Used Musical Instruments on eBay: What to Check
Condition problems on instruments, such as neck bow or worn electronics, often hide in photos. This hub lists what to confirm before you buy.
- eBay Refurbished (Certified, Excellent, Very Good) on eBay Refurbished under eBay’s Refurbished program for approved sellers. Check eBay’s current terms and the listing for warranty and returns.As an eBay Partner, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Used on eBay Pre-owned; the seller describes the condition. Returns and warranty are whatever the listing states.
- Open Box (listed by eBay as “New other”) on eBay Unused or opened-box item. It is not an eBay Refurbished item.
Each button opens an eBay search for “used electric guitar” (Buy It Now only; remove that filter on eBay to see auctions). Listings change daily; we show no prices here. Seller descriptions are the seller’s own statements.
What to check in a instruments listing
- Serial number to production year
Fender, Gibson, Martin and Yamaha publish serial-number dating pages. Fender notes dating by serial is not always definitive because serials overlapped. Ask for photos of the serial (headstock / neck plate / label) and compare with the brand's page.
Source: Gibson
- Neck bow / relief and truss rod
Fender documents measuring neck relief with a capo and feeler gauge and gives target values; Taylor documents truss-rod adjustment. Ask for a photo sighting down the neck, and ask whether the truss rod still turns.
Source: Taylor Guitars
- Fret wear / buzz
Fender lists uneven frets (one or more jutting out higher than the others) and a worn or deeply grooved nut as common fret-buzz causes; Taylor also documents fixing fret buzz. Ask for a close-up of the frets in the most-played area.
Source: Taylor Guitars
- Case and humidity history (acoustics)
Taylor describes humidity as the main acoustic-guitar care issue; Fender describes protective cases for transport. Ask: 'Is a hard case included? How was it stored (humidified)?'
Source: Taylor Guitars
- Serial dating is not always definitive (Fender)
Fender states that, because of modular production and often non-sequential serial numbering (usually overlapping two to four years from the early days to the mid-1980s), dating by serial number is not always precisely definitive; a neck date, where present, can narrow the range. Ask the seller how the claimed year was determined and for a photo of the neck heel date if present.
Source: Fender Support
- Measuring neck relief (Fender)
Fender says checking neck relief needs only a capo and a feeler gauge, and its article lists target gap values. Ask the seller for the relief measurement and the string height at the 12th fret.
Source: Fender
These are general points, not an inspection of any listing. The seller’s description is the seller’s statement; we have not verified it.
Skip used if
- The listing does not disclose the pickup or output condition, calibration state, or included stand.
- The listing does not identify the exact model, serial number, cable, or case.
Used, Open Box or Refurbished?
- Used
- Open Box (New other)
- eBay Refurbished – Certified
- eBay Refurbished – Excellent
- eBay Refurbished – Very Good
- eBay Refurbished – Good
- Seller refurbished
- For parts or not working
eBay uses defined condition labels, and they are not interchangeable. An ordinary “Open Box” (listed by eBay as “New other”) is not a “Certified” anything; a seller’s own repair is not an eBay Refurbished item. Check the condition value and any warranty on the listing itself.
How we researched this page
General buying points compiled from manufacturer and eBay documentation and common listing practice. Model-specific facts will be cited per guide. Not based on testing the items. See How We Evaluate.