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Fender MiM Rumors true?
- Thread starter J. Crawford
- Start date
So if the prices of the basses are going up, does that mean that they will also increase the price of parts such as: Bridge/Pickup covers, pick guards, pickups, necks, the whole 9 yards. Or do you think they will just increase the price on basses.
Im calling basses alone, because there is always a market for them. Not everyone upgrades their basses, but a bassist is always waiting for that next bass purchase.
IMO, that is.
The economy is in the crapper and getting worse by the day and Fender raises their prices at five times the inflation rate? Huh? Dumb.
Great, now I can sell my used Fenders for more!
I wouldn't bet on that.
+1
Parts of Mexico are a war zone. It's very sad.
Mhm. If so, any business from me is gone.
And I was really looking to my covers coming to me soon, and maybe some pups... Like 62's.
Never mind.
I'm definitely not saying the MIM Fender stuff sucks - it's actually quite good, for the most part.. However..
A price hike like that is absolutely ridiculous. The MIM stuff was always a solid alternative to buying the (IMHO overpriced) MIA Fenders. Now that they've widened the gap, here's what I see happening:
1) Demand for used MIA Fenders will increase, and prices for those will rise dramatically.
2) Lakland will sell even more Skylines.
3) Fender will sell a buttload more Squiers.
4) Used MIM Fenders will flood the marketplace.
5) The Highway One line will suffer a massive identity crisis and either be overhauled (again), take the MIA Fender's place on the price list, or be phased out completely.
Kudos, Fender..
Bit of a ramble here:
This sounds about right... I think Fender is heading for another basic product crisis, like they did right about the time CBS dumped them. These folks really should read the newspapers: People EVERYWHERE are losing their jobs - who is rushing to GC to buy an P-bass if they can't pay their rent? True, a large portion of their business goes to mom and dad who want to keep Junior happy, hence all the entry-level stuff Fender has been pushing...
Maybe, over time, Fender is just going to conceded the high ground in the market, rather like Gibson is doing - Keeping the US made "Real" instruments only as loss leaders to sell all their higher-margin off-shored stuff.
Part of the problem is a bit of a vicious circle for Fender, it seems to me - When the market seems to want instruments with more features, Fender responds by making "Deluxe" models, that always seem to underwhelm, but they continue to succeed in selling their tried and true J/P/Strat/Tele line, so folks bitch that they aren't keeping up...
You have to wonder what would have happened if Fender were the folks who introduced a bass identical to the Lakland 44-94; I submit that it would have failed, because it wasn't a P or J. I believe Fender is suffering under the weight of its own past success.
Some people have mentioned Squier. I think one of the most important points about Squier is the success of the Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified series of guitars and basses. These have pushed Squier instruments into higher price ranges and closed the Fender to Squier price gap considerably. So it would make sense for them to try to widen that gap again.
Mhm. If so, any business from me is gone.
And I was really looking to my covers coming to me soon, and maybe some pups... Like 62's.
Never mind.
same here, I recently aquired a 97 MIM Jazz Bass 5 String for 115.00 on craigslist, and i want to put at least a bridge cover on it.
Seeing that they were 14.99 last time I checked, with a 50% increase, I will not pay 30 dollars for something that doesnt help the bass's tone and is not mandatory to the bass.
Adding a pup/bridge cover actually depreciates the bass, because it interferes with its original body, or so I am told.
I agree with you here, but not for the reason you may think. Fender would have deemed the 4-94 a failure, as you said. However, in all likelihood, over its first 3 years, Fender probably would have sold far more 4-94s than Lakland did.
Fender sells instruments in bulk. I'm not sure how many 4-94's Lakland sold last year, but I have a '98 4-94 that is serial number 270. I think this bass was designed in '94 and started production in '95. If by 1998, Fender had only sold 270 of them...well, they'd have quit making them before that. By Fender's standards, I think the 4-94 IS a failure.
Back on topic: its tough out there. my employer does business to business sales in a state that is faring far better than many other states in the current economy thus far. we're barely surviving.
I imagine Fender looked at sales projections and expenses, and projected lost sales due to a price increase, and raised their prices appropriately. I'm not saying that a big company wouldn't exploit a situation, but I doubt that is the story here.
This price jump has been coming for a while. I worked at a Fender dealer in the very recent past, and as soon as the VM line came out we smelled the blood in the water. Essentially they are trying to push Squier up the food chain to go toe-to-toe with Ibanez, Epiphone and the others. It makes sense when you line up the facts We figured out the following:
1. Fender unveils Starcaster as the heir to the low ended Squier Affinity Series. This set's their base, and allows them to improve quality on Squier.
2. Squier ramps up production and quality on their Vintage Modified line. VM series get rave reviews...This pushes Squier a little farther up the food chain. Classic Vibe is doing the same.
