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Do you let resale value...

#41
This has been on my mind for the last couple of weeks. I have always paid attention to resale value but unfortunately, the demand for what someone else wants does not always play favorably into the equation.

Case in point, I have always liked the Carvin line, specifically the BB70 model. I have played a few at the Carvin store and liked them but have shyed away from them because of the lousy resale value. They are nice basses and you can spec one out for less than $1500. Not many basses that fall into that category.

I have recently started wondering why I should not add one into my arsenal if I like them so much - to hell with the resale value. I have focused more on playing than selling and trading now and have a few basses that have been with me for a long time and will stay with me.

I will purchase what sounds good to my ears, feels good to my hands and will impact my music positively.

It feels good to be free...

Happy Holiday's to you all.
 
#42
I have a few keeper basses that I will never sell so resale value is not important...but I like to buy new / used gear and road test it..if I like it I might hang on to it..if not I usually like to get what I paid or slightly less..so I do give resale some thought but its not a deal breaker for me...
 
#43
cassanova said:
Just out of curiosity how/where did you stumble across a 55-02 for only $500. Thats a steal. I've never seen a used one go for that low yet.
Click to expand...

Boston's Craigslist. Berklee student, 1st of the month. Add said 5 string Lakland. He needed to pay rent and was selling it for $700. When I saw what kind of bass he was selling I said never mind, I just have 500 bucks. He said: "Oh well, gotta pay rent today, it's yours..." Got a mint Marcus Miller for $350 once too...
 
#44
I bought a Carvin LB75AP Anniversary for $1,709 back in Feb '08' without any consideration as to what the resale value would be if I decided to sell the bass.

I know Carvins take a beating on resale value, but I don't have any plans of selling it.

I did fall out of favor with the bass, but recently have enjoyed playing it all over again. It's an outstanding bass when it comes to playability and craftsmanship, sound wise it's pretty decent.

It's not my #1 bass anymore, that distinction goes to my '08' MIA Fender Jazz V. The resale of American Fender's is a much higher percentage than the resale of an American Carvin, but I don't care because like I mentioned before, I don't have plans for selling either bass.

In short resale value plays a very little part in the purchasing of my basses.
 
#45
"Just wanted to know if you folks let resale value affect your decision or have an effect on your decision when purchasing a new bass."

For me, the answer is, "Yes and no." I try to make make business-like decisions when appropriate, while enjoying the ride.

It's gotta be no, because I have unflinchingly re-contoured and refinished the bodies of all three of my electric basses - even the '73 PBass that I bought brand new :eek:

OTOH, it's also yes because I can't imagine paying full price for a new upscale bass and modifying it unless I had no intention of selling it, or was reasonably assured that I could accept the value of the original purchase plus modifications as a "cost of doing business." Self denial, delayed gratification, and a dose of realism all conspire to keep me practical, honest, and frugal.

I'm perfectly willing to pay for high quality tools, whether for they're for woodworking or music making, but I try to set realistic expectations that balance want and need. If the cost of the tool and likelihood of a future sale are considerations, I calculate accumulated depreciation because it is implicit in the opportunity cost of the item being purchased. That's just common sense.

As always, YMMV :)
 
#46
Ryan L. said:
I did let resale value affect my buying decisions a couple years ago, when I was going through my buying/selling frenzy, trying out as many different brands as I could. I actually made quite a profit on quite a few basses and a couple amps that I bought and later sold.

Nowadays, I've pretty much nailed down what I like and don't like, so I really don't care much about the resale value of a bass or amp. There are still a few things that I want to try out, so when the time comes, I'll make sure I get a deal where I can flip it and break even on them. But otherwise, I'll just buy what I want, with the intention of keeping it.
Click to expand...

+1 Well said. It's harder to buy gear without a test drive, and when I buy "blind," I'm more likely to return, trade, or sell in the future. I tend to buy with more condifence when sure I'm taking home a "keeper."
 
#50
Indirectly, yes.

My firt experience with most basses is through acquiring a used one. I typically research the market rate and buy one at or below market rate. That way I know that if I absolutely hate it, I can turn it around fairly quickly.

When I have bought new, I usually don't take resale into account because if I buy new, I buy to keep.

There were two exceptions. I bought a new Musicman Bongo for $899 with 15 months no interest / no payments because I knew I could sell it before the payment was due for about the same price (I got $875 for it). The other was a new Fender Marcus Miller that I picked up for $499 6 months same as cash. I knew I could turn it around for more than $500 whenever I felt like it. Kept it two years and got $725 for it.

My other new basses were all custom orders and I intend to keep those, so resale was not a consideration in the purchase.

Peace,

James
 
#51
I really don't care about the resale. When I got my Geddy a buddy asked me if it was MIA. He said if it wasn't the resale wouldn't be as much. He said his brother has a Fender Jazz, a 70's model, I don't know what year, but he said it's estimated as being worth plus $25,000. It might be I don't know.
Anyway at the time I was buying a new bass the Geddy I tried suited me better than the MIA's they had. Plus I figured if it takes 30 years for the MIA to build up that much value I'll be dead or just won't give a sh#T.:hmm:
So instead of telling that stupid story I should have just said "no". I don't buy a bass on it's resale value.
 

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