Why Your Used Guitar Isn’t Worth What You Think
(And What It’s Actually Worth)
The ad was four months old.
Cheap P-Bass with a decent, but nothing special case. Asking $200.
Pix showed nicks & scratches. Nothing too bad. Heck, it’s a cheap bass, so who cares?
But will definitely need a setup – 99% of new guitars desperately need a setup right out of the box, and this cheapo certainly never had one.
Will need cleanup, strings, possibly nutwork and fret work.
But we need guitars. So I offered $130.
The reply?
“I paid more than that for just the case!”
New Price Doesn’t Always Relate to Used Value
Unless you can get a refund, it doesn’t matter what you paid.
The second a guitar leaves the store, it loses value—fast.
A typical used instrument is worth about 60% of retail
…a bit more or less depending on popularity, color and condition.
After repairs, setup, time, and risk, it’s realistically:
- ~$60–$80 bass
- ~$40 case (after cleanup and repair)
That’s not an insult—that’s the market.
Retail vs. wholesale (this is the part that matters)
If you want top dollar, you have to:
- Answer messages
- Deal with no-shows
- Wait weeks or months
- Negotiate with strangers
That’s retail selling.
If you want fast and easy, you’re selling wholesale.
And wholesale is typically about 60% of what it might sell for retail.
So what’s the smarter move?
Depends on what you value more:
- Maximum price? Sell it yourself. Be patient.
- Speed and zero hassle? Sell to a shop.
Where we come in
At Hank’s Guitar Shop, we buy guitars every week.
We’re not guessing—we’re pricing based on:
- Real resale data
- Actual repair costs
- What customers are buying right now
If you want to skip the back-and-forth and just get it done, bring it in.
We’ll give you a straight answer.
Bottom line
Your guitar isn’t worth what you paid.
It’s worth what someone will pay today—minus the time, work, and risk it takes to get it there.
Bring your guitar to Hank’s Guitar Shop. We’ll evaluate it and give you an offer on the spot. If we don’t buy it, we can often refer you to the best buyer.
