Basses that Hold Value

[johng999]

Just visited the Gibson Custom Shop last week. They sort the wood for weight to ensure a finished product weight within certain reasonably tight specs. This is not done for the Les Paul Standard, and thus "chambering" is used to keep the weight down.

[kokorollc]

Why not:-) Value is defined by who is willing to buy. We all think our gear is worth $X000.99 but in all reality it depends on the right dude/dudette at the right time. Even in this crappy economy people are still buying (1%ers). Funny thing is there are probably 5 basses available for every bass player in the world. An eBay search for Warwick(one of the most respected names in the business 10 yrs ago) yields thousands of hits. I can't sell a vintage L2000 for $500 so *** is gonna buy a Thumb for $5000 when you can get a "vintage" thumb for $1900.

[SoVeryTired]

Used - simple as that.

Or buy new, lock it away for a long time, and ignore compound inflation.

I've bought 3 basses so far and sold 2. Yamaha RBX360 for for £50, sold for £90(after a little work, so probably broke even). MTD Kingston Heir for £600, sold for £300. I'm currently playing a £90 Squier P Special that would hold its price if sold today. Buying used at a good price is the way to go if you're worried about resale value. When I bought new, I wasn't bothered - it was the bass I wanted at the time. I actually bought the Squier to sell at a profit but liked it too much.

I've got a custom build underway which would be unlikely to hold its price, even though it's a steal of a price. The bottom line is that I'm buying it because it's exactly what I want, not because someone else might one day give me more for it.

You need to separate investment and playing. The more you play a bass, the more risk of it depreciating in value due to wear and tear.

[MrLenny1]

Yup, buy used. TB is full of nice gear at great prices.
I got a nice Tobias Classic 5 for $1100. The store did not know
what they had, I did.

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by MikeXbass

How bout we agree to agree... That yours wasnt a keeper. I completely understand that. both of mine were made for one of the wood suppliers that jimmy uses. Whatever he did to those two, that were made from the same batch of wood.. he did it right.. but i have played others that were average. But you are right.. at that price point i dont understand the imperfections etc etc..

I wish my experience was better, trust me. I lost a lot of money selling my LG4 as the 4's are not nearly as popular as the 5's. Oh well...

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by srxplayer

I think the U.S built G & L are questionable. They are great basses but they seem to lose their resale value more the MIA Fenders and Musicman basses. I don't know why. They are every bit as good as the other basses and I.M.H.O.ion offer more bang for the buck. You can routinely find them for much less then the Fenders and Music Man basses.

Yepper. The G&L is the bass guitar's best kept secret. Leo Fender fixed all the busted stuff on the original Fenders in his G&L designs so they're true player's instruments. But they can also be bought for a song (so to speak ) on the used market.

I'm also not sure why they're so worthless used...

Carvin's poor resale is generally explained by the fact that a) they don't cost much to begin with when new and b) they're available in custom configurations for very little, if any, extra cost. But the Carvin is another player's bass and not a resell-for-profit bass - Like the G&L, they're designed to be played, not resold.

If you're looking for a good investment, I'd agree that a used Rickenbacker 400* is probably the best way to go. Miserable through the amp, but a great collector's item. The vintage Fender market is starting to peak, tho, so the bang/buck there is kind of starting to diminish. But the new ones still hold their value fairly well....

LS

[roceci]

I've recently bought a couple of brand new Fenders because it's the first time I've been able to, financially speaking. I specifically wanted to be the first person to have played them in a meaningful sense. I don't go in for 'mojo', at least not someone else's, & the whole fake roadworn stuff leaves me cold. Resale value wasn't really a factor when I picked them up although of course I'd like a reasonable return if ever I sell them on.

One of my purchases was a ltd ed FSR MIM P. Do FSRs hold their value/gain in value given their scarcity, or does it depend entirely on the guitar itself (or is FSR entirely a Fender marketing gimmick)?

& after reading this thread I'm supposing that the MIM factor would negate any collectible value anyway, right?

[the yeti]

used basses bought at a good price will usually hold value pretty well.

bottom line on musical equipment: it depreciates pretty quickly.

[smiked1]

Old Fender basses always seem to hold value or appreciate. Unless it's a very special example, older Rickenbacker, Musicman, and G&L just hover at the same price for years. Travis Bean, early Wal and Alembic basses have appreciated very well.

