Why Guitar Shops Say No To Your Used Guitar

As the Market for used gear starts to get flooded. Guitar shops are going to have to be selective on what used gear to bring in. Baxter and Jonathan give their thoughts on used gear and why you might hear the words no.

[@Gary-zq3pz]

I left my Johnson guitar in the back seat of my car, but forgot to lock the doors. I came back to find four more Johnson guitars thrown in there...

[@allstopblue5717]

Lol my best friend’s first guitar was a Johnson from a local pawn shop. That thing was horrendous.

[@Gary-zq3pz]

@@allstopblue5717 I made one playable by replacing the tuners, nut, and bridge. Now it's average...

[@user-qz8vd2lc8q]

Mwahahahahahaha!!!😂

[@identifiesas65.wheresmyche95]

My favorite guitar is a johnson with upgraded hardware, electronics, strings, body & neck!

[@christianhunter777]

About four minutes in, Baxter mentions "taking a haircut." This is of course metaphorical.

[@thejuggernaut5327]

I don’t even have the words…

[@keithpierce5264]

A friend at a record store handles this really well. He says, "man you got some great stuff here, but unfortunately the people who shop here regularly don't buy much metal/country/whatever, and we can't buy things that we can't sell."

[@allstopblue5717]

@@mal2kscyeah growing up i remember seeing stuff for consignment in all kinds of different local stores. Doesn’t seem to exist anymore.

[@RobTai]

great video as always lads-- like how the new set is coming along!!

[@arthurlove1002]

I’ll pay you 4 whoppers on Tuesday for a banjo today.

[@paulsto6516]

That was a Wimpy statement.

[@ginolamendola4084]

lol 😂

[@cdavidlake2]

How about a banjitar? Yup, tried that.

[@darwinsaye]

I once got a “no” from a used guitar store on one of my guitars - the reason stated was that they would have to do a refret job on it to resell it and it wouldn’t be worth it to them. I don’t think I was even looking for cash - just a trade-in on something they had in the store. The funny thing about that? Every used guitar I bought from that shop had frets that were shot. So, they clearly would not have been doing a refret to resell it anyway.

[@williekenk]

Sus Lizard Gaming has over 200 subscribers now. We’re going to need a feature episode with the kid and the Lizard

[@michaelmay9059]

Link his channel- I can't find him

[@williekenk]

@@michaelmay9059 youtube.com/@JTRoscoe?si=Xq4po8kBlFPH9QDC

[@unclelefteye3166]

SusLizard Gaming youtube.com/@JTRoscoe?si=w3g2P7gavCnnzATs

[@alexanderhanksx]

This sparks joy

[@216trixie]

@@michaelmay9059Hello?? Type in the search bar, sus lizard gaming. Spell just like that. Try and see what happens.

[@jburdsinfuse]

9:50 - this is what I was waiting for..."how much can I get for this Squier Bullet. The guys on the KZbins said it's just as good as Fender Custom Shop for the money..."

[@An2oine]

Best thing that ever happened to me was, I had to sell my USA Peavey Wolfgang Special, I needed 500 dollars. The GC guy asked me what I had to sell and I said Peavey and then he cut me off and said he wasn't interested. I play this guitar to this very day.

[@russellzauner]

you should have said you had a bass. lol Unity/TL5/TL6 series is nuts - Cirrus models are going up still, they're all like 2k for a bass while everyone still crap talks Peavey.

[@tommacdonald6295]

Many years ago a Shady guitar shop tried to cheat me on a price for a used Guild in pristine condition , I told them no thanks and still have it. It's a remarkable instrument and I couldn't be happier. Funny how things work out 😊.

[@Polyphemus.]

This video is gold, explains everything we hate about doing trade-ins from a retailers point of view. I'm in Australia and I used to work in a guitar store. A few years back, a guy walked in with one of those old 80s Gibson J-25 plastic back Ovation-style acoustic guitars. The Ovation vibe was already enough to have most of the staff grimacing upon sighting it, but this one was some f'd up factory green burst. He hadn't even bothered to put fresh strings on and the fretboard was caked in about 30 years of finger grease. We told him it's not even worth $50 to us. He was HIGHLY offended! "It's a friggin' Gibson mate, it's worth at least three grand!" Yeah, nah, mate. Sorry.

