Today's Guitar Market IndexSeptember 2026
View Full 2026 Price Index & Resale Rankings
Total Tracked
13,210models
Across 146 brands
Avg. Retail (New)
$1,249+2.3%
Past 12M MSRP baseline
Fair Used Market
$842(-32.6%)
Secondary fair discount
24h Price Updates
368
Reverb & eBay verified
Market Insight:Fender Player II rollout has stabilized secondary market pricing, while Japanese FujiGen builds and vintage acoustics lead annual appreciation at +6.8%.
Open Guitar Valuation & Fair Market Intelligence

Know the True Market Value of Your Guitar

Real-time retail prices, secondary used valuations, historical price trajectories, and serial number authentication across 146+ brands.

Popular:
Current Prices
New & fair used valuations
Price History
12M-5Y value trajectories
Serial Lookup
32 brand dating engines
Market Insights
Depreciation & resale rates
Free 2026 Authentication Utility

Instant Guitar Serial Number Lookup & Dating

Verify authentic manufacturing dates, factory origins, and production eras before you buy or sell. Built for collectors, luthiers, and buyers.

🇯🇵Japan

Alvarez & Alvarez-Yairi

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for handcrafted Japanese Alvarez-Yairi and standard Alvarez acoustics.

🇺🇸USA / Mexico / Japan

Fender & Squier

6 verified decoding formats supported

Instant free serial lookup for USA Corona, Mexican Ensenada, Japanese Fujigen, and Squier guitars.

🇦🇺Australia

Maton

4 verified decoding formats supported

Accurately date handcrafted Australian Maton guitars and decode Melbourne factory serial codes.

🇺🇸USA

Gibson

4 verified decoding formats supported

Instant decoder for 8-digit, 9-digit, and modern Gibson USA & Custom Shop guitars.

🇯🇵Japan / Korea / Indonesia

Ibanez

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant serial decoder for Fujigen Japanese Prestige, Korean, and Indonesian Ibanez guitars.

🇺🇸USA

Martin Guitars

4 verified decoding formats supported

Complete chronological sequential archive dating Martin guitars from 1898 to 2026.

🇺🇸USA / China / Korea / Japan

Epiphone

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant decoder for modern Chinese, vintage Korean Samick/Unsung, Japanese Elitist, and Kalamazoo USA Epiphones.

🇺🇸USA / Japan / Indonesia / China

Squier by Fender

6 verified decoding formats supported

Instant decoder for Classic Vibe, Indonesian Cort, Chinese Yako/Grand Reward, and vintage Japanese JV/SQ Squiers.

🇺🇸USA / Indonesia / Korea

PRS Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant serial decoder for Maryland USA Core/S2/CE and overseas SE (John Mayer Silver Sky, Custom 24) guitars.

🇯🇵Japan / Indonesia / China / Taiwan

Yamaha Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant serial decoder for modern FG800/Revstar, Taiwan Kaohsiung era, and vintage Nippon Gakki Red Label acoustics.

🇺🇸USA / Japan / Korea / China

Gretsch

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant serial decoder for vintage Brooklyn, Japanese Terada/Dyna Professional, Electromatic, and Streamliner Gretsch guitars.

🇺🇸USA / Mexico

Taylor Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Instant serial decoder for modern 11-digit, transitional 9-digit, and vintage sequential Taylor acoustics and electrics.

🇺🇸USA / Asia

Washburn Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory origin, and model series for Washburn acoustics, N-Series signature models, and vintage Japanese builds.

🇯🇵Japan / Asia

Takamine Guitars

4 verified decoding formats supported

Decode manufacturing year, month, and workshop origin for Japanese Pro Series and G-Series Takamine acoustics.

🇺🇸USA / South Korea / Indonesia

Schecter Guitar Research

5 verified decoding formats supported

Decode factory origin, production year, and series specs for Schecter Diamond Series, Sun Valley Custom, and USA Masterworks guitars.

🇺🇸United States

Guild Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory history, and series for vintage Hoboken, Westerly Rhode Island, and modern Oxnard California Guild guitars.

