8 Best Places to Sell Musical Instruments for Cash

Do you have musical instruments that you no longer use and want to sell?

In my house we play piano, violin, cello and ukulele, so we know a little about buying and selling instruments for the best price.

In this article I share:

• 8 Best Places to Sell Musical Instruments earn extra money
• How to sell used tools
• How to find the value of your tools

And more!

Recommended reading: 11 Best Ways to Make Money Listening to Music

The 8 Best Places to Sell Musical Instruments

Here are the best places to sell musical instruments for the most money.

1. Music Go Round

Music Go Round is a music store with over 30 locations in the United States. They specialize in selling tools and buying used tools from customers.

To sell your musical instrument to Music Go Round, you must bring the instrument in person so they can review the item and research it to find its fair market value. Music Go Round buys all types of instruments such as guitars, amplifiers, keyboards, MIDI equipment, mixers, professional sound equipment, as well as band instruments and accessories. They then give you an offer and pay on the spot, or you can exchange them for an item in the store.

2. Guitar Center

Guitar Center is one of the most popular places to sell used musical instruments. With over 300 locations across the United States, you’re likely to find one near you. Guitar Center reviews items and pays same day, which is convenient. There are additional benefits for trading in your gear, such as a 10% discount on the purchase of a new gear.

Before bringing your items to Guitar Center, gently clean everything and make sure you have all the included parts. An expert will review your product, rate it, and pay you the same day.

3. Local music stores

There’s a good chance you have a local music store in your town. Where I live, we have quite a few people, so there are many options for buying and selling used tools and accessories. It’s easy to find out if there are local music stores near you with a simple search like “music stores near you” on Google or your phone’s maps. Then you can visit their website or call the store to find out if they buy used tools and equipment.

To get the most bang for your buck for your musical instrument, you can try multiple local music stores and see who will pay the most. Some stores may also offer store credit.

4. Reverb

Reverb is an online marketplace specifically for buying and selling musical instruments and accessories. It’s free to list items on Reverb and you only pay a 5% selling fee and a payment processing fee if your items sell. Reverb also includes plenty of tips and guides for successfully selling items on its platform.

This is a great place to sell anything related to music, as Reverb has a large, targeted audience of serious buyers. You can choose to sell locally or ship to buyers elsewhere.

5. eBay

EBay is a global online marketplace where you can buy and sell almost anything. What makes eBay different from other selling platforms is the option to list or auction an item for a certain price. If you have a rare or collectible item that you think could fetch you more money, auctions might be a good thing to try.

Because eBay has millions of users, your listing can be seen by many people, but it also means that many people are selling items on eBay, which creates more competition. EBay also involves physically shipping the item to you, so you’ll need to think about that as an extra layer of work when selling your tool (for example, you might want to think about the cost of shipping).

6. Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Sweetwater Gear Exchange is an online platform dedicated to buying and selling used musical instruments. This is a great option to sell your instrument and musical instrument as the people browsing this website are usually serious musicians looking for quality musical instruments and accessories.

The platform has the option to sell locally or ship if you prefer. Listing on the website is easy and similar to Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Craigslist.

7. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a common place to sell musical instruments because it’s free to use and you can meet local people. Selling on Facebook Marketplace is also easy because almost everyone is on Facebook.

You’ll want a clear, searchable title like “Yamaha Acoustic Guitar – Excellent Condition”. Also, don’t forget to take great photos showing all aspects of the product in natural lighting, and tag your ad with relevant keywords.

When you find a buyer, remember to meet in a well-lit, public, safe place. It could be a police station parking lot or even a coffee shop.

8. Craigslist

Craigslist is one of the most popular and longest running places to sell musical instruments. To successfully sell your tools on Craigslist, use a clear title including the make and tool, take high-quality photos with good lighting, include important details the buyer wants to know (such as age, condition, etc.), and price it realistically.

Selling tools on Craigslist can be a little tricky because you’re limited to your local area. But it’s free because there’s no listing fee, which is nice. If you live in a heavily populated area, this may work well. However, if you live in a small town, Craigslist can be more difficult because you won’t have as many potential buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about selling musical instruments.

How do I sell my used musical instruments?

To sell your musical instruments, first think about where you want to sell your items. You’ll want to think about things like selling quickly (and making less money) or if you have the time and are willing to potentially get more money by waiting for the right buyer. Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have zero fees and allow you to sell locally, which can earn you more money. However, places like Sweetwater Gear Exchange cater specifically to serious music buyers, so you can find the right buyer and sell quickly, but you’ll have to pay fees and shipping.

Does Guitar Center pay cash for instruments?

Guitar Center buys instruments and can pay cash on the spot if they accept your item. Most Guitar Center places pay around $1,000 on the spot, and if it’s more, they pay by check.

Where is the best place to sell my guitar?

The best place to sell your guitar depends on how much you want to get for it and how quickly you want to sell it. Selling directly to a local person can make you the most money, but since your pool of buyers is local and not national or worldwide, you may have to wait a while to find someone to buy your product. If you want to experience almost no hassle, you can go to your local music store or Guitar Center, but remember that these stores are planning to sell the item to a future buyer, so they have to consider how much they are willing to pay you.

How to find the value of a musical instrument?

If you want to find out the value of your musical instrument or accessories, check out platforms like eBay or Reverb to see what similar instruments (of the same brand, of course) are selling for. Also, see listed prices and completed sales for the most accurate prices.

How much do music stores pay for used instruments?

Music stores pay less than you would if you sold directly to another person because they have to resell the item to make a profit. Small local music stores can offer you 30% to 60% of fair market value, while larger chains like Guitar Center offer based on terms and demand.

What are the best places to sell musical instruments online?

The best places to sell your musical instrument online include platforms like Reverb, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. I think Reverb is especially great because its audience is focused on serious musicians and buyers, while places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have all sorts of buyers looking for anything and everything.

The 8 Best Places to Sell Musical Instruments – Roundup

I hope you enjoyed my article on the best places to sell musical instruments.

There are several places where you can sell musical instruments, some easier and more convenient than others. You can sell your drums, piano, guitar, violin and many other musical equipment and these items are usually in good demand!

I hope this post has helped you sell musical instruments!

Trying to sell a musical instrument?

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