How do I identify my guitar?

Guitar builders affix their guitars with names so people know what they are playing. The most common place to find identification is on the headstock or on a label inside of the guitar, if applicable. If there is nothing on your guitar in question, chances are the original label or logo has fallen off.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on premierguitar.com


Can you look up guitar serial numbers?

You can look up a serial number either in Gruhn's Guide or run the number in the manufacturer's database. The serial number itself will give you date information and the database will have a description of the guitar so you can check the specs of the guitar in question.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on midlifeguitar.com


How do I find out what year my guitar was made?

For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. That letter indicates the decade. The second character will usually be a number. That number indicates the specific year.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on georgesmusic.com


How can I find out how much my guitar is worth?

Check the Blue Book of Guitar Values.

The Blue Book is one of several respected pricing guides that can help you determine the general value of your guitar, depending on its overall condition and playability. You can find the Blue Book online and search it for free at bluebookofguitarvalues.com.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wikihow.com


How old is vintage guitar?

While an antique is defined as an object over 100 years old, there's no strict chronological definition of what makes something vintage. Typically, though, guitars around 30 years old or older fall into that category, and even newer instruments will often be labeled as such by sellers.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on reverb.com


How to check a guitar before buying- Don't make the mistake of not knowing what to look for.



What does the serial number mean on a guitar?

Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp. But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear. With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and location of the largest well-known brands.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on guitarinsite.nl


How do you date a vintage Gibson guitar?

Gibson Serial Numbers, 1977 to present.
  1. All models, 8 digit number impressed in back top of peghead in the following format:
  2. YY (1st and 5th digit) = year DDD (digits 2-4) = day of the year, 001=Jan 1st, 365=Dec 31st. NNN (digits 6-8) = rank of instrument for that day.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on guitarchopshop.com


How can you tell a good quality guitar?

Guitar Test Checklist
  1. Visually inspect the guitar for damage. ...
  2. Test the electronics. ...
  3. Detune, then re-tune the guitar. ...
  4. Play songs you know well. ...
  5. Test the intonation. ...
  6. Check every fret for buzzing. ...
  7. Check the action height. ...
  8. Check for neck warping issues.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on guitargearfinder.com


Do people sell fake guitars?

When buying a Gibson, Fender or any other branded guitar, that is exactly what you should get. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous and dishonest individuals who may try to rip you off by selling a counterfeit guitar posing under a famous brand name.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on blog.richtonemusic.co.uk


Which company guitar is best?

List of the Top Guitar Brands in India
  • Yamaha.
  • Kadence.
  • Ibanez.
  • Epiphone.
  • Fender.
  • Cort.
  • Hertz.
  • Giuson.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cashkaro.com


How do I check my fender serial number?

Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Fender Guitar?
  1. At the top of the neck plate.
  2. On the front or at the back of the headstock.
  3. On the cover plate of the vibrato (on Stratocasters)
  4. On the back of the vibrato cover plate (on early '50s Stratocasters)
  5. At the end of the heel of the neck.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on zinginstruments.com


How do I read my PRS serial number?

The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock. After the prefix of the year, these models have the code number 9, which indicates a set-neck model bass. The following digits are the production order for that year. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on guitarinsite.nl


What is the #1 guitar brand?

1. Gibson. The most famous Gibson guitar is the Les Paul, which has been a mainstay in the music world for decades. The Gibson Les Paul is a high-end, made-in-the-USA instrument, and it comes in a few different variations.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on spinditty.com


What is the best guitar name?

15 of The Best Guitar Brands Around the World
  • Ibanez. Ibanez are a driving force in the guitar world, and produce a vast array of instruments, effects pedals and amplifiers. ...
  • Gibson. ...
  • Gretsch Guitars. ...
  • Trenier Guitars. ...
  • Eastman Guitars. ...
  • Epiphone. ...
  • Heritage. ...
  • D'Angelico.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on jazzfuel.com


What is the most famous guitar brand?

If there is one brand that can fight off Gibson in terms of fame, it' Fender. They've been around for an incredibly long time, and have been played by some of the most famous guitarists of all time, from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on beginnerguitarhq.com


Is it illegal to own a counterfeit guitar?

Conventional interpretation of the law regarding counterfeit guitars suggests that it is not illegal to buy them, but it is illegal to sell them.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on martelmusicstore.com


What is a Chibson guitar?

Chibson is a collective name for any counterfeit Gibson made in the far east, that is actually branding itself as an authentic guitar made by Gibson. The sellers of these guitars have entire digital shopfronts, normally with autogenerated usernames in order to remain fairly anonymous.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on killerguitarrigs.com


What is a replica guitar?

Replicas can literally sound as good or even better in some cases than the original. Counterfeit Guitars are exact copies logo and all of the original, they are not illegal to own in all countries, but it is almost always illegal to sell or transport them…..which puts them in a very grey area.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brokeandtalented.com


Why do older guitars sound better?

Older guitars often sound better than newer ones as they dry out over time which causes them to become harder leading to a more resonant tone with better sustain. The increase in age affects the tone more in acoustic guitars than electric ones.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on prosoundhq.com


What makes a high quality guitar?

High quality guitars are made with better materials and are built with smaller error tolerances, with the action of the guitar aligned optimally to avoid buzzing or any other unwanted sound artifacts. Quality electric guitars have higher quality electronics.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on soundadventurer.com


Do you have to check a guitar?

Guitars as Checked Baggage

You can always check your guitar as a baggage item, but this also puts your instrument at extra risk of damage and theft. Acoustic Guitar Magazine writer Kristina Rose suggests musicians check their guitars in baggage only if they are prepared to lose them.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on traveltips.usatoday.com