USED VS. NEW PRICES

[RD]

I'm relatively new to double bass (2yrs.) and have a question about pricing a used double bass. In the electric bass world, a used bass is usually expected to bring 50% of the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price.) Is the same rule of thumb true for a double bass, a Shen for example, apart from collector's value?
I realize that a new bass guitar doesn't usually sell at it's MSRP. I believe they usually go for 65-75% of the MSRP. But I've noticed used double basses priced much higher than 50% of the MSRP.
Any wisdom?
RD

[arnoldschnitzer]

Double basses fall into the violin family. In the violin family, older, played-in instruments are considered more valuable than their new counterparts. There is a prejudice toward older instruments in the world of bowed string instruments. Even instruments on the low end hold their value as a result. If there are major condition problems though, there will generally be an adjustment to price as well.

[RD]

This exchange is making me feel like part of "the great unwashed," and excuse my vast ignorance, but is this also true of laminated instruments?
TIA
RD

[Steve Swan]

Only when dealing with true junk like C______ and P________ basses will you see resale prices at or below 50% of the new price. Because so much of the value of a doublebass that is sold by a reputable shop for $3,000.00 or less is the high labor cost of a proper setup, a typical clean used student doublebass will often go for 70-90% of its new selling price, depending on demand for the brand and model. Unlike solidbody bass guitars, where the typical setup costs are minimal and the production capacities produce truly amazing numbers of very inexpensive, good playing instruments, doublebasses still involve a lot of hand labor, expensive materials, and everything about them is bulky and ungainly in a factory or medium size production shop. Doublebasses simply can't be turned out like Wendy's hamburgers.

[RD]

Many thanks for the thorough explanation you guys!
RD