Recording King
Since 1930
Recording King began as a house brand for Montgomery Ward in the 1930s, producing iconic pre-war acoustic guitars and banjos played by American folk and blues legends. Revived in 2007 by The Music Link, Recording King is celebrated worldwide for authentic vintage recreation, pre-war forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing, solid torrefied Adirondack spruce tops (Tonewood Reserve), and classic resonator craftsmanship—delivering true vintage acoustic mojo at honest price points.
96
Years in Business
250K+
Guitars Sold
$18M+
Annual Revenue
Complete Recording King Guitar Price & Valuation Guide (2026)
Comprehensive market valuation ranges, mint vs used condition pricing, tonewood specs, and historical price trends for Recording King guitars.
Recording King Price Overview
Recording King 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
$420
+4.2% vs last year
eBay Listings
480
Active listings
Sold This Month
115
+3.8% vs last month
Price Range
$140-$1,850
Current market range
Data sourced from eBay, Reverb, and Guitar Center used listings
Recording King Timeline
Montgomery Ward Introduces Recording King
Launched as Montgomery Ward's flagship mail-order instrument line, manufactured by Gibson and Regal.
Ray Whitley Signature Model
Pioneered early acoustic endorsements with cowboy singer Ray Whitley on iconic acoustic and archtop models.
World War II Production Halt
Metal and tonewood wartime restrictions ceased production of original pre-war Recording King guitars and banjos.
Modern Revival by The Music Link
The Music Link revived the brand under master designer Greg Rich, emphasizing authentic pre-war bracing and dimensions.
Launch of Dirty 30s Series
Introduced the ultra-popular Dirty 30s parlor and single-0 acoustics, democratizing vintage boxcar blues tone.
Tonewood Reserve Series Debut
Rolled out the RD-318, RD-328, and RO-328, featuring all-solid torrefied Adirondack spruce tops and pre-war specs under $800.
Complete Recording King Product Lineup
Recording King captures the authentic heartbeat of pre-war American acoustic design—forward-shifted bracing, aged Adirondack tops, and raw blues mojo at prices any working musician can afford.
Tonewood Reserve Series (All-Solid)
Premium all-solid acoustics with aged Adirondack spruce soundboards, bone appointments, and pre-war scalloped bracing.
Solid Adirondack spruce top, solid East Indian rosewood back & sides, classic herringbone purfling.
Solid Adirondack top, solid rosewood back & sides, 1-3/4" bone nut, responsive fingerstyle dynamic.
Solid Adirondack top, solid African mahogany back & sides, warm punchy bluegrass midrange.
All-solid mahogany 000 with pre-war forward X-bracing and vintage open-gear butterbean tuners.
Dirty 30s Series (Vintage Blues)
Affordable vintage-vibed acoustics inspired by Depression-era mail order catalog instruments.
Spruce top, checkerboard purfling, Harmonella stencil markers, percussive Delta blues box tone.
Solid Sitka spruce soundboard, tobacco sunburst, cross lap bracing, balanced fingerpicking tone.
Full-bodied dreadnought with vintage satin finish, bone nut and saddle, honest acoustic projection.
Ultra-portable 7/8 scale travel parlor acoustic, ideal campfire and porch instrument.
Banjos & Resonator Guitars
Renowned pre-war Mastertone-style banjos and swamp blues biscuit-bridge resonators.
Mastertone-style cast bell bronze tone ring, 3-ply maple rim, standard bluegrass workhorse.
Mahogany resonator and neck with bell bronze tone ring, rich vintage low-end roll.
Nickel-plated bell brass body, 9.5" hand-spun European cone, cutting slide tone.
Vintage sunburst wood body resonator with hand-spun cone and bone nut.
"Recording King captures the authentic heartbeat of pre-war American acoustic design—forward-shifted bracing, aged Adirondack tops, and raw blues mojo at prices any working musician can afford."
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 Bluegrass & Folk Player's Best Value
Aged Adirondack Soundboard
Thermally cured Adirondack spruce top delivers monumental pre-war headroom and explosive note attack.
All-Solid Wood Integrity
Solid Indian rosewood back and sides coupled with bone nut and saddle yield harmonic complexity rivaling $2,500+ guitars.
Neck Angle Inspection
Verify bridge saddle height and neck alignment; earlier batches occasionally required setup adjustment for optimal low action.
The Delta Blues & Porch Picker Benchmark
Boxcar Blues Voice
Tight, punchy low-end and nasal fundamental midrange tailored for fingerstyle acoustic blues and ragtime.
Satin Vintage Aesthetic
Distressed sunburst and ivory purfling echo authentic 1930s catalog guitars with modern playability.
Resale Liquidity
Extremely liquid entry instrument on the secondary market with steady $140–$220 turnaround on Reverb and Facebook Marketplace.
The Gold Standard Sub-$1,000 Bluegrass Banjo
Cast Bell Bronze Tone Ring
Authentic pre-war style 20-hole tone ring delivers piercing bluegrass crack and ringing sustain.
3-Ply Maple Rim
True steam-bent 3-ply Canadian maple rim forms a rock-solid acoustic chamber.
Head Tension & Bridge Check
Inspect drum head tension (tap-tuned to G#) and verify neck coordinator rods are not over-tightened.