7 Cool Gear Exchange Listings | May 2025

When you’re looking for unique gear, there’s no better place than Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange. Created by musicians for musicians, Gear Exchange offers a chance to flip your gear or find that new piece you’ve been after with listings that range from the commonplace to the ultra-rare.

With so much to see, Sweetwater’s musicians highlight iconic gear to help you discover the coolest music equipment the site has to offer. From vintage guitars and mics to analog studio machines and striking percussion pieces, here are this month’s best finds. Keep in mind that many Gear Exchange items sell quickly. Check back frequently so you can find and get what you want before someone else does. In fact, some of these items will have sold even before you read this!

1988 Rickenbacker 4003 with Rare Red Finish

1952 Gibson L-50 Archtop Acoustic Guitar

National VM-1 Ribbon Microphone

Custom-built 14-inch Pancake Rude Snare

Yamaha EX-2 Electone Synthesizer/Organ/Drum Machine

Langevin EQ-259-A Reductive EQ Filter

1977 Gibson Firebird Bicentennial Bass

1988 Rickenbacker 4003 with Rare Red Finish

The Rickenbacker 4003 dates to 1980, serving as an update to the 4001 and quickly becoming the company’s most popular bass design with its dual-truss-rod system, thicker neck profile, and more durable fret wire. This listing for a 1988 original Rickenbacker 4003 showcases everything that makes the model great: the iconic tone you expect, mono and stereo outputs, and a rare red finish only produced for a few years in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Accented with sleek black hardware, this Rickenbacker 4003 boasts minimal fret wear and a pitch-perfect neck, ensuring its superb playability remains intact. Shipped with its original case, this bass is everything you want from a vintage instrument, complete with the natural wear that only adds to its classic charm.

1952 Gibson L-50 Archtop Acoustic Guitar

With vintage appeal and style, this Gear Exchange listing for a 1952 Gibson L-50 archtop acoustic guitar is everything you love about classic Gibson guitars with an aged beauty that doesn’t detract from the instrument’s iconic tone or playability. In production from 1932 to 1971, the L-50 is a joy to play, thanks to its neck that allows for fast runs and easy chording. The 1952 L-50 has retained all its original frets, with professional dressing to bring them back to life, showing little more than cosmetic wear to indicate its age. Articulate, warm, and bright, this L-50 is suited to virtually any style you toss its way with an undeniable charm that only a vintage Gibson can provide.

National VM-1 Ribbon Microphone

Beautiful and rare, this National VM-1 ribbon mic built in 1950s Japan is a prime example of what makes vintage mics a special commodity sought by musicians and producers alike on Gear Exchange. Produced throughout the 1950s and ’60s by the company that would become Panasonic, the bidirectional VM-1 ribbon mic offers a rich low-end character with a rolled-off high end, thanks to its relatively long ribbon and original midcentury design. This race-car blue mic is pristine inside and out with distinct tonal characteristics perfectly paired to its vintage aesthetics and an included case for safe transport. Great for the stage or studio, this classic VM-1 has been refurbished with a fresh ribbon, a new cable, and includes a carrying case to ensure its distinct character lasts performance after performance.

Custom-built 14-inch Pancake Rude Snare

As a primary component in a drum kit, a snare can make or break the overall tone, and this 14-inch custom-made pancake snare hearkens back to the drums of the early 1900s, producing a wide range of killer tones. Incorporating a slew of modern features to enhance usability, the custom 10-lug design features a 6-ply maple/gum/maple jasper-style shell, 16-strand steel snare wires, and a modified George Way vintage-style throw-off utilizing Kent replica single-point lugs. The vintage finish offers both a classic aesthetic and a versatile tone that blends well with any kit, making it a prime Gear Exchange find. The snare can easily produce both a tight, crisp sound and a loose, gritty tone, allowing you to tune it to suit your personal playing style.

Yamaha EX-2 Electone Synthesizer/Organ/Drum Machine

The ’70s produced scores of the most distinctive instruments and sounds of the last century, and the Yamaha EX-2 Electone synthesizer/organ/drum machine sits among the rarest listings we found. With an included TXIII cabinet, this iconic instrument is in excellent condition, featuring minimal cosmetic damage and retaining all original functionality. The EX-2 resembles a sci-fi set piece with its sleek design and host of included effects. Use two different keyboards with push-button presets, filtering, and dozens of knobs to sculpt the tone. The onboard drum machine makes accompaniment simple with an easy-to-use interface that facilitates your creativity. Inspire your music with this rare, extravagant vintage instrument.

Langevin EQ-259-A Reductive EQ Filter

The Langevin EQ-259-A reductive EQ filter gained popularity for its characterizing ability to cut specific frequencies while leaving others unaffected. This quality makes the EQ-259-A a stellar piece of vintage recording equipment and a special find on Gear Exchange. The analog design is straightforward with two knobs for frequency selection and switches to filter the signal. This prime example of the EQ-259-A has little more than light cosmetic wear and retains all original functionality. Tested by a professional sound engineer to verify function, you’ll find the Langevin EQ-259-A reductive EQ filter is the perfect addition to your analog studio collection.

1977 Gibson Firebird Bicentennial Bass

To celebrate America’s 200th birthday, Gibson created a special run of the Thunderbird bass in its original early ’60s reverse body shape. This Gear Exchange listing features one of only 237 natural finish Gibson Thunderbirds produced that year. With a few minor blemishes and a bicentennial red, white, and blue logo, this vintage bass guitar boasts classic charm. Featuring Gibson Thunderbird humbucking pickups, a chrome-plated bridge cover, and a through-body mahogany neck, it comes together to create a one-of-a-kind tribute to its country of origin.

Fuel Your Creativity with Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange

Sweetwater players love their gear, and Gear Exchange is your chance to find your next favorite musical tool. While many offerings move quickly, there’s no shortage of singular gems among the listings. When you need gear you can’t find anywhere else or an opportunity to share yours with someone new, Gear Exchange is the one-stop shop for your used gear needs. Maintaining Sweetwater’s dedication to customer service, you’ll find support whether you’re making a purchase or a sale. For any questions about features, compatibility, purchasing, or gear in general, don’t hesitate to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.
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