Highly Modified Does Not *ALWAYS* Equate To Higher Prices
Can we all agree on that?
Can we all agree on that?
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Highly Modified Does Not Equate To Higher Prices
- Thread starter sonojono
- Start date
As someone who does tech work locally, my experience is that tasteful mods don't automatically reduce the value of a used instrument, and a savvy buyer will pay a little extra if (and that's a big IFF) the changes align with mods they would have done themselves.
However, IME the only way you'll usually get a reasonably good return on the parts cost, and especially your labour, is if you can get the completed project into someone else's hands, and they fall for it.
I've done a few modded Squiers and less mainstream stuff (like an Ibanez ATK, etc.) that came together particularly well, and was able to turn a profit because someone else borrowed them for a gig or a recording session, and then didn't want to give them back.
Otherwise, you're better off returning the instrument to stock, and either installing the upgrade parts on someone else's bass when they request them, or selling them separately.
However, IME the only way you'll usually get a reasonably good return on the parts cost, and especially your labour, is if you can get the completed project into someone else's hands, and they fall for it.
I've done a few modded Squiers and less mainstream stuff (like an Ibanez ATK, etc.) that came together particularly well, and was able to turn a profit because someone else borrowed them for a gig or a recording session, and then didn't want to give them back.
Otherwise, you're better off returning the instrument to stock, and either installing the upgrade parts on someone else's bass when they request them, or selling them separately.
That's the only reason to mod an instrument, for YOUR enjoyment.How about those of us who mod the heck out of a 390 squier, just play the hell out of them, loving every note? Thats me...and no, you can't buy my squier mustang cv thats now better than yours
I would even go a bit further ...
I think the tuners on any cheap instrument are a necessity. That to me is a given and does increase the value of the instrument.
Using your Squier example: Fender seems to have an allergy to anything but the cheapest plastic nuts. Crime in Asia! Even Epiphone wen to bone nuts as standard equipment (as well as Grover tuners, to the best of my knowledge).
I might mention the garbage bridges which are often found on lower-end instruments.
I will say that Pick-ups are always going to be subjective, bowing to personal taste.
As someone else mentioned, I would always caution: keep the original parts because there will always be someone who wants the instrument for "collector value".
I agree. I mod my instruments with no regard to resale. Would I mod a '57 P-bass? Nope, but a 2015 MIM P is fair game, IMO.
But I see the point of the OP. I think it does increase the value as long as the buyer is requesting it. Buying a P and slapping Hipshot bridge/tuners on it does not raise the price by the cost of the upgrades just automatically. Cheers!
If you're an investor, you're not likely to be looking at cheap basses to begin with, right?
Unless the mods are exactly the mods I would do, they devalue the instrument for me
I put emg geezers into a ss squier jaguar that I think I bought new for $250. Sold it used a couple of years later for $650.
Maybe because that's an extreme example. Also, few would buy such a junky bass even after being modified, lol.
Well generally, yes. But the investor in me - a minor character, unfortunately - wishes I'd held on to my 1982 JV-series Squier Precision, and that I hadn't added a J pickup or refinished the original Oly White to Black. Have you seen the price of those recently?
Why “mods” or “upgrades” don’t really change the price too much, is because they don’t change the fundamentals of the instrument… they’re just parts… parts that one individual prefers, parts that can be replaced/changed again and again. Just like clothes don’t change the fundamental characteristics of a human. Then there’s the question of installation quality and hidden potential issues… a buyer asks ‘why did the person mod the bass to begin with?’… ‘why did they take the time to mod it and then end up selling it even after the “upgrades” were installed?’ ‘Does the bass still suck even after the mods?’ “Lower end” instruments can be perfectly fine, but often tend to have questionable qc issues over the long run and add to that questionable mods… so a buyer who is a player (musician) is more concerned about long term reliability then the small changes in tone form a pickup or wiring… and therefore won’t pay extra for the same level of qc…. while a collector/trader will want to flip it for a profit, but if they’ve already paid “top dollar” for the mods there’s no room left for a profit. So in either case, there will be a price limit on the instrument, no matter how good the mods are… even if it is an amazing playing/sounding bass. George Costanza is still George Costanza even if he’s wearing an Armani suit and a Rolex watch.
