treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
Haha! Putting like a $1000 into a $300 guitar
Haha! Putting like a $1000 into a $300 guitar
Mods do not add value to a guitar.
- Thread starter richard parker
- Start date
GAS-a-holic
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
I've also learned this lesson the hard way. I once sold an 80's limited edition Charvel with a koa body and Duncan pickups; there were only 50 made and I let the buyer know that but he couldn't have cared less!
I also only do extensive mods to guitars I plan on keeping; otherwise it's just a bigger number in the loss column. I have a PRS Torero that I modded with an OFR and Duncans that I have no intention of selling, but if I did I'm sure the tire kicker in question would try to get me to lower the price because it doesn't have EMGs. As has been said earlier, one man's improvement is another's hack job.
I've also learned this lesson the hard way. I once sold an 80's limited edition Charvel with a koa body and Duncan pickups; there were only 50 made and I let the buyer know that but he couldn't have cared less!
I also only do extensive mods to guitars I plan on keeping; otherwise it's just a bigger number in the loss column. I have a PRS Torero that I modded with an OFR and Duncans that I have no intention of selling, but if I did I'm sure the tire kicker in question would try to get me to lower the price because it doesn't have EMGs. As has been said earlier, one man's improvement is another's hack job.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
My personal rule is that I won't do irreversible mods on a guitar unless I'm going to keep it long term, or the guitar itself is worth so little I don't care.
For example I made a few mods to my old partscaster Tele (soon to be sold as parts) that aren't reversible, but since I only want $50 each for the body & neck I don't care.
My personal rule is that I won't do irreversible mods on a guitar unless I'm going to keep it long term, or the guitar itself is worth so little I don't care.
For example I made a few mods to my old partscaster Tele (soon to be sold as parts) that aren't reversible, but since I only want $50 each for the body & neck I don't care.
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
last major guitar mod i dis was the squire strat. this guitar was more of a leaning project to hone some skills and to make an extremely versatile guitar.. in this end, that goal was achieved and the job i did was pretty damn good./. not perfect though
.. she plays pretty damn well as she stands now, but really needs a fret dress/level.. i should of taking more time modding the pickguard as i messed up when i widened the pickup holes a bit.. just dont have the proper tool for it.. i have another pickguard so i think ill try again in a few weeks OR if it really bothers me , i could get a custom one made but thats like $80. it would be machine perfect though..
guitar----------------------------$100
2 humbuckers ------------------$90
locking tuners-------------------$35
tremolo with brass block ------$40
pickguard-----------------------$20
LSR nut (still need to install)--$30
3 dpdt switches----------------$40
5 way switch-------------------$15
DMT tone-----------------------$25
push/pull pot------------------ $10
shielding tape,screws,ect------$20
+ i had to spend like 50 or so on various tools and bits
total came to ~$425 and im happy.. she is my #2 for a reason and never planing on selling it... not like i would get much for her anyway
last major guitar mod i dis was the squire strat. this guitar was more of a leaning project to hone some skills and to make an extremely versatile guitar.. in this end, that goal was achieved and the job i did was pretty damn good./. not perfect though
.. she plays pretty damn well as she stands now, but really needs a fret dress/level.. i should of taking more time modding the pickguard as i messed up when i widened the pickup holes a bit.. just dont have the proper tool for it.. i have another pickguard so i think ill try again in a few weeks OR if it really bothers me , i could get a custom one made but thats like $80. it would be machine perfect though.. guitar----------------------------$100
2 humbuckers ------------------$90
locking tuners-------------------$35
tremolo with brass block ------$40
pickguard-----------------------$20
LSR nut (still need to install)--$30
3 dpdt switches----------------$40
5 way switch-------------------$15
DMT tone-----------------------$25
push/pull pot------------------ $10
shielding tape,screws,ect------$20
+ i had to spend like 50 or so on various tools and bits
total came to ~$425 and im happy.. she is my #2 for a reason and never planing on selling it... not like i would get much for her anyway
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
I may pay a little more for a mod if it was something I was planning on doing. However, I won't pay the full price of the mod plus labor. If you pay $500 for parts and labor that isn't worth an extra $500 to me.
I may pay a little more for a mod if it was something I was planning on doing. However, I won't pay the full price of the mod plus labor. If you pay $500 for parts and labor that isn't worth an extra $500 to me.
firebirdguy72
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Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
Anybody that tries to get back the full price of how much the mods cost is insane... however IMHO expecting a small return on the investment is not unreasonable. If I get 50 percent back on the pickups I put in a guitar on top of a normal asking price on a guitar I'm more than happy. Pickups cost money... I'm not gonna sell a MIM strat loaded with fralins for the same price as a standard used MIM... I'm not whiny when it comes to buying a guitar with mods. If quality work is done and there is a long laundry list of quality upgrades than I'm not gonna whine if the price is a bit higher than normal.
