For any musician looking to sell or upgrade their gear, one important question arises: where to sell music equipment? With so many options available both online and in stores, it’s not always clear what the best venues are.
In this guide, LitCommerce will walk you through the top marketplaces that musicians can use to sell their used instruments, pedals, amps, and more. We’ll compare top places to sell musical instruments like:
This article will help you understand where you can get the most exposure for your gear listings. So whether you have a guitar, drums, or studio equipment to offload, read on to find out where to sell music equipment online!
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Where to Sell Music Equipment
There are several popular online marketplaces for selling used music equipment. Each platform has its own approach. Let’s delve into the 5 best places to sell musical equipment:
Reverb – Best for all types of musical instruments
If you wonder where to sell musical instruments, then you can try Reverb, a marketplace dedicated solely to music gear. It provides a hub for musicians to browse instruments, accessories, and studio equipment.
As a seller, you can make detailed listings, including multiple photos, descriptions, and pricing for individual items or full studio setups. Reverb also allows you to add up to 25 pictures, showing your instrument from all sides.
Reverb charges a total fee of 5% selling fees + +3.19% + $0.49 payment processing fee. However, they also provide seller protection through their payments system, which fronts money from purchases until the item is received by the buyer.
Pros
Dedicated music gear marketplace
Large buyer base of musicians
Seller protection programs
Cons
Transaction fees collected
If you are interested in this platform, read our detailed Reverb marketplace review for more information.
eBay – Best for diverse instrument selection
eBay is well known for being one of the best-selling platforms and a hub of second-hand e-shopping, allowing sellers to list all product categories on its platform. That’s eBay is one of the places to sell instruments, like guitars, flexagon, organ, etc.
Music equipment can be sold through traditional auctions, with multiple bidders driving up the price. You can also sell your used music gear with fixed-price listings akin to online classifieds. Besides, one of the greatest benefits of eBay store is the provided tools for product description and promotion.
Nevertheless, as a marketplace spanning all categories, eBay takes a larger cut of sales prices compared to music-only sites. For instrument gear, you don’t have to pay for the insertion fee. But eBay charges you $0.03/order and a final value fee between 2.35% and 6.35% of the total sale amount, depending on how many items you sell.
Pros
Huge platform with a vast audience
Option to auction items off
Cons
Higher fees than specialized sites
Less music-focused marketplace (compared to Reverb)
You can read our thorough guide on how to sell on eBay to start selling your musical instruments.
Craigslist – Best for localized musical instrument sales
Besides Reverb, Craigslist is a free classifieds site for where to sell guitars around your area. It is organized by city or region, perfect for finding local buyers to avoid shipping costs.
Sellers create simple text-based ads within the site’s music gear section of their local area. Communication with potential buyers is done directly via phone, email, or in-person meetings.
With no transaction services, there are no fees attached to posting free classified listings on Craigslist. However, sellers must facilitate payments and shipping on their own if selling to remote buyers.
Pros
Free classified listings
Localization to avoid shipping
Cons
Safety risk meeting buyers in person
Facebook Marketplace – Best for individuals
Similar to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to answer the question of where to sell music equipment locally. In particular, it allows you to sell your music gear within their community on the social network.
Listings can be made with photos and descriptions that are discoverable to other users in the nearby area. An advantage is easy communication through Facebook Messenger to arrange meetups.
As a free service, there are no fees on Marketplace when selling as individuals. This makes it the best place to sell musical instruments. But sellers are also responsible for their own payments and shipping if selling remotely rather than locally.
Pros
Free local listings
Existing Facebook network
Cons
No specialization in music
Safety meeting local buyers
Learn how to start an online boutique on Facebook to open your new music gear store.
Sweetwater Gear Exchange – Best for Used Music Instruments
If you’re looking for where to sell used music equipment, then Sweetwater Gear Exchange is also one of the great options. This smaller marketplace, run by music instrument retailer Sweetwater, focuses only on used music gear.
Sweetwater makes the listing process easy by providing you with a Gear Exchange Product Finder. It lets you quickly search your instruments and auto-fill the item specifications in your listing. Inventory posted for sale is prominently featured on Sweetwater.com to reach their customer base of musicians.
Sweetwater handles all transactions and shipping through their site. However, as a smaller platform, fees may be higher than larger competitors to account for lower volume and dedicated service. In particular, Sweetwater charges you a standard fee of 7.5%, and you can use your earnings as a Sweetwater Gift Card and pay no fees.
Pros
Focus on music gear
Reputable company
Cons
Smaller buyer base than other platforms
Higher fees
Summary table – Best places to sell music equipment
Platform | Focus | Transaction Fees | Local Selling | Seller Protection |
Reverb | Music gear | Yes | No | Yes |
eBay | All products | Yes | No | Yes |
Craigslist | All local products | No | Yes | No |
Facebook Marketplace | All local products | No | Yes | No |
Sweetwater Gear Exchange | Music gear | No | No | No |
Tips to Maximize Your Musical Instrument Sales Potential
Now you know where to sell music equipment. Whether selling through online marketplaces or in your own store, there are strategies to boost your musical instrument sales. With the right approach, you can tap into the large market of musicians seeking new and used gear.
- Optimize listings for visibility: First, you should take clear, well-lit photos showcasing the instrument from multiple angles. Then, include comprehensive details on specs and conditions to help buyers find your listing. Also, remember to keep prices competitive to attract interest.
- Provide prompt responses: Timely communication builds trust with potential buyers. So, you should respond quickly to messages, whether it’s questions about the item or working out payment and shipping logistics. Make sure to leave buyers satisfied with their experience.
- Ensure transparency in transactions: You need to clearly describe the instrument’s features and any signs of wear. Besides, be upfront about shipping costs and policies. Process payments securely and get the item to buyers without delay. And remember that honesty will earn you positive reviews that bring more sales.
Where to Sell Guitar – FAQs
The best place to sell used music equipment depends on your specific needs and goals. National marketplaces like Reverb and eBay provide the largest potential audience but charge fees. For local sales with no fees, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are best. Yes, you can sell music equipment to Guitar Center. They buy a variety of used guitars, amps, drums, DJ equipment, and more, depending on brand, age, and condition. Get an offer online first before visiting your local Guitar Center store. Yes, Sweetwater buys certain used guitars that meet their criteria. They evaluate each guitar on a case-by-case basis to determine quality and value. Sweetwater then offers store credit for the appraised amount, which can be put towards new gear.
Turn Your Music Instruments Into Cash Now!
In conclusion, musicians have several good options for where to sell music equipment. You can find local buyers on Craigslist or Facebook and reach a bigger audience nationwide on Reverb or eBay. It’s also worth checking if stores like Sweetwater or Guitar Center will purchase individual instruments.
Make sure to do research on fees and required conditions to maximize your financial return. Also, utilizing ecommerce strategies and best practices for your unique needs and goals is key to successful music equipment sales.
If you have any questions about where to sell musical instruments, feel free to contact us. You can also visit our Blog and Facebook Community to learn more tips to succeed in selling music instruments and other gear.