Costs for cleaning, restringing, and basic setups to make the gear floor-ready. The Process: Step-by-Step
The Economics of Convenience: Selling and Trading Used Guitars at Guitar Center
This margin exists to cover the store’s overhead, including: Rent, utilities, and employee salaries.
Risk and taxes associated with gear that may sit on the shelf for months.
Guitar Center does not typically base its offers on the original retail price of an instrument. Instead, employees use a standardized system that references current market demand through sold listings on platforms like and Reverb . Once a "fair market used value" is established, the store generally offers between 50% and 60% of that amount. For example, if a specific model of an American Stratocaster is consistently selling used for $1,000, a seller can expect an offer in the neighborhood of $500 to $600.
Visit Our Social Media Pages
Equal Housing Lender. The Joe Metzler Team at Cambria Mortgage lends in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, and Florida only. This is not an offer to lend or to extend credit, nor is this a guaranty of loan approval or commitment to lend. Information here can become out of date, and may no longer be accurate. Products and interest rates are subject to change at any time due to changing market conditions. Not all programs available in all states. Actual rates available to you may vary based upon a number of factors. Consumers must independently verify the accuracy and currency of available mortgage programs. All loan approvals are subject to the borrower(s) satisfying all underwriting guidelines and loan approval conditions and providing an acceptable property, appraisal and title report. Joe Metzler, NMLS 274132, Cambria Mortgage NMLS 322798. © 1998 - 2025.