The main places to sell a guitar are local music shops, online marketplaces, pawn shops, and direct to other musicians
You have five realistic routes: a local music store that buys used instruments, an online marketplace like eBay or Reverb, a pawn shop, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for local sales, or a consignment shop that sells it on your behalf and takes a cut. Each one trades speed against price. A music store will buy it from you the same day but will offer less money because they need to resell it. An online marketplace takes longer but reaches more buyers and usually brings higher prices. Pawn shops are fastest but pay the least. Consignment shops split the difference—you wait longer but get more money than a store buyout.
Before you contact anyone, know what your guitar is worth. Search completed listings on Reverb or eBay for the same model and year to see what similar guitars actually sold for, not what people are asking. Check the condition honestly: does it play in tune, are there cracks or deep scratches, does the neck have a bow, are the tuning pegs tight. A guitar in good condition with a case will sell for more than the same model with a cracked body and no case. Take clear photos in daylight from the front, back, headstock, and close-up of any damage.
Key Takeaways
- Music stores buy used guitars on the spot but offer 30 to 50 percent less than online resale value because they need to profit on the resale.
- Online marketplaces like Reverb and eBay reach the most buyers and usually bring the highest price, but the sale takes one to three weeks and you pay shipping and listing fees.
- Pawn shops give you cash when ready but pay the least—typically 20 to 40 percent of resale value—because they assume risk if the guitar doesn't sell.
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist let you sell locally without shipping, but you meet strangers and have no buyer protection if they claim the guitar is broken after purchase.
- Consignment shops hold your guitar and sell it for you, splitting the proceeds, which takes the longest but often brings more money than a store buyout.
Selling to a local music store
Walk in with the guitar, case, and any original accessories (cables, strap, tuner). The store will inspect it, test it, and make an offer on the spot. Most stores will buy almost any working guitar, but the offer depends on brand, condition, and how easily they think they can resell it. A Fender Stratocaster in good condition will get a better offer than an off-brand acoustic with a crack. Expect to receive 30 to 50 percent of what the guitar would sell for online—a guitar worth $400 on Reverb might bring $150 to $200 from a store.
The advantage is speed and no shipping hassle. You leave with cash the same day. The disadvantage is the low price. Call ahead or check the store's website to confirm they buy used guitars; not all do. Some stores only accept trade-ins if you are buying something else. Bring your ID because stores keep records of used instrument purchases.
Selling on Reverb or eBay
Reverb is the largest online marketplace for musical instruments and usually brings the highest prices because the buyers are musicians, not resellers. eBay reaches a broader audience but includes more casual buyers. Both require you to create an account, list the guitar with photos and description, set a price, and wait for a buyer. Reverb listings typically sell within one to three weeks if priced fairly. eBay auctions can be faster if you set a low starting bid, but fixed-price listings take longer.
You pay a listing fee (usually $0.50 to $2 on Reverb, free on eBay if you list fewer than 40 items per month) and a final value fee when it sells (around 8 to 12 percent of the sale price on Reverb, 12.9 percent on eBay). You also pay for shipping, which you can either absorb in your price or pass to the buyer. A guitar typically costs $30 to $60 to ship depending on weight and distance. The buyer has a return window (usually 14 days on Reverb, 30 on eBay), so if they claim it arrived damaged or doesn't work, you may have to refund them and pay return shipping.
The advantage is reaching serious buyers and getting close to fair market value. The disadvantage is waiting, paying fees, and handling the shipping yourself. Take clear photos of the front, back, headstock, and any damage. Write an honest description: note the year, model, any repairs, scratches, or issues. Buyers who feel misled will return it.
Selling at a pawn shop
Pawn shops buy guitars for when ready cash, usually within minutes. Walk in, show the guitar, and they will make an offer. Pawn shops assume they may not sell the item, so they offer less than any other route—typically 20 to 40 percent of resale value. A $400 guitar might bring $80 to $160. They do not care about condition as much as music stores do; they will buy broken guitars and sell them as-is or for parts.
Use a pawn shop only if you need cash when ready and cannot wait for an online sale or store appointment. The trade-off is significant: you lose money to get speed. Bring your ID and expect the transaction to take 10 to 15 minutes.
Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist
Both platforms let you post a photo and description, set a price, and wait for local buyers to contact you. You meet them in person, show the guitar, and exchange cash on the spot. No shipping, no fees, no waiting. The price is usually between what a store would offer and what an online marketplace would bring, because you are selling directly but to a local audience only.
The risk is meeting a stranger who may claim the guitar is broken after they leave, or who may try to negotiate the price down in person. You have no recourse once the cash changes hands. Meet in a public place during daylight, bring someone with you, and do not accept checks or digital payments you cannot verify when ready. Be honest about condition in your listing so buyers know what they are getting. Take photos of any damage and mention it in the description.
Selling on consignment
A consignment shop takes your guitar, displays it, and sells it for you. When it sells, you receive a percentage of the sale price—usually 50 to 70 percent, with the shop keeping the rest. This takes the longest (often four to eight weeks) but usually brings more money than a store buyout because the shop is not buying it from you; they are selling it for you.
Ask the shop what percentage they take, how long they will hold the guitar, and what happens if it does not sell. Some shops will return it to you; others will donate it or offer you a reduced price to buy it back. Consignment works best if you are not in a hurry and want to avoid shipping. It also works well if your guitar is valuable or unusual, because the shop has time to find the right buyer.
Comparing price, speed, and effort
| Route | Price (% of fair value) | Speed | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music store buyout | 30–50% | Same day | Low (walk in, done) |
| Reverb or eBay | 80–95% | 1–3 weeks | High (photos, listing, shipping) |
| Pawn shop | 20–40% | Same day | Low (walk in, done) |
| Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist | 50–80% | 3–7 days | Medium (photos, messages, meeting) |
| Consignment shop | 50–70% | 4–8 weeks | Low (drop off, wait) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what price to ask?
Search for completed listings of the same model and year on Reverb or eBay. Look at what similar guitars actually sold for, not what people are asking. Adjust for condition: a guitar with a case and no damage sells for more than one with scratches and no case. If you are selling locally on Facebook Marketplace, you can ask slightly less than online prices because the buyer saves on shipping.
Should I include the case and accessories?
Yes. A guitar with a case, strap, and cables sells faster and for more money than the same guitar alone. If you are selling to a store, they may not care about the case, but online buyers and local buyers will pay more for it. Include everything you have.
What if the guitar has a crack or doesn't stay in tune?
Be honest about it in your listing or tell the store when you bring it in. A cracked guitar is worth less, but it is still worth something—pawn shops and some online buyers will buy it for parts or repair. Hiding damage will result in a return and a bad review. A guitar that does not hold tune may need a new nut or bridge, which costs $50 to $150 to fix; price it accordingly.
Do I have to ship the guitar myself on Reverb or eBay?
Yes, unless you arrange a local pickup with the buyer. Most online sales require shipping. Use a sturdy box, wrap the guitar in bubble wrap, and use a carrier like UPS or FedEx that insures the package. Reverb and eBay both have shipping guides. The cost is usually $30 to $60 depending on the guitar's weight and how far it travels.
What if a buyer on Facebook Marketplace says the guitar is broken after they leave?
You have no recourse once the cash changes hands. This is why meeting in person is risky—the buyer can claim damage happened after they left. To protect yourself, meet in a public place, let them play it and inspect it thoroughly before you hand it over, and consider asking them to sign a straightforward note saying they received it in the condition they saw. This is not legally binding, but it discourages false claims.