Podcast 390: John Shults of True Vintage Guitar

This week, we talk to one of the young guns of vintage instrument dealing, 33-year-old John Shults of True Vintage Guitar. John is based out of Birmingham, Alabama and has a unique business model. As his Instagram account reveals, he's seemingly on an endless guitar safari, traveling around the world and acquiring closet-find Fenders and Gibsons, often from the instrument's original owners or their family members. His sales strategy is unique, too. John not only has a knack for finding rare instruments, he also knows how to tell a great guitar story. During our chat, John tells us about his decision to become a vintage instrument dealer and some of the many tricks of the trade he's picked up over the years. We learn about the perils of traveling with large amounts of cash, how he puts anxious sellers at ease, and the trends he's noticed in today's vintage electric market. We also learn about why, after a decade of being an online-only retailer, John is about to open his first brick & mortar showroom. https://truevintageguitar.com https://www.instagram.com/truevintageguitar/?hl=en The Fretboard Journal is launching a Substack where we'll be sharing even more content, including photo outtakes, essays, and special podcasts. Be an early supporter here: https://fretboardjournal.substack.com And don't forget to get a gift subscription to the Fretboard Journal this holiday season: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/collections/all/products/fretboard-journal-gift-subscription Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars , Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Calton Cases .