Gear conditions guide
Use the below table to help compare different gear conditions side-by-side. Select the condition title for more details.
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|
Minor cosmetic defects.
|
More visible cosmetic defects.
|
Significant cosmetic defects, but still playable and fully functional.
e.g. large dents, significant stains. |
Imperfections that impact the functionality of the item.
e.g. a broken switch, a broken key. |
Clear functional problems that will generally require repair.
e.g. an amp or effect that cuts in and out, a cracked cymbal. |
Watch: "What condition is my music gear?"
Excellent
When an item has been used, but only has minor cosmetic defects, this can be considered Excellent. Minor surface level scratches, such as pick marks from regular use, would qualify.
Move down to Very Good if: there are finish dings, deeper scratches, or buckle rash.
Very Good
Very Good describes items that have more cosmetic imperfections than Excellent, but are still in great condition overall. There may be some scratches, finish dings, or buckle rash, but nothing that affects the playability or function of the gear.
Move down to Good if: there are dents, cracks in the binding, or corrosion on hardware.
Good
Good condition includes items that are in fine working order, but have significant cosmetic imperfections. A pedal with scratches and dents on its chassis, a guitar with some cracks in the binding, or an old snare drum with some corrosion on the lugs would all be classified as Good. Items with dents, cracks, or corrosion qualify as Good as long as they are still playable and fully functional.
Move down to Fair if: any of the damage affects how the item plays, sounds, or operates.
Fair
Fair condition items have various imperfections that impact the functionality of the item. Fair items aren’t broken, but have some minor functional issues. Examples of items in Fair condition are scratchy pots on an amp, or a playable guitar with dead spots in the upper register
Move down to Poor if: the item needs repair before it can be used normally.
Poor
Poor condition items have clear functional problems that will generally require repair. Examples of items in Poor condition include a guitar in which the action is too high to be playable and a keyboard with lots of broken keys.
Move down to Non-Functioning if: the item does not work at all.
Non-Functioning
Non-Functioning condition items include instruments and other gear that simply do not work. It could be a guitar with an entirely broken neck, or a mixing board that won't power up. There are still plenty of buyers out there who are in the market for project guitars and other ‘fixer-upper’ items, just be sure all of the specific issues are disclosed and addressed in the listing.
Always disclose: every specific issue, missing part, and prior repair, in both the photos and the description.
Condition considerations
Factors that determine the item’s condition vary based on the type of gear. For example, age is a major consideration. A 70-year-old mandolin can't be held to the same standard as one that was made this year. It's important to keep in mind that it's all relative, and if you're in between two conditions, we recommend using the lower one to be safe.
If there's any uncertainty, you should take more pictures and write a more detailed description to cover your bases. You can have up to 25 photos, and you can never be too descriptive. Learn more and see examples of various listing photos and descriptions.
Shipped stringed instruments may require setup adjustments to suit the buyer's preferences and playing style. These adjustments are preference-based and do not warrant a return unless the seller agrees to one.
Retailer conditions
These conditions are exclusively for high-volume shops that have gone through additional verification. We are not accepting new applications at this time, but if you have an account manager, please contact them to learn more.
Brand New
Products listed by authorized dealers that are unopened, new in box, and covered under the manufacturer’s original warranty.
B-Stock
Items that were opened and returned, have a cosmetic imperfection, or were used as demo units in a shop. Many B-Stock items come with a limited manufacturer’s warranty and ship directly from a brand or distributor who sells on Reverb.
Mint
Mint condition items are completely blemish-free and have not been modified in any way. Per the definition, these items are like-new, as if they were fresh from the factory, mint, workshop, etc. In most cases, Mint condition items should include any original accessories and packaging.