[@Gratefulman1965]

As a rule I never deal with music stores when selling or trading. Always a low ball affair that never went in my favor. I sell on my own primarily.

[@wammons007]

why wolud you get more than wholesale. shops gotta make money as well.

[@mburtondavis]

I have the atriedes pedal and it’s really fun to play with but pretty hard to find a usable tone but still fun to just make cool noise.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

I think any Godin is a great example of something that takes months to sell after a bloodletting of a trade in. Awesome guitars, particularly when you find a fresh used one but if you want to see you soul leave your body and fly around the room in a murderous rage just try to trade one in.

[@thesmellycatjazz]

I've seen multiple of the high end Godin Multiacs for $750 at Guitar Center. Amazing guitars.

[@daviddawson1718]

I have looked into Godin several times, and my local shop is a Godin dealer, but even if they feel and look great, they turn the grain in the wrong direction. That is a deal breaker for me.

[@michaelahern3006]

For the money, Godins are great guitars. I own some high end guitars but the Godin is one of my favorites.

[@216trixie]

@@daviddawson1718Explain please?

[@Kenneth-nVA]

Godin’s are better made than Gibson and Fender… those companies go the Murphy lab route for top quality products. Godin simply doesn’t have a large audience…

[@scotthoward6265]

It’s not personal…it’s business…one of the oldest but most true sentiments.

[@thelastnic]

A friend who is a bluegrass fan mentioned the screw tension on my banjo...was that code?

[@SurrendertheEctypeofficial]

Well done. Cheers from Denver.

[@bluzzjazz]

My only Godin is an LGXT. It is very well made, has Semour Duncan SH II Jazz in the neck and Custom 3 in the bridge. The acoustic piezos are decent. I don't use the synth feature. It is a great value for the price.

[@milescookman7180]

The town set used in Gremlins is the same as Hill Valley in Back to The Future. Nerd Facts!!!

[@fawkesandhound]

I appreciate the gear added to the room. Yes.

[@robertbeaman5761]

Oh yeah, I had a G&L with a Floyd Rose, Bill Lawrence pickups and a zero fret. It was an amazing guitar.

[@stratosexual1329]

Fender(electric), Gibson, Taylor, Martin, everything else is a gamble. I really like other brands but I know I will never be able to move them.

[@Dian2Gig]

The best thing is to set up your guitar with new strings, neck, intonation and action so it plays well. If you don’t know how go to a reliable tech. Clean and polish the guitar and the frets. It makes a difference. I sold 2 guitars doing this.

[@MrSmiley1964]

A lot of times you will ask yourself, "Why am I selling this guitar?"

[@dfwlistener7593]

Love this channel!!

[@robertnilsson8213]

Hi guys, thank you for a great video. Hold your horses? Are you from Wisconsin Baxter? 🤣🤣Love your guitars: The 59 RI flying V, The 90's ES-5, The Les Paul Junior, The Burgundy Coloured one is a Les Paul Custom from the 70's, Gretsch Chet Atkins, The Gretschy type of guitar behind Jonathan is a Dean guitar and the last one is a 58 RI flying V in Mahoganny as the other flying V. Greetings from ~Rob Nilsson in Stockholm, i renovate and mend old violins and acoustic guitars, cheaper violins and Levin Goya guitars. I make custom models of electric guitars as well. ☮Out!

[@robertdusziii4125]

Clerk at Guitar Center said they couldn't offer what I was looking for for a Custom Shop Gibson and suggested I throw it up on FB Marketplace. So I did. Guess who bought it? That's correct, the GC Clerk!

[@stephandelaney4097]

That cheeky bastard lol

[@BrianWMay]

I received an excellent trade in when I put my 2008 D-28 against a new CEO-7 in March 2023. Guitar Guitar in Newcastle were excellent.

