Hi-
 
I have a custom made instrument by a well-known builder that I'm considering selling. I've seen similar instruments of similar vintage sell online in the $12k range. I'm in pretty much a rural area and I'm not really in a position to have folks come to my place to audition it, nor do I want to post it on Craigslist or eBay.
 
I realize I'd have to pay the broker a decent percentage of the selling price, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had an experience with this type of transaction.
 
Thanks!
 
-Susan

Susan,
 
I know classical guitars but that's about it.  What type of instrument is it?  

I'd say you're absolutely right to not allow just anyone over to see it.  There must be someone in New York that can handle that type of transaction correctly.  (Sharke?  Know of anyone?)

Maybe a shop like Gruhn's would handle it

Find a store that will do consignments.

Consignment through a reputable music store is probably your best bet. I've done it several times. They usually ding you for 15% - 20% of the purchase. BE sure that the store is well known and specializes in musical instruments. I've found that the cost is usually better than dealing with random strangers that show up to case the joint and waste your time. And the idea of meeting people at mall parking lots to do business really makes me uncomfortable. You live in a land of guns and people get killed for a few bucks on a regular basis. 

Thanks, guys.
 
Gruhn's is only in Nashville, is that right?
 
I'll have to research some places in NYC, since the only place around here that does consignments would only know what they had based on what I told them and I might end up leaving the instrument with them for years! Or maybe I could get it back at any time. Clearly, I don't know how this works and I'll need to investigate further.
 
I've seen a few places online that might handle it, too, but of course I'd have to ship it to them and I'm not crazy about that idea unless I've fully vetted them first (which I'm not sure yet how to do...)
 
I definitely don't want to meet with random people in parking lots, either.
 
Thanks again!
 
-Susan

NYC will have many suitable candidates. When you consign something there's usually a specific time period in the contract. They will have a minimum time period that the instrument has to stay on site before you can remove it. The reason is that the store will advertise the instrument and you may get a call from a friend, or friend of, that wants to buy it now that they know it's available. The store doesn't want you to pick it up and sell it privately because they've put some time and money into it. I've seen minimum consignment times that vary from 30 - 90 days.
 
I have several vintage Gibson instruments and consignment is the only way I'd sell them.

Susan ,
The closest Music Shop that I know of in your State /Area  that is well known , reputable and is easily on the same type of level of George Gruhn's Nashvile shop is in NYC .
 
The shop is called Matt Umanovs Guitars ...
 
http://www.umanovguitars.com/
 
I'm from NYC and I have been too his shop many times over the years .
( about 30  years before my move to the West Coast )
 
Matt is very well respected . His shop is somewhat Boutique in the sense that he has always been one of the go to guys when it comes to tracking down Vintage Martins and a bunch of other high end used guitars  ...
acoustic and electric ...
His shop is tucked away on Bleecker street in the heart of Greenwich Village .
Some people (and tourists ) have mixed reviews on his shop because they walk in there expecting The Big Box type of Music Store thing and that's not what he or his shop is all about on any level ..
Bob Dylan and a whole other large group of well know musicians would often shop and buy from Matt because they had built up a solid one on one relationship when it came to purchasing instruments from him and Matts shop offered these musicians a safe haven far away from the Big Box Music Store Insanity     
He sells some very high end guitars , a few select brands of mid range consumer type guitars / various acoustic electric instruments and then he brokers and sells for lack of a better term instruments that are unattainable for most people .
Often times some of his best instruments never hit the showroom floor simply because he is a mover and a shaker when it comes to contacting people that are looking for exactly what he may have ...for those type of deals he may do those on an appointment only type of thing ....
Only other thing I can mention about Matts shop is , if your ever are down there or if you choose to contact the shop , deal with Matt directly , not his sales help ....
Matt used to know me by face only , not by name and the few times I ever dealt with his sales help were less that what I was accustomed too ...
 
Also Rudys Guitars is a place to consider ...NYC
 
Rudy has a large collection of guitars in his personal collection , he also carrys a whole long list of instruments in his shop , even makes his own brand and his clientele includes Iconic Players 
 
If I ever hit the Lotto I'm gonna buy one of his
Vintage D Angleico's ......
 
http://rudysmusic.com/
same advice goes as before ....talk to the owner Rudy
 
Anyway , I've flapped my gums long enough in the breeze over  here ...good luck ,
 
Kenny
 

All very good & helpful info -- thanks, guys! I know where to start now. 
 
Who sets the initial selling price in a consignment situation? Should I have it appraised first?
 
-Susan