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Four decades of classic guitar amp advertising

Old guitar adverts are just so cool.. not only do they show some great old guitars, they demonstrate how and where the manufacturers or distributors were pitching these instruments, and are very much a snapshot of guitar players and the guitar market at that time. Adverts shown here are sorted chronologically - but you can use some of the filters below to narrow down the vintage adverts you are interested in. Only electric guitar adverts are included on this page. See also the advertisements for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, basses, and effects pedals.

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Vintage guitars for sale

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Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Amp Head Vintage Rare Mark II C+ Guitar Tube Amplifier

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Amp Head Vintage Rare Mark II C+ Guitar Tube Amplifier

Nashville, Tennessee, 372**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$17500

Retro Gear Shop is a high-end boutique store located in Nashville, Tennessee
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+
For sale is a rare vintage Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Guitar Tube Amplifier Head #12058. This one just got back from full servicing check-up by Mike B (expert on servicing these amps at Mesa Boogie). It's tested and fully functional. This one has some cool history too it being previously owned by Mark Tremonti, lead guitarist for Creed, who then sold it to Kevin Skaff, lead guitarist for A Day ... more
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1966 Fender Vibrolux Reverb, Modified by Paul Rivera-Owned by Marty Lee Hoenes

1966 Fender Vibrolux Reverb, Modified by Paul Rivera-Owned by Marty Lee Hoenes

Mansfield, Ohio, 449**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$13750

Metronome Music inspects and test all used gear before listing and again before shipping. Photographs are of the product that will ship and accurately represent condition and appearance.
1966 Fender Vibrolux Reverb, Stage 2 Mod by Paul Rivera - Owned by Marty Lee Hoenes of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers
Serial Number: A 07377
Power Transformer (022723): 606636
Output Transformer (022848): 606614
Filter Choke (022707): ... more
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1963 VINTAGE FENDER 2X10 VIBROVERB GUITAR AMP  ORIGINAL .

1963 VINTAGE FENDER 2X10 VIBROVERB GUITAR AMP ORIGINAL .

Huntington Beach, California, 926**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8500

HERE'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AN ORIGINAL 1963 2X10 FENDER VIBROVERB AMP. THE AMP AND ALL IT'S PARTS DATE TO 1963, AS DOES THE BROWN RUBBER HANDLE(AN ORIGINAL, NOT REPRO), CHASSIS STRAPS, TILT BACK LEGS, REVERB TANK, GRILL CLOTH(SALVAGED FROM AN OLD 2X12 CAB), CORNERS FROM A 60'S SUPER REVERB AMP. IT STILL RETAINS ALL ORIGINAL KNOBS AND A VERY CLEAN ORIGINAL FACEPLATE. THE CAB IS FROM MOJO AND LOOKS AND FITS BEAUTIFULLY. IN ADDITION IT HAS AN AMAZING REPRO TUBE CHART WITH CORRECT ... more
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1982 Fender Super Champ Pro Series Wood Cabinet European Version w / Cover

1982 Fender Super Champ Pro Series Wood Cabinet European Version w / Cover

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8295

1982 Fender Super Champ Super Pro Series
Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Purchased From A Longtime Collector Who Owned Many Pristine And Rare Examples Of Various Fender Amplifiers
Some Cosmetic Surface Wear Visible Throughout, Small Joint Separations In Cabinet As Shown
Extremely Rare, 1 Of 50 Made
European Export Model With Switchable Voltage (Currently Set To US 120V)
Upgraded ... more
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1957 Fender 5F10 Harvard 1x10" Combo Amplifier Tweed Pre-CBS w / Cover

1957 Fender 5F10 Harvard 1x10" Combo Amplifier Tweed Pre-CBS w / Cover

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7895

1957 Fender 5F10 Harvard
This Amp Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Excellent Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Original Tweed Covering Shows Light Surface Wear Throughout As Shown
100% Original Example Including 2-Prong AC Cord
Asbestos Insulation Strip Professionally Removed From Back Panel For Safety
10" Alnico Jensen P10R Speaker
10-Watts
Available For Local Pickup In Our Sherman Oaks Shop
Please Note: We Do Not Ship Amps Through This Site, Contact Us ... more
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Vox AC2 1x8" Combo 1961 - Fawn

