Fender American Professional II now nealy $2000 - WOW

[Mike Vee]

Absolutely INSANE. I will NEVER, EVER buy a new Fedner at any price. This is nothing short of arrogant consumer abuse. I think these went up around $500 in 2 years. This is CRAZY!

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-bass-olympic-white-with-rosewood-fingerboard

Some APII models even go above $2000:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...jazz-bass-roasted-pine-with-maple-fingerboard

American Performer is $1600 now!!! $1600 is what the America Pro was last week. These were sub-1000 not long ago. They basically shifted each line up to the old price of the line above it.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-bass-satin-surf-green-with-maple-fingerboard

It seems like they jump 10-20% or more every 6 months!!! There's even MIMs above $1500 now. Just a few years ago the max was like $800 tops.

 

[tindrum]

Man I'm with you. I've owned several American Fenders and they've all been good, even great, but not a single one I've ever played was worth $2k (!) Yeah that is beyond insanity. Honestly the average player doesn't have the scratch to buy something like that these days.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Inflation is real, unfortunately.

 

[Mike Vee]

Inflation is real, unfortunately.

This is price gouging / taking advantage of perceived inflation.

 

[Mike Vee]

Man I'm with you. I've owned several American Fenders and they've all been good, even great, but not a single one I've ever played was worth $2k (!) Yeah that is beyond insanity. Honestly the average player doesn't have the scratch to buy something like that these days.

If you have something you want, I'd be sure to buy it now on the used market and then talk with your wallet regarding new purchases.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Honest question; what American made basses haven't sky-rocketed in price over the past 2-3 years?

Or any other basses, for that matter?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Inflation is real, unfortunately

Man I'm with you. I've owned several American Fenders and they've all been good, even great, but not a single one I've ever played was worth $2k (!) Yeah that is beyond insanity. Honestly the average player doesn't have the scratch to buy something like that these days.

The funny thing is that some of the more expensive Fender Professionals and even the Ultras are cheaper than current premium Indonesian basses.

 

[JimmyM]

Every time their prices go up, there is a lot of people saying they're never going to buy a US Fender again, but they still sell plenty…even with pickups I can't stand!

 

[Parzival]

Why is it always Fender? Why don't we hear folks screaming about the price of Stingrays or Sadowsky or Spectors? They are all way way overpriced if you ask me.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Why is it always Fender? Why don't we hear folks screaming about the price of Stingrays or Sadowsky or Spectors? They are all way way overpriced if you ask me.

I bought a brand new Bongo for $1200 in 2014. I remember when a NYC Sadowsky was out of reach for me at $3500. Same for Spector.

I make 2x more money than I did back then, and they are still out of reach.

 

[Mike Vee]

Why is it always Fender? Why don't we hear folks screaming about the price of Stingrays or Sadowsky or Spectors? They are all way way overpriced if you ask me.

Because Fedner makes hundreds of millions dollars and those shops don't. I just fund that Fender does it so unapologetically, and VERY frequently.

 

[tindrum]

Why is it always Fender? Why don't we hear folks screaming about the price of Stingrays or Sadowsky or Spectors? They are all way way overpriced if you ask me.

Likely because Fender has always had a perception of a working musicians brand to an extent. Certainly not booteek. Sadowsky and Spector have always been a lot more expensive as they were more "niche" and, at least for many years, a more handmade high grade instrument.

 

[JimmyM]

Because Fedner makes hundreds of millions dollars and those shops don't. I just fund that Fender does it so unapologetically, and VERY frequently.

Are they supposed to write a press release of remorse and only make appearances in hair shirts every time they raise prices? Fender is in business to make money and sometimes they raise prices. That's how it goes.

 

[Parzival]

Because Fedner makes hundreds of millions dollars and those shops don't. I just fund that Fender does it so unapologetically, and VERY frequently.

All the brands I named are mass produced. If I'm wrong on that, there are an awful lot of models on every music site for them to be hand made in some small shops. Maybe not as large as Fender and Gibson, but these are large instrument makers. I don't think it's just Sterling or Roger in a shop making these anymore.

 

[Mike Vee]

Are they supposed to write a press release of remorse and only make appearances in hair shirts every time they raise prices? Fender is in business to make money and sometimes they raise prices. That's how it goes.

They often raise prices and by a lot.

 

[Mike Vee]

All the brands I named are mass produced. If I'm wrong on that, there are an awful lot of models on every music site for them to be hand made in some small shops. Maybe not as large as Fender and Gibson, but these are large instrument makers. I don't think it's just Sterling or Roger in a shop making these anymore.

I'm mad about Fender.

 

[Parzival]

I'm mad about Fender.

 

[Mike Vee]

Music Man started their insane prices a few years back. They suck too but that's already in the past. And they don't raise them NEARLY as often as Fender.

 

[evs]

Supply and demand affect pricing.
Fender is a business, not a charitable company (they are not alone).
If people are paying that money for the basses, then that's their choice.

 

[PNC7]

They've been strategically building in price creep from the bottom up over the last year at least.

Not too many years ago the MIM offerings were like $550. They're now in the $800 range minimum while the new $550 instruments are the "Standard" series. We'll probably never see a rosewood fretboard sold in that range ever again, and every tier above that has been bumped in price accordingly.

I feel bad for the high school kids / college students who aspire to grab a Fender as their entry level options are getting more and more out of reach. I'm not going to say they're lower quality because some have said the new Standard series are good, but as a rosewood neck lover I'm quite grateful my sub $300 Squier came with one back in the day.