[@G_Demolished]

That’s because Martins hold their value more than most brands. They know the D28 will sell.

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

How are u John I’m good RSV is wonderful You can hear it in my voice that’s nice John glad you’re good

[@rennpart]

KAN YOU CUSTOM ORDER ME A SUPREME REVERSE HOLLOWBODY FLYING V WITH 3 DIFFERENT PICKUPS? - NINjA TURTLE GREEN??

[@davidmeatty5922]

"Gosh dang nibbly do's" Baxter, you're an absolute treasure.

[@thejuggernaut5327]

Watch The Blues Brothers with your kids. That holds up with the best of them!

[@zzyzxRDFwy15]

Thanks for sharing your goat being killed story. It added so much to the video.

[@thetoneknob4493]

i went to trade a guitar, a parts caster that i did a short scale conversation on so i could use a real 1964 fender mustang neck i had sitting around and all the electronics wer from the same period as the neck, but earlier that day i had gone to the dentist and had oral surgery so i was pretty doped up as per dentists orders..and the guy who buys guitars was strait up rude about dealing with me at all witch was confusing af so in an attempt to re assure he guy that it was worth the time to give it a look over and he handed me the guitar back and told me i had to leave and was not welcome at trade up music because quote we dont deal with junkies..i didn't know what to say and was super confused? me a junky? so i just left feeling like the smallest guy on earth and i havent gone to a guitar shop since..

[@stephandelaney4097]

Bro I feel it. I lost a top front side tooth to where I look kinda like a junky who lost his tooth to drugs. But no. It was a root canal from childhood cavity and it broke off eating one day. (I had to live like that for a month!) But I’m skinny bc I run a lot and eat healthy. But if you didn’t know me and you seen my missing tooth and size, you’d probably assume I’m a stereotypical”junky” bc I’m skinny and missing a front tooth. Like it was most embarrassing month of my life bc I looked like a junky. Even in nice clothes. So got a whole month I always had people looking at my mouth when talking and get weird looks and egos from people I didn’t know or who knew my situation with my toooth. People suck sometimes dude. Never judge a book by its cover. Rock on team.

[@chitholdems6087]

Ok I subscribed to the kid's gaming show and I'm totally here for the historical review of Gremlins. It's like "guitar shop guys talking ASMR" lol

[@erikgeiser8226]

Is it true that guitar shops don’t want to buy your guitar case that goes with the guitar you are trying to sell to them?

[@davidkastin4240]

Yup

[@AussieEnglishPodcast]

Hehe Just subbed to him. He's at 412 subs :D Go kid go!

[@MayorMcCheese2000]

FYI Suslizardgaming has the comments turned off but he's almost at 300 subs!

[@martymcpeak4748]

I had a manager of Guitar Center offer me a insultingly low amount for my 90's Roscoe electric. Think Les Paul but a little smaller with a humbucker and single coil with a Floyd Rose type trem. He said nobody knows about Roscoe guitars. i stuck my hand out to shake his hand and chuckled and thanked him for his time. The guitar tech that was standing with us was salivating while playing it and I thought dude was gonna cry when I opened the case and said I gotta take it home lol

[@joeporter4616]

I was in Guitar Center and they had three of the exact same Taylor model acoustic Guitars actually four, because they were also selling a new one. No, they wouldn't work with me on the price.

[@joeporter4616]

And I'm begining to think, why is everyone selling this particular guitar.

[@PeterMoore350]

Aarrgghh low ball offers. When i was very ill a couple of years ago I listed a few guitars on TradeMe , NZs homegrown equiv of eBay but better. My rare Gold Ibanez Pia was listed at a decent reasonable price ppl low ball it all the time didn’t sell. I got 3 requests to relist so I did. I think they thought I’d offer it for no money whereas that guitar is worth double what i paid for it even though I didn’t buy it as a speculative purchase- i bought it after playing it in store, liked it and had the $$$ at the time. Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘

[@who_dat_is_t.t2495]

Hey nice shoes! Is that the same pair you were wearing at merl fest? 😂 keepin' em clean!

