Why You Should Buy Used Guitar Pedals

Not every guitarist is fond of buying used guitar gear, but when it comes to used guitar pedals you should open an exception. Instead of guitars, and amps, guitar pedals are meant to be stepped on. 

This means that even if you buy a new version of a guitar pedal you really want, you will end up stepping on it multiple times. This is just an example of one of the reasons why you should consider buying a used guitar pedal instead of a new one. Let’s look at some more reasons why this makes sense.

You get more bang for your buck

Used guitar pedals allow you to get a lot more value for the same amount of money. Even with $20 to $30 you can buy some awesome pedals, that can really help you to improve your tone. If you were to buy these pedals new, the price would be much higher. This is one of the reasons why buying used guitar pedals is a good option.

Building a used guitar pedalboard on a budget

If you have a tight budget, used guitar pedals offer another advantage. You can easily build a very nice pedalboard with just a few hundred bucks. This means saving sometimes more than 50% of the cost of these pedals new. That might not mean much to some, but for many on a tight budget, this is definitely something to look into.

Used guitar pedals allow you to build a pedalboard, even if you are on a really tight budget. As opposed to new guitar pedals that sometimes cost upwards of $100. Used ones are sometimes sold for a much cheaper price. This means that for $250-$300 you will be able to have a decent pedalboard, with a wide range of tones that can cover lots of music genres.

It allows you to experiment with more pedals

Buying a used guitar pedal is a great way to have more sounds. With the same amount of money, you will be able to buy far more used guitar pedals than new ones. Therefore you can have a lot more effects and tones in your own arsenal. 

Finding used guitar pedal bargains

This is one of the things that got me very excited when I first started buying used guitar pedals. In fact, some of the pedals I initially bought are now deemed vintage. They are selling for a higher price than the new versions. So this makes you think about what can really happen if you buy the right used guitar pedals for the right price. You can essentially use it for how long you want and then resell it if you want to replace it.

Discovering vintage used guitar pedals with unique sounds

Another exciting aspect of buying a used guitar pedal is finding new tones. Since some of the older guitar pedals are sometimes discontinued, these models are not produced anymore. This means that if you own this kind of pedal you will have a unique and distinctive tone, that you will not be able to get with newer pedals.

You don’t lose money buying used guitar pedals

This is not always the case, but if you know what you are doing most of the time you will never lose money buying a used guitar pedal. This means that you can always resell the pedal later for the same price, or sometimes even more. If you buy a pedal new this will never happen. In fact, you will be selling that once new guitar pedal as a used guitar pedal. Therefore, the price will certainly be lower than a new version.

Where should you buy a used guitar pedal?

Personally, my favorite place to find used guitar pedals in excellent condition is Reverb. They have thousands of sellers with an incredible selection of gear. Occasionally you will also be able to find some bargains and even rare and collectible guitar pedals. If you find one of these make sure you pull the trigger fast because those pedals usually sell within minutes.

What should you look for when buying a used guitar pedal?

Make sure you buy these pedals from reputable sellers whether online or in a shop. Another thing you should look at is if there is any damage on the pedal, from the outside and the back. Make sure you test the pedal, or you buy online from someone who will be able to assist you in case you have any problems.

More often than not, even if the pedal looks used on the outside it still has plenty of years of use ahead. You have to understand that guitar pedals are built to withstand pressure and rough conditions, like gigs and moving your equipment around frequently.