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Modding vs. Leaving Stock: Value Retention?

THE DANiMAL

THE DANiMAL

Nov 22, 2007
678
59
41
Bartlett, IL
www.facebook.com
#1
Ok, So I've been contemplating doing some mods to my SR905. New Electronics, maybe new tuners, possibly a replacement bridge. The bass is all original, including the strings and it's mint. I have no intention of selling it, ever, but I'm wondering in terms of value further down the road, would it be better to leave it stock, or just go ahead and mod it? Now, I know it's an Ibanez so it won't really ever gain any major value, and I don't have any issues with it, I just think it would be nice to have a few more options on it. It's not my main bass, but it is my favorite. I guess I just see the bass as potentially being a collectors piece down the road, it has a beautiful figure to maple. What would you do?
 
#2
I'd say that in most cases you're unlikely to ever get back all you put into it. That may or may not be an issue if the mods make it that much more valuable to you personally (IOW you end up keeping it and getting good use of it because of those changes). But if you consider the bass to be an investment, you might be better off applying the money you'd put into parts/upgrades/mods into a new bass that suits you better.

Also, if you do mod it, consider making non-destructive changes that can be reversed so that the bass is back in its original state. Then you can eliminate any drop in value because of the mods. if you do a destructive change, at least carefully consider how important that mod is to you and can you live with it if the bass's value decreases or might decrease as a result of the mod. That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself.
 
#4
dave64o, I completely agree with everything you've said, I know i'll never get what I put into it back, I'm never expecting to. If I do mod it, it would be non-destructive. I guess it's really more a matter of it being nice to say I have it all original in mint condition. So really it's more a matter of personal/sentimental value.

I guess it comes down to getting over that whole bragging rights thing. The more I think about it, It's kinda silly, but I do love this bass. It's my baby. So really my question should probably be what have other guys done to kinda get over it?
 
#6
If its not vintage, then more than likely, you will not get your money out of it, however, you can increase the value if is seen as an upgrade - example adding custom pickups.

If it is vintage (which yours is not) you depreciate the value with irreversible mods.
 
#7
You need to decide if you are a collector or a player. If you are a collector, then your instrument is your investment and not only should it not be modded, but it needs to be protected and preserved and left untouched.

If you are player, then your instrument is your tool. You need to sharpen it and condition it to perform the way you want it to. Dings, dents and cosmetics should be irrelevant to you as your art is audible, not visual.
 
#9
Reversible changes, I will do freely, but I *always* save the original parts.

If you decide to part with an instrument you have "upgraded," I find it's better to return it to 100% stock, sell it as such, and then unload any fancy pickups, hardware, etc. as separate items.
 
#11
Nev375 said:
You need to decide if you are a collector or a player. If you are a collector, then your instrument is your investment and not only should it not be modded, but it needs to be protected and preserved and left untouched.

If you are player, then your instrument is your tool. You need to sharpen it and condition it to perform the way you want it to. Dings, dents and cosmetics should be irrelevant to you as your art is audible, not visual.
Click to expand...

This is exactly it with me. Although it's not deciding if *I* am a collector or player but the particular bass in question is!

Reversible changes I do without question and throw the old parts in the case or gig bag for that bass. No problem. But non-reversible mods always require the collector-player decision for THAT bass at some point. If it's a favorite bass I usually decide on player. If it's something rare that I just lucked into buying that I like but don't play too much then I usually go collector. If it's rare and I also really like it, then I have to do BOTH which is preserve the one I've got and find ANOTHER one to mod (or pick the worst one to mod). That gives me a collector plus one with the changes needed to make it a player.

Personally, I'm not much of a collector so I'm not too reluctant to do mods that give me what I want. But after a few years you do get the experience of having trashed something as a kid that would have paid your retirement now. Hence there are a few things I happen on that get put aside for later!
 
#12
THE DANiMAL said:
Ok, So I've been contemplating doing some mods to my SR905. New Electronics, maybe new tuners, possibly a replacement bridge. The bass is all original, including the strings and it's mint. I have no intention of selling it, ever, but I'm wondering in terms of value further down the road, would it be better to leave it stock, or just go ahead and mod it?
Click to expand...

This is a complete non-issue. If you're sure that you intend to keep it and won't ever sell it, and you want to get the modifications, then there is no reason to not get them. Period.

And even if you changed your mind about selling at some point in future, as you've pointed out - it's an Ibanez: It's not likely to appreciate in value anyway.

Since it's a player - not a collection piece - get it modded the way you want it. Then just play it - and stop worrying about it.

/thread

MM
 
#13
Modding an otherwise stock instrument is virtually always a bad investment of time and money if you're actually paying for everything.

One exception is to make 100% sure the mods are 100% undetectably reversible -- but most users can't swap a pickguard without visibly damaging the instrument to some extent.

I've been buying and selling for about forty-five years and can't think of ever seeing an exception. On the other hand, I've seen some astounding destruction of value by modding. :rollno:
 
#15
Nev375 said:
You need to decide if you are a collector or a player. If you are a collector, then your instrument is your investment and not only should it not be modded, but it needs to be protected and preserved and left untouched.

If you are player, then your instrument is your tool. You need to sharpen it and condition it to perform the way you want it to. Dings, dents and cosmetics should be irrelevant to you as your art is audible, not visual.
Click to expand...

+1 Perfect answer. Personally I've never purchased a guitar with thoughts of keeping it to collect. Probably a mistake on my part since the 60's vintage stuff I owned would be worth thousands today. So I always set them up in the manner I want them to be for tone and playability.

I have a CS Nocaster that has a custom soft "V" neck rather than the big fat "U" neck they came equipped with because that's what I play. It may make it worth less to a collector but it's far more valuable to me since I'm the one who plays it.

If you never intend to sell it personalize it any way that suits you. You can always keep the original parts and return it to stock if you want. If I was buying guitars for their investment value I wouldn't be playing them anyway.
 

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