Selling Vintage Music Gear – Auction or Private Sale?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been organizing some older music gear and collectibles and started wondering about the best way to sell valuable items. For synths and rare instruments, I know private sales and Reverb are popular, but what about higher-value collectibles?

Has anyone here tried using an auction house instead of selling directly? I’ve seen some auction platforms that specialize in collectibles (not just instruments), and I’m curious if that route brings better results for rare or niche items.

For example, companies like https://goldstandardauctions.com/ focus on collectible assets and auctions. I’m wondering if auction-style selling generally creates better competition compared to fixed pricing.

Would appreciate hearing your experiences—especially if you’ve sold vintage or rare gear through auctions.

Thanks!

Vemia auctions is better for vintage and/or rare gear. Much safer from idiot buyers on eBay and Reverb, and a wider international audience.