As of February 27, 2021 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.
Want to peek at the extraordinary range of cool and interesting instruments that have passed through Zach's Attic? Just click HERE!
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.
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 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".
Journey OF-660 Carbon Fiber AcousticLooking for an extremely durable acoustic guitar that will hold up against humidity/abuse/travel? Look no further than the awesome Journey OF 660 carbon fiber guitar! We carry the Journey OF-660 here at the store, and they've earned good reviews from happy customers. This particular OF-660 features the full gloss finish and Navy colored top. Key features are the carbon fiber body and neck, which are designed to withstand a number of environmental issues that can destroy a typical acoustic guitar. The collapsible neck works wonderfully, without having to de-tune the instrument - the neck can come apart and be put back on in a matter of seconds. The body is contoured in all the right places so it sits very comfortably against the body when playing. The wedge shape design allows for more bass response and it really is surprising how 'warm' the instrument sounds. The passive pickup sounds fantastic plugged-in as well. Even though there's not as much plane travel happening these days, this is still a very good choice if you're looking for an acoustic that you can leave in your car, leave out on a stand in New England's dry central heating, play often and not worry about damage to the instrument. Offered at $1,049.00 including the TSA compliant travel backpack. |
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Fender Standard TelecasterFender's Standard Series electrics are always a sure bet. Here we have an excellent condition Arctic White Telecaster from 2009. It's brighter looking with the 3-ply white pickguard and maple neck, and brighter sounding with its dual single-coil Tele pickups. The previous owner upgraded the case to a deluxe tweed hardshell model for extra protection. This is a workhorse Fender guitar offered at $499.00 including the tweed case. |
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Fender Blues Jr.One of Fender's all-time best-selling amps, the Blues Jr. hits it just right on many fronts. It's small enough to be portable without breaking your back, but it can also crank! The 15 watts of all-tube power and the single 12 inch U.S.-made Eminence speaker are a great combination. The clean channel with the spring reverb dials in that lush Fender tone. Push in the 'Fat' switch, turn up the volume and the amp can deliver a lot of natural bluesy overdrive. These amps typically go very quickly on the used market. Offered at $450.00 with the Fender amp cover included for extra protection. |
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Squier Affinity TelecasterLooking for your first electric guitar? Save a bit from the new price with this very nice Candy Apple Red Squier Affinity Telecaster. Clean and bright cut-through the mix sound with the bridge pickup. More sounds at your disposal with the neck and middle positions as well. Overall in excellent condition, $169.99 in gig bag. |
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Fishman Loudbox Mini ChargeFishman is known for innovation, and when their Loudbox Mini Charge acoustic amp was released a while back it was an immediate success.
Based upon their best-selling Loudbox Mini, this version is bettery-fed and can run up to 18 hours on a single charge (depending on how hard you push it, of course). Outdoor Farmer's Market gig? Wanna jam in the middle of the woods off the grid? No problem! The Loudbox Mini Charge can do it. In excellent used condition, offered at $399.00 including a Fishman amp cover for extra protection. |
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Taylor GS-Mini MahoganyRecently arrived is the popular Taylor GS-Mini. A nice compact travel guitar that doesn't lack in tone. A scaled down version of their Grand Symphony body style, it feels substantial and solid all the way around. This version is the straight acoustic with the solid mahogany top. The mahogany will yield a bit warmer/throatier sound than the brighter spruce version. $424.99 in gig bag. |
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Taylor 114eTaylor's 100 series instruments are a great value. The 114e is a Grand Auditorium shape, ideal for both strumming and fingerstyle playing. Taylor's signature bright projecting sound from the solid Sitka spruce top. Plays great with the slim neck profile and slick ebony fingerboard. The ES-2 electronics sound nice and full plugged-in. Excellent condition overall, $649.00 in gig bag. |
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Schecter Omen 6Rock out on this excellent condition Schecter Omen 6, built in Korea in 2003. The walnut satin dual cutaway body is ultra sleek, the dual humbuckers with the 3-way switch and one volume and tone control make it easy to dial in your sound. Slimmer, fast neck profile with 24 frets to easily hit that high 'e' note. $299.99 including a brand new deluxe gig bag. |
