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Basses that Hold Value

#121
Speaking of a new instrument and the potentiality to sell it after 5 years, (it's impossible to speculate over an instrument bought in the 2013 and sold after 30 years, as a 70 fender in these days) I think that Custom Shop Fenders are instruments that hold their value very well.
I've bought nearly 5 years ago a 64 jazz custom shop at 2300 euros, that I'm selling at 2000 euros, it's a reasonable loss, considering the use of this bass for these 5 years. For sure if I wish to wait for another 5 years the value could increase.
IMHO
Ciao
Roberto
 
#122
Watch and know the market and buy at the right time.

I bought a Fender AmStd Jazz in '01 in a discontinued color, so it was being clearanced at $600 at a time when other AmStd's were about $800 - $900 normal street.
I expect I'll be able to get my money back on that bass, it's a AquaMarine Metallic Jazz.

Another example:
I bought two Rick 4003's back in about '08/'09 timeframe just as the prices were increased substantially on all Rick models.
I got them for about $1300 and I know i'd be able to sell them for more.
This is because I purchased when prices were increasing.

Current example, similar to the Rickenbacker situation:
I just bought a Fender AVRI '62 Jazz for a bit over $1000.
AV's just went up, a lot! When I go to sell that I expect to get more than I paid.

All above were purchased brand new.
The keyword is patience, and then be ready to buy when the opportunity shows up.
 
#123
I sold my 10K Alembic for 2K. That's the reality of the used gear market. My $125 Jazz bass is worth 6 or 7 K. Once again.

If you like humor a clever saying in my circle is Gibson are better investments than instruments.

Carvins are pretty close to being custom made for the buyer. It's hard to justify spending a lot for some one elses dream bass.

Buying a bass you love versus buying a bass to flip are two different mindsets. Many people loved Fender basses and got lucky. Donald Duck bought a bass because it got the job done.

And the P Bass became the Gold Standard.

When I bought my Carl Thompson no one ever heard of the guy. But I did dig that bass. I remember being short and trying to sell it at Skips in New Brunswick. No one would pay $400 bucks for it.

I'm glad they didn't. I still dig that bass decades later. In hindsight I probably paid too much for it.

I'm glad I did! In fact a lot of the best deals I got was when I paid too much. Time is long.
 
#124
BawanaRik said:
I sold my 10K Alembic for 2K. That's the reality of the used gear market. My $125 Jazz bass is worth 6 or 7 K. Once again.

.....
Click to expand...

It's all a question of timing + retail vs street price....

If I sold my 2000 Series II a couple years after I bought it I would've taken a bath. If I sell it now, I pocket a little coin.

in 2000....

Quote Generator Price: something north of $11k
What I paid: somewhere btw $6,000 - 6,500 new custom order

Today's Quote Generator Price: @ $22K
I've seen lesser versions sell for more than $8k used, so I expect mine would sell for about that or more (but it ain't for sale)
 
#125
It's a crazy world out there. Just today I traded in a Tele Standard, a Strat Standard, and a Gretsch 5120 for a Deluxe Strat and no money changed hands.

Did I get a good deal?.........who know's but I wanted to thin the herd and get a great guitar.

Chances will be taken!
 
#126
I do quite a lot of this at all price levels, so here's what I've found:

1. Decide what said instrument's use is. If its a player, skip the rest of this post. If you're buying it as a potential investment piece, keep reading.

2. The market for any optional/luxury good is very fickle. Absolutely know particulars, timing, and real selling prices...or just go burn your cash in the trash heap now. Become a student of market demand and actual cash values.

3. Be an unemotional buyer. Set parameters for condition, price and variations in color/finish/options etc. stay within your parameters. Some of your very best deals will be those that you walk away from. However (and this is important!!)...don't dick around when you see a pice that fits the puzzle and its from a trusted seller. You DO have to have inventory to make money. And a good relationship and reputation can go a long way when it comes time to buy OR sell. Keep your word, even if it hurts!!

4. Here's where everyone falls on their face: BE A GOOD SALES PERSON and MARKETER. The old saying that something is so good "...it just sells its self" are the famous last words of a guy on the edge of bankruptcy. Learn to speak intelligently about each bass you have, it's features and benefits, and how those advantages may be advantageous to the buyer.

