News & Trends: A six-string acoustic 1936-'39 Martin D-45 T is the most valued guitar, according to the Vintage Guitar 2011 Price Guide. The annual publication by Vintage Guitar magazine lists the rare instrument's value between $320,000 and $400,000. The 1958-'60 Gibson Les Paul Standard, with a value range of $300,000 to $375,000, is second, and the 1958-'59 Gibson Explorer, at $250,000 to $310,000, is third on the most-valued list for 2011. While the Martin D-45 is first, Gibson took six of the 10 positions, including three Les Paul models.

"Guitars are an American pop-culture icon," said Mr. Alan Greenwood, publisher of both the magazine and the price guide. "And through the years, certain guitars have, thanks in part to players, songs, and the laws of supply and demand, become exceedingly valuable to collectors. There are few collectibles as cool as guitars. They're functional, tactile art that inspires players and music fans alike."

Two of the guitars, the 1958-'59 Gibson Explorer and the 1958-'59 Flying V models, did not sell well when originally introduced. According to Vintage Guitar, the modernistic style of guitars got little attention from musicians of the time. On the list, the Explorer's low-end current value is $250,000, while the Flying V's high-end value is $250,000. A 1931-'36 Martin D-28, which was priced at $100, and considered expensive for the era, in excellent condition could fetch as much as $170,000 today.

For additional background information on the manufacturers of these collectible guitars, visit the website of the Museum of Modern Instruments. The Manufacturers section of the site contains summaries on the companies.

Top 10 Most Valued Guitars

Guitar Model ---- (Price Range)

1) 1936-'39 Martin D-45 --- ($320,000 to $400,000)
2) 1958-'60 Gibson Les Paul Standard --- ($300,000 to $375,000)
3) 1958-'59 Gibson Explorer --- ($250,000 to $310,000)
4) 1958-'59 Gibson Flying V --- ($200,000 to $250,000)
5) 1931-'36 Martin D-28 --- ($140,000 to $170,000)
6) 1938-'42 Gibson Super Jumbo/SJ-200 --- ($90,000 to $120,000)
7) 1957 Gibson Les Paul Model --- ($86,000 to $106,000)
8) D'Aquisto Archtops --- ($75,000 to $100,000)
9) 1950 Fender Broadcaster --- ($68,000 to $86,000)
10) 1957-'60 Gibson Les Paul Custom --- ($66,000 to $81,000)

Source: The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2011

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James Rothaar

James has written content for Justluxe.com and other leading online luxury lifestyle magazines. Rothaar previously served as the senior-tenured staff writer for JustLuxe, having worked with the digital magazine since 2005. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida, and works as an independent marketing consultant and freelance writer and copywriter. He is the co-owner of Wild Owl Digital, a boutique mar...(Read More)