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Some mods are always better. John East preamp is always better than a Carvin preamp, so they're in all my Carvins. Delano pickups are always better than Carvin pickups too, so, they get swapped. Putting in a single star ground and adding shielding to the pickup cavities helps reduce noise, so I do it. Where it gets subjective is putting in switches for every series/parallel combination possible. All the combinations sound good to me. But I don't expect anyone to pay for that part, should I ever sell my basses (after all that and how good they sound, why?) If someone had already done all that and I trusted their work, I'd pay a little more.
If the cheapo passive bass has solid neck, flawless factory fret job, acceptable weight, no wrap neck or ski jump thing happened. Sure i will happy to spend on part upgrade on it.
My current cheapo Bacchus BJB1RSM is good example, she has equal build quality to Yamaha TRBX504, Fender Am Performers J . So i swap the stock ceramic single coil J pup to Cort VTB-ST humcancelling J pup. For cosmetic look , i add thumb rest, Wilkinson brass saddle bridge, Fender Knobs, Chrome neck pickups cover. And a set of EB Cobalt 2814 which i found a great combination with VTB-ST pup in bass tone i liking. It is worth for spend on upgrade/change/modified part.
My current cheapo Bacchus BJB1RSM is good example, she has equal build quality to Yamaha TRBX504, Fender Am Performers J . So i swap the stock ceramic single coil J pup to Cort VTB-ST humcancelling J pup. For cosmetic look , i add thumb rest, Wilkinson brass saddle bridge, Fender Knobs, Chrome neck pickups cover. And a set of EB Cobalt 2814 which i found a great combination with VTB-ST pup in bass tone i liking. It is worth for spend on upgrade/change/modified part.
I kind of feel like there is a generally accepted value range of a given instrument within the community. Whatever level of instrument it may be.
The question of mods increasing value is subjective to the original value of the instrument.
I literally put a set of $200 Aguilars in a Yamaha BB404 that I bought for $100. I would never get the value out of that. BC that bass goes for between $100-250. So plus or minus relative to that.
But if I buy a dirty old higher level bass cheap and put time and effort into cleaning and polishing it I can double its value.
The perceived value of the instrument dictates the increase or decrease of actual value.
Disclaimer: I wrote this last night very late. Just in case it doesn't make sense
The question of mods increasing value is subjective to the original value of the instrument.
I literally put a set of $200 Aguilars in a Yamaha BB404 that I bought for $100. I would never get the value out of that. BC that bass goes for between $100-250. So plus or minus relative to that.
But if I buy a dirty old higher level bass cheap and put time and effort into cleaning and polishing it I can double its value.
The perceived value of the instrument dictates the increase or decrease of actual value.
Disclaimer: I wrote this last night very late. Just in case it doesn't make sense
I don't think folks would argue that those mods are a bad idea. Clearly they add functionality. They might even increase the value of the instrument (to a potential buyer) slightly.
The point of the thread though is that you are unlikely to find a buyer who will pay you a premium (above the price of an unmodified used example) equal to the full value of the parts you installed.
That makes perfect sense if you don’t do your own technical work.
Otherwise, you’re missing a good opportunity.
I was looking for a Squier mahogany CV thinline Telecaster body for a partscaster build a while ago. I found a complete CV thinline on Craigslist that came with a set of popular upgrade pickups, a low-profile bridge and better saddles, a 4-way switch and a fancy pearloid pickguard, plus all the original parts. It was priced below the typical asking price for a stock one in good condition, because the seller needed a quick cash sale.
I sold the stock neck, which was too skinny for me anyway, plus the stock and upgrade pickups, both pickguards, both sets of saddles, etc. for a tidy profit.
That helped to offset the cost of the custom aftermarket neck I already had, the Lawrence pickups and the piezo saddle kit I had on order, and saved me from having to buy the 4-way switch and ashtray that I would have purchased anyway.
As an unexpected bonus, it had a set of vintage-style tuners that I wouldn’t have normally ordered for one of my own builds, and I found I really liked.
The end result was a unique instrument in a configuration that Fender doesn’t offer, that looks, sounds and plays exactly the way I wanted, for a cash outlay of less than $600.
It’s not going anywhere, but I’ve already been offered a lot more than I paid for it anyway.
You also have to question how well the mod was done. That’s difficult when buying used online, so it’s best to assume it was done poorly in case it needs to be “fixed.” This, again, diminishes the value.
