If the seller includes the original parts along with the mod'ed bass (in case I want to reverse something they did), I would be willing to pay no more than fair market value. In other words, I personally would not pay more for a mod'ed bass.
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What mods “add value” to you ?
- Thread starter Dark Horse
- Start date
^^This^^
I would add that used instruments have no intrinsic value. They are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. This makes valuing a bass, much less any mods you have made, very difficult.
Not a mod, but all things being equal, if an instrument comes with a HS case, it might sway me to buy that one over another. To the seller, though, it probably doesn't add any value.
Let's say I was looking for an Alembic Stanley Clarke Signature.
I find one.
But someone has ripped out the soapbars,slapped in a split P pickup.
Painted it.Put on a "tort"pickguard and a Fender bent metal bridge on it.
Someone else's "improvements"
This would make that bass worthless to me.
What would add value?
A dark natural finished non retro styled six string bass that has gold hardware and balances.
Right off the shelf.
"Value"is in the eye of the beholder.
I find one.
But someone has ripped out the soapbars,slapped in a split P pickup.
Painted it.Put on a "tort"pickguard and a Fender bent metal bridge on it.
Someone else's "improvements"
This would make that bass worthless to me.
What would add value?
A dark natural finished non retro styled six string bass that has gold hardware and balances.
Right off the shelf.
"Value"is in the eye of the beholder.
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The main problem with "upgrades" is that I don't know the seller's level of proficiency in installing them. They don't add any value for me and might actually subtract value.
I also take this into account when I sell a bass that I've upgraded. I either return the bass to it's original status, or I don't expect anything for my upgrades.
I also take this into account when I sell a bass that I've upgraded. I either return the bass to it's original status, or I don't expect anything for my upgrades.
When you're modding a bass, unless you're doing a favor for a friend, you're customizing it for YOU. You've got no way of knowing if it's going to impress a potential buyer if and when you decide to sell it. That's the risk.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
1. You don't generally know the skill of the person who made the modification.
2. If you are buying a bass, generally it is because you like that particular model.
Just like with house modifications, you count yourself lucky if you get your money back.
2. If you are buying a bass, generally it is because you like that particular model.
Just like with house modifications, you count yourself lucky if you get your money back.
I've modded basses to hell and back and the response I always got was.. it's an MIM Fender regardless if what mods YOU wanted to put on it. And I think they're right.i prefer to get my basses stock. And if I wanna mod em to what I like then cool. A hipshot drop tuner always makes me wanna puke. Other guys love it. Pick up upgrades on certian basses and a high mass bridge is always a plus on a fender
There are three mods that I appreciate if I'm buying a used bass:
1) Strap locks
2) Hipshot Xtender
3) A proper setup
As far as value, though, #2 is the only one with any dollar value to me, and #3 only serves to make me more likely to buy it in the first place. Claims of a "setup" work the opposite on the internet. If an internet listing says the frets were just filed or similar, I'm less likely to buy that bass because I don't know if the person that did it was competent, and I can't play the bass to see.
Mods like a "better" bridge or tuners are worthless to me. I may change pickups or preamp on my own, but with a used bass, these are worthless to me in terms of additional value. If I don't know what the original electronics sounded like, I can't say that the "upgraded" electronics are an improvement.
1) Strap locks
2) Hipshot Xtender
3) A proper setup
As far as value, though, #2 is the only one with any dollar value to me, and #3 only serves to make me more likely to buy it in the first place. Claims of a "setup" work the opposite on the internet. If an internet listing says the frets were just filed or similar, I'm less likely to buy that bass because I don't know if the person that did it was competent, and I can't play the bass to see.
Mods like a "better" bridge or tuners are worthless to me. I may change pickups or preamp on my own, but with a used bass, these are worthless to me in terms of additional value. If I don't know what the original electronics sounded like, I can't say that the "upgraded" electronics are an improvement.
I can't see how any normal mods would add value. I guess if you did something really ridiculous like putting a Fender Custom Shop neck on a Squier body it would add value but really at that point you're just buying the neck. Regular stuff like pickups and bridge only decrease the resale value
+1 on having the original parts available with the bass. Sometimes I'll make the purchase for those original parts. Lately I've been returning the bass to stock before selling it, and keeping the upgraded stuff to try on another instrument. Usually when I sell a bass there's something fundamental about that instrument that bothers me....that no upgrade is going to make better. Hmmm....sorry....getting away from the original question. I guess my answer is...all mods are valuable on a certain level...because they all help you decide what you do like and don't like, but like a few others have said, the only mods that add value to me are one that enhance the physical playability and adjustability of the instrument. Electronics are a crap shoot...unless you already know you really dig something.
I would pay more for a bass with the addition of a passive/active option and series/tap/parallel switches versus one without these mods. Of course, assuming the wiring doesn't look like tangled hair.
probably wrong, but to me, when I see a highly modified instrument up for sale, it tells me the seller tried like hell to get the instrument usable but never could due to some structural reason, and now they are exhausted and just trying to be rid of it.
It has to be something that makes a marked difference in the playability or tone, and it has to be on an instrument that qualified for such modifications. I had an old Squier P bass (likely an Affinity) which came with an MIM Jazz neck. That was a good thing. If it came with crummy pickups and somebody put a better one in there, that's good. If they sawed the horns off like the occasional teardrop P bass, that's bad. It does really depend on what it is, though. My American Special P bass was interesting because it was modded. My 89 62 Reissue P bass was interesting because it was not. In fact, had the latter not been all-original, I would not have bought it.
In my case, the only way I pay more for a mod is if they include the original part they modded. Otherwise, for the most part, you are simply swapping one part for another and there isn't much value with that, after all every bass needs a pickup or two...maybe even three!
Saying that, one upgrade I always do to any bass I plan on keeping is to get some sort of high mass bridge. I have tried a number of them and so far, no matter what brand they are they seem to make a big difference. I have been gassing for a Babicz Full Contact bridge. It's probably my next major upgrade for my P-Bass as it currently has the standard bridge.
I do however get excited to see a used bass with upgrades and have purchased basses simply because I wanted to play around with a particular pickup or bridge.
Saying that, one upgrade I always do to any bass I plan on keeping is to get some sort of high mass bridge. I have tried a number of them and so far, no matter what brand they are they seem to make a big difference. I have been gassing for a Babicz Full Contact bridge. It's probably my next major upgrade for my P-Bass as it currently has the standard bridge.
I do however get excited to see a used bass with upgrades and have purchased basses simply because I wanted to play around with a particular pickup or bridge.
