How to Lose Money on Vintage Guitars...Gruhn Guitars in Nashville 

Last time I was in Gruhns playing a nice Taylor, a guy walked up behind me and said "nice guitar". I looked up and it was Vince Gill. Didnt feel like playing anymore.

The more money you spend, the more you stand to lose unless you hang onto the guitar for at least ten years, then the value depends on what the economy is doing. If you love it and can afford it, buy it. Life is short.

I suspect the easiest way to lose money buying vintage guitars is to think you can make money buying vintage guitars.

Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video and also for the tips!

Totally had these experiences! Great video. Been trading guitars for 2 years, finally got to '65 Strat. Keep making content!

You will never lose a dime if you buy a guitar YOU like and can love.. Your guidlines apply to collectors and sellers.. And certainly are spot on! But guitars are like dogs.. You can be happier with a mutt than a pure breed, and even if a German Sheppard has a bent ear or a crooked tail you shouldn't be deterred.. Unless your going to show or breed the dog it shouldn't stop you from owning them. Find what makes you happy when you strum it, wrap your hand around its neck, tune it up.. If it puts a smile on your face and warms your heart then price is only about what you have in your pocket... what is it worth...to YOU.

Great tips. Really love your videos and passion. Thanks!

Thanks for the refresher Jeremy.........most important to note all this stuff for sure.

Very good video Jeremy it is very helpful for a newbie like me. Thanks.

Enjoyed hearing the insight and analysis. Gruhn is also my fav guitar store. None better than George.

Great insights! I agree with all your insights. Especially the pickups in electrics, and neck reset on acoustics. The refinish is also a big deal especially on old elecrric guitars.

I was just there two weeks ago. A MUST!! I totally fell in love with the Veilette Gryphons there.

I'll keep it brief,I like your attitude to guitars and buying stuff.thanks man.

Wow , I am happy to see this awesome video!!! Mojo indeed. Thanks for sharing this as that’s my destiny in strange times !! I love vintage guitars for three decades now and I will continue doing this, I gave up half way due to no capital left and sadly had to close my shop and sell guitars away but got back my capital without profit which I am grateful for. That was 3 years ago. I want to start dealing with guitars again. Hopefully it can help cover some bills. I love choosing and selecting great guitars, it’s the best thing in life. It’s hard financially during this crazy pandemic going on. Only true passion can get us thru hard times. 🙏👍

That 93 D45....beauty man! I’ve done well buying some guitars that need repairs but only because I have a good buddy that’s a Martin certified guy... so he would do me solids... but had that not been the case... there goes the value

Good advice. Especially if you have a bad case of the "I wants"! Vintage Martin guitars hold their value best!

There's some good tips here. I'm never going to retire to guitar trading but to buy, do the repairs myself and sell at an overall (even small) profit would very satisfying.

Man that chord he hit at 5:39 just hit me with a good vibe of inspiration.

Great information! Thank you.

That 1923 Martin is everything I love about guitars---it's been making music for nearly a century. How many things in our lives are still doing their job well after 100 years?

Very informative. Thank you.

Great advice and great video. I appreciate your work 🤘🏼

In Michigan we have Elderly Instruments in Lansing, love the place. Good thing I am a 100 miles away.

Great advice and good info.

Loved the Jason Isbell "cover me up" finish.

Loving your channel and your playing. I have subscribed! I looking for a vintage Martin 0-15 but sadly not in my budget so looking to buy and brand new one here in the U.K. Keep up the good work.

Yeah, one of my local stores almost always knocks about 10% off the price when you just ask them about the guitar, not even asking for a price. I will mention something like "This Streamliner looks cool" and they will say "What's on it?" I will say $549 and they say I can do that one for $500. They have always done that.

Gruhn was already selling cool guitars out of his parent's Morton Grove, IL home when he was 20yrs old.

Rule #101 - if you're buying a vintage guitar from a shop, don't expect to be able to get back the price you paid for a very long time. The more guitars you buy, the lower the chance you'll ever net anything back. Do not buy guitars from a high dollar shop if you cannot afford to lose a significant amount of money on mistakes. Unless you have notoriety of some sort already, expect that you will lose money. Don't expect places even like Gruhn's to be 100% honest to your standard. They are in business, you are a customer. If you are not a customer who spends $10,000 a month there, you are probably not someone they will cater to.

