Hi everyone, I posted this on Gear Page (TGP) as well using my handle there (Hammers and Chords). I suspect I'll get a different answer here since we have a different mentality than most on TGP.
I've been re-building and customizing guitars using Hammers and Chords name for a while... mostly making the beer label and CD label guitars I've posted here from time-to-time. I've been trying to take older or blemished guitars and customize the look and also the playability and sound before I sell. Mostly we are talking about new pickups, pro wiring, and new tuners. These guitars tend to be $75 - $400 guitars so those components are usually the weakest. Well, I've wondered if it is worth these costly upgrades. The wiring, pickups and tuners usually run about $200 - $250 ($50 per pup, $100 for the wiring and new pots/switches, and $40 for tuners). While the guitars I sell are super playing and sound great, I wonder if I am limiting my market with resale - both by having a higher price and also with the specific types of upgrades.
So - with all that said - do you think upgrades and modifications INCREASE the value of a mid-tier guitar (or lower) or not? Every response on TGP was that the mods reduce the value and that they would prefer to buy a STOCK guitar - even a lower-tier guitar like Squier or Epi or LTD. I guess the point being that MY upgrades might not match YOUR upgrades/wishlist. Keep in mind, most TGP people seem to prefer $400 pickups over DiMarzio/Duncans...
So, what say you? You can vote for multiple options.
I've been re-building and customizing guitars using Hammers and Chords name for a while... mostly making the beer label and CD label guitars I've posted here from time-to-time. I've been trying to take older or blemished guitars and customize the look and also the playability and sound before I sell. Mostly we are talking about new pickups, pro wiring, and new tuners. These guitars tend to be $75 - $400 guitars so those components are usually the weakest. Well, I've wondered if it is worth these costly upgrades. The wiring, pickups and tuners usually run about $200 - $250 ($50 per pup, $100 for the wiring and new pots/switches, and $40 for tuners). While the guitars I sell are super playing and sound great, I wonder if I am limiting my market with resale - both by having a higher price and also with the specific types of upgrades.
So - with all that said - do you think upgrades and modifications INCREASE the value of a mid-tier guitar (or lower) or not? Every response on TGP was that the mods reduce the value and that they would prefer to buy a STOCK guitar - even a lower-tier guitar like Squier or Epi or LTD. I guess the point being that MY upgrades might not match YOUR upgrades/wishlist. Keep in mind, most TGP people seem to prefer $400 pickups over DiMarzio/Duncans...
So, what say you? You can vote for multiple options.
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