Anybody that tries to get back the full price of how much the mods cost is insane... however IMHO expecting a small return on the investment is not unreasonable. If I get 50 percent back on the pickups I put in a guitar on top of a normal asking price on a guitar I'm more than happy. Pickups cost money... I'm not gonna sell a MIM strat loaded with fralins for the same price as a standard used MIM... I'm not whiny when it comes to buying a guitar with mods. If quality work is done and there is a long laundry list of quality upgrades than I'm not gonna whine if the price is a bit higher than normal.
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
Unless, of course, you have no interest in the upgrade/feature. Then why would you be willing to pay extra for them? Personally I would either tell the seller that the _______ is not a selling point for me, so he/she can lower the price or I can decide that it just wasn't the right guitar for me.
The point is that sometimes a selling feature is actually not. That's the same with any product. I have had countless times over my years of running stores where a customer tells me that some product feature I've been bragging about is actually meaningless to him/her. At that point I need to do one of four things:
• Convince the customer that they do indeed need that feature (almost never happens)
• Justify my price based on other features (sometimes happens)
• Lower my price (almost never happens)
• Walk away from the sale/switch products (most probable, assuming I can't do #2)
A selling/buying transaction really comes down to a combination of the highest price a purchaser is willing to pay and the lowest price for which a seller is willing to let it go. A lot of the things that I've seen people complaining about are simply selling/buying tactics that are common for anything where the price may be negotiable. Everybody wants to win. If someone is rude or insulting, simply decide not to do business with them, but if you look at the tactics as being simply tactics you can counter with whatever way is most appropriate. No big deal.
[emoji450]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]
Unless, of course, you have no interest in the upgrade/feature. Then why would you be willing to pay extra for them? Personally I would either tell the seller that the _______ is not a selling point for me, so he/she can lower the price or I can decide that it just wasn't the right guitar for me.
The point is that sometimes a selling feature is actually not. That's the same with any product. I have had countless times over my years of running stores where a customer tells me that some product feature I've been bragging about is actually meaningless to him/her. At that point I need to do one of four things:
• Convince the customer that they do indeed need that feature (almost never happens)
• Justify my price based on other features (sometimes happens)
• Lower my price (almost never happens)
• Walk away from the sale/switch products (most probable, assuming I can't do #2)
A selling/buying transaction really comes down to a combination of the highest price a purchaser is willing to pay and the lowest price for which a seller is willing to let it go. A lot of the things that I've seen people complaining about are simply selling/buying tactics that are common for anything where the price may be negotiable. Everybody wants to win. If someone is rude or insulting, simply decide not to do business with them, but if you look at the tactics as being simply tactics you can counter with whatever way is most appropriate. No big deal.
[emoji450]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]
firebirdguy72
안전놀이터추천 『‰』ＫaＫa８３.ＣoＭ까톡: oxiz 『‰』 해외 베팅 업체
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
I agree to a point. However If the buyer is not keen on the mods than that's the buyers problem. I'm not gonna lower an already fair price cause the person does not care for the mods... If they don't care for the mods why are they interested in said guitar? If someone is inquiring about a guitar chances are they are interested no matter the mods. If I get a low ball offer on something and they say "I'd have to change blah to my liking" than all they are trying to do is get something for nothing. If mods are a deal breaker for someone than they can look elsewhere. Mods are a very easy change and can easily be sold if they don't fit someone's personal taste. Whether it be a wiring harness, pickups, tuners, bridge etc.
I agree to a point. However If the buyer is not keen on the mods than that's the buyers problem. I'm not gonna lower an already fair price cause the person does not care for the mods... If they don't care for the mods why are they interested in said guitar? If someone is inquiring about a guitar chances are they are interested no matter the mods. If I get a low ball offer on something and they say "I'd have to change blah to my liking" than all they are trying to do is get something for nothing. If mods are a deal breaker for someone than they can look elsewhere. Mods are a very easy change and can easily be sold if they don't fit someone's personal taste. Whether it be a wiring harness, pickups, tuners, bridge etc.
Last edited:
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
Exactly. There are those, unfortunately, who don't get the concept (buyers and sellers) that it's okay for me or the other person to walk away if the price and the value (to either party) can't be reconciled.
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Exactly. There are those, unfortunately, who don't get the concept (buyers and sellers) that it's okay for me or the other person to walk away if the price and the value (to either party) can't be reconciled.
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Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
firebirdguy72
안전놀이터추천 『‰』ＫaＫa８３.ＣoＭ까톡: oxiz 『‰』 해외 베팅 업체
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
Not really... rims on a tercel is purely form... "upgrading" to a different wiring schematic or changing pickups is quite the opposite. A better analogy would be like stuffing a big V8 into a tercel. Whether that's a good choice or not is in the eye of the beholder. For some that may be worth more and some it may be worth less, but in the end it's up to the buyer to determine what he values and the seller to determine what price he puts on his time and investment.
Not really... rims on a tercel is purely form... "upgrading" to a different wiring schematic or changing pickups is quite the opposite. A better analogy would be like stuffing a big V8 into a tercel. Whether that's a good choice or not is in the eye of the beholder. For some that may be worth more and some it may be worth less, but in the end it's up to the buyer to determine what he values and the seller to determine what price he puts on his time and investment.
