That question can only be answered by simply asking yourself "What do you want it for?"

I've owned more instruments than the largest stores have available at any given time. I've learned that there is no such thing as a "best" instrument.  It's a fact that for less than $500 one can buy a pro quality guitar equal in most respects to the finest guitar ever built. It may not be as pretty, it may not carry a famous brand name; still, it will produce music every bit as beautiful, play as easily and last as long as the most expensive guitar money can buy. Therefore, you must answer your own questions as to why you want a guitar before you can legitimately decide which one is the best buy for you. 

Machines turn out precision bodies and necks in minutes today that use to require days of labor by master craftsman. Machines churn out precision parts even more accurately than the finest craftsman. Therefore, getting a "good quality" instrument that is suitable for professional use for very little money is not a problem facing today's musicians. I have bought used imports at $150 to $450 that were equal in most respects to the finest and most expensive guitars I have ever owned.  It it abundantly clear that one doesn't have to spend a fortune to own a professional quality instrument. A low cost high quality instruments will last a player just as long as the expensive ones, it will make just as much music and there will be less than 1 person in 100 who can tell the difference without looking at the brandname on the headstock.

Having said that lets look at other realities perhaps equally or more important.

Brand Name and Model are cash related as opposed to quality related. The more famous the Brand Name and the more elaborate the fittings and trim the higher the cost of the instrument. Makers drastically mark up those with fancy trim even though everthing about the instruments except that trim may be identical. They typically assign different Model names to their guitars depending upon attachments,  trim and parts variations.  If you want a famous Brand name instrument with a certain kind of trim and attachments be prepared to pay dearly for that luxury. There is absolutely no getting around it. Pay the price and get what you want. If you settle for anything less than your ideal you will forever wish you hadn't and will never be happy with what you settled for.  If it's any consolation, you might as well buy that famous Name Brand you want now at the best price you can get if for as it's never going to get cheaper.

What about Vintage Instruments?  Vintage instruments are not for most musicians. One buys a given vintage instrument for some specific reason. Maybe it was like an instrument you owned as a kid. Maybe it's like one your dad owned. Maybe it was owned by your favorite artist or maybe it's identical to one somebody told you about.  Maybe it's part of a series you are collecting. Maybe it's an investment. The point is you don't buy vintage instruments just because somebody tells you a vintage guitar is better than the new guitars.

Just because it's old does not make it valuable or collectable. The truth is it probably won't be equal in quality to most new instruments sold today so something other than quality has to make it of value to you to justify your buying a vintage instrument.

Used instruments are not necessarily "vintage" instruments. Used instruments are great buys as they can often be bought at about 1/2 to 2/3 of the cost of new ones exactly like them. Vintage instruments are typically at least 25 years old  and may or may not be outrageously priced.  One can search a lifetime and never find one for sale exactly like the one they are hunting so those with special rare vintage instruments can sometimes name their own price.

Personally I love vintage instruments. Some are identical to instruments I owned years ago, some are instruments that introduced distinct sounds and types of music to my ears many years ago. When I play them their sounds and feel carry me back to earlier years and the old sounds that was new music yesterday. I enjoy that.

Resale is always a factor to be considered when buying a guitar. If you didn't pay much for it and plan on wearing it out, resale value does not matter. The easiest to sell are Gibsons, Fenders and Martins. Certain models are easier to sell than others. The best quality guitar for the buck, without concern for depreciation, is perhaps Yairi. Used Yairi's can be bought at a fraction of the high dollar guitars and one can usually get their money back if and when they get ready to sell. Ibanez is a good economical guitar. Still, if you want to get into guitars seriously it's Gibsons followed by Fenders and Martins. Only problem with Fenders is ease, tendency and liklihood of countrfeit makes it risky. They are simply planks that have been sawed, shaped, sanded and painted. It don't take a lot of high dollar equipment to saw, shape, sand and paint a plank. If you're into Vintage everything has to be "original" for the instrument to bring top dollar unless it is truly a very rare instrument.

The point of all this I guess is to say that if you buy good used Gibson's, Fenders and Martins today at about 1/2 the sale price of new ones or less you can play them for years and sell them for significantly more than you paid for them provided you take care of them. Every day somebody sells a guitar for about half the price of a new one. 20 years from now that same person would gladly pay 20 times as much as they got for that guitar if they could just get it back. Regaining one's youth is expensive but it's a fun part of life for old folks.

Actually the "best" guitar "feels" just right in your hands as you play it. If you find one that "feels perfect, plays perfect and sounds great" buy it and keep it forever regardless of it's age or brand name. Get it repaired if it wears. Just remember, one that looks just like it will not necessarily be just like it so hang on to that perfect guitar at all costs if you ever find one.   
  
Ed

1. Packing and Shipping Tips
2. How to Adjust Necks and set Intonation for proper playing action.
3. How to Set UP electric Guitars.
4. Taking Care of Guitar Finish
5. Fretboard care and Treatment (Fret Polishing, etc.)
6. Return to Main Page of The Old Closet!