5. Every single guitar or bass has the potential of profit if purchased correctly, marketed properly, and sold at the right time.

I buy Boutique basses all the time and make money on them. How? I buy smart (for me), and I actively find the right buyers and sell smart (for both of us!!). I make very good money in used Ibanez basses and guitars. How? I seek out the rarer models. I look for specific features on all guitars and basses that translate into eye candy and perceived value. It's work. It's NOT my full time job, but its fun and as steady of an income as I decide for it to be by how much work I put into it.

So what brands do I favor right now?

Duesenberg guitars will be valuable one day. Very unique.

Red Rocket guitars will be VERY valuable one day. Look for used guitars by them in the coming years.

Later model Roscoe and Mike Lull basses, bought used, can work out very well. Tops and fancy boards go a long way with any basses. Sure MIA Fenders are SAFE...but actual profit, cost adjusted for inflation (if you've kept it out away in your closet) can be a bit flat. Ric's are good, generally. They key is UNIQUE and letting someone else take the depreciative hit.

As for Warwick basses, they are beautiful and amazing instruments, but frankly, I relegate them to "eBay basses" because there are literally hundreds for sale at any moment online. Too much price pressure and competition.

Big scores? Used Alembics bought well with Omegas on the body in dark woods. Status Graphite. PRS basses, when you can find stunning examples, are a ticket to print cash if you're willing to negotiate a good price of purchase and then find the right buyer.
 
#127
Lublin said:
Buy used if value retention is important.
Click to expand...

This has been my approach for the past forty years. Let someone else take the depreciation hit.

I have only lost money on selling an Olivo prototype bass. Very high quality custom bass that originally sold for $3000 in the late 70's when Alembics were making noise. Mine was the second one made. I bought it for $750. When I went to sell, guess how many calls I got for a bass called "Olivo"? In the end I traded it for my 75 fretless precision. I went back to the store a year after the trade and found my Olivo marked down to $195 and it still hadn't sold.

I will never buy a bass without considering its resale value. I am honest with myself and know that one day I will be gassing for something else and will want to flip my bass. The only basses I have ought new were my Blade because it was marked down to a stupid low price, and my Sadowsky because it is a keeper. Gas has been gone for six years.
 
#129
my basses all hold their value absolutely perfectly - 2 Bunnies, an L2K and a Modern Player jazz, all fretlesses and all worth $0.00. Their value has never gone down.

My 4003, tho, may be worth more in hard $ now than what I paid for it.

LS
 
#130
You're doing it wrong, you buy used basses which have horrible resale value, but are great bang for the buck once someone else has taken the depreciation. Basses are like cars: they very rarely go up in value, and if they do go up, the floor price point to get such an item is pretty high to being with if what you want is a player.
 
#131
If you don't really know the market and/or don't put the time in, just about anything can be a bad investment. That includes basses.

I get a chuckle whenever I read the advice that basses are a bad investment. Most of the basses I own are still worth more than I paid for them, sometimes ridiculously more. But I've been paying attention and always consider resale value.

The idea that there's only two reasons to buy, keep or flip really misses the point. If you buy a bass and for whatever reason find yourself in the position that you need to sell, you can have that lack of caring about resale value bite you in the butt hard. See it quite often here on TB and they're usually surprised their bass isn't moving. That's not flipping, that's just a regular sale.

I see late 90's Fender Jazz Deluxes are selling for more now than they did new. Bad investment back then?
;)

If you're really interested and become informed, there are some amazing deals out there that would be hard to lose on.
 
#133
A few of my tips after buying and selling like crazy over the last decade....

Buy used if you ever plan to sell and hope to recoup the bulk of your investment.

Know what you are buying and what it is worth (eg. Some used German Warwicks can be well over $2k and others under $700).

Know what is hot and what is not. Don't buy an undesirable or obscure bass just because it is cheap unless you absolutely love it and it may be a keeper. Basses like Citron, Wyn, Pavel, Dusenberg and 80's Lado (just examples off the top of my head) are all amazing basses but have a limited market. Finding the right buyer may take time.

Lastly, if you order an expensive custom, make sure you are positive you will like the woods, electronics and other options. Even a Fodera will cost you a fortune if you buy new and want to sell it down the road.
 

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