If you want your electric guitar to get the best price possible when you sell your guitar on eBay, there are a few basic things you need to do!

Here are some questions to ask yourself when you sell your item on eBay:

1. What is it?
Seems like a simple question but it is an important one!

Most of the time you know what you have: Fender Telecaster, Gibson ES-335, Rickenbacker 330, Schecter C-1, etc.

And if you know, be sure to mention what year it was made and where it was manufactured.

2. Does it work?
Another simple but important question!

Check all the hardware on the guitar: plugs, buttons, knobs, tuners, bridge, etc.

Be sure to plug the guitar into an amp and strum away! Make sure the pickups on the guitar work. Flip around the pick-up selector (if any) and make sure the pickups all work well.

Check the volume and tone knobs and listen for any crackling or scratchiness. If it sounds scratchy, you may want to try clean it out or get your local guitar tech to clean out the pots.

Check the tuning pegs, make sure they turn smoothly and also stay in place.

3. How does it play?
Play around with the guitar a little bit! Make sure the strings aren't too far away from the neck or too close to the neck.

4. How does it look?
Unless you have a 1960s Fender Jazzmaster, the appearance of the guitar is going to be quite important.

Make sure you disclose any major damages: chips, dents, belt-buckle scuffs, broken parts, missing knobs, cracks, etc.

Hairline scratches are pretty common for a guitar that was used but not abused, however, still be sure to mention it!

This is also a good time to disclose any information about any parts that you might have replaced or any improvements/modifications you may have made on the guitar.

5. What are the features on the guitar?
Talk up your guitar!

Does it have nice tuners? Grover, Schaller, etc.
What kind of pickups does it have? Seymor Duncan, DiMarzio, Fender, humbucker, single-coil, etc.
What kind of wood? Swamp-Ash, Koa, Maple, etc.
A cool color?
Rosewood or Maple fretboard?
How many frets?
A special neck?

6. What does it come with?
Tell your buyers what you are including! Maybe some extra strings, a capo, or most importantly a case! A soft-case/gig-bag? Or maybe a hardshell case?

7. How are you shipping it?
Give your potential buyers the most confidence possible by letting them know that the guitar will be professionally packed! Be sure to loosen up the strings before you send it off so there won't be any unnecessary tension.

Sometimes if you're in a major city (Los Angeles, Hollywood, New  York, Chicago, etc.) a local-pickup might be a better arrangement!

8. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!
When in doubt take a lot of clear, crisp, pictures! Be sure to take pictures of the wood grain, the bridge, the pickups, the hardware, the tuners, etc.

The more the better!

Remember this is only a basic guide but this should give you a great start in selling your electric guitar on eBay!

If you're in the Los Angeles / Hollywood area, SHOPitHollywood can do all the work (photograph your item, write the description, and professionally pack and ship your item)!

Happy selling!