Older and Vintage Instruments at the Denver Folklore Center

Older (Previously Owned), Vintage, and Featured New Instruments
Updated February 20, 2010

Our inventory of vintage and previously owned guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, mountain dulcimers, banjos, and other instruments currently includes models made by Martin, Gibson, and Ome, among others. If you are interested in a particular instrument, please call us to check on availability of the instrument. For information on recently sold older and vintage instruments, visit our archive page.

Shipping
We routinely ship instruments to customers throughout the United States and internationally. We always do our own careful packing of each instrument. Our usual shipping method is UPS Ground, but we are happy to use other methods, depending on the customer's wishes.

Web Transactions
For more information on methods of payment, etc., for web transactions, please see our conditions of sale.

Make/Model

Year

Condition

Description

Case

Price

Steel String Guitars & Cases

Amistar "Brown Sugar" resonator guitar c. 2007 VG+ Here's a rockin' resonator guitar from the Czech maker Amistar. It has an excellent reso sound when played acoustically, but it also has two pickups: one is a good "acoustic" pickup, but when you really want it to scream, you kick in the P-90 pickup. Overall, it is in great condition, with just some finger prints on the metal parts - otherwise it looks new. This guitar looks cool, sounds cool, and if you buy it you'll BE cool! molded
case $1,495
ON HOLD

Collings CJ
c. 1999

Exc.
This guitar has a McIntyre Feather pickup and preamp installed. It's in great shape with a big voice.
HSC

$3,295

Collings SJ c. 2001 VG+ A gorgeous guitar from Bill Collings' highly skilled minions. Nicely figured maple on the back and sides and very tight-grained spruce on the top. It's in great condition with some light pick scratches in the usual places and a few small nicks here and there. Serial #6740 09/01 OHSC $3,395

Gibson ES-345TD c. 1974-1975 VG Here is a classic from Gibson. The original trapeze tailpiece has been replaced by a stop tailpiece. The original is intact and in the accessories pocket. The finish on the guitar is a bit darker where the original tailpiece was. This is Gibson's original model that is wired for stereo. It appears, from some light marks in the finish, that someone had a stick-on pickup just in front of the bridge. Overall, the guitar is in great shape with some light to normal playing wear. OHSC $2,785

Gibson J-45 c. 1971 G This guitar has some normal playing wear and some dings and scratches, but, come on, it's almost 40 years old! It has some nice finish checking which is quite typical for Gibsons of this age. The bridge is original, but the tuners have been switched to newer Schallers. It has very good action and a cool dark cherry sunburst. OHSC $1,495

Lowden Model 25 Guitar c. 2000 Exc. A great sounding finger-style guitar. It has a cedar top and rosewood back and sides, with a five-piece neck. There are some light scratches, mainly on the top, but no cracks. Original molded case $2,750

Martin 00C-16DB Limited Edition c. 1997 Exc. This is #67 in Martin's limited "Women in Music" series. It is all-solid spruce and mahogany with a deeper body (DB) than is found on a standard 00. It has a slotted headstock but a 14-fret neck, which is also not the norm on a 00. This guitar is in great shape and has a surprisingly large voice for a smaller bodied guitar. Original molded case $995

Martin 000-18 c. 1926 VG+ Here is a very interesting instrument. It has a 12-fret neck with a slotted headstock but has Martin's long scale length. Very rare. The width at the nut is 1-13/16ths inches. The guitar has been refinished. Somewhere along the line, we think someone put some rhinestones in the headstock (can you say 1960s?), but they were removed before it was refinished. There have been numerous cracks repaired well, and there are a few patches also very professionally repaired. The tuners have been replaced. This guitar is incredibly light, as any 80-year-old Martin should be, and the sound jumps out of it. Somebody at sometime spilled something inside the soundhole. We think it was glue and glitter ... possibly another relic of the sixties? Most of it has been cleaned up and we don't think it affects the guitar at all. newer HSC $5,500

Martin D-12-35 c. 1969 VG+
This is a killer 12-string guitar with beautifully figured Brazilian Rosewood. The action is excellent so it plays like a dream.

