Price difference between new and used

[80Hz]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

I think the lower end of the market is experiencing a golden age with regards to pound for pound performance which might not be helping matters.

 

Absolutely. The market is flooded with "very good for the money" instruments and players like Sire, Jet etc are eager to gnaw away at Squier's market share.

 

So whatever we used to call mid-range, maybe Fender Player, some of the Japanese and Korean made instruments, either have had to become higher end, or their price has to come down. I think we see that in evidence with the "new" Fender Standard series, and Japanese brands becoming more boutiquey. I would go as far as to say that "low end" is being redefined as <£200, with the "new" mid range being £300-400. Above this the market hasn't quite adjusted yet.

 

I think this is where brands such as G&L are suffering - the Tributes used to be a keen competitor to upper end Squiers, but I'd question where something like this SB-2 [https://www.andertons.co.uk/g-l-tribute-sb-2-bass-black-frost-rosewood-fretboard/] fits into the new landscape at £499. 

Edited March 4 by 80Hz
typos

[knirirr]

1 hour ago, Ed_S said:

 

If it's still possible to go out and get a new one that you'd expect to be perfect and not need the work, or if it's no longer available new but you'd expect the vast majority of second hand ones never to have needed the work, then no, I'd say that's on the seller for electing to keep and fix a b-stock, rather than swap out for a different one.

 

 

 

The reason I was wondering is that I've been finding that a significant number of new instruments need fret work, and so have started assuming that pretty much anything I buy new could require extra money to be spent if I want to play it with a low action and no buzzing.

So, a second hand instrument might be better value if someone else has already done the work.

Perhaps it's just my bad luck.

[Terry M.]

15 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Used prices are always rising to match the rise in new prices anyway, so it's all relative.

This is so true. I'm seeing used Lakland Skyline 55-01's for nearly a grand now and used Fender American Deluxe basses hovering around the £1.6k mark.

Edited March 4 by Terry M.

[Ed_S]

3 hours ago, knirirr said:

 

The reason I was wondering is that I've been finding that a significant number of new instruments need fret work, and so have started assuming that pretty much anything I buy new could require extra money to be spent if I want to play it with a low action and no buzzing.

So, a second hand instrument might be better value if someone else has already done the work.

Perhaps it's just my bad luck.

 

Yeah, I guess if somebody was making a big thing of the fact that they'd had their bass fettled by a recognised luthier, could prove that to be the case, and the work done was exactly what I would be having done myself... maybe I'd offer or accept paying a few quid extra for that, provided I was totally confident that it was worth it to me. But to my mind, the thing about having the work done yourself is that at least you've seen the instrument in its original state, know who's done what and (perhaps most importantly) why, and you can have some input into the process, so I think I might still be more inclined to get a cheaper deal on one that's been left alone and take it to my own choice of professional.

[Sean]

21 hours ago, Ed_S said:

 

Yeah, I guess if somebody was making a big thing of the fact that they'd had their bass fettled by a recognised luthier, could prove that to be the case, and the work done was exactly what I would be having done myself... maybe I'd offer or accept paying a few quid extra for that, provided I was totally confident that it was worth it to me. But to my mind, the thing about having the work done yourself is that at least you've seen the instrument in its original state, know who's done what and (perhaps most importantly) why, and you can have some input into the process, so I think I might still be more inclined to get a cheaper deal on one that's been left alone and take it to my own choice of professional.

 

Having had a few basses that have gone through the Shuker workshop and then subsequently sold them on, I would say, generally, that the work done doesn't command a higher price for the instrument but it does create more buyer appeal and some differentiation. What it really helps with, which is quite unusual nowadays, is to make the "try before you" type sale easier for the seller as all that work should make it play as well as it can.

 

Unlike say, an aftermarket pickup, which has a tone that is subjective to each person, good fretwork, proper set up, intonation etc is absolute. 

 

The wonderful Paul Richards of Milehouse Studios regularly points out that a pro set up with some fretwork nowadays costs more than all the budget-end guitars but it generally transforms them into instruments that you could have a career with.

 

I'm very much in agreement with this post in that I prefer stock and then do it myself (or get a pro) so I understand the history.

 

I'm always happy to help someone out who's looking to improve a cheap instrument. The tools are there and I know how to use 'em. 😊

[Sean]

Yesterday my '21 G&L Tribute JB1 sold (at last!). Lovely positive feedback too. 

 

Let's have a look at the numbers. 

 

I got £220. The buyer paid ~£244 with shipping, fees etc. Packed to withstand Armageddon (new box and bubblewrap) and shipped same day on a 24h, so he'll get it today.

