( 
)
So, you'd like to sell an analog synthesizer?
Whether you found it at an estate sale, your grandmother's basement, your closet, or your studio, there are ways to maximize the amount bid upon your synthesizer.
Most analog synthesizers were manufactured between 1970 and 1983. That means that the NEWEST analog synthesizer your potential bidder is going to be looking at is 24 years old (of course, there have been analog synthesizers made more recently, but most of what I'm going to say does not apply to them). As a result, most of the people who will be interested in buying your synthesizer have to be very careful about their investment. Analog synthesizers are expensive AND fragile, which makes buyers learn to be discerning VERY quickly.
You are going to have to give them confidence in your synthesizer, and in you as the seller. You're going to have to focus on auction presentation, model knowledge, and communication if you're going to get the highest bid.
Here are some ways you can help insure that you get the highest bid for your analog synthesizer:
Your Synthesizer:
Your bidder wants to know that you know what you're selling!
So often, you will see analog synthesizer auctions that basically read: "I don't know what this is, but you probably do," etc. While this may be initially true, your bidder will immediately question their desire to bid on your item. Why? Because you are telling them that you intentionally have avoided knowing about this item.
The internet is now brimming with information about most analog synthesizer models. Simply googling the brand and model will give you at least SOME information about any given model... even the most rare. Most people who would bid on an analog synthesizer know this, and they're going to wonder why you haven't done it. They're also probably going to assume that you're hiding something because you haven't!
Unfortunately, some sellers on eBay feign ignorance in order to pass off a broken or damaged item. A seller who refuses to learn about their item may be hiding something!
Once you've found some information about your keyboard, you should study it so that you have a basic understanding of it, and how it applies to the item you're selling. If you know nothing about analog or synthesizers, it might be helpful to seek out a knowledgeable person on the internet who can give you information or a means to understand the information you have.
If you do not know how to operate an analog synthesizer, you might also seek that information on the internet. Having a basic understanding will allow you to not only test the item more accurately, but you'll also be able to answer the questions potential bidders may ask. The internet is bursting with information about analog synthesizer operation! Many websites even feature examples of each sound each component makes. Listening to audio examples of the sounds of really any analog synthesizer can give you a general indication of how those components on your synthesizer should sound, or what they should do.
Testing your synthesizer:
Armed with the knowledge you have gathered from the internet, test every knob, slider, switch, and key on your synthesizer. Your bidder will want to know if they work.
SO many auctions contain these words: "I don't have anything to test this synthesizer with." Well, that may be true... but VERY unfortunately, a large percentage of untested analog synths are actually BROKEN analog synths, and your bidder knows this (or should).
If you don't have a cable or amplifier, you should borrow them! If you don't know anyone who can lend them to you, you should take the item into a music store and either ask if you can have someone plug it in, or ask if the keyboard tech can take a look at it.
Your bidder wants to know that the synthesizer works, or at the very least, how MUCH of it works. A synthesizer that is proven semi-functional (that is to say, which might have aspects that are not fully functional) is STILL worth more than a synthesizer that is untested (even with the suspicion that it may be fully functional!). Your bidder wants to feel there are few surprises, and they may be interested in the synthesizer for parts, even if it is broken.
Sounds like a hassle, doesn't it? Well, that hassle is going to get you a LOT more money in the end. I guarantee you'll make more, perhaps a LOT more from your auction if you can make a statement about functionality, even if you admit that parts are not functional.
Portraying your synthesizer:
Your bidder wants to know what the synthesizer looks like. They aren't just looking for proof that it exists. The condition of a synthesizer, as a collector's item, is very important.
The first rule of portraying your synth to your buyers is this: DO NOT USE A PICTURE YOU FOUND ON THE INTERNET. While this practice is very convenient for you as the seller, it will guarantee that the buyers who would be most interested in your synthesizer will not be bidding. It's not just because they can't see what they'll be buying, it's also because it looks as if you are intentionally trying to conceal what they're buying. Even if you don't state in your auction that the picture is from the internet, there is a good chance the buyer will know. For example, I have been scouring the internet and eBay for analog synthesizers for years, and I actually RECOGNIZE photos I have seen in the past used in auctions today. If you want to maximize the bidding on your item, your best bet is to take pictures of your specific synthesizer and post them. If you don't have a digital camera, you MUST know someone who does! Again, this might be inconvenient... but you have to work to earn the money you're going to get!
