I've seen the light- I am only buying Custom or Used from now on. RANT

Well, it's like buying a new car. The biggest depreciation happens when the rear bumper clears the dealer's lot. After that it's worth less. Don't buy new unless you plan on having it for a long, long time and getting your money's worth out of it.

 

You'd also take a massive hit on a custom bass if you decided to sell it, more so than a Fender. In fact, IME Fender tends to have one of the better resale prices.

Used is great if you are looking for an instrument that'll hold value. New is great if you want to pick out an exact model or specification, or have the warranty. There's sometimes a satisfaction from being the first owner, too. There's pros, cons and risks to both ways.

I don't know about anywhere else, but in the UK, it really seems to be a buyers market recently.

 

Used is the way to go. I've lost money on anything I've ever bought new. The classifieds here have been pretty tough lately.

 

Consider it an expensive life lesson in GAS. My local Kijiji always has items that are almost retail pricing but are "like new" and "only used for 5 minutes." The latter is always funny on an old item. At least you are aware about the Carvin, if the Fender is killing you I would be worried about a suicide risk when you sell the Carvin.

As far as customs go, have fun with that getting your money back on those. The more customized an item is the more you are going to lose on it. The amount of $6K+ customs I have seen on the classifieds get whittled down to $2,500, and not sell, is shocking. I would only buy custom if I was never selling it.

$500 seems about right for a Nate Mendal to me. I would imagine you could get $600, maybe a little more if you held out for the "right buyer." Heck, I own a $5000 Fender that I paid $3000 for.

 

I feel for ya.

Buying used is always a good idea if it works out.

For me though, resale value doesn't even make the top ten considerations when buying.

 

Why do you keep selling your basses?

 

Wait....you mean I can't get all my money back if I sell my brand new Fender?!

Man that sucks! Fenders are the dumbest basses ever!

Thank God I won't mind taking an even worse depreciation loss if I sell my brand new Carvin. That won't bother me at all, but I aint takin' that kinda crap from Fender!

 

thanks for the chuckles, OP!

 

Your used bass is worth less than you paid for it new? Shocking.

 

Do really think Carvin has a better resale than a Fender?

 

Bit of a buyer's used market here in L.A. as well. Prices are down on average $100-200. I attribute the decline
to a supply glut and a deflationary trend where non-essentials are concerned.

 

Same here. If I find something I want, and I can afford it, I buy it. If I find myself wondering too much about its resale value, I decide that I must not want or need it that much if I'm already thinking about selling it.

But, when I have bought used, the fact that the depreciation has already been factored into the selling price, and that I *could* pretty much get back most of that cost *if* I decide to sell it, makes for a nice justification to buy it.

-Alan

 

Most new instruments are getting way over priced anyway imho. Especially American made stuff.

I don't consider resale when I buy an instrument cause I know I'm never gonna get that money back. Of course I don't sell many of my instruments anyway. When I buy something on up the price scale it's for the long haul.

 

I see this opinion being articulated more and more often. Used MIA Standard prices have been trending downward in part,
I think, due to a waning of the notion that US-made guitars represent the top of the mark.