There’s more to pulling off a successful guitar purchase than simply knowing where to look. In the following guide, I’ll show you what you need to be aware of, including understanding the value of the guitar, potential problems to be on the lookout for, and how to know you can trust the seller.
Why buy second-hand?
Cost Savings
- Second-hand guitars are more affordable than new ones.
- And, if you’re looking to upgrade from your current guitar, buying second-hand allows you to get a higher-end model without breaking the bank.
Variety
- If buying online, marketplaces such as reverb.com offer a vast selection of guitars (an important consideration if left-handed), including discontinued models.
- You might also discover unique and rare guitars that you wouldn’t find in your local music store.
Sustainability
- While probably not your first consideration, buying second-hand is an environmentally friendly option, reducing the demand for new manufacturing and minimizing waste.
Reputation
- Online marketplaces usually have reviews and ratings for sellers, helping you make informed decisions based on other buyers’ experiences.
- Sellers provide detailed descriptions, photos, and sometimes even videos, allowing you to assess the guitar’s condition before purchase.
Convenience
- The convenience of buying from home cannot be overstated. Online shopping allows you to compare prices, models, and conditions easily, unlike having to visit stores in person.
- You’re also not limited to local options; you can purchase guitars from sellers around the world, expanding your choices.
Negotiation Opportunities
- Many online sellers are open to negotiation, giving you the chance to get an even better deal on your purchase. Sometimes, sellers offer bundles that include accessories like cases, straps, and picks at a reduced price.
Trusted Platforms
- Reputable online platforms offer secure payment methods and buyer protection policies to ensure a safe purchasing experience.
- Many online marketplaces have return policies in case the guitar doesn’t meet your expectations or arrives in a different condition than described.
Buying second-hand guitars online
I’ve purchased a lot of used left-handed guitars over the years. When I was first starting on guitar this was mostly borne out of the necessity, new guitars were just too expensive for my meagre savings.
Nowadays with more guitars than ever being purchased online distance and available options are no longer an issue, meaning you have guitars from across the country to select from.
But, buying a second-hand guitar online should be done carefully.
You won’t have a chance to play the guitar before you buy so you will need to rely on the product photos, product description, and reviews (if available), along with your knowledge of the second-hand guitar market, brand value and responses to any questions you have for the seller.
I have outlined some of the problem areas you should be aware of when buying a used guitar in the guide below and also provided a list of questions you should ask the seller before purchasing.
Knowing the value of the Guitar
Whether buying online or in person the first thing you should do is research the average used sale price for the guitar you are interested in. Make and model, along with the condition of the guitar will be the main points to compare, as you will need to know that the price the seller is asking represents good value.
The easiest way to do this is to look for 5 (if possible) similar listings of the same make & model and age in right-handed orientation, as there are going to be a lot more right-handed guitars available to use as a reference.
Be careful however not to compare apples to oranges.
If one guitar has upgraded components e.g. pickups or is a deluxe model prices are expected to be higher and won’t provide you with a fair value for the guitar you are considering. Also remember that left-handed guitars, being less common, will often fetch a slightly higher price on the second-hand market.
If you can’t find a selection of used guitars of the same make and model compare the price of new to second-hand to establish value or look through previous sales on ebay.com and reverb.com.
Check the seller’s profile
Most people selling used guitars are not selling guitars for a living and are simply listing their guitars online because it is more convenient.
Despite this, it’s always an idea to look at the seller’s profile, particularly the seller ratings, feedback from customers and date joined.
There’s a fair chance your seller hasn’t sold a huge amount of guitars previously, but in some cases, they will have sold other products, which allows you to look into their sales history and see how reputable they are.
In particular, be sure to look for customer comments that indicate the seller is honest, delivers the product on time and assists as required. You’re essentially looking for how the seller deals with problems.
If the seller has a good track record in this area, this will provide you with some assurances that you will be looked after if there is a fault with the guitar or a problem with the delivery should the guitar be shipped to your address.
Check the Product Description
Most eBay sellers (or sellers on other platforms) don’t have experience writing great product descriptions so you are going to have to ask questions if you find the information is limited.
Stick to the basics here. Look over the product description and make note of the following:
- The make and model of the guitar
- The year the guitar was made
- The guitar’s history e.g. has it sat in a bedroom gathering dust or has it been a regular gigging guitar?
- Has the guitar had multiple owners or is the seller the original owner?
- Does the guitar have any chips or dents? If so where on the body?
- What is the condition of the neck? particularly the fretwork.
You should also request a photo of the back of the neck (if a photo isn’t provided) to check for any previous repairs. Necks, if broken and repaired, are never going to be as reliable and this is reflected in the price of guitars with this type of major repair.
Lastly, you should know the condition of the hardware and electronics e.g.
- Is the hardware original?
- If not what is the brand and when was it installed on the guitar? This should include the tuners and bridge.
- Are the pickups original?
- If not, what is the brand and model of the pickups and when were they installed?
These are the main questions to ask, that will allow you to evaluate the guitar and price being asked. Asking additional random questions such as:
- Does the guitar sound good?
- Does the guitar stay in tune?
- Is it noisy e.g. does the guitar buzz around appliances, or when the tone or volume pots are adjusted?
