• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Price Increase?

#41
BFunk said:
I hope they start using more pau ferro. It's still one of my favorite fingerboard woods.
Click to expand...
You just might get your wish. I read somewhere that they want to put ALL rosewoods on the CITES list, which would be an absolute nightmare. Hopefully the government of India has something to say about that as I'm sure the instrument industry puts a lot of money in their hands. I'm kinda resigned that it will happen eventually though. We'll all have to move on to alternatives, some of which might even sound better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gregmon79
#43
SanDiegoHarry said:
NO - that's the free market. Tim sounds like a saint. Good on him.
Click to expand...
Tim Horton died in a car crash in 1974.

As for prices going up, how come people are always shocked when prices go up? I think most of you have been around long enough to have seen prices go up before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MobileHolmes, SanDiegoHarry, two fingers and 1 other person
#48
JimmyM said:
Tim Horton died in a car crash in 1974.

As for prices going up, how come people are always shocked when prices go up? I think most of you have been around long enough to have seen prices go up before.
Click to expand...

Bingo.

Average price of a home in 1970 - $23,450
2013 - $289,500

Average price per pound of beef 1970 - $.70
2013 - $4.68

Average price of a new car 1970 - $3,450
2013 - $31,352

Fender retail price for a sunburst right handed Precision bass in 1970 - $293.50
American Pro Series right handed sunburst Precision retail today - $1449.99

Honestly, with the prices of pretty much everything else increasing ten fold give or take in the last 45+ years Fender basses haven't increased nearly as much.

And corporate greed is a worn out meme. Sure, there are instances of such. But most corporations bottom lines don't go through the roof when prices increase. They, like everyone else, mostly keep up with increasing expenses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM, gregmon79 and gfen
#50
The American dollar looses about 2% to 3% value every year. The only way for manufactures to compensate for inflation is to increase productivity some how........................or raise prices.

If our jobs give us a 2% to 3% COL (cost of living) increase every year for our paychecks, then it all balances out. Most of us don't get COL increases.

It's a classic dog chasing it's tail scenario.

original.jpg
 
#51
The only Bass I'd ever buy used would be a Boutique. This is where you get Bang for your buck. I always buy cheap and mid priced basses new. Do you have any idea how much foreign bacteria, DNA and whatever is on a used instrument LOL!!!! I've seen Dudes walk right out of the stall and right out of the Men's room. That's why Peeps always get sick at NAMM. My guess was CITES as well. Thing is, if you tour Internationally I'd think twice about taking my prized possession bass, especially if the board is rosewood or some other wood on the list. Almost certain to be subject to some corrupt Customs Official :-)
 
#57
JimmyM said:
Tim Horton died in a car crash in 1974.

As for prices going up, how come people are always shocked when prices go up? I think most of you have been around long enough to have seen prices go up before.
Click to expand...

And if Fender raised the prices too high, sales would go down and they would suffer. This is how it works, but some folks (let's admit it - very young folks, usually) think that everything should be as cheap as possible. What's insane is that the complaint is NOT about MIA Fenders - it's about the cheapest fenders on the market. Just how cheap do folks think stuff should be? Free? Should Fender be paying kids to play their basses?
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM
#58
phillybass101 said:
The only Bass I'd ever buy used would be a Boutique. This is where you get Bang for your buck. I always buy cheap and mid priced basses new. Do you have any idea how much foreign bacteria, DNA and whatever is on a used instrument LOL!!!! I've seen Dudes walk right out of the stall and right out of the Men's room. That's why Peeps always get sick at NAMM. My guess was CITES as well. Thing is, if you tour Internationally I'd think twice about taking my prized possession bass, especially if the board is rosewood or some other wood on the list. Almost certain to be subject to some corrupt Customs Official :)
Click to expand...
I can see this going down the same road as ivory. As far as I know you can buy and sell ivory as long as it was made before a certain date. Someone going across borders might have to come up with a bill of sale or some other proof that their bass is pre 2017, or that what looks like rosewood is in fact a different species. This is a potential nightmare if someone gets their prized bass seized.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back