Airline
Since 1958
Airline Guitars is one of the most culturally iconic emblems of mid-century American garage rock and modern indie revival. Originally manufactured between 1958 and 1968 in Chicago by the Valco manufacturing company (alongside Supro and National) and sold through Montgomery Ward catalogs, Airline entered rock immortality in the 2000s when Jack White adopted a red 1964 Airline 'JB Hutto' Res-O-Glass guitar as his primary weapon in The White Stripes. Revived for the modern era by Eastwood Guitars, Airline instruments reproduce the distinct angular art-deco silhouettes, rubber-gasket body seams, and raunchy vintage-voiced pickups that define the raw garage rock aesthetic.
68
Years in Business
120K+
Guitars Sold
$10M+
Annual Revenue
Complete Airline Guitar Price & Valuation Guide (2026)
Comprehensive market valuation ranges, mint vs used condition pricing, tonewood specs, and historical price trends for Airline guitars.
Airline Price Overview
Airline covers a wide range of instruments from entry-level to professional models. Typical used prices vary by condition, series and year. Higher-end USA models and limited editions retain value better than mass-market lines, while rare or vintage pieces often command significant premiums.
When evaluating value, consider originality (pickups, hardware), structural condition (neck, frets, finish) and documentation (serials, receipts, setup reports). Price dispersion across platforms is common; local stores offer service and inspection, whereas online marketplaces provide broader selection and price transparency.
For detailed buying advice, model comparisons and condition-based pricing, read the full guide linked above.
Market Overview
Average Price
$820
+8.5% vs last year
eBay Listings
270
Active listings
Sold This Month
70
+6.1% vs last month
Price Range
$500-$4,500
Current market range
Data sourced from eBay, Reverb, and Guitar Center used listings
Airline Timeline
Airline Brand Introduced by Valco
Chicago's Valco manufacturing company created Airline as Montgomery Ward's house brand of electric guitars and amplifiers.
The Res-O-Glass Revolution
Pioneered hollow fiberglass composite bodies bonded with rubber binding gaskets, creating the iconic 'JB Hutto' angular shape.
Valco Closes Doors
Valco ceased manufacturing operations, turning original vintage Airline guitars into rare pawnshop curiosities.
Jack White & The White Stripes Impact
Jack White's red 1964 Airline JB Hutto on 'White Blood Cells' and 'Elephant' triggered an explosion in vintage guitar values.
Eastwood Reissue Renaissance
Eastwood Guitars licensed the Airline trademarks, recreating the instruments with modern chambered mahogany bodies and pro hardware.
Timeless Garage Rock Royalty
Airline remains the premier symbol of uncompromised garage fuzz, retro style, and slide blues aggression.
Complete Airline Product Lineup
Plug an Airline into a cranked tube amp with a fuzz pedal, and you instantly unlock the raw, unpolished spirit of rock and roll.
Airline '59 Series (Jack White Replicas)
Chambered mahogany reissues of the legendary angular Res-O-Glass shape with strip binding and vintage-voiced pickups.
Red or black, dual Airline Vintage Voiced single-coils, 5-way rotary switch ($750–$1,050 used)
Three pickups, master volume, individual volumes, licensed Bigsby tremolo ($850–$1,250 used)
Set-neck reissue with retro pickguard styling ($680–$950 used)
HOP / MAP Series & Baritones
Striking sculpted instruments shaped like the geographical map of the United States, popular in surf, rockabilly, and spaghetti western soundtracks.
USA map cutout body, dual humbuckers, tone block ($720–$1,050 used)
27.5" extended scale tuned B-to-B for crushing low twang ($780–$1,150 used)
P-90 pickups, maple top, hollow mahogany body ($600–$880 used)
Original Vintage Valco Era (1958–1968)
Original Chicago-made collector artifacts commanding serious premiums at major guitar auctions.
True vintage original red fiberglass composite with Valco pickups ($2,500–$4,500+)
Triple pickup solidbody with individual on/off rocker switches ($1,800–$3,200)
"Plug an Airline into a cranked tube amp with a fuzz pedal, and you instantly unlock the raw, unpolished spirit of rock and roll."
Model-Specific Buying Guide
Each model has unique characteristics that affect both tone and value. Here's what to look for when buying specific models.
The Definitive Garage Rock & Fuzz Machine
Chambered Tone Wood Construction
Combines resonant chambered mahogany with modern stability, eliminating the microphonic feedback howling of fragile vintage fiberglass.
Airline Vintage Voiced Single-Coils
Wound to mimic Ralph Keller's 1950s Valco single-coils, producing thick, cutting midrange that eats fuzz pedals for breakfast.
Signature Rubber Gasket Binding
Retains the iconic white vinyl and rubber perimeter seam that made the original 1964 model visually unforgettable on MTV.
The Spaghetti Western & Heavy Surf Twang King
27.5" Extended Scale Length
Maintains tight, percussive string tension for Baritone B-to-B tuning without floppy low-string buzz.
Chambered Sculpted MAP Contour
Iconic cutaway body outlines the continental United States while resting comfortably against the player's ribs.
Alnico Hot-10 Pickups
Deep, rumbling low-frequency clarity suited for moody soundtrack scoring, doom rock, and rockabilly slapback.