Vox AC2 1x8" Combo 1961 - Fawn

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6499

Here we have a vintage 1961 Vox AC2 combo guitar amplifier! This features an 8" Goodmans speaker, dual inputs, two piece back, pink control plate, fawn covering and diamond grill cloth. It has volume, speed and on / off / tone controls. The amp is in good condition save for the grill cloth damage on the lower front. It's been converted to 120v and has a Mercury Magnetics power transformer. It has a modern 3 prong power cable as well as a hard-wired footswitch. There is a baffle hanging between ... more
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1954 Fender Deluxe Amplifier 5D3 Wide Panel - Tweed

1954 Fender Deluxe Amplifier 5D3 Wide Panel - Tweed

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6499

Here we have a wonderful vintage 1954 Fender Deluxe 5D3 Amplifier! This wide panel tweed model is in very good overall condition and good working order. It is serial number 3665 and has DL stamped on the tube chart. The speaker code is 220446 and the transformers look original. It has a replaced handle. The tweed covering shows wear at the edges, stains and a couple of small burn marks, but is mostly in good shape. See images for internals. The amp sounds great as you can imagine, classic Fender... more
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1963 Fender Vibrolux 6G11 1x12" Combo Amplifier Brownface Pre-CBS

1963 Fender Vibrolux 6G11 1x12" Combo Amplifier Brownface Pre-CBS

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5895

1963 Fender Vibrolux 6G11 1x12" Combo Amplifier Brownface Pre-CBS
This Amp Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Excellent Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Purchased From A Longtime Collector Who Owned Many Pristine And Rare Examples Of Various Fender Amps
Very Clean Example With Minimal Cosmetic Surface Wear Throughout As Shown
New Filter Caps And Updated 3-Prong AC Cord
Speaker Replaced With Reconed Jensen P12PS Alnico 12" Dating To 1959
Made In Fullerton, CA
... more
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1949 Fender Deluxe Amp Model 5A3 Original

1949 Fender Deluxe Amp Model 5A3 Original

West Sacramento, California, 956**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5750

I have a nice 1949 fender Deluxe Amp Model 5A3 in working condition this amp is very clean looks like all original it was serviced
back in early 2000 the amp has tested works great please check all pictures probably some of the capacitors have replaced i sellit as is no return comes with an extra tube .
... more
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1965 Fender Bassman AA864 45W Tube Head Black w /  2x12" Cabinet + Amp Trolley

1965 Fender Bassman AA864 45W Tube Head Black w / 2x12" Cabinet + Amp Trolley

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5495

1965 Fender Bassman 45W Tube Amplifier Head
This Amp Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Excellent Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Minimal Visible Surface Wear Throughout
Extremely Clean Example
Updated 3-Prong Power Cord Otherwise Original
Made In Fullerton, CA
AA864 Circuit, Production Run #2
With Matching 2x12" Vertically Mounted Cabinet And Rare Fender Amp Trolley
Comes As Shown With Original Cover
Available For Local Pickup In Our Shop
Please ... more
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1962 Fender Bandmaster w /  2x12 Cabinet Blond

1962 Fender Bandmaster w / 2x12 Cabinet Blond

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5495

1962 Fender Bandmaster
In Near Mint Condition (Please See Photos)
Pre-CBS
6G7-A Circuit
Updated 3-Prong Power Cord
With Matching 2x12" Cabinet
... more
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1970 Marshall 1959T Super Tremolo 100 Watt Tube Head

1970 Marshall 1959T Super Tremolo 100 Watt Tube Head

Santa Rosa, California, 954**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

