The Swedish Made Levin Guitars on eBay
Goya folk guitars were the preferred choice of many of the 1970 s folk artists such as Melanie Safka and Stevie Nicks. The folk model Goya guitars during this era (to 1950 - 1973) were acoustic guitars handmade in Sweden by the Levin company but were distributed into the US under the brand name of Goya. In the late 1950's a line of steel stringed flattops were launched, with adjustable truss rods and bolted necks. The later acoustic Goya guitars had a high quality finish and their use of nylon strings gave the guitar a different tone from older guitars that used steel strings, making it popular among folk musicians. After 1973, the Goya brand distribution changed hands several times and the Levin company also started to manufacture electric guitars.
Acoustic Goya folk guitars from the late 1950s or electric guitars through the late 1970s are generally the more common of the Goya guitars available on eBay, but auction market listings change rapidly from day to day and you never know what will turn up. If you are looking for a specific model of Goya guitars on ebay, the best option is to subscribe to an eBay feed in a reader, so you can check new listings regularly. You can subscribe to such a feed at the link below.
When buying Goya guitars on eBay look for detailed colour pictures in the listings, especially if the seller is claiming vintage status. There should be pictures of labels, serial numbers, the guitar case (if there is one) and also details of any major damages to the guitar. That's if the seller is being open and honest and understands the need for collectors to have such information. Most buyers will not quibble over a few scratches or the odd ding, but take care if you see signs of warping or splits in the seams joining the face of the guitar to the curves of the body. These faults can usually be fixed but modify your bid accordingly. Experienced sellers will scrupulously detail the condition of vintage guitars, and fully describe the body, neck and bridge (eBay auction descriptive text in addition to pictures). They may also indicate how the guitar plays and sounds.
How Can You Verify the Authenticity of Goya Guitars on eBay
For early Levin guitars, look for a paper label with the Goya logo in a cursive script and text that says, "Made by A.B. Herman Carlson Levin - Gothenburg, Sweden". Also check both the label and the neck block for a serial number and model with a date and cross check it against the Locksley serial numbers.
Goya guitars made later, through the early 1960s may have a zoning code from the distributor Hershmann, such as New York 10 N.Y. Guitars made after 1962 will likely have a 5-digit zip code from New York City. For later models than this, if the collector aspect is important to you, check on line for a history of the manufacture and distribution of Goya guitars. You may get clues from the distributors name as to which decade it was made. Martin used an 8-digit serial number, which you'd find on Goya guitars made late in the 1970 s. These were not manufactured in Sweden but may have been manufactured in Italy, Japan, Korea or Taiwan. Production ended around 1990, so nearly every Goya guitar on eBay is going to be at least 18 years old.
How Much Should You Pay For Goya Guitars On eBay?
A goya acoustic guitar in good condition will cost between 0-0 and although bidding varies, you are unlikely to be successful at winning an auction for under 0.00. Few sellers will want the bother of shipping outside the U.S., so shipping costs will generally increase the price by -50.00. Check your own local country eBay site listings if you are outside the US. Different Country eBay links are generally listed at the bottom of each eBay page. You can also search classifieds sites such as Craig s List or other auction sites for listings of vintage acoustic guitars. You can check forums where you can read threads of Q&A from previous collectors and ask forum members who may help you to date and value a vintage guitar.
At different times you'll find many different models, styles and years for the models of Goya guitars on eBay. You may pay more for electric Goya guitars which are less frequently available. Jimi Hendrix used to play an electric Goya Rangemaster guitar. Goya Rangemaster guitars of high quality have been listed with a buy now price of ,500.00. Bass guitars may also garner a higher price.
When you are searching for Goya guitars on eBay, try the search term Levin guitars, also Hagstrom and Martin may be worth a look as well. Your seller may not know much about guitars and list only under vintage or acoustic guitars. Inexperience may also mean they don't upload a good description or detailed pictures. Just email the seller for more detail if an auction listing does look promising and you think they may have a collectable guitar you want to buy.
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