An American-made Gibson SG, a beautifully understated Taylor and a limited-edition Martin dreadnought. Three very different guitars have landed in Musicmaker's pre-owned collection, and they're all rather difficult to ignore.
Look. Sometimes sensible financial planning becomes temporarily less interesting than an instrument hanging on a shop wall.
You weren't looking for another guitar. You certainly weren't planning to buy one today. You might even have made a solemn promise to somebody at home that the collection was complete.
And then you spot something.
An old Gibson in a wonderfully worn-looking finish. A dark, elegant Taylor that seems to have been designed specifically to ruin/improve your afternoon. A Martin dreadnought with a fascinating story and some seriously impressive timber beneath its understated exterior.
Suddenly, you've got questions.
How does it play? What year is it? What's going on with that finish? Can I just try it for five minutes?
Five minutes. Of course.
This is the joy of pre-owned guitars. They don't arrive as a carefully coordinated product launch. They turn up individually, each with its own specifications, history, condition and appeal. Sometimes you get a familiar favourite at an attractive price. Sometimes you discover a model you didn't even know existed.
And occasionally, three particularly tasty instruments find themselves in Musicmaker at the same time.
Right now, our pre-owned guitar and gear collection includes a Gibson SG Special Faded, a Taylor 324ce Shaded Edgeburst from 2024 and a limited-edition Martin DR Centennial dreadnought.
Three very different guitars. Three compelling reasons to visit Exchequer Street.
Let's get properly acquainted.
Pre-Owned Gibson SG Special Faded Worn Brown — €929
A Proper American Gibson With Absolutely No Interest in Behaving
There are certain guitar shapes that don't need introducing. The Gibson SG is one of them.
Those pointed horns, the slim body, the gloriously unapologetic double-cutaway silhouette. It's a design that has spent decades appearing in the hands of players who tend to turn amplifiers up rather than down. And this particular pre-owned Gibson SG Special Faded in Worn Brown captures something especially appealing about the whole idea.
It looks like a working guitar.
Not a heavily decorated showpiece. Not an instrument desperately trying to persuade you that it's important. Just a beautifully straightforward American-made Gibson with a restrained brown finish, a pair of humbuckers and a healthy appetite for loud amplifiers. The Faded treatment is a big part of its charm. Rather than the thick, mirror-like gloss associated with some more elaborate Gibson models, the Worn Brown finish has a subdued, tactile appearance that lets the character of the mahogany come through.
It's wonderfully unfussy.
The SG's construction is equally appealing. A mahogany body and set mahogany neck provide the familiar foundation, while the shorter 24.75-inch Gibson scale length gives the strings a slightly different feel from a typical 25.5-inch Fender-style instrument. That difference can be particularly noticeable when bending strings. At the same tuning and string gauge, the shorter scale generally produces a little less tension, giving the fretting hand a pleasantly yielding response.
And then there's the upper-fret access. One of the SG's great pleasures is how little bodywork gets in the way when you venture towards the dusty end of the fingerboard. The double cutaways leave plenty of room for ambitious lead lines, expressive bends and the sort of solo that makes the drummer check the time.
Tonally, this SG follows the classic dual-humbucker recipe.
A pair of humbuckers offers a broad palette of thick rhythm sounds, smooth lead tones and more restrained clean textures. Ask the guitar department to confirm the pickups fitted to this individual instrument, its production year and any changes from the original specification. The familiar three-way selector and independent volume and tone controls give you plenty of scope to shape the sound from the guitar itself.
There's a lot to be said for an electric guitar that encourages you to use the controls rather than immediately reaching for another pedal. Roll back the neck pickup's tone for a rounded blues sound. Bring in the bridge pickup for something more aggressive. Push a good valve-style amplifier into overdrive and enjoy the glorious midrange snarl that has made SGs such a fixture of rock music. It's not difficult to imagine this guitar in a garage-rock band, an alternative outfit, a blues trio or a particularly noisy rehearsal room.
And that's the beauty of it. The SG isn't limited to one genre. Its stripped-back design leaves plenty of room for the player to decide what happens next.
At €929, this pre-owned Gibson offers an intriguing route into the world of American-made Gibson electrics.
Explore the Pre-Owned Gibson SG Special Faded Worn Brown
If this has awakened your appetite for pointy-horned trouble, you can also browse Gibson guitars at Musicmaker or investigate our electric guitar collection.
But do have a look at the actual SG first.
There is only one of this particular pre-owned guitar.
And it looks rather ready for its next gig.
Pre-Owned Taylor 324ce Shaded Edgeburst (2024) — €1,799
Dark, Woody, Beautifully Balanced and Ridiculously Good-Looking
Some acoustic guitars make their entrance with bright maple, elaborate inlays and enough decorative detail to keep a jewellery designer occupied for several days.
The Taylor 324ce takes a rather different approach.
This 2024 pre-owned example, finished in Shaded Edgeburst, is an absolute beauty. The finish moves from warm, earthy tones towards darker edges, creating a wonderfully rich appearance that suits the guitar's understated personality. It's sophisticated without being showy, and there's something particularly appealing about an acoustic that looks this good without shouting about it.
