Era
Guitars from the 1950s
The decade the solid-body electric took over. Fender launched the Broadcaster in 1950, the Stratocaster in 1954, the split-coil Precision Bass in 1957 and the Jazzmaster in 1958. Gibson added the Les Paul Standard, Custom and Junior, the ES-175D and, in 1958, the ES-335. Gretsch signed Chet Atkins in 1954, and Rickenbacker's Capri line and first bass arrived in 1957 and 1958. We file a page here when the version it covers first went on sale in the 1950s, so a pre-CBS Strat sits here even though it was built until 1965.
23 guitars we cover.
Fender · Stratocaster
Solid bodyPre-CBS Fender Stratocaster
Stratocaster
- Years made
- 1954–1965
- Era
- 1950s
$23,200–$46,925 typical ask
38 on eBay
Fender · Telecaster
Solid bodyFender Telecaster Blackguard
Telecaster
- Years made
- 1950–1954
- Era
- 1950s
$59,500–$110,300 typical ask
4 on eBay
Fender · Telecaster
Solid bodyFender Telecaster Whiteguard
Telecaster
- Years made
- 1954–1965
- Era
- 1950s
$19,325–$38,850 typical ask
8 on eBay
Fender · Telecaster
Solid bodyFender Custom Telecaster
Telecaster Custom
- Years made
- 1959–1972 (bound-body version)
- Era
- 1950s
$13,475–$18,675 typical ask
6 on eBay
Fender · Jazzmaster
OffsetFender Jazzmaster
Jazzmaster
- Years made
- 1958–1980 (original run)
- Era
- 1950s
$10,875–$16,675 typical ask
27 on eBay
Fender · Telecaster
Solid bodyFender Esquire
Esquire
- Years made
- 1950–1969
- Era
- 1950s
$20,725–$66,750 typical ask
9 on eBay
Fender · Precision Bass
BassFender P-Bass (Pre-CBS)
Precision Bass
- Years made
- 1957–1965 (split-coil design)
- Era
- 1950s
$14,025–$24,375 typical ask
29 on eBay
Gibson · Les Paul
Solid bodyGibson Les Paul Burst
Les Paul Standard
- Years made
- 1958–1960
- Era
- 1950s
Specs and what to check →
Gibson · Les Paul
Solid bodyGibson Les Paul Custom
Les Paul Custom
- Years made
- 1954–1961, then 1968 on
- Era
- 1950s
$10,650–$19,675 typical ask
31 on eBay
Gibson · Les Paul
Solid bodyGibson Les Paul Junior
Les Paul Junior
- Years made
- 1954–1958
- Era
- 1950s
$12,200–$16,850 typical ask
13 on eBay
Gibson · ES thinline
Semi-hollowGibson ES-335
ES-335
- Years made
- 1958–1969
- Era
- 1950s
$12,425–$41,525 typical ask
28 on eBay
Gibson · ES thinline
Semi-hollowGibson ES-345
ES-345
- Years made
- 1959 to the early 1980s
- Era
- 1950s
$7,275–$18,200 typical ask
31 on eBay
Gibson · ES archtop
Hollow bodyGibson ES-175
ES-175
- Years made
- 1953–1969 (the vintage two-pickup ES-175D years)
- Era
- 1950s
$6,625–$15,125 typical ask
33 on eBay
Gretsch · Chet Atkins hollow body
Hollow bodyGretsch 6120 Chet Atkins
6120
- Years made
- 1954–1971 (as model 6120)
- Era
- 1950s
$4,050–$9,250 typical ask
14 on eBay
Gretsch · Chet Atkins hollow body
Hollow bodyGretsch Country Gentleman
6122
- Years made
- 1957–1971 (as model 6122)
- Era
- 1950s
$4,925–$7,900 typical ask
22 on eBay
Gretsch · Falcon
Hollow bodyGretsch White Falcon
6136
- Years made
- 1955–1971 (as model 6136)
- Era
- 1950s
$13,325–$26,000 typical ask
4 on eBay
Gretsch · Chet Atkins hollow body
Hollow bodyGretsch Tennessean
6119
- Years made
- 1958–1971 (as model 6119)
- Era
- 1950s
$3,675–$6,025 typical ask
19 on eBay
Gretsch · Jet
Solid bodyGretsch Duo Jet
6128
- Years made
- 1953–1971
- Era
- 1950s
$6,550–$10,000 typical ask
6 on eBay
Gretsch · Anniversary
Hollow bodyGretsch Anniversary
6125
- Years made
- 1958–1970s
- Era
- 1950s
$2,025–$4,250 typical ask
18 on eBay
Rickenbacker · Capri 300 series deluxe
Semi-hollowRickenbacker 360
360
- Years made
- 1958–present
- Era
- 1950s
$2,600–$3,475 typical ask
77 on eBay
Rickenbacker · Capri 300 series
Semi-hollowRickenbacker 330
330
- Years made
- 1958–present
- Era
- 1950s
$2,275–$3,400 typical ask
97 on eBay
Rickenbacker · Capri 300 series (short scale)
Semi-hollowRickenbacker 325
325
- Years made
- 1958–present
- Era
- 1950s
$3,175–$4,550 typical ask
66 on eBay
Rickenbacker · 4000 series bass
BassRickenbacker 4000
4000
- Years made
- 1957–1984
- Era
- 1950s
$8,775–$10,525 typical ask
3 on eBay