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How much are bass guitars truly worth?

#143
Robroy said:
I strongly disagree. It was true before Ford, but the whole industry learned that "craftsmanship" (Quality, really) can be built right into the design, allowing you to use such relatively low skilled "one task" workers that the workers are robots. This can be (and is being) done in all manufactured goods, including musical instruments.

There are many aspects of modern cars that are designed the way they are to serve one purpose: Enable a machine to put it together.
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The design of an entry level Precision Bass and a Custom Shop Precision Bass is 98% the same. The difference is the craftsmanship especially with regard to the finishing. For example, in the Custom Shop you might have extensive time and attention dedicated to fret leveling. At the entry level the guy smacks the frets in place with a hammer and that's it.

Cars are complex machines primarily made of metal and other materials that have much tighter tolerences and far less variation than basses. Yet still you have wide variance from one manufacturer to another in terms of car quality. The quality of the car assembly line is a function of the engineers who establish it and the training of the workers on procedures. Still, finer cars are finished by highly skilled craftspeople who focus on details.

If you have 10 guys build 100 basses in the same amount of time that a different group of 10 guys build 20 basses, which basses received the most attention during the build? Mass produced basses make a more significant tradeoff between craftsmanship and efficiency than cars.
 
#144
I believe there are a few manufacturing / assembly plants in Indonesia or China that make the majority of guitars. We would be surprised to see the brands and models being made side by side. Some people would really have their feelings hurt. I once serviced some equipment at a mattress manufacturing plant. I watched as they made mattresses, they had a large box with all different mattress manufacturers patches. Same guys made the expensive mattresses next to the cheap ones. Well known ones to off-brand. Same tools, same effort, some of the same contents, just a different mattress and a different patch,,,
 
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#145
pappabass said:
I believe there are a few manufacturing / assembly plants in Indonesia or China that make the