• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass brands with bad resell value

Hard to get decent resale on a bass you purchase new. Pretty much the same for used, but maybe, if you get lucky and the moon is right, you might make 75 cents. Some brands are consistently lower, like Carvin. Said above many times, if you like it keep it, but don't buy on a whim. If you do have the whimsical buying habits stick with used Fender and/or Ernie Ball. Might make 75 cents.
 
The Carvin bass you posted is an LB70 - and it is a great instrument.

One thing you have to understand about Carvin is that whoever buys the instrument from Carvin (now Kiesel) will pay a bit of a premium for the opportunity to make custom selections for the build. This contributes to the lower resale because used buyers of Carvin/Kiesel will always be buying someone else's customizations.

Don't let the above information detract from you beautiful bass! For the going prices for used instruments, Carvin/Kiesel are regarded as excellent quality and represent real value if you find one that meets your preferences and desires.
 
Seems like what ever instrument I'm trying to sell has lost it's value. Always have issues getting any interest when I post adds, and my listed price is always fair. There's a little room for negotiating, but not a lot.

Example - I spent about 4 months looking for lined fretless 6 strings for under $2000. Found very few options in any market, so these are just not readily available. I found one (custom Carvin) on Reverb, did my best to research cost to build it new and felt that the asking price was fair and even overpaid for shipping. I found that the 6 string is not gonna fit me, so I just listed it for the same price I paid. Got one troll "cashiers check scam" offer the next day. Not another peep in a week.

Very frustrating.
 
Companies undercutting themselves, making "sub" type basses that are nearly as functional as their top of the line decreases resale value of their flagship models. Also, companies who license their product to other companies, a la Michael Kelly selling their version of the Renaissance for about a third of what a branded Rick Turner goes for. So brands? EB Musicman, Fender and Rick Turner.
 
I am a fellow bass player. I am also a collector/trader. They are two different hobbies, with two different (yes, overlapping) knowledge foundations. Many players really like buying instruments, too. But if you're not knowledgeable about both the instruments and the marketplace it is highly unlikely you will make your money back on resale, much less turn any profit. Even experienced collectors are facing more of a challenge these days as the market has changed over the past decade (as has already been mentioned) and there are fewer buyers on the higher end of the market where the profit used to be made.

Unless you have money to throw into the black hole called buyers remorse, you should take time to know what you're buying/trading and where it's current value sits in the market before you continue. You're not going to play well without taking the time to learn. Your not going to deal well, either, without taking the time to learn.
 
Example - I spent about 4 months looking for lined fretless 6 strings for under $2000. Found very few options in any market, so these are just not readily available. I found one (custom Carvin) on Reverb, did my best to research cost to build it new and felt that the asking price was fair and even overpaid for shipping. I found that the 6 string is not gonna fit me, so I just listed it for the same price I paid. Got one troll "cashiers check scam" offer the next day. Not another peep in a week.

Very frustrating.

If it matters, I have noticed a big drop on Reverb when it comes to buyers. I have used them successfully to "thin the herd" on guitars I purchased over the past decade. I'm not a re-seller and I try to be the "deal"right out of the gate. I accept offers and "cost" out my shipping to the real charge UPS indicates. Up until about a month ago I got great response and sold what I had listing. I have a Squire 51 up at the moment and not a peep. I know I'm competitive on it...I even watch my competitors listings and they are getting no offers either. Point being, it might be timing, not your Carvin.
 
I am a fellow bass player. I am also a collector/trader. They are two different hobbies, with two different (yes, overlapping) knowledge foundations. Many players really like buying instruments, too. But if you're not knowledgeable about both the instruments and the marketplace it is highly unlikely you will make your money back on resale, much less turn any profit. Even experienced collectors are facing more of a challenge these days as the market has changed over the past decade (as has already been mentioned) and there are fewer buyers on the higher end of the market where the profit used to be made.

Unless you have money to throw into the black hole called buyers remorse, you should take time to know what you're buying/trading and where it's current value sits in the market before you continue. You're not going to play well without taking the time to learn. Your not going to deal well, either, without taking the time to learn.

Sadly I'm at the bad end of both and getting nowhere fast. I hate it and wanna play
 
I think the trick is to buy used, to set a target price for whatever you're buying, and to know that you may never get what you're looking for. Of course, this won't necessarily work that well for a very coveted bass, but it's worked for me on the lower end of the bass and guitar markets. I've ended up with some spectacular and unique instruments as well. One of the reasons I stick to the low end of the market is to pressure me to hold on to what I buy because it's not worth much. Otherwise, I see a new shiny object and my cash cow is on the market.

In the past 6 months, I was looking for a Fender or Squier Mustang with the OG bridge and pickup style for under $500. I found a Vintage Modified Squier Mustang in great condition for $195 and I love it.

I've been looking for a DOD Rubberneck Delay pedal for under $130. Those seem like they're being discontinued and I got a display model for $120 (retail used to be $279, and resale in the high 100s). Buying a product as it's being discontinued is usually a good move, because retailers have stock they're trying to get rid of. With pedals, it sometimes only takes a few months before people start looking around and seeing that they're not so plentiful anymore. This is already happening with some of the Tom Cram-era DOD stuff.