Questions like these are worth asking, but you shouldn’t put a lot of stock in the responses you receive. For one, questions like this are subjective. Secondly, most sellers are going to paint their guitars in a good light with regard to tone and playability.
Product Photos – What to Look for
When buying a guitar online, product photos are vitally important. A good listing will provide photos demonstrating:
- The front of the guitar at full length (must have)
- The neck, including the fretboard (must have)
- A close-up of the headstock (must have)
- A close-up of the body (nice to have)
- The back of the headstock (nice to have)
- The back of the guitar at full length (nice to have)
- A close-up photo of the body of the guitar from the back (nice to have)
- Various macro shots showing the hardware and fretwork (nice to have)
That’s all well and good but the fact is most left-handed guitar listings won’t provide this number of photos for you to cast your discerning eye over. So, if you have doubts you can always ask the seller for additional photos.
Most sellers, provided the guitar is of sufficient value to make it worth their while will help facilitate the sale as much as possible by answering questions.
Check the headstock
Whether you are buying online or in person. One of the more critical areas to check when buying a used left-handed guitar is the headstock. If you are buying online and there isn’t a clear photo available of the headstock, see if you can get hold of one.
The main thing you are looking is any signs of a previous neck or headstock repair as this can seriously impact the guitar’s resale value and playability as this is where the majority of the tension from the strings is felt on the guitar and if dropped is a likely place for damage to occur.
Look for repaired cracks or a difference in color around the headstock, all signs that indicate the headstock has had major repair work carried out. If this happens you can either walk away, no harm done, or try to haggle the seller down to a fair price considering the headstock issue.
Neck Relief
This can be a tricky one. Neck relief refers to how much inward bow there is in the neck itself. Most people refer to a quality neck as a ‘dead straight neck’ but this isn’t correct. A perfectly flat neck is not ideal as it doesn’t provide enough string clearance for the vibrational arc of the strings. This results in fret buzz (the sound of a guitar string vibrating against a fret wire).
Typically we like to see a small degree of neck relief, meaning the neck bows inward slightly. And while it’s true this is something you can adjust yourself, I’d recommend checking the truss rod (if possible, or asking the seller) to see if it’s not fully wound out. If that is the case you won’t be able to make the necessary adjustments to achieve optimal playability and action and this could lead to costly repairs or an unplayable guitar.
Check the Bridge
If the guitar features a height-adjustable bridge e.g. a Tune-o-matic style bridge and tail-piece, check (or ask the seller) if the posts are wound completely down. If so this may indicate no further adjustments can be made and any further changes to the guitar’s action may require more extensive work to be carried out on the neck.
Fretwork
Inspecting the fretwork is obviously difficult if buying online but photos can still provide you with a good impression of the quality of the frets. This is often one of the more significant differences between an entry-level and higher-end guitar.
If the frets are worn down, (look for fret wires that appear flat on the top, as opposed to crowned) there is a chance the guitar will have some degree of fret buzz.
If the aforementioned fret buzz is due to badly worn frets and not simply a neck that has insufficient relief the problem will most likely require a luthier to repair, unless you have performed this kind of work before and have the necessary tools.
If utilising a luthier for this kind of work you will be looking at, at least $100.00 for a standard fret level and crown. You should also keep an eye out for any dents in the fret wires which can also be problematic to repair and in most cases mean refretting would be required.
The fretboard timber should also be inspected for dents or chips. In some cases, minor dents can be repaired quite easily but major chips or signs of significant impact can cause serious problems when it comes to the guitar’s playability.
Neck Fit
If you can (in person, or by photo), also inspect the neck cavity. There have been many stories of people selling ‘genuine Fender’ or ‘genuine Gibson’ guitars online, only for the unsuspecting buyer to discover they have really just bought themselves an expensive neck with the maker’s branding attached to a less expensive body.
There will be signs to look out for including a difference in the wear of the finish and a gap on either side of the neck joint which indicate that the neck was not made for this particular body and isn’t a tight fit. Most of the time you simply won’t be able to tell from a photo unless you request a close-up of the neck joint.
The Finish
While the finish of the guitar isn’t going to have an impact on the guitar’s playability or tone it may have an impact on the resale value of the instrument and deserves to be inspected carefully.
Most used guitar sellers will provide up-close photos of the finish. It’s a good idea to make note of any obvious dents and scratches you see from the provided photos.
This way, if damage occurs during transit you will have a record of the condition of the guitar prior to purchase and can take the matter up with the seller or the courier.
As a guitar gets older you may begin to see cobwebbing or crazing, otherwise known as a checked finish. This can occur over time and is often the result of a change in environment e.g. humidity or temperature. Depending on the product used to finish the guitar (e.g. lacquer) this can be repaired but refinishing a guitar is costly and not something most people do.
Shipping
Lastly, if buying online, be sure to find out how the guitar will be shipped. I once received a guitar I purchased online that was sent in a gig bag wrapped in newspaper.
As a result, the guitar had two fairly large dents that required repair. If the guitar is to be posted enquire about the additional shipping costs and request the guitar be shipped in such a way that prevents damage occuring in transit. You should also request a tracking number which will allow you to monitor the progress of your delivery.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is a lot to buying a left-handed second-hand guitar. Being a left-hander brings with it some unique challenges that our right-handed counterparts don’t have to contend with. But if you follow the steps outlined above chances are you will be pleased with the guitar that arrives.
