Used bases aren't selling well.

[40YearOldBassVirgin]

TB has a much better selection than GC.

I agree with that.

So when/if I sell a bass on here, I know it's history and I impart this on the buyer as a value added item.

I hear you but the problem (maybe just for me) is that I don't know you so my faith in your word is based only on your feedback, pictures and description. It's tough to compete with GC where I can take my sweet time checking things out and return it without any hassle if I feel the need. And believe me I'd much rather spread money around TB than GC.

 

[SamJ]

I agree with that.



I hear you but the problem (maybe just for me) is that I don't know you so my faith in your word is based only on your feedback, pictures and description. It's tough to compete with GC where I can take my sweet time checking things out and return it without any hassle if I feel the need. And believe me I'd much rather spread money around TB than GC.

true true, and not that i'd ever sell my Master Built Jazz... but IF I did...

you'd get a bass that "I" ordered so therefore you would KNOW that nobody else has owned/played it.. The Spector I recently bought, also belonged to a TB member, and it's entire history was easily traceable here.

On the other hand, at GC, when you buy a "new" bass, it might have been bought and returned 2-3 times.. Trust me when I tell you. TB is a better market... the problem is simple.. at GC you can "Try before you buy" on TB you're taking a bigger risk, this I cannot dispute.

 

[fjadams]

Dude, prozac.

Massive overproduction of instruments, of increasing quality, and decreasing price, is the thing here. This has a lot to do with the next quarter mentality of publicly held instrument companies, not so much geopolitics.

This is the same thing that's happened to the golf club market. Companies coming out with two, three, four new models a year. New drivers going for $350 to $500 and their replacement on the way before you have the first chip in the paint. What's happening is the majority of new stock sits on the shelf until discounted to sell the newer models. It's getting harder to get rid of used stuff with so much NOS in the pipeline.

 

[40YearOldBassVirgin]

true true, and not that i'd ever sell my Master Built Jazz... but IF I did...

you'd get a bass that "I" ordered so therefore you would KNOW that nobody else has owned/played it.. The Spector I recently bought, also belonged to a TB member, and it's entire history was easily traceable here.

On the other hand, at GC, when you buy a "new" bass, it might have been bought and returned 2-3 times.. Trust me when I tell you. TB is a better market... the problem is simple.. at GC you can "Try before you buy" on TB you're taking a bigger risk, this I cannot dispute.

Ahh I want to clarify I'm comparing Used TB to Used GC (I wouldn't buy new). I'm just trying to give perspective from a buyer (and daily TB Classifieds browser) for you guys. Take what I say with a grain of salt as I've only been playing bass since September.

 

[Nephilymbass]

My favorite local music gear store makes the bulk of their money doing orchestra rentals in several counties. They are also repairing everything from trumpets to amps, doing bass and guitar mods and so on. They aren't making anything off selling new basses.

I think several different things contribute to it. Mainly inflation and the value of the dollar falling all over the world. For the most part it takes more money to make the same basses now as it did years ago. A few companies for example warwick have automated their building process much more over the years actually making their production cheaper as they are less and less made by hand, but because their basses are made in other countries the currency exchange also comes into play.

I also think just the downfall of the music industry and local clubs not being able to book enough high drawing bands as often that the clubs PAs are falling behind the times. Because the clubs aren't making enough money and the owners are less willing to invest in pa upgrades. I know for me that's a part of it. My main go to bass for years was my thumb nt5. But why should i gig with such an expensive bass when the pa is 15-20 years old and seen better days.
The reality is when i look for new gear aside from effects it's often more so what i want for recording than anything else. I've seen guys play foderas through 20 year old PAs and it's just kinda silly IMO.

I mean really the entire music world has changed. Everything cost more these days but there's less money in playing music at any level than there has been for decades. So people want better deals and the used market is what it is because no matter how great the companies that make basses think their products are the true value always comes down to what it will actually sell for. A Mexican jazz for example is a $300 bass to me. It was a decade ago and it still is now. I'm not paying more because the filthy rich decided to gamble with others money or because blah blah wouldn't pay their bills. I make 4 times as much as i did in the 90s but in not going to devalue every pay increase i got over the years because the value of the dollar has fallen because of other people's actions. Because in the end people like me not giving in will be what makes the value of the dollar go back up.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You haven't looked at the dollar recently.

 

[ashtray]

?????

How can you tell when someone is holding the good stuff if they are not putting them up for sale? Are you clairvoyant or something?

Basically.

Just have a habit of cruising CL looking for stuff. Its been slim pickin's lately on anything I'd actually want. Same with ebay searches - searches I used to do 5-10 years ago and get 20 pages of results now return 1 page. Or I see a bunch of dealers on ebay at full retail. Search "Fender Japan or Fender MIJ" and you'll get a bunch of stuff shipping FROM Japan, but not a ton of Japanese Fenders that are here already. What happened to all of them??

On a more current quest, I've been looking for a Pedulla Rapture: 4 string, J/J, flame top, no pg. Ok, kinda specific, plus picky on colors. Well lately there's been zero Raptures at all - much less having a pick between models. There's been very few Pedullas (I think my last search on ebay came up with 4, and 1 on Craigslist).