But the real story is in the construction.
The 324ce belongs to Taylor's 300 Series and uses the company's enormously popular Grand Auditorium body shape. If you've spent time around Taylor acoustics, you'll know why this design has become such a favourite. It's a remarkably versatile shape. Large enough to deliver convincing projection and bass response, but comfortable enough for extended fingerstyle sessions, the Grand Auditorium occupies a useful middle ground between smaller-bodied acoustics and full dreadnoughts.
That versatility is especially attractive to singer-songwriters.
You might spend the afternoon working through delicate fingerpicked passages, then head to a rehearsal and need the guitar to hold its own under a firmer strumming hand. A good Grand Auditorium handles both situations without making you feel as though you've brought the wrong instrument.
The 324ce's solid mahogany top is another important part of its character. Spruce is the dominant soundboard material in much of the acoustic guitar world, and for good reason. But hardwood-topped acoustics can offer something beautifully different. Mahogany tops are often appreciated for a focused, woody response, strong midrange presence and a slightly compressed character when played with more force. Rather than emphasising a brilliant, sparkling top end, they can give individual notes a pleasing sense of warmth and definition. For recording, that can be particularly useful.
A guitar with a controlled, articulate midrange often sits comfortably around a vocal, leaving room for the singer without demanding an enormous amount of corrective EQ.
Then there's Taylor's V-Class bracing.
Traditional acoustic guitar bracing has to balance several competing demands. The soundboard needs enough structural support to withstand string tension, but it also needs the freedom to vibrate. Taylor's V-Class design approaches that balancing act differently from conventional X-bracing, aiming to improve sustain, projection and the relationship between notes across the fingerboard.
The result is an instrument designed to deliver a clear, coherent acoustic response, particularly when moving between chords and single-note passages.
And this isn't merely a beautiful guitar for playing at home. The 324ce includes Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics, which use sensors positioned behind the saddle to translate the instrument's vibrations into an amplified signal. For a gigging acoustic player, that's an important detail. A good pickup system means you can take the guitar from the sitting room to the stage without relying entirely on a microphone in front of the soundhole. The onboard volume and tone controls also provide useful adjustment when you're working with a PA or acoustic amplifier.
Add the Venetian cutaway, comfortable Taylor neck and ebony fingerboard, and you've got an instrument designed to be played regularly rather than admired from a respectful distance.
This particular guitar is a 2024 example, making it a relatively recent pre-owned instrument. As always, we'd recommend checking the individual photographs and asking the team about its condition, accessories and setup.
But on paper, the combination is extremely attractive.
A solid mahogany Taylor. A versatile Grand Auditorium body. V-Class bracing. ES2 electronics. That magnificent Shaded Edgeburst finish.
There are quite a few reasons to pick it up.
Explore the Pre-Owned Taylor 324ce Shaded Edgeburst 2024
You can also explore more Taylor guitars at Musicmaker and browse our wider acoustic guitar collection.
But we suspect this particular 324ce will have a few admirers.
It has that look.
Pre-Owned Martin DR Centennial Limited Edition — €1,799
A Dreadnought With History in Its DNA
Now this is a fascinating one.
Martin's influence on the modern steel-string acoustic guitar is difficult to overstate. The company's dreadnought designs helped establish the big-bodied acoustic sound that became central to country, folk, bluegrass and countless other musical traditions. The dreadnought didn't begin as an obvious future classic. Its substantial body was a departure from the smaller guitars that preceded it, and the design developed into something increasingly important as musicians demanded more volume and authority from their acoustic instruments.
A century later, that silhouette remains one of the most recognisable in music.
Which brings us to this pre-owned Martin DR Centennial Limited Edition.
Created to celebrate 100 years of the Martin dreadnought, the DR Centennial is an American-made instrument with a specification that deserves a proper look. Because there's some seriously interesting timber involved. The top is Adirondack spruce treated with Martin's Vintage Tone System, or VTS. Adirondack spruce has a long association with powerful, responsive acoustic guitars, particularly instruments built for demanding flatpicking and dynamic playing. It's prized for its strength-to-weight characteristics and ability to accommodate a forceful attack without losing composure.
VTS introduces another interesting element.
Martin uses a controlled thermal treatment process to alter the spruce, aiming to recreate some of the characteristics associated with naturally aged soundboards. It's important not to confuse that with a guarantee that a new instrument will sound exactly like an old one. Wood, construction, individual variation and the player's touch all matter. But the combination of Adirondack spruce and VTS is a particularly attractive starting point for a dreadnought designed around traditional acoustic character.
Behind the top, you'll find forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing. Now we're getting into the delicious stuff. Bracing is the internal framework that supports the soundboard. Its shape, position and mass influence how the top vibrates and how the guitar responds to different playing dynamics. Moving the X-bracing forward and scalloping selected sections can allow parts of the soundboard to move more freely, helping create the sort of bass response, projection and dynamic range that serious dreadnought players appreciate.
And this Martin has plenty of room to make use of that design.
