Reverb.com
Reverb.com is an online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments, like guitars, amps and effects pedals, including ones used by notable musicians. It also lists consumer and pro studio mixers, recorders, and associated audio equipment. Reverb was founded in 2013 by David Kalt, and roughly 85 percent of its employees are musicians. As of 2016, Reverb.com was a multimillion-dollar business and, as of 2017, it had more than 10 million monthly visitors. In 2019, Etsy acquired Reverb.com for $275 million; in 2025, Etsy announced it was selling Reverb.
 | This article contains promotional content. (February 2025) |
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | David Kalt |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | Ben Stahl (CEO) |
| Owners |
|
Number of employees | 270 (2022) |
| Parent | Etsy (2019–2025) |
| Website | reverb.com |
Reverb.com is an online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments, like guitars, amps and effects pedals,[1] including ones used by notable musicians.[2] It also lists consumer and pro studio mixers, recorders, and associated audio equipment. Reverb was founded in 2013 by David Kalt,[3] and roughly 85 percent of its employees are musicians.[4] As of 2016, Reverb.com was a multimillion-dollar business[3] and, as of 2017, it had more than 10 million monthly visitors.[5] In 2019, Etsy acquired Reverb.com for $275 million;[6] in 2025, Etsy announced it was selling Reverb.[7]
History
[edit]Reverb was founded in 2013 by David Kalt, shortly after he purchased the musical instrument store Chicago Music Exchange and reportedly became frustrated with then-available options for buying and selling guitars online.[3][5]
Funding
[edit]In November 2013, Reverb secured[8] $2.3 million in funding from investors including Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Lightbank co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky, David Lowery of Cracker and Camper van Beethoven, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Eric Ries, and country music star Brad Paisley.[9] The company raised another $4.2 million in January 2015 before announcing an additional $25 million led by global growth equity investor Summit Partners in December of the same year.[9]
In August 2017, the company announced another $15 million in funding from 65 investors, including PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee, former Twitter COO Adam Bain, and Jon Oringer, CEO of Shutterstock.[10]
Growth and international expansion
[edit]In August 2017, Reverb was named No. 18 on the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, with 12,327 percent three-year growth (2013–2016.)[11] In 2016, the company generated $16 million in revenue and supported $240 million in sales of new and used equipment through its platform.[12] As of December 2017, the company anticipated closing out the year with close to $400 million in sales.[13] In August 2016, Reverb hired its first on-the-ground employees in the UK, France, and Australia.[14] In the same month, the company launched its mobile app outside of North America. Within a year of its expansion into Europe, the company grew its users in the region by 700 percent and its sales in the region by 300 percent. As of 2017, the company has additional team members in Germany and Japan.[15]
In late 2017, it launched Reverb LP, an online marketplace for LPs and other physical music,[16] and the Reverb Foundation, with non-profit supporting programs and initiatives to increase access to music education, equipment, and playing opportunities.[17]
Acquisition and sale by Etsy
[edit]In August 2019, Etsy completed the acquisition of Reverb.com for $275 million.[6]
In April 2025, Reverb was acquired from Etsy by Creator Partners and Servco, returning it to independent ownership.[18][19]
Business model
[edit]Reverb allows sellers to create free listings for musical instruments and other related equipment. Reverb then charges a commission fee to the seller and a percentage fee for credit card processing upon sale.[11] To help users determine market values for instruments, Reverb has a price guide of real-time transactional data. It offers iPhone and Android apps that include the site's main features. As of 2017[update], it offered in-person support in the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, France and Japan.[20]
The company also provides informative content, such as demo videos and how-to articles to drive traffic to the website.[21]
Notable artist sales
[edit]In addition to shops from individuals and dealers, Reverb has hosted sales for a number of notable artists, including:
- Steve Albini (sold mics from Nirvana's In Utero)[22]
- Jimmy Chamberlin of The Smashing Pumpkins[23]
- Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins[24][25]
- Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails[26]
- Mike Gordon of Phish[27]
- Green Day[28]
- Frank Iero[2]
- Ray Lamontagne[29]
- Linkin Park[30]
- Nils Lofgren of the E Street Band[31]
- Maroon 5[32]
- J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.[33]
- Brent Hinds of Mastodon[34]
- Kevin Shields[35]
- Steve Vai[36]
- Bill Ward of Black Sabbath[37]
- Deryck Whibley[38]
