How do I price a custom bass?

[BobKos]

For the OP - It is OK to make money flipping a bass. But I have to say your OP read like you were the original consigner and have a solid background of this bass. The fact that you got it for $100 should indicate SOMETHING to you about it's value. Any pawn shop worth it's salt would have already done a google search on it to see if it is worth anything. They paid someone else $50 I'd bet. So there is the historical value.

 

[Micha84]

If I'd be looking to buy a new bass, I'd be thinking: I can get really solid basses for about $1,500 new, no matter what style I am looking for. If I were to pay more than that for a used bass, then because it has a special feature (or set of features) that I can't find anywhere else.
If I do not know or can't find solid info on the Luthier, I'd only buy it if I can play it first.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I don't plan on retiring on the money I make on it. Is it such a crime to want to make a little bit of profit on it?

If you think there's profit to be made flipping pawnshop basses you clearly don't know the used instrument market.

Asking for genuine advice should START with what you paid and where. If your post had started with the actual truth you would have had your answer already.

The fact that you are here fishing for a number many many times over it's actual value, in order to flip your $100 pawnshop bass onto another member of the board under the illusion that you had it custom crafted for big money, is just dishonest.

 

[Axtman]

Here is a Facebook page with some custom instruments that the luthier has made.

Log into Facebook

A friend found this ad for a custom guitar on Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/51399050-ha...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=51399050

 

[Axtman]

JonathanPDX, You don't really know anything about me....do you? I have been buying and selling used musical equipment for decades. Sometimes I make a handsome profit and sometimes I take a loss. Most times, I make a little profit. I also buy broken stuff, professionally repair it, and sell it. Though, right now I am behind on fixing stuff. ;-)

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Good luck in your endeavor.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

So, in your case you are trying to sell a replica of a bass. No matter who built it/how well it's built, it is a replica at the end.

You can get a good price if the buyer doesn't care that it's a replica, and/or they think it's worth the price, but they most likely have to try it in person.

My only suggestion is to be as clear as possible, and let potential buyers try the bass in person if possible.

 

[JonathanPDX]

JonathanPDX, You don't really know anything about me....do you? I have been buying and selling used musical equipment for decades. Sometimes I make a handsome profit and sometimes I take a loss. Most times, I make a little profit. I also buy broken stuff, professionally repair it, and sell it. Though, right now I am behind on fixing stuff. ;-)

You're selling a $100 pawnshop copy of a well-known instrument, which is also copied regularly by overseas vendors on the cheap.

You came here asking for advice and not only did you not bother to actually share the truth about the instrument, you didn't even bother to take fresh pictures of it 5 years after you bought it! So whether you are clueless or lazy, you are the one who came here and started this thread. You got plenty of feedback, it sounds like you're just disappointed you can't scam someone into thinking this crap bass has real value.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I have been buying and selling used musical equipment for decades.

Then you shouldn’t need help from all the novices like us to price a bass you bought for $100.

Pretty sure you got all the help you’re going to get, so we can be done.