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Vintage Carvin LB-90 Fretless BassUpright bass players looking for an electric or electric players looking for a fretless, check out this very cool vintage 1987 Carvin LB-90. The full-maple body and neck really stand out against the dark ebony fretless fingerboard. Carvin is an interesting company where a lot of their instruments were custom orders so the used market really doesn't dictate just how nice they are. The neck is super slick to play and immediately one notices that "fretted finger tone" that truly only a fretless bass seems to convey. Simple electronics setup with the 3-way selector switch and one volume and one tone control. The dual H11B wide range humbuckers produce a very warm punchy tone paired with the maple body and neck. With the original Carvin hardcase, this is a steal for the quality at $749.00! |
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Vintage ca. 1973 Gibson SJ DeluxeIf a well-played vintage Gibson dreadnaught is your style, check out this SJ Deluxe from around 1973. Nearly 50 years old now, it has seasoned very nicely. It delivers a big throaty dry Gibson sound from the large dreadnaught-size sound box. It's seen almost 50 years and it's been played, so that means there are play marks throughout including a couple of small top cracks where the pickguard meets the top. Overall, though, it's in very good condition and just got a fresh checkover and setup. Nice lower action, currently set up for custom lights .011-.052. This guitar certainly stands out from the crowd with the very large 3-point "bat-style" tortoise pickguard and pearl block fretboard inlays. Enjoy it acoustically or plug in with the simple but effective K&K Pure Mini passive pickup. Offered at $1,399.00 in the original Gibson hardshell case. |
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Used Fender Std. Jazz Bass Left-HandedLefty's alert! Here we have a made in Mexico Fender Standard Jazz bass from 1998. It's in very good condition overall with a few marks here or there. Classic look of the 3-tone sunburst and rosewood fingerboard. With it's slimmer nut width and neck profile and dual single coil pickups, the Fender Jazz bass will give you an easier to play neck and solid sound. It's certainly not often we get them used left-handed, fresh setup for .045-.100 lights it's ready to rock! $499.00 in gig bag. |
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Vintage 1965 Fender JazzmasterA vintage beauty has found it's way into the Attic! This particular Jazzmaster has a lot going for it. Only for a short time period starting in 1965 and ending in 1966 did the Jazzmaster feature the bound fingerboard with dot inlays. Block inlays were soon to follow. Although Fender was sold to CBS in January of 1965, it's well documented that no significant changes took place for a while. The body has been refinished in Burgundy Mist Metallic over the original sunburst. The finish has darkened and aged very nicely over the years. Even with the refin, this is still a very hard and desirable color to find on a vintage example. How does it play and sound...like a dream! The guitar was well played and well loved. The maple neck has that smooth, broken in feel that no new 'relic' neck can possibly duplicate. The soapbar pickups and electronics have seasoned beautifully and truly sound great! The rhythm circuit is nice to jam your warmer/jazzier chords on, and it's surf's up! with the brighter lead circuit. Although Fender designed this guitar with jazz players sitting down in mind, over the years it's been embraced by surf and alternative/rock musicians alike. Besides the refin it's in overall very good original condition. Offered at $4499.00 in a new deluxe gig bag. |
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Used Fender Hot Rod DeluxeON HOLDAlong with the Fender Blues Jr., the Hot Rod Deluxe has been a strong consistent tube amp seller in the Fender catalog. 40 tube watts is plenty loud enough for most applications. Typical lush Fender clean channel sound and a gritty drive channel or saturated more drive channel. This is the first production year for this amp when it was U.S. made featuring a U.S. made Eminence 12 inch speaker. Recently serviced by our tube amp technician it's ready to rock! Asking $599.00. |
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Used Fender '63 Reissue Reverb TankWhy get a reverb effects pedal when you can have the real deal? Just in we're excited to offer this first reissue year of production, U.S. built Fender Reverb Tank. Just fully serviced by our tube amp technician, it's constructed remarkably similarly to the original 60's unit. Add some lush/classic Fender reverb to enhance your sound. Cool looking as well with the Blonde tolex and Oxblood grill. Asking $699.00. |
