Sell Your Bass Guitar in Australia

Used bass guitars in Australia typically sell for A$155 to A$765 (about $110 to $540). Bass guitars sell on scale length and pickup configuration, and the practical question buyers have is whether the neck is straight — so sight it and say.

What bass guitars are worth in Australia

Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.

What lifts the price

• A straight neck with a working truss rod
• Original hard case, especially on older instruments

What pulls it down

• Neck relief that can no longer be dialled out
• Replaced pickups where originals are expected

Selling a bass guitar in Australia

Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.

Australia’s second-hand market is strongly local and strongly seasonal, with most activity concentrated in the eastern capitals and buyers who expect to collect.

Australia Post covers everywhere, but distance pricing is real and interstate parcels cost meaningfully more than local ones.

Seasons are inverted relative to the UK and North America: warm-weather items move from September, and winter gear from around May.

Working out what yours is worth

• Sight down the neck from the headstock for relief and twist
• Check whether pickups, bridge and tuners are original

Getting it ready

• Plug it in and test both pickups, every control and the output jack for crackle.
• Note the scale length — standard 34 inch or short scale — and check the fret wear.

Photograph

• The full instrument front on, plain background
• The neck sighted down its length, and the frets angled to show wear
• The pickups, bridge and controls, plus any damage or modification

Put in the description

• Brand, model, number of strings and scale length
• Pickup configuration, and whether the electronics are passive or active
• Neck condition, relief and fret wear

Brand, model, string count and scale: “Fender Player Precision Bass, 4 String, 34in Scale, Sunburst”. Short scale is a deliberate search and should be stated where it applies. Say whether it is passive or active, since that determines whether it needs a battery.

Steady all year with a lift before Christmas. Recognised brands sell within days; unbranded instruments move slowly.

It costs nothing to list

There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$767 a buyer pays is the A$767 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.

Where in Australia

Australia is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Australia with their own page for bass guitars.

• Selling a bass guitar in Sydney
• Selling a bass guitar in Melbourne
• Selling a bass guitar in Brisbane
• Selling a bass guitar in Perth
• Selling a bass guitar in Adelaide
• Selling a bass guitar in Gold Coast
• Selling a bass guitar in Canberra

Common questions

Where can I sell a bass guitar in Australia?

List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.

Is the neck straight?

Sight down it from the headstock and say what you see, and confirm the truss rod turns. A bass with a twisted neck is a repair job and buyers need to know.

Does a re-fret affect the price?

A professional re-fret is generally accepted and can even help on a heavily played instrument. Badly done fretwork does the opposite.

Should I include the case?

Yes. Original cases matter on older instruments and make posting a bass far safer.

More: how to sell a bass guitar, what bass guitars are worth, or Music & Instruments across Australia.