[@stephandelaney4097]

I went to guitar center in Indiana. And they offered $450 for my ‘13 American Standard Strat. (That’s Squier CV prices) I was hoping to trade my sss USA strat in for a Mexican player plus hss flamed top Strat. But guess not. Like dang. Im better off selling for double on the black market. Or just keeping. But after this vid, I’m keeping it. It’s a USA strat after all.

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

A few months back I tried to sell a Vox AC15-C2 at the local Guitar Center, and the manager told me that it was a fairly hot amp that would sell quickly, but that corporate had ordered them to stop buying heavy amps because they ship their used products for free and the big tube amps were killing them. To be fair, it is the heaviest 15 watt amp you will ever pick up in your life. Oh well, I wasn't too keen on selling it to begin with... it will me my garage amp from now on.

[@duaneparrish6142]

Being a lefty shops will usually take anything I trade in.

[@richardgarcia406]

I offered in trade to a popular NY shop a LP Custom in great shape for a used guitar they’ve had sitting for a couple of months. They really low balled me on trade value for used. Not desperate.

[@jambajoby32]

List price is not sell price and sell price is not cash out price. Reverb takes 13% or so (after fees and shipping)

[@keithangstadt4950]

I don't mind getting 50% of the value of a guitar when I sell it to a store. The only issue I have is getting low balled on trades. The shop is getting what they asked for the gear you traded towards, plus whatever they sell your trade-in for. They are making profit on both items, yet I have been to several stores that go as low as 30-40% trade in value.

[@mikenadanada7430]

Did the kid ever get his lizard ??? You can't leave me hanging like that. I need closure 😂

[@harringtonbenton334]

So guitar prices are Exploding Yet guitar sales are slowing

[@MyDadWasALifeguard]

Truth!..lowballed on a USA Jackson at GC recently…despite dropping 10 g’s over the last few years..still pissed

[@216trixie]

If you sell something to a retail store they’re going to offer you wholesale.

[@MichaelBethke-ni6zb]

Do you sell custom guitar picks? I collect picks. Thanks

[@Spetsnazty]

When I subscribed he was at 58 subs, he has 250+ now

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

Sus Lizard Gaming is currently sitting at 292 subs. Looks like he's getting a lizard 😂

[@WithCarePlz]

I think most peoples problem with guitar stores isn’t that they need to make money. I think it’s obvious businesses are businesses. I don’t think people expect guitar stores to pay them some crazy amount for their used gear. My issue with guitar stores isn’t making money- it’s the little extra disrespectful little chunk. Like, we all have bills, not just stores. But when you buy a brand new guitar at say joe blows for 1800 plus tax, and a month later you keep your business with joe blows like a loyal custie, and they say the most they can give you for the guitar on a trade is like 650. Then they put it back on their shelf for 1600 Yaknow? That little bigger bite than is necessary. I’m not complaining or angry. I’m just explaining why I don’t use guitar stores anymore. I am not alone. Would a little 15% more paid on good stock trades would have gotten the industry starved quicker? I would think you’d be better off making 15% less off of us to keep our business for 20 years type thing, but what do I know. I’m just a hopeless guitar addict. Luckily for you guys you have youtube. But my local stores are donezo with me lol. I’ll do my own setups.

[@216trixie]

If you sell something to a retail store, expect to get a wholesale price.

[@zombieprivates]

I've been watchin Reverb and Ebay and even some local guitar stores with crazy prices on their 2021-early 22 guitars, because they bought high and unfortunately in many cases the guitar is now worth 30-50% less. They you get "well in 21-22 I paid this crazy amount" I should be able to get this amount out of it.. WRONG!!!..lol..

