What I mean is why buy a cheaper bass if you change basses like underwear?the resale is horriable..I have a mustang reissue that are selling new for $750.00 with hsc.And The only offer I have been getting is 300.00...At least the American basses bring more resale,so that is all I will buy for now on...You guys with the cheap sx bass and Mexican stuff must really lose your asses.....
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CHEAP BASSES SUCK!!!!
- Thread starter DERECOLA
- Start date
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Well...that's about what's right. Figure that when you open the box or walk out of the guitar store, your new instrument has just halved in value, which is a good reason to buy used.
The same thing happens with very expensive instruments, or custom instruments, where the market is smaller and the options on a bass don't speak to everyone. If you think you've lost your shirt at 300 bucks try it at 5 grand.
The same thing happens with very expensive instruments, or custom instruments, where the market is smaller and the options on a bass don't speak to everyone. If you think you've lost your shirt at 300 bucks try it at 5 grand.
One good solution is to buy basses without the intention of selling them. I play Peavey USA and USA custom, most have 50% resale at best. I don't care because I dig 'em.
This thread title sucks! 
I was suspecting full-on trolling.
DERECOLA, did you fall out on the wrong side of your bed this morning?
But as far as rants go I'll give it a 8.5 out of 10.
I was suspecting full-on trolling.
DERECOLA, did you fall out on the wrong side of your bed this morning?
But as far as rants go I'll give it a 8.5 out of 10.
If you want to recoup as much money as possible and sell quickly:
1. Don't buy new in the first place.
2. Buy used.
3. Think twice about basses that have less appeal to the mass market, such as short scale, fretless, modified, six or more strings or hand made by a relatively unkown luthier.
4. Take your time and shop wisely.
You can make money at this game. People do everyday. My first bass was bought for $150. It was a 69 Precision bought in 72. I sold it for $350 in 76. Bought a used T-bird for $550 and sold it two years later for $750. It goes on and on from there.
Don't buy new and expect to make money on it, unless it's from a store going out of business and they have cratered the price.
1. Don't buy new in the first place.
2. Buy used.
3. Think twice about basses that have less appeal to the mass market, such as short scale, fretless, modified, six or more strings or hand made by a relatively unkown luthier.
4. Take your time and shop wisely.
You can make money at this game. People do everyday. My first bass was bought for $150. It was a 69 Precision bought in 72. I sold it for $350 in 76. Bought a used T-bird for $550 and sold it two years later for $750. It goes on and on from there.
Don't buy new and expect to make money on it, unless it's from a store going out of business and they have cratered the price.
I figured that title would get you guys in here...
This thread title sucks!
I was suspecting full-on trolling.
DERECOLA, did you fall out on the wrong side of your bed this morning?
But as far as rants go I'll give it a 8.5 out of 10.
I didn't know people bought basses as an investment.
Not the best investment in my view. try gold, or stamps or old coins, or houses.
Life is for living, a bass is for playing...
Or collecting at a push(although i've never quite got that. Some of you guys have dozens of identical basses.
a Ford is NEVER going to fetch as much as a Rolls/Royce.
Not the best investment in my view. try gold, or stamps or old coins, or houses.
Life is for living, a bass is for playing...
Or collecting at a push(although i've never quite got that. Some of you guys have dozens of identical basses.
a Ford is NEVER going to fetch as much as a Rolls/Royce.
My pleasure.
I've done some bone head moves selling the wrong basses. Like the 66 gold (with matching headstock) that I bought for $400 and sold for $700. I bought an Olivo hand made bass for $750. Do a TB search for these. New in 79, it sold for $3,000. I could not sell that bass. This was long before the internet. I ended up trading it and $300 for a 75 fretless Precision that I still have, but the selling price was $600.
Used basses can be well broken in. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. Sure there'll be nicks. The feel of the neck, set up, tone and weight are generally what make a good bass sell quickly. The fact that it's new is no gaurantee of greatness nor enough compensation for me to part with more $$$.
Lots of good deals out there. Pay attention to prices everywhere. There are great deals to be had at any price point. Be REALLY REALLY careful with custom made basses. You can take a really uncomfortable bath selling them. Even buying them used with thoughts of resale can sting you.
