Now at 80 King Street · Littleton MA 01460 · (978) 486-0112 · Interstate 495 Exit 30
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What's In Zach's Attic Today?

As of June 20th, 2018 we have the following used and vintage instruments in Zach's Attic:

Click on one of these instruments or just scroll down for photos and more information.

Zach's Archives

Want to peek at the extraordinary range of cool and interesting instruments that have passed through Zach's Attic? Just click HERE!

Contributing to Zach's Attic

We're always looking for interesting used and vintage guitars, basses and other fretted instruments that need new homes. (Sorry, we don't accept used band instruments.)

If you have a used or vintage instrument that you think Zach might be interested in, bring it in and show it to him. (Call ahead to make sure he'll be in the store when you come.) If he likes your instrument we can work out a trade or buy it outright.

You can contact Zach by phone at the number above or via our Ask Us! page.

Our Guarantee

Buying a used or vintage instrument can be a scary process. If you don't know what you're looking for, you can easily overpay or end up with an inferior (or even unplayable) instrument.

When you buy a used or vintage instrument from The Minor Chord we guarantee it to be as described. If there are flaws in the instrument that we know about, we'll tell you. If there are significant flaws we didn't notice and disclose, tell us within 30 days and we'll cheerfully give you your money back.

The Minor Chord is a music store you can trust!

Zach's Attic logo

Our Used and Vintage Instruments

Zach is our store manager and head instrument buyer. He hunts down the top quality used and vintage instruments that we feature here in "Zach's Attic".


Ovation 1612 Custom Balladeer Acoustic/Electric

Occasionally we get a nice Ovation in the Attic. This one is an earlier-vintage Custom Balladeer on consignment from a friend of the store. Built in Connecticut in 1983, it has warmed and seasoned nicely. Good action, easy to play and a nice full tone.

The dual strap buttons make it easier to control with a strap when you're sitting and the signature Ovation round back starts slipping. Plugged in, the piezo pickup delivers a familiar sound and the placement of the volume knob makes adjustments on the fly very easy. Hard to believe this is a vintage instrument now at 35 years old! The original deluxe brown Ovation hardshell case is included. Offered at $599.00

The specs:

  • Made in U.S.A. in 1983
  • Solid spruce top
  • Large bowl back
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Walnut string-through bridge
  • Leaf pattern rosette
  • 6-saddle piezo pickup
  • Volume control knob
  • Diamond/Dot inlays
  • Excellent condition
  • Original brown hardshell case included

Vintage Danelectro Model 122 'Cadet' Amplifier

Another early vintage tube amp has found it's way into the Attic. Small, lightweight, and snarly! Simple design format with the rear panel controls, turn it on, crank it up, and you'll hear that old tube tone.

With an amp this size, the type of guitar plugged into it really affects the sound. A Strat or Tele with single coils will keep it cleaner with a slight bit of grit at full volume. A strong P-90 or humbucker brings out much more of the natural tube gain when cranked.

This old-timer is a bit noisy when you're not playing but that doesn't matter when the volume is up.

A great value for the price, and a totally different sound than a Fender, Vox, Marshall, etc. Offered at $299.00

The specs:

  • Circa 1960
  • 6 Watts
  • Three-tube circuit
  • 1 x 6 inch original speaker
  • Picture frame cabinet with white sparkle finish
  • Dark grille cloth
  • Original leather handle
  • Rear control panel
  • Two inputs
  • 1 volume, 1 tone knob
  • Excellent condition

Martin B-1E

Our newest arrival to the Attic is this Martin B-1E acoustic/electric bass. Recently serviced by Whitsett Guitar Works, it's now ready to jam. The all solid mahogany and spruce yields a full and clear acoustic sound with plenty of volume.

The neck is smooth and easy to wrap around, not chunky. Plugged in the Fishman Prefix Plus Bass system offers several E.Q. options to dial in your ideal tone.

Set up with D'Addario EPBB170 phosphor bronze .045-.100 strings. Excellent condition, original Martin hardshell case included. Offered at $999.00

The specs:

  • Acoustic/Electric Bass
  • Solid mahogany back and sides
  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Satin finish
  • Rosewood bridge and fretboard
  • 34.15 inch scale
  • Fishman Prefix Plus Bass system
  • Excellent condition
  • Martin hardshell case included

Seagull S6 Lefty

The Seagull S6 has always been a best-selling model. The quality, feel, and sound one gets for under $500, we certainly see why. Harder to find this model in the left handed version. The guitar is in excellent condition with the plastic still on the pickguard!

Those with a larger size hand or those coming from the classical guitar realm might appreciate the wider 1.8 inch nut width. The solid cedar top yields a certain warmth that spruce lacks.

All in all a great value at $299 in a durable Access hardbag.

