Guide to selling used musical gear

The listing price and the price you are genuinely willing to accept may be different.

Define three figures in advance:

1. the value you consider consistent with the market;
2. the published asking price;
3. the minimum below which you would rather not sell.

This prevents improvisation during negotiations.

Some negotiation room can be useful, but inflating the price too much may reduce enquiries and make the listing uncompetitive. On the other hand, listing immediately at your absolute minimum leaves little space for the negotiation many buyers expect.

The price should therefore reflect the market, your objective and your selling strategy, not only what you originally paid.

Do not rely only on your memory of how the item worked the last time you used it. Before publishing the listing, perform checks appropriate to the type of gear.

For a guitar or bass, check the electronics, pots, switches, output jack, tuners and main adjustments. For an amplifier, test inputs, controls, channels and unusual noises. For pedals, synths and digital equipment, test power, display, switches, connections and essential functions.

Write down what works, what you could not verify and any unusual behaviour.

“Untested” does not mean “fully working”. If a function has not been tested, state that clearly in the listing.

Before handover or shipping, verify the payment status through the official service used for the transaction.

Do not treat the following as sufficient proof:

• screenshots;
• forwarded emails;
• receipts sent by the buyer;
• messages promising that funds will arrive later.

If payment is pending, conditional or unclear, resolve the situation before losing physical control of the item.

For broader security considerations, this procedure should be read together with the Muviber anti-fraud guide.

For a sales listing, photos should help verify what you say in the description.

Show at least:

• an overall view;
• front and back where relevant;
• model-identifying details;
• areas subject to the most wear;
• disclosed defects;
• included accessories;
• serial number or identification plate in an appropriate form.

Use sharp images that reflect the item’s current condition. Avoid filters that change colour, contrast or the perception of defects.

This guide covers only the minimum documentation required for selling; lighting, framing and photographic preparation can be covered in the dedicated instrument photography guide.

A serial number can help identify an item, verify a version or document the transaction.

Always keep a complete photo for your own records. In the public listing, decide whether to show the full serial number or only part of it according to the type of gear and context.

During negotiations, avoid sharing personal or security information that is not necessary for the sale.

A technical request about the instrument is different from a request for credentials, security codes, personal documents or banking data outside an official procedure.

Before setting the price and writing the listing title, identify the item as accurately as possible.

Check:

• exact brand and model;
• series or revision where applicable;
• year or production period, when verifiable;
• country of manufacture when relevant;
• original configuration;
• serial number;
• differences from the standard version.

Models with similar names can have very different specifications and values. Do not assign a year, origin or version simply because the item “looks like it”.

The serial number can help identification, but consider carefully how much of it to display publicly. Keep a complete record for your own files and decide whether to obscure part of it in listing photos.

After identifying a market range, compare your specific item with the examples used as references.

Value can be affected by:

• cosmetic condition;
• functional condition;
• wear on consumable parts;
• repairs;
• reversible or irreversible modifications;
• presence of original parts;
• case, power supply or accessories;
• documentation and original packaging when relevant.

Do not apply automatic percentages to every type of gear. The importance of each factor changes by category and model.

Description and price should remain consistent: if your item is priced above the average, the listing should make clear why.

Organise the description so it is easy to read.

A useful structure can include:

1. exact identification of the item;
2. general condition;
3. functionality;
4. defects;
5. modifications or repairs;
6. included accessories;
7. delivery method;
8. other genuinely relevant information.

Avoid absolute claims you cannot support, such as “perfect” or “like new”, when there are visible marks or unverified aspects.

The goal is not to write the longest possible text. It is to let the buyer understand what they are buying, its condition and exactly what is included.

Negotiation does not have to concern only the amount of money.

If you are selling a case, power supply, stand, original parts or other accessories, you can consider different scenarios:

• full price with all accessories;
• lower price without a separable item;
• a bundle with multiple products;
• adding an accessory instead of offering a further discount.

Be careful not to remove anything essential to normal use of the item without making that clear.

Any change from the original listing should be understood by both parties before the sale is completed.

For an in-person handover, give the buyer reasonable time to check the item according to what was agreed.

Before parting:

• confirm the item;
• check the accessories;
• revisit any previously disclosed defects;
• verify the payment;
• avoid last-minute changes to the agreement.

With complex equipment, it may not be possible to test every function on the spot. In that case it is even more important that what was tested and what was not tested were already clear in the listing and conversation.