It looks like the bridge has been re-glued and the pickguard has shrunk. There are a couple of finish cracks on the top. There is one repaired crack (in the wood) in the center panel on the back but it looks and feels very stable.
newer
HSC $3,395

Martin D-42K guitar 1998 Exc. Spruce top, Koa back & sides
Standard "42" inlay - abalone binding on top and around fingerboard molded OHSC $3,600

Monteleone Eclipse Archtop Guitar c. 1990 Exc. A gorgeous archtop guitar from John Monteleone. It's built from beautifully flamed maple. It has some light finish checking on the top but overall it is in great shape. Please inquire about the price if this beauty interests you. HSC Please call for
price.

Nashville Guitar If you are interested in this guitar, please contact us for more information. Please call.

Olson "OM" Guitar c. 1982 VG We talked with James Olson about this guitar. He calls this his "OM" shape, which he no longer makes. It is spruce and mahogany. The nut width is 1-11/16ths inches; scale length is 25-3/8 inches. There is a seam split, below the bridge, which has been repaired. The action is good, and the instrument is very playable. Lovely tone... just ask James Taylor. OHSC $5,900

Santa Cruz Vintage Artist Guitar

Back to top
c. 1994 This guitar was originally purchased and owned by Tom Paxton. Since this was his "working" guitar, it has the full and rich sound you would expect - and there is play wear. There is a repaired crack and some finish crazing on the top. The instrument is otherwise in fine shape, with a "v" style neck. There is also a pick-up, of unknown origin. A letter from Tom accompanies this instrument, validating its history. Please call for more information if you are interested in this guitar. HSC $3,500

Nylon String Guitars

Marcelino Lopez guitar
c. 1963

VG
Completely restored to full playability by Bob Westbrook
HSC

$4,500

Vicente Sanchis
Model 40

Back to top 1981 This Sanchis was made by (and signed by) the father in 1981. The top appears to be Spruce, by the color, although the grain lines could indicate Cedar. The back and sides are of a lovely Indian Rosewood, looking quite close to Brazilian. There is some scarring from playing, and one top seam crack which has been secured (cleated). The pickguard is original; we had thoughts of removing it but found that there was no finish underneath. The action is quite good, and the sound is very good. OHSC $2,250

Abbreviations: HSC = hard shell case   OHSC = original hard shell case   SSC = soft shell case

Ukuleles

Make/Model

Year

Condition

Description

Case

Price

Ukuleles

Aloha Royal soprano uke c. 1960s Exc. An all-solid mahogany uke with a pretty voice. It has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Plays great - sweet sound. Gig bag $350

Martin Style 0 Soprano Ukulele c.1950s G We call this uke "a player." It has a couple of cracks that have been repaired, but it plays great. The tuners are original, and everything else looks original, too. Very loud and punchy sound. Canvas
gig bag $595

Martin T-28 Tiple

Back to top c. 1974 Exc. This baby is in great shape! Hardly any playing wear, the action is excellent and the sound is jingle, jangle, jingle. It has one fingerboard crack (near the body) that we repaired and also a bridge crack that we also repaired. Both are quite hard to see. OHSC $1,495

Abbreviations: HSC = hard shell case   OHSC = original hard shell case   SSC = soft shell case

Mandolins, Dulcimers, Banjos, Other

Make/Model

Year

Condition

Description

Case

Price

Mandolins and Cases

F-Style Mandolin c. 1987 Made by Craig D. Peterson of Santa Fe, NM, this F Style mandolin is made of spruce and maple. Custom HSC $2,000

