Ibanez Bass Guitars Resale Value

Ibanez bass guitars: price by condition

Seller-declared grades, sterling with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). What each grade means.

What holds its value across Ibanez

• The RG and S series, which are the models the brand is known for and have a steady player market
• Lawsuit-era instruments from the 1970s, which are collected for their build quality and their history
• Japanese-made Prestige models, which are a clear step above the standard production and marked as such
• Instruments with the original locking tremolo complete and functioning, since parts are fiddly and specific

What pulls Ibanez resale value down

• Seized or incomplete locking tremolo systems, which are complex and off-putting to buyers who have not used one
• Fret wear on the thin necks the brand is known for, since a refret costs real money
• Neck warp, which on a very thin neck is less tolerable than on a chunky one
• Replaced pickups on the vintage instruments, which reduce the collector value

Identifying and dating yours

1. The serial on the headstock rear or the neck plate gives the factory and year — photograph it, since Japanese production is worth more
2. Say whether the guitar is a Prestige or standard model, as it is marked and it matters to the price
3. Photograph the tremolo system fully and confirm every part is present and moving

What lifts any bass guitar, whatever the label

Basses hold value better than most instruments because far fewer are made, and the good ones stay in demand for decades.

• Recognised makers whose instruments have a following
• A straight neck with a working truss rod
• Original pickups, bridge and tuners
• Original hard case, especially on older instruments

And what pulls one down

• Neck relief that can no longer be dialled out
• Fret wear deep enough to need a re-fret
• Replaced pickups where originals are expected
• Refinishing on anything collectable

Working out what yours is worth

1. Sight down the neck from the headstock for relief and twist
2. Play every fret listening for buzz or dead spots
3. Check whether pickups, bridge and tuners are original

What to state in the listing

• Brand, model, number of strings and scale length
• Pickup configuration, and whether the electronics are passive or active
• 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.

Preparing and photographing it

1. Sight down the neck from the headstock and check the relief, and confirm the truss rod still turns.
2. Plug it in and test both pickups, every control and the output jack for crackle.
3. Note the scale length — standard 34 inch or short scale — and check the fret wear.

1. The full instrument front on, plain background
2. The headstock showing brand, model and serial
3. The neck sighted down its length, and the frets angled to show wear
4. The pickups, bridge and controls, plus any damage or modification

When it sells best, and handing it over

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

Slacken the strings and post in a hard case only, with heavy padding at the headstock. Basses are long and heavy so postage is expensive — get a quote first. Collection lets the buyer play it, which sells the instrument.

What buyers ask

What is a lawsuit-era Ibanez?

Instruments from the 1970s made as close copies of American designs before legal action ended the practice. They are well built and collected in their own right.

Do locking tremolos put buyers off?

Some, because they are fiddly to restring and set up. A complete and correctly working system is worth demonstrating clearly in the listing.

How much is an Ibanez bass guitar worth?

Roughly £92 to £460 depending on condition, against £80 to £400 for bass guitars generally. The identification points above are what move a listing to the top of that range.

What the fees would take elsewhere

At the mid-range £276 for an Ibanez bass guitar, against what the commission marketplaces would deduct:

Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026, percentages only — the per-order and processing charges those platforms add are excluded, so the real gap is wider.

Listing is free and there is no commission — read how to sell a bass guitar for the title, handover and timing, or the general bass guitar value guide if yours is not an Ibanez.

See also: all Ibanez value guides · value guides by brand · buying a bass guitar · Music & Instruments · condition grades.