Fair price for a bernie with upgrades?

[MikeChandler]

I now have a couple more les pauls AND a prs ted mccarty dc245. I really don't think I'm going to play the bernie much, as I haven't been, and I'd like some cash for pickups for other guitars... but I don't know if I should put the bernie back to stock, or sell it upgraded.

It is a Black Bernie Marsden SE with the following upgrades:

1) Pigtail long Steel US 5/16-24 threaded anchor inserts
2) PRS USA stop tail piece
3) Tonepros locking US thread studs
4) Seymour Duncan Slash Signature Alnico II Pro pickups
5) Kluson Deluxe tuning machines
7) PRS hardshell singlecut case (snug but it fits)

It's setup with 10-46 strings, and the strings are setup at 2mm bass side and 1mm treble. It plays like butter without buzzing. The steel anchor inserts and USA bridge make it acoustically as loud and full as a les paul.

So the question:

1) Should I remove it all and put it back to stock, and sell it for ????

2) Leave it as is (as it's a perfect guitar) and sell it for ???? with the original parts included?

 

[bodia]

If you're set on selling it, personally, I would leave it as is and include the original parts.

 

[MikeChandler]

Kinda what I was thinking but what should I charge?

 

[Rockula]

Well, I think you've ruined it completely. I'll take it off your hands for $100.

Ok, not really. I'd say add up the cost of the case, and all the parts. Then divide that by 2. Add the result to $400.

 

[MikeChandler]

inserts $10
Bridge $150
Pickups $184
Case $130
Studs $40
Tuners $40
--------------------------
534
/2
--------
277
+400
--------

$677 + shipping.

Does that seem like a fair price?

They get the deep drilling of the body for long steel inserts for free. And it's the singular biggest tone upgrade for this guitar.

 

[xjbebop]

If you really want to sell it, it's only worth what someone is willing to spend on it...
Start high but be flexible...

 

[bodia]

If you really want to sell it, it's only worth what someone is willing to spend on it...
Start high but be flexible...

I agree with this. Good advice. Either way, it's going to be tough to recoup the cost of your upgrades. At least IMO. Hopefully I'm wrong though (as I am most often....ask my wife )

 

[MikeChandler]

I don't think the price we came up with above is out of line: $400 + (upgrades/2).

I am rounding it off to $650 and putting it up for sale. I see them for that much unmodified on ebay now.

Making it $700 CONUS shipping included. How's that?

Putting it up now

 

[Rockula]

I bet it sells pretty quickly. Let us know.

 

[MikeChandler]

Well, here's the deal. I pulled it out to play it tonight. And I ended up pulling out my Ted McCarty DC245 Smokeburst Nitro with 57/08 pickups.

The DC245 is going to Ebay. The Bernie Marsden is staying.

Call me nuts. This guitar is too insanely good. It started out decent - but after all that I did it shaped into a killer guitar. I need to play it more.

And what better way to make it happen? I am going to ship it to marty bell refinishing and have it done in sparkle midnight blue with flames shooting out the neck and pickups on the body.

LOL.

(but I ain't jokin')

 

[bodia]

Well, here's the deal. I pulled it out to play it tonight. And I ended up pulling out my Ted McCarty DC245 Smokeburst Nitro with 57/08 pickups.

The DC245 is going to Ebay. The Bernie Marsden is staying.

Call me nuts. This guitar is too insanely good. It started out decent - but after all that I did it shaped into a killer guitar. I need to play it more.

And what better way to make it happen? I am going to ship it to marty bell refinishing and have it done in sparkle midnight blue with flames shooting out the neck and pickups on the body.

LOL.

(but I ain't jokin')

Love everything about this post! Good luck!!!!!

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Marty does some cool paint-jobs.

 

[dogrocketp]

Holy mother of mercy on those paint jobs!

 

[MikeChandler]

Marty already did me a goldtop - but it wasn't a PRS so I can't post it

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Yes you can.

 

[Rockula]

I've only had my Bernie for a few weeks, but I've already bonded with in a way that I never did with several Gibson Les Pauls. No way I'm selling it. I'd have to get something like a McCarty before I'd even consider letting the Bernie go.

 

[MikeChandler]

I've only had my Bernie for a few weeks, but I've already bonded with in a way that I never did with several Gibson Les Pauls. No way I'm selling it. I'd have to get something like a McCarty before I'd even consider letting the Bernie go.

The sad truth is that there is no McCarty made with a neck like the Bernie. Oh, if only there was....

 

[Rockula]

I was afraid of that