Over 30 years of appraising vintage guitars!
Bill and Sean with Vintage Guitar Appraisers have been in the industry for 30+ years, appraising and buying vintage guitars near and far. Oftentimes, vintage guitar owners need evaluations for an estate, inheritance, or just personal knowledge. It’s important to see a professional appraiser for this as guitar appraisals are quite unique, in that none of them are based on exactly the same information. No two guitars are in the exact same condition, and any number of changes can alter the value of the guitar greatly. More about our appraisal system can be found here. At Vintage Guitar Appraisers, we make it a point to separate the appraisal and selling processes. Sean is the main man for appraisals, while Bill is your go-to if you want to sell your vintage guitar.
About the Appraisers
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In 1990, I saw Eric Clapton and decided that I wanted to learn to play. My brother Dwight, who is 14 years older than me, was a player already. He already had vintage guitars in the house, which were inspiring. I immediately noticed the difference between tube amps and vintage guitars compared to modern equipment.
As a diamond dealer and watch collector, I traveled a lot and had friends in the pawnshop industry. I would literally touch every guitar on the racks to see the difference they had in feel and tone. Without modern technology, I would hunt for the prize. Once I found something I thought was great I would find a payphone and call a friend for insight and advice. I will never forget the first thing I learned which was simply the smell of a vintage guitar in an old case. During this time period, I consumed every book I could just to gain more knowledge on vintage guitars.
Fast forward to 2022, my collection of vintage guitars is comprehensive focusing on Fenders and Gibsons. Today, I am ecstatic to own every year Fender Stratocaster from 1954-1971. To me, this is the golden era of Stratocasters. The quality from that time period is extraordinary.
Bill and I get calls from all over the world confirming guitar legitimacy. With our combined knowledge and experience, we're able to offer a better appraisal system by providing two sets of expert eyes and opinions. During our thorough inspections, we catch details between the two of us that could easily go unnoticed by a single person. I am confident in our ability to help you either evaluate your guitar for insurance purposes or help find the perfect buyer for your piece. The best part for us is that we are excited to give you more knowledge on your piece!
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I have always had a thing for guitars. I had my first guitar, a kiddy-sized Roy Rogers cowboy guitar, when I was three years old. That must be the moment I was hooked. In 1966, I started my first band with my best friends from school, and we are still playing today.
The 50s and 60s were great. It was the golden age of American music and the electric guitars that fueled it. I was fortunate enough to grow up in that era and experience everything it had to offer—it was wonderful! When it comes to electric guitars, there is nothing quite like an American-made electric guitar from the 1950s and 60s. They are the only guitars I have played, long before they were vintage or valuable.
My career began with playing guitar, which led me to selling vintage guitars and finally opening a music store. I closed my music store in the late 1990s to sell vintage guitars and parts on Ebay as “Trade It In Music,” and I currently sell on Reverb as “Bill’s Vintage Guitars.” I have earned a solid reputation on both sites as a trusted top seller!
For over 40 years, I have exclusively bought and sold thousands of amazing vintage guitars and parts to collectors, dealers, touring professional players, and celebrities all over the world. I am an established, reputable, and trusted dealer as I’ve been trading at vintage guitar shows across the country since the late 1980s. I have sold thousands of vintage guitars/parts and have earned my reputation as an expert in Fender Telecasters, Stratocasters, and Gibson LesPauls from the 1950s and 1960s. I look forward to seeing and selling your vintage guitar!