[@Max-million]

Funny when he’s says, “I’ve taken a haircut…” 😂😂.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

A guitar shop said YES to my Custom Shop Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster . It wouldn't sell in the classified ads . ✨🎸✨🇺🇸

[@AssuredHomeInspect]

Isn't Baxter suppose to be in surgery? Or is blood/alcohol too high from yesterday...🙄

[@user-cw6xy3ny4d]

Another thing about having Estebans is that you know that no store owner in his right mind would want it, The trick is to find a shop owner who is nutty as hell and then you can make a deal.

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

Sus lizard gaming is at 350 subs and has comments turned off. I hope he makes a lizard update. :(

[@mikewhitfield2994]

I did subscribe to Sus Lizard Gaming and was number 435. Can't tell him I came from Casino Guitars because all his videos have comments turned off. (Probably smart for a kid.)

[@DK-rv5tt]

A whole bunch of gibsons on that wall today. Fender might just shed a tear 😂

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Fender and Gibson sell well used always in demand. Other brands not so much.

[@CurrieNerd]

There's a lot of 'looking at the wrong camera'. New editor??

[@davidsummerville351]

Sus Lizard has gotten over 250 subscribers in two days. I've been checking ! Yahoo. 😎🤓

[@user-no1cares]

Guitar gear won’t get much at a guitar store unless it’s real special, which it often isn’t to anybody but the owner that loves it. Reverb is scary. Guitars make a warm campfire & Amps can be broken down & turned into amateur radios. You have a Banjo for sale? Do you have an accordian to go with it? There must be a kid in your family that needs a worn out guitar for Christmas. He’ll be able to start lessons in a few years when he turns 5.

[@Datimdavis2900]

I have a dozen or so Les Pauls, a firebird, a Flying V, and a Martin I am gonna bring by…

[@arthurlove1002]

I want a banjo

[@b3pahunter546]

I'm also done with Christmas.

[@joeprod1]

Kid has over 400 now. He better name that thing Baxter.

[@mentalswill]

I bought my Godin knowing that it, along with my G&L Bass, Schecter Bass, Squier Bass, Epiphone Les Paul and a red acoustic will be hard to sell. Oh well, when the day comes they will make nice gifts.

[@dudelostman7412]

Yea, put a guitar on consignment. They kept the money and denied ever selling it. So no to the shop experience.

[@jameshughes9706]

Subscribed :)

[@Bob-Whiting]

I subbed to Sus Lizard for ya but, he had comments turned off so I couldn't tell him you guys sent me. That's it. Done.

[@fretlessed25]

You are spot on that a store pays you lower because they then have to deal with it not selling for a year, fraudulent buyers, buyers complaining about non-issues and returning it, things damaged in shipping, etc... I sold a Fender Jazzmaster recently for $900 cash and I'm certain the shop will list it for at least $1,400. That $500 is the convenience of me dumping it on the store to deal with any complications.

[@TommySG1]

Precisely 🤙

[@shanewalton8888]

If that kid's channel is so important, where is the link to it in the video description?

[@unclelefteye3166]

SusLizard Gaming youtube.com/@JTRoscoe?si=w3g2P7gavCnnzATs

[@kenmego5553]

youtube.com/@JTRoscoe?si=7QNe_eNua7WoG7QF

[@indiedavecomix3882]

I think if The guitar shop just understood how rare and valuable my Ibanez Gio is, then they'd jump at the chance to to buy it from me.

[@216trixie]

😂😂😊😊

[@davidmaloney4740]

You know what you got... no low ballers! 😂😂😂

[@cdavidlake2]

Gios are nice instruments, but I don't believe they're necessarily rare.

[@216trixie]

@@cdavidlake2 he’s joking

[@indiedavecomix3882]

@cdavidlake2 Oddly, mine kind of is, but it isn't valueable. I don't see many come up for sale, but I think the majority of my particular model were sold overseas. It isn't really sought after either way. 🤣

[@tidepoolbay]

What about Old Amplifiers? WooF!

[@JoshMarzolf]

I did a deal with gc a few weeks ago. I appreciate the "60 percent off what we'll sell it for" right off the bat. After figuring in shipping and reverb or eBay fees it ends up coming out pretty close.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I think 60% is a decent deal considering the hassle of selling online sometimes.

