Prepare the instrument

Before photographing used gear, remove dust, fingerprints and ordinary surface dirt. The goal is to present the item well, not to make it appear different from its actual condition.

Avoid aggressive or improvised work immediately before selling. Unsuitable products, excessive polishing or deep cleaning can damage finishes, plastics, metal parts or electronic components.

If there are scratches, dents, corrosion or permanent marks, do not try to hide them in the photos. Cleaning and transparency should work together: a clean instrument is easier to assess, while clearly documented defects reduce misunderstandings after the sale.

For equipment requiring specialist maintenance, limit preparation to tasks you can perform safely and disclose any work that may still be needed.

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 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.

Before listing, create a simple condition record for the item. Separating factual notes from sales copy helps prevent important details from being forgotten.

Record at least:

• visible cosmetic marks;
• known functional defects;
• replaced parts;
• modifications;
• known previous repairs;
• non-original components;
• missing items;
• work that may still be required.

Photograph the most relevant defects and keep additional detailed images beyond those you publish.

A modification is not automatically a defect, and an upgrade does not automatically increase value. What matters is that the buyer understands what is original, what has been changed and the item’s present condition.

Before publishing, check everything that will actually be included with the item.

This may include:

• gig bag, case or flight case;
• power supply;
• proprietary cables;
• manuals;
• certificates;
• receipt or available documentation;
• original parts removed after a modification;
• specific accessories;
• original packaging.

Do not describe an item as “complete” unless you know what was originally supplied. Instead, explicitly list what the buyer will receive.

Original parts retained after a modification can be important to buyers who may want to restore the factory configuration and can influence the negotiation.