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Fender price increase
- Thread starter Bassic_desires
- Start date
I think you're right on all counts. So what about those "other guys"?....well, they get a pass. Not just the hi-dollar builders either, but also G&L, EBMM, etc., who are the direct competitors to Fender. G&L are riddled with QC issues and cockups. EBMM makes a solid product more consistently, but look at what their (now discontinued) Cutlass P bass-equivalent costs on the used market, compared to Fender's flagship P bass models. There's only so much "quality" that can be poured into a building simple P bass. Do EBMM devotees happily pay hundreds more for essentially the same bass as a Fender? I think so and that's fine, but isn't that the same "snobbery" as buying a Fender instead of a Squier?...or forking over needless extra dollars for a Squier rather than for a more 'sensibly' priced SX? It's all the same meme, yet Fender takes the most heat, while the others get a pass.
And where are all the Fender detractors to demonize the hi-end FSO builders (insert any name) whose prices are multiples of what Fender's prices are? How is a $6K NYC Sadowsky worth three times what a Fender costs? You have to suspect that the Fender haters are even more contemptuous (envious?) of owners of high dollar gear, than of the typical Fender owner. But their silence is deafening. Why?
True. In all my years playing bass (and I'm 67) I've probably owned maybe 25 total. Currently have 14 and in all those years the Player P I just bought is the SECOND one I've ever bought new. First was a 1974 Ric 4001 (as seen in my avatar) that I (foolishly) sold around 1983-ish for the $400 I paid for it new.
I like new. Or at least really nice near new condition. I'm also a cheap bastard. I like bang-for-the-buck so I mostly buy used. Pretty much every bass I've ever owned and sold I at least broke even on because I let someone else take the depreciation and could likely do the same with the ones I currently own should I ever part with any of them (unlikely). And no I don't buy them expecting to make money on them IF I sell them (which I very seldom do), generally I just want my investment back so I can reinvest. But someone else will finally get the benefit of depreciation on this new one (when my kids cash out my collection some day...).
They are slightly more money for the base model P, however good luck test driving one before buying. And down the road if you want to sell, you're gonna lose your ass.
Fair points, but Fender still is the workingman's guitar. "Workingman" defined as players getting paid for playing..."working" musicians. This is evidenced by observation. Fender is the "most recognizable" because they are predominant in the music world. They didn't get there by being overpriced.
"Paying for the name" is more like paying for the legacy. That legacy has value to many, and the same can be said for other iconic guitar brands. It used to be called "pride of ownership", and a goal to be attained with all consumer goods. People like having nice things and working hard to get them makes life more satisfying IMO. YMMV.
I don't think they get a pass. I don't really like stingrays so spending over $2k for one isn't it for me. Rics are so hit or miss that I don't know that I would buy one new, and especially one I couldn't play first. Sucks about G&L because I like the features and would like to have one.
Gibson is in it's own category. Their QC is so bad and the prices are SO HIGH that I wouldn't even consider it ever. I don't even know why they're bothering now. (info if you haven't seen: )
$2k is a lot of money to most people, but it still seems like quite a bit less than what EBMM charges for arguably the same thing - their tried and true "working-man's" Stingray bass. The difference in quality between an EBMM Stingray Special and a Fender American Professional II model isn't nearly what so many people have made it out to be. From all the examples I've pulled down off a rack at big box stores, they are on par with each other build-wise. If there's some sort of "superior" quality of an EBMM bass over a MIA Fender in recent years, I sure haven't seen it myself. And yet, nobody is complaining about the NEARLY $3k EBMM is charging. 
Truth$2k is a lot of money to most people, but it still seems like quite a bit less than what EBMM charges for arguably the same thing - their tried and true "working-man's" Stingray bass. The difference in quality between an EBMM Stingray Special and a Fender American Professional II model isn't nearly what so many people have made it out to be. From all the examples I've pulled down off a rack at big box stores, they are on par with each other build-wise. If there's some sort of "superior" quality of an EBMM bass over a MIA Fender in recent years, I sure haven't seen it myself. And yet, nobody is complaining about the NEARLY $3k EBMM is charging.
