Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

[ExplorersRock]

Hey guys, need some advice on this. I have an American Special Strat HSS that I am considering selling. The feel of the neck is kinda getting to me by comparison to my other guitars. If it's just gonna sit around, might as well sell it and put that cash back into my rig. I've made some upgrades that I might pull-off if the seller isn't willing to pay for 'em. Here are my thoughts. Tell me if I'm spot-on or way off.

Brand New w/Deluxe Gig-Bag: $900 at Guitar Center

American Special Strat HSS - Condition is excellent
- Seymour Duncan HB bridge HB, Texas Special mid and neck SCs
- Vintage Trem
- Alder body, 3-tone sunburst
- Maple neck, rosewood board w/ 6100 Jumbo frets
- Master Vol, Greasbucket tone circuits (neck, Mid & bridge)
- Tone 2 is Push/Push to tap HB
- Sperzel Locking Tuners
- SKB Hardshell Fender Case

PRICE AS IS: $700.00
With the stock tuners and the stock Atomic HB: $600
With Stock Tuners, Atomic HB, and NO CASE: $500

Fair price? Too high? It's been a while since I straight-out sold a guitar, so I need some opinions.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

Nobody is going to pay the MSRP value of your upgrades. Return the guitar to standard spec. Keep the upgrade parts for your next project. Changing the machineheads will force a change of strings. No bad thing. IMO, you are overvaluing the case.

Present the whole package as straightforwardly as possible. Let the buyer fund his/her own upgrades.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

Nobody is going to pay the MSRP value of your upgrades. Return the guitar to standard spec. Keep the upgrade parts for your next project. Changing the machineheads will force a change of strings. No bad thing. IMO, you are overvaluing the case.

Present the whole package as straightforwardly as possible. Let the buyer fund his/her own upgrades.

I figured that I'd end up keeping the tuners and the PG. You're probably right on the case too. I see 'em go at GC for various prices, but those are asking prices, so I'm not sure what people are actually getting. If returned to stock, is $600 USD fair with the hard-case included?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

I am in Europe. The market is different here. I cannot really help with the valuation figures.

Did your Am Spl originally come with the hard case or a gigbag?

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

I am in Europe. The market is different here. I cannot really help with the valuation figures.

Did your Am Spl originally come with the hard case or a gigbag?

Yeah, but I upgraded to the hard case for an additional $50 USD. So w/hard case, the retail on a new one would be like $950 USD, pretty sure.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

Hard case, it is, then. Two thirds of retail price should find a buyer.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

I'd return it to stock and sell it without the case. Then sell the case and the aftermarket parts separately, or keep them for another project. Nobody will pay much for your "upgrades," including the case. It's just the way it goes. I can't say I disagree with the market, since I personally don't give cases much, if any, additional value when I'm buying a used guitar...and I really dislike getting guitars that someone else has modded, unless every detail is just as I would do it (which it never is) and every original part is included.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

$600 for it stock w/o a case sound reasonable.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Considering Selling a Guitar. What's a Fair Price?

Thanks for the input guys! Still considering keeping it as it sounds really good. Something about the feel is just different from my other strats and I find myself playing it less than the others.


BTW, for anyone who wants to know, Strat + PGb = win!