You might have just bought someone else's old guitar for cheap, or you might have found a dusty guitar in your grandpa's attic. those musical instruments could be trash or treasure – you don't know. Finding out the age and value of a guitar takes extra effort, and requires the services of an expert. Start by cleaning the guitar and getting it in like condition, if possible.
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Method 1 of 3: Cleaning and Checking the Guitar
Step 1. Wipe the surface of the guitar
Gently wipe the surface of the guitar with a soft, damp cloth. You can use a microfiber guitar rag sold at guitar shops, or a cotton t-shirt.
- Wiping the guitar alone probably won't remove the dust on its surface. Try to find out if the stain is oil or water as that will determine the best way to clean it.
- Use a water-based cleaner to remove dust and stains. A few drops of dishwashing detergent diluted in water can be used. Moisten your rag, but don't let the surface of the guitar get too wet. Use an oil cleaner and guitar polish to get rid of oil-based dirt.
- Do not rub the guitar as this can damage the surface. This is very important, especially for older guitars. If the surface of the guitar appears to be peeling, take the instrument to a luthier (person who builds and repairs guitars) for cleaning instead of doing it yourself.
Step 2. Look for scratches or cracks
After cleaning the surface of the guitar body, inspect the exterior for scratches. Depending on its age and how it was used in the past, the instrument may also have fractures in its body.
- Scratches and cracks don't affect the guitar's function, but they can affect its resale value.
- If the guitar body is cracked or the surface is scratched and peeling, you may need to avoid using guitar polish to clean it. Take your guitar to a guitar repair shop and talk to a luthier – someone who makes, repairs, and repairs guitars professionally. He or she can definitely help you choose the best method of cleaning your guitar.
Step 3. Use polish for very dirty guitars
Non-abrasive creams or polish pastes can work best if your guitar has an unidentified buildup of stains or if regular cleaners aren't having any effect. The polish can also remove minor scratches on the guitar's surface.
Avoid using polish if there are too many cracks or scratches on the surface of the guitar. The polish can seep into the cracks making it very difficult, if not impossible, to clean
Step 4. Clean the fingerboard and frets
Loosen or remove the guitar strings (you may need to replace them with new ones) to clean the fingerboard and frets. If you use oil or polish on the fingerboard, first spray the liquid onto a piece of cloth – not directly onto the body of the guitar.
An old, slightly moistened toothbrush is ideal for cleaning build-up of dirt from the area around the frets. Don't rub too hard – you can scratch or damage the guitar fingerboard
Step 5. Polish the hardware
Acoustic and electric guitars both have hardware that may fade or get dirty over time. Clean and polish the parts carefully while noting any parts that are not intact or damaged.
Do not immediately replace or repair the part until you know the value of the guitar. In general, a guitar should be playable, but before replacing the hardware, you should understand its age and resale value
Step 6. Replace the guitar strings
Old guitars are usually fitted with worn out strings which are often incomplete. Install quality new strings so that you can properly assess the sound quality of the instrument.
If you've never changed guitar strings before, it's a good idea to take the guitar to a guitar shop for help at a low rate. A friend who is good at playing the guitar may be willing to help you out for free
Step 7. Tune the guitar
After you change the guitar strings, immediately tune the strings so they can be played correctly. Loosen the strings by pulling them from the end of the neck of the guitar, then start tuning.
New strings usually have a hard time maintaining the right pitch. You can work around this problem by stretching the strings a few times. After tuning the guitar, loosen the strings again. Then, set it back. If you repeat this four to six times, the pitch of the strings should not change any further
Method 2 of 3: Finding the Age of the Guitar
Step 1. Look for the guitar maker's name in the headstock section
The name of the guitar manufacturer who made it is listed or printed on the headstock. The writing may be difficult to identify if the color of the guitar has faded or if the headstock of the guitar has been damaged.
- If the name isn't complete, you may want to compare the writing to the headstock images of various guitars to find out the full name. The name of the manufacturer should also be printed on the instrument, such as on the inside of the earpiece or on the back.
- Once you know the name of the manufacturer, you can visit the guitar company's website to find out how long they have been manufacturing guitars. This will give you a rough idea of how old the guitar is.
- You may be able to compare your guitar to pictures of other guitars online made by a particular manufacturer in a specific year. This method will give a range of years of manufacture.
Step 2. Find the serial number
Depending on the manufacturer, the serial number on the guitar may give you an idea of how old the guitar is. On electric guitars, this number can be found on the back of the body or headstock. The serial number on an acoustic guitar may be located on the back of the body or on a label on the earpiece.
