Buying second-hand audio equipment is an amazing way to build a studio above and beyond what you might normally be able to fit into your budget. Who wants to pay full retail price when you can grab a bargain? But while we love a good bargain, we have to learn how to avoid the pitfalls of second-hand gear. No one wants to spend their hard-earned cash on equipment that’s faulty, counterfeit, missing components, has misleading descriptions, or is sold by someone who will run away with the money never to be seen again. Whether it’s eBay, Reverb, Gumtree, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or any other platform, with a little research, a little bit of care, and learning where and how to look, you can pick up some fantastic equipment that sounds great and will last you years and years.
Know Exactly What You’re Looking For
Identify exactly what it is you are looking for. Manufacturers often have the habit of refreshing products every year or two, while keeping the same, or a very similar name. This can lead to you buying something that turns out to be an older version.
That said, don’t assume that an older version of something is inferior. There is plenty of equipment out there where the older version is equally as good, better, or on a similar plane of performance. Let’s take the Focusrite Octopre range of mic preamps, 3 distinct generations (Platinum, Saffire and Scarlett), but at their heart they are extremely similar products. The most up-to-date (the Scarlett) might have slightly better signal-to-noise ratio, or slightly better gain, but sometimes for most use cases it’d be pretty negligible.
Revisions of the same product can also be similar but different. A revision is a small tweak to the design that fundamentally doesn’t change the product as a whole. Sometimes certain products are endlessly tweaked, whether that be for improving a product or to replace a component that becomes difficult or impossible to replace in the manufacturing process. This can sometimes make it a little more difficult to find exactly what you want. So do that extra bit of research. One example that springs to mind is the Boss GE-7 EQ Pedal; older revisions are prone to be a touch noisier than their modern surface-mount revision versions.
While only important for certain products, it is also a good idea to research whether a product is still supported by its manufacturer. This is only really important with products that feature a software element, such as an audio interface, a control surface or a digital mixer. If the products are ‘out of support ’, then you may find them for a bargain, because they’re no longer usable in modern situations.
The Devil is in the Detail
Whether it’s the description on the listing or the included photos, there is no such thing as too much detail in a second-hand listing. There are key elements that should be in all listings: product name, version, age, if any parts are missing, if there is any damage, any modifications done, etc. Any damage should be clearly photographed and shown. And there should be photos, ideally from multiple angles. Damage shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, as the odd dent, scratch, or cosmetic wear happens, whereas larger damage can identify that the product, along its journey, has been mistreated or dropped, etc.
Never rely on stock photographs of a product, and if you ask the seller for photos of something missing, and they’re reluctant, do see that as a red flag.
Check What’s Included
Following on closely to the previous point, take into consideration what is and isn’t included with the listing, and what it would cost to make things whole again. Check exactly what a replacement would cost, and how easy it would be to replace. A missing IEC 13 power cable can be picked up for very little money, but a proprietary power supply can cost a fortune that wipes out any money you would save.
Also check if there are any potential third-party replacement parts, and if they would do the job well. But never assume that the third-party option is as good as the first-party one. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t.
Check the Serial Number
For me personally, this is less about the serial number itself, but whether it has one and whether the seller is willing to photograph and include it. Some products (guitars for example) often have a database where you can check a serial number against. Some of these databases are incomplete, but can often point you in the right direction.
It can also be worth checking local social media groups to check that serial numbers haven’t been listed as stolen; no one wants to be stuck having bought stolen goods.
The real reason to ask about serial numbers is to try and gauge whether the item is stolen or counterfeit. If a seller gets weird around providing a serial number, or the serial number has in some way been removed, then that is a good sign to walk away.
Do take into consideration that some sellers might be more likely to send this information privately, so that someone can’t use that information for illicit purposes.
Beware the World of the Knock-Off
There are unfortunately plenty of knock-off and counterfeit versions of specific items coming out of places like China. If something is too good to be true, it probably is. One of the prime candidates for these is specific microphones. I have seen (extremely convincing in terms of looks) counterfeit versions of microphones including the Neumann TLM102, TLM103, Sennheiser E604, Shure SM7b, Shure SM57 and SM58, just to name a handful. These microphones may look the part, but they sure don’t sound the part, and their crazily low prices tempt people in regardless. If you don’t want to take my word for it, just look on R/Microphone on Reddit at the number of ‘Is this mic genuine’ posts.
Check out Software Licences
Software licenses can be a tricky field when it comes to second-hand equipment and purchases.
Some interfaces, control surfaces and hardware products include software that is tied to the original owner’s account or requires a licence transfer. Always check what has, or hasn’t, already been activated, what can be transferred, and what can’t be. Many manufacturers have different rules, with some transferring ownership for free, others for a small fee, and some manufacturers refusing the transfer altogether.