Your buyer wants to know as much about the cosmetics of your synth as possible. Show them EVERYTHING. Your best bet is to take the synthesizer outside and photograph it in daylight. (not direct sunlight, as this generates glare and shadows which conceal more than they show) This may seem counterintuitive, as you might feel like every single minor blemish looks like a bullet hole in the bright outdoor light... but remember: you do NOT want to have pictures that make your synthesizer look like something it is not. It is better to show every single blemish. That way, your buyer knows what they're getting... and if it looks better in person than it did in the pictures, your buyer will be VERY happy. Your synthesizer does not have to be in museum condition. Granted, that would fetch the highest price... but remember, it's not just collectors buying these synthesizers. Working musicians are buying them too, and while they want them to be attractive, they don't need them to look mint.
Photograph every angle of your synthesizer. Take both distant AND close up shots. Try to photograph anything you think is a blemish or flaw. You really can't take too many pictures. The more you take, the more confident your buyer will become.
The other benefit of pictures is that if you know nothing of analog synthesizers, and you've tried to test yours, and it seems not to be doing what you think it should... sometimes a synthesizer professional will be able to recognize the problem based on seeing the settings alone. A synthesizer I once bought was listed as not being functional. Glancing at the pictures, I could see that the seller had the "ADSR" knob turned all the way down, and the "Initial Gain" turned all the way up... resulting in a constant sound. I informed the seller that their synthesizer probably wasn't broken, but they had included "broken" in the title... and I ended up getting the synthesizer for considerably less than it was worth.
Writing about your synthesizer:
Your bidders want to know about your synthesizer. If they want to know about the brand and model of your synthesizer, they ought to know by now that such information exists in bounty on the internet. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE TEXT DIRECTLY FROM A SYNTHESIZER WEBSITE AND USE THAT AS THE TEXT IN YOUR AUCTION. Most analog synthesizer buyers have already been to vintagesynths.com, sonicstate.com, etc. and have already read this text. If you use text from one of these websites and nothing else, a bidder will (or should) immediately assume that you know nothing about the synthesizer, and that it is likely not functioning. Cut-and-pasted text is a warning sign to a bidder!
If you research your synthesizer on the internet, learn at least enough about it to try to test it, and have an understanding of it from your own pictures, you should be able to write SOMETHING about it. Your bidder wants to know the condition of the item, perhaps where you got it, and whether you've been able to ascertain whether it works. AFTER that stuff, you might be able to inspire a little more bidding with some concise listing of the components in the synthesizer (how many oscillators, etc.) and their functionality. If you cut and paste these technical aspects, that's no problem. But a lot of bidders are very familiar with the text from the main synth websites and will be put off if they see "THIS SYNTHESIZER IS GREAT FOR PADS, BASSES AND LEADS," followed by "THIS SYNTH WAS PLAYED BY FATBOY SLIM, THE ORBITAL," etc. Especially if you have stated that you are not a synthesizer expert. Be honest about what you know about synthesizers, what you can observe from the one you're selling, and then feel free to list components and functionality.
Shipping your synthesizer:
You do not want to send your synthesizer via the U.S. postal system. Why?
1. It is the most expensive of all standard shipping services
2. In order to lessen the already outrageous cost, you'll have to send the synth in a fashion that will take it a very long time to get to the buyer
3. While the USPS is very nice, it is not as motivated as the other shipping services to insure the safety of your item.
I URGE you to ship via UPS or especially Fedex Ground. Why? I have shipped synthesizers through Fedex Ground since Fedex started offering a ground service. The last time I checked, it was the least expensive! (I don't know how much DHL costs, though) Even though it is the least expensive, the service is FANTASTIC, the item gets across the U.S. in usually about 4 or 5 days, I have never had a single synth I have sent or received through Fedex Ground damaged! Never ONCE! Also, you can give your buyer tracking information... and buyers like to know when they're getting their item so they can make arrangements. You can use any service you want, but I guarantee your customer is going to be very satisfied with the results of sending it Fedex Ground.
