Trade Your Gear

Turn what you are not playing into something you will

Most players have an instrument they have stopped reaching for. We will buy it, or take it towards something else on the wall.

We buy electric, acoustic, bass and classical guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals and pro audio equipment. Vintage, boutique, everyday — if it is good and it works, we are interested.

How it works

1. Tell us what you have. Bring it into the showroom, or email sales@tonedistrict.shop with the make, model, year if you know it, serial number, condition, what is included, and clear photographs. Photograph the back of the neck, the headstock, the frets and any damage — hiding a ding only wastes a trip.

2. We value it. In the showroom you get a figure while you wait. By email we will give you an indication, subject to seeing it in person. Valuation is free and there is no obligation.

3. You decide. Take the value as a part-exchange against anything in the shop, or take payment for it outright. Part-exchange is worth more than a straight sale, because we are not tying up cash.

What we look at

• Model and desirability. What it is, and what the market for it looks like right now.
• Condition. Finish, frets, neck, electronics, hardware. Honest wear is fine; we are not expecting mint.
• Originality. Original parts usually add value. Replaced pickups, tuners or bridges usually reduce it, even when the replacements are better. Keep the originals and bring them.
• What is with it. Original case, certificate, tools, tremolo arm, paperwork.
• Whether it needs work. We will tell you what it needs and how that affects the figure. Everything we take in goes through the workshop before resale, and that cost comes off.

We will explain how we got to a number. If you think it is low, say so — sometimes there is something about the instrument we have not spotted.

What we cannot take

• Anything we cannot establish you own
• Instruments with serious structural damage beyond economic repair
• Counterfeit instruments, which we are obliged to withdraw from circulation rather than return
• Very low-value starter packs with no resale market
  

Identification

We need to see photographic identification and proof of address before we can buy anything from you. That means a passport or driving licence, plus a recent utility bill or bank statement.

This is not a formality. It is how we make sure we are not handling stolen instruments, and it protects everyone — including the next owner.

We record what we have seen and keep it in line with our privacy policy. Buyers must be 18 or over.

If you have the original receipt, the case candy or the registration paperwork, bring that too. It helps the valuation as well as the identification.

Cash purchases

We can pay cash on lower-value items or pay by bank transfer, usually same day. 

For anti-money-laundering reasons there are limits on cash. If we ever pay €10,000 or more in cash, in a single transaction or in linked transactions, we are required to register with HMRC as a high value dealer and to carry out additional checks. Bank transfer avoids all of that and is what we prefer on anything substantial.

Frequently asked questions

How much is my guitar worth? It depends on model, condition, originality and what the current market is doing. A rough guide: expect a trade or cash offer below what the same instrument sells for privately, because we are taking on the servicing, the warranty, the shop overhead and the risk that it sits unsold. The upside is that it is done today, with no strangers at your door, no shipping and no dispute. Part-exchange values are higher than outright cash offers.

Do I need the original case and paperwork? No, but they help. An original hard case can be worth a couple of hundred pounds on a desirable instrument, and paperwork on a boutique or custom-shop piece makes it easier to sell on, which we can reflect in the offer.

Will modifications reduce the value? Usually, yes — even good ones. Most buyers of used instruments want original spec, and a modified guitar sells to a smaller audience. If you still have the original parts, bring them, because a guitar that can be returned to standard is worth more than one that cannot. Professionally done, reversible work costs you least; drilled bodies and routed cavities cost you most.

Can I trade in more than one item at once? Yes. Bring the lot. We will value each item and give you a total, and it is often worth more together than separately if we can put a package on the wall.

Get a valuation

Come in Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00, no appointment needed. If you are bringing several items or something large, ring ahead on +44 7454 755958 so we can make space and give you proper time.

Or email photographs and details to sales@tonedistrict.shop and we will come back to you.

Tone District 20 Victoria Springs, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 2NB