So what do you do with basses you can't sell

[Riff Ranger]

The manager at the GC near me said they are getting pickier about what 2nd hand instruments they take in because inventory isn’t moving very much. I think the used market is a bit flooded and people are tightening their belts at the moment. Less disposable income.

I would definitely take it to GC, you may be surprised what they offer you for it. With shipping having the potential to be astronomical depending where a buyer may be, take that into consideration with their offer. I’ve been pretty happy every time I go there after something I have sits for a while. If it’s a bass, they will usually offer me what a bass realistically will sell for, minus shipping. Usually ends up pretty comparable, and you save a bunch of time and effort, which is also something to consider.
This entirely depends on best case scenarios though, great GC employee and sellable bass.
You’re in no obligation to accept what they offer either, I’ve had them offer me peanuts and I’ve had them offer me more than I paid myself. Most of the time it’s right on that line of being reasonable.

I tried to move two dirt cheap guitars by trading them toward a not-as-cheap guitar at the end of last year. They gave me $90 for one and didn’t take the other, claiming to have found a crack in the neck pocket (nothing every used instrument doesn’t have), but also noting they had a new one just like it collecting dust hanging on the wall. It seems in at least a few instances that Guitar Center taking just about anything playable off one’s hands isn’t as automatic as it used to be. I can’t recall the last time they had one of their bring in your old gear for cash days, either. Even so, for something decent they might have the patience to sell if you don’t, do it wouldn’t hurt to look into it.

 

[Thumpin6string]

1-Keep them.
2-Mod them.
3-Give them away.
Your choice.

 

[pepj]

If you want or need it gone, then you'll have to re-evaluate what monies you will accept. Thats obvious.
But yep, the market is all over the place imv.

 

[KohanMike]

Over a year ago I discovered I was most comfortable playing only one of my thirty-one bass ukes/mini bass guitars because of nerve damage in my neck. I put up thirty of them here cheap, between $150 and $200 plus shipping. Seven of them went in about three weeks, but packaging, shipping and delays during covid was a major pain, especially two that went to Switzerland with all kinds of customs documents the buyer had to keep sending to me.

I decided instead, I would list them on Los Angeles Craig's List, local pickup only for $100 each. The twenty-one went in about ten days. The last two I gave away to just be done. They actually cost between $350 to about $1000 each, but I just wanted to pass them along quickly with as little hassle as possible. Since then, I'm up to fourteen of that one I'm most comfortable playing.

 

[5StringBlues]

Build a bridge out of them!

 

[Meghans Dad]

This is wrong on so many levels

My best guess is that they were seized by Customs as counterfeits.

 

[Meghans Dad]

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Trying to straighten the necks?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Your bass is $450 new with included shipping from Sweetwater or other online site. If you sell for anything over $350 people are going to buy new instead of used. What’s your selling price? Look at Sweetwater’s listing. They have great pics, list the weight and will ship. They are your competition for a buyer. Set your price where you become the more attractive sale.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

My best guess is that they were seized by Customs as counterfeits.

Wasn’t this their series that didn’t sell and to write off as a loss had to be destroyed?

 

[Meghans Dad]

Sad, but makes sense. I don't know about other states, but in CA there is a business inventory tax at the end of the year. If the tax is more than what you think you can sell it for....

 

[woodyng2]

Most of the time I’m not willing to sell for much less than I paid, so I just end up just hanging on to basses,
and trying to work around the problem factors that made me want to sell them.
I did sell a Spector ns2j after a year, for 2/3 what I paid for it.
And I have done several even swaps, which are fun.
I have a couple of basses that I love everything about except for the neck size.I really have to pay attention and adjust my playing on those 2.

 

[jamro217]

I'd put a different kind of strings on it and see if you like it better. Flats to steel rounds or steel to nickel... Try different tunings, too, anything to break up the monotony. Sometimes reimagining what an instrument can do opens up new ideas and possibilities. Hope this helps.

 

[r_bnks]

Keep them?

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Accompany with fava beans and a nice Chianti.

 

[lbbc]

I have a bass and a bass combo for sale on TB and Facebook marketplace...I have dropped the price on both with "no takers". I'm selling because I'm downsizing....but if they don't sell, I'll hold on to them for a while then probably give them to my family members who play.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

This is the most inflationary economy since the mid 1970s. I'm struggling to meet expenses. The COVID Hoarding Bubble has popped and people aren't buying stuff.
I haven't purchased so much as a bass string since November, and I'm a GearHo.

 

[Sid the Kid]

Convert it to fretless?

 

[fretno]

I send it to a good dealer that gets a lot of visitors. It used to be BNW now its Brian at the Low End. He goes to shows and has a ton of traffic. The next part of that is pricing it correctly.

 

[MegaSwing]

Unless it’s all proprietary and boutique, I decommission them by parting them out. In fact, I’d rather do that than sell them whole. The G&Ls (i.e.) and others just get dangled in front of as many eyes as possible until somebody has to have them. It’s good to own more than one bass.

 

[One Way]

Simply keep reducing the price until you find the market value