Do "guitar upgrades" really increase the value of the guitar? (poll)

[Spirit of 76]

I think upgraded parts do increase the value vs stock parts but you need the right buyer (either someone looking for those specific upgrades/sound or someone who wants something better than average but isn't willing to invest the time/money/effort to upgrade it themselves) in either scenario, it reduces your customer pool.

But if you are including a guitar case, I would think that would appeal to most buyers.

 

[JMP/HBE]

No so called "upgrades" do not increase value.

And in many cases anything "other than stock" actually decrease the value of a guitar that is guitars with actual "value".

 

[Mincer]

Well obviously on a high-dollar Gibson or Fender, that upgrades don't increase the value...people look for stock there. But I am not sure people value purity on MIM Fenders, Epis, and LTDs.

 

[JMP/HBE]

My crazy Iron Worker cousin thinks if he puts $500 into his $250 Ibanez Bass that he will have a $750 value guitar when he goes to sell it. Just doesn't work in the real world however i see folks trying to sell MIM Fenders for $1100 and up. Doesn't mean it will ever happen.
I can tell you decades ago people didn't do that. Its only after the last 20 to 30 years of flooding the market with cheap guitars and suddenly everyone thinks they're valuable.
You can put "bling" on a cheap guitar but its still a cheap guitar.

 

[Wattage]

You have to smart about it

Buy good quality used parts, sell off what you took off and replaced, don’t be anxious to sell it quickly and you’ll do alright if you’ve done it well. Adding value is a tough thing to do but putting $500 into a $250 guitar is definitely not a good place to look to make your money back,

 

[ehdwuld]

I think upgraded parts do increase the value vs stock parts but you need the right buyer (either someone looking for those specific upgrades/sound or someone who wants something better than average but isn't willing to invest the time/money/effort to upgrade it themselves) in either scenario, it reduces your customer pool.

But if you are including a guitar case, I would think that would appeal to most buyers.

A guitar case would appeal but they dont want to pay full price for the case either
they will want that at a $50 mark up over the guitar alone.

Buying a $100 case isn't gonna get ya $100 more

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, you will never get the $$ back from a case purchase. Most people expect it to come with a case.

 

[Securb]

Yeah, you will never get the $$ back from a case purchase. Most people expect it to come with a case.

When we are talking vintage a lot of times the case is long gone. I purchased an original hardshell case for my 73 Ovation 20 years ago. Best 100 busks I ever spent.

 

[weepingminotaur]

You make the mods for yourself, not for resale. I've got a Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro with the stock ProBucker pickups out and Black Winters in. For me, it's perfect. For most other people? It's probably an abomination. Maybe there's an exception to be made if you're upgrading a budget guitar with quality pickups, but that's pretty tenuous. Certainly for high-end guitars you're lowering the value if you mess with it.

 

[Demanic]

You make the mods for yourself, not for resale. I've got a Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro with the stock ProBucker pickups out and Black Winters in. For me, it's perfect. For most other people? It's probably an abomination. Maybe there's an exception to be made if you're upgrading a budget guitar with quality pickups, but that's pretty tenuous. Certainly for high-end guitars you're lowering the value if you mess with it.

I'll bet that it sounds massive.

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[weepingminotaur]

I'll bet that it sounds massive.

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Totally. And versatile as hell. I can play pretty much anything on that guitar and it's great!

 

[Spirit of 76]

You have to look at the whole psychology of a sale/purchase.

Not every product or every feature appeals to all buyers. Plus there are a million instrument sellers (individuals, big box stores, and mom & pop stores) selling guitars, so there is a ton of competition. Not to mention all kinds of aftermarket part sellers, appealing to the "upgrade crowd".

Many people on here are experienced, know how to upgrade their instruments as they desire, and/or have specific tastes, but if you are selling to a pool of buyers much larger then the people on this forum (which I assume he is) then having a case as part of the purchase, having upgraded parts, etc. can up the value...again it depends on the buyer.

 

[The Dali]

Thanks for all the replies. My perspective is from taking a basic $100-300 guitar and doing my beer label/cd label treatment to the guitar. I am trying to determine if it is worthwhile to also hot rod the guitar. I think not. I’ve added high quality tuners, pickups, pro wiring, etc and it doesn’t seem to increase the value much. (Over the value of the work in the top of the guitar).

For shipping guitars I try to include a hardcase for safety, but you are right that people don’t want to pay more than $40-50 for a case in the used market (even if case was new).


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[The Dali]

The most recent guitar... classic rock LP with boutique pups and gotoh tuners.






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