Here are some common questions about GUITARS FOR TRADE.

Getting
Started

How will Guitars for Trade help me find the guitar of my dreams?
  1. Look through the guitars on AcousticMusic.Org. If your dream instrument is here, use your old guitar(s) to trade for it. Think of your old guitar as currency: it’s worth something! Use it as money toward a better instrument.
  2. If the guitar of your dreams is not on the site, let us help you find it. You tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll use all our resources to help find one. If we succeed, you can use your old guitar as currency and trade into the one you really want.
What is the process of trading for a guitar?
If you see a guitar you like, offer to trade for it by clicking the email link found in each listing. When you fill out the email, please tell us about the guitar(s) you have to trade and attached pictures. We will respond to answer questions and work out the details of the trade. If you are happy with the terms, we’ll help close the deal and make the shipping arrangements.
  • If you don’t find the guitar you’re looking for, ask us to help you find it and we will contact you by email as soon as we find one, or one becomes available.
  • We will help you determine the value of your instrument or gear. We will fully explain how we arrive at a value and it is entirely up to you to decide if you feel the value is fair.
  • What if the guitar I’m offering is worth less than the guitar I want?
    We’ll contact you with a proposed value of your trade and a value of the guitar you want. If you’re comfortable with the values, the difference can be made up with PayPal.
    How do you determine values for the instruments?
    By comparable values: using comparable new, used and vintage values from The Vintage Price Guide, past sales on EBay, Reverb’s values from recent sales, Gbase sales, the Blue Book of Musical Instruments from the insurance industry and our 40 years experience in dealing instruments. We will, of course, share this information with you.
    How do I determine the condition of an instrument?
    We have defined terms (like: Mint, New, Excellent, fair, etc.) and show them on every input form. If we feel the photographs of an instrument do not live up to the defined terms, we will help you clarify the terms from the Owner. For more valuable instruments, we can have them shipped to us for review. We will then stand behind a revised declaration of condition.
    How can I figure out the date of my instrument?

    We can help you determine the age of your instrument. If the information cannot be easily determined and your instrument may have significant value, we can arrange for shipping to us for a thorough review of originality, date and condition. For valuable instruments that are available for trade, there is no cost for this service.

    Depending on the circumstances, there may be a cost for shipping and insurance.

    What if I receive a guitar and find that it isn’t in the condition that it was represented to be?
    If it was shipped by us, we will stand behind the representation. If you’re not happy, we’ll simply undo the deal and make you whole again. If it was shipped by the original Owner and misrepresented by them, we will help you resolve the issue or undo the deal. If money was involved, you will have the protections of PayPal.
    What if the guitar isn’t what it was represented to be (date, model, it’s a fake, or whatever)?
    If it was shipped by us, we will stand behind the representation. If you’re not happy, we’ll simply undo the deal and make you whole again. If it was shipped by the original Owner and misrepresented by them, we will help you resolve the issue or undo the deal. If money was involved, you will have the protections of PayPal.
    What if I accidently get some important piece of information wrong?
    If an instrument is seriously misrepresented between the original Owner and the Trader, we will help undo the deal or adjust the deal by other means. If money was involved, both the Trader and the original Owner have recourse through PayPal.
    If money is involved in the deal, do you guys keep records of credit cards or other financial information?
    Absolutely not. All credit card or bank transactions are handled through PayPal. We never see bank of credit card information and, therefore, cannot and do not store it.
    Shipping
    What happens if an instrument is damaged in shipping?
    Our policy is to always ship via UPS or the US Postal Service. All instruments are carefully packed and insured at their full value. If an instrument is damaged that we ship, we will help get the insurance value for you. If an instrument is shipped by a owner (other than us), we have less control. We strongly recommend every member strictly adhere to our shipping policies – this way everyone is better protected.