Secondhand Instrument Service

Hobgoblin has always specialised in old and rare instruments, as well as modern secondhand items. There is always a wealth of interesting stock to see.

People are sometimes surprised to find secondhand items priced higher than new ones. Some of the instruments we sell are very unusual, and the rarity is reflected in the price. The increasing cost of restoration is also a factor. We often recommend new instruments as the best value for beginners, particularly with banjos, concertinas & flutes.

An important factor to remember when trading up is that once an instrument is used, even if for only a few months, it is worth much the same as one several years old. All the depreciation takes place at the outset. Luckily though, after a few years many instruments start to appreciate in value again.

Finally, beware! Secondhand instruments may have faults, some of these items are over 100 years old, and they rarely work or look like new. We Guarantee all these instruments against deterioration from the condition we sold them in, for six months (except where marked "sold as seen"). This should give you time to discover any bugs, and let us know if you have a problem. It is strongly advised to call first, both to check availability, and to give us a chance to chat to you and see if the instrument will suit you. If you get something you don't like by mail order, we offer you your money back if you return it within a week of receiving it.

If you have an instrument to Sell...

We do trade ins, take goods on consignment, and in some cases we buy outright. Please call for advice when you have an instrument to sell, we can often give you a good idea of its value and saleability over the phone. We also do written valuations for insurance purposes at £10 a time.

The only instruments we buy outright are concertinas, so if you've got a concertina to sell, we will very likely make you an offer for it.

Consignment Service: We sell many instruments on behalf of instrument makers and our customers on a consignment basis. The seller gets better value for the instrument than it is possible to give for a trade in.

We can't tell you how much your instrument could sell for without seeing it first. If you have an instrument you want to sell or trade in, contact your nearest branch of Hobgoblin to arrange to bring it into the shop.

Contacting the Shops

Secondhand Items are only available from the UK shops. Hobgoblin USA & Hobgoblin Mail Order only offer new instruments. Our second hand instruments are listed here.

Vintage Banjos

We keep a stock of secondhand banjos of all types, often including vintage and unusual examples, but always a good range of pre war instruments such as Vega, Jedson, Clifford Essex, John Grey, Windsor etc. See the Secondhand Instrument List for the latest details.

Vintage Concertinas

Hobgoblin was founded on the buying and selling of concertinas. We have more experience in this than any other UK dealer. Unfortunately there are less old concertinas on the market these days and we rarely have the selection we would like to offer. There is a quite a bit of good info in the concertina FAQ, with sections on concertina history and choosing an old concertina. See the Secondhand Instrument List for the latest details.

We Buy Concertinas for Cash!

We are always keen to buy concertinas, of all types and in any condition. Please contact us to hear what we can offer you.