Hi fam,

I’ve been buying and selling a lot of guitars on Facebook Marketplace and craigslist lately. This made for a good opportunity to do a video on 9 Tips for Buying Used Guitars. I learned some of these tips by trial and error, and I learned the others from my five years of working at a music store. These are great things to keep in mind if you are in the market for a new/used guitar. I know everyone’s experience is different, so it would be great if you would leave any tips you may have in the comments below.

I hope you enjoy the video,

Nate

9 Tips For Buying Used Guitars On Facebook Marketplace or Craig’s List

1 - Don’t ever start by paying the full asking price. (You don’t get 100% of the discounts you don’t ask for.)

2 - Know what the used guitar you are looking at is going for on the market. (use Reverb.com)

3 - Be courteous when asking for discounts. Two lines I like to use are "I'd like to offer you $XX for your guitar." and "I have $XX if you are willing to let it go for that.".

4 - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. (There are a lot of scammers out there, so be careful.)

5 - A “Cash Only, Local Pickup Only” policy will protect you from a lot of scammers.

6 - Ask the seller a few open-ended questions like “Why are you selling it?” or “How long have you had it?” or "Has the guitar been repaired?". Specific questions like this can sometimes reveal unexpected things.

7 - Be patient… if you can. ;) Waiting for the right guitar at the right price can be very rewarding.

8 - Check for trouble spots on the guitar. (See the video for more details.)

9 - When in doubt, bring a friend with more experience.