kanda units with verified original pickups, known serial ranges, and studio usage tags.
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