Anyone buying a second-hand guitar should play it before paying

Anyone buying a second-hand guitar pays after playing it, never in advance. Between private individuals, any warranty can be excluded.[4] According to a 2019 guide by SRF, the Swiss German public broadcaster, the seller says so in the listing.[4] If it is not excluded, a warranty period applies to used goods too.[3] It is two years, or one year if the contract shortens it.[3] What you are left with after the purchase is decided before the handover.

Private seller or shop: what you are entitled to

In a private sale, what you agree counts. According to SRF (2019), private sellers can protect themselves by excluding any warranty in their listing.[4] If you agreed to the purchase knowing the defects, you take the guitar as it is.[4] If the seller kept quiet about a defect, however, they have to take the item back.[4]

If nothing is excluded, used goods carry two years of warranty unless the contract cuts this to one year.[3] A shop may also exclude the warranty completely if it tells you before you buy.[2] So ask before paying and have the answer written on the receipt.

Where a warranty applies, you have two duties. You check the item as soon as you receive it and report any defect at once.[2] You also have to prove that the defect existed at the time of purchase.[2] The Swiss consumer protection foundation (in German) explains the details. A thorough test on the spot saves you a dispute later.

Checking the guitar

Take your time and bring your own cable. These are the points to check:

• Neck: sight along it from the headstock to the body, it should be straight with no twist.
• Frets: play every string at every fret. Buzzing or dead notes point to worn frets.
• Action: very high strings can mean the neck has warped.
• Body and top: look for cracks, especially where the neck meets the body and around the bridge.
• Tuners: they should all turn evenly and hold their tuning.
• Electronics: test the jack socket, pots and switch through an amp. Crackling and drop-outs mean a repair.
• Acoustic guitar: check whether the bridge is lifting at the back or the top is bulging behind it.

Ask the seller to play the guitar briefly themselves. If you lack experience, bring someone who plays. Get any known defects confirmed in writing before you pay, so it is clear what was known.

What comes on top after buying

Add the costs that follow right after the purchase to the price. Budget for new strings and possibly a set-up of the neck and action. Before the viewing, ask a repair workshop what a set-up costs. Deduct this amount from the most you are willing to offer. If the case or gig bag is missing, count that in too. Only then do you know what the guitar really costs you.

Provenance and contract

Ask for the original receipt and the serial number. An instrument without a receipt is not necessarily stolen. But if the story does not add up and you are being rushed, walk away. Write a short sales contract with the date, price, instrument, serial number, known defects and both names.

Spotting a scam

The Swiss crime prevention office (SKP) (in German) describes a pattern in classified ads. With fake offers at very attractive prices, fraudsters demand payment in advance and never deliver.[1] A price far below comparable listings is therefore a reason to look more closely. These rules protect you:

• Collection: ask to collect the guitar in person and inspect it on the spot.[1]
• Channel: Swiss online marketplaces do not communicate through messaging apps.[1]
• Twint: never send money by Twint QR code or number code to private individuals you do not know.[1]
• ID: never send copies of identity documents, even if the other side asks.[1]

If you have been defrauded anyway, report it to the cantonal police in your canton of residence.[1] Take all available documents with you: listing, messages and proof of payment.[1]

What you can do now: find a guitar to try on the spot among the items for sale. Arrange a time to try it and bring a cable, a tuner and this list.