The short version
- Guides in this section: 21
- Range covered: £15 – £800
- Every guide covers: prep, the photographs that sell it, the title, buyer questions and the fee maths
- Cost to sell here: nothing, at any price
How to sell instruments, item by item
- How to sell acoustic guitar £50–£250
- How to sell audio interface £40–£200
- How to sell bass guitar £80–£400
- How to sell cello £150–£800
- How to sell clarinet £50–£300
- How to sell classical guitar £40–£180
- How to sell dj controller £80–£400
- How to sell dj mixer £60–£350
- How to sell digital piano £120–£600
- How to sell drum kit £120–£600
- How to sell electric guitar £80–£450
- How to sell electronic drum kit £150–£700
- How to sell flute £40–£250
- How to sell guitar amplifier £40–£250
- How to sell guitar pedal £25–£180
- How to sell keyboard piano £50–£300
- How to sell saxophone £150–£700
- How to sell studio monitors £60–£350
- How to sell trumpet £60–£350
- How to sell ukulele £15–£70
- How to sell violin £45–£300
What you keep on a typical sale
On a £205 sale — around the middle for this category — a 20% commission would take £41 and a 10% one £20. On WishThrift you keep the whole £205, and the buyer pays no surcharge either. The full fee comparison sets out what each marketplace actually charges.
When instruments actually sell
Instruments lift sharply before Christmas and again in September as lessons restart. Beginner instruments move fastest in those two windows; quality instruments sell steadily all year to players who are looking for a specific model rather than browsing.
Before you list anything
Two things decide most of the price in every category, and both are settled before you write the listing. The first is the condition grade: WishThrift uses five — New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts — and what each one means is worth reading, because grading optimistically does not raise the price, it just produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. The second is the price itself: the music & instruments value guides price each item across all five grades.
Ready to list? It takes about two minutes and costs nothing — create a free account or see how selling works.
Frequently asked questions
Should I restring before selling an instrument?
Yes. A fresh set costs a few pounds, makes the instrument sound immediately better to anyone who tries it, and signals that it has been looked after. It is the best-value preparation in this category.
Do modifications reduce an instrument’s value?
On collectable instruments usually yes, since originality is much of the value. On working instruments a quality upgrade is often welcomed. Either way, list every change — buyers find them.
Is it worth getting a setup done first?
A basic setup is cheap and makes the instrument play noticeably better for anyone collecting. A full refret or electronics overhaul rarely returns its cost.
See also: all selling guides · what instruments sell for · browse live music & instruments listings.