Like I kind of alluded to in a post on here a while ago, I don't think modded basses are a way to increase the value of your guitar no matter how much you spend on them or regardless of how much better they are from the stock item. It's something you do for you, not anyone else. Your 62 Jazz is for the purists, even if you changed the original PG screws some folk would knock you down.
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Buying "upgraded" basses
- Thread starter Micha84
- Start date
Exactly! Dead on!
If someone's modded bass appeals to you, go for it! But it better be "discounted" from an original's value.
Beautiful Dean Berlin. I never knew he had a "signature" Dean.I tend to avoid them, but they're always exceptions, especially if it is well done and the owner isn't asking big $$ for the mod thinking it is the bees knees or the like.
For instance, this Dean Jeff Berlin Player MIC.
Bass Lines pups by Seymore Duncan were added along with a three way switch. It was done quite well and the owner didn't ask any more for it than a stock used one. It was also in great cosmetic shape.
View attachment 5378917 View attachment 5378925
Or this Fender JP90 modified by the PO. Really well done refinish from a plane Jane bass to a looker. Wasn't that much more $$ than a used good condition stock Fender JP 90.
View attachment 5378928 View attachment 5378929 View attachment 5378930
Might want to add a poll to your thread?
- Yes
- Depends
- No
- Carrots
Just sayin'
Back in early 2000 I had bought a Precision that had been "upgraded" with a Jazz neck. I was happy to find it, I was looking at modding one myself, but I paid regular market value for a used Precision, so I guess the previous owner was out the cost of the "upgrade"(on top or regular depreciation). And I think it's the best you can expect on modded instruments, it would better to put it back in stock form if at all possible, and sell the upgrade parts separately IMO.
Vintage instruments are another animals, any change from stock form would devalue them enormously.
Vintage instruments are another animals, any change from stock form would devalue them enormously.
All those changes make that bass no longer an "original 62" jazz bass. You, or someone, changed everything about it. Changing it to a fretless probably did the most to reduce it's value as that's a niche quality.
Jeff Berlin was using Dean basses from 1999 to 2013 before he switched to Cort. The Czech Republic models with custom Barts, but also USA models.
more here:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dean-jeff-berlin-how-many-models.1419448/
and here:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dean-jeff-berlin-exotic-signature.204161/
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That’s because most people who want a vintage J want one that’s as stock as possible. The refin and fretless conversion are the two things that lower the value the most, the pickups would be next in line.
I own two pre-CBS P basses. Both have well done refinishes on both the body and the neck. One of them (see my avatar) has almost nothing left stock except the controls and the wood. Pickups, bridge, tuning machines, even the output jack are all non-original. As result that bass cost me maybe 25% of what a fully stock one from the same year would have cost at the time. I did think about having a restoration done but liked how it sounded so much I changed my mind. The other P I got for about 50% of what a non-refin would have cost at the time.
Up on Reverb right now, 62/63 Ps ranging from $5K to $30K :
As you can see, everything that is non-original detracts from the price.
Thanks for the info. I've only known of his association with Cort.