1970 Marshall Super Lead Tremolo 100W - Authentic Plexi Era Tone Machine
The Holy Grail of Rock & Roll Amplification
Step into rock history with this genuine 1970 Marshall Super Lead Tremolo 100W head - a true piece of the legendary Plexi era that defined the sound of classic rock. This amp was built during Marshall's golden period when icons like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend were crafting the sounds that would influence generations of guitarists
Why ... more
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1965 Fender Bandmaster

1965 Fender Bandmaster

Citrus Heights, California, 956**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4800

1965 Fender Bandmaster-Original Owner
Used mostly in, Key Clubs, Nightclubs, and All Nighters It's surprisingly nice and clean.
Two Jensen Speakers-Original6-Tubes- #2-6L6GC, #4-12AX7 (no transistors) This ones got Balls. Two separate Channels with their own inputs. One with Variable Speed VibratoLast time I plugged in, it was ready to go. Just like the old days. You won't find one, as sweet as this, anywhere out there
... more
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1965 Fender Bandmaster AB763 Piggyback Head and Cab Set *Fully Serviced* w /  D131

1965 Fender Bandmaster AB763 Piggyback Head and Cab Set *Fully Serviced* w / D131

Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4600

1965 Fender Bandmaster AB763 Piggyback Head and Cab Set *Fully Serviced* w / TAD Capacitors, JBL D131 Speaker, Original Parts Included
For Sale, we have a true vintage gem: a 1965 Fender Bandmaster amplifier, featuring both the head and cabinet set. This classic piece of gear is a fantastic example of Fender's golden era, delivering that unmistakable vintage tone. The head has undergone a comprehensive full service, ensuring it performs at its best. We replaced the filter, reservoir, and ... more
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1964 Vox AC50 / 4 Mk II Early Big Box, Original trolly, Foundation cab And Cover

1964 Vox AC50 / 4 Mk II Early Big Box, Original trolly, Foundation cab And Cover

Sacramento, California, 958**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4572

For sale is a rare 1964 Vox AC50 / 4 Mk II amplifier in excellent working condition. This vintage piece comes with its original trolly, foundation cab, and cover. It has been well-maintained and has a warm, rich tone that is perfect for any guitar enthusiast. The exact year of production is 1964, and it has been a highly sought-after item for collectors and musicians alike. Whether you are a professional musician or a collector, this amplifier is a must-have addition to your collection

more
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1956 Gretsch 6169 Roundup Amplifier - Completely restored!

1956 Gretsch 6169 Roundup Amplifier - Completely restored!

Ronkonkoma, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

Western finish, Campfire belt buckle, Wrap around grille, Tooled leather trim, Tremolo, original Rola speakers and dual 6V6 Power Tubes. Basically an original roundup with updated cosmetics
This one I had refinished to look like it just rolled off the assembly line in 1956!
It would make the ideal accompaniment for a Roundup guitar. It has that country tone that few amps nail. These amps are extremely rare and rarely hit the market, but to find one that you can appreciate playing and ... more
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1960 Fender Princeton Tweed Amplifier 5F2-A (all Original)

1960 Fender Princeton Tweed Amplifier 5F2-A (all Original)

Powell, Ohio, 430**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

This is a rare find for any music enthusiast. A 1960 Fender Princeton 5F2-A Tweed Amplifier that is 100% fully original and has been well-maintained. I have personally owned this amplifier since 1980. Back in 2014, I had this amplifier professionally inspected and cleaned (tube sockets, jacks and controls) by Abell Audio in Columbus, Ohio which recently closed but for the last 40 years specialized in maintaining equipment like this.