Loved this!!!

Liking the Tyler Childers at the beginning!

Loved the jason Isabel and Tyler Childers songs you played... it’s not about the Quantity of what you know but the quality..

There's no money extra to come off on the low end NON VINTAGE stuff. At least not up here in Canada. The music stores are working on razor margins with new gear, trying to stay alive against the "shop in store, buy online" threat. But with one of a kind vintage gear, some dickering is okay. I prefer to be pretty discrete and mellow with it.

Man that 00-28!

Open with Tyler Childers and close with Jason Isabell very cool man

The finish thing always amazes me. I have seen several vintage guitars that you can just tell by the texture of the lacquer, it was refinished. Somehow, this seems to escape many people though. Due to the increase in vintage prices, that free strap, or $300 neck set don’t mean much anymore. Stuff has went through the roof!

that 23' martin sounds amazing!! i need to learn fingerstyle!

Your big instrument shops don't negotiate. They do so much volume that they just keep the instrument until it sells.

Great info 👍

I want a vintage guitar but it's nerve racking. Thanks for the video and it helped.

This video made me understand the appeal of buying a new guitar better than I ever have before.

I can tell we have similar musical tastes - City and Colour, Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell. Hell yeah!

Loved hearing some Tyler Childers!

Love that gibson, it does country....and western! Twice the fun

Great Video 😎

They must love me in the stores - I only buy for myself to keep forever so sound and playability are the main considerations. Refinish, odd repair etc who cares - not me. Only ever had one disapointment out of 50+ guitars I've bought and that was an acoustic one from a supposed reputable store that had part of an internal main x brace missing. I was unable to return it and the repairs were like an arm and a leg, but the silver lining was the repaired instrument turned out to be one of the best I have.

I lowered the price on a standard D18. From €3000 to €2200 with 2 year guarantee. Only thing I lost was the included adjustments in the coming months. Happy!

Love what you’re doing Jeremy. I’m from Nashville, but I moved to Chicago about 15 years ago. While I was away, George opened up the new place that you just featured, and Walter Carter opened up his place just north of George. My grandfather took me to George’s place in around 1977, and it was still called Gruhn Guitars and the Old Time Picking Parlor. I had the opportunity to buy a black 61 LP Custom with the gold hardware and two PAFs. He wanted around $1,100 if I remember correctly, but granddaddy almost passed out. We didn’t know at the time what “vintage” even meant. I wanted that thing so badly, but instead, he bought me a 76 Standard in all natural for $550 at Mt.Juliet Music. I pawned it for $150 in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1987. It was a nice guitar, but I never got the serial number, so I can’t find it anywhere. I have photos of it, but the shop has no way of tracking it. George has loosened up a bit since Walter opened. It wasn’t always a welcoming experience with George, but when Walter opened, I guess it motivated George to allow customers to have more access to his inventory. I personally like Carters better, but I’m not a broker like yourself. What say ye? CME here in Chicago is very cool facility, but they don’t have the vintage inventory that those guys do. If you really want to make yourself sick, check out Dave’s Guitar Shop in LaCross, Wisconsin. He has the best collection of electrics and amps that I’ve ever seen. Hell, he’s got at least two of everything in excellent condition. Even a consecutive serial number set of the Korina Gibson’s. The Explorer and Flying V. Cheers

I’ve sat on that front foyer bench.

How to lose money on vintage guitars...#1, buy from Gruhn. About 15 years ago a friend had a marvelous 1940 00028 in his shop that belonged to a local woman who toured with it until the early 1960s. Excellent condition and superb tone. I asked how much he thought it would sell for. He said before pricing it, he spoke with George... George Gruhn of course. "George offered me $10,000, so I figure it must be worth at least $20,000. I played the guitar 2 or 3 times per week for about 3 months and then came in one day and it was sold. I asked my friend how much it sold for and he said he had "sold it to my new best friend for $30,000." Like a used car dealer, the profit in used guitars is buying low and selling high.

