How We Assess Condition
Clear definitions are key when assessing the condition of boutique musical gear, making sure both our customers and consigners are on the same page and can enjoy the process with confidence! When everyone knows exactly what’s being evaluated, it eliminates any guesswork and creates a smoother, more transparent experience. This not only helps you make smart, informed choices, but it also highlights the awesome quality control methods behind each piece. By setting clear criteria, we ensure the gear gets the love and value it deserves while keeping things fun and fair for everyone involved!
Pre Owned
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Mint:
- Items are 100% blemish-free and have all original parts. No modifications and major repairs have been made.
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Excellent:
- Minor cosmetic defects may be present, including pick marks, etc. that do not affect functionality but are largely unnoticeable. Deliberate, professional “relic’ing” is NOT considered when taking into account cosmetic damage.
- Modifications may have been made by a previous owner (i.e. pickup swaps, locking tuners, etc.)
- Repairs may have been performed by our in-house Luthier to revitalize the instrument, including but not limited to*:
- Setups
- Common Fretwork
- Polishing and General Cleaning
- Common electrical work resulting from normal part aging (pot repair/replacement, etc.)
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Very Good:
- Has more cosmetic defects than Excellent, but are still in great condition overall. Scratches, finish dings, buckle rash, etc. may be present, but the defects are cosmetic only and do not affect playability or functionality of the guitar. Deliberate, professional “relic’ing” is NOT considered when taking into account cosmetic damage.
- Modifications may have been made by a previous owner (i.e. pickup swaps, locking tuners, etc.)
- Repairs may have been performed by our in-house Luthier to revitalize the instrument, including more serious repairs, but not limited to*:
- Drop-fills/crack repairs
- Slightly more extensive fretwork
- Slightly more extensive electrical repairs
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Good:
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- Items are in fine working order, but have significant cosmetic imperfections. These may include:
- Binding cracks
- Buckle rash
- Significant finish scratching
- Wood dents/ chips or metal corrosion
- Items that are in Good condition are still fully functional and these cosmetic issues do not affect playability. Deliberate, professional “relic’ing” is NOT considered when taking into account cosmetic damage.
- Modifications may have been made by a previous owner (i.e. pickup swaps, locking tuners, etc.)
- Repairs may have been made by our in-house Luthier to revitalize the instrument, which may include serious or multiple repairs, such as*:
- Part replacement
- Drop-fills/Crack repairs
- Moderate to Major Fretwork
- Moderate to Major Electrical Repair
- Items are in fine working order, but have significant cosmetic imperfections. These may include:
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Vintage
Mint:
Excellent:
Very Good:
Good:
Additional items that may fall just shy of the “Good” metrics may be evaluated by our team on-site. Generally, we do not accept non-functioning items, broken items, or items with major cosmetic damage that affects playability and functionality.
*Repair note: Maintenance on instruments is common. If an item has been worked on by our Luthier, it does not always mean a repair needed to be made, and may include a simple polishing, restring and/or setup. Our Luthier works to bring every instrument that crosses his table as close to Excellent as possible.