What Sells: Pianos & Synthesizers

Selling a baby grand piano online can be difficult, but online local classifieds sites such as craigslist offer good markets for selling larger instruments where high shipping costs might limit buyer interest on auction websites such as eBay. Portable electric keyboards and synthesizers (an electronic instrument often played with a keyboard that produces complex sounds, such as those of various other instruments) usually sell well at online auction sites like eBay.

Canadian Hugh Le Caine built the world’s first voltage-controlled music synthesizer in 1945 with a touch-sensitive keyboard, and variable-speed multi-track tape recorder, but it was Robert Moog who is credited with making the instrument pervasive through his collaboration with composers Herbert Deutsch and Walter Carlos on the first Moog synthesizer designs.

The following websites have photos and product specifications for hundreds of synthesizers:

http://www.oldtech.com/synth/

http://www.synthmuseum.com/

http://www.vintagesynth.com/

Look for these signs of wear and tear:

• Scratches and scuffs
• Stuck or dead keys
• Missing knobs or sliders
• Dim or dead displays
• Dirt
• Odors (cigarette smoke, etc.)
• Missing cables, case, etc.

Ask the owner how often the keyboard was played and whether it was used for gigs (instruments that are played in bars and other venues may be exposed to smoke, fog machines and other damaging materials). If you don’t know how to play the instrument, ask them for a demonstration and have them point out any problems with the sound or playability of the instrument.

Synthesizers are difficult to test; ask the owner or check the manual for how to run a self-test. Older synthesizers (pre-1990) may take up to 30 minutes to warm up and won’t have a self-test, so you may have to sell them “as-is.”

Keep musical instruments in a well-ventilated room, away from children, pets, smoke, water and cooking odors. Don’t place them in direct sunlight. Do not place instruments next to heating vents or air conditioners either, since the temperature and humidity changes can cause damage.

Synthesizers should be stored and shipped in hard cases designed to hold the specific instrument. Lay the instrument in its case and place packing material around any loose spots around the instrument. Be careful not to over-pack and force the case cover down onto instrument. Put instrument packed in its case into a corrugated shipping carton. Use foam, crumpled paper or bubble wrap (~3 inches of packing material) all around the instrument so it cannot move or rattle inside the carton. If the instrument is too heavy for the carton, reinforce the interior with a second layer of cardboard. Take care to insure the instrument whether you ship by UPS, FedEx, or the Post Office. If an instrument case is not available, consider having a crate made for the item.