Just seems that 5-10 years ago if you wanted to find a specific piece of gear, you could with just a little effort. Now its getting tougher to find specific good items, but junky stuff is overly abundant.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Try finding a non sparkle flea bass. ;-)

 

[shaft311]

let me just say the following....

EVERY bass I own, barring one (the single H Stingray) was ordered directly from the factory by either myself or it's original owner, and never sat on the rack at a GC where every kid and their mother played with it to their hearts content.. Sometimes (especially on higher priced, higher up the rack) basses, they're clean and rarely touched, but for the most part a bass sitting at GC for a month has the equivalent wear and tare on it of a bass I've owned for two years!

So when/if I sell a bass on here, I know it's history and I impart this on the buyer as a value added item.

while the 30 day return policy at GC is great, you have to be VERY careful what you buy there... I got very lucky with my EBMM, it was it's 2nd day on the rack and only played by one of the salesman, or I'd never have taken it home if it was a depository of 100's of hands worth of fingerprints!

I thought I was picky about basses . I guess not.

Buying an instrument is like choosing a girlfriend. I don't care who's hands have been on it before mine, as long as there is no evidence of it

 

[Ken J]

It is 100% a buyer's market. Just my opinion, of course.

The massive amount of gear available online (new and used), plus cheaper imports, plus CL, continue to drive down prices. I don't see it changing anytime soon, either. There's no reason for it to change.

Supply far exceeds demand in the world of music gear. The exceptions are vintage/rare instruments.

Except for Peavey
I watched thier prices clime for two years straight

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Except for Peavey
I watched thier prices clime for two years straight

Yeah but Peavey were stupid undervalued for too many years....too much weird stigma from folks who would never even consider Peavey in the first place.

The internet information era has caused Peavey to be more in line pricewise, particularly for USA stuff.

Still I see import Peavey Strat types for $30 at pawns that are perfectly solid beginner or beater guitars!

 

[El Raro]

Same story here in Australia (although, in all fairness, its always been a slow market as far as I can remember). I have a friend whose been trying to sell the same Warwick bass for about 2 years now even after several price drops. To his credit, he's persistent and still has it up but sales can really drag on.

The good news for buyers is that more sought-after items are less likely to flip quickly meaning you have a bit of time to sort your finances before contacting the seller. My Ampeg SVT-CL was up for sale for a good 6 months before I came along and picked it up. Same dude has a Berg NV610 I'm eyeing which also hasn't sold yet for a very reasonable price which hasn't had any bites so I might be able to score that as well once I pile up enough coins.

The funny thing is, the slow market isn't deterring people from listing their items anyway. People are just getting used to the idea that gear won't flip in a day anymore. Unless you're absolutely desperate for cash, you always have online auction houses or even pawn shops for a quick flip although only one party wins in that transaction.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I just sold another bass that I had posted here and on craigslist. It sold on craigslist for $450 , it was posted here for $575 and for about 6 weeks and I had not 1 offer. The $125 difference would have had roughly $60 taken in shipping and $17 in paypal fees and someone here likely would have tried to get it for $500...........thats why I routinely hold out for a craigslist deal as in the end if it sales on there you are doing much better then here. People here want free shipping and then want some $ off the top and then if they get it and are unhappy or if the bass is damaged/lost in transit its a huge headache. I have gotten to a point where about half the basses I sell I dont even post here, I just play the waiting game on craigslist.

That said TB is a better place to move higher priced stuff. I sold my 78 P for $1500 on craigslist but rarely do you sell stuff at $1500 or more over craigslist.

 

[Thumper]

TB is a safe place to do business (sometimes weights are not accurate though). Prices are higher than they used to be, thank goodness I'm off the bass merry-go-round.

 

[Shannon]

Yea but the stock market is higher than ever!!!

You can get 2 stocks out of each bass body, three outta old Peaveys. does wonders for old rifles.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

From my experience, used basses tend to be broken/dirty/poorly cared for. Lots of broken truss rods.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Just read this whole thread and most of the observations are still true in spite of the thread being nearly 2 yrs old. I personally haven't had a good paying day job in almost a decade and for an old guy things aren't exactly looking up, financially speaking. From my point of view it looks like the last 9 yrs have been a depression/recession, take your pick.

 

[mikeswals]

Just reaindustry hole thread and most of the observations are still true in spite of the thread being nearly 2 yrs old. I personally haven't had a good paying day job in almost a decade and for an old guy things aren't exactly looking up, financially speaking. From my point of view it looks like the last 9 yrs have been a depression/recession, take your pick.

Not in the Seattle area is hasn't, it has been booming. I work in the automobile industry and when there is a recession people dont put hardly any money in their cars/trucks. That recession happened back in 2008, and by 2010 eveything has been booming just as it had before, people spending money on all the good stuff and toys again. My real estate friends sell houses very fast. And every musician I personally know has been buying gear just like before.
I have never had a problem selling any bass or amp within a few days.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

My friend who is a real estate agent told me this is the first time in years he's making good money again selling houses. Sure things are better here just not back to what they were a decade ago. I was one of those people who shouldn't have gotten a loan back then, made my payments and didn't default on my loan. Even with a good job I wouldn't qualify now.