My Sadowsky is a gift from my wife and will never be put on the block. Nor will the 75 fretless P I bought 17 years ago. All of my basses have been financed through either gig money or buying and selling gear. It makes it fun.
Now....good luck with the Mustang. It's a very nice little bass. It might be hard to unload.
I've done some bone head moves selling the wrong basses. Like the 66 gold (with matching headstock) that I bought for $400 and sold for $700. I bought an Olivo hand made bass for $750. Do a TB search for these. New in 79, it sold for $3,000. I could not sell that bass. This was long before the internet. I ended up trading it and $300 for a 75 fretless Precision that I still have, but the selling price was $600.
Used basses can be well broken in. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. Sure there'll be nicks. The feel of the neck, set up, tone and weight are generally what make a good bass sell quickly. The fact that it's new is no gaurantee of greatness nor enough compensation for me to part with more $$$.
Lots of good deals out there. Pay attention to prices everywhere. There are great deals to be had at any price point. Be REALLY REALLY careful with custom made basses. You can take a really uncomfortable bath selling them. Even buying them used with thoughts of resale can sting you.
My Sadowsky is a gift from my wife and will never be put on the block. Nor will the 75 fretless P I bought 17 years ago. All of my basses have been financed through either gig money or buying and selling gear. It makes it fun.
Now....good luck with the Mustang. It's a very nice little bass. It might be hard to unload.
Every bass I've bought, I meant to keep. W/the majority of the ones I've let go, I did not lose too much- as I ususally buy used, from a TBer, at a very good price. Example: CHEAP fretless P-copy, $100 shipped. After a bit of neck dressing it plays very nicely & I would not feel bad asking the same price if I wanted to dump it.
OTOH, I have a Stambaugh 6 that I paid $2100 brand new
for a few years ago; it's unique enough that I don't imagine I could turn it over very quickly, but if I did I'd ask at least that much & be pretty firm.
Lastly, the ***** economy is what really sucks.
OTOH, I have a Stambaugh 6 that I paid $2100 brand new
for a few years ago; it's unique enough that I don't imagine I could turn it over very quickly, but if I did I'd ask at least that much & be pretty firm.Lastly, the ***** economy is what really sucks.
Mark Wilson
Supporting Member
What if you're in my situation, where playing bass IS your life?
Then would it be a good investment to have a good, sturdy bass?
Resale pricing is very interesting. It can change without notice. One minute everyone is hot after something and the next it is something else. Eventually your turn will come back around.
I think the general concensus here is this:
Buy a bass for an investment and it is NO different than the stock market...sometimes you win, sometimes you lose REGARDLESS of the "value" of your item when you purchased it....
Buy a bass for an investment and it is NO different than the stock market...sometimes you win, sometimes you lose REGARDLESS of the "value" of your item when you purchased it....
why the heck did you pay for a custom bass and then turn around and sell it? The point of a custom bass is that it is tailored to suit YOUR needs and preferences, not somebody else's.
Really? Have you ever watched a classic car auction?
By practical standards, based on construction materials and such, no Fender instrument should EVER be worth as much as they are. But they are.
Maybe some day by some ridiculous logic one of these cheap bass makers will be the big thing? Sounds crazy, but you just don't know. There was a time when old Fenders were just old Fenders. They weren't always worth thousands.
My dad and I collect vintage Triumph motorcycles. 10 years ago, you could find a running Triumph from the 60s or 70s for $300 - $500. We bought 'em up. Now that same bike in the same condition is fetching anywhere from $1500 to $3000. Why? Did something change and they were suddenly better than they were before? Of course not. People started wanting them. That's it.
Value is all imaginary. Should -water- cost more than gasoline? Probably not. But it's the trendy thing to drink water in a bottle, so the price reflects the demand. If people will pay a buck for a bottle of water, no one is going to sell it for 50 cents. Likewise, if no one is willing to pay more than $300 for your bass, then THAT is what it's worth to the masses. It may be worth more to YOU, but you can't necessarily blame others if they don't see the same value you see because it's a -subjective- value and not an intrinsic one.
- Jacob H
