Vintage & Used Instruments

The John and Rudy Dopyera Collection We are very proud to offer for sale the combined collection of John and Rudy Dopyera. Few instrument makers represent the American Dream quite as completely as these two inventors, innovators, marketers, and all-around creative force behind both the National and Dobro companies.

The BEST of the BEST Visit the Elderly Web-Vault, where you'll find the finest in highly collectible, exceedingly rare instruments.

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See the list of abbreviations we use in our descriptions.

Featured Items: GIBSON MASTERTONE - FLATHEAD 5-STRING BANJOS OF THE 1930's AND 1940's by Jim Mills New! Features 19 of the 130 or so Original Flathead Five-String Mastertones known to exist. The Scruggs, Reno, Jenkins, Crowe, Osborne, Huber and Mills banjos are shown in all their glory, with details of their known histories and provenances, as well as never-before-seen photos, more. MARTIN D-28 AUTHENTIC (2006) We've been selling new Martin guitars since the early 1970's. At that time it felt like the former glory of the prewar models had been completely lost. Now we can say that Martin has come back! Their Authentic models have everything the old ones had, since they really are making these like they ... DOMINIK ZUCHOWICZ "LYRA VIOL" (2004) Here's an instrument you may not have seen before! A lyra viol is like a viola da gamba but with sympathetic strings. This was made in Canada and is copied from a 17th century instrument in a Toronto museum. LYON & HEALY STYLE 5350 GRAND SYMPHONY TENOR UKULELE (c.1932) Very fine sound and great looks on this rare Lyon & Healy (closer to concert than tenor size) uke! GIBSON 100K POTS (FACTORY SALVAGE) Potentiometers out of the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo! GIBSON SUPER JUMBO 200 (1940) It's rare as can be, and the top-of-the-line prewar Gibson flattop, the King of the Flattops - a 1940 Brazilian rosewood Super Jumbo 200, in very excellent condition! GUILD® F-30NT SPECIAL "JOSH WHITE" (1965) Owned and played by blues/folk singer Josh White, this guitar has even more of a story and significance, as outlined on PBS' History Detectives in early 2009. JAMES OLSON JUMBO CUSTOM (1996) James Olson is the luthier to James Taylor and many other top recording artists. Here's a fine jumbo size model from the mid-'90's. THE BACON PROFESSIONAL BANJO CATALOG (REPRINT) Rare catalog showing c.1913 Bacon 5-string and other banjos of the time. GIBSON LES PAUL JR (1962) Cherry red at it's best - look at and listen to this '62 LP Jr and you'll know why the double cutaway slab body was a big hit beginning in the '60's. GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM (1960) Here's a really nice 1960 Black Beauty -- looks cool, sounds great. GIBSON LES PAUL JR (1955) Cool, light weight '55 LP Jr that sounds great. FENDER® JAZZMASTERTM (1965) Click on the photo and surf over to this really nice Jazzmaster . . . PRS PRIVATE STOCK #1534 SINGLECUT (2007) Check out this stunning Singlecut with fancy koa wood top and much more... EPIPHONE EA7 PROFESSIONAL GUITAR AND AMP RIG (1964) A unique model, this top-of-the-line Epiphone of its time features all guitar and amp controls mounted on the pickguard of the guitar! GIBSON ES-335 (1959) Very early 335's are hard to find as clean and original as this one - check it out. GUITARS: THE TSUMURA COLLECTION by Akira Tsumura, foreword by James L. D'Aquisto First published in 1987, this long out-of-print book has been sold for quite a bit more than this for several years now. We have a limited quantity of brand new copies that have recently surfaced. GIBSON L-5 (1925) From the family of the original owner, this just-post-Loar L-5 is a wonder to behold, and play! GIBSON MASTERTONE - FLATHEAD 5-STRING BANJOS OF THE 1930's AND 1940's by Jim Mills Here's the long-awaited book from musician and dealer Jim Mills, on original prewar 5-string Gibson Mastertone banjos. FENDER® JAZZ BASS® (1967) Another great '60's Jazz in original Lake Placid blue finish. WAL MARK II 4-STRING BASS (1995) Known for custom electronics and high quality, this left handed Wal bass does not disappoint! Very rare, especially in the USA. GIBSON CUSTOM 12" CONVERSION BANJO (c.1936) Can you spell R-A-R-E?? We don't know why Gibson made this in the 1930's, since virtually all their banjos had 11" rims, but this 12" rim Gibson is about as rare as they come. Originally a plectrum banjo, it has a fine conversion 5-string neck made by the late Bill Sullivan. GIBSON RB-3 (1929) Original prewar Gibson 5-string banjos are might MIGHTY rare, so we are especially pleased to offer this super clean, great-sounding RB-3 for you Gibson banjo aficionados. GIBSON PAINTED MAPLE CUSTOM (1987) Looking for something different in a Gibson Earl Scruggs banjo? Look no further. Here's a custom paint job from the crazy days of Greg Rich at Gibson! GIBSON CUSTOM PUMPKINHEAD BANJO (1987) Halloween is coming, and if you're just playing the banjo doesn't scare the heck out of the neighbor kids then this banjo will surely do it! A one-of-a-kind from the halcyon days of Greg Rich at Gibson. GIBSON NICK LUCAS SPECIAL TENOR GUITAR (1937) This is a super rare, great-sounding Nick Lucas flamed maple guitar, in very nice condition. What more can you ask for? PARAMOUNT PLECTRUM HARP (1920's) A super rarity for the plectrum banjo player, this plectrum harp is in really nice condition and provides either a different sound and/or a muted alternative to the volume of a standard plectrum banjo. GIBSON F-5 (1924) Here is a stunning "new" Gibson F-5 mando with Lloyd Loar signature and dated Dec. 1, 1924. It has been in the same family since at least the 1930's and has not been offered for sale in all that time. GIBSON F-5 FERN (1927) A rare bird, this fine 1927 F-5 comes to us from the family of the original owner. GIBSON F-5 (1923) Looking for the Holy Grail of mandolin holy grails? Look no further. Here's a great July 9 F-5 signed by Lloyd Loar - the same day and specs as Bill Monroe's mandolin and only 3 serial numbers off from it. ANTIQUE ACOUSTICS REPLICA MARTIN GUITAR PIN SETS "Pre-war" Martin acoustic guitars are amongst the most ..more... ANTIQUE ACOUSTICS REPLICA TUNERS - SLOT-HEAD 6-STRING The world of vintage guitars is always in need of expert ..more... COOL AMERICAN GUITAR CARDS 40 cool color cards of vintage instruments, with descriptions on the back. GIACOMEL J5 MANDOLIN & CASE From the workshop of Corrado Giacomel, endorsed by David Grisman, this high grade, beautifully made and totally unique mandolin is a treat for the eyes and ears! THE VINTAGE JACK GUITAR - BRASS - Allows you to plug-in without altering ..more... THE VINTAGE JACK GUITAR - STAINLESS STEEL - Allows you to plug-in without ..more... THE VINTAGE JACK MANDOLIN - EBONY - Allows you to plug-in without altering ..more... PEGHED OLD TIME BANJO PEGS SET OF 4 - Capture the classic look of ebony friction pegs ..more...

Our Vintage and Used Instrument List describes all the Vintage and Used instruments in our store. The printed version is published every six weeks and features a full-color cover and 24 jam-packed pages for the fretted instrument enthusiast. It is available by subscription for $15/12 issues ($30 overseas), sent first-class mail. The online version available here is free.