The short answer
Where you sell depends on what the item is and how fast you want the money. Guitars, pedals and boutique gear usually do best on Reverb, where buyers already know the models. Heavy amps and cabinets are easier to sell locally, because shipping risk and cost eat the margin. A shop pays least but pays today. Whatever you pick, the listing itself decides the price: specific model details, serial number, honest condition notes and good photos are what separate a fast sale from a gear ad that sits for months.
Where to sell, side by side
| Where | Best for | Cost to you | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverb | Guitars, amps, pedals, vintage gear | Selling fee plus payment processing | Buyers who know the models; strongest prices for niche and vintage gear, but you ship it. |
| eBay | Common models and accessories | Selling fee plus payment processing | Biggest audience of all, but more bargain hunters and more returns admin. |
| Facebook Marketplace / local ads | Amps, cabinets, heavy or fragile items | No platform fee | No shipping and no fees, but local-only reach and you meet buyers in person. |
| Local shop — outright sale | Anything you want gone today | None; priced below retail | Fastest and least effort, lowest payout — the shop needs resale margin. |
| Consignment with a shop or dealer | High-value and vintage instruments | Commission on the sale price | Expert presentation to serious buyers; you wait for the right one. |
| Specialist auction | Rare and collectible instruments | Seller commission | Best route for genuinely rare pieces; provenance and documentation matter most here. |
Fee structures change, so check the current seller fees on each platform before you price. The pattern that doesn't change: fee-free local sales cost you reach, and the widest reach costs you a percentage.
Pick by what you're selling
- Electric or acoustic guitar, mid to high value. Reverb first, eBay as a backup. Ship in a hard case, insured for the sale price.
- Amp head, combo or cabinet. Local sale. Shipping a heavy tube amp is where profits and speaker baffles both go to die.
- Pedals and small accessories. Reverb or eBay — light, cheap to ship, easy to describe.
- Vintage or collectible instruments. Consignment with a specialist dealer or a specialist auction, where documentation and provenance get paid for.
- Anything you just want gone. A local shop, accepting that you're paying for the convenience in price.
What a listing needs to sell at the price you want
Serious buyers are checking whether they can trust you. Every gap in the description is a reason to offer less or to walk away.
- Exact make, model and yearThe specific variant, not just “Strat”.
- Serial numberPhotographed clearly; it proves the item is the one you describe.
- Finish and colourPlus any fading, checking or refinish work.
- Original vs replaced partsPickups, tuners, electronics, speakers, valves.
- Honest condition notesDings, buckle rash, fret wear, crackly pots — name them.
- Photos from every angleFront, back, headstock, hardware, and each flaw.
- Case and accessoriesOriginal case, footswitch, cables, boxes and manuals.
- Receipts and service historySetups, refrets and repairs justify your asking price.
How to price it
- Find recent completed sales of the same model, year and condition — not asking prices.
- Adjust down for non-original parts, heavy wear or a missing original case.
- Adjust up for documented service history, receipts and original packaging.
- Subtract the platform fee and shipping so you know your actual net.
- Set the price a little above your floor, and decide in advance what offer you'll accept.
Values move both ways, which is why the same records that support a sale price also matter for cover — see how to document a guitar for insurance and the coverage guide. Keep the item insured until the buyer has it, not until you post it.
Write the listing from records you already have
If your gear is already catalogued, the listing writes itself. AxeProtector's Seller tool takes the instrument you already logged — make, model, year, serial number, finish, condition notes, service history — and drafts marketplace listing copy from it, so nothing important gets left out and you're not retyping specs into every platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to sell musical instruments?
For guitars, amps and pedals, Reverb reaches the most buyers who already know what your gear is worth. eBay is broader but noisier, Facebook Marketplace is best for heavy amps and cabinets sold locally with cash, and a local store is the fastest option if you accept a trade-in style price.
Is it better to sell to a store or sell it yourself?
Selling it yourself almost always nets more, because a store has to resell at a profit. A store or consignment makes sense when you want the item gone quickly, don't want to ship it, or you're trading toward another instrument.
What details do buyers want in a listing?
Make, model, year, serial number, finish and colour, what's original versus replaced, any damage or wear, whether you have the case, receipts and service history, and clear photos including the headstock, back, hardware and serial number.
How do I price an instrument I'm selling?
Check recent completed sales of the same model, year and condition rather than active asking prices, then adjust for non-original parts, cosmetic wear and whether the original case is included. Documented service history and receipts support the higher end of the range.
How do I ship a guitar safely?
Loosen the strings, support the headstock, pack the instrument in a hard case inside a rigid double-walled box with padding on all six sides, and insure the shipment for the sale price. Photograph the packed item before it leaves.
This page is general guidance on selling used instruments, not financial, tax or insurance advice. Platform fees and policies change — confirm them before you list. See our Disclaimer.