If you've got something you cant get rid of at a price that seems reasonable to you, just keep it. No bass will play itself, and nearly every competently-made bass has great sounds in it. It may not eventually be the one for you, but it'll be a good start.
 
The only minor gripe I have so far is that the pickup placement makes my thumb cramp when I play for a long period of time.
As someone else mentioned, this is likely a technique issue. The pickup placement is very standard. If you give it 6 months, you'll develop hand and arm muscles to build stamina in playing longer.

Look up floating thumb technique too. Good luck, doesn't sound like you need to sell this one just yet.
 
I want to learn, but I wanna find the right one for me first, and maybe that's where I'm going wrong sadly.
At the end of the day I can't tell what I want.
I just know in my heart I wanna play bass, I'm just letting it slip away by trying to find the one
First, you can’t live life in the rear view mirror. Learn and move forward. Many musicians at one time or another make bad instrument deals; for any of a variety of reasons. Learning whom and what you can trust is part of the game. And knowing your financial resources. Knowledge is your friend.

So, I wouldn’t get all worked up about your Carvin. That’s just a bass you are currently playing.

Second, “finding ‘the one’” is a process that comes from within you. It is the result of experience and knowledge learned in practicing the craft. There is no perfect bass out there. Or, to put it differently, there are many perfect basses out there; but some will suit you more than others.

Couple hints going forward.

Buy used. Know the used market values. Study the TB classified. A quick search can show reasonable market values. Never buy a new instrument, unless you know EXACTLY what you want and will get.

Anything Leo Fender touched is safe. Fender, MusicMan, and G&L; as long as you do your homework.

Patience and persistence.
 
I want to learn, but I wanna find the right one for me first, and maybe that's where I'm going wrong sadly.
At the end of the day I can't tell what I want.
I just know in my heart I wanna play bass, I'm just letting it slip away by trying to find the one
I think you're reversing the process. You can't know what's right for you until you've played for a while and developed some proficiency. Until then, you can't evaluate what you like/what works best for you. So play what you have: if the set-up is decent, the tuning holds, and it makes a sound, you're all set--for now, at least.
 
again , no offense intended ;

as you say , you're a noob ... therefore you really have other things you should be worrying about ..! ( you should never worry about things you Cannot control - like resale values )

your Carvin is perfectly fine for a noob or an experienced player ... it's a good bass ...

learn to play it = practice ..!! stop shopping and practice instead .

and also learn how to work on your bass ... learn how to 'set it up ' so it feels comfy for you ... learn about the various pieces / parts that make up your bass .. looks like a nice 24 frets neck ( thru ) ... looks like an ebony fretboard ... looks to have active electronics ( preamp , volume , balance , bass, mid , treble controls ) with fairly standard size/shape Jazz pickups ... all of those things can be changed out latter if need be .!

i like to do some upper register solo stuff also ... so i built a parts bass Warmoth 5 string and strung it with the high C string you'd find on a string ... i've never found 6 string necks comfy to play .!? there's lots than can be done
" down the road " ...! but don't worry about that yet ..!! just know there are options besides constant shopping = which often leads to ' buyers remorse ' .
 
I want to learn, but I wanna find the right one for me first, and maybe that's where I'm going wrong sadly.

AFFIRMATIVE!!
"cart before horse"...

At the end of the day I can't tell what I want.
I just know in my heart I wanna play bass, I'm just letting it slip away by trying to find the one

I played in bands for ten years before I started seriously shopping for basses.

Three hundred plus basses later, I'm still not 100% decided on "the perfect ones for me". (Maybe 99% decided - narrowed it down to medium scale, 9 inch fretboard radius , 1.5 inch nut, Aluminum or graphite neck...).

Anyway if you buy a bass - PLAY IT FOR A WHILE. Then when you sell it for the inevitable "loss" - you can put that down in the ledger as "rental for evaluation". Research of this kind is expensive, but it is also VALUABLE. Youse gets whats youse pays for! ;)

I think you are potentially suffering from an incurable bass fetish, more than any real desire to be a 'Musician'. And that's OK... it takes all kinds :)
 
again , no offense intended ;

as you say , you're a noob ... therefore you really have other things you should be worrying about ..! ( you should never worry about things you Cannot control - like resale values )

your Carvin is perfectly fine for a noob or an experienced player ... it's a good bass ...

learn to play it = practice ..!! stop shopping and practice instead .

and also learn how to work on your bass ... learn how to 'set it up ' so it feels comfy for you ... learn about the various pieces / parts that make up your bass .. looks like a nice 24 frets neck ( thru ) ... looks like an ebony fretboard ... looks to have active electronics ( preamp , volume , balance , bass, mid , treble controls ) with fairly standard size/shape Jazz pickups ... all of those things can be changed out latter if need be .!

i like to do some upper register solo stuff also ... so i built a parts bass Warmoth 5 string and strung it with the high C string you'd find on a string ... i've never found 6 string necks comfy to play .!? there's lots than can be done
" down the road " ...! but don't worry about that yet ..!! just know there are options besides constant shopping = which often leads to ' buyers remorse ' .

It's no offense to me and I appreciate the truth.
I know that I really should practice, but I definitely want a 6 in the end.
Who knows, I got a Warwick thumb 6 broadneck on the way.
Can't wait to get it, and I will make sure I don't sell this one, I've wanted a Warwick for awhile
 

Latest posts