For Memorial Day weekend 2026, we have assembled a curated collection of fifteen vintage instruments spanning more than three decades of American guitar building, from the 1930s through the close of the 1960s.

The collection runs deep on golden-era flattops: a pair of Gibson L-00s from 1933 and 1935, a wartime Martin 000-18 from 1943, and three dreadnoughts - two Martin D-35s (1966 and 1968) and a 1964 Martin D-18. The archtop side is just as strong, anchored by a 1939 Gibson L-5 and joined by a 1956 Gibson ES-350TN and a 1958 ES-175D, the foundational instruments of early jazz and electric guitar.

For electric players, there's a 1954 Fender Stratocaster from the model's first year of production, a 1967 blonde Fender Telecaster, a cherry 1962 Gibson ES-345TD, and a 1964 Gibson Firebird V in sunburst. Bass players aren't left out: the collection includes two landmark Fender Precision Basses - a blonde 1952 example from the instrument's earliest years and a 1960 sunburst.

Each instrument has been inspected and set up by our team. The Music Emporium has specialized in vintage and boutique instruments since 1968. Visit us at 165 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington, MA over Memorial Day weekend to play any of these in person, or contact us for photos, specs, and pricing.