Jeddie
New member
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
For me modding my guitar means make it more the way I want it. So it may not be the way other people want it and so its added value can be only seen by people with my on preferences for guitars which narrows down to probable just myself. Unless you upgrade it to be more like desired or popular model, like a Guilmour strat project or a Slash like LP, who knows.
For me modding my guitar means make it more the way I want it. So it may not be the way other people want it and so its added value can be only seen by people with my on preferences for guitars which narrows down to probable just myself. Unless you upgrade it to be more like desired or popular model, like a Guilmour strat project or a Slash like LP, who knows.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
All modes aren't the same
Pickups and wiring is one thing
But maybe a roller nut or scalloped frets
Some things aren't that easy to undo
Sure one guy last month
Undid a botched fretboard
But everyone doesn't want an earvana nut
Or a frankenstrat squire
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
All modes aren't the same
Pickups and wiring is one thing
But maybe a roller nut or scalloped frets
Some things aren't that easy to undo
Sure one guy last month
Undid a botched fretboard
But everyone doesn't want an earvana nut
Or a frankenstrat squire
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
actually they kinda are. same patterns just with the root in a different place
actually they kinda are. same patterns just with the root in a different place
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Friggin autocpmplet
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
When I did the mods to The Phoenix earlier this year, I was upgrading a guitar whose real-world value (if she had been in great condition) is $300-$400. She's a 1985 Westone Spectrum LX. The thing is, she had been through a fire and had been refinished, but had melted & rusted pickups and hardware and the neck pickup didn't work at all, so she was worth VERY LITTLE at the time... certainly not the $300-$400 that this guitar seems to fetch on eBay. At a total cost of about $350, I added three pickups, a new Floyd Rose knockoff tremolo (which is blocked), various pieces of hardware, and completely rewired her, adding extra features.
I absolutely love this guitar now (again)! It plays great, sounds great, and has a very unique look. She's definitely my #1... and I wouldn't take $4000 for her because I have absolutely no desire to replace her.
That's the reason to do mods to a guitar... because they make you happy and give you inspiration and personal satisfaction. You just can't expect other people to feel the same way about it. It's really an investment in yourself... and you're the only one who can determine that value!
When I did the mods to The Phoenix earlier this year, I was upgrading a guitar whose real-world value (if she had been in great condition) is $300-$400. She's a 1985 Westone Spectrum LX. The thing is, she had been through a fire and had been refinished, but had melted & rusted pickups and hardware and the neck pickup didn't work at all, so she was worth VERY LITTLE at the time... certainly not the $300-$400 that this guitar seems to fetch on eBay. At a total cost of about $350, I added three pickups, a new Floyd Rose knockoff tremolo (which is blocked), various pieces of hardware, and completely rewired her, adding extra features.
I absolutely love this guitar now (again)! It plays great, sounds great, and has a very unique look. She's definitely my #1... and I wouldn't take $4000 for her because I have absolutely no desire to replace her.
- I paid $500 for her back in 1987
- I added another $350 to her in 2015
- She MIGHT be able to be sold for $400 (more likely $200 because of the extensive modifications
That's the reason to do mods to a guitar... because they make you happy and give you inspiration and personal satisfaction. You just can't expect other people to feel the same way about it. It's really an investment in yourself... and you're the only one who can determine that value!
Re: Mods do not add value to a guitar.
All this is exactly why I don't subscribe to the 'buy a cheap guitar and upgrade everything' mindset. If I buy a used Gibson LP for 2k and spend a couple hundred bucks on pickups, nut, bridge, etc., I can still turn around and sell it for around what I paid. If I sell it for 2k then I lost the 10% I put into it but I still get 2k back.
If I buy a $200 Epi and spend $200 on the same stuff, I just lost 100% of what I paid for the guitar. I spent $200 and gave away the guitar.
The type of 'upgrades' matter, too. When you're talking about Fralins and Callaham hardware on a Gibson, that appeals to a different demographic than GFS whatever pickups and hardware. I'm not saying that's what all Epi owners do, nor am I saying that stuff is all bad, but you're talking about Aston Martin clientele vs 85 Corolla peeps.
All this is exactly why I don't subscribe to the 'buy a cheap guitar and upgrade everything' mindset. If I buy a used Gibson LP for 2k and spend a couple hundred bucks on pickups, nut, bridge, etc., I can still turn around and sell it for around what I paid. If I sell it for 2k then I lost the 10% I put into it but I still get 2k back.
If I buy a $200 Epi and spend $200 on the same stuff, I just lost 100% of what I paid for the guitar. I spent $200 and gave away the guitar.
The type of 'upgrades' matter, too. When you're talking about Fralins and Callaham hardware on a Gibson, that appeals to a different demographic than GFS whatever pickups and hardware. I'm not saying that's what all Epi owners do, nor am I saying that stuff is all bad, but you're talking about Aston Martin clientele vs 85 Corolla peeps.
