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Originally Posted by tomshepp  I have looked in the newbie threads but still wonder why new instruments are priced the way they are. My specific example is this: I have been looking for a carved bass. I can afford up to maybe $8K. I have visited a shop which has Korr, Wilfer, and one or two other basses in this price range. I am interested in the Wan bass from the threads on here. So the question is this: If you have two Chinese basses that are made of similar woods (solid spruce and maple), why is the Korr $8k and the Wan $5K? I would never buy a bass I couldn't play first. I'm just wondering what I'm missing? Thanks. |
There's no reason at all to expect that just because they are both Chinese and made from "similar woods" that they would be priced the same at all. The reasons are certainly not unique to basses. Even assuming that the instruments were indistinguishable in terms of design and quality, different manufacturers price their products differently as a result of the price point and perceived level of quality they wish to target, labor costs, shipping costs, agreements with dealers and many, many other market and marketing considerations.
On the flip side, two instruments priced identically may differ in many important respects. We all know that price is only a rough indicator of quality.
The Korr and the Wan are both made of spruce and maple. So are basses costing six figures! It's what the luthiers DO with the wood that counts. I suggest you go and play both basses (in addition to others) and decide which one YOU like better. That would be the one to buy.
By the way, where do you live?
