Buying a Used Instrument: What to Check Before You Pay
Your first instrument doesn't have to be new. A well-kept used guitar or saz saves money and plays just as well for its next owner. The catch is you can't tell from the listing whether it was well kept. Buying used makes sense. Buying used without seeing and playing it doesn't.
In the listing photo everything looks right. Shiny finish, fresh strings, nice light. Then you pick it up: the neck has a slight bow, the string buzzes at the seventh fret, and turning the volume knob sends a crackle through the amp. None of that shows up in a photo.
Here's what I check in person, instrument by instrument. Most of these checks take a few minutes.
What should you bring to the viewing?
- A tuner, or a tuner app on your phone
- A small flashlight to look inside an acoustic guitar or saz through the sound hole
- A capo, which you'll use to check the neck
- Your own cable and headphones if it's an electric guitar or a keyboard
- Ideally, a friend who knows the instrument
That last one matters most. Sound On Sound also recommends taking someone who knows the gear, both for the expertise and for safety. If you're meeting a stranger, pick a busy public place.
Which guitar problems get expensive?
First, tune it up and play for a few minutes. If it drifts out of tune that quickly, the tuners or strings need a look. Ask the seller for time to try it without rushing; a decent seller won't mind.
Then the neck. Put a capo on the 1st fret, hold the same string down at the last fret and look at the gap between string and fret at the 8th fret. No gap at all, or a big one, means the neck needs adjusting. Fender lists roughly 0.2 to 0.3 mm for its own electric guitars, depending on fretboard radius.
That adjustment is made with the truss rod inside the neck. Fender says that if the truss rod is very hard to turn, needs constant adjusting, or has no effect, it's a job for an authorized service center. Ask the seller: does the neck need adjusting often?
On an acoustic, sight down the neck from the headstock toward the body, over the frets. Taylor says that on a guitar with the right neck angle, the top of the bridge should just barely be visible from that view. Taylor also suggests checking the body for signs of being too dry or too humid, and gives 40–60% relative humidity as the right range. If you see a wavy top, cracks, or the edge of the bridge lifting, have a luthier look at it before you talk price.
Taylor adds one more warning: a guitar that has dried out or soaked up moisture shouldn't be forced to setup specs. So don't judge a guitar that's been sitting in a dry room or a damp storage unit by how it plays that day. Ask how it was stored first.
Then play a note on every fret. On an electric, plug into an amp, turn every knob and wiggle the jack. Crackles aren't always a big deal, but they belong in the negotiation.
What should you look for on a used bağlama?
If you're new to it, the bağlama is the long-necked Turkish lute with tied-on frets. Start with the bowl-shaped body. Look for cracks and for gaps where it meets the soundboard, outside and with the flashlight inside. The neck should be straight. The tied frets should sit firmly. If the nut and bridge the strings pass over sit very high, that can point to a build problem or a bent neck. The strings shouldn't dig into your fingers uncomfortably when you press them.
Bağlama frets are fishing line wrapped around the neck and tuned by sliding them. A fret that has slipped or loosened isn't a major flaw on its own, it just needs setting. A cracked body or a bent neck is more serious.
If you haven't decided between the two main sizes yet, read about short neck vs long neck bağlama first, then start browsing listings.
Which keys should you test on a keyboard?
All of them. Twice.
Sound On Sound's checklist is practical: play every key softly, then hard. Every note should sound and respond to how hard you hit it. Look along the keys at eye level; a key sitting lower than the rest may have a tired spring. Check the display for missing characters or a dim backlight, and the case for missing screws, which can mean it's been opened up before. Note the software version.
Plug in your own headphones to test the outputs, and listen for crackle while you turn the volume up and down.
What actually matters on a used drum kit?
Round shells and clean edges. A shell that's gone out of round won't tune properly. The bearing edge, where the head sits, should be even all the way around, and the hoops should be flat and round. If the plies of a shell are separating, walk away.
Stands, pedals, the hi-hat mechanism, missing tension rods and old heads, on the other hand, can all be replaced. Scratches in the wrap and light rust are usually not a problem.
Which flaws are deal breakers, and which are bargaining points?
| Instrument | Take it seriously | Usually fixable |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar | Cracked neck or headstock, truss rod that doesn't work, lifting bridge | Old strings, action adjustment, scratchy knobs |
| Bağlama | Cracked body, bent neck | Loose or slipped frets, old strings |
| Keyboard / synth | Dead keys, no serial number | Old software version (check the maker's site for updates) |
| Drums | Out-of-round shells, damaged bearing edges, separating plies | Stands and pedals, missing tension rods, old heads, wrap scratches, light rust |
Old strings are the cheapest fix of all. To see how much a fresh set changes, read when to change guitar strings.
What should you ask the seller?
Keep it short and direct. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.
- How long have you had it, and how often was it played?
- Has it ever been repaired or set up, and by whom?
- Do you still have the receipt or the box?
- Where's the serial number?
Sound On Sound warns that gear with no serial number could be stolen. If the number has been scratched off, pass.
How do you avoid deposit and payment scams?
Don't send a deposit for an instrument you haven't seen. The US Federal Trade Commission's guide to buying on online marketplaces makes the same core points:
- Be wary of sellers who want payment by wire transfer, gift card or crypto. Money sent that way is very hard to get back.
- If a seller wants to move the deal off the platform, you lose whatever protection the platform offers.
- Ask for photos of the actual instrument, not stock images.
- Keep your messages in case something goes wrong.
Police warnings in Turkey about second-hand listings say much the same: don't pay before you've seen the item, and be suspicious of "lots of people are asking, first deposit wins" pressure and prices far below market. In Turkey, the advice is to call 112 if something feels off.
Once the instrument is home, your fingertips may protest for the first few weeks; here's how long guitar fingertip pain lasts.