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Firstly. Establish what your Instrument is realistically worth?

  1. A little research can give you a better understanding of exactly what you are selling, which can lead to a higher return, even if you did not undertake this process when you originally purchased your instrument.
  2. Examine your Musical Instruments for any signatures, markings, dates, titles, or brands.Learn about the instrument—what materials are used and how they enhance the instrument’s performance.
  3. The correct provision of all these details will give you a better estimate of your instruments value, and assisting the education of your buyers which can increase the overall attraction and subsequent sale price of your instrument.
  4. So ensure you publish as much of the History of the instrument that you can. Genuine Vintage Guitars have generally lived a life of its own, so provide as much accurate details as possible which enhances Buyer interest.
  5. Was it used for gigging or mostly at-home use? Are there any intriguing stories about the instrument, such as famous owners or has it been played on any famous records? Fully Investigate and provide the Buyer with the provenance of your instrument.
  6. For Vintage Guitars, we recommend that you as the Seller fully disassemble the guitar so that all internal parts, serial numbers, date stamps and any other relevant information that can assist you in verifying its authenticity and provenance can be photographed and provided to any potential Buyer.
  7. When selling a valuable or rare vintage Musical Instrument, it may be worth considering getting your instrument independently appraised or authenticated by third-party valuers or qualified authenticators.
  8. Authenticating your instrument not only provides you with a good estimate on a realistic sale price, but it also builds buyer confidence.
  9. All these factors assist in determining the maximum price you can expect to sell your instrument for.

Once you have an idea of what you’re going to sell, you need to think about how to attract potential Buyers.

In your Listing Description, make sure to include both basic information and details about your instrument.

A good description will be concise, well organized, and easy to read.

Create bold section headlines, bulleted lists, and be sure to restate the information featured in your title plus more details such as dimensions, colours and materials, estimated value, and any other interesting features.

You should also insert photos or links to videos that highlight the unique attributes of your instrument.

The more information you provide, the more likely the buyer will be to consider purchasing your instrument.

Equipment Condition

To ensure continuity of accurate descriptions we highly recommend you use the following guide in relation to the overall condition of your instrument.

Learn About Equipment Condition

Help Buyers Find Your Instruments with Keywords

Keywords are a great way to attract buyers to your listing, especially when used correctly in your Listing Title. Listing titles are used by GTI’s search engine to pull up listings during a search. Use your characters wisely, and try to anticipate what buyers will be searching for.

Find out what is being searched right now with our list of Top Musical Instruments Searches. Be sure to include common search terms like “Gibson” and “Marshall,” when appropriate.

State important characteristics of your instrument—what it is, brand, production year, model number, and condition. Of course, you should only include keywords that are relevant to the instrument you are selling. You can also search current and completed GTI listings to see what other sellers include in their titles.

Showcase Your Musical Instruments with Great Photos

Photos are the closest you can get to putting your Musical Instruments in the hands of potential buyers.

Here are some tips on how to best represent your instrument:

Choose the Right Background

Use a contrasting, solid backdrop. By placing your Musical Instruments on a solid black or white backdrop, you draw a buyer’s immediate attention onto the instrument. This is easily achieved by hanging a bed sheet or placing poster board behind the instrument. Use a plain, coloured fabric backdrop to make your instrument stand out. Most importantly, avoid background clutter that can distract buyers or confuse them regarding what you are selling. If you are selling more than one instrument in your listing, take pictures of the set as a whole and of individual pieces.

Cover All Angles

Take pictures from multiple angles and distances, zooming in on important details. Make sure highlight any signatures, dates, serial numbers, branding, and details. Zoom in to show textures and colours. Always include photographs of any flaws—it gives the buyer a clearer idea of what they are bidding on and builds buyer trust.

Use Proper Lighting

Natural light tends to give the best representation of your instrument, however direct sunlight can have the nasty effect of shadows. Find an area that receives indirect sunlight. Try taking your instrument outside on a sunny day and photograph it in a shady area. If you can't seem to find an area like this, or would prefer to use indoor lighting, try surrounding your instrument with desk, overhead, or floor lamps. Above all, avoid using your camera's flash which causes distortion and shadows.

Add Gallery

Including a Gallery photo with your listing is extremely important for success. You can attract attention to your instrument with a photo next to your listings in search results. In addition, when a buyer uses “Picture Gallery” to look at search results, your listing will be shown. Your Gallery picture should be a very clear, uncluttered view of your instrument. Since it is the only photo visible on search pages, make sure it provides a good representation of your instrument.

Maximize Profits with Realistic Priced Listings

Be careful when setting a selling price. Buyers may lose interest in an instrument if the prices is not commercially realistic

Accept Payoneer or PayPal as payment for your sale: Buyers want to know that they can pay securely when making a purchase on GTI.

By accepting Payoneer or PayPal payments, you can build buyer confidence and help protect yourself.

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