By Brian Parker
After a year of beta testing, Reverb.com, a new platform for buying and selling musical instruments and gear, received a successful $2.3 million round of funding from musicians and seasoned startup investors. Reverb.com, which launched officially in June, was started in late 2012 by David Kalt, the owner of the successful vintage guitar dealer Chicago Music Exchange. Kalt’s frustration with eBay and Craigslist inspired him to create a marketplace for musicians that would challenge the existing methods of selling gear. Now Reverb is up and running, offering expert knowledge, user experience, free listings, low transaction fees, and accurate pricing tools, including the Reverb Price Guide, which functions like the site’s Blue Book.
Reverb.com has already drawn the interest of over 4000 dealers (including one of our favorites, Main Drag Music in Brooklyn) who represent the growing, $7 billion market for new and used musical instruments. Reverb’s interface is simple and bright, with filters including instrument type, brands, price range, year of manufacture, and staff picks. You can also sort your search results by city, making it easy to source and test instruments that may be too fragile for long-distance shipping. Listings are readable and informative with offers and shipping options in plain sight with links to the dealer’s stock.
Reverb.com certainly looks like it could challenge eBay and Craigslist for this speciality market, and rather than competing with local vintage dealers, the site partners with small shops and craftsmen to keep small communities of musicians connected. Stay in touch with the Reverb staff on their blog or sign-up for their email list for news about deals and giveaways.
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