Flatiron Mandola Performer Series model 3MC c. 1997? Exc. We believe this mandola was built in the late 1990s because it has a Flatiron label with the Gibson name also on it. It has very nice maple on the back and sides with an ebony fingerboard and bridge. There is hardly any playing wear at all. The only flaw is that there are some marks in the finish where the bridge was incorrectly positioned. It plays great and sounds great. OHSC $895

Gibson F-4 Mandolin c. 1936 Exc. This is a real beauty! A wonderful example of Gibson's building prowess during the Depression Era. Everything on this mando is original equipment. As if that isn't enough, it also comes with a Fishman pickup that can be substituted for the original bridge. It has been pre-fitted for this instrument. The instrument has no cracks, has some light scratches here and there. The back has some marks (belt buckle, vest button,...?) that are not through the finish so they aren't easily noticed. It is in great playing shape and has a very mature, deep rich tone. Even the case is a classic! Original pinstripe case $6,500

Gibson F-5 Lloyd Loar Mandolin
1924

Exc.-

Signed and dated by Lloyd Loar on Dec. 1, 1924, triple top-bound body, headstock and tortoise plastic pickguard, triple side-bound neck, pearl flowerpot and "the Gibson" inlays in headstock, pearl button arrowhead tuners, "The Gibson" tailpiece cover (may be original, but standard F-4 style tailpiece), adjustable ebony bridge (stamped "PAT'D JAN. 18 21"), sunburst finish flamed maple neck, back and rims, carved spruce top, very rare, fully original (well, okay, we replaced 2 missing tuner screws with period correct ones), in the same family since at least the 1930's, excellent structural shape (crack free), some evident scratches on the finish, but not too bad, as you can see in the photos, one tuner button has cracked and been reglued, sounds great, frets could be dressed, on consignment, with red-lined oblong OHSC.
### NOTE THAT THIS MANDOLIN IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH THE DENVER FOLKLORE CENTER OR ELDERLY INSTRUMENTS. IT CAN BE VIEWED THROUGH HARRY TUFT OF THE DENVER FOLKLORE CENTER BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, WITH AT LEAST 24 HOURS NOTICE. CALL HARRY TUFT AT 303-777-4786 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. ### (SN:79756) OHSC
$225,000
Call for appoint-
ment

Martin Style C Mandolin c. 1929 Exc. A gorgeous example of Martin's take on an A style mandolin. Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides. It has one flaw on the back: a ring in the finish that looks like someone set a cup of coffee down on the back. Would anyone really do that? OHSC $2,750

Old Wave Octave Mandolin (Bouzouki)
c. 1995

Made by Bill Bussman
Spruce top, maple back and sides
Serial number 88
Gig bag

$1,495

Weber Y2K-1 mandolin

Back to top
c. 2001

Near Mint
One of Weber's most affordable models. This one looks like it has never been played.
A very good value for an all solid wood, American-made mandolin.
Gig bag

$595

Mountain Dulcimers

Banjos

Deering B-6 Six-String Banjo c.1997 Exc. This is a six-string version of the Deering Boston model. The action is great and it is in excellent condition. To say this instrument is loud would not do it justice! It sounds great when finger picked. OHSC $995

Orpheum Style #1 Tenor Resonator Banjo

Back to top
c.1920s Exc. A 17-fret tenor from the HeyDay of banjodom. It has recently been refurbished with new geared tuners (the original pegs are in the case), a new head, a new bridge, and a set up. The resonator appears to be an after market add-on made by Lyon and Healy, but it fits very nicely. OSSC $750

Other Instruments

Chinese Urhu
unk. Traditional 2-string violin, with python skin head Case $350

Spanish-made Laud Fco. Esteve
unk. Purchased in Madrid in 1979 - has a spruce top, rosewood back and sides. HSC Please call.

Abbreviations: HSC = hard shell case   OHSC = original hard shell case   SSC = soft shell case

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1893 South Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210

303-777-4786


*Serving the greater Denver area's acoustic instrument needs since 1962*