yesterday i made a trip up to my local guitar center. it was the first time ive been since nov 08 and i wanted to see if they had any steals lying around. last time i was there, they had a new US 62 ri p bass that played great and they only wanted $900 for it! there was also a very nice 75 jazz that they wanted $1000 for. i was hoping for a bass or two like these.
well, my gc has two bass rooms. one for cheaper stuff and one for more expensive stuff. i head to the "nice" room, and hanging on one wall was about 10-15 different fenders. i pause the victor wooten dvd that is playing, and start going down the line. a few us jazzes and ps, some std some dlx, no ri's. all play quite nicely and are priced around the $1300 mark.
then i get to the end and there are 4 nicely worn looking fenders. "what are these?" i thought. "vintage fenders? custom shop relics?" i picked up a beautiful tobacco burst p with noticeable player wear. i sit down and play a few notes. "it plays pretty nice, but what is it?" i look at headstock and see "made in mexico." "wow," i thought, "this bass plays great, sounds great and looks great! way to go mexican fender factory!"
it was a new road worn p. i had never seen one in person before. i wouldnt mind owning one, so i checked the price tag . . . "holy $%#@! what the @#%$ #$%%$# #$%#$ #$ %& ^%^%#% ^#$% #@$ @ $% !!!!!!!!!!!" they wanted $1200 for it! a mim?!? what is going on???
i was in double shock. one, these basses were great! two, these basses were expensive! i expected neither from a mim fender. a little disoriented, i stumbled out of the expensive room and found my way to the cheap room. the first bass i saw, on a stand on the floor, was a 78 fretless fender p, in great shape, for ~$600 . . . i picked it up, played a few notes, it was a great bass, with great tone.
i felt like i was in the twilight zone. i realize that a 78 p is by no means the holy grail of bass, but how ass backwards is it that a 30 year old bass, that has real relicing done by the owner over years of playing, with a great feel and great tone, is worth half of what a new mexican fender that was made to look like it had the mojo of an old loved bass with years of wear? i just dont understand.
on my way out, i saw a telecaster identical to one i bought back in nov for $1300. they wanted over $1800 for it. i left very confused. i will not be buying any new fender products for a long time. why would i when i have resources like the tb classifieds and craigslist?
any thoughts?
well, my gc has two bass rooms. one for cheaper stuff and one for more expensive stuff. i head to the "nice" room, and hanging on one wall was about 10-15 different fenders. i pause the victor wooten dvd that is playing, and start going down the line. a few us jazzes and ps, some std some dlx, no ri's. all play quite nicely and are priced around the $1300 mark.
then i get to the end and there are 4 nicely worn looking fenders. "what are these?" i thought. "vintage fenders? custom shop relics?" i picked up a beautiful tobacco burst p with noticeable player wear. i sit down and play a few notes. "it plays pretty nice, but what is it?" i look at headstock and see "made in mexico." "wow," i thought, "this bass plays great, sounds great and looks great! way to go mexican fender factory!"
it was a new road worn p. i had never seen one in person before. i wouldnt mind owning one, so i checked the price tag . . . "holy $%#@! what the @#%$ #$%%$# #$%#$ #$ %& ^%^%#% ^#$% #@$ @ $% !!!!!!!!!!!" they wanted $1200 for it! a mim?!? what is going on???
i was in double shock. one, these basses were great! two, these basses were expensive! i expected neither from a mim fender. a little disoriented, i stumbled out of the expensive room and found my way to the cheap room. the first bass i saw, on a stand on the floor, was a 78 fretless fender p, in great shape, for ~$600 . . . i picked it up, played a few notes, it was a great bass, with great tone.
i felt like i was in the twilight zone. i realize that a 78 p is by no means the holy grail of bass, but how ass backwards is it that a 30 year old bass, that has real relicing done by the owner over years of playing, with a great feel and great tone, is worth half of what a new mexican fender that was made to look like it had the mojo of an old loved bass with years of wear? i just dont understand.
on my way out, i saw a telecaster identical to one i bought back in nov for $1300. they wanted over $1800 for it. i left very confused. i will not be buying any new fender products for a long time. why would i when i have resources like the tb classifieds and craigslist?
any thoughts?
.