🇺🇸USA / Japan / Indonesia

Jackson Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Decode manufacturing year, factory origin, and series for vintage USA San Dimas, Japanese Pro Series, and modern Jackson shred guitars.

🇺🇸USA

Charvel

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial decoder for vintage USA San Dimas, Japanese Model Series, and modern Pro-Mod Charvel guitars.

🇺🇸USA

Rickenbacker

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial decoder for authentic Rickenbacker 4001, 4003, 330, and 360 guitars and basses.

🇺🇸USA

Dean

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial decoder for vintage USA Chicago, Korean UnSung, and Dimebag Darrell signature Dean guitars.

🇯🇵Japan / USA / South Korea / Indonesia

ESP Guitars

6 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, master workshop origin (Tokyo, Kiso, Sado, WMI Korea, Wildwood Indonesia), and authenticity for ESP, E-II, and LTD instruments.

🇺🇸USA / South Korea / China

Ovation Guitars

6 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory history (New Hartford CT, Bloomfield, Korea, China), and authenticity for roundback acoustics, solidbodies, and Adamas instruments.

🇺🇸USA / Japan / South Korea

Kramer Guitars

6 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory history (Neptune NJ, Aluminum neck era, Focus/Striker imports), and authenticity for Baretta, Pacer, and Nightswan instruments.

🇺🇸USA / Japan / South Korea

B.C. Rich Guitars

6 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory origin (Vintage USA Handcrafted, Japanese NJ Series, Class Axe, Modern WMI), and authenticity for Warlock, Mockingbird, and Ironbird.

🇨🇦Canada / USA

Godin Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Decode production year, factory week, day of manufacture, and authenticity for Multiac, 5th Avenue, Montreal Premiere, and Session instruments.

🇺🇸United States

Tom Anderson

4 verified decoding formats supported

Free serial decoder and custom build record identifier for handcrafted Tom Anderson California boutique electric guitars.

🇺🇸United States

Collings Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free serial decoder and Austin, Texas factory dating archive for handcrafted Collings acoustic and electric guitars.

🇺🇸USA

Fodera Guitars

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for Brooklyn handcrafted Fodera Monarch, Emperor, Imperial, and Yin Yang basses.

🇺🇸USA

Lakland Basses

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for Chicago handcrafted USA Series and Plek-dressed Skyline 55-02, 55-01, and 44-64 basses.

🇺🇸USA

Ken Smith Basses

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for handcrafted Ken Smith Black Tiger, BSR, BT Elite, and Burner series basses.

🇺🇸USA

MTD (Michael Tobias Design)

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for Woodstock NY handcrafted MTD 535, 635, and Kingston Super 5 series basses.

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Wal Basses

5 verified decoding formats supported

Free instant serial number decoder for British handcrafted Wal MK1, MK2, and MK3 basses.

Factory Verified 1898–2026 Archive

Have a guitar serial number ready?

Use our universal interactive decoder to determine production year, factory code, and link directly to real-time market valuations.

Recently Added Brands

Explore our latest guitar brand price guides. Stay updated with comprehensive market analysis, pricing trends, and buying guides for these newly added brands.

Abasi Concepts guitars
New

Abasi Concepts

Founded in 2017 in California by progressive guitar luminary Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, Abasi Concepts represents the bleeding edge of modern ergonomic guitar design and extended-range lutherie. Renowned for its distinctive organic teardrop body contour, multi-scale fanned fret fingerboards, and signature Fishman Fluence voice architectures, Abasi Concepts reimagines how an electric guitar balances against the human body whether seated in classical posture or standing on stage. The lineup spans the Korean/Indonesian-crafted Legion production line, Japanese-crafted custom runs, and the hyper-coveted USA Master Series hand-built in California. Outfitted with Jescar stainless steel frets, wenge or roasted maple necks, and proprietary hardware, models such as the Larada 6, 7, and 8, Space T, and ēmi command intense worldwide devotion and remarkable secondary market value retention.

