When it comes time to sell your guitar, small details can make a difference of hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your final payout. Whether you're selling a prized vintage instrument or a modern guitar, knowing how to properly prepare and present your instrument can significantly impact its perceived value.

At Edgewater Guitars, we've purchased thousands of instruments and have seen firsthand how simple preparation steps can maximize selling price. Here's our comprehensive guide to ensuring you get top dollar when selling your guitar.

Keep Everything Original

The Golden Rule: When it comes to vintage guitars, originality is paramount.

Collectors and serious buyers place enormous value on guitars that retain their original components. A 1960s Gibson or Fender with all original parts can be worth 30-50% more than an identical model with replaced parts.

What to preserve:

• Original pickups

• Original tuners

• Original bridge and hardware

• Original finish (even with wear)

• Original electronics (pots, switches, capacitors)

• Original knobs and pickup covers

Even if parts appear worn or dirty, resist the urge to replace them. What looks like "improvement" to you might be a significant value reduction to a collector.

Don't Clean Vintage Instruments Before Selling

One of the most common mistakes sellers make is attempting to "freshen up" vintage guitars before selling.

Why you shouldn't clean vintage guitars:

• Improper cleaning can permanently damage nitrocellulose finishes

• Removing "patina" can reduce the vintage appeal

• Original grime and oxidation often authenticate age

• Chemical cleaners can damage vintage plastics and binding

• Polish residue can be difficult to remove from crevices

If your vintage guitar has accumulated dust, at most use a soft, dry cloth for gentle surface dusting. Leave deep cleaning to the new owner or professional restorers.

For modern guitars, light cleaning is fine, but avoid aggressive polishes or chemicals.

Keep Cases and "Case Candy"

The original case for your guitar is far more than just a carrying container—it's a valuable component of the complete package.

The value of original cases:

• A 1950s-1960s Fender or Gibson case can be worth $500-$1,500 on its own

• Matching serial numbers or date stamps on cases can confirm provenance

• Original case materials and condition help authenticate the guitar's era

• Case wear often tells the story of the guitar's journey

"Case candy" refers to anything that came with the guitar originally:

• Warranty cards

• Hang tags

• Original receipts

• Owner's manuals

• Polishing cloths

• Adjustment tools

• Bridge covers

• Factory paperwork

These items can add 5-15% to your guitar's overall value, sometimes more for rare or historically significant models.

Document Your Guitar's History

Provenance—the documented history of ownership—can significantly impact value, particularly for vintage instruments.

Valuable documentation includes:

• Original sales receipt

• Service records

• Previous owner information

• Performance history (if played by notable musicians)

• Photos of the guitar from earlier years

• Written statements authenticating unique history

• Connection to recording sessions or notable performances

For high-value instruments, even creating a simple written history detailing what you know about the guitar's past can add credibility and value.

Take Proper Photos

Quality photographs are crucial for accurate appraisals and attracting serious buyers.

Photography best practices:

• Use natural, indirect lighting (avoid harsh direct light)

• Capture all angles (front, back, sides, headstock, neck joint)

• Take close-ups of the serial number and date stamps

• Document any damage, wear, or modifications clearly

• Include scale-establishing shots that show the entire instrument

• Photograph the guitar both inside and outside its case

• Include any documentation or accessories in separate photos

Poor photography not only reduces apparent value but can create suspicion that you're hiding issues.

Be Transparent About Condition Issues

Honesty about your guitar's condition is both ethical and financially smart.

Always disclose:

• Cracks, chips, or finish damage

• Previous repairs

• Replaced parts

• Modifications from stock

• Refrets or neck work

• Electronics issues

• Structural problems

Undisclosed issues almost always come to light during in-person inspection, potentially derailing sales or leading to return requests. Full disclosure establishes trust and attracts serious buyers who know exactly what they're getting.

Understand How Modifications Affect Value

Modifications almost always decrease vintage guitar value, but the impact varies widely.

High-impact modifications:

• Refinishing (can reduce value by 40-60%)

• Changing tuners with non-reversible screw holes

• Pickup routs or changes requiring wood removal

• Altered neck pockets or neck profiles

• Headstock repairs or modifications

Lower-impact modifications:

• Easily reversible electronics changes

• Non-invasive pickup upgrades (where original pickups are included)

• Period-correct modifications done by respected luthiers

• Certain modifications on specific models (like Bigsby vibratos on some guitars)

Document all modifications with before/after photos if available, and retain original parts whenever possible.

Timing Matters

The guitar market, like many collectible markets, experiences seasonal fluctuations.

Best selling times:

• January-February (after holiday gift money is received)

• April-May (tax return season)

• September-October (before holiday spending begins)

Challenging selling times:

• December (holiday spending directed elsewhere)

• July-August (vacation season)

• Immediately after major economic downturns

For vintage instruments, market interest in specific brands and eras also ebbs and flows. Currently, 1950s-1960s Fender and Gibson instruments remain strong, while 1970s-1980s Japanese guitars have seen increasing interest.

Choose the Right Selling Method

How you sell can significantly impact your final payout.

Selling options compared:

Direct sales to knowledgeable dealers like Edgewater typically offer the best balance of value, speed, and convenience for most sellers.

Shipping Considerations

If shipping your guitar for a remote sale, proper packing is essential to preserve value.

Guitar shipping best practices:

• Double-box with at least 2" of packing material between boxes

• Loosen strings slightly to reduce neck tension

• Secure moving parts (wrap bridge in thin foam if loose)

• Remove or secure the tremolo arm

• Use climate-controlled shipping methods during extreme weather

• Always insure for full value

• Take detailed photos before shipping as documentation

• Use a shipping service that specializes in musical instruments

Improper shipping can lead to damage that substantially reduces your guitar's value or complicates the selling process.

Get a Professional Appraisal

For valuable vintage or rare instruments, a professional appraisal is often worth the investment.

A proper appraisal will:

• Document exact specifications and condition

• Authenticate original components

• Identify any rare or unusual features

• Provide current market valuation

• Offer historical context for the model

At Edgewater Guitars, we provide free appraisals as part of our purchasing process, drawing on years of expertise in vintage and rare instrument valuation.

Final Thoughts

Maximizing your guitar's value requires understanding what makes instruments desirable to serious buyers and collectors. By preserving originality, documenting history, presenting your guitar properly, and choosing the right selling method, you can often increase your final payout by 15-30% or more.

If you're considering selling a guitar and have questions about its value or how to prepare it properly, our team at Edgewater Guitars is always available to help. Contact us for a free, no-obligation appraisal of your instrument.

This article was written by the guitar experts at Edgewater Guitars, specializing in purchasing vintage and quality used instruments throughout the Midwest. For more information on selling your guitar, visit our How to Sell Your Guitar page.