The amp has a classic look and feel, and has been ... more
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1966 Fender Mustang Rode Hard Put Up Wet  Story To Tell Original hard shell case

1966 Fender Mustang Rode Hard Put Up Wet Story To Tell Original hard shell case

Norphlet, Arkansas, 717**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

The 1966 Fender Mustang saw some action back in it's hey day. It was Rode Hard Put Up Wet as they say in the wild west. It is a much sought after vintage guitar that has a unique story to tell. With its classic Fender brand and specific year of 1966, this guitar is likely to hold historical value for collectors and musicians alike. The phrase "rode hard put up wet" adds a sense of nostalgia and character to this vintage piece, making it a sought-after item for those looking to add a piece of ... more
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1970 Marshall Major 200W Head Black

1970 Marshall Major 200W Head Black

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4495

1970 Marshall Major 200W Head
In Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Replacement Logo And Handle Caps
Professionally Recovered With Added Cooling Fan
Some Cosmetic Wear As Shown
Appears Otherwise Original
Dated August 12, 1970
4x 6550 Power Tubes
... more
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1959 Fender Tremolux 5E9 Narrow Panel Tweed Black

1959 Fender Tremolux 5E9 Narrow Panel Tweed Black

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4395

1959 Fender Tremolux 5E9 Narrow Panel Tweed
This Amp Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Professionally Recovered In Black With Replacement Grille Cloth
Replaced Output Transformer
Newer Handle
Upgraded Heavy Duty 3-Prong Power Cord
12" Jensen Reissue Speaker From 2008
Recently Serviced And Fully Functional With Some New Components As Shown
15-Watts
Available For Local Pickup In Our Shop
... more
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1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

1973 Shaftesbury 3400

1973 Shaftesbury 3400 This example of the Shaftesbury 3400 was produced by Japanese manufacturer Matsumoku who made some great quality guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a slightly later example, and has some features not seen on earlier 3400s. Although nice guitars, these are not in the same league as the Gibson Les Paul it was emulating (no set neck, no carved maple top); but they are far better than many of the entry-level Les Paul copies available in the mid-1970s - for example the Shaftesbury 3400 has gold plated hardware, a solid body bound front and back, Maxon brand humbuckers and nice inlaid neck and headstock.

1971 Epiphone 1802T

1971 Epiphone 1802T The Epiphone 1802T was the early name given to the Epiphone ET-270 and derived from an existing Aria guitar, also the 1802T. This was the first of the 1970s Epiphone solid bodies made in Japan by Matsumoku.The model evolved somewhat over its short production run: the very earliest examples were very similar to the Aria, sharing the same body shape, hardware, and clear-coated neck with Fender-style headstock with decal logo. By the time it was designated the Epiphone ET-270 it had been upgraded with the classic Epiphone-style headstock, with nice inlaid logo, and Epiphone 'E' motifs on the truss rod cover and scratchplate. This example from 1971 is somewhere in between with the Epiphone-style headstock, but with silk-screened logo, and no 'E's.

1971 Shaftesbury 3400

1971 Shaftesbury 3400Shaftesbury was a brand distributed by Rose-Morris in the UK - generally imported guitars from Italy or Japan. This guitar, model 3400 was produced by Matsumoku in Japan, and was one of the earliest Les Paul copy guitars, debuting in the UK in 1969, although the same guitar was also sold as the Univox U1982 'Rhythm and Blues' by Merson in the USA as early as 1968. It was also available in different territories under different marques, most obviously the Aria 5522 (Japan), Jedson Jet 4444 (UK, Dallas Arbiter), with no doubt many more examples worldwide.

1981 Gibson Victory MVX

1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogScan of 1970 Epiphone guitar catalogue produced by Rosetti for the UK market. Undated but most likely from mid-late 1970, this was the first UK catalogue to show the new range of Japanese (Matsumoku) Epiphone guitars. Interestingly, these pages show the Epiphone solid bodies with a single-sided Fender-style headstock layout - a feature quickly replaced with a typical two-sided Epiphone headstock almost immediately. Epiphone electric guitars: 9520, 9525; bass guitars: 9521, 9526; acoustic guitars: 6730, 6830, 6834

A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass Rose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner Zambesi This very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super Ace The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New Escort The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin Care Catalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger Folk The Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music