- Wilco[39]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ McCracken, Matt (July 2, 2025). "I've scored some of my best used guitar gear finds at Reverb…". GuitarPlayer. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Hardman, Neville (June 21, 2023). "Frank Iero is selling gear from My Chemical Romance and his early bands". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c "How an Entrepreneur's Frustrations Created an eBay for Music Gear Marketplace". inc.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Relevant work experience for this startup? Try 10 years as a touring musician". Built In Chicago. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ a b "Chicago's music gear darling nabs another $15M". Built In Chicago. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ a b "Etsy Completes Acquisition of Reverb, a Leading Online Marketplace for New, Used and Vintage Musical Instruments". investors.etsy.com. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Dylan (April 22, 2025). "Etsy Announces Reverb Sale to Creator Partners and Servco". Digital Music News. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ "Reverb.com gets pleasant feedback: $2.3 million". chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ a b "Reverb, Marketplace for Musicians, Cranks Up With $25 Million in Funding". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Reverb.com raises another $15 million". chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ a b "The Brilliant Way One Founder Made a Killing From the Music Industry". inc.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "How to scale without crashing and burning? Secrets of 8 smart entrepreneurs #sbwchi". chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Reverb Launches Its Online Vinyl Record Marketplace". www.americaninno.com. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ "Reverb Scores Hiring Hat Trick". msretailer.com. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Music Inc. Magazine — November 2017 Digital Edition". musicincmag.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Discogs meets Match.com on Reverb's new online vinyl marketplace". thevinylfactory.com. December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Wissmuller, Christian. "MMR magazine - Reverb Launches the Reverb Foundation". mmrmagazine.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ https://reverb.com/news/reverb-servco-creator-partners
- ^ https://seekingalpha.com/news/4433227-etsy-sells-its-reverb-business-to-focus-on-core-business-and-depop
- ^ "Music Inc. Magazine — November 2017 Digital Edition". musicincmag.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "MSR 01 2017 (January)". MSR 01 2017 (January). Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Nirvana's 'In Utero' Microphones Headed to Steve Albini-Approved Auction". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Jimmy Chamberlin Is Selling His Old Smashing Pumpkins Stuff - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. February 23, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Billy Corgan Is Selling a Ton of Smashing Pumpkins Guitars and Gear". Spin. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Billy Corgan to Sell Guitars, Amps Used on Smashing Pumpkins Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Welsh, April Clare (August 19, 2017). "Nine Inch Nails collaborator Alessandro Cortini to launch new Reverb shop". factmag.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Mike Gordon Partners With Reverb To Sell Gear Used In Studio & On Tour". jambase.com. October 10, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Billie Joe Armstrong is selling pieces of Green Day history - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Ray LaMontagne Launches Shop Where You Can Buy His Guitars, Amps, Etc". Paste. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Linkin Park Fans: A Rare Opportunity to Own a Piece of the Band's Gear History Is Coming This Week". reverb.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "E Street Band Guitarist Nils Lofgren Selling Instruments, Vintage Gear". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Pedrosa, Marina (August 29, 2018). "Maroon 5 to Sell Massive Batch Of Musical Gear On Reverb". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ "Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis Selling Over 100 Pieces of Gear - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. October 25, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Brent Hinds to Sell His Personal Guitars, Amps, and More in Official Reverb Shop". reverb.com. August 15, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields Announces Signature Guitar Pedal by Fender". Pitchfork. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Here's Your Chance to Own a Piece of Steve Vai's Gear". guitarworld.com. October 10, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Black Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward Selling Vintage, Studio-Used Gear". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Matt Parker (March 22, 2023). "Deryck Whibley is selling off a "treasure trove" of gear used across two decades with Sum 41". guitarworld. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "You Can Now Buy Wilco's Old Instruments, Gear, Test Pressings, More - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. March 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.