Sad times

[Leonid Nidis]

These are sad times for most but Im not seeing cheap gear for sale,all I see is regular prices.
I even sold a G&L for 200$ more that I would usually get and mostly its hard to sell this brand,very hard.

 

[NeonVomit]

I guess a couple of interesting things have popped up on classifieds here lately but nothing out of the ordinary, really.

 

[Diminishedfilth]

I’ve told this one before, but I had a significant, life-changing transition years ago. Had to sell all my gear to get back on my feet (split with my ex).
After a few transactions, I just priced everything for quick sales. Not out of desperation, though. I just got sick of waiting for people to show up, turning down offers because some tire-kicker said they’d come right back.

 

[Bassndrums73]

Alembics have shot prices into the stratosphere. Same model bass I sold for $2100. Less than a year ago they’re asking 4K for it now. Not in as good of condition as mine was. Ridiculous. On the other hand basses I have listed on the low end compared to what the same model is going for and I get nothing but low ball offers. In my experience most buyers are trying to take advantage. Good for them I guess if they can get it for that but not from me.

 

[jphilauren]

You are always going to have people who run into hard times and have to sell . I think because of the many online resources sellers are trying to get top dollar much like a music shop would charge. In the past used market 40% of new selling price and that still holds true except for Fodera, Sadowsky, Mike Lull and a few others.

 

[neurotictim]

I dunno, I just came back to TB after a years-long hiatus with the intent of finding a bass with certain specifics. Within a week or so what I was looking for popped up, priced very reasonably - maybe not a "steal" but cheaper than I could get it brand new, and had a mod I was planning to do anyway, which saved me a couple of bucks and time. No complaints here.

Gotta remember, TB has always been heavy on the ultra-high-end stuff, and a lot of these basses have changed hands within this community several times before finding a long-term home. It is what it is.

 

[iammr2]

What deals? I see many that post with high prices, that later have to be lowered to sell, but I don't see any panic selling.

 

[40Hz]

If anything by me, it seems most stuff is overpriced, and there also seems to be a shortage of interesting listings, like people are sitting on gear until this stuff passes.

From the amount of backchatter I was seeing on the music websites where people were talking about GASing and what they were going to expend their $1200 incentive check on, I wonder if that might have had a little to do with some of the price increases (about 10-20% on average) I started noticing shortly after those checks started rolling out. It was mostly the regular private dealer types on Reverb I saw it happening with.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I haven’t really noticed any phenomenal deals. Any examples?

I had a bass for sale in the TB classifieds at an exceptionally low price and barely got any bites. I really wanted to give a fellow TB’r a good price, but it just sat and sat. I put it up on another site and it sold within 24 hours at a much higher price. Just sayin’.

 

[Tom Baker]

it's just stuff.

 

[FunkHead]

I had a bass for sale in the TB classifieds at an exceptionally low price and barely got any bites. I really wanted to give a fellow TB’r a good price, but it just sat and sat. I put it up on another site and it sold within 24 hours at a much higher price. Just sayin’.

What bass? What did it sell for? What did you ask onTB? I still don’t see a change.

 

[Killing Floor]

No bad karma in giving what someone is asking.
If I need 100 bucks and you are willing to give it to me NOW better than me holding out for 350 on an instrument that might take me 6 months to sell at $350.

Nobody is forcing anyone to part with instruments at below market prices.
It is up to the seller what they will accept.

I have been on the " needed to pawn" side 30 years ago. Nobody was taking advantage of me. Nobody twisted my arm to give me $200 for a guitar I had paid $600 for two months prior.

Totally agree with your position, if both parties agree there is no taking advantage. I've been financially insecure and will not forget what that was like. I bought a bass off a guy, I know he was living in a car and I know he was a needle user. I said to his face before handing the cash "I will not sell this back so make sure you are OK with this". That was decades ago and I don't know what happened to him but it bothers me a little still. I didn't necessarily rip him off price-wise but I wasn't comfortable in that position because I knew why he needed the money. I got a 1973 P and it's as smooth as silk sheets and when I play it once in a while I still pray that he spent the money on anything but horse.

