Best Vintage Electric Guitars to Invest In

1959 Gibson Les Paul standard

• Type: Electric
• Style: Six-string
• Supply: 643
• Highest sale: $2 million in 2016

The ‘59 standards regularly sell for six-figures, and Gibson believes that a mint condition version could be worth up to $500,000. The Les Paul was replaced by the Gibson SG in 1961, but its popularity led to a reissue in 1968. 

The stuff legends are made of

You might not notice whether a guitar is made with generic or rare materials, but trained ears can appreciate the difference. The type of wood used in a guitar’s body can impact the tone, resonance, and value.

Korina is from the Limba tree, a relative of mahogany that produces similar tones in a guitar. When Gibson was designing their futuristic 50s models, they chose Korina wood because it wasn’t commonly used at the time. Unfortunately, these cutting-edge designs sold very poorly—fewer than 100 Flying Vs shipped in 1958 and 1959—so they were quickly phased out. The wood itself isn’t rare, but vintage guitars made with Korina wood are, which, as a result, makes them valuable collectibles.