Sell Your Bass Guitar in the US

Used bass guitars in the US typically sell for $110 to $540. Basses hold value better than most instruments because far fewer are made, and the good ones stay in demand for decades.

What bass guitars are worth in the US

Condition	Typical	What it means
New with Tags	$538	Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New	$458	Barely used, no visible wear
Good	$350	Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair	$242	Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts	$135	Not working or incomplete, sold as seen

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

Recognised makers whose instruments have a following
Original pickups, bridge and tuners

What pulls it down

Fret wear deep enough to need a re-fret
Refinishing on anything collectable

Selling a bass guitar in the US

Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

The US resale market is enormous and highly local — most transactions still happen between people within driving distance of each other, and buyers expect to collect rather than wait for a courier.

Two practical things shape a US sale. Shipping is priced by dimensional weight as well as actual weight, so a light bulky item can cost far more to send than a heavy small one — measure the box before you quote. And meeting in person is common enough that many police departments now run designated safe-exchange areas in their car parks.

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 headstock showing brand, model and serial
The neck sighted down its length, and the frets angled to show wear

Put in the description

Neck condition, relief and fret wear
Whether anything is non-original, and whether a case or gig bag is included

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 $538 a buyer pays is the $538 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 the US

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

Common questions

Where can I sell a bass guitar in the US?

List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

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 the United States.