Yeah the last bass I looked at used had an incredible bow in the neck and the truss rod was stripped. The seller advertised it as perfect working condition. No thank you. Glad it was in person because I just lost 20 minutes of driving instead of having to fight them over a Reverb refund.
I love a deal but I also recognize that this is a luxury hobby. If I can afford $400 for used gear that I don't need, I can wait until I have $600 for new gear that I don't need. New gear usually lasts longer and hasn't been beaten up by anybody.
Some gear is great used. Cabinets for example. But instruments, nah, not unless I can put my hands all over it and make sure its truly in good shape.
I think the common knee-jerk reaction to anyone raising the price on anything is to complain and say it's ridiculous that they now wanna charge X for Y when X was only Z expensive earlier.
Fender makes up about half my collection and I still have two new models (a Meteora and dat new blue Aerodyne) on my short-term acquisition list if I close some good sales in the next month or two. All but one of my Fenders I purchased new, and I am happy with them all and I am happy with the value exchanged for them. I did buy and then later sell an MIM Jazz that I just never jived with. I think I lost about $120 on that one about a decade ago.
Though the price increase has not been confirmed from any reputable source that I can see, I will most likely still purchase these basses at the higher price if an increase has actually happened by the time I have the cash on hand to buy them. In the past I would have just bought anything I wanted on a Sweetwater or GC 24/36/48 months 0% promo and knock that out in the next few months, but I am less certain about future personal income and national economic security than I used to be. A few years ago me would have fallen for the "Price increase is comin'!" ad shared in the OP, but I'm just not that dude any more. I don't NEED any new basses. I WANT lots of new basses. I'm tryin' REAL HARD to remember that and make smarter choices. ....... I hate it. lol!
Fender makes up about half my collection and I still have two new models (a Meteora and dat new blue Aerodyne) on my short-term acquisition list if I close some good sales in the next month or two. All but one of my Fenders I purchased new, and I am happy with them all and I am happy with the value exchanged for them. I did buy and then later sell an MIM Jazz that I just never jived with. I think I lost about $120 on that one about a decade ago.
Though the price increase has not been confirmed from any reputable source that I can see, I will most likely still purchase these basses at the higher price if an increase has actually happened by the time I have the cash on hand to buy them. In the past I would have just bought anything I wanted on a Sweetwater or GC 24/36/48 months 0% promo and knock that out in the next few months, but I am less certain about future personal income and national economic security than I used to be. A few years ago me would have fallen for the "Price increase is comin'!" ad shared in the OP, but I'm just not that dude any more. I don't NEED any new basses. I WANT lots of new basses. I'm tryin' REAL HARD to remember that and make smarter choices. ....... I hate it. lol!
This is why I will never buy a new Fender bass. Do they really think they are selling boutique quality guitars/basses? There are much better choices out there at that price point and lower.
Great points! Also.. I just like nice new stuff. I don't want someone else's jams/dings/scratches/scuffs. I've bought three used basses in my life and have only kept one.
No, but Sadowsky does. His price is $6,000.00
No offense, which are the cheaper boutique American made basses available for purchase new? Just because Harley Benton's are so cheap, you think they should just price American Fenders at $499.99? When these never costed that low even back in the day?
American boutique basses will always be several thousand dollars, whether the models are "simple"
P basses or 3 pickup custom electronics versions.
Boutique quality instruments not made in the USA can be excellent, and one can prefer them to an American Fender-but it's not apples to oranges, which is what some popular YouTube reviewers fail to understand, or are being misleading about. No offense intended once again. I also seek "value"-not rich-but it is not a fair comparison when comparing Indonesia vs USA production costs. Much easier to produce fancy "super boutique" basses at a lower pricepoint when you do not have to pay as much to produce them.
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Not buying one of those either.
