Used acoustic guitars in the US typically sell for $67 to $335. Solid-wood instruments and laminate ones sell in completely different brackets, and telling them apart is most of what sets the price.
What acoustic guitars are worth in the US
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | $336 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | $286 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | $219 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | $151 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | $84 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Solid top construction rather than laminate
- Tonewoods that mature with age on better instruments
What pulls it down
- Cracks in the top or sides, even if repaired
- Laminate construction on an instrument priced as if solid
Selling an acoustic guitar in the US
Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
The US resale market is enormous and highly local — most transactions still happen between people within driving distance of each other, and buyers expect to collect rather than wait for a courier.
Distances are the real constraint. State plainly whether you will ship or collection only, because a buyer three states away will otherwise ask.
Working out what yours is worth
- Look into the soundhole at the edge to see whether the top is solid or layered
- Measure the string height at the twelfth fret
Getting it ready
- Inspect the bridge for lifting and the top for cracks, particularly around the soundhole and along the grain.
- Fit a fresh set of strings if the current ones are dead. It is a few pounds and it makes the guitar sound and photograph far better.
Photograph
- The bridge and soundboard close up, showing any lifting or cracking
- The neck sighted down its length, and the headstock showing the brand
Put in the description
- Action height at the twelfth fret, and any neck relief issues
- Any cracks, bridge lifting or previous repairs, and whether a case is included
Brand, model and body shape: “Yamaha FG800 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Solid Top”. Whether the top is solid or laminate is a genuine value driver and worth stating. If it is a three-quarter or parlour size, put that in the title — buyers searching for a smaller guitar need to find you.
Steady all year with a lift before Christmas and in September. Recognised brands sell within a fortnight; unbranded beginner guitars are plentiful and slow.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the $336 a buyer pays is the $336 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the US
The United States is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United States with their own page for acoustic guitars.
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- Dallas
- Austin
- San Jose
- Jacksonville
- Fort Worth
- Columbus
- Indianapolis
- Charlotte
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Denver
- Washington
- Nashville
- Boston
- Las Vegas
- Portland
- Detroit
- Memphis
- Louisville
- Baltimore
- Milwaukee
- Albuquerque
- Fresno
- Tucson
- Sacramento
- Kansas City
- Mesa
- Atlanta
- Omaha
- Colorado Springs
- Raleigh
- Virginia Beach
- Long Beach
- Miami
- Oakland
- Minneapolis
- Tulsa
- Bakersfield
Common questions
Where can I sell an acoustic guitar in the US?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
What is the action like?
Measure the string height at the twelfth fret and give the figure. High action is the most common reason a cheap guitar is unplayable and the buyer will ask.
Does a crack ruin an acoustic guitar’s value?
It reduces it, but a well-executed repair on an otherwise good instrument is accepted by most players. Disclose it with a photograph.
What is the difference between solid and laminate tops?
A solid top is one piece of timber and matures tonally over decades; laminate is layered and does not. It is the single biggest factor in what an acoustic is worth.
More: how to sell an acoustic guitar, what acoustic guitars are worth, or Music & Instruments across the United States.