I would have liked to have seen a lot more of that octave mandolin. I hadn't seen one of those before.

If you're looking to make money buying and selling Gretsch's you'll have to be a very lucky man. Nearly everybody who owns a Gretsch knows guitars. Nobody buys a Falcon on a whim. To get them cheap enough where you can flip them and make a profit is a nightmare, plus the likelihood is that you'll have to wait a while to sell it, not everybodies looking for a Gretsch lol.

I just bought a Martin 00-28 from a seller. It's mint condition, beautiful hard shell case. BUT, when I received it I discovered that during the shipping process, some bone-head dropped it, or knocked it into a brick building, causing a gouge in the underside of the case. Jeremy, tell your viewers to be careful of suspect shipping companies.

Nice video.

Good stuff!

Yup- it’s subjective and lots of factors to consider. I’m not an expert, but simple things like playing the same note on different frets/strings that are out of tune, soundboard hairline cracks below the bridge plate, humps where the neck is glued to the body, and string action/height that doesn’t feel right could be red flags. Have played more older Gibsons that don’t don’t feel right- especially the fret heights and intonation. Older Martins without neck truss rods are bound to have playability and fret issues. A guitar tech friend of mine said he’d rather get a new high end Martin vs an old one. Adjustments/corrections for vintage can be too costly in his mind. Unless you’ve found a vintage one that’s been sleeping in its case under a bed or in a closet, buyer beware. But like others have posted, if you love the guitar, or it’s hard to find, and repairs costs aren’t an issue then go for it!!!

Two words you dont ever wanna hear...neck reset, this is all great advice...it is so intimidating trying to make the right choice , having made bad ones in the past ...good advice, thanks

I went to Nashville on my honeymoon in 87 and took my wife to Gruhn. I was looking for an archtop at the time. They had plenty and kept bringing things out of the back room for me to try. My wife was like, ooo I like that one, buy it, bless her. I walked out empty handed not dropping a few grand on an impulse purchase with support. Eventually found a new L4CES not long after that and still have it. Had to trade my Gibson ES 347 for it 😪

I’m old enough to remember being able to pick up old Gibson Country Westerns’ & 1950s J-45s for $600-$800 -Gibson LGs for $400-$600-and old Martin 0,00 ---but old 1950s 000’s & D-18’s went for bit more--$1000-$1500. Sure Wish I was able to keep em. Raising Kids/Family took priority 🇺🇸-so I purchased a bunch very old tone woods back in 86’ and started crafting my own-they play and sound better. - but I still love them old Gibsons🇺🇸

A while back I saw an Aluminum acoustic guitar at Carter’s guitars in Nashville that was also 6000.00 but, It Sounded Totally Amazing….I don’t remember the brand but if I would have had the money, there would not have been Any hesitation on a purchase….sounded even better than the one your playing..honest..

Have you ever seen a one owner 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman with the f-holes cut out and bound and painted with the orange/red glow paint from the factory ? My parents bought this guitar for me in 1959 from a Gretsch Distributor named Ralph Jones in rockville Md , who went on to found 'Micro-fret guitars in thr early 70's. I've tried ti find out what its worth, but I feel that the 2 people I've talked to are low-balling me big time. Thank you

I have three Yamaha guitars two red labels fg110 fg140 and a green label fg160 . All made in Japan Sold a Martin d 28 . preferred the sound of the Japanese guitars .

I promise you, we must be kindred spirits...the more videos I watch, the more I find that theres really someone out there (other than Vince Gill lol) that has a heart for the instruments, the sound, just everything about guitars as I do. I look forward to each & every video you make from now on. It's very inspiring to me to know I'm not alone in this world of music. God bless brother

The shot of the Les Paul Custom suspended by its tuning pegs spinning around in that display case made me anxious.

i have a yamaha pacifica that rocks!

