Send Me Photos
Take clear photos of the front, back, headstock, serial number and case. Please don't clean or repair the guitar first.
Vintage Gibson Specialist
Sell Your Vintage Gibson to a Buyer Who Knows What It Is
Vintage guitars have been at the center of my life for more than twelve years. I love learning where an old Gibson has been, who played it and the stories that stayed with it. Whether it's a Les Paul, an SG, an ES-335 or an old flat-top, send me a few photos and tell me what you know. I'll look it over myself and, if it's a guitar I can buy, make you a cash offer with no obligation.
Read Guitar StoriesInsured Nationwide ShippingNo ObligationDeal Directly With Joe
12+Years Buying Full-Time
10,000+Instruments Appraised
50States Bought From
2,100+Positive Reviews
Talk With Me
Tell Me About Your Gibson
You don't need to know the model, year or value. Send me whatever photos you have and tell me anything you know about the guitar. I'll look it over myself and get back to you.
If you'd like to know the ideal photos to send, read the six-photo guide.
Call or Text (602) 900-6635How It Works
Selling Your Gibson Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
You'll deal with me from the first message through payment. Here's what I need to get started.
I'll Look It Over
I'll identify the guitar and check the details that affect its value. There's no charge for the appraisal.
I'll Make an Offer
If it's a guitar I can buy, I'll make you a cash offer. You're free to accept it or turn it down.
Agree On Shipping And Payment
If you decide to sell, we'll agree on the shipping and payment method before the guitar moves.
Nationwide Shipping
A Simple, Proven Way to Ship Your Vintage Gibson
Sellers across the country have trusted me with valuable and sentimental guitars. I explain the prepaid FedEx process with the offer so you can consider the shipping arrangements before deciding.
We agree on the shipping and payment details before the guitar moves, and I stay available throughout the process.
There's no shipping cost to you. Through my special FedEx account, the box, professional packing, fully insured shipping and tracking are all provided at the FedEx location.
What You Receive With the Offer
- A clear explanation of the process
- Shipping and insurance details
- Your choice of payment method
What I Handle if You Decide to Sell
- Prepaid shipping arrangements
- Transit coverage and tracking
- Same-day payment in most cases
From Sellers Who Used the Process
Read What Sellers Said
These comments come from people who shipped guitars to me. Each one links to the original Google review.
★★★★★
“The entire process of selling and shipping was flawless, simple and time saving.”Jessica HammondRead the Google Review★★★★★
“The shipping process following was very straightforward.”Larry HattierRead the Google Review★★★★★
“I was paid even before I left the FedEx parking lot.”Randy AbercrombieRead the Google Review
What Goes Into My Offer
How Much Will You Pay for My Vintage Gibson?
My offers are among the highest you'll get from a dealer, but they'll sit a little below full retail because I take on the work and risk of reselling the guitar. Model and year, original parts, finish and color, condition and repairs, the case and paperwork, and ownership history all help determine what I can pay.
Send me a few photos and I'll tell you what I can pay. If you'd rather research first, the guides below will help you understand the details I look at.
Looking for an appraisal instead?Visit the Free Appraisal PageModel and Year
A 1959 or 1960 Les Paul Standard starts in a different place than a later guitar, just as an early dot-neck ES-335 does.
Original Parts
Pickups, electronics and hardware matter. My PAF and Patent Number pickup guide explains one of the details I check.
Compare Gibson pickupsFinish and Color
An original custom color on a Firebird or SG can matter, as can original banjo tuners and other model-specific details.
Condition and Repairs
Wear is expected. A headstock crack or full refinish usually takes 40 to 50 percent off a clean original example, but it doesn't rule out a sale.
Case and Paperwork
An original Lifton case, tags, receipts, replaced parts and repair records should stay with the guitar.
Ownership History
Family photos and a clear history can add to my offer. Sylvia's ES-335 shows what that kind of record can preserve.
