Below is a growing directory of sleeper guitars. We focus on models that offer unusual value, character, or playability relative to their price. These are guitars primarily available on the used market, where great instruments can often be found for far less than their original retail price. Many of the models below are overlooked vintage pieces, underappreciated Japanese builds from the 1970s and 1980s, or modern guitars that represent exceptional value when bought used. This is a resource for players, not collectors.
Jump to: American (50s-60s) | American (70s-80s) | American Modern | Japanese Copies | Japanese Originals | Modern Sleepers | Guides
Affordable American Vintage (1950s-1960s)
- Harmony Bobkat
- Harmony Rocket
- Harmony Stratotone H-44
- Harmony Stratotone H-45
- Magnatone Zephyr
- Kapa Continental
- Kapa
Japanese Copies – Lawsuit Era (1970s-1980s)
- Tokai Springy Sound
- Greco Strat
- Fernandes Strat
- Yamaha Super R ‘n’ Roller
- Tokai Love Rock
- Greco EG
- Burny Les Paul
- Ibanez Destroyer
- Greco Explorer
- Burny Explorer
Affordable American Vintage (1970s-1980s)
- Gretsch BST
- Guild S-100
- Guild S-300
- Guild T-100
- Peavey T-60 (Plus T-25, T-26, T-27)
- Peavey T-15 and T-30
- Peavey Mystic
Japanese Originals (1970s-1980s)
- Yamaha SG
- Yamaha SC
- Ibanez Artist
- Ibanez Roadstar II
- Aria Pro II PE
- Electra MPC
Modern American Sleepers (1990s-2000s)
- Fender American Standard Stratocaster (1990s)
- Fender American Standard Telecaster (1990s)
- Fender Highway One Stratocaster (2000s)
- Fender Highway One Telecaster (2000s)
- Gibson SG Faded (early 2000s)
- Gibson Les Paul Studio (1990s-early 2000s)
Modern Sleepers Korea and Other (1990s-2000s)
- Danelectro U2 (Korea, 1990s-2000s)
- DeArmond M75 (Korea, 1990s-2000s)
- DeArmond X155 (Korea, 1990s-2000s)