Where to Sell a Guitar: Compare Convenience and Net Proceeds
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Where you should sell a guitar comes down to one choice: how much work you’ll do versus how much money you keep. A store can pay you the same day. An online listing may get a higher price, but fees, shipping, and waiting all cut into what you end up with. This guide compares the main options and shows how to estimate what you’ll take home before you decide.
The Main Places to Sell a Guitar
| Route | How it works | Your effort | What reduces your proceeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local private sale | You post on local classifieds or marketplace apps and meet the buyer | Medium: messages, meetups, haggling | Few direct fees, but fewer buyers |
| Specialist dealer | An independent or vintage shop buys the guitar or sells it for you on consignment | Low | The dealer’s resale margin or consignment commission |
| Guitar Center | You get a trade-in or purchase offer in the store | Low | The store needs room to resell at a profit |
| Reverb | You list on a marketplace built for music gear | High: photos, listing, questions, shipping | Selling fees, payment processing, shipping, packing |
| eBay | You list on a general marketplace | High: same as Reverb | Selling fees, payment processing, shipping, packing |
Check each platform’s current fee page before you list. Fees change, and they can vary by country and category.
Net Proceeds vs Sale Price
The number that matters is your net proceeds: the sale price minus every cost of getting the guitar to the buyer. That covers platform fees, payment processing, shipping, packing materials, and any discount you accept after offers.
Also, don’t confuse asking prices with completed sales. A listing at $1,200 only tells you what one seller hopes to get. Completed sales and price guides are better evidence, but a sold listing can display an asking price rather than a hidden accepted offer. Use actual transaction prices where available, comparing the same model, year, and condition.
Worked Example With Assumed Numbers
Every figure below is a made-up assumption for illustration. None of it is a real fee schedule or market price.
Assumptions:
- An online sale at $1,000
- Selling and payment fees of 11% combined
- $70 for shipping and $15 for packing materials, both paid by you
- A local buyer who pays $900 after haggling
- A store offer of $600
| Route | Assumed sale price | Assumed costs | Assumed net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online marketplace | $1,000 | $110 fees + $70 shipping + $15 packing | $805 |
| Local private sale | $900 | $0 | $900 |
| Store offer | $600 | $0 | $600 |
In this example the local sale comes out ahead, but only if a local buyer will actually pay $900. If nobody nearby wants the guitar, selling online may be the only way to get that price. The store pays the least but also asks the least of you. To try your own numbers, enter your assumptions into the trade-in calculator.
How to Choose a Route
- You need the money today: a store or dealer offer is the simplest option.
- The guitar is a common model that sells well locally: a private sale lets you keep most of the price.
- The guitar is rare, high value, or niche: an online marketplace or specialist dealer reaches more of the right buyers.
- You’re comfortable packing and shipping: Reverb and eBay become realistic options. Read how to ship a guitar before you list.
For a closer look at the two most common choices, see Reverb vs Guitar Center.
Before You List or Get a Quote
- Clean the guitar, and change the strings if they’re worn.
- Write down the serial number, any modifications, and any repairs.
- Take clear photos of the front, back, headstock, and any wear.
- Include the case and original parts if you have them.
- Get more than one store quote if you can. Offers can differ from shop to shop.
If one of those quotes comes from Guitar Center, it helps to know how the Guitar Center trade-in process works before you visit. Offers are set after an in-person inspection, and the payment method depends on the amount. Knowing those rules lets you compare the store figure fairly against your estimated private or online net.
