Listing instruments and music equipment on Reverb is a super fast and easy process. In just a few steps, you can have your gear up on the Reverb Marketplace and broadcast to thousands of musicians.
But no matter what you’re listing on reverb, your chances of completing a quick sale at your best possible value comes down to having a fantastic product listing. We’ve put together some general tips and guidelines to help you make a great listing, attract potential buyers, and sell your gear.
1. Take Great Photos
A good set of photos can be the absolute difference maker when selling your gear and instruments online. The best listings are those with numerous clear, well-lit, and detailed images that really give your potential buyers an enticing overview of the item.
But of course, not everyone's a professional photographer with a full studio in their basement. Here are some general tips that will help you take better photos with even the humblest of camera phones:
Backdrop: check. Lighting: check.
Awesome guitar: check plus.- Light your piece of gear as fully as possible. If you don’t have any actual lights at your disposal, try taking your pictures outdoors in overcast conditions, in "open shade" (behind a building), or next to a large window filled with day light. Try to avoid letting any shadows creep into the frame of your images.
- Place the item on a block color background. A large white sheet is what most pros use, but similar results can be achieved with a solid color carpet, section of hardwood, or maybe a spread out towel or blanket.
- Get closeups of anything unique, unusual or noteworthy. It’s important when selling a guitar, for example, to disclose any blemishes, dings or scratches in your listing. Try adding a picture as well so potential buyers are fully aware of what they are purchasing.
- Take more photos than you think you need. Try shooting from a variety of different angles and positions to get a good selection of photos to choose from. You can always delete the ones you don't like.
- Use a tripod if one is available.
If you're selling a guitar or bass, check out this article about prepping your instrument for sale.
2. Write a Full and Accurate Description
The description should go beyond what's in the pictures and describe everything and anything that a potential buyer might want to know about the item. How long have you had the item? Where did it come from? What makes it unique? When it comes to music equipment and instruments, the real trick is to describe the sound it produces. Good descriptions are accurate and informative, but can also benefit from a little sales flair. The best descriptions have both.
Just sipping some coffee, selling some gear.
Here are some other tips for writing worthwhile descriptions:
- Start with the most important info. A lot of potential buyers are only going to read the first few sentences of a description, so it's best to highlight the most important stuff first.
- Use bullet points. Lists are an easy way to convey a lot of information quickly. Bullets are especially useful if you're listing the technical specs of a piece of gear.
- Compare the sound of a famous artist or recording. Other successful descriptions compare gear to other classic pieces of equipment. For example: "This axe gives you the sound of Jimmy Page wailing on a PAF Les Paul."
- Help the buyer picture themselves using the item. One good strategy is to describe situations that underline the utility of the item. Selling a pedalboard? Explain how many pedals it can hold or power.
- Disclose any problems or issues. Be sure to describe any scratches, dents, or functional problems with the instrument or product.
Here is an example of good copy:
"The EHX Big Muff with Tone Wicker takes the classic tone of the Big Muff and adds a versatile tone wicker switch. The wicker gives a high-end jolt of treble zing to really stand out when soloing. This version of the Big Muff also includes a tone switch which lets you bypass the tone control for a massive unbridled helping of classic EHX fuzz. This pedal is great choice for someone looking for the classic Muff sound with a little something extra. Overall, this pedal is in great shape though does have a noticeable scratch on the backplate."
Here is an example of bad copy:
"good condition, red stratocaster."
3. Fair and Accurate Pricing
Whether you're selling a vintage Gibson or an affordable power supply, listing your gear with the right price is an absolutely essential part of the process. Reverb is proud to offer an ever-expanding Price Guide with price estimates and transactional history for tons of vintage and used gear.
If you're unsure about your particular piece of gear, feel free to email us [email protected]. We're happy to share our recommendation for appropriate pricing on just about anything.