A product may seem like a great value proposition until you start removing the value of bundled or necessary software.
This is also true when you’re directly buying software. When it comes to software, also take into consideration what else you might need. Some software needs an iLok for storing licenses, so take into consideration that additional cost.
Research the Seller
Online Marketplaces, such as eBay, are great for having a backlog of feedback on every person who has sold on the platform. Good, bad, and neutral feedback can allow you to see that person’s selling history and the interactions they’ve had. This can be used to make a more informed decision on whether to deal with a seller or not.
Be cautious of sellers who are selling massive numbers of the same item, and/or items vastly below what you might expect to pay. Sometimes deals are just too good to be true.
Also look at how sellers communicate; pay close attention to when they try to evade specific questions, divert attention, or try to pressure you into making snap decisions. A seller telling you that ‘someone else is also interested’ shouldn’t be the sign to drop your guard and rush buying something.
Can It Be Returned?
Problems do happen. Even with the most careful seller, with an item that works and was ‘as sold’. Sometimes a courier breaks something; these things happen. But you should always check where you stand on these things before they happen. With online selling platforms like eBay, you are pretty protected when it comes to these things, but when it comes to private sellers on some platforms, that may not be the case. That is why it is often more important to check and test products more thoroughly with private in-person sales. As the chances are that once it’s in your hands and money has exchanged hands, you’re out of luck with future issues.
Many music shops also offer second-hand equipment, and in those cases, it is a good idea to check their policy on second-hand returns and warranties before buying.
Be Careful When Meeting Sellers
While sometimes an amazing deal might distract you for a second, also make sure you keep safe when meeting with sellers to buy gear, especially when it is on the pricier end of the scale. Safety is more important than a quick potentially good deal.
Where possible, try to meet up in local places, and for bigger equipment, or when you have to visit a private residence, try to take someone along with you who can provide first aid in carrying it, but also can make you feel a bit safer.
Another sensible thing to consider is the time of day; it is much safer to meet someone in public at midday than midnight, for example. All in all, just use common sense.
Test the Equipment
Whether you are meeting up with a seller, picking up something in-store or receiving the item from a courier, it is important to test the equipment properly.
In-person is the most important, and ideally you should see the equipment working before the money leaves your hand. This does mean that for some items, you might need to take some additional equipment with you. Think about what you might need before you meet.
You don’t need to go crazy and pull out an oscilloscope and multimeter, but do what you have to do to make sure that, on face value at least, everything is working. You are just trying to make sure you aren’t being sold an instant dud.
If the seller gets a bit funny about you testing the product before completing the transaction, then that might be another sign to walk away.
Keep your Money Safe
When it comes to online sales, we are truly spoiled by the number of online payment platforms that have popped up over the last few years. That said, when using them, make sure you know the features and limitations of each one. I tend to only really use PayPal for second-hand equipment, as they do have forms of buyer protection, but eBay also has similar protections when paying via many different methods when paying through their platform. When it comes to PayPal, always make sure to pay using the ‘Goods and Services’ option, as this is the only one that offers protection. The same is true with direct bank transfers; while they may be quick and convenient, it is extremely difficult to get your money back from the very second you approve it.
Pay attention to anyone who tries to make you pay using a method that doesn’t offer any form of protection. Always be at least slightly on the suspicious side of things.
Take even more care when meeting sellers in-person and paying in cash. Obviously, as soon as the cash has changed hands, there is no recourse whatsoever if there is then an issue.
Touching on safety again, it is never wise to carry large volumes of cash, as it does make you a target for things like theft. Whether you work out with the seller to get cash out of a rather public ATM after testing, or you can insist on sending a payment on a platform like PayPal once you have tested that the product is working.
If the seller’s behaviour is generally making you uncomfortable, never be afraid or feel awkward at just walking away. Safety comes first, and you can probably find the same piece of equipment elsewhere.
Trust Your Gut!!
While some of the points made may seem obvious, there are plenty of them that still trip people up. It happens; sometimes we get drawn in, and that out-of-reach piece of gear makes us lose focus.
More important than any of the specific points is to just trust your gut. Absolutely anything that tells your gut that something is wrong is probably right. Doesn’t matter how small and seemingly petty it may seem; you are never obligated to keep going with a transaction. So, the minute you start to seriously doubt, walk away.
Wrapping Up
The used audio market can be an excellent resource, and you can find genuine deals that allow you to give amazing pieces of gear a second lease on life. It also allows you to buy equipment that might normally be out of budget. But keep focus, stay safe, and look at every purchase more like an investment than a race to find the absolute lowest price possible. A deal is only a deal if the purchase actually works.
Protect yourself, protect your purchase, and happy shopping.
