I see ebay listing for '50s era vintage strats and teles in the $50k - $100k price range and higher. I think to myself, "I'll never own one of those".

However, If I do an advanced search and look at 'completed' listings, the highest price for a tele, that sold, was around $16k and the highest for a strat, that sold, was around $25k. A '52 esquire that was all original except for a very professional original looking refinish sold for a little over $11k.

That's still out of my price range but at least theoretically, if I were willing to go into debt, I could buy it.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

Though it really isn't worth the debt, it is enticing as a possibility.

If I were to buy a vintage Strat,for overall sound quality and playability I'd go for an "L" series Strat ('62-'65) they can be had for $12,000-$15,000 for a very good to near mint sunburst model.That's not bad considering a 50s Strat or Tele in the same shape would set you back $50,000 + and still not sound and play as good as an L series.

Of course sound etc. is all subjective but most people who are pretty well acquainted with Teles and Strats agree that the L series were the best overall.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I like the Ebay that it offers placing a bid. Why not to try it? Maybe you'll get an opportunity to get 50k $ guitar for half or even less Everybody needs to sell something