Why can't I sell this bass?

[jlepre]

Is it because it's an unlined fretless? Is it because of it's unique looks? I have it priced over $600 below retail and it's only 6 months old, and in better condition than any bass at GC. Not a mark on her.

I apologize if this sounds like spam, but I really need to know what to do to sell this bass. I have a little girl on the way, and need the funds for our unexpected nursery.


Thanks all for your comments.

John

 

[peterpalmieri]

I recently sold my unlined Sterling and it took over 4 months to sell. Many people told me it would be tough to find the right person based on the fact that it was unlined. I did have some comments in my FS thread "If it was only lined I'd be all over it".

I think you either have to be really patient or make the price super attractive, espially given the current state of the economy.

In many cases a fretless is a luxury toy and not a necessary tool so that could have something to do with it as well.

Good Luck!

 

[lofreek]

Is it equipped with the bridge saddle piezos, and what are you asking?

 

[anyonefortennis]

I just listed my ric and I think it's already taking too long to sell. Economy is beating everyone up. On top of that, my HOA just dropped a nice $1300 bill for a new roof. Grunt.

 

[Disappear]

Is it equipped with the bridge saddle piezos, and what are you asking?

Looks like it. Love the HH too. My girl would kill me if I bought another $500+ bass though.


It's a beauty though.

 

[smcd]

The problems are:

1. Highly unconventional styling.
2. Fretless
3. Unlined fretless
4. It's a 5-string

You're going after a very small segment of the market.

 

[jlepre]

Is it equipped with the bridge saddle piezos, and what are you asking?

Yes it does. I'm not sure if I should be publishing a price in this section of TB. Let's just say this bass is selling on MF for $1925 and I listed for over $600 less.

 

[Diogenes]

The problems are:

1. Highly unconventional styling.
2. Fretless
3. Unlined fretless
4. It's a 5-string

You're going after a very small segment of the market.

+1

 

[DaveDeVille]

The problems are:

1. Highly unconventional styling.
2. Fretless
3. Unlined fretless
4. It's a 5-string

You're going after a very small segment of the market.

absolutely beautiful bass ...
but , yeah , what he said .

good luck with the sale , and congrat's on
the new baby !!

 

[NicJimBass]

It COULD be the unlined thing, but I had a fretted Bongo 5 HHp up recently, with very few bites.... and that was for a trade for pretty much anything. Seems like most people are sheepish about spending anything, unless they're getting an incredible deal.

 

[LilRay]

Is it because it's an unlined fretless? Is it because of it's unique looks? I have it priced over $600 below retail and it's only 6 months old, and in better condition than any bass at GC. Not a mark on her.

I apologize if this sounds like spam, but I really need to know what to do to sell this bass. I have a little girl on the way, and need the funds for our unexpected nursery.


Thanks all for your comments.

John

John, Problem is I'M BROKE!

Nothing at all wrong with the bass, I dig it.

Good Luck, and congradulations on your little girl

God Bless, Ray

 

[CrispyDelicious]

OP, it's not just your bass. While yes, the unlined fretless Bongo is certainly going to appeal to a niche market of buyers, you also have to consider that you have to practically GIVE gear away these days. People don't like dropping 600 bones on a luxury when all they hear about is another terrible enconomic forecast.

 

[HogieWan]

I LOVE 5-string unlined fretless basses, I just can't afford it and I'm not gigging right now to use/justify it

 

[LowEndDrew]

+1 on the economy thing (i've seen a lot of awesome basses priced right take a while to sell on here)

+1 on the style thing. The bongo is a little esoteric what with the whole toilet seat thing.

So you've got bongo + fretless + 5-string and you have narrowed yourself down to a small group. I think it's a mighty purdy instrument and probably priced accurately according to its age and condition. If i didn't just drop a ton of dough on cabs and an amp, i'd be in the market for something like this (but probably not a bongo ).

On a side note I don't know if i agree with the whole unlined thing myself. Since i started on upright, i would never buy a lined fretless because i think lined fretlesses look stupid and cheap. (i might be a minority though)

*Edit: my advice is that if it isn't selling, and you need it to sell, you must lower the price... or come up with some way for everyone to GAS over it... take pictures of a hot chick playing it!

 

[Smallequestrian]

As somebody who has sold a few piezo equipped Bongos, even though its a $350ish option new, it doesn't translate to more than a $50 premium used.

As a person who has sold an unlined fretless piezo bongo and a lined one in the last few years, your biggest issue is the cost. I would not buy a new Piezo based Musicman if I didn't think I would keep it for a long time. The piezo just doesn't hold any resale value.

 

[PSPookie]

You're looking at a very small segment of the market that would be interested in that parctiular bass.

Your asking price may be a bit high, especially if you want to move it quickly.

Lovely bass, BTW.

 

[bass4worship]

Maybe it the color. If it was dark blue or black or dark red I think it would have been sold. Color do make a different sometime.

 

[Marlat]

As others have said, the Bongo is a fairly niche instrument and the reality is they are not massively popular in the larger bass buying population (although their fans swear by them). As a result, the Bongos have fairly bad resale on the used market. I would say below average as they tend to be priced at less than 50% of retail used (that is like Boutique used pricing rather than the 30% below which Fenders etc get). A quick broswe of the TB classifieds whows that almost every used Bongo that has sold recently have sold for under $1000. I think if you were keen to make a quick sale on this you would need to price it around the $800-$1000 mark and be prepared to let it go somewhere in that range. Otherwise you might be waiting months if not longer to sell this bass.

 

[stflbn]

1. Love the form factor

2. Love the 5-strings

3. Love the HH

4. No use for the fretless

5. Even less use for the unlined.

 

[BurningSkies]

If it was fanned I would be interested.

But really, it's a very specific bass. Bongo styling, 5 string, unlined fretless, each of those cuts out part of the potential market, combined with a weak economy and a lot of economic fear, it'll be a slow sale.