Thanks

An awesome cool video. I will soon be 61 years young. I have been buying and selling and trading with guitars since I was a young boy. ( mind you I said young Boy, not man.) I was very lucky. I had an awesome tutor. An old man owned a music store. Really taught me a lot. I have never lost money on a guitar. A few times I paid a little to much. But I always resold or traded it as to where I could make a profit. I found a New Martin D45 for my brother a few years ago. He paid six thousand dollars for it. I bought a New D35 for fourteen hundred dollars. That included sales tax. When looking for a certain guitar. Price it at the wholesale and retail prices. Rember cash is king. Then you start jewing down. Another tip is to shop when the money is tight for everyone. Some small music stores will sell at rock bottom prices. Like one guy told me. Martin & Gibson won't pay my bills. I have to do what I need to do. There are many many ways to save and get prices down. It just depends on the person you are dealing with at the time. Good luck guys.

Fine video with some good information for me to learn. Sadly, it will not be much help to me. I always lose money on vintage guitars, because once bought, I never sell them!!

Rule #1. Just because it's OLD does't mean it's GOOD.

Freight train freight train ah i love that song

By talking to a very experienced guitar maker and repairer, I have learned that with certain high level makers and their long-lived models, there are some years where for various reasons- changes in manufacturing technique etc the instruments are not so good. Obviously, how an instrument has been treated is crucial but it seems to me that a bargain vintage instrument may not be quite such a bargain if it is not as good as those from other years. If you are paying thousands, you might just end up paying over the odds if you do not know enough about that particular model of guitar well enough to really know the appropriate market price.

Thanks for the Tyler Childers song at the beginning

I’m sure I overpaid for mine.. but I love it!

opens with feathered indian of Tyler Childers....Hi Jeremy. Gruhns rocks...indeed. George is THE MAN...

This should be recreation. Fun coast money. How much do you want to have.

i gots one... Go back to '76 a shop has a consignment Tele. fall thru its holder. Crashed to the floor. Owner let me slide. Had a "75 Strat and later traded this for a POS LPC copy and $40.00. I was courting. same shop.

I have some very nice guitars that I have hard won over the years. Not USA but Japanese higher end models, that in my opinion (if you know what to look for) can rival some of best. Don't be fooled by brands. Do your research and find a gem!

I owned a few guitars in the past but I stopped playing and recording seriously so I kept good acoustic another everyday leave on a stand acoustic and my first ever les Paul custom and my strat. Sold a few let my kids pick one each. Because I'm not a collector I believe that a beautiful instrument should be played and is as good as dead locked in it's case like a coffin. You won't lose money on a guitar if it is quality and in good shape because anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. A loss is not defined just as the price you sell for being more than you paid if you buy just for that reason you've lost already. When selling one of my guitars I had two buyers who wanted the instrument, one of which was willing to pay my asking price the other was struggling to get their when I saw the joy the guy was getting trying out the guitar I asked him what he could honestly afford and for the sake of 150pounds it went with him to be loved and hopefully Inspire it's new owner to do something special one day! how could I loose?

What strings were on that Gibson Country Western

Hi from Chile :D

OMG That 1993 Martin D-45 is SO sweet ... I can't believe you didn't buy that ...

There was a time when a secondhand guitar was exactly that - a secondhand guitar, no matter if it was a Gibson, Martin, or whatever. Before the internet, there were bargains to be had, but that's not so easy anymore. In the early 1980s, I bought a 1936 Martin 000-18 from a dealer for £200 Sterling. Adjusted for inflation, that would be just over £800 now (August 2023). I don't know the current value of one of these, but it'll be a lot more!

6k. throw in a second guitar?

Would have liked to see those Stratocaster prices

I'm not sure how one could "lose" money on the purchase of life long dream guitar if one plans on keeping the guitar for the remainder of their life. I understand how paying too much would limit one's ability to buy other "stuff" but one should make sure not to miss out on that dream. I played a J-45 at a shop in Greenwich Village in 2001 and some dude was standing behind me and listening, "...that sounds pretty good." he said. "Thanks," I replied. The guitar shop clerk said to me, "do you know who that was? That was Keith Richards. He lives in an apartment just above us." I thought the clerk was trying to trick me into becoming star stuck and buying that J-45. So, I gave the guitar back to him and walked out. Turns out it was Keith and I haven't played a better J-45 since. Still looking for one that's even half as good as that guitar. Keith was right and I should have bought it when I had the chance.

