Is it usually more profitable to sell a guitar in parts?

[St_Genesius]

I've got a 1996 Fender Tex-Mex Tele Special that I've been thinking of selling.Together, it's a fairly unique intrument: MIM (and painted in the USA, iirc the details of the Tex-Mex line..), HB in the neck, SC in the bridge, both overwound. 5-way switch, splits the HB on pos. 2 & 4. It's in good shape, though the peculiar aging of the finish leads me to believe that the finish was applied before the wood was sufficiently dry, as there are interesting moisture marks all over it. Honestly, the finish flaws bug me but everyone else who see it thinks it's the coolest thing ever. I guess I prefer 'new' to 'character.'

Anyway, I was wondering if I'd be better off selling this one as a guitar or as a series of parts: body, neck, each pickup individually, tuners, bridge, pickguard...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Is it usually more profitable to sell a guitar in parts?

if the guitar is stock, try to sell it as a whole first...if you get nothing then maybe look at parting it out. Most of the time a guitar sold as a whole is better (and easier for you), the exception to that rule is partscasters...you go to warmoth and build a Tele, get a pro paint job, killer duncans, a hard case you're gonna spend around a $1000.00...there is NO way you'd ever got even close to that back out of it...but with a whole Fender Telecaster try to sell it as is first and then if you have to, part it out

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Is it usually more profitable to sell a guitar in parts?

Yeah, it's all stock. There's no way that I'll recoup what I paid for it, despite the fact that it's a cool model, because I got absolutely gouged by the salesman when I bought it. I was 18; I didn't know anything about haggling...I paid full retail. But it's been a great guitar, so I'm okay with havign spent that much. I'd just like to make room for some others. What, in your estimation, could I reasonably expect to get for the whole thing together? I was thinking that the parts would likely bring $300, probably a little more.

 

[inter]

Re: Is it usually more profitable to sell a guitar in parts?

I'd part it out only if the major parts are in mint/near mint condition.

If your ebay'ing it for parts, you'll have to factor in the cost's of each auction listing and final fee. You can add a little extra in the shipping to help cover some of it. You'll also have to find suitable packaging material's for each part.

You'll get more focus from buyer's on each part than with a whole guitar. If the neck is maple, you'll probably get more for parts.

Basically, If your worried about things like the fretware, various imperfection's etc. It would probably be easier to sell it whole.