Read Sylvia's ES-335 storyFor more detail, use my vintage Les Paul market value guide, read how the year affects vintage Gibson value or review Gibson production totals.
What To Send
Six Photos That Help Me Make An Accurate Offer
Clear, straight-on photos help me evaluate your Gibson and determine what I can pay. Use natural light, and don't remove pickups, open the electronics or take anything apart.
- 01Full FrontInclude the entire body and headstock.
- 02Full BackShow the neck, body and any wear or repairs.
- 03Headstock FrontKeep the logo, tuners and truss-rod cover in view.
- 04Headstock BackPhotograph the serial number and factory stamps clearly.
- 05Bridge and ControlsShow the pickups, knobs, bridge and tailpiece.
- 06Case and PaperworkInclude tags, receipts, old parts and family photos.
Guitars I've Bought
Original Owners and the Stories Behind Their Gibsons
These Gibsons arrived with the names, photographs and memories of the people who played them. I preserve those stories so they can travel with the instruments.
Original-owner family, California
A California Session Musician's 1954 Gibson L-5C
His daughter preserved the guitar, the family history and the story of the musician who first owned it.
Read the Complete Story
One owner, Marin County, California
Dennis Hiatt's One-Owner 1983 Gibson Les Paul Custom
A guitar preserved for more than four decades, with a story reaching back to the Baltimore Steam Packet and Capitol Records.
Read the Complete Story
Documented rockabilly history
Bob Denton's 1955 Gibson J-200
A natural-finish J-200 attributed to the singer and guitarist who helped Eddie Cochran get his professional start.
Read the Complete Story
One family, sixty-seven years
One Family From New: A 1959 Gibson ES-355
The original owner's son shared the guitar after it had passed from father to son and been played for decades.
Read the Complete Story
One owner, Connecticut
The One-Owner 1966 Gibson ES-345 Kept in Connecticut
Its owner played it in local rock bands during the late 1960s, then kept it for nearly sixty years.
Read the Complete Story
Original receipt and family photographs
Sylvia's One-Owner 1959 Gibson ES-335
Sylvia's daughter kept the receipt, photographs and handwritten memories that connected the guitar to her mother's life in music.
Read the Complete StoryOriginal Owners and Families on Video
Watch the Stories Behind the Guitars
These short videos feature original owners, their families and the histories they shared when the guitars came to me.
Edward's 1962 Gibson ES-335
Edward and his wife were both musicians. She was friends with Roy Clark and could really play. Edward sang and played guitar. Their daughter brought me his 1962 Gibson ES-335 and shared some great stories about her parents.
The Cowboy Preacher's 1919 Gibson L-3
This 1919 Gibson L-3 belonged to Homer and his wife, who traveled across the country as preachers. Homer took ranching jobs wherever they went and became known as the cowboy preacher. The guitar traveled right along with them.
A One-Owner 1966 Gibson ES-345
I bought this 1966 Gibson ES-345 from its original owner in Greenwich, Connecticut. It stayed with the same person for nearly sixty years before coming to me.
Meet the Buyer
I'm Joe Dampt
I buy vintage Gibson electrics, acoustics, archtops and basses from owners in all 50 states. My offers are higher than a typical trade-in or local music-store offer, and every appraisal and cash offer is free with no obligation. When an in-person meeting makes sense, I can inspect the guitar and buy it on the spot.
I've spent more than twelve years buying vintage guitars full-time and have appraised more than 10,000 instruments. I own Joe's Vintage Guitars in Mesa, Arizona, where I meet sellers by appointment. I can meet many owners in the Phoenix area, and sellers elsewhere can use my prepaid FedEx process.
I pay attention to the things that separate one Gibson from another: the finish, pickups, electronics, hardware, repairs and the story that came with it. If I can buy your guitar, I'll explain what I see and make you an offer.
