Instrument Appraisal

Rebecca Apodaca was the President of A & D Music Incorporated in Southern California. She played music as a child and gravitated to the electric bass. Her father and others such as Doc Kauffman (Leo Fender’s partner) and Bernardo Rico (BC Rich founder) taught her guitar repair. She grew up replacing strings and adjusting necks on guitars. Over the years she received her Certifications and Degrees in Music, Musical Instrument Repair and expanded the services of her business to include appraising musical instruments. She was the first person certified as an “Accredited Senior Ap

Walter Carter along with his wife, Christie, formed Nashville's "friendliest guitar store" when they opened Carter Vintage Guitars.  With a last name so well known in country music, you can understand why a beautiful painting of Mother Maybelle Carter adorns the outside wall of the building.  The couple proudly established a store in which men and women can feel welcomed and comfortable, along with a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and inventory that makes most musicians feel like a kid in a candy store.  Walter has also written several books and articles on the history of frett

Bob Furst was a veteran of the piano industry for over 50 years, Bob sold nearly every brand of player, upright and grand piano that you can think of. Over the years he also became an expert on the value of pianos and a historian on the background of piano manufacturers. With a growing need for updated guides on the prices of vintage pianos, Bob wrote a series of books that he made available on the Internet. The Piano Bluebook has been in print for over 20 years and lists nearly every model and brand name with facts about each style and design.  

George Gruhn is, without question, one of the top experts of vintage guitars on the planet! George collected guitars before opening the world renowned Gruhn Guitar Shop in Nashville, Tenn. He has also authored several historical reference guides and thousands of articles on his vast collection and knowledge.

George Gruhn is without question one of the top experts of vintage guitars on the planet! George collected guitars before opening the world renowned Gruhn Guitar Shop in Nashville, TN in the early 1970s. Since that time he has authored several historical reference guides and thousands of articles on his vast collection and knowledge including “Acoustic Guitars & Other Fretted Instruments: A Photographic History” published in 1993.

Norman Harris loves guitars! His vast knowledge and collection has made him one of the industry’s leading experts on vintage guitars and basses. As the founder of Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, CA, he played an important role in the great boom in vintage guitars that began in the 1980s. His passion for the instruments has made him a sought-after resource for articles, books and museum exhibits around the world. His first NAMM Oral History interview was completed on January 20, 2002 and his most recent aligned with the store's 50th anniversary in 2025. 

Stanley Jay always admired rare and special fretted musical instruments, so it came as no surprise when he and his friend, Haf Kuffner, opened a guitar shop on Staten Island in New York. They named the store the Mandolin Brothers. Over the years the store has become a hub for vintage instruments and Stanley became a world-renowned expert of all things related to fretted instruments. More than that, Stanley brought his own passion for the instruments to each person who walked in his doors.  It was personally rewarding for him to help a player find an instrument they enjoyed.  He  w

Matt Umanov opened his first guitar shop in 1963, following his dream to have a life in music. Over the years, Matt has become one of the world’s leading experts on guitars, which is often expressed in his passion of putting the right instrument in his customer’s hands. Matt Umanov Guitars is located on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York City, which is the perfect location for Matt and his store.  

Stanley Werbin opened a small guitar shop he named Elderly Instruments on July 5, 1972. The original location was in East Lansing, Michigan and focused on "used instruments".  Within a few years Stan watched the growth and development of the vintage guitar market and provided a repair shop and expert staff to address the needs of this new market.  Stan's store was one of the first retail shops to sell vintage gear through the mail and over the Internet.