Musical Instruments for sale

Acoustic, classical and electric guitars, basses, violins and bows, woodwind, ukuleles, amplifiers and pedals, from 19th-century pieces to recent luthier builds.

What is in Musical Instruments

Guitars form the largest group: classical and flamenco guitars from Spanish and Italian luthiers, acoustic and electric guitars, and electric basses from makers such as Fender, Ibanez, G&L and Yamaha. Violins, cellos and bows are the next group, many of them labelled or unattributed older German and French instruments. You will also find oboes, clarinets, ukuleles, bass amplifiers and effects pedals, along with sets of strings.

Reading a listing

Functional condition: most items are listed as tested and working/playable.
Physical condition: brand new, mint, excellent, very good, good or fair.
Includes: original case, hard case, gig bag, strings or chin rest where supplied.
Era and origin: the approximate date and country of manufacture.

What to check before buying

A label inside a violin reading Stradivarius, or another famous maker's name, is almost always a trade copy: such labels were printed by the thousand for German and French workshop instruments in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Judge a violin by its build, condition and sound, not its label. For guitars, look at neck straightness, fret wear, action height and any cracks in the top. Some setup work, such as new strings and a bridge adjustment, is normal after buying a vintage instrument. Wooden instruments are sensitive to humidity, so let them reach room temperature before opening the case after delivery.

Prices

Most instruments here are between EUR 390 and EUR 3,600.

Frequently asked questions

Does a violin labelled Stradivarius mean it is a real Stradivari?

Almost never. Hundreds of thousands of violins made in German, Czech and French workshops from the 1800s onwards carry a printed label copying Stradivari's, as a note of the model they imitate. Genuine Stradivari instruments are individually documented. A labelled copy can still be a good instrument, so judge it on build, condition and sound.

What is the difference between a classical and a flamenco guitar?

Both use nylon strings. A flamenco guitar is usually lighter, often with cypress back and sides, a lower action and a tap plate, giving a brighter, more percussive sound. A classical guitar typically has rosewood back and sides, a higher action and a warmer, more sustained tone suited to solo and concert music.

Why should a guitar rest before being unpacked?

Wood and finish react to sudden changes in temperature and humidity. If an instrument arrives cold, leaving it closed in its box or case for a few hours to reach room temperature reduces the risk of finish cracks and helps the wood settle. Tuning it after that also gives more stable results.