Original condition vs modified guitars value?

[louloomis]

I don't believe that body would bring $300. For a refin '75? Not likely. (if the body has been routed, it absolutely won't bring $300). After that, what are "the rest of the parts"? Bridge and pickup are gone. The neck is junk. The only things left are the tuners, which are worth around $150. The signature, as mentioned above, isn't worth anything unless it's documented.

You might be right - but I see bodies of a similar Fender vintage in this condition going on Ebay for 300-ish all the time.

Sorry dude, the mods have ruined the re-sale value on it, all mods ruin the re-sale, especially poor mods. That de-fret looks terrible, keep the bass for sentimental value, you would never get $1000 out of it, if you did it would take a long time for you to find a buyer. You probably wouldn't get an offer higher than $300 from anybody, unless it was trade-in value.

Also the Gene Simmons signature probably takes more away from it than it gains, most bass players don't care for Gene Simmons. I was interested until I saw it. (Shannon's family is local, lots of Gene spottings here, only people who have nice things to say about him met him in a professional setting where he was getting paid to talk to them, Gene is a $ addict so he gets friendly)

Even in a Kiss auction, Gene's signature isn't a high money rarity, unless it is on a Kiss pinball machine or something actually Kiss related.

You might be right - but I see musician-autographed guitars where the guitar is a disposable 179 dollar instrument (i.e. not a vintage Fender (modded or not)), where the musician who has signed is less desirable than Gene Simmons, going for more at auction than the amount I recommended the original poster sell the bass for in my recommendation "sell the whole bass for cash". The amount in my "sell the whole bass for cash not at auction" recommendation is not "high money" (your term), so "high money" was never part of my discussion about auction sales.....only "higher than selling the whole bass for cash not at auction" And, you mention that bass players wouldn't be interested in it because they don't like Gene Simmons you say....but I certainly did not recommend limiting the auction sale to just bass players.

 

[Blanco]

Personally, I'd hold onto it.

After visiting the guy at the shop, thats what I've decided.
I've got my heart into the mods on this guitar & LOVE its sound, So.... I'm just gonna find a cheap MINISTAR & start practicing at work & work & when I feel good about my chops try to find a group to jam with again?

 

[Blanco]

Id say the damage to price was from the nonprofessional mod to fretless.

The fretless conversion was done by a pro shop on ventura blvd in sherman oaks Ca. I use visit all the time & they had a great rep, I wonder why you guys say it was crap job based of simple photos that don't actually show you any quality.
The neck is perfectly smooth with no defects...

 

[Blanco]

Don't do something stupid! The Bass has more value to you than you could ever get by selling it. Keep and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

Agreed!

 

[Blanco]

Also the Gene Simmons signature probably takes more away from it than it gains, most bass players don't care for Gene Simmons. I was interested until I saw it. (Shannon's family is local, lots of Gene spottings here, only people who have nice things to say about him met him in a professional setting where he was getting paid to talk to them, Gene is a $ addict so he gets friendly)

Even in a Kiss auction, Gene's signature isn't a high money rarity, unless it is on a Kiss pinball machine or something actually Kiss related.

I must say the guy is a complete PRICK!
I was working on an VH1 job with him when I had him sign it & he was a cocky prick about & said so how much more money you think your gonna get for it now that I signed it as if he thought he just tripled its value at the time.
I personally never cared for him but thought... He is a rock Icon so it might be cool to have it signed by him.

 

[smcd]

The fretless conversion was done by a pro shop on ventura blvd in sherman oaks Ca. I use visit all the time & they had a great rep, I wonder why you guys say it was crap job based of simple photos that don't actually show you any quality.
The neck is perfectly smooth with no defects...

It's the appearance of the fret lines. It looks like the tech ripped the frets out cold with a pair of pliers. Compare the photos below and look at how the rosewood conversion looks compared to yours. I'm sure your bass plays well, but if you're talking resale value, appearance means a lot.

 

[Blanco]

It's the appearance of the fret lines. It looks like the tech ripped the frets out cold with a pair of pliers. Compare the photos below and look at how the rosewood conversion looks compared to yours. I'm sure your bass plays well, but if you're talking resale value, appearance means a lot.

Ok, I see what you mean, bummer I never gave that much thought at the time or I could complained...
At the time i was just excited to get my bass build as I wanted..

 

[Korladis]

So just keep it.

 

[Blanco]

Yeah, Thats the current plan.

 

[Doner Designs]

This thread was originally about a vintage instrument, but I figured I would piggy back onto it rather than start a new one.

What about newer gear -

I recently bought a G&L M2500 and am already itching to add a third G&L pickup (matching the other two) nearer to the neck. It would look like it was made that way (unless I screw up). I just like to tinker and like 3 pickup basses. Its active, so I would simply put it on a three way switch with the existing neck (now middle) pickup.

I don't mind not being able to recover the value of my work or the third pickup, but wonder if this would negatively affect the value of the bass below its stock price and if so, by (approx) how much.

Assume that it is done professionally or that I do a pro-quality job myself to where I could show pics of the guts and not be embarrassed.

With the third pickup route and no PG it obviously could not be returned to stock appearance. The nice thing about a G&L is that the pickup placement leaves plenty of room for adding a third pickup with aesthetically pleasing spacing.

Thoughts?

 

[Blanco]

Considering my experience, I'd say if you find someone that wants the 3rd pick up, you'll be good.