Corey Y wrote:I think there's a balance point. When you add functional upgrades to a moderately priced instrument, I think it helps it maintain the used value a little better. So if a well used, decent condition MIM Strat might go for $350, one with locking tuners and higher end US model pickups might be worth $400-500 to the right buyer. Same with adding a Mastery bridge/trem to a decent Jag or JM, as was said. What I think mods never do is add to the value above the new price. Like Ghost Hip said, and it's not exclusive to music gear, there are some yahoos that think if they're selling a guitar that was $500 new and they put $500 of mods into it, it's a $1000 guitar and that's just ridiculous. The best case scenario for mods like that is they keep the used price closer to the new price...or the used price of a nicer model.
Exactly. If I were to buy a cheap Ibanez bass for $300, put in new tuning machines for $100, new pickups for $180, a new nut for $40, and a new bridge for $70 I could probably sell it for $250 when all is said and done.
The best example of this is parts instruments - say you spend around $1100 to $1200 for a custom parts instrument using good shit - Warmoth parts using "safe" woods like a maple/maple neck and mahogany body painted black/white/generic color, Nordstrand electronics, Hipshot hardware, and so on. AT BEST you'll get about a third what you paid for it. For better or worse, untouched instruments with a known manufacturer or luthier on the headstock will give the best ROI, even if you install objectively better parts. Additionally, if you have to swap out parts because something breaks, that's more considered maintenance and won't affect resell in the slightest.
IMO and IME if you're going to mod an instrument (or go the frankenstrument route) you'd better not plan on selling it for a while, if ever. As always, YMMV.