Its traditional D-14 fret body gives it the full-sized dreadnought format, while East Indian rosewood back and sides contribute to the familiar combination of low-end authority, rich overtones and articulate high notes associated with many rosewood-bodied acoustics. The result is a guitar designed for players who like their acoustics to have a bit of muscle.
Big open chords. Flatpicked melodies. Driving rhythm accompaniment. Bluegrass runs that need to remain clear when the right hand gets enthusiastic. This is very much that sort of instrument. But there's a pleasingly modern side to the playing experience.
Martin's Modified Low Oval neck profile with High Performance Taper is designed to provide a comfortable feel across the fingerboard. The 1¾-inch bone nut offers useful spacing for accurate fretting and fingerstyle work, while the 25.4-inch scale maintains the familiar tension and response of a full-sized steel-string acoustic.
So although the DR Centennial celebrates a historic guitar design, it isn't demanding that you adopt an uncomfortable vintage neck just to enjoy it. Visually, Martin has kept things beautifully restrained. The satin natural finish, antique white binding, tortoise-style pickguard, old-style script headstock logo and open-gear tuners give the guitar a traditional appearance without overwhelming the woodwork.
And we rather like that.
A guitar with Adirondack VTS spruce, rosewood back and sides and forward-shifted scalloped bracing doesn't need a great deal of decoration to justify its existence.
There's one more important detail: the DR Centennial is a discontinued model.
That gives this pre-owned example an appeal beyond its specification. It's an opportunity to own a particular chapter of Martin's dreadnought history, rather than simply ordering the latest model from a current catalogue. For a guitarist who loves the classic American acoustic tradition, that's an intriguing proposition.
Explore the Pre-Owned Martin DR Centennial Limited Edition
And if you'd like to investigate the wider family, browse Martin guitars at Musicmaker or explore our steel-string acoustic guitars.
But don't overlook this particular Centennial.
It's a very interesting guitar indeed.
Three Guitars. Three Completely Different Reasons to Fall in Love.
Here's what makes this little pre-owned collection so enjoyable.
The Gibson SG Special Faded is a straightforward, wonderfully characterful electric guitar. Its mahogany construction, dual humbuckers and classic Gibson scale make it an attractive choice for somebody who wants a proper rock-and-roll instrument without unnecessary ornamentation.
The Taylor 324ce offers a completely different experience. With its solid mahogany top, Grand Auditorium body, V-Class bracing and ES2 electronics, it's an elegant acoustic-electric designed for expressive playing, songwriting and regular performance.
And the Martin DR Centennial is the traditional acoustic heavyweight. Adirondack VTS spruce, East Indian rosewood and forward-shifted scalloped bracing make it a compelling proposition for players who appreciate the power and complexity of a serious dreadnought.
There's no sensible way to declare one the winner.
The right guitar depends on what you play, how you play and which instrument makes you reluctant to put it down.
And that's exactly why pre-owned shopping is so much fun.
Why Buy a Pre-Owned Guitar in Ireland?
Buying a second-hand guitar can be an excellent way to explore instruments that might otherwise sit outside your budget.
But value isn't always just about paying less than the original retail price.
Sometimes it's about finding a discontinued model. Sometimes it's about discovering a finish that isn't currently available. Sometimes it's about coming across an instrument with exactly the combination of body shape, neck profile, pickups or tonewoods you've been looking for.
There are practical considerations, too.
Every pre-owned guitar is an individual instrument. Its cosmetic condition, setup, fret wear, electronics, modifications and included accessories all deserve attention.
That's why it's worth asking questions, examining the actual photographs and, whenever possible, getting the guitar into your hands before deciding.
And with a guitar like the Gibson SG, Taylor 324ce or Martin DR Centennial, the playing experience is the whole point.
A specification sheet can tell you an enormous amount.
It can't tell you how quickly you'll become attached to the thing.
Come and Meet the Three New Arrivals
There's something wonderfully unpredictable about the pre-owned section at Musicmaker.
A guitar might arrive on Monday and be gone by Friday. Another might sit quietly for a few days before the exact right person walks through the door and falls completely in love with it.
That's the nature of individual pre-owned instruments.
Right now, these three are available to investigate:
The Gibson SG Special Faded Worn Brown at €929.
The Taylor 324ce Shaded Edgeburst from 2024 at €1,799.
And the Martin DR Centennial Limited Edition dreadnought at €1,799.
All three were listed as in stock on 10 November 2026 when we put this feature together, but availability can change quickly. If one catches your eye, we'd recommend checking its product page or contacting the team before making a special journey.
Browse the full Musicmaker Pre-Owned collection, explore our guitar and bass department, or come and visit us at 29 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2.
Each is an individual pre-owned guitar, rather than stock we can simply replenish. Enquire with the Musicmaker team about the one that catches your eye, its cosmetic condition, included case and accessories.
Free shipping around Ireland on orders over €15.
We've been helping Dublin guitarists find their next favourite instrument since 1981.
And frankly, we're still just as excited about the good ones.
Independent minds. Serious gear. Glorious noise.