I have some bad news for you: packing an analog synthesizer is no fun, and is likely not going to be cheap. Why? Here is how a synthesizer should be packed, ideally:
1. Seal the synth in a plastic bag. This protects the synthesizer from dust that might exist in your packing materials, and will protect it from moisture if something wet happens in shipping.
2. Wrap the synthesizer in several layers of big-bubble bubble wrap.
3. Encase the bubble-wrapped synth in cardboard. It doesn't have to be perfectly shaped, it's just a nice shield to disperse force evenly over the bubblewrap. (it will also in the event that the popcorn is lost from your outer box)
4. Get or make a cardboard box that is at least two inches bigger in every direction than the cardboard thing you've made. (So, for example, the box should be 4 inches higher than the height of the synthesizer, etc.) The heavier the synth, the more inches of popcorn. The popcorn is essentially going to save your synth WHEN it is dropped in shipping. Yes, it will be dropped. Having it adequately protected from shock and vibration will mean your synthesizer will arrive functional and undamaged!
5. Put down a layer of 2 inches (or more, depending on how many inches bigger you've made the box... if you made it three inches, put down a layer of 3 inches, etc.) of packing popcorn/peanuts. Put the inner-synth-box in the packing popcorn and then fill the rest of the box. Stuff it. If you put in just enough popcorn to fill the box, settling will mean that your synth will be moving inside the box... you don't want that. Pack it as densely as you possibly can and still be able to close the outer box! If it bulges on the sides, all the better.
In the end, you shouldn't feel movement inside when you shake the box. If you have enough popcorn cushion for the weight of your synth, you should be able to essentially drop this box without harming the synth inside!
Yes, collecting the cardboard, tape, bubblewrap, and popcorn for this venture can be time consuming and expensive. However, I'm sure you'll find that it's better to make the time and money investment on this end, than deal with the nightmare of your buyer receiving a broken or destroyed synth. Indicating on your page that you pack in this way will give your buyer SO MUCH CONFIDENCE!
If you don't want to go through this nightmare, your next best bet is to have it packed at Fedex Kinkos or The UPS Store. If you plan to go that route, LET YOUR BUYER KNOW BEFOREHAND! Before the auction, take the item into one of those places and find out how much they will charge to pack it, and include that price along with your shipping price in the auction itself. This is not a particularly attractive thing to do for your bidders, though... whereas you yourself can get packing materials for FREE from cardboard recycling, etc. having it professionally packed is going to cost your bidders $40 or more ON TOP of what will likely be a $25-50 shipping charge. Not very attractive!
Don't say "this thing is pretty heavy, so shipping is going to be expensive." In comparison to what? Most people who say this have usually never sent a synth. A synth buyer will likely know precisely how much it's going to cost. Yes, it'll be more expensive than sending something small and light, but saying it's going to be expensive makes it sound like you're going to sponge money from the bidder in the shipping price! A standard-sized synthesizer, with appropriate packing, is likely going to cost around $25-50 dollars. See if you can find another version of your model that has sold recently, and check how much they have charged. If you can find several, you can see an average price.
If you go the Fedex/UPS route, be a good seller and pay for the little things. Don't force your buyer to pay for insurance. We're talking about a pittance that will insure that if the synthesizer is smashed by a falling truck, or something, your buyer gets their money back! It's not either of your faults if something happens in shipping (provided you've packed well), but you will not inspire more buyers in the future if you turn your back on your poor buyer who got a broken box full of vintage pieces of wood, metal, and electronics. Pay for the little things, and your buyer will like you. It's just good business!
I hope these tips will help you sell your synthesizer! If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them!
