If I buy an instrument, can I tell how much it will be worth if I decide to sell it later?

On Buying and Reselling Musical Instruments
Summary based on Frank Ford’s insights

Predicting the resale value of a musical instrument isn’t easy. Well-known brands and popular models tend to have more consistent secondhand values, but there’s never a guarantee. Buying used instruments from reputable dealers can make it easier to trade or consign them later if needed.

Instruments made by lesser-known or inactive makers can be harder to sell outside their original market. For example, Frank Ford notes that guitars he built locally with Richard Johnston in the 1970s have high value nearby but are almost unknown elsewhere. A guitar worth nearly $900 in their home area might sell for only $90 in a different region.

Ford emphasizes that while it’s smart to have any new or used instrument checked by a trusted repair person or dealer, resale value shouldn’t be the main reason to buy. A good instrument should be seen as an investment in yourself and your creativity, not just an asset to resell later. In the spirit of his old friend Jon Lundberg, Ford reminds players: “If you like it, then buy it.”

Even if an instrument loses market value over time, the joy and personal growth it brings are priceless — much like anything else we truly use and love.

Gryphon Instruments

Frets.com