Published by Vintage Verified
Learn More About JoeVintage Verified is an independent Nashville lab that analyzes the finishes, plastics and hardware on vintage guitars without buying, selling or valuing them. I enjoyed contributing a guest essay about the authentication lessons I've learned from years of handling vintage instruments.
Read My Vintage Verified Essay
Provenance Matters
Original Photos And Stories Can Add To My Offer
When a Gibson comes with original-owner photographs, receipts or a well-documented family story, I put real value on that history. Meaningful provenance can increase what I'm willing to pay because the people and stories behind vintage guitars matter to me.
I keep those materials with the guitar. I often print the owner's story and place it inside the case so the next owner knows who played it before them.
If you inherited a Gibson, don't worry if you don't know its model or year. Keep the case, old parts, receipts and photographs together, then send me everything you have. I'll consider those details when making my offer.
Read the One-Owner Byrdland StoryFor Sellers Who Want To Learn More
Learn More About Your Gibson Before You Sell
You don't have to research your guitar before contacting me. That's what I'm here to help with. Send me what you know, and I'll work through the details myself.
If you'd like to learn more before deciding whether to sell, these Gibson resources explain how serial numbers, parts, production totals and model years fit together. I enjoy working with sellers who've done some research because it makes it easier to talk through the guitar, explain my offer and make sure we're on the same page.
Gibson Models I Buy
Vintage Gibson Guitars I Buy
I buy vintage Gibson solid-body, thinline, acoustic and archtop guitars from owners across the country. The cards below show the eras and models I'm looking for. If you don't see your Gibson listed, send it anyway. I also buy unusual models, mandolins, complete guitar collections and guitars with old repairs or changed parts.
Tell Me About Your Gibson
1950s To Early 1960sVintage Gibson Les Paul
I'm most interested in 1950s Goldtops, Bursts and Customs, plus clean Juniors and Specials.
Read the Les Paul family guide
1961 Through The 1960sVintage Gibson SG Models
I buy early SG Standards, Customs, Specials and Juniors, including guitars with original Vibrolas and custom colors.
Read the SG family guide
1963 Through The 1970sGibson Firebird I, III, V and VII
I buy reverse and non-reverse Firebirds, and I pay close attention to original banjo tuners, hardware and custom colors.
Read the Firebird guide
1958 Through The 1960sGibson ES-335, ES-345 and ES-355
I'm especially interested in early dot-neck ES-335s, stereo Varitone ES-345s and gold-hardware ES-355s.
Compare the three ES models
1940s Through The 1960sHollow-Body Gibson ES Models
I buy hollow ES models including the ES-5, ES-125, ES-175 and ES-225 in original or well-preserved condition.
Start with the ES-175 guide
1930s Through The 1960sVintage Gibson Acoustics
I buy J-45s, J-200s, Hummingbirds and LG models, including guitars that have stayed in one family.
Start with the J-200 guide
1930s Through The 1960sGibson L-5 Archtops
I buy carved-top L-5, L-5C and L-5CES guitars with acoustic or electric configurations.
Read the L-5 guide
1930s Through The 1960sGibson Super 400
I buy acoustic and electric Super 400 models, including original custom finishes and well-documented examples.
Read the Super 400 guide
1955 Through The 1960sGibson Byrdland
I buy Venetian and Florentine-cutaway Byrdlands, especially examples with original parts and owner history.
Read the Byrdland guide
1958, 1959, 1966 To 1971Gibson Flying V
I buy original 1958 and 1959 Flying Vs, the second version made from 1966 to 1970 and 1971 Medallion models.
Read the Flying V Medallion guide
1950s Through The 1970sVintage Gibson Basses
I buy vintage Gibson basses including the EB-0, EB-3, Thunderbird and Triumph, even when there isn't a model guide for the instrument yet.
Tell me about your Gibson bass
Reviews From Sellers
What People Say After Selling Me a Guitar
These reviews are from people who sold guitars to me. Click any one to read the original review on Google.
