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In the world of guitars, what’s vintage and what isn’t is subject to interpretation. The sample in question may be a true classic, such as the 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG, or something as recent as a 2002 PRS Golden Eagle.

But what’s more than just a matter of opinion is that many of these beauties still sound great after – in some cases – more than 50 years.

Take the aforementioned Gibson, for example. At less than seven pounds, it’s a lightweight dream, making for easy carrying and less fatigue to play. With minor maintenance, a model like that could be razor-thin close to as good as new.

And new, these babies were sweet. With tone that is the envy of others, a Gibson Les Paul SG was a guitar that garnered honors from anyone who heard it.

But Gibson has plenty of competition in vintage guitars for the number one spot. A 1964 Fender Jazz Bass might be just the ticket for those who tickle the thicker strings.

With sturdy frets, these outstanding guitars still have plenty of life in them. Even at 9 lbs it’s not a big burden to carry. With an Alder body and Mable neck, accompanied by a Brazilian Rosewood fretboard, a guitar like this is going to produce an outstanding sound, if it’s from Fender.

Going back a few years earlier, and back to Gibson, you might see an ad for a 1957 Les Paul Custom. If so, pick it up and play a few riffs. With Alnico pickups, this electric makes a dream sound.

With an all Mahogany construction that was built to last forever, you’ll appreciate the adjustable tress rod to keep it standing right. With its long lasting pots and gold hardware, you can expect the same clean sound it produced 50 years ago.

If you’re looking for a collectible that is solely for display, and one you don’t intend to play, looks will become more important. That means you want a finish that is close to the original. Fortunately the woods and quality construction on many vintage models makes that goal readily achievable.

If you want to be able to play it, even just for demonstrations to your friends, look for excessive wear on the fretboard, deep marks on the pick guard and wear on the bridge/saddle.

Make sure the bridge is still tight and that there’s no wobble in the neck. You’ll want the pots to have no ‘scratchy’ sound when moved and a complete absence of any hum from the pickups at normal volumes.

Even if you’re looking for something that might more readily be called used, rather than vintage – such as a 2002 PRS Golden Eagle – rarity is important.

When you find a signature guitar or a model like this that had an extremely small production run, you might just have a work of art on your hands. Snatch it.