I have a rather rare bass guitar that I am considering selling.
My problem is that I have no idea how to price it or where to set a reserve in an auction. (Well, I have a little idea, but would like a better idea)
Anyone know of resources that may help me out?
Are there auctions that carry alot of instruments that I might did through recent sales on? Bluebooks for bass guitars that really have everything in them?
You can always look at past sales on eBay. You can also pick up a copy of Vintage Guitar price guide, which may or may not include your particular bass. I may still have last year’s copy at home, what year, make & model, and what condition? If I get a minute I’ll look it up. The book is around $20-25.
You can also take it to a shop that specializes in vintage instruments and get an appraisal. That would also cost around $25, assuming there is such a shop near you (in an area like Dallas I would expect there would be at least one in the metro area).
What kind of bass is it? maybe im interested… ?
And I suggest either taking it to a guitar repair person, who has been certified to do so. They usually know alot about rare models. Tell’em you just want to know a price tho, as if they think you wanna sell it they’ll instantly turn into a shark.
…Or the blue book. Available in most larger guitar store chains.
Well, it isn’t exactly vintage.
None have been moved on ebay yet either.
It is an Ernie Ball StringRay
100th Aniversery NAMM edition. That’s the one that comes with the graphite/carbon neck, the inlaid gold medallion in the head, string though body, their best of everything pickup and electronics wise.
They made 100 of them ever. 50 for US, 50 for international. NAMM kept one so that leaves 49 for the US.
It is completely unblemished.
They listed new for around $2k. The only way to get one now is to find someone willing to part with one.
I would suspect getting $2k should be pretty easy. Of course, this is a case of the item being worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
I’ll see if I can find my guide tonight. It is called Vintage Guitars but in includes right up to fairly modern guitars, and an incredibly wide range of makes & models, not necessarily the most sought-after ones.
Yes, the market for anything collectible is defined by what someone is willing to pay for it. That’s why for a market like antiques, I can never figure out who would pay some of the prices for some of that stuff. Typically it changes dealers’ hands several times (“I paid this because I can sell it for more”) but then it finally has to reach someone who actually wants a Louis XIV chair so much they’ll pay five grand (or whatever) for it. I am also wondering who pays $20,000 for a Benedetto guitar (although they are awful nice guitars).
I may just ask alot and take what I can get (above a certain threshold).
I guess that is how it is done.
Hate to break it to you (I used to sell guitars)…
A new guitar, even the best of the best, vintage / replica / anniversary edition, is worth less while it’s still "new"as soon as it leaves the door, just like a new car that leaves the lot. You gotta wait a few years for the value to go back up. Or find someone who REALLY wants it. 
Thanks broccoli,
I will keep that in mind and that is exactly why I was asking. I hope this just might be an exception to that rule.
Of course, I could get lucky and find someone who just has to have one…
Oh, I did recently find one that was sold for $2500 used. So, someone out there is will to pay $2500.
Try this: put it on Ebay with a ridiculously high reserve and see how high the bids get. Worse that could happen is you sell it for a godawful amount of money. The least that could happen is you pay Ebay a couple of bucks. I had a friend do this with a highly sought after Beatles collectible.