[@mohamedtlass3842]

60% less then reverb isn’t close at all. This is why I never ever ever sell to stores

[@JoshMarzolf]

@@mohamedtlass3842 I figure shipping and being taxed on it as well. Plus my time and the headache of trying to sell things online.

[@216Numbskull]

It depends on what you're selling? Not that I'd ever sell a guitar like this in the first place. But for example if I owned an old Fender, Gibson or Martin, etc... & had to sell it for money. I'd NEVER sell one of those guitars to or on any of the places mentioned. Economics101 "supply & demand" know the true value of the music gear you're selling. Whether you're hard up or not don't let a place like GC low-ball you if you do you're just cheating yourself. Cuz many instruments & gear people think have no value would be surprised what they're sitting on anymore today! 🤔 Just saying... +Peace Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul My Friends+ 🤘😜🤘

[@mohamedtlass3842]

@@216Numbskull straight up! Of course if 60% difference is 60$ then that’s another story maybe for some people 😂

[@TommySG1]

This topic has certainly been beatin to death, bottom line is folks that are butthurt by either a lesser price on their axe they anticipated, or even the guitar shop saying sorry we don’t want it should just do the legwork and sell the item on their own. The guitar shop is certainly going to lowball the value so they can make a few shekels on it’s eventual sale. Selling gear is almost always a hassle, especially these days with all the scams going on which really makes it a nightmare.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

If it sold once it will sell again...if the price is right.

[@Mr3DBob]

Spaceman Music in Ottawa does a decent business in used guitars and amps. They pay half of what they believe they can sell it for. If it's over $500, they will put it on consignment, whereby they will take 20% of the resale. It's a buyer's market for electric guitars, that's the way it works.

[@jakevoss1980]

Sus lizard gaming is now up to 309

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The closest shop to me is just a wall filled with MIM and MIJ and MIC. I got the better of the few US Strats they had. There's a nice Les Paul, but then it's a cheapo chambered ...

[@kevinodriscoll3904]

Too bad you should have bought the MIJ dummy

[@southernpanda33]

He’s at 293 right now.

[@chadlomax111]

Lizard boy is over 350 now.

[@SpookieVonDookie]

Lizard Kiddo has surpassed 100 subs!

[@jamesburge1983]

A store with 8000 used G&L's? Where? Bet they are desperate to sell! Lookin' for some good deals.

[@YanYeiDei]

seems like a lot of Gibsons on the show now. I must have missed something, Casino now a Gibson dealer?

[@TMINE100]

Gremlins is directed by Joe Dante not Spielberg.

[@stevewilliams846]

You seem so nice in your videos but you didn't even come out and wave when i took the train right by your store.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Guitar Center in Fairview heights Illinois offered me a pos Squier bullet tele for my Gibson SG Standard. I laughed at that dude and walked out. Fuck sakes. I didn't need to get rid of my guitar so I didn't but theres fair offers and then there's rippin off.

[@tymanngruter1808]

That dudes are shoplifters to at their spare times! 😂

[@Kur0y4m4]

Subbed Lizard.

[@somebodyelseuk]

"I'm very fond of you, Jesse."

[@SamVecchio]

That lizard kid has 400+ subs. 😂

[@robsteffey606]

I’m going to bring some American fenders to trade to custom shops. Even trade? 🤣🤣🤣

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

Joe Dante. JOE DANTE! Say his name Baxter

[@Joe-mz6dc]

I figure if I don't want a guitar anymore then a guitar shop saying no makes a lot of sense.

[@charlesbolstridge3871]

It's because the guitar shop wants to make money. Best way to do that is to sell brand new stuff to lawyer blues players. That's why shops like this have gone to the boutique and I forgot about the low end budget player. It's the same thing that has happened in the housing market only rich people can buy houses eventually only rich people will own music equipment so they can hang it in their doctor's office and impress their rich friends

[@tidepoolbay]

Most if not All Guitar Shops do not want to buy. What about trades? WooF!