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 January 20th, 2020 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!

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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".


PRS S2 Mira

Lightweight, smooth, and it growls! Just in we have this PRS S2 Mira in the gloss black finish. The asymmetric shape sits comfortably against the body and under the right arm. The dual humbuckers are not super hi-gain rather have a nice warmth to them. Rock n' roll and bluesy tones are easy to dial in.

The controls are simple with the single volume and tone. The tone knob is a push/pull coil tap as well to thin out the pickup sounds. A couple minor scuffs but overall in excellent condition. $799.00 in PRS gig bag.

The specs:

  • Made in U.S.A. in 2014
  • Dual cutaway, asymmetric body
  • Mahogany body in gloss black finish
  • 3-ply black pickguard
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • White dot inlays
  • 25 inch scale
  • PRS locking tuners
  • PRS adjustable wraparound stoptail bridge with brass studs
  • Two PRS humbuckers
  • Volume and tone control
  • Coil tap push/pull on tone control
  • 3-way selector switch
  • PRS gig bag included

Taylor 412e-R

If size and comfort is what you're looking for in an acoustic, consider this Taylor 412e-R. Taylor's smaller Grand Concert body shape lends itself to fingerstyle playing especially well. The classic tone woods combination of rosewood and Sitka spruce sounds nicely articulate. Also a good choice for the singer as an accompaniment instrument.

Taylor's ES2 pickup system plugged in will give you that extra kick if needed. This particular guitar was sold here originally to one local owner. Excellent condition in the original Taylor case. $1,499.00

The specs:

  • Made in El Cajon, CA
  • Grand Concert body shape
  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back and sides
  • Gloss body
  • White binding
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony bridge and fingerboard
  • M.O.P dot inlays
  • 24-7/8 inch scale
  • 1-3/4 inch nut width
  • Chrome tuners
  • ES2 electronics
  • Excellent condition
  • Taylor hardshell case included

Vintage Gibson Les Paul Custom

Just arrived to the Attic we have a true "players grade" vintage Les Paul Custom in the always attractive Ebony finish. Without all the original components it's tough to nail the exact year but it seems to date to the early 70's. This guitar has been though a lot, it started as a factory 2nd probably due to the visible seam in the 3 piece top. The previous owner spent a lot of time and effort to get the guitar back to it's original style.

Although much has been changed, the body, neck, and pickups are original. The neck is wide but also slim and plays very easily. The ebony fingerboard and low frets have always made the Les Paul Custom one of the smoothest electrics to play.

This is not the instrument one would get for their museum collection, rather it's a fantastic guitar that should be played and played hard! Classic humbucker tone, at 9.8 pounds it feels like a Les Paul should. With all the changes, you shouldn't have to worry about putting a ding in it. At $1,499.00 it's priced to move! Gibson 1980's chainsaw case included.

The specs:

  • Made in early 70's in Kalamazoo, MI
  • Ebony finish
  • 2nd from factory (seam in top)
  • 3 piece maple top
  • Pancake body mahogany/maple/mahogany
  • 3 piece maple set neck with volute
  • Bound ebony fretboard with pearl block inlays
  • Multi-bound headstock with pearl/diamond inlays
  • Seven ply top binding
  • 24.75 inch scale
  • 1-11/16 inch nut width
  • Slim C neck profile
  • Brass nut
  • Original humbuckers, have been re-wound
  • Replacement pickup covers
  • Push/pull split coil on tone knobs
  • Two volume, two tone controls
  • Replaced pots
  • Replaced stop tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge
  • Replaced Schaller tuners
  • XLR input added, then taken away, back to 1/4 inch
  • Selector switch replaced
  • Gold hardware
  • 9.8 lbs
  • 80's Gibson chainsaw case included

Guild F4ce-NT

Recently traded in is this very nice Guild Rhode Island built F4ce-NT. Going for a slim and playable acoustic/electric is what Guild was going for, and they succeeded. The slim width of the body makes reaching over the top with the right arm much easier than most acoustics. The cutaway and 24 frets is also unusual, allowing the solo player higher access to upper frets.

The Fishman pickup system is very user-friendly with slider controls for everything but the phase. Overall in excellent condition, $699.00 with hardshell case.

The specs:

  • Made in Westerly, R.I.
  • Orchestra style body with cutaway
  • Oval sound hole
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Solid spruce top
  • Rosewood bridge
  • 24 fret rosewood fretboard
  • Pearl dot inlays
  • Tortoise pickguard
  • Slim body profile
  • Slim neck profile
  • Chrome tuners
  • Fishman pickup system
  • Controls for: bass, middle, treble, brilliance, volume, phase
  • Hardshell case included
Hunter Pocket Trumpet

Hunter Pocket Trumpet

This pre-owned pocket trumpet plays in the same register as a standard Bb trumpet, but the tubing is folded extra times to make it more compact. It fits into an ABS case the size of a kid's lunchbox. Perfect for traveling!

