Used sound equipment is sold at retail stores, online wholesale outlets, pawn shops, and directly from person to person. Just because a particular item is used does not mean that it is not of a certain quality and reputable dealers typically refuse to sell items unless they meet a certain standard. Some used items are sold as “scratch and dent,” a designation that implies that the manufacturer is selling the item at a discount because of some flaw (no matter how small) that occurred from delivery from the factory to the distributor or retailer. There are even music stores that deal in used and/or vintage gear exclusively. Many times these are the very best places to locate hard-to-find sound equipment like vintage amps. It is also possible to find great bargains on used equipment at these places because, in many cases, the staff has worked on the gear, cleaned it all up, and replaced any deficient circuitry or bad electronics. Many of the biggest and best online wholesalers of sound equipment and gear also offer used products alongside brand new ones. This is helpful for the person looking to do some comparative shopping, as the prices are listed for the various used items along with their condition and reviews by people who have used the gear.