Avg. Price$2,280
Listings42
Trend+4.8%
View Price Guide
Balaguer guitars
New

Balaguer

Founded in 2015 in Pennsylvania by luthier and designer Joe Balaguer, Balaguer Guitars has disrupted the modern guitar industry by pioneering accessible online semi-custom ordering alongside road-ready production models. Bridging vintage offset aesthetics with cutting-edge modern metal engineering, Balaguer is celebrated for models like the Espada, Growler, Diablo, and Thicket. Features such as roasted maple necks, medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, proprietary Balaguer pickups (Evergreen, Feral, Hypernova), and premium hardware from Hipshot and Gotoh come standard across their lineup. With guitars spanning the Korean WMI-crafted Select Series, customizable online Custom Shop runs, and Pennsylvania-crafted Heritage Series builds, Balaguer delivers outstanding player value and strong resale liquidity.

Avg. Price$1,180
Listings68
Trend+3.9%
View Price Guide
Jericho guitars
New

Jericho

Founded in Dallas, Texas in 2013 by Dave Muselman, Jericho Guitars specializes in heavy, downtuned modern progressive instruments, dedicated 27-inch baritones, and seamless set-through neck architectures. Renowned for incorporating natural organic tonewoods such as American black walnut and swamp ash alongside cutting-edge hardware including EverTune constant-tension bridges, Hipshot locking tuners, and Seymour Duncan Nazgûl/Sentient pickups, Jericho has earned a devoted following among metalcore, djent, and post-rock musicians. Models like the Fusion Baritone, Raven, Soulmaker, and Walnut Evertune deliver bone-crushing low-end punch, unyielding tuning stability, and effortless upper-fret access under stage and studio duress.

Avg. Price$980
Listings38
Trend+3.2%
View Price Guide
Vola guitars
New

Vola

Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between French design visionaries and master Japanese luthiers, Vola Guitar delivers world-class precision instruments handcrafted at their workshop in Nagano, Japan. Celebrated for marrying classic bolt-on aesthetics with modern technical ergonomics, Vola produces the OZ (contemporary superstrat), Vasti (modern offset T-style), and Ares series. Built with premium tonewoods such as lightweight Japanese ash and roasted maple, paired with custom hand-wound Vola pickups and top-tier Gotoh hardware (including titanium saddle bridges), Vola instruments are the choice of international virtuosos like Quentin Godet and Kasper Staub. Known for extraordinary fretwork, deep cutaway access, and resonant acoustic punch, Vola represents the pinnacle of Japanese modern lutherie at an accessible price point.

Avg. Price$1,050
Listings32
Trend+3.6%
View Price Guide
Skervesen guitars
New

Skervesen

Founded in 2011 in Poland, Skervesen Guitars stands alongside Mayones as one of Eastern Europe's most celebrated boutique custom workshops. Specializing in progressive metal axes, ergonomic multiscale fanned-fret instruments, and modern headless designs, Skervesen is famed for its organic hand-carved contours and master-grade exotic wood tops (such as spalted poplar burl, flamed maple, and black limba). Pioneers of the proprietary 'World Domination Mod' acoustic and coil-split switching circuit, Skervesen equips their instruments with premium Bare Knuckle, Fishman Fluence, or Lundgren pickups paired with ABM, Hipshot, or headless hardware. Models like the Raptor, Shoggie, Swan, and Mirage are custom-tailored works of functional art that command extraordinary prestige and strong secondary market valuation.

Avg. Price$2,850
Listings28
Trend+5.2%
View Price Guide
Fodera guitars
New

Fodera

Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1983 by luthier Vinny Fodera and master bassist Joey Lauricella, Fodera Guitars represents the undisputed pinnacle of handcrafted luxury electric bass guitars. World-renowned for their signature butterfly headstock inlay, neck-through heel-less construction, and pristine Pope active preamps, Fodera basses have powered legendary performances by Victor Wooten, Anthony Jackson, Richard Bona, and Lincoln Goines. Handcrafted in their Brooklyn shop, Fodera instruments span heirloom Custom/Elite masterbuilts, Standard Series production lines, and the iconic Yin Yang artist models.

