12 Vintage Guitars That Are Worth a Small Fortune

If you're a fan of vintage guitars and have one or more around the house or in storage, you could be sitting on a small fortune. One of those instruments could help boost your bank account to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.

Here's a look at 12 vintage guitars that may be worth quite a bit of money, depending on their condition and other factors.

This particular vintage instrument is often called a work of art. In fact, this guitar, also known as "a Burst," is considered by many to be the best electric guitar ever made.

This guitar's design showcases the attention to detail of its manufacturer, and it features high-quality components. Well-known musicians like Jimmy Page and Keith Richards favor this model. An original 1959 Les Paul is valued at a minimum of $250,000.

Here's another Gibson vintage guitar, with a value starting around $250,000. Gibson launched the Flying V design after seeing the success of similar Fender guitars.

Gibson's work to innovate and bring new modern electric guitars to the public was successful in the long run, but unfortunately, Flying V guitars didn't sell well. Luckily, they're now one of the most easily recognizable vintage guitars, and worth a pretty penny.

Like the Flying V, the Explorer didn't originally sell well. That's part of the appeal and what makes this vintage guitar so valuable today.

The value of the Explorer can vary greatly, depending on factors such as its condition and playability. This guitar could fetch anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than $200,000. The value became high after Gibson re-released the Explorer, igniting new desires for the 1958 model.

Here's a vintage guitar with a sweet sound and a stunning look with a golden finish. The Le Paul Goldtop boasts a distinctive mahogany body and neck that some are willing to pay a lot for.

These vintage guitars are said to be worth at least $30,000.

Many collectors consider these mahogany and rosewood acoustic guitars beautiful instruments with their mellow tones and iconic Gibson looks.

These instruments were favorites of musicians such as Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, and are currently valued between $13,000 and $19,000.

Here's another vintage guitar with an interesting history. Gretsch didn't intend to release the White Falcon, but rather intended to make it a showpiece to bring people into their stores.

The plan worked to draw attention and the White Falcon started selling in 1955. Some experts think fewer than 300 of these were produced between 1955 and 1959, making them hard to find and worth a minimum of $29,000 today.

Considered by many collectors to be a revolutionary vintage guitar, the Telecaster was part of Fender's plan to develop the best electric guitars with premium sounds.

Original Telecasters can go from being worth a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000 depending on factors such as history and condition.

Keep in mind that the 1960 Gibson ES-335 has been in continuous production since 1958. That's rare for Gibson guitars. Pay close attention to ones produced between 1958 and 196, as they're pretty valuable.

Vintage guitar fans appreciate the iconic double cutaway, semi-hollow body design of the ES-335, which is notable for producing a pure quality of sound. These guitars may be worth more than $64,000.

Along with the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, the 1962 Fender Stratocaster is often called the best guitar of all time. It's also among the most popular and best-selling guitars in the world.

Fender Strats are known for their iconic sounds. This one has a body made from alder, a neck from maple, and a fretboard from maple or rosewood. Resell prices start around $32,500.

Worth as much as $20,000, the 1960s Martin D-28s are some of the most expensive vintage Martins for sale. They're a popular model in the acoustic guitar world, and famous Martin players include Shawn Mendes and John Mayer.

As for their production, Martin originally made these with Brazilian rosewood. They later featured Indian Rosewood to maintain a more vintage sound.

Gibson released 125 replicas of its iconic black double-necked guitars in 2019. They were originally priced at about $13,300 and signed by iconic electric guitarist Slash.

Resale prices start generally around $12,000.

Gibson partnered with Tony Iommi, guitarist of Black Sabbath, to create this replica of his famous 1964 Special SG.

New versions of these guitars can sell for upwards of $20,000, and used ones can often be resold for that amount—or more.

Some vintage guitars can be worth tens of thousands of dollars, and the right collector might be willing to pay top dollar for yours—turning your instrument into just one way to earn extra money.

Before you post your vintage instrument for sale, be sure to research the value online and see what other comparable instruments are worth to maximize your sale price.