Why You Can Trust Carter Vintage To Appraise And Authenticate Your Vintage Instrument
The Carter Vintage staff has decades of experience with vintage instruments, and are the leading experts in the industry. Whether you’re looking to thoroughly document your entire collection or get a simple appraisal for insurance, our team can provide the most accurate authentication and value of your instruments by appraisal.
What Goes Into An Appraisal?
An appraisal considers several key factors to determine the value of a guitar:
- Model & Year: Identifying the model and year is the first step, but alterations can complicate this, especially with popular models like Gibson Les Pauls or Fender Stratocasters.
- Specifications: We assess features such as wood type, inlays, logo style, body shape, and electronics to verify whether they are standard, custom, or altered.
- Finish: Using ultraviolet light, we inspect the finish for inconsistencies that may indicate repairs or refinishing.
- Interior Inspection: For acoustics, we check the bridgeplate and bracing; for electrics, we inspect the electronics and body routing.
- Condition: We evaluate wear from play (e.g., pick, fret, and arm wear), aging (e.g., finish checking, plastic shrinkage), and any damage (scratches, cracks).
- Functionality: We test the truss rod, tuners, electronics, and playability, including string height, intonation, and neck angle.
- Provenance: Any notable history, such as celebrity ownership or media features, can increase a guitar’s value.
- Value: We consult references, including online listings and past inventories, adjusting the value based on the guitar’s condition, features, and market trends.
To that end, we consult every available reference: online listings, printed sources, instruments in our current and past inventories, our collective experience through the years and knowledge of the current market. We then adjust the value based on all of the factors listed above
Greg Ellis
Greg has been repairing instruments in the Middle Tennessee area for nearly 30 years. He was a Repair Technician for 12 years at Franklin Guitar and Repair before purchasing the business and becoming the sole proprietor. Greg honed his skills during this time working on and appraising thousands of instruments. He has over 40 years of experience buying and selling guitars and related gear, all throughout studying vintage instruments in depth to better understand the market and authentication details for multiple manufacturers.
Gary Bohannon
Gary has been collecting, repairing, and reselling instruments since the early 70s, where he was a regular at LA shops such as Norm’s, Hollywood Guitar Center, and Red Rhodes, eventually amassing a collection and trading through just about every collectable Fender and Gibson that’s been made. He has worked closely Walter Carter at Carter Vintage as an authenticator, amp, and guitar tech. He has been published in numerous books, mainly those by Walter Carter and Andre Duchossoir.
Choose Your Appraisal Package
We have two options to choose from. Every appraisal includes an expert and thorough inspection from a senior authenticator.
Appraisals For Insurance
If you need a formal written appraisal for insurance, we can provide it online from photos. Our online appraisal comes with the disclaimer “Visual on-line inspection only, does not include in-hand inspection.” If there are issues that are not visible in photos or in the information provided by the owner, that would negate the validity of the appraisal, so we would not recommend an online appraisal as a certification of originality.
Online Only Appraisal – $150
- Digital appraisal from Senior CVG Authenticator
- Emailed digital copy of signed visual appraisal
In Person Appraisal – $250
- Appraisal from Senior CVG Authenticator
- Laminated signed appraisal document
- Delivered printed in envelope and emailed digital copy
Carter Care Shipping – Materials And Insurance Included – $200
If you wish to ship your instrument(s) to us for appraisal, we can send you a box, packing materials, and a ready-to-print shipping label. Each instrument is insured for up to $500,000. Carter Care Shipping is $200 each way.
For collections larger than 5 instruments, please reach out for a specialized quote.
Order Your Appraisal
Reach out to the Carter Vintage team with information on your instrument(s) and which package you’d like to purchase, and we will schedule a call to discuss!