3. Fender begins retooling their American lines. This process reached it's current pinnacle with the '08 Standards. This line is touted as a "return to the golden years"...people buy snap them up. This allows them to raise prices
4. Fender "rescues" the MIM line by offering slick new colors and upgraded features. Basically doing the same as they did for the American Standard Series.
Long Story Short...
Starcaster=The New Squier (passable beginners guitars)
Squier=The New MIM (good guitars for a good price, but not considered "professional") We should see Squier Models top out in the $600 neighborhood in a year or 2.
Fender MIM=The Pre 07 American Standard (Fairly good build quality with decent hardware. Attainable brand new to most musicians.) These models will top out at $1200.
Fender American=Gibson Like most Gibson players we'll be paying for the name and location of build. I hope the QC will be a LOT better, but Fender has been known to slip in the past. The Deluxe models will hit $2000 or more and the Standard will fall around $1600.
I think this will all fall into place around this time next year. Of course, I could be crazy, and have my head stuck somewhere dark...Regardless it's all opinion.
1. Fender unveils Starcaster as the heir to the low ended Squier Affinity Series. This set's their base, and allows them to improve quality on Squier.
2. Squier ramps up production and quality on their Vintage Modified line. VM series get rave reviews...This pushes Squier a little farther up the food chain. Classic Vibe is doing the same.
3. Fender begins retooling their American lines. This process reached it's current pinnacle with the '08 Standards. This line is touted as a "return to the golden years"...people buy snap them up. This allows them to raise prices
4. Fender "rescues" the MIM line by offering slick new colors and upgraded features. Basically doing the same as they did for the American Standard Series.
Long Story Short...
Starcaster=The New Squier (passable beginners guitars)
Squier=The New MIM (good guitars for a good price, but not considered "professional") We should see Squier Models top out in the $600 neighborhood in a year or 2.
Fender MIM=The Pre 07 American Standard (Fairly good build quality with decent hardware. Attainable brand new to most musicians.) These models will top out at $1200.
Fender American=Gibson Like most Gibson players we'll be paying for the name and location of build. I hope the QC will be a LOT better, but Fender has been known to slip in the past. The Deluxe models will hit $2000 or more and the Standard will fall around $1600.
I think this will all fall into place around this time next year. Of course, I could be crazy, and have my head stuck somewhere dark...Regardless it's all opinion.
TheGrizz,
Your summary makes sense to me of what the overall plan is. Great post!
So it looks like they are somewhere in the middle of a multi-year plan and they are going to try to execute the plan no matter what is going on in the economy.
That said, they do seem to be executing on the quality of the Squiers and the recent American series. It will be interesting to see if they can move the MIMs up the food chain - that strikes me as the biggest challenge.
Your summary makes sense to me of what the overall plan is. Great post!
So it looks like they are somewhere in the middle of a multi-year plan and they are going to try to execute the plan no matter what is going on in the economy.
That said, they do seem to be executing on the quality of the Squiers and the recent American series. It will be interesting to see if they can move the MIMs up the food chain - that strikes me as the biggest challenge.
Here is a crash course from my U days, it's called " Profitability 101 for Dummies ".
Here is something to wrap your heads around folks.
It’s all about the bottom line ( and nothing but the bottom line ).
It’s a numbers game.
Lower the overhead by decreasing the work force ( Less USA jobs ).
Sell less MIA
But ! Increase the profit margins on what is sold ( see below, want to buy MIA, pay the premium ).
Bottom line,
More money for the company and share holders ( it’s called profitability ).
Everything Fender is scheduled to increase by 30% in the next few weeks.
Watch the US job cuts to follow.
I almost forgot.
Since it’s cheaper labor. MIM sales already bring home more revenues.
Want to buy MIA, pay the premium.
You don’t have the cash,
Buy more MIM’s and watch there profits rise.
If you think it ends here.
It doesn’t.
Soon to be seen will be MIC ( Made in China ).
Here is something to wrap your heads around folks.
It’s all about the bottom line ( and nothing but the bottom line ).
It’s a numbers game.
Lower the overhead by decreasing the work force ( Less USA jobs ).
Sell less MIA
But ! Increase the profit margins on what is sold ( see below, want to buy MIA, pay the premium ).
Bottom line,
More money for the company and share holders ( it’s called profitability ).
Everything Fender is scheduled to increase by 30% in the next few weeks.
Watch the US job cuts to follow.
I almost forgot.
Since it’s cheaper labor. MIM sales already bring home more revenues.
Want to buy MIA, pay the premium.
You don’t have the cash,
Buy more MIM’s and watch there profits rise.
If you think it ends here.
It doesn’t.
Soon to be seen will be MIC ( Made in China ).