★★★★★
“I sold my guitar to Joe's Vintage Guitars without any of the hassles that one goes through when listing on eBay.”miles2928Sold a Gibson Les Paul DeluxeRead the Google Review★★★★★
“Joe showed a true interest in the old bass and gave me what I thought was a very generous offer.”Randy AbercrombieSold a vintage Gibson bassRead the Google Review★★★★★
“The entire process of selling and shipping was flawless, simple and time saving.”Jessica HammondCompared several offers before sellingRead the Google Review★★★★★
“I wanted it to bring satisfaction and joy to someone who would treasure it as much as I had.”Caleb KingSold a treasured vintage guitarRead the Google Review★★★★★
“Joe made the process simple to understand, gave me a very fair offer immediately and paid me the same day.”Larry HattierSold a loved vintage guitarRead the Google Review★★★★★
“He offered me an excellent price, helped me through the process and the money was in my account within minutes.”Bobbie Jo Kelly GreeneSold three inherited vintage guitarsRead the Google Review
Questions Gibson Owners Ask Me
Before You Sell a Vintage Gibson
You don't need to identify or clean the guitar before contacting me. Send what you know, and I'll help with the rest.
Should I Clean or Repair It First?
No. Please leave the guitar as you found it. Cleaning, polishing or repairing it can remove clues I use to judge originality, and modern polishes can react with old nitrocellulose finishes.
How Can I Tell How Old My Gibson Is?
Start with the serial number on the back of the headstock, inside the body or on the label. Gibson reused some number patterns, so I also compare the logo, construction, finish, hardware and electronics.
Do You Buy Guitars With Headstock Repairs or Refinishes?
Yes. A headstock crack or full refinish usually takes 40 to 50 percent off a clean original example, but it doesn't automatically rule out a purchase. Show the area clearly in your photos and tell me anything you know about the work.
Does the Original Case Increase the Value?
It can. An original case, hang tags, receipts, replaced parts and repair records may add value or help document the guitar. Keep everything together and include it in your photographs.
What Information Should I Send?
Send clear photographs of the full front and back, both sides of the headstock, the serial number, pickups, controls, bridge, case and any damage or repairs. Add the model and history if you know them.
Do You Buy Inherited and Estate Guitars?
Yes. Many people contact me about a Gibson they inherited. You don't need to identify it first. Please keep any old photographs, paperwork, cases and spare parts with the guitar.
Can You Appraise a Gibson From Photographs?
Clear photographs usually give me enough information for an initial appraisal and, when the details are clear, a purchase offer. I may ask for a few close-ups before giving you a final answer.
How Does Shipping Work if I Sell My Gibson to You?
I explain the full process with the offer. Through my special FedEx account, the box, professional packing, fully insured shipping and tracking are provided at the FedEx location at no cost to you.
How And How Fast Do I Get Paid?
Payment is usually completed the same day. I can pay cash when we meet in person, and shipped-guitar payment options include money order, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Zelle and bank transfer.
Do You Buy In Arizona And Nationwide?
Yes. Joe's Vintage Guitars is in Mesa, Arizona, where I meet sellers by appointment. I can meet many owners in the Phoenix area, and I buy vintage Gibsons nationwide from sellers in all 50 states using my prepaid FedEx process.
Do You Buy Gibson Basses, Mandolins and Acoustics?
Yes. I buy vintage Gibson electric guitars, acoustic guitars, archtops, basses and mandolins, including unusual models and instruments with old repairs or changed parts.
Do I Have to Accept the Offer?
No. The appraisal and offer are free, and there's no obligation to sell. You can consider the offer and shipping details together before deciding.
Ready To Sell?
Ready To Sell Your Gibson?
Send a few photos for a same-day appraisal and a no-obligation cash offer from Joe.
Talk With
Joe Today
Have a vintage guitar to sell or a question? I’m here to help.