Whether you found it at an estate sale, your grandmother's basement, your closet, or your studio, there are ways to maximize the amount bid upon your synthesizer.
Most analog synthesizers were manufactured between 1970 and 1983. That means that the NEWEST analog synthesizer your potential bidder is going to be looking at is 24 years old (of course, there have been analog synthesizers made more recently, but most of what I'm going to say does not apply to them). As a result, most of the people who will be interested in buying your synthesizer have to be very careful about their investment. Analog synthesizers are expensive AND fragile, which makes buyers learn to be discerning VERY quickly.
You are going to have to give them confidence in your synthesizer, and in you as the seller. You're going to have to focus on auction presentation, model knowledge, and communication if you're going to get the highest bid.
Here are some ways you can help insure that you get the highest bid for your analog synthesizer:
Your Synthesizer:
Your bidder wants to know that you know what you're selling!
So often, you will see analog synthesizer auctions that basically read: "I don't know what this is, but you probably do," etc. While this may be initially true, your bidder will immediately question their desire to bid on your item. Why? Because you are telling them that you intentionally have avoided knowing about this item.
The internet is now brimming with information about most analog synthesizer models. Simply googling the brand and model will give you at least SOME information about any given model... even the most rare. Most people who would bid on an analog synthesizer know this, and they're going to wonder why you haven't done it. They're also probably going to assume that you're hiding something because you haven't!
Unfortunately, some sellers on eBay feign ignorance in order to pass off a broken or damaged item. A seller who refuses to learn about their item may be hiding something!
Once you've found some information about your keyboard, you should study it so that you have a basic understanding of it, and how it applies to the item you're selling. If you know nothing about analog or synthesizers, it might be helpful to seek out a knowledgeable person on the internet who can give you information or a means to understand the information you have.
If you do not know how to operate an analog synthesizer, you might also seek that information on the internet. Having a basic understanding will allow you to not only test the item more accurately, but you'll also be able to answer the questions potential bidders may ask. The internet is bursting with information about analog synthesizer operation! Many websites even feature examples of each sound each component makes. Listening to audio examples of the sounds of really any analog synthesizer can give you a general indication of how those components on your synthesizer should sound, or what they should do.
Testing your synthesizer:
Armed with the knowledge you have gathered from the internet, test every knob, slider, switch, and key on your synthesizer. Your bidder will want to know if they work.
SO many auctions contain these words: "I don't have anything to test this synthesizer with." Well, that may be true... but VERY unfortunately, a large percentage of untested analog synths are actually BROKEN analog synths, and your bidder knows this (or should).
If you don't have a cable or amplifier, you should borrow them! If you don't know anyone who can lend them to you, you should take the item into a music store and either ask if you can have someone plug it in, or ask if the keyboard tech can take a look at it.
Your bidder wants to know that the synthesizer works, or at the very least, how MUCH of it works. A synthesizer that is proven semi-functional (that is to say, which might have aspects that are not fully functional) is STILL worth more than a synthesizer that is untested (even with the suspicion that it may be fully functional!). Your bidder wants to feel there are few surprises, and they may be interested in the synthesizer for parts, even if it is broken.
Sounds like a hassle, doesn't it? Well, that hassle is going to get you a LOT more money in the end. I guarantee you'll make more, perhaps a LOT more from your auction if you can make a statement about functionality, even if you admit that parts are not functional.
Portraying your synthesizer:
Your bidder wants to know what the synthesizer looks like. They aren't just looking for proof that it exists. The condition of a synthesizer, as a collector's item, is very important.
The first rule of portraying your synth to your buyers is this: DO NOT USE A PICTURE YOU FOUND ON THE INTERNET. While this practice is very convenient for you as the seller, it will guarantee that the buyers who would be most interested in your synthesizer will not be bidding. It's not just because they can't see what they'll be buying, it's also because it looks as if you are intentionally trying to conceal what they're buying. Even if you don't state in your auction that the picture is from the internet, there is a good chance the buyer will know. For example, I have been scouring the internet and eBay for analog synthesizers for years, and I actually RECOGNIZE photos I have seen in the past used in auctions today. If you want to maximize the bidding on your item, your best bet is to take pictures of your specific synthesizer and post them. If you don't have a digital camera, you MUST know someone who does! Again, this might be inconvenient... but you have to work to earn the money you're going to get!
