Squier Bass Guitars Resale Value

Squier 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 Squier

• Japanese-made instruments from the early 1980s, which are well regarded and searched for specifically
• The Classic Vibe series, which is the current line players actually recommend
• Instruments with upgraded pickups and hardware, which on a budget guitar can genuinely add value rather than reduce it
• Original cases and paperwork on the vintage Japanese models

What pulls Squier resale value down

• Standard entry-level models, which are sold new at low prices and have a shallow second-hand market
• Fret wear and neck issues, which cost more to correct than a budget instrument is worth
• Corroded hardware and rusted strings, which signal an instrument stored badly
• Damaged headstocks, which on any guitar is the repair that follows it permanently

Identifying and dating yours

1. The serial on the headstock identifies the factory and period — photograph it, since early Japanese instruments are worth substantially more
2. Say what has been upgraded, because on a budget instrument good pickups and tuners genuinely add to the price
3. Photograph the frets and sight the neck, then describe both honestly

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

Are old Squiers worth anything?

The early 1980s Japanese-made instruments are, and they sell well above ordinary Squier prices. Photograph the serial so buyers can date it.

Do upgrades add value to a cheap guitar?

On budget instruments, often yes — better pickups and tuners make a real difference. Say exactly what was changed and keep the original parts if you have them.

How much is a Squier bass guitar worth?

Roughly £84 to £420 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 £252 for a Squier 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 a Squier.

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