This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Did your parents ever tell you that you never would make any money with your guitar?
You can prove them wrong this weekend at Salt Lake City's Red Lion Hotel, where the International Vintage Guitar Collectors Association will gladly pay top dollar for your guitar — or your saxophone, banjo, flute, clarinet, mandolin or drum kit. That's virtually any and all instruments — with the possible exception of a plastic kazoo.
"You never know what's going to be in the case," said Noah Wenger, manager of the six-member team that travels around the country for 40 shows a year buying instruments. (There are five teams that roam the world.)
In the past year, for example, Metallica frontman James Hetfield bought a 1960 Gibson Les Paul prototype for $285,000 from the association, which often works in concert with auction houses or collectors.