What mods “add value” to you ?

[Lardass5000]

I modded a Fodera Monarch with a cardboard box and a UPS shipping label. So much better now!

 

[Tommy V]

i do all of my own mods.. usually custom pickup switching schemes (series / parallel / phase / coil splits) ... and hardware upgrades... but it's to meet my own needs, not a resale thing.
if anything, most mods take away from resale value.

 

[wraub]

The last "upgraded" bass I bought had an Extender and a Badass, which did sweeten the deal somewhat... I sold the Badass and kept the Extender.

 

[JGbassman]

It truly depends on the bass. A set of USA hipshot tuners on an older MIM or Squier would definitely be a worthy upgrade, as would a good set of pickups/electronics on a lesser equipped bass. A high quality fret leveling or finishing job is a huge bonus to most any make or model of bass as well.

Tuner/aftermarket pickups or electronics on a vintage bass would be a no no.

I love finding well maintained or modded basses, especially cheaper ones thst I know will be killer once a few mods bring them up to speed. I play a lot, and buy basses to be used in the studio, but mostly during live shows. I know what I like and what modded parts upgrade the playability of a bass over asthetics. If a bass is dinged up or road loved a bit but plays and sounds great, I'll pick that bass every time over a vintage closet queen thst has hardly been played because something isn't right.

As a player, I look for mods that effect the sound, playability, and stability of the instrument. Anything else is just a waste of money or for personal taste.

 

[chadface]

if anything, most mods take away from resale value.

This is how I look at it. It's similar to a car - every mod you do limits the number of buyers more and more. I keep all factory parts so that I can return to oem when I sell.

 

[Pilgrim]

I can't think of any more that would increase value for me. To me they usually devalue an instrument. Almost any mod may be something I would change back to stock. Even upgraded tuners don't count, because I have never had any problem with stock tuners.

 

[walking Bass]

I've never changed any of my basses other than removing the pick-guard and hand rest from my Gibson EB-2.

I did put Grover's on my SG six string and they are a big improvement. A few basses I've tried needed tuner upgrades, but I've bought better basses with good tuners that didn't need replacing.

 

[bassbenj]

I agree. Mods usually lower that value of an instrument rather than raise it even though the parts may have cost a fortune. The only mod I'd pay significantly more for would be a graphite neck as Gorn mentioned.

 

[Groove Doctor]

My numero uno mod is the Babicz Full Contact bridge. It's a direct drop-in for the five-screw Fender bridges. I've brought many a dead basses back to life by adding this bridge. Adds sustain and depth like a string-thru would.

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Very interesting. How much does the sound differ from a BadAssII bridge, say on a passive P bass?

 

[CarpeBasso]

I believe when I installed a set of EMG Geezer Butlers and LaBella flats on my Squier Jaguar SS bass it increased the value for sure, because it sounds great now, as opposed to just ok before. I also pulled the greasebucket wiring and controls out of my American Special P Bass, replacing them with custom shop standard controls. I would expect to ask more of I sold my Jag, not so much the P-Bass.

 

[2F/2F]

Quality fret dressing, including rounded ends, helps convince me to pay closer to asking price...but it doesn't add value. Same with having all original parts included. If a guitar is modded, and the original parts are not included, I notch down what I am willing to pay.

That's about it. I'll take a modded guitar if it comes my way for the right price, but I will not add value due to mods.

 

[Diesel Kilgore]

I'd rather mod myself and know what I've got unless it's from someone who obviously knows what they're doing or cares.

Which usually eliminates 90% of the market for me when we're talking MIM quality/prices and below.

I have found a few rats nests and "devalued" based on my IMO with cheaper basses that guys thought were "modded better". I even sold off an SX Jazz with a good set of pickups and a harness I wired in series that a guy was kind of turned off by. Which by no means was a hatchet job.

Oh well. I get it. I'd rather have original and mod according, or at least have the bundle of original parts.

 

[Dabndug]

I'd pay more for a Ric 4003 (or 4003S) modded to have a neck toaster and Lollar horseshoe, than for the same used Rickenbacker unmodded.

 

[DigitalMan]

It would only increase the value to me if you stuff the control cavity full of $100 bills.

That's about it.

 

[charlie monroe]

If you roll the fretboard they won't be able to put it down.

 

[Gizmot]

I've swapped pickups on a few guitars over the years, but have gotten rid of everything I modded - until now. A few months ago, I replaced the front pickup on my Rickenbacker with a Nordstrand Nordenbocker. All I can say is WOW! The Nordy pickup sounds like a Ric, but with more output and since it's reverse wound, there is no noise when both pickups are on and the gains set about the same. After I did that, I bought the Hipshot replacement bridge for the Ric and am very pleased with it. The Hipshot lets you do correct intonation and it's so solid and heavy (I bought brass / chrome model), there's no chatter whatsoever- just solid punch.

 

[Bassheart365]

The older I've gotten, the more I know what I like and don't like in a bass. This has resulted mainly in changing preamps and/or pickups to suit my tastes. (I'm a Nordstrand junky.) I've also gotten particular about fret wire size and have changed those on some of my basses. I view mods as an investment in my personal enjoyment of my instrument and nothing else.

 

[James Collins]

The mods value is different in person versus online. Everything that you put into it that makes it easier to play and better sounding will add a little to the value in person. Online, you will just buy the best price with the least cosmetic damage more often than not. Even so, the price increases will pair in comparison to the cost to make the "improvements". Changing out cheap parts that otherwise work fine like upgrading to CTS pots, higher quality switches, Gotoh tuners, or orange drop capacitors from otherwise functioning counterparts are going to give $0 value.

 

[Luigir]

If you were shopping for used basses .....what mods would make you willing to pay more then say, what a stock used bass in similar condition would cost?


I'm often curious about this. Some people say mods don't add any value to the bass. Other people say it does.

What do you believe ?

And if you believe mods add value, what mods do you believe add value and how much?

As a buyer every non reversible mod I could think of depreciates the bass.

 

[Tom Bomb]

I've bought one or two that have been modded but none of that was an ideal circumstance, in any particular way. Those mods, however, were well done, professionally, so I took the plunge. One had top tier pickups added, standard in the most expensive version, but not in mine. I couldn't see any harm there. And there was a sprague orange drop tone mod on the other. Both are worthwhile mods, as it turns out, but neither affected the price unless you're looking at the loss to the seller. I got very reasonable prices

Everything happens for the best. I like the tone mod the most because it facilitates tone swells. I've never heard it stock so I don't know what I'm missing but those tone swells are novel. The SD pickups are exceptional but I don't mind the originals either. Resale on the SDs is mo' better but I won't be fussing with any of that. I'd have to replace them with something. I once forked out for some kinman noiseless thingamajigs but they've never even seen the light of day. All they've done so far is modify my wallet.

Anyway, I have an authentic and unique happenstance, as a consequence. No love lost. No harm done. As others have made plain: everything original, (preferably in the original box ) is the paradigm. Once you're there, then you can do all the mods you want, 'til the cows come home. You've still got the real McCoy, in a jiffy, if there's a call for it. Always nice to have the option.