Buying a Used Guitar Safely

Meeting in person

  • Meet in a public, busy place (many police stations offer safe trade areas); bring a friend for valuable instruments.
  • Bring a small amp or use the seller's so you can test electronics.
  • Pay after you have inspected the guitar, not before.

Buying shipped

  • Buy through a platform with buyer protection (e.g. a marketplace checkout) rather than paying a stranger directly.
  • Avoid wire transfers and friends-and-family payments to people you do not know - they are hard to reverse.
  • Ask for a short playing video and detailed photos, including the serial number and any flaws.

Spotting fakes (generic)

  • Price far below every comparable sold listing is the loudest warning.
  • Check the serial with our decoder guides - wrong format or a number the maker never used is a red flag (a correct-looking serial does not prove authenticity).
  • Misspelled logos, sloppy inlays/finish, and hardware that does not match the model official photos deserve a walk-away.
  • For valuable instruments, pay a reputable shop for an in-person appraisal.