Selling to guitar center vs local shop consignment

GC will offer no more than half of what they guess they might sell it for. They may not know what a fair market price is for anything that is not very common.

I recommend Craigs List to get the best price if you can stand not selling it immediately.
 
Selling a high end bass on consignment or to a place like GC will never make anywhere close to what the bass is worth. I would take out a loan and take my time selling the bass for what it's worth to pay off the loan before going the route you are talking about.
 
1. Look up comparable instruments at GC.
2. Halve that price. That's in the neighborhood of what GC is likely to offer.
3. Add 25% to that halved price and post it here.

The price will still be vastly below market, so a fast sale here is likely. Meanwhile, you'll be getting more than GC will give you and the comfort that the instrument is going to a good home.

Win-win.
 
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GC will offer no more than half of what they guess they might sell it for.

This.

Honestly if I were you I'd pony up the $5 for 1 month supporting membership and sell it in the classifieds here. Like it's been said, even if you sell it at a low price it's still going to be more than what any shop is going to give you.
 
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Selling it here for dirt cheap is the best way. You said it's high end so let's say a reasonable resale value is $2000? GC will give you $800. $1000 if you're very lucky. Craigslist might get you $2000 but it may take a while and damn near anything could happen meeting a stranger for such a high ticket item. Put it up here for maybe $1500? $1200? If it's a legit bass that people know and there's a market for it, someone's gonna get it if only to flip for a profit. In the end you'll still get more than anywhere else.
 
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My local GC will look up your bass on ebay and get the average ebay selling price, then offer you half of that price if it's in really good shape, less if it's not so hot in the looks department. Mods or unique don't matter, and they will give you fifteen bucks for any case you want to sell them, nothing for gig bags.

I'm with those who said list it here. If you make it a killer deal, someone will jump on it pretty quick and you will still do better than you would on GC or consignment.