George Gruhn is a living legend and if you buy a guitar from his store you can expect to pay extra because of the fact that he is so revered. Just my opinion.

Hi Jeremy,I have a chance to get a Carbon Jumbo.It's a Cobalt 980 t,Fishmann pickup and tuner.For $300 ,is that a good price for this one.?I've seen'em on reverb from $700 down to $425 but that one was sold 4 yrs.ago.Thanks for all the good videos.👍😎🎸✌

why haven't I heard of Gruhn Guitars ? I went to carters while I was there.

The Mandolin is Bayard, excellent builder Fayetteville Arkansas.

Lookin for Guild 1960s-70s F30. I have 60s Guild D40. Could trade, any availability? I’m in Lexington Ky, I can drive up. Let me know.

Jeremy, Listening to you I just thought you are exactly someone who can answer my question. What exactly is going on in North Ameican Acoustic guitar manufacturing. With a lot of research, the following is my conclusion: The hand built and expensive ones like Collings and Bourgeois are in full production but less in demand. The cheap, popular guitars like the Mexican Martins are in big demand and difficult to get. What is your opinion? Are prices set to increase?

Two years ago my wife & I flew to England for Spring Break, and I visited an cool old vintage guitar shop in Bath, and there I spoke with a cool old guy who told me a bit of advice that has stuck with me, he said (in his cool British accent) "If you want to make a small fortune in vintage guitars, start with a large one!" And then last year for Spring Break we went to Nashville, and I checked out Gruhn's for the first time! It was super cool to be in there but it also felt like a museum ...there's just no way I'm ever gonna spend $1000 for any guitar...and $1000's on the low end! But also like a museum, it was a great opportunity to be surrounded with history and be able to FEEL it in your hands. I didn't actually sit down and play anything seriously though, because of something you touched on, Jeremy, at the end of the video...I felt quite a bit intimidated , EVERYONE in there was a better player than me! It shouldn't be a competition, but I just felt awkward and out of my element...but I did buy a t-shirt and a pick!

I found that very few so called Luthiers can perform a neck re-set especially on valuable vintage guitar . Doing a set up and putting on new strings is not in the same world as having a neck removed and reset . It's a make or break operation usually ( $1000.00 )

Remember: you are buying retail and if you want to sell, you are selling wholesale. There is a very big spread on vintage guitars. If you buy private and sell private, you might be able to whittle it down, but then you are taking the risk of things going wrong if the guitar is not as described. Only buy a guitar if you want to keep it, play it & treasure it. If you want to make money, look at real investments (stocks, real estate, etc.). Guitars are not investments. (And I have a large collection built up over 40 years so I know what I'm talking about.)

Was that some Tyler Childers at the beginning??

bought a 1986 Lowden and got caught up in its beauty. £3000 pounds. needed a full refret and now needs a neck reset. Be careful guys!

Blue grass GOSPEL showcase in nashville 1st fri in November

Jeremy I have a 2005 Martin D 35 what would be a good asking price for it ?

Could I send you a picture of a Martin OM 28 I just purchased? I’d like your opinion on the headstock.

Something to help a young guitar player is early on is to start learning how to set up your own guitars and basic soldering and so on. It’ll pay off in spades later as you get better and better at it. Also start doing some basic woodworking and little by little grow your knowledge and start buying supplies and tools as you go, which increases your arsenal as you go and in a few years you’ll be doing your own neck resets and your labor costs will only be your time versus paying some luthier who may be great or not so great a huge premium to fix up an instrument you probably should’ve learned to do your self. Go to every goodwill, pawn shop, restore, and garage sale in your area hunting down every cheapo electric and acoustic guitar you can find and PRACTICE your techniques. You bought it for $20 and put $20 in upgrades and sell it for $100 and Uncle Sam is none the wiser as well. It’ll pay off for you later no matter if your going into selling vintage instruments or it’s just for your own knowledge because you won’t be paying a huge premium to someone else for work you can easily do yourself