Gary Grainger PRS Sig?

[Brad Johnson]

Thank you.

Yep. I was asking that to see if other people actually understand the situation. When this model came out, if I paid the going price it would've been less than 1/3 of what PRS later changed the price to. The people who are having a fit over the Fodera Essence will likely have a coronary over this.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Yep. I was asking that to see if other people actually understand the situation. When this model came out, if I paid the going price it would've been less than 1/3 of what PRS later changed the price to. The people who are having a fit over the Fodera Essence will likely have a coronary over this.

 

[prsbass]

When did the Grainger model become a Private Stock item? It wasn't originally.

I think since they stopped making basses a few years back. Now the only bass they offer is the Grainger and it's on "custom order" only so I'm sure part of the cost is just the waisted set up time to stop making the same guitar components over'n'over and switch over for one bass.
All shops charge a lot for that, even a custom ordered custom shop Fender is going to cost a lot more than their custom shop production models.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The auction on the 'Bay finished at $5223. That's $1200 more than I thought. The buyer is an eBay addict from the looks of his/her previous buying habits.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think since they stopped making basses a few years back. Now the only bass they offer is the Grainger and it's on "custom order" only so I'm sure part of the cost is just the waisted set up time to stop making the same guitar components over'n'over and switch over for one bass.
All shops charge a lot for that, even a custom ordered custom shop Fender is going to cost a lot more than their custom shop production models.

Not really following your logic. They made and sold the same bass for $3500. So when they stop making all of the other basses, the price of the one they kept making tripled?

 

[Brad Johnson]

The auction on the 'Bay finished at $5223. That's $1200 more than I thought. The buyer is an eBay addict from the looks of his/her previous buying habits.

That didn't surprise me.

 

[prsbass]

Not really following your logic. They made and sold the same bass for $3500. So when they stop making all of the other basses, the price of the one they kept making tripled?

Ah, Yeah, it's not my logic it's PRS's so if you'd like to know for sure maybe contact them. I thought it was evident that it was my theory and I gave reasons to support it that you didn't bother to read or acknowledge. I will assume you don't understand the extra costs that a company encounters when they change all their production procedures around for one instrument.
No worries, I had no idea either until I started my own business.
Oh, PRS might not have a "name" in the bass world but they certainly do in the guitar world so I kind of figure that they charge a lot for several reasons, some would be:
Quality and rarity of woods
Craftsmanship
Because they can

It's the same reason Nike sells shoes that cost them $10 to make for $150.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Ah, Yeah, it's not my logic it's PRS's so if you'd like to know for sure maybe contact them.

Unless you have some proof behind your hypothesis sorry, it is your logic. Also known as a guess.

I thought it was evident that it was my theory and I gave reasons to support it that you didn't bother to read or acknowledge.

So it's PRS' logic but your theory? Okay.


I did read it... it made no sense. Unless you actually think PRS' total bass production process switched over to making Graingers.


I did acknowledge it... I told you I didn't follow your logic. What more acknowledgement did you want?

I will assume you don't understand the extra costs that a company encounters when they change all their production procedures around for one instrument.
No worries, I had no idea either until I started my own business.

Maybe this stuff is complicated to you and maybe you like to make assumptions about my business acumen. You're wrong but why let that get in the way of this silliness.


You can continue to assume anything you want. In the meantime the fact is that they priced this bass at more than triple what it used to retail for recently, merely by doing a name change. If a name change alone triples the value of something in your world, cool. I'd question your business experience at that point.

Oh, PRS might not have a "name" in the bass world but they certainly do in the guitar world so I kind of figure that they charge a lot for several reasons, some would be:
Quality and rarity of woods
Craftsmanship
Because they can

And what exactly does having a name in the guitar world have to do with building basses? So far, nothing. PRS' bass building history is no secret.

OTOH they are very successful at marketing which no doubt helps explain why some people don't see this price hike as being the oddity that it is. You can't point to any rare or absurdly expensive woods on the Grainger, the craftsmanship did not change and the third reason is most likely the only one with merit.

Maybe they should've called some of their other basses Private Stock.

It's the same reason Nike sells shoes that cost them $10 to make for $150.

Agreed... so why the talk about absorbing expenses into this bass due to "waisted set up time to stop making the same guitar components over'n'over and switch over for one bass"?


And lest anyone thinks the opinions I'm expressing are anyone's other than my own, as a bassist and consumer, you're wrong.

 

[spade2you]

Oh, PRS might not have a "name" in the bass world but they certainly do in the guitar world so I kind of figure that they charge a lot for several reasons, some would be:
Quality and rarity of woods
Craftsmanship
Because they can

I don't buy it. Sounds to me like a majority of the cost is to join their very exclusive club. It might be nice, but there are plenty of luthiers out there with a very established reputation and basses aren't just a side project for them. Most of the guys posting here are no strangers to custom basses, but we pay for performance, not some elite club. Besides, when something is beyond Conklin and Fodera pricing, I'll just stick with Conklin or Fodera.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I don't buy it. Sounds to me like a majority of the cost is to join their very exclusive club. It might be nice, but there are plenty of luthiers out there with a very established reputation and basses aren't just a side project for them. Most of the guys posting here are no strangers to custom basses, but we pay for performance, not some elite club. Besides, when something is beyond Conklin and Fodera pricing, I'll just stick with Conklin or Fodera.

You've hit the nail on the head.

