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Buying a first instrument second-hand: a guide for parents

How to buy a used digital piano, guitar or electronic drum kit for a child, what to check and what to pay. Updated October 2026.

The short answer: buy a well-known beginner model, check everything works before you pay, and make sure the power supply and accessories come with it. A good used instrument costs far less than new and resells for most of what you paid if the interest fades.

Digital pianos

• Get 88 weighted keys. Teachers ask for it, because it feels like a real piano. Small keyboards with light keys are a false economy.
• Good beginner models: the Yamaha P-45 (£200-£300) and the Roland FP-10 (£250-£380).
• Ask for the extras: the power supply, the sustain pedal, the music rest and a stand. Missing ones add up.
• Check: play every key, soft and hard, listening for clicks or dead notes. Try the headphone socket.

Guitars

• Get the right size. Young children often need a smaller (3/4 or 1/2 size) guitar; a music teacher or shop can measure. Full size usually fits from around 11 or 12.
• Good beginner electrics: the Yamaha Pacifica (£110-£280) and the Squier Affinity (£85-£165). An electric needs an amp: a Boss Katana 50 or an Orange Crush 20.
• Check: the neck should look straight down its length, the strings shouldn't sit too high above the frets, and every knob should work without crackling. A cheap setup at a guitar shop makes a big difference to how easy it is to play.

Electronic drum kits

• Mesh heads are quieter than rubber pads, which matters with neighbours. The Alesis Nitro (£125-£215) is the usual first kit.
• Check: hit every pad and cymbal, try the hi-hat pedal and kick pad, and make sure every cable is there. Missing cables are fiddly to replace.
• Plan for collection. Kits are bulky; bring a car with space.

Buying safely

• See it working before you pay. Meet where you can plug it in and play it.
• Be wary of "spares or repairs" and "untested". For a child's first instrument, buy working gear.
• Check the price. A price far below the usual range can mean a fault or a scam. See how to tell if a listing is a good price.
• Pay safely. Cash on collection, or a payment method with buyer protection if it's posted.

If they stop playing

Popular beginner models sell quickly, often for close to what you paid used. See which gear holds its value.