Some may say that happiness is not for sale, but of course everyone who has ever bought a guitar, would beg to differ. Because you buy a beautiful piece of craftmanship, it provides you with a hobby, an never-ending conversation topic, loads of fun to share and of course music! So as far as we're concerned, a guitar is always a good investment in your own happiness.
But most questioners look at it a bit more economically: does a guitar retain its value over the years? The answer to that is usually YES, because if you pay a bit of attention to what you buy, a good acoustic guitar will cost you almost nothing.
Great resale value guitars
The big brands like Fender, Gibson, Martin and Taylor have been proving for years that they make value-resistant guitars. Looking for a guitar that you'll still be able to trade in just fine in five or 10 years' time? Then you can hardly afford to lose out on such a branded guitar. Especially if you choose a second-hand one ‘with the headstock already removed’. For instance, we recently received another Martin D18 Golden Era in our shop from 2007, which had been played a lot, was in excellent condition and we sold it very quickly for about 3,700 euros. A few years ago, they were still going for less than 3,000 euros.
Other great value guitar brands
A dive into our archives shows that we can now add 'smaller' names to the big brands that are also retain their value very, very well.
Atkin The FortyThree THEN (2015): 3,000 euros NOW: 3,000 euros
A relatively new and young brand, but definitely a rising star: Atkin Alister Atkin makes insanely good ‘old-new’ guitars with a small team. With a clear nod to Gibson and Martin models from their best years. He does this from the UK with a tiny team, which makes these guitars rare. And sought-after! From attic room enthusiasts to Ed Sheeran, Dolly Parton, Paul Davids and other world stars: they play on an Atkin. We have had them in our range for years and very occasionally someone comes to trade one in. This happens so rarely that they hardly lose any value, while new Atkins become slightly more expensive every year. So if you see a second-hand Atkin: don't wait too long!
Collings OM1 THEN (2011): $3,400 NOW: $4,190
The OM1 is the ‘workhorse’ of boutique luthier Collings from Texas. A simple guitar, but one of those where everything is right. At the time, it was put on the market at a competitive price, because that $3,400 was the recommended retail price. With a bit of bargaining, it could be reduced a bit. On this side of the Atlantic, Collings are relatively rare guitars, which means you can just play them for 10 years and still get a super trade-in for them. Because they remain very good guitars, which we see getting a bit more expensive all the time. Meanwhile, a new OM1 is already around 5,000 euros. So add it all up: a brand that is gaining momentum and popularity, relatively rare in Europe, rising new prices and, last but not least, just insanely good guitars. So a Collings costs a bit, but it's worth it.
Furch THEN (2017): 1,499 euros NOW: 1,699 euros
In 2017, we sold this OM24SR for just under 1,500 euros, but like Atkin, Furch has taken off. So late last year, we sold an even older OM24SR from 2012 for 200 euros more than the later new price. It had been fitted with an LR Baggs Anthem, so that makes it worth a bit more, but it had also been happily played on for eight years, the Furch had withstood that gloriously and without writing off a penny, a new guitarist is now happy with it for years to come.
Lowden F23 Cedar/Walnut THEN: 2,990 euros NOW: 2,990 euros
Lowden shows that it can be smart to buy a good second-hand guitar. This model is a classic and we're trying to keep it in stock. In 2017 you paid about 3,500 euros for a new F23 Cedar/Walnut. Currently they are leaving our shop for almost 3,900 euros. But second-hand, if in good condition, they often sell for around 3,000 euros. In recent years we have seen models from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 come and very quickly go for three grand. So ‘age’ does not appear to effect the value that much, because Lowdens, like other good guitars, often only get better with time. If nothing crazy happen to it, a second hand Lowden is a solid investment.
TIPS on how to keep your guitar valuable!
Just bought an acoustic guitar and maybe you aim to trade it in later? First of all we hope you play it as much as possible! This is important, because acoustic guitars only get better if the wood vibrates. And obviously, you need to take good care of it.
- Keep an acoustic guitar in the case as much as possible, this adds an extra protective layer.
- Check the humidity: for guitars, aim between 45-55 percent. Fortunately, in the Netherlands we have a guitar-friendly climate, but if we turn up the heat during winter, you do have to pay extra attention.
- Played guitar? Simply wipe your guitar with a cloth. Even if your hands and fingers are not dirty, sweat is acid and salty and in the long run quite aggressive. Be careful with paper tissues, because they can be abrasive and cause scratches.
- Replace strings regularly and do so carefully.
- If the strings are off: oil the button/fretboard regularly. This way you prevent shrinkage/cracks and problems with your frets.
- Occasionally nurturing your guitar with the right polish keeps your instrument beautiful in the long run.
- Not playing for a while and storing your guitar? Loosen the strings to reduce tension.
Do you see or feel anything weird? Like a crack, sharp fret edges or something else? Contact a luthier or our workshop. Many minor guitar inconveniences are easy to fix and a guitar in good condition stays worth more longer. Small, well-executed repairs, you'll usually easily recover later.