The specs:

  • Dreadnaught body size
  • Solid cedar top
  • Laminated cherry back & sides
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
  • 25.5 inch scale length
  • 1.8 inch nut width
  • Harder to find left handed model
  • Plastic still on pickguard
  • Access hardbag included

Gibson 'The Paul' SL 1998

Simple, stripped down, and affordable! Gibson's 'The Paul' SL was around in the same mid-to-late '90s era as 'The Paul' II. The Paul SL features a lightweight and sleek mahogany body. Compared to heavy Les Paul models, the weight is not a problem when you're standing up and the back contour sits nicely against the body. Black has always been a popular color and the UV-cured ebony finish is classically dark.

This guitar is more like an SG with its slim profile, but when plugged in, the 490R and 490T humbuckers definitely have more of the 'fat' tone that a Les Paul is known for. The neck profile is chunky but not over-the-top big.

This guitar is a rock 'n' roll machine and a great value at $649! Original Gibson gig bag included.

The specs:

  • Solid mahogany body
  • Carved top, contoured back
  • Ebony finish
  • Mahogany neck, chunky profile
  • Rosewood fretboard with dot inlays
  • 24.75 inch scale
  • Gibson 490R/490T exposed humbuckers
  • Tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece
  • Vintage style tuners
  • 2 volume, 2 tone controls
  • Silkscreen logo
  • Original gig bag included

Fender 2007 American Deluxe Stratocaster Ash

The American Deluxe guitars were the top of Fender's American line for some time. These are excellent sounding and playing instruments. The ash body paired with the tobacco sunburst finish looks great. The Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups eliminate much of the hum that single coils are known for. The contoured neck heel is a nice feature when fitting your hand higher up the instrument.

The S-1 switching works by enabling a capacitor for some interesting pickup combinations. Basically there are 10 selector switch settings instead of the typical 5. The stainless steel block saddles are ideal for palm muting, and the 'drop-in' style whammy bar is much smoother than the standard twist-in bridge version

Schaller locking tuners keep your tuning stable. Excellent condition with minimal play wear. Original Fender hardshell case with locking latches included.

To hear this Strat in action click here.

The specs:

  • U.S.A. made in 2007
  • Ash body
  • Tobacco Sunburst finish
  • Maple neck with 'C' profile
  • Rosewood fretboard with Abalone inlays
  • Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups
  • S-1 switching system
  • Contoured neck heel
  • Schaller locking tuners
  • Two point tremolo system
  • Solid stainless steel block saddles
  • Fender hardshell case with locking latches included

Vintage Fender Silverface 'Drip Edge' Vibrolux Reverb Amplifier

We are thrilled to offer this highly collectable 'drip edge' Fender Silverface Vibrolux Reverb. Dating to around 1968, it's from a classic era for Fender tube amps. The aluminum drip-edge front panel was only offered for a short time on several Fender amp models making these a bit more prized.

Just serviced by our tube amp technician, it's ready to rock. 40 watts of all-tube power really cranks but won't blow your head off like a Twin Reverb can. The two original Oxford 'Fender Special Design' 10 inch speakers sound fantastic and can handle pedals easily. The genuine spring reverb is lush and the vibrato shakes like it should.

There have been several classic Fender tube amp models in the Attic recently and they've all sold quickly. This is a special opportunity and these amps are hard to find. Bring your favorite electric down and give it a try!

Click here to hear this vintage amplifier in action!

The specs:

  • Early Silverface 'drip edge' model c. 1968
  • 40 watts all tube
  • Twin original Oxford 'Fender Special Design' 10 inch speakers
  • Normal and Vibrato channels with dual inputs each
  • 'Bright' switch on each channel
  • Spring reverb and vibrato
  • Normal Channel: volume, treble, bass
  • Vibrato Channel: volume, treble, bass, reverb, speed, intensity
  • The original red jewel light has been replaced with a blue one
  • Excellent condition, no tears in the grille cloth

Epiphone 'Joe Pass' Emperor II

The latest guitar to arrive in the attic is the very popular jazz guitar: The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II. Handmade hollowbody guitars go for huge money so the Joe Pass model for decades now has been a go-to for the student or working musician.

We've had a few of these come through but this one looks fantastic in the heritage cherry sunburst finish. Its thin body and neck profile make it easy to wrap around and play.

Plenty of tonal options with the dual humbuckers paired with the volume and tone controls. It's missing the pickguard but we feel the sunburst finish looks great without it. Non-original Gretsch hardshell case included.

The specs:

  • 2005 model, made in Korea
  • Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish
  • Full hollowbody with single cutaway
  • Laminated maple back/sides
  • Arched bound select spruce top
  • 3 piece maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard with block inlays
  • 24.75 inch scale
  • Trapeze tailpiece
  • Adjustable rosewood bridge
  • Two humbuckers
  • Two volume, two tone controls
  • Gold-finish hardware
  • Missing pickguard
  • Non-original hardcase included

Acoustic Image
310BA Contra

Acoustic Image amplifiers are made in the USA and have quite a following among serious bassists looking for solid acoustic tone.

But these great amps are not just for bassists. They do a fantastic job for acoustic guitars and for jazz electric players too.