 

[prsbass]

Unless you have some proof behind your hypothesis sorry, it is your logic. Also known as a guess.



So it's PRS' logic but your theory? Okay.


I did read it... it made no sense. Unless you actually think PRS' total bass production process switched over to making Graingers.


I did acknowledge it... I told you I didn't follow your logic. What more acknowledgement did you want?






Maybe this stuff is complicated to you and maybe you like to make assumptions about my business acumen. You're wrong but why let that get in the way of this silliness.


You can continue to assume anything you want. In the meantime the fact is that they priced this bass at more than triple what it used to retail for recently, merely by doing a name change. If a name change alone triples the value of something in your world, cool. I'd question your business experience at that point.



And what exactly does having a name in the guitar world have to do with building basses? So far, nothing. PRS' bass building history is no secret.

OTOH they are very successful at marketing which no doubt helps explain why some people don't see this price hike as being the oddity that it is. You can't point to any rare or absurdly expensive woods on the Grainger, the craftsmanship did not change and the third reason is most likely the only one with merit.

Maybe they should've called some of their other basses Private Stock.




Agreed... so why the talk about absorbing expenses into this bass due to "waisted set up time to stop making the same guitar components over'n'over and switch over for one bass"?


And lest anyone thinks the opinions I'm expressing are anyone's other than my own, as a bassist and consumer, you're wrong.

Way to continue to miss my entire point and misunderstand what I've written just to come up with some way of making you seem like you know what you're talking about.


I agree that they charge more because of who they are. Look at my post it says it right in there.
I just don't believe it's the only reason.
The proof behind my logic is that their Private Stock stuff is always double-triple their production instruments.
My theory is that the bass changed to Private Stock and increased in price when they stopped making production basses.
I'm also curious why you continue to post in a thread about a bass that you will never buy, have no interest in and just spend time disagreeing with people who feel the opposite.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Way to continue to miss my entire point and misunderstand what I've written just to come up with some way of making you seem like you know what you're talking about.

I didn't miss your point, it lacks merit. You still seem to be missing that. I am enjoying your little internal semantics battle over your logic vs. your theory

I agree that they charge more because of who they are. Look at my post it says it right in there.
I just don't believe it's the only reason.

You can choose to believe whatever you want. In the meantime, based on the facts, that is why they're doing it. Your logic is like GM discontinuing the Impala and as a result of that, raising the price of the Corvette. Do you seriously think the same people who were responsible for the production line basses were working on the Grainger?

The proof behind my logic is that their Private Stock stuff is always double-triple their production instruments.
My theory is that the bass changed to Private Stock and increased in price when they stopped making production basses.

That still makes no sense. It was their top of the line bass at $3500. Maybe you just can't grasp that.

I'm also curious why you continue to post in a thread about a bass that you will never buy, have no interest in and just spend time disagreeing with people who feel the opposite.

You obviously don't know me or what I'll buy. That much is abundantly clear. You assumed poorly.


If the price had stayed low enough, I would've bought this one (in spite of the owner) and done what I recommended... aim my sale at a PRS Private Stock owner. So they could add to their collection. Because nobody would need to convince them the price increase made a bit of sense. That's half the battle for people who know the history of these basses.

 

[prsbass]

I didn't miss your point, it lacks merit. You still seem to be missing that. I am enjoying your little internal semantics battle over your logic vs. your theory



You can choose to believe whatever you want. In the meantime, based on the facts, that is why they're doing it. Your logic is like GM discontinuing the Impala and as a result of that, raising the price of the Corvette. Do you seriously think the same people who were responsible for the production line basses were working on the Grainger?







That still makes no sense. It was their top of the line bass at $3500. Maybe you just can't grasp that.



You obviously don't know me or what I'll buy. That much is abundantly clear. You assumed poorly.


If the price had stayed low enough, I would've bought this one (in spite of the owner) and done what I recommended... aim my sale at a PRS Private Stock owner. So they could add to their collection. Because nobody would need to convince them the price increase made a bit of sense. That's half the battle for people who know the history of these basses.

I just happened to notice that almost all your posts are arguing some trivial point with other members so I think I'll go ahead stop try to reason with the unreasonable.
I think the "contributing member" statement under your user name could be up for debate.
People who spend all their time on here looking for arguments don't really seem to be contributing members to me.

 

[Rickett Customs]

 

[Brad Johnson]

I just happened to notice that almost all your posts are arguing some trivial point with other members so I think I'll go ahead stop try to reason with the unreasonable.

A price jump from $3500 to $11,700 based on nothing but a name change may be trivial to you...


Yes, it's funny how I seem to end up in discussion with people who have unsubstantiated points they fail to end up making. It is truly curious, isn't it.

I think the "contributing member" statement under your user name could be up for debate.
People who spend all their time on here looking for arguments don't really seem to be contributing members to me.

OTOH someone who theorizes as wildly as you do on something as simple as this is most definitely of value. Wouldn't want people to be aware of the actual facts now, would we?

And my experience in this market, while obviously of no use to you, actaully has been useful for many here. It beats shopping in this arena (high end bass gear) in ignorance by a country mile. YMMV

You're doing a great job.

 

[Darkstrike]

Indeed.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Nah, I think this one's done.


As per usual, I will be keeping my eyes out for a deal on one of these... if I can get one for even what it originally sold for, I have no doubt that I could multiply my money by being patient. That's how these buyers are.