The pre-CBS golden era. Rosewood-fingerboard Stratocasters and "slab board" Telecasters from this period are considered peak Fender quality. Pre-CBS Fenders (before January 1965) command the highest vintage prices.
Decode Fender serial numbers →A Kalamazoo-made Epiphone — essentially a Gibson guitar with a different headstock, built side by side on the same production line. John Lennon famously played a Kalamazoo-made Casino. These are highly collectible.
Decode Epiphone serial numbers →A Brooklyn-era Gretsch from the golden age. The 6120, White Falcon, and Country Gentleman were all born here. Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, and Chet Atkins were all playing Gretsch. These are the most valuable and collectible Gretsch instruments.
Decode Gretsch serial numbers →Features the original "Toaster Top" pickup, designed by F.C. Hall in 1957 and named for its resemblance to a chrome toaster. This single-coil pickup defined the British Invasion jangle tone and remains one of the most sought-after vintage pickups.
Decode Rickenbacker serial numbers →The Beatles era. John Lennon bought a 325 in Hamburg in 1960. In February 1964, F.C. Hall personally gave George Harrison a 360/12 — only the second electric 12-string Rickenbacker had ever built. Harrison's use on "A Hard Day's Night" defined the jangly sound of the 1960s.
Decode Rickenbacker serial numbers →A Hoboken-era Guild, built in the old Neumann Leathers building on Newark Street. Key luthiers "The Three Amigos" — Gilbert Diaz, Carlo Greco, and Fred Augusto — shaped Guild's sound for over 25 years. These are rare and highly prized.
Decode Guild serial numbers →Among the earliest Takamines. The company was founded after Typhoon Vera devastated the region and relocated to Sakashita, renaming itself after nearby Mount Takamine in 1962.
Decode Takamine serial numbers →Is your guitar from 1963?
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