Lay a straightedge down the fretboard and see where it lands on the bridge. If it sits flush on top of the bridge, the neck angle is fine. If it dips into the front face of the bridge, the guitar is due for a neck reset. Here is the whole test, what causes the problem, what the repair costs, and what it means for the value of a vintage Martin, Gibson, or Guild.
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A real Klon Centaur is a hand-built pedal with a hand-written serial number, a sand-cast enclosure, and a lump of black epoxy hiding the clipping section. Here is what makes it sound the way it does, how to tell a genuine one from the fakes now flooding the market, what it is worth in 2026, and how the modern clones actually stack up. Shown on a gold Centaur here in the shop.
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Joe's Vintage Guitars now has a Midwest home. Cardinal Vintage Guitars is our sister shop serving Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, and Indianapolis, with the same honest appraisals and prompt payment Joe's is known for. Here is what it is, what it buys, and when to call which shop.
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A real 1960s Fender custom color can be worth several times what the same guitar brings in sunburst, which is exactly why so many refinished guitars are wearing one today. This guide covers everything we check when a custom color Fender comes through the shop: the color charts, the undercoats (white, silver, gold, and Desert Sand), nail holes, paint stick shadows in the neck pocket, what belongs under the pickguard, matching headstocks, how each color ages, blacklight testing, the classic refinish tells, and the soldering iron mark that gives away a factory refinish.
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A 5% selling fee can quietly become 12% by the time you get paid. Here is what every major online platform actually costs vintage guitar sellers in 2026, four platforms compared side by side.
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If you've built your collection over decades, or just inherited one you don't know how to value, selling a large guitar collection is a real job, not a weekend project. This guide covers every selling avenue honestly: Reverb, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, local dealers, consignment, auction houses, and more. We've handled collections of 700+ instruments and help with every step, including identification, documentation, and organization. Read the full breakdown, then decide what's right for you.
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Is a brass nut a sustain upgrade or a vintage value killer? We go through the history of this 70s and 80s trend, from the physics of “metal-on-metal” tone to factory-original Gretsch models, and explain why your choice of nut material could cost you thousands in resale value.
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Ready to sell your vintage guitar? Avoid mistakes, get top price, and ensure a smooth, safe transaction.
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How accurate are the Vintage Guitar Price Guide and Blue Book of Guitar Values? Joe’s Vintage Guitars weighs in!
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Have a vintage guitar to sell or a question? I’m here to help.