Your buyer wants to know as much about the cosmetics of your synth as possible. Show them EVERYTHING. Your best bet is to take the synthesizer outside and photograph it in daylight. (not direct sunlight, as this generates glare and shadows which conceal more than they show) This may seem counterintuitive, as you might feel like every single minor blemish looks like a bullet hole in the bright outdoor light... but remember: you do NOT want to have pictures that make your synthesizer look like something it is not. It is better to show every single blemish. That way, your buyer knows what they're getting... and if it looks better in person than it did in the pictures, your buyer will be VERY happy. Your synthesizer does not have to be in museum condition. Granted, that would fetch the highest price... but remember, it's not just collectors buying these synthesizers. Working musicians are buying them too, and while they want them to be attractive, they don't need them to look mint.
Photograph every angle of your synthesizer. Take both distant AND close up shots. Try to photograph anything you think is a blemish or flaw. You really can't take too many pictures. The more you take, the more confident your buyer will become.
The other benefit of pictures is that if you know nothing of analog synthesizers, and you've tried to test yours, and it seems not to be doing what you think it should... sometimes a synthesizer professional will be able to recognize the problem based on seeing the settings alone. A synthesizer I once bought was listed as not being functional. Glancing at the pictures, I could see that the seller had the "ADSR" knob turned all the way down, and the "Initial Gain" turned all the way up... resulting in a constant sound. I informed the seller that their synthesizer probably wasn't broken, but they had included "broken" in the title... and I ended up getting the synthesizer for considerably less than it was worth.
Writing about your synthesizer:
Your bidders want to know about your synthesizer. If they want to know about the brand and model of your synthesizer, they ought to know by now that such information exists in bounty on the internet. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE TEXT DIRECTLY FROM A SYNTHESIZER WEBSITE AND USE THAT AS THE TEXT IN YOUR AUCTION. Most analog synthesizer buyers have already been to vintagesynths.com, sonicstate.com, etc. and have already read this text. If you use text from one of these websites and nothing else, a bidder will (or should) immediately assume that you know nothing about the synthesizer, and that it is likely not functioning. Cut-and-pasted text is a warning sign to a bidder!
If you research your synthesizer on the internet, learn at least enough about it to try to test it, and have an understanding of it from your own pictures, you should be able to write SOMETHING about it. Your bidder wants to know the condition of the item, perhaps where you got it, and whether you've been able to ascertain whether it works. AFTER that stuff, you might be able to inspire a little more bidding with some concise listing of the components in the synthesizer (how many oscillators, etc.) and their functionality. If you cut and paste these technical aspects, that's no problem. But a lot of bidders are very familiar with the text from the main synth websites and will be put off if they see "THIS SYNTHESIZER IS GREAT FOR PADS, BASSES AND LEADS," followed by "THIS SYNTH WAS PLAYED BY FATBOY SLIM, THE ORBITAL," etc. Especially if you have stated that you are not a synthesizer expert. Be honest about what you know about synthesizers, what you can observe from the one you're selling, and then feel free to list components and functionality.
Shipping your synthesizer:
You do not want to send your synthesizer via the U.S. postal system. Why?
1. It is the most expensive of all standard shipping services
2. In order to lessen the already outrageous cost, you'll have to send the synth in a fashion that will take it a very long time to get to the buyer
3. While the USPS is very nice, it is not as motivated as the other shipping services to insure the safety of your item.
I URGE you to ship via UPS or especially Fedex Ground. Why? I have shipped synthesizers through Fedex Ground since Fedex started offering a ground service. The last time I checked, it was the least expensive! (I don't know how much DHL costs, though) Even though it is the least expensive, the service is FANTASTIC, the item gets across the U.S. in usually about 4 or 5 days, I have never had a single synth I have sent or received through Fedex Ground damaged! Never ONCE! Also, you can give your buyer tracking information... and buyers like to know when they're getting their item so they can make arrangements. You can use any service you want, but I guarantee your customer is going to be very satisfied with the results of sending it Fedex Ground.