The serial number of the guitar can give you a clue as to its value. In general, a lower serial number (such as “0001”) indicates an older guitar that is more valuable than a product with a higher serial number (such as “0987”). The lowest serial number indicates that the guitar was the first to be produced and hence the higher price
Step 3. Check the guitar serial number online
Most guitar manufacturers, including Fender, Gibson, and Martin, provide a table with the serial numbers of various guitar models and years of manufacture on their websites.
Some manufacturers use serial numbers for products from different decades, or are used for more than one type of guitar. If this is true, you should try harder to find out his age
Step 4. Look for the year of manufacture on the neck of the guitar
If you want to remove the neck of the guitar, you may be able to find a manufacture date marker on the inside. However, this is quite risky if you are not experienced in disassembling and reassembling a guitar.
There should be a production date on the neck and body of the guitar. If both dates are the same, that's probably the date your guitar was made. If not, it indicates that the neck of the guitar has been replaced before or that the guitar was made from a spare part and not a factory original
Step 5. Take your guitar to a luthier or authorized dealer
If you can't pinpoint the age of the guitar, a luthier or authorized dealer may be able to help, they have a much better understanding of the characteristics of ancient guitars.
- Going to an authorized guitar dealer from the same brand as your old guitar is the best way. The staff there must have complete knowledge of guitars from a particular brand, and be able to recognize details that others don't notice.
- Depending on the results of the assessment, you may need to take it to more than one expert – especially if the first expert you visited was unsure of the answer himself.
Method 3 of 3: Estimating the Price of a Guitar
Step 1. Identify rare wood and other materials
There are several types of wood, such as Brazilian rosewood, that are no longer used as guitar material because they are scarce or protected. If the guitar is made of these materials or uses rare materials, the instrument is not only old, but also very valuable.
- For example, if the guitar feels heavy and the wood has a tight-grained reddish hue, it may be made of Brazilian rosewood which is very expensive.
- Old guitars trimmed and detailed using ivory or tortoise shells are no longer produced today. Ebony wood is also an expensive material that must be considered.
- Most guitars are made of ordinary wood, such as maple or poplar. If you suspect a guitar is made of rare materials, take the instrument to a specialist who can verify its authenticity.
Step 2. Determine authenticity
If an old guitar has been played by one or more musicians many times, usually the parts of the instrument have been replaced a lot. Authentic guitars are more expensive, especially if they are older.
- However, if a guitar is valued because of “the person who played it”, it is still of great value – just not as expensive as a guitar with all the original parts.
- For some types of guitar, it is very difficult to find an instrument that is still original, so even a slightly damaged condition is still valued at a high price.
Step 3. Play the guitar
Although some guitars seem very artsy, the guitar is a musical instrument. There are many guitars whose sale value depends on the sound they produce. Even the oldest guitar should still be able to produce a clear and clean sound.
- If you're not a guitarist, take the guitar to a place that guitarists frequent, such as a music event at a local cafe. Most guitarists would love to check out an old guitar, especially one you believe is worth a lot.
- Usually, the better the guitar sounds, the more expensive it is. There are several adjustments that must be made, such as changing the strings, so that the guitar sounds better without reducing the selling value.
Step 4. Check out the guide called Blue Book of Guitar Values
This is one of several trusted guides that can help you determine a guitar's resale value, depending on its overall condition and functionality.
- You can find this guide online and do a free search at bluebookofguitarvalues.com.
- Any values you find in these or other guides are suggestions only. There are many characteristics that can increase or decrease the price of a guitar. For example, you might own a 50 year old guitar that is in excellent condition and has a selling price of several tens of millions of rupiah. However, a guitar of the same type in used condition can fetch up to billions if it is ever used by a famous rock star.
Step 5. Do an online search
There are many collection and auction sites that offer guitars like yours. Compare the guitar to the guitar you are selling to get a range of values for your guitar. Pay attention to the age and condition of the instrument.
The selling price of some guitars can be influenced by special reasons, for example, they have been owned or played by famous musicians. Don't generalize the price to determine the selling price of a guitar unless the guitar is exactly the same
Step 6. Have a luthier or collector rate your guitar
If your search for information leads you to believe that the guitar is worth it, have it professionally assessed.
- Depending on the guitar's age, condition, and rarity, you may need to do two or three assessments. Some guitar makers also offer authentic guitar certification services.
- An estimator never guarantees the amount of profit you get from selling guitars. If you're looking to sell an old guitar, do a few assessments and talk to an authorized collector or dealer who can help showcase the guitar for the best results.