Avg. Price$6,850
Listings85
Trend+6.4%
View Price Guide
Lakland guitars
New

Lakland

Founded in Chicago in 1994 by Dan Lakin and master luthier Hugh McFarland, Lakland Basses is widely celebrated for revolutionizing the modern 5-string electric bass. By combining a 35-inch extended scale with tight, organic low-B articulation and dual bridge/neck pickup versatility (the iconic MM/J configuration), Lakland quickly became the go-to studio and touring axe for legends such as Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones), Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Donald 'Duck' Dunn, and Joe Osborn. Today, Lakland produces world-class handcrafted USA Series basses alongside the highly accessible, Chicago-inspected and Plek'd Skyline Series.

Avg. Price$1,650
Listings195
Trend+5.2%
View Price Guide
Ken Smith guitars
New

Ken Smith

Founded in New York City in 1978 by double bassist and master luthier Ken Smith, Ken Smith Basses is internationally revered as the founding architect of modern boutique electric bass construction. Ken Smith revolutionized instrument ergonomics by inventing the multi-laminate neck-through construction, wide 6-string bass geometry, inlaid multi-piece 'sandwich' exotic body tops, and the world's first onboard active bass preamps (collaborating with Haz Labs). Today, Ken Smith builds heirloom instruments in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, played by legends such as Hadrien Feraud, Stanley Clarke, John Patitucci, Anthony Jackson, and Melvin Davis.

Avg. Price$4,850
Listings92
Trend+5.8%
View Price Guide

Market Insights

Price Trend Analysis

The premium guitar market has shown consistent growth over the past five years, with an average annual increase of 3.7% across all major brands.

  • Vintage models from the 1950s-1970s continue to appreciate at 8-12% annually
  • Limited editions and signature models show 15% higher appreciation rates
  • Entry-level models remain stable with minimal price fluctuations
  • Mid-tier imported models show slight depreciation of 1-2% annually

Investment Potential

Based on historical data and current market conditions, certain guitar categories present excellent investment opportunities.

American-made Vintage Reissues

★★★★☆

Stable appreciation with 6-8% annual returns and high liquidity

Limited Edition Custom Shop

★★★★★

Excellent growth potential with 10-15% appreciation after initial depreciation

Boutique Handcrafted Instruments

★★★★☆

High initial premium but strong value retention and collector appeal

About Guitar Price Guide

Research guitar prices with clarity and confidence

We track pricing trends, value retention and model lineups across leading brands like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Taylor, Martin and Ibanez—so you can make smarter buying and selling decisions.

Brand pages summarize market ranges, condition-based valuations and secondary market dynamics. Our long-form guides go deeper with model comparisons and practical buying tips.

Quick Answers (FAQ)

What is a normal price for a guitar?

Beginner acoustics/electrics: $150–$400. Mid-tier: $500–$1,200. Premium/USA or custom shop instruments can range $1,500–$5,000+ depending on series and specs.

What is the price of a normal guitar?

For a solid beginner instrument you can keep for years, expect around $300–$600. Remember to budget for a setup, gig bag/case, and basic accessories.

What is the best electric guitar under $1000?

Great choices include PRS SE Custom 24, Fender Player Strat/Tele, Yamaha Revstar, and Epiphone Les Paul Standard. The best pick depends on neck feel, pickups, and genre.

Which is the No. 1 guitar brand?

Fender and Gibson dominate many electric categories; Taylor and Martin lead acoustics. The “best” brand varies by model family, budget, and playing style.

Is it better to buy new or used?

Used often offers better value if condition is verified. New provides warranty and consistent quality. Always factor setup and potential maintenance into total cost.

How much should I spend as a beginner?

A comfortable range is $250–$600 for a playable guitar that will last through the learning phase. Prioritize comfort, setup quality, and staying in tune.

Do guitar size and neck profile matter?

Yes. Smaller bodies and slimmer necks are often easier for beginners and smaller hands. Try several neck profiles (C, D, V) to see what feels natural.

How often should I change strings?

For regular practice, every 1–3 months, or sooner if tone dulls, strings corrode, or intonation drifts. Wipe strings after playing to extend life.