Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Gearjoneser

Gear Ho
I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this subject.

First, I'd buy used Fender, G&L, and Musicman guitars locally, as cheap as humanly possible.

I'd take them home, disassemble them, clean them up, and list them on Ebay, as an ongoing parts business, which becomes a secondary income. My claim? They're MY guitars, I don't want them anymore, and I'd like to make more money by selling them as individual parts......thank you, it's a free country! :13:

Of course, a big disclaimer, "I am selling these used parts as USED, with no affiliation to Fender Musical Instruments, and no warrantee whatsoever.
Fender is not responsible for any liabilities, regarding any spare guitar parts I sell in my auctions."

I'm asking this question, because I see people on Ebay doing it, and it seems like an easy way to make $300 a week, doing nothing but parting out guitars.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Gearjoneser said:
I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this subject.

First, I buy used Fender, G&L, and Musicman guitars locally, as cheap as humanly possible.

I take them home, disassemble them, clean them up, and list them on Ebay, as an ongoing parts business, which becomes a secondary income. My claim? They're MY guitars, I don't want them anymore, and I'd like to make more money by selling them as individual parts......thank you, it's a free country! :13:

Of course, a big disclaimer, "I am selling these used parts as USED, with no affiliation to Fender Musical Instruments, and no warrantee whatsoever.
Fender is not responsible for any liabilities, regarding any spare guitar parts I sell in my auctions."

I'm asking this question, because I see people on Ebay doing it, and it seems like an easy way to make $300 a week, doing nothing but parting out guitars.
Shhh! Don't give it away! :smack: :laugh2:
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

What about any of that do you question the legality of?
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Absolutely legal, Been seroiusly considering doing this for some time myself ;)
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

I don't see any problem with your plan, I wouldn't even bother with a disclaimer, you paid for it, its yours to do with as you please. Just don't advertise them as something that they aren't, In other words, if it is a Squire neck, don't advertise it as an American Strat neck. Honesty is the best policy on ebay.
P.S. I've delt a bit of stuff on ebay, and you don't always get what you want for certain items, unless you are in a positiion to hold out for your price. I can't see you making a killing or even a living by doing it, I've been dealing guitars, amps, speakers, and parts, and I doubt that I have ever broken even.
 
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Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

I've never heard it maybe Illegal to do? Aslong as the parts where legally
optained. That said.. I recoverd the neck of my stolen 73' Strat on ebay.
(Long Story) You most certainly make more money parting out guitars.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Fender is a big company, and they seem to be able to force Ebay to cancel auctions.

To me, there doesn't seem to be any reason I can't buy guitars with my own money, and sell them at a higher rate, whether they're whole or in parts.

I'm just wondering if there IS, in fact, a hitch in my thinking. Fender also sells and licenses spare Fender parts, so it wouldn't surprise me if their ace legal team could cause me big problems, whether it was a simple cease and decist, or whether they could bankrupt me in legal fees? I'm not an attorney, so I haven't a clue.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

I don't get what you'd win out of it... You mean sell them on ebay for a slight profit then? Not mod them, just buy them and then straight to ebay for a few dollars more?
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Hmmm I cant see why there would be a problem, the only thing I can think of is that the bigger companies, PRS for example, will not sell replacement knecks. So They might be a lil miffed if replacement knecks became readily available. However, I dont see how that would make it "legal or illegal" just grounds for some potential law suits. . . thats all . . .

Ty
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

I can't see how, you purchase the guitars, then they are yours. If you choose to take them apart and sell them who's gonna say you can't? Besides you can always say that the parts are just leftovers.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

The only son-of a b@tches i could see screwing you over for that is gibson
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

You would make a killing selling Musicman parts. If you need a new neck, you have to send it to them, and they will only replace the neck with a duplicate. If it was built with a rosewood neck, you cannot get an all maple neck. I was kind if pissed when I heard that. I can understand the company not wanting clones and parts guitars out there, but if you send them the neck and want a different wood type, how does that affect them? For it to be illeagal, I would think you'd have to sign some sort of agreement wth the comany, or at least be infomed of it at the time of purchase. I think it is just something highly frowned upon.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

Gearjoneser said:
I'm just wondering if there IS, in fact, a hitch in my thinking. Fender also sells and licenses spare Fender parts, so it wouldn't surprise me if their ace legal team could cause me big problems, whether it was a simple cease and decist, or whether they could bankrupt me in legal fees? I'm not an attorney, so I haven't a clue.

Isn't that a license to produce the parts? I think you pay for the right to be able to MAKE a neck with the Fender headstock.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

It should be legal because ownership of the guitar was transferred to you. There is nothing the company can do regarding what you do to the guitar.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

it's legal...you know that pewter strat of mine you love...well the body and neck came from ebay...both "new" from a guy who goes to a local shop buys them new (or sometimes used) brings them home, tears them down and sells them for parts. i built and entire all USA made strat from ebay with new parts my specs and pickups etc with nothing but the "best" (IMO) parts and it was less than a US made stock strat would have cost online or at a local dealer. i love guys who part out guitars. it helps me build monsters lol.

-Mike
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

pac112 said:
Dr. Mike Frankenstein. :haha:

hehehehe.

the cool part is i built that pewter strat from parts and was already offered MUCH more than it cost me to build by someone that wanted it. no way i'll sell it though.

-Mike
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

If anyone is parting out an Axis with MM-90s...I WANT TO BUY THE SILENT CIRCUIT! If there is anyone out there who knows how to make these you WILL make money. That is seriously the greatest guitar innovation in the past 20 years. It kills me that I can't find one.
 
Re: Is it Legal to disassemble guitars and sell the parts?

big_black said:
If anyone is parting out an Axis with MM-90s...I WANT TO BUY THE SILENT CIRCUIT! If there is anyone out there who knows how to make these you WILL make money.

Scott (wattage) and i were talking about that one time. i'd love to get my hands on one to "disect". i bet its a joke to duplicate and if i couldn't do it i'm sure Artie could.

-Mike
 
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