One local owner, originally sold here. Excellent condition. If new, $349. This one offered at $279.

Washburn HB-35-N

Washburn has been around a long time now and have always been known for budget-friendly quality instruments. The HB-35-N is a semi-hollowbody with a solid maple center block...Washburn's take on the classic Gibson ES-335.

The natural finish looks sharp over the flamed maple top. The dual humbuckers will give you a great blues/jazz/rock sound with plenty of beef. Excellent condition, fresh setup for .010-.046 strings. $449.00 in gig bag.

The specs:

  • Semi-Hollowbody with maple center block
  • Flamed maple laminate body
  • Natural finish
  • Full gloss body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • 24-3/4 inch scale
  • Split block inlays
  • Two Washburn humbuckers
  • Two volume, two tone controls
  • Amber bell knobs
  • Stop tailpiece
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Gold hardware
  • 3-way toggle switch
  • Excellent condition
  • Gig bag included

Trinity College Celtic Mandolin TM-250

Here we have an interesting Celtic style mandolin from Trinity College. Flat top and back with the oval soundhole yields a nice bell-like tone with good projection. We have it setup for standard mandolin tuning.

A bit larger than a typical mandolin but still smaller than a mandola. These certainly do not come through the shop often, $399.00 in hardshell case.

The specs:

  • Flat top and back mandolin
  • Oval soundhole
  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Solid maple back and sides
  • High gloss finish
  • Mahogany neck
  • Bound rosewood fingerboard
  • Body and headstock binding
  • Rosewood bridge with bone saddles
  • Bone nut
  • 1-1/4 inch nut width
  • 14 inch scale
  • Setup for standard mandolin tuning
  • Hardshell case included

Blueridge BR-140A

Blueridge instruments represent great value. Just in we have a BR-140A model featuring a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. Their take on a vintage-style Martin D-18 with the butterbean tuners and classic wood combination.

Big boomy tone with Adirondack spruce's clarity and definition. This particular guitar came from one local owner who kept it in near mint condition. $799.00 in hardshell case.

The specs:

  • Dreadnaught body
  • Solid Adirondack spruce top
  • Solid mahogany back and sides
  • Forward shifted X-bracing
  • Full gloss finish
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
  • Dot inlays
  • 25-1/2 inch scale
  • 1-3/4 inch nut width
  • Bone nut and saddle
  • Vintage-style butterbean tuners
  • 2 strap buttons
  • Near mint condition
  • Hardshell case included

Epiphone Dot Deluxe

Here we have an excellent condition Korean built Dot Deluxe from 1998. A more affordable version of a Gibson ES-335, this era for Epiphone is well-regarded.

The humbuckers sound big and full, a versatile guitar for many styles of music. Some tarnishing on the gold hardware but that's to be expected after 20 years. The 1-11/16 inch nut width and decently chunky 'C' profile is more typical of a '59 style neck. A solid deal at $499.00 in hardshell case.

The specs:

  • Made in Korea, 1998
  • Semi-Hollowbody
  • Laminate maple back/sides/top
  • Blonde finish
  • Cream binding
  • Black pickguard
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • Dot inlays
  • 24.75 inch scale
  • 1-11/16 inch nut width
  • Two humbuckers
  • Amber bell knobs
  • Two volume, two tone controls
  • Stop tailpiece
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Gold hardware
  • Gibson truss rod cover
  • Hardshell case included

Taylor NS-34ce

Just in we have a harder to find Taylor acoustic/electric nylon-string model. The NS-34ce features a Grand Auditorium body shape with Venetian cutaway. This body shape has a nice full tone that smaller classicals can sometimes lack.

Built in 2003, it has seasoned nicely over the last 16 years. One local owner, sold here originally. Fresh setup for normal tension strings. $999.00 in original Taylor hardshell case.

The specs:

  • Nylon string model, made in El Cajon, CA
  • Grand Auditorium body style with Venetian cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back and sides
  • Satin finish back and sides, gloss top
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard and bridge
  • 25-1/2 inch scale
  • 1-7/8 inch nut width
  • Tusq nut and saddle
  • Ping gold tuners with Ivoroid buttons
  • Cypress rosette
  • Fishman pickup system
  • Bass/mid/treble/brilliance slider controls
  • Volume/feedback notch knobs
  • Phase switch
  • Original Taylor hardcase included

Taylor GS-Mini

Recently 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 Sitka spruce top.

This particular instrument was sold here originally to one local owner. $399.00 in the Taylor hardbag.

The specs:

  • GS-Mini body style
  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Sapele back and sides
  • Ebony bridge and fingerboard
  • Tortoise pickguard
  • Chrome tuning machines
  • 23-1/2 inch scale
  • 1-11/16 inch nut width
  • Taylor Hardbag included

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.