This thread is confusing. Is everyone just talking about buying a bass at guitar center that is going to hold it's value? If so, I'll hop off this thread. Search craigslist, talk to friends, look at the classifieds here. Find a bass you like that has character and charm. If you're buying a new, widely available bass; just pick one you like, and play the hell out of it for years. It's a musical instrument, it's what you make of it.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by smiked1

Alembic basses have appreciated very well.

I have to disagree with you on this. Alembic generally has terrible resale.

[mjac28]

My first bass my 68 Greco just gets more valuable every year.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by LanOsb133

...nor will it ever change.

Buying Used is always the best idea.

...but you are guaranteed your money back.

a good advice sandwich on dangerous assumption bread.

[Scott in Dallas]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

I saw a Peavey of some sort in a local shop the other day. It was new, and cheap, around $330. It had what sure looked like a PHOTO of a quilted top stuck on the top of the bass underneath the clear coat, if that makes any sense. It was really, really cheap looking. I know it wasn't a Cirrus, but if Peavey is cranking out that stuff... they don't appear worried about reputation.

It never hurt Fender's reputation to use photo flame.

[Scott in Dallas]

...or their resale value

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-95-MIJ-...item4ac0bb94c5

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by LanOsb133

Rickenbacker will always hold its value since its production hasn't changed ever... nor will it ever change. If you are looking for something more traditional like a Jazz or P bass, then grab a 1975-1978 Player (Bass that has some cosmetic wear but is ALL ORIGINAL) because they right now cost about $1k-$2k and you will be guaranteed you're money back within 5-10 years so long as you don't break the bass.

Buying Used is always the best idea. Don't buy any new Gibson's as they are junk and will be worth nothing in the next 5-10 years (In 2006 Gibson started Chambering their guitars... because of this, they are now going to be worth nothing and any unchambered gibson is going to skyrocket in price within 20 years or so) New Fenders are meh... Custom Shop Fenders you will always get your money back, but they are qite expensive. Best Bet is the 1970's Fender or a Rickenbacker. Both will be right in the $1k-$2k but you are guaranteed your money back.

Sorry, but you seem to have no idea what you're talking about.



It should be noted that almost ANY Fender will be more desirable on the used market then a lesser known brand and the statements about the US models selling for half their value used are completely false. Used AmStd in good shape fetch 750-900 all day long, while the AVRI's do much better, coming in at 900 on the low end, all the way up to $1200 for certain models. Even the used MIM's fair well, considering.

I personally feel that quality playing time with the instrument offsets any inflation that occurs, assuming one was happy while owing the bass in question. If you got to play it for 5 or 6 years and sold it either a couple hundred under or over what you paid, what does it matter?

Bottom line, they are worth what people are willing to pay.

[smiked1]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I have to disagree with you on this. Alembic generally has terrible resale.

I meant early Alembic basses, from the beginning to early 80's. You used to be able to pick them up for around $1k, now they've appreciated exponentially.

I looked at the price list of current Alembic basses, and you're correct. I find it hard to believe anyone would buy a new one, and you definitely would not be able to sell it for anywhere close to purchase price.

[smiked1]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

It never hurt Fender's reputation to use photo flame.

Really? I remember everyone I knew laughing, or puking, at the site of them when they came out. I respect instruments from Fender Japan, but this was a low point. It seemed like their answer to the hot pink Ibanez hanging on the rack next to them.

No offense to you hot pink Ibanez players. I always thought they should have made the cases thick enough to fit a few cans of Aqua Net in the pocket.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by smiked1

I meant early Alembic basses, from the beginning to early 80's. You used to be able to pick them up for around $1k, now they've appreciated exponentially.

I looked at the price list of current Alembic basses, and you're correct. I find it hard to believe anyone would buy a new one, and you definitely would not be able to sell it for anywhere close to purchase price.

1k in 1980 would be equivalent to just under 4k now with inflation. I don't know the going rate for an early Alembic but when you take inflation into account it's probably not a spectacular return as an investment.

[smiked1]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

1k in 1980 would be equivalent to just under 4k now with inflation. I don't know the going rate for an early Alembic but when you take inflation into account it's probably not a spectacular return as an investment.

I'm not talking $1k in 1980. You could pick them up for $1k easily in 2003. They're going for $4-5k now.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by smiked1

I'm not talking $1k in 1980. You could pick them up for $1k easily in 2003. They're going for $4-5k now.

That would have been a good investment. Not that you'd have any chance of knowing it at the time.