Do you understand that few items made today will last 25 years, and that durability is one of the things that makes vintage guitars valuable? A guitar from the '90s is now considered vintage, and it's not just about how "good" it is compared to modern guitars.

Take a '59 Les Paul for example—it's not $10,000 because it's necessarily better in every way. It's $10,000 because it's rare and has historical significance. Vintage guitars represent a piece of history that can't be replicated, and that's what collectors and players are paying for.

I'm actually selling a vintage guitar right now, and it's hilarious how many people misunderstand this. They'll tell me they can get a new one for cheaper, as if I didn't already know that. Others argue about when the guitars "got good," but that totally misses the point—it's about rarity, craftsmanship, and the fact that guitars from this era have stood the test of time.

I have a few guitars, across the spectrum from early 50's Gibson family heirlooms, beat up 80's shedders, 90's Guitar Center trash specials, all the way to a Fender masterbuilt reissue Tele.

IMO you pay what it's worth to you. If you like the way it sounds and you play it well, you'll know what it's worth.

I'm not sure what some of my fancier guitars are worth, but I know the one that sounds the best and I love to play the most is the bottom dollar Epiphone I've had set up and replaced the electronics in. I'm probably up to $700 all in on that instrument over 30 years and it just sings for me.

Spend what you want, if you love it then it's worth every penny.