Three design factors contribute to this popularity:

  • First, the down-firing woofer (only 10 inches!) encourages your low tones to flow across the floor. This means consistent loudness not only for the band (even a 20-piece big band) but also your audience.
  • Second, the generous power rating (this Contra is 300 watts) means that the attack transients that are so important to your tone are reproduced faithfully.
  • And third, it's compact and portable - the entire rig fits into a floor tom-tom case!

This particular amp is a "Series I". It's been played and shows some cosmetic wear but is in excellent working condition. This is a rare chance to get an AI amp for an affordable price! Check out the online discussion forums, then come in and play it - it won't last long. Click here to hear and see it in action.

Blackbird Rider

Carbon fiber instruments have grown in popularity. Fighting the weather & humidity poses a struggle for many folks, and a carbon fiber guitar might be the solution. At only 3 lbs, this Blackbird Rider could truly be brought anywhere. Hiking, boating, walking, it will work and it sounds really good. Surprisingly full for a "paddle-style" body shape. Plugged in the pickup delivers a full/warm tone. This is a hard to find, unique guitar and is no longer being made in the steel string version we hear. Grab it and have your own adventure!

Click here to see what this travel guitar can do.

The specs:

  • Full composite body and neck
  • Micarta bridge and fretboard
  • 35.5 x 10.5 x 4.25 inch dimentions
  • 1 3/4 inch nut width
  • Weighs only 3lbs!
  • Gotoh black tuners
  • MiSi pickup with volume and tone controls
  • Access gig bag included

Gallien-Krueger 800RB
Solid State Amp Head

Here's a killer pre-owned amp head: The legendary (and no longer manufactured) Gallien-Krueger 800RB solid state head

The G-K head is bi-amped, which means you have the option of separate power amps (and controls) for two cabinets - 100 watts for the highs, and 300 watts for your lows.

Harmony Rocket
ON HOLD for a customer
Call to be put on waiting list

We've had a few Harmony guitars come through Zach's Attic and this Rocket is in especially great shape. Made in the 60's in the USA, they are a good alternative to spending thousands on another hollowbody name. There's a certain 'plunkiness' to their sound that people tend to like. Lightweight and certainly vintage, it's a nice find! Includes a hardshell case.

The specs:

  • H54 model with vibrato unit
  • 40-1/2 inch length, 15-3/4 inch width, 2 inch thick body
  • Short scale neck
  • Single cutaway
  • Celluloid binding
  • White pickguard
  • Two volume and two tone controls
  • Gold-finish hardware

Common problems with used instruments

We see a lot of used instruments at The Minor Chord and a few common issues seem to show up in many of them. If you are thinking of buying an instrument on the private market, make sure you can spot these common flaws.

Lifting bridges

Most bridges on acoustic guitars are simply glued to the guitar top. If the glue joint starts to separate you are looking at a dangerous guitar. Six steel strings exert a huge tension on the bridge, and if it suddenly comes loose it can seriously injure anyone nearby. The staff at The Minor Chord has seen this happen - so we always inspect the bridge of an acoustic guitar before restringing it.

Piece of paper under a lifting bridge

Piece of paper under a lifting bridge

If you can slip a sheet of paper under the bridge of your guitar (see picture) you should relax the string tension immediately and bring the instrument to us for inspection.

An experienced luthier can remove a bridge and reglue it, but the time and labor involved makes the process too expensive for beginner and intermediate guitars.

High action

The distance between the strings and the fingerboard is called the action height. If the action is too high the guitar becomes hard (or even impossible) to play because it takes too much effort to press a string against the fingerboard. In addition, the guitar will probably not play in tune because each string has to be stretched so much (which raises its pitch) as it is pressed down.

Proper action height depends on two factors: The alignment of the neck and the height of the saddle (the point at which the strings rest on the bridge).

Electric and steel-string acoustic guitars usually have a truss rod running down the neck that can be used to adjust neck alignment. Classical-style guitars with nylon strings typically do not have a truss rod, and the only way to realign the neck is for a luthier to remove, shim and reinstall the neck - a major operation. The same operation is required on electrics or steel-string acoustics if the truss rod doesn't have enough available play to achieve the needed adjustment.

Saddle height is easily adjusted on electric guitars using a very small allen-head wrench. The saddles on acoustics and classical nylon strings may simply lift out of the bridge and can be shaved or shimmed to achieve the correct height. If these adjustments cannot bring the action height to a playable level, an expensive neck reset is required.

A low action height is desirable for easy playing but the action cannot be lowered so much that the strings start buzzing against the frets. Inexpensive guitars tend to have uneven frets, which means that the action height cannot be brought very low at all. Resetting or dressing the frets can even them up but it is a time consuming and expensive process, worthwhile only for valuable guitars.

All of these adjustments related to action height are fussy and interrelated. It's best to leave them to an experienced luthier, which means it is usually not economical to rescue an inexpensive guitar having these problems.