How to sell your vintage guitar, bass or amplifier
Do you have a vintage guitar, bass, or amplifier you would like to sell - but you’re not sure about the best way to sell it, or even know how much it’s worth? Well, maybe we can help.
Andy Baxter Bass and Guitars Ltd is one of the UK’s most reputable vintage guitar specialists. As a player, collector, and retailer (having been in the industry for almost 20 years), Andy (and his team) understand the value of your vintage guitar and bass and appreciate that no two instruments are alike.
Andy Baxter can offer commission sales (where we sell the item for you and take 15% of the sale price) or cash purchases on pre-owned, vintage guitars and basses like you see on our website.
Just recently, we've sold a collection of basses on commission owned by British bass legend, Jah Wobble.
So, If you would like to sell any of your vintage gear please feel free to reach out to us on our “Sell Your Guitar/Bass” page, remembering to fill out the form including pictures and as much information as possible so that we can get back to you to discuss pricing, delivery/collection and terms.
How do I know if I have a vintage guitar?
What classifies an instrument as vintage? It depends on who you ask (keep your eyes peeled for another blog article on this subject), but for the purposes of this blog article, we would say anything produced before 1980.
At Andy Baxter Bass & Guitars, we typically buy and sell guitars, basses and amps produced in the ‘50s,‘60s & ‘70s.
How to find the value of your vintage bass or guitar
“How much is my guitar worth?” is the golden question we’re asked. Much like buying or selling a car, a house or an item of jewellery, understanding the guitar’s true value is key.
Depending on what make/model of vintage guitar or bass you own, whether it’s entirely original and mint condition or something that has been modified or damaged can have a huge reflection on its value.
For starters check out the serial number online, look for comparable models/years online etc - but most importantly, get a valuation from an expert. If you are looking for a valuation/appraisal on your vintage guitar or bass, then please get in contact on +44 (0)7904 227 517 or email sales@andybaxterbass.com - also, you can leave us a message on our contact page.
Appreciating the sentimental value of your instrument
Nobody will truly appreciate the sentimental value of your instrument more than you.
Some of the vintage guitars and basses we’ve seen over the years have been inherited and are no longer played or appreciated to their fullest. It can be hugely gratifying to find somebody who will love that instrument as much as its former owner, and this is where selling through a vintage guitar/bass specialist like Andy Baxter can help. We will do our utmost to find the right owner for your guitar/bass.
Selling and shipping vintage guitars yourself - is it worth the risk?
For budget instruments, you can always consider selling privately via eBay, or Facebook (Marketplace or gear pages), but this also can carry some risk.
Please be careful to look out for scam purchasers on these platforms and always try to organise a collection/money exchange in person. If you want to go down the route of selling an item yourself, we suggest using Reverb.com.
For vintage guitars and basses, you must pay a little extra care and attention when it comes to shipping the item, this is where selling to a specialist collector/retailer can help.
At Andy Baxter Bass & Guitars, we may be able to come to you to collect the guitar in person, but if that isn’t possible, then we can arrange a trusted courier to transport the guitar and guide you on how best to pack up the item. The shipment will be fully insured by our business insurance, and we will make the shipping process easy and hassle-free.