I have some bad news for you: packing an analog synthesizer is no fun, and is likely not going to be cheap. Why? Here is how a synthesizer should be packed, ideally:
1. Seal the synth in a plastic bag. This protects the synthesizer from dust that might exist in your packing materials, and will protect it from moisture if something wet happens in shipping.
2. Wrap the synthesizer in several layers of big-bubble bubble wrap.
3. Encase the bubble-wrapped synth in cardboard. It doesn't have to be perfectly shaped, it's just a nice shield to disperse force evenly over the bubblewrap. (it will also in the event that the popcorn is lost from your outer box)
4. Get or make a cardboard box that is at least two inches bigger in every direction than the cardboard thing you've made. (So, for example, the box should be 4 inches higher than the height of the synthesizer, etc.) The heavier the synth, the more inches of popcorn. The popcorn is essentially going to save your synth WHEN it is dropped in shipping. Yes, it will be dropped. Having it adequately protected from shock and vibration will mean your synthesizer will arrive functional and undamaged!
5. Put down a layer of 2 inches (or more, depending on how many inches bigger you've made the box... if you made it three inches, put down a layer of 3 inches, etc.) of packing popcorn/peanuts. Put the inner-synth-box in the packing popcorn and then fill the rest of the box. Stuff it. If you put in just enough popcorn to fill the box, settling will mean that your synth will be moving inside the box... you don't want that. Pack it as densely as you possibly can and still be able to close the outer box! If it bulges on the sides, all the better.
In the end, you shouldn't feel movement inside when you shake the box. If you have enough popcorn cushion for the weight of your synth, you should be able to essentially drop this box without harming the synth inside!
Yes, collecting the cardboard, tape, bubblewrap, and popcorn for this venture can be time consuming and expensive. However, I'm sure you'll find that it's better to make the time and money investment on this end, than deal with the nightmare of your buyer receiving a broken or destroyed synth. Indicating on your page that you pack in this way will give your buyer SO MUCH CONFIDENCE!
If you don't want to go through this nightmare, your next best bet is to have it packed at Fedex Kinkos or The UPS Store. If you plan to go that route, LET YOUR BUYER KNOW BEFOREHAND! Before the auction, take the item into one of those places and find out how much they will charge to pack it, and include that price along with your shipping price in the auction itself. This is not a particularly attractive thing to do for your bidders, though... whereas you yourself can get packing materials for FREE from cardboard recycling, etc. having it professionally packed is going to cost your bidders $40 or more ON TOP of what will likely be a $25-50 shipping charge. Not very attractive!
Don't say "this thing is pretty heavy, so shipping is going to be expensive." In comparison to what? Most people who say this have usually never sent a synth. A synth buyer will likely know precisely how much it's going to cost. Yes, it'll be more expensive than sending something small and light, but saying it's going to be expensive makes it sound like you're going to sponge money from the bidder in the shipping price! A standard-sized synthesizer, with appropriate packing, is likely going to cost around $25-50 dollars. See if you can find another version of your model that has sold recently, and check how much they have charged. If you can find several, you can see an average price.
If you go the Fedex/UPS route, be a good seller and pay for the little things. Don't force your buyer to pay for insurance. We're talking about a pittance that will insure that if the synthesizer is smashed by a falling truck, or something, your buyer gets their money back! It's not either of your faults if something happens in shipping (provided you've packed well), but you will not inspire more buyers in the future if you turn your back on your poor buyer who got a broken box full of vintage pieces of wood, metal, and electronics. Pay for the little things, and your buyer will like you. It's just good business!
I hope these tips will help you sell your synthesizer! If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them!
Guide created: 02/18/07 (updated 07/13/08)
Thank you for voting. If your vote meets our 