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Vintage 1969 M.G. Contreras ClassicalWe are very excited here at the store to offer this vintage 1969 M.G. Contreras classical guitar. Manuel Contreras Sr. was a Madrid native who excelled in guitar building both at the Ramirez workshop and his own. This particular example has an unsigned label, so it was likely made by one of his shop apprentices under his guidance. The guitar is in fantastic condition, it was well-loved and cared for by a local resident who adored it and even made some reel to reel recordings with it. Now that the tone woods are well-seasoned and broken in, it projects beautifully. Anyone in the market for a vintage Spanish-made classical, come check it out! Asking $5,499.00 in original case. |
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Taylor GS Mini-e BassTaylor's popular GS-Mini guitar line has expanded over the years to include the GS Mini-e Bass. With the shorter scale, smaller body, ebony fretboard, and special phosphor bronze strings, it physically plays like a dream. It can be warm and subtle or punch and snappy if you lay into it. We've sold these over the years to bass players looking for something different and more portable. Excellent condition, offered at $599.00 in dedicated Taylor GS-Mini hardbag. |
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Almansa 401-1/2 Half Size ClassicalIt can be difficult to find a good step-up classical guitar for the young player. Most small classical guitars in this country are starter instruments with laminated tops. The improving young classical player requires a guitar with a solid top for better tone and a higher level of workmanship for responsiveness. The Almansa 401-1/2 is just such an instrument. Crafted in Spain with a solid red cedar top, this guitar has a short 544mm scale and slightly narrower 48mm nut width. That means it will fit the younger player comfortably but still deliver satisfying tone. This guitar was originally purchased at The Minor Chord and has had one local owner. That player later graduated to an Almansa 'Senorita' (7/8 size) guitar and traded their 1/2 size model. It's in excellent condition. Offered at $399 with a padded gig bag. |
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Vintage ca. 1968 Gibson EB-2D Cherry BassThunder away your classic Jack Bruce or Glenn Cornick bass riffs, or your R&B funk on this super-sweet Gibson EB-2D! Made ca. 1968 it appears to be in excellent original condition. The eye-catching cherry finish on a Gibson semi-hollowbody is immediately recognizable. This is the two-pickup version Gibson made with the huge neck-position humbucker and bridge-position mini-humbucker. The baritone boost switch is a nice feature to have, dialing in a fatter tone when you push it in. This is a rare bass to find locally, and in such nice condition. Very minimal wear, set up for medium action. Plays nice with the short scale. Offered at $2,499.00 in the original Gibson hardshell case. |
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Vintage Squire by Fender 80's Telecaster JapanIt's been a little while since our last made in Japan vintage Fender has come through. This mid 80's telecaster is in great shape and should make someone looking for a tele very happy. Only a couple very minor marks, it looks almost new. The black finish with the maple neck and fingerboard is a solid visual look. Twang away with the two single coils, slimmer neck profile on this one. All original $699.00 including a hardshell case. |
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Rickenbacker 4003 FiregloA classic electric bass guitar has found its way into the Attic. Immediately recognizable and played by countless players, the Rickenbacker 4003 is a must-have in your collection. Slim body, attractive Fireglo finish, signature Ricky cut-through bass tone. This one dates to 1997, has only a couple of very minor scuffs, and is in excellent original condition. Offered at $1,699.00 in hardshell case. |
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Michael Kelly ST-AB4 'NA'We've had a few Michael Kelly used instruments come through the Attic, here we have an excellent condition steel string acoustic bass. It's nice to have the option to be heard unplugged if you're just sitting around jamming or songwriting. The Fishman Classic 4 pickup system is now out of production but it does the job well with plenty of E.Q. tweaking if need be. With the cost and size of an upright bass, give this affordable more manageable ST-AB4 some thought. Offered at $399.00 in a hardshell case. |
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Alvarez AJ-60 SC/12 'Nat' 12-StringAlong with the Guild, we had another 12-string come through recently. This Alvarez AJ-60SC is a nice mid-level solid top 12 with plenty of volume. Lots of E.Q. options with the pickup system including phase and feedback control. The built in tuner is certainly a handy feature to have on a 12 string. Looking to layer your acoustic sound or stand out from the 6-string crowd? Give this one some thought. $399.00 in Access hardbag. |
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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.
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
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.
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.