 

[FunkHead]

Totally agree with your position, if both parties agree there is no taking advantage. I've been financially insecure and will not forget what that was like. I bought a bass off a guy, I know he was living in a car and I know he was a needle user. I said to his face before handing the cash "I will not sell this back so make sure you are OK with this". That was decades ago and I don't know what happened to him but it bothers me a little still. I didn't necessarily rip him off price-wise but I wasn't comfortable in that position because I knew why he needed the money. I got a 1973 P and it's as smooth as silk sheets and when I play it once in a while I still pray that he spent the money on anything but horse.

If you really felt so bad, you should have stayed in touch and offered it back some day.

 

[DrMole]

Totally agree with your position, if both parties agree there is no taking advantage. I've been financially insecure and will not forget what that was like. I bought a bass off a guy, I know he was living in a car and I know he was a needle user. I said to his face before handing the cash "I will not sell this back so make sure you are OK with this". That was decades ago and I don't know what happened to him but it bothers me a little still. I didn't necessarily rip him off price-wise but I wasn't comfortable in that position because I knew why he needed the money. I got a 1973 P and it's as smooth as silk sheets and when I play it once in a while I still pray that he spent the money on anything but horse.

I often drop a 20 to guys at end of interstate ramp around here- I cannot control how they spend it. I have offered food to some folks. Some graciously accept it. Some ask for money, despite claiming they need food- i might give them a little cash if they are still appreciative.

Once I have given money or goods to someone, what they do with it is beyond my business.

I have never been homeless, but divorced, penniless living on a friend's couch while finishing Grad school as my starter on vehicle died the day I moved to the couch- all family 1, 000 miles away. So I have empathy but also know that 100 bucks was more important than my $750 EV 15" monitor that I wasnt using. I took the $$ happily.

 

[4stringfarley]

I pawned my Jazz bass for rent $ once. I got mine back too!

There was a famous blues guitarist that stated you can't play blues on a guitar that's never been on pawn.

 

[dune]

I have noticed nothing substantially different in the TB classifieds now as opposed to before the pandemic.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Yeah, I'm not seeing much difference now. Sadowsky, Fender, and Music Man instruments sell if priced appropriately. Odd ball custom basses are listed at unrealistic prices. Ten year old instruments are listed at 10% off current list prices and will never sell. Always seems like a lot of Roscoes. As far as morals go, I'm not going to lowball anyone, but if I see a good deal pop up I might buy it. If someone needs the money and are selling something to raise the money, they would probably rather have the money than have everyone ignoring the listing because they don't want to take advantage of a situation. It's far better than they would get at Guitar Center or a pawn shop. These are generalities and I'm sure I could find examples of ads that I wouldn't take advantage of.

 

[DrMole]

"liked" for content.
Commenting to say " like new Avatar"

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Just browsing the classifieds and it seems like there are quite a few beautiful instruments being offered for much less than I would have expected 5 months ago. Some may see a good deal but I see people experiencing some hard times and it’s really making me depressed. That’s all.

This sort of thing can also happen in times of prosperity. A buyer should know if he is taking advantage of a bad situation.

When I come across a situation where a price is not at market value, I have ask myself why before the purchase. The first thing that needs to be determined is am I dealing with the rightful owner.

If that checks out, i’ll ask how they arrived at their asking price. If they respond they are aware of the real market value, but just want to get rid of it, I’m ok.

If they don’t have a clue as to the real value, or they need a quick sale due to a financial catastrophe, I’ll let them know what they might get from it if put out for a higher price. If they still want sell after that, I’ll split the difference between their asking price and the actual market price and add it to what I paid the seller.

 

[40Hz]

it's just stuff.

So it is.