Where to Buy Used Guitars (and Other Gear + Instruments) Online

I recently was in the market for buying a guitar amplifier and a new electric guitar. Fortunately, in this day and age, buying used gear is easier than ever (and finding a price that's friendly to your bank account is also pretty simple). The online market is large and extensive, so finding what you need is relatively straightforward. There are a couple places that seem to be hubs for activity, and in this post, I'll be discussing those sites, both well-known and obscure. So, let's get started!

1. eBay

Starting this list out is possibly the giant of buying anything - eBay. This site needs no explanation; just be wary of shady sellers.

2. Reverb.com

Reverb is a seriously amazing website; I love it so much. You can find both new and used gear primarily sold by other guitar enthusiasts and musicians. Kind of like eBay, it also has wishlist/watching features; you can watch certain search terms and parameters, which will put all of those listings in your feed. You will also get email notifications each time something on your wishlist gets a price drop, is relisted, etc. If you are wanting to sell your own gear, there is also a price guide that also includes real data from recent sales. Along with the actual selling section of Reverb, it also has a news section with reviews, quizzes, tips, and of course - news.

3. ShopGoodwill.com

ShopGoodwill.com isn't as organized as the other sites, but they do have categories for different types of instruments (for brass, strings - where guitars are located, accessories, etc). Click this link to go directly to the "musical instruments" section of the website. I haven't actually used it before, but it seems to have a very large variety.

4. Craigslist

You can find some REALLY good deals on Craigslist (especially around Christmas time when people are trying to make some quick cash for gifts). I once saw a guitar in excellent condition that retails new for $549 listed for $300 (in very good/excellent condition). My only word of advice is that you thoroughly examine the photos - and I strongly discourage buying from a listing without pictures - and that you request a demo of the product; I think the majority of trustworthy sellers would probably oblige. Being able to test it out yourself before buying it would be even better. Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions. And of course, make sure that you two meet in a public place or you bring a friend along. Safety is the priority.

5. Guitar Center

Guitar Center's quality control, from my experience, is good. You can generally find things for a pretty good price, and they have a very large selection on their website. I don't really suggest selling to them, though, because I've heard that the store tries to push a lower price when buying from you (to maximize profit and such, I think).

6. Sweetwater Trading Post

Similar to Craigslist, Sweetwater Trading Post is a site where individual sellers and buyers, musicians just like you, can connect and do commerce; stores are not allowed. It is also completely free and has no fees, unlike Craigslist and eBay. However, it has a smaller number of listings, considering it isn't as well-known of a site.

7. Chicago Music Exchange

Along with having a physical store located in - you guessed it - Chicago, Chicago Music Exchange also has a dedicated and large inventory of vintage instruments. The gear pictures are all really high quality (step your game up, Guitar Center), and this place is just overall great. They also host monthly giveaways.

8. Music Go Round

Music Go Round is a place dedicated to selling used instruments. Along with the online site, there are also several physical stores located throughout the United States. Though I have never personally used Music Go Round myself, it seems quite nice. They also have lots of "classical" instruments (AKA brass, woodwind, and classical string instruments). 

9. Other Retail Sites

Other than the aforementioned places, there are also quite a few retailers that have used sections (e.g. Anderton's, etc.).

I hope this post was useful in your quest to buy new gear! As I always say, one can never have enough guitars.