Question on selling modifed instruments

[TeaTime]

Medical stuff, I've downsized from 35" to 32" and now to 30". Working much better for me.

I've never resold much gear...as evidenced by the cases and cabinets stashed everywhere in the house.

Keeping my boutiques for now.

I have a number of 34 and 35" mid-level basses that need to move on, most of which have been modified. I hesitate to say "upgraded" because that's usually a subjective opinion.

So. When it comes time to sell, do you market it as an upgrade? Or (if you have the parts) do you return it to original before selling?

Example: Lakland 55-AJ. Pickups were swapped with Honey Badger J-splits. Preamp swapped with the OBP-3. But I have the originals.

Thanks for feedback!

 

[ajkula66]

I'd return everything to stock condition before attempting to sell these basses.

Good luck.

 

[BGroovy]

you usually won't get any extra money for the mods. It may make them easier to sell. It's up to you on the tradeoff of time spent reversing mods, and then having to sell the parts separately.

If you have the originals, sometimes you can get a bit extra by including them with the modified bass so it's up to the new owner if they want to go back to stock. That's probably your easiest path to selling.

 

[crazycloud]

Return to stock and sell the parts in separate listings. You typically get zero for the modified parts included.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Just like cars.....You never recoup the cost of the modifications.

 

[ardgedee]

Return to stock and sell the parts in separate listings. You typically get zero for the modified parts included.

Yup. OP will make more money by selling the instrument stock and the mod parts separately.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I wouldn't mind purchasing an instrument in its modified state especially if the originals are included.

Riis

 

[Stewie]

Not one of the original 73 Jazz Bass parts is present, but it won’t be sold while I’m alive, so I don’t care what it’s worth,

 

[ph0rk]

I'd return to stock and sell parts separately, or offer to include them for a small price bump.

 

[logdrum]

I think all mind are modified. Sell for a loss. I am to lazy to undo the mods

 

[TeaTime]

you usually won't get any extra money for the mods. It may make them easier to sell. It's up to you on the tradeoff of time spent reversing mods, and then having to sell the parts separately.

If you have the originals, sometimes you can get a bit extra by including them with the modified bass so it's up to the new owner if they want to go back to stock. That's probably your easiest path to selling.

That's pretty much what I assumed, thanks for the info everyone.

I think all mind are modified. Sell for a loss. I am to lazy to undo the mods

<sigh> Feels like the answer closest to the likely outcome. I can get all excited about fixing something, but unfixing seems a chore. Also, nice goat!

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I’ve generally just left the mods on, and send along the original parts with the sale unless I have another use for it.

Like you say, it’s all subjective, so the buyers can decide what sound they like better.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Not to hijack OP's post, but I'm also in that dilemma trying to sell a modified Player P; I no longer have the original bridge and pickup...would it be better off parting everything out or selling it at a normal price and eating the cost?

 

[DigitalMan]

I sell them as is, unless the mods somehow would devalue the instrument. I’m very clear in the listing what is different. If I reverted something to stock, I would feel obligated to let somebody know the details of what surgery has been performed on the bass. I would feel really unclean if I removed pickups and replaced them with the originals and then didn’t mention it at all. I think that’s fairly deceptive.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

While it's generally true that mods decrease value, that is not the case of the buyer wants to have whatever upgrades you have done.
I'd say list the changes as improvements. See if anyone agrees with that, but include that original parts in case they want to go back.

 

[jtg]

On seeing a modded bass for sale, my first impression is that no matter how much you modified it you still couldn't bring yourself to like it and now it's time to unload it. Original parts included or not, it looks like the bass is a lemon. I'd suggest return to stock and sell parts separately.

 

[Sharko]

Not one of the original 73 Jazz Bass parts is present, but it won’t be sold while I’m alive, so I don’t care what it’s worth,View attachment 7517877

Bass of Theseus?

 

[PotsdamBass8]

If you have the original parts and can take the time to reverse the mods, I would do that. Then you’re left with two options: either list the bass and the parts for lower than market value for a quicker sale, or price them both at market value and get more $ overall (but have to wait a little longer).

Selling it with the mods, even if you’re including the original parts, is lose lose in my opinion. There are a lot of potential buyers who don’t know how to reverse the mods themselves, and really just want a stock instrument.

 

[singlemalt]

In my experience, mods are a money pit and rather than enhancing resale value, reduce the number of possible buyers.

I never expect to recoup the cost of mods.

If you have the original parts, and can replace them cleanly, sell the bass as stock. Then sell off the parts.

If that’s not possible, fully disclose every bit of the mods and price the bass to sell below the stock price.

Be a motivated seller, and price stuff to move. Take good pictures, include shipping in the price, be ready to ship. Make it easy for the buyer to pull the trigger. Try to use the mods as a sweetener, and include the original parts.

Shipping and PayPal will eat a chuck of every sale.

I’ve had the best luck selling here on TB. It’s a great market place, far fewer flakes and scams.

Next would be local listings like Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. More flakes and scams, but you might avoid shipping and do cash and carry deals.

Or take the lot to GC and be done with it.

Good luck!

 

[jdjk7]

I don't know why so many people are insisting that selling the stock bass will be a better option. You might be able to list the stock bass for more (for what earthly reason I couldn't say), but we all know that listing the bass for more just makes it less likely that it's gonna sell at all. And why takes a loss on selling the modded bass when you could instead take a loss on selling the stock bass and then have a bunch of loose random parts that sit on the classifieds and never sell at all?

List it as-is. Include original parts. You don't have to bend over backwards or hold anybody's hand. If the buyer cares that much, they'll figure it out.