Prices for synths, drum machines and samplers move around a lot, and what a seller hopes to get is often quite different from what a buyer will actually pay. This is the simple method we use to work out a fair figure for a used synth, drum machine, sampler or groovebox.
Step 1: Check eBay sold listings, not asking prices
eBay is the biggest marketplace for used music gear in the UK, which makes it the best place to see what things really sell for. The trick is to look at completed sales, not the prices people are asking.
- Search eBay for your exact model, for example “Korg Volca Drum” or “Roland SP-404”.
- Scroll down the filters on the left (or tap Filter on mobile) and tick Sold items. Prices in green are completed sales.
- Look at the last 10 to 15 sold prices. Ignore the highest and the lowest, and use the middle range as your guide.
- Check the sales are from the UK if you can, as import prices and postage can skew the numbers.
Active listings with high asking prices are just wishes. A sold listing is a buyer who actually paid that amount.
Step 2: Match your item to the right version
Many models have more than one version, and the difference can be worth £50 or more. Check the exact name printed on the unit, the version or “mk” number, and whether it is a standard model or a limited edition. When you compare it with sold listings, make sure you are comparing like with like.
Step 3: Adjust for condition and extras
Once you have a middle price for the same model, adjust it for your own unit.
- Fully working and tested: the top of the price range.
- Original power supply, box and manual: adds value, and buyers pay more for a complete set.
- Cosmetic wear: scratches, missing knobs, worn keys or sticky pads bring the price down.
- Modifications: these can go either way, depending on the model and the buyer.
- Current demand: some models are hot right now and sell quickly. Others sit for weeks.
Step 4: Remember what a sale actually costs you
If you sell on eBay yourself, the sold price is not what ends up in your pocket. You will pay eBay fees, postage and packaging, and you will spend time answering questions, taking photos and dealing with returns or disputes. As a rough guide, take 10 to 15 per cent off the sold price for fees, plus the cost of postage, and you have a realistic figure for what you would take home.
Working versus not working
Tested and working gear sells for more, but a fault does not make it worthless. Plenty of people buy gear that is not working, so it still has value. We buy music gear in any condition, so tell us exactly what is wrong and we will price it fairly.
Example: how the numbers work
Say the last ten eBay sales of your drum machine range from £130 to £190, with most around £160. Yours works perfectly but has no box. A fair selling price might be about £150. After fees and postage, you would take home roughly £125 to £130. A quick sale to a buyer at a fair price saves you the listing, the wait and the postage.
Get a no-obligation quote
If you would rather skip the listing and the waiting, send us the model name, a few clear photos and a note about the condition through our sell your gear page. We will come back with a fair offer, and there is no pressure if it is not right for you. We collect locally in Brighton and Hove and Worthing, Lancing and Shoreham, or you can post it to us anywhere in the UK.
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