Appraisals & Valuations

"What’s it Worth? Let the Experts Tell You."
Honest appraisals and professional valuations from Alan Yates Music.

What We Offer

We provide professional appraisals and written valuations for banjo ukuleles, ukuleles, guitars, and banjo’s. Whether it's a vintage family treasure or a modern instrument you're unsure about, we offer tailored insight to help you understand its worth, condition, and potential.

Who We Work With

  • Private individuals

  • Musicians and collectors

  • Solicitors and estate professionals

  • Insurance companies and brokers

  • Auction houses and dealers

  • House Clearance Professionals

Appraisal vs. Valuation: What’s the Difference?

An appraisal offers a quick, informal estimate of an instrument's market worth — used for personal interest, early-stage sales, or repair/maintenance or restoration planning.

A valuation is a formal, written document that provides a detailed assessment of the instrument’s identity, condition, and market value — typically used for insurance, probate, legal, or official purposes.

23 Reasons to have an Appraisal or Valuation?

Why Come to Us?

  • Decades of Experience
    Years of combined hands-on knowledge.

  • Accurate, Honest Assessments
    Every appraisal and valuation is based on real-world expertise, not automated estimates or guesswork.

  • Specialist Knowledge, Not Generic Valuations
    From vintage banjo ukuleles to modern guitars, we understand the history, craftsmanship, and market trends behind each instrument.

  • In-House Restoration Expertise
    Our repair and restoration skills give us a deeper insight into an instruments condition, authenticity and value.

  • Trusted by Professionals & the Public
    Whether you're a musician, collector, solicitor, or insurance provider — our reputation for accuracy and fairness is why people return or recommend us.

  • Flexible Service Levels to Suit You
    From quick, low-cost appraisals to full formal reports, we offer a range of services to match your needs and budget.

  • Independent & Passionate
    We're a small family-run business — We care about everything we do and every customer!

Read below a few stories on people we have helped in the past!

Appraisal & Valuation Services

We offer eight levels of service to suit different needs and situations — from quick guidance to detailed, expert support.

  • For years, we’ve proudly offered free basic appraisals in good faith. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a growing number of people taking advantage of this service, then if selling the instrument, doing so elsewhere with no intention of returning. This has led to an unsustainable demand on our time and expertise. We now apply a small £5 charge for this service - however, here’s the best bit: If you go ahead with any work or sell the instrument through us, we will deduct that £5 from your invoice, so it still works out free for our genuine customers.

    We hope you understand why this change is necessary. It helps support our small independent business and ensures our time and knowledge are valued fairly -and remain available to those who truly need our help, including those simply seeking a genuine appraisal out of personal interest.

Unsure which service you need? ~ Contact Us for Personal Advice

  • Client: Jane W., Lancashire
    Instrument: Early 20th Century Banjo Ukulele
    Service Used: Standard Valuation (£30)

    When Jane found an old banjo ukulele tucked away in her late grandfather’s loft, she wasn’t sure what it was — let alone if it was worth anything. Unsure whether to keep it, sell it, or restore it, she reached out to us for advice.

    We delivered a full digital valuation including history, age, fair market value, and care options. Jane chose to keep the instrument and display it in honour of her family.

    “You gave me history, value, and options — it was lovely to deal with people who actually care.”
    — Jane W.

  • Client: Graham T., Solicitor, North Yorkshire
    Instrument: 1960s Acoustic Guitar
    Service Used: Full Valuation (£50)

    Graham contacted us to support a client’s probate process. We provided a hands-on valuation with photographs and documentation suitable for legal records. The instrument’s value was recorded in the estate paperwork and helped the family feel reassured.

    “Alan Yates Music made the process effortless — professional, timely, and thorough.”
    — Graham T.

  • Client: Malcolm R., Blackpool
    Instrument: Modern Electro-Acoustic Guitar
    Service Used: Standard Appraisal (£10)

    Malcolm was unsure what to charge for his guitar. Our quick photo-based appraisal gave him a realistic price and tips for selling online. He listed it the next day and sold it within a week.

    “I nearly gave it away too cheap! Glad I checked first.”
    — Malcolm R.

  • Client: Richard H., Preston
    Instrument: Fender Electric Guitar
    Service Used: Full Valuation (£50)

    Richard brought us what he believed was a genuine Fender electric guitar, recently purchased via Facebook Marketplace. He requested a written valuation for insurance purposes.

    During our assessment, we discovered several tell-tale signs that the instrument was not authentic but a copy.

    “Gutted, not the news I expected. At least I didn’t insure something that in the end wasn’t worth insuring! Alan & Alyson must have felt sorry for me because they also refunded my valuation fee. You were honest, respectful, and took the time to explain everything properly. Thank you both. Next time I will be asking you to take a look at a guitar before I buy it!”
    — Richard H.

People we have helped.

Every instrument has a story. Ready to discover yours?

[Start Your Appraisal or Valuation Today]

If we have helped you in the past and you would like us to share your story, please email us.