 

Condition was 8/10 probably 8.5. Copper lined cavities, upgraded wiring and pots and set up to Fender Jazz specs with a set of unplayed Elixirs installed new Nov 2024.

 

Baxshop has these new and shipped for £535. My buyer paid 46% of new. That's below our guide of 50-65% discussed earlier however, this is a G&L and they are big depreciation basses. I paid £295 used a couple of years ago from Basschat. With packaging costs at ~£20, I lost ~£100.

 

Looking at what's on the market, the weak brand value of G&L and the fact that things are slow at the moment, I'm happy to see it gone. It creates wall space.

 

There was a glorious red CLF Research USA L1000 that went for £840 last week. That's really cheap for what it is but it's only worth what someone will pay. It's about 41% of new.

 

G&L are a bit like Yamaha, big depreciation for those that buy new but incredible, highest quality bargains for those looking to buy used and hang on to.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6 by Sean

[80Hz]

There was also an L-2500 that sold yesterday, listed at £1,250 (wonder what the final sale price was). So G&L buyers are out there for the right price!

 

I don't sweat a moderate loss on gear I sell, to me that is the price of the hobby (I acknowledge a big difference in attitude there to a pro).

 

Edited March 6 by 80Hz
add relevant Father Ted meme

[Dan Dare]

8 hours ago, 80Hz said:

There was also an L-2500 that sold yesterday, listed at £1,250 (wonder what the final sale price was).

 

This is key. People can list and advertise instruments for whatever price they like, but finding out what they actually sell for is what's important (and not that easy). eBay, shops and even our own Marketplace are full of stuff that is priced high and sits there for months.

 

I've always reckoned on approximately half new retail for something that isn't vintage or particularly desirable when buying or selling. 

[Terry M.]

On 06/03/2025 at 18:51, Dan Dare said:

 

This is key. People can list and advertise instruments for whatever price they like, but finding out what they actually sell for is what's important (and not that easy). eBay, shops and even our own Marketplace are full of stuff that is priced high and sits there for months.

Yes indeed. There's currently on Ebay right now a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V with a John East preamp modification,SD Apollo pickups and a Schaller bridge and the bidding starts at £771. I'd love to know the final price if it sells.

[SteveXFR]

I've been looking at Spector Dimension 5 basses and used ones are barely any cheaper than new. I'm starting to think I may as well buy new 

[Dan Dare]

3 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

I've been looking at Spector Dimension 5 basses and used ones are barely any cheaper than new. I'm starting to think I may as well buy new 

 Definitely worth trying an offer or two, especially if they've been up for sale for a while. The worst that can happen is that they say no. 

[Silky999]

On 04/03/2025 at 10:09, Sean said:

It depends!

 

My JB1 has had some work on it, fret job, set up, copper-lined cavity, upgraded electrics. IMO, no, that doesn't command a higher price. It might give me some edge over another seller.

 

One of the 6 on the analysis list I made had some lovely upgrades done with OEM parts but IMO, it was no longer original and £300 of upgrades probably translated to £100 uplift in price.

 

I have an Ibanez SRMS805 (former BC bike) with US Barts, US Bart preamp, reconfigured switching. These upgrades (~£550-600 with parts and luthier labour) transform it into a "pro" level piece of kit but I paid maybe £50 more than a stock one on the used market.

 

The G&L L2000 I recently sold had an East preamp MMSR, fret level, crown, set up at Shuker and all new wiring. It sold for peanuts. I took the Xtender off for the sale as I knew that wouldn't add value and I could sell it here as an accessory.

 

So, in a nutshell, mods tend to either benefit the buyer or in the case where they are irreversible, can drive the value down.

 

If I found a lovely Spector Euro that someone had put US Barts in and a Bart or Aguilar pre, then it would have to be an absolute steal as I'd have to convert it back to EMGs. If that bass had been routed to accommodate, say an MM-style pickup, to me it's now either firewood or a trip to Jon Shuker for major surgery and the price should reflect that.

Sean, I had the pleasure of buying your L2000……great bass and a very painless process with you. I have now put an imported Japanese Premium version neck on which is the Jazz Bass width version and works better with my little hands. I agree that I will never see the money back for the neck change but maybe can offset it by selling the original neck or I will keep it to pass on with the bass IF I ever sell it and someone wants to put it back to original. 
 

G and L is a very unrated brand and therefore often creates the opportunity to get a fantastic bit of kit at a great price, such as the ones you have sold.