What to check before buying a second-hand ampAlways plug in and play the amp before you pay - and never buy sight-unseen from a stranger online. Test it properly Play at all volumes: crank it and back it off - listen for crackling pots, hiss, hum or cutting in and out, which point to dirty or failing components. Check both channels and all knobs, inputs and the speaker. Turn every control through its range - scratchy pots are cheap to fix, but tell the seller anyway. Look underneath the hood if it's a valve amp: check the tubes light up and aren't rattly or microphonic. Valve amps carry lethal voltages inside - Gearhead, our Builder in Residence, warns never to open one up yourself unless you know how to discharge the caps safely 8. Price homework first Compare new prices: second-hand sellers sometimes ask more than a shop charges new. IImpala spotted a used Roland Cube 40XL at R2900 in 2015 (about R5,200 in today's money) while a store sold it new for R2760 in 2015 (about R5,000 in today's money) with warranty - do the same check before you offer 2. Expect current pricing: second-hand prices follow new prices up, so old "benchmarks" are outdated 2. Common, non-vintage gear loses value, but rare and vintage stuff holds its price 1. Take cash and haggle - cash buyers get the best deals at second-hand shops 7. Buy safely Meet in person: any buyer who "wants it, no questions" without playing it is a scam red flag; Manfred-Klose, our Luthier in Residence, advises googling the seller's name and number and trusting your gut 6. Buy from the community first: forum classifieds mean you deal with someone known and reputable 7. The threads don't cover a detailed amp-specific inspection checklist - worth asking the community for one. From these forum threads10 things to remember when buying .or selling second hand or in fact new gear (2011): Keira's ten rules for buying and pricing used gearSecond Hand music gear prices (2015): Why used prices sometimes beat brand-new shop pricesTips on how to avoid gumtree scams (2013): Manfred-Klose's red flags for Gumtree gear scamsWhere to find used gear? (2013): Alan's tips on where used gems actually surfaceDangers of working on a tube amp (2009): Why you shouldn't open a valve amp yourself
