Oh yeah, customizing takes the value of your instument and flushes it down the toilet. If you pick up a nice bass, it will hold its value better if it is all original. Wear from playing it is different than gouging "PUNX" in the paint. The older USA stuff gets top dollar when it is sold again, if it is original. Repainting, different hardware and the like brings the price down. If you buy a nice bass, you owe it to yourself to keep it nice, in a hard case. It will reward you in the future.
