Are Used Gear Prices Going To Skyrocket Again In The Coming Years?

Tariffs could lead to increased prices for new gear and suppress smaller builders from competing with industry giants.

Remember back in 2021 when used guitar gear would cost you almost as much as new guitar gear? You could name your price on Reverb, Ebay, or other online marketplaces, as lived in this alternate pandemic reality. With part shortages and shuttered factories, there was not nearly as much new gear entering the market, driving up the prices on second hand marketplaces.

There’s a good chance we’ll be entering a similar era in the coming years, which is good news for those of you who have lots of gear laying around. But make no mistake, it’s a bad thing for the overall market and the many small business owners who build guitars, amps, and pedals for a living.

There’s some turbulent times ahead, due to a variety of factors, some of which are detailed below:

What’s Going On With Tariffs?

I have a very detailed article that will be up on Ultimate Guitar that details the how and why of tariffs and their impact on the guitar economy. This article will include insights and quotes from lots of builders and luthiers who can provide firsthand examples of why the guitar industry is worried about Trump’s tariffs.

The long and short of it is that tariffs are an extra tax added on to the price of imported goods. They are not paid by the country that makes the good, they are paid by the country that buys the goods. I.e. if an American company (like a pedal builder) needs to buy components to build a TS-9 clone, then they now have to pay extra for those parts. That makes the pedal cost the consumer (us) more money.

The 60 Cycle Hum guys do a great discussion on this below:

So What Does That Have To Do With Used Gear?

Unfortunately, an increase in cost could have a few key impacts that will spill over into the used gear market.

A) Prices for new gear become higher, deterring folks from buying new gear more often. Thus, this increases the demand for used gear, and simple supply & demand means that will drive costs up.

B) Some smaller builders will have their livelihood and business impacted, and with higher costs and lower sales (due to higher final product costs for the consumer) there is a chance some brands and builders will call it quits. Thus, less new product entering the market, like during the pandemic, tipping the scales to an increased demand for used gear.

C) Here is one where used prices do NOT increase! The general slump in the economy from increased consumer prices leads to further dwindling guitar gear sales, as they’re non-essential goods relative to food, clothes, and shelter.

As you can see, the guitar economy is very much a part of the real world economy. And while music, guitars, and gear may be the place we go to escape the real world, it’s not always that simple.

2025 is going to be an interesting year in many ways, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on how the guitar, music, and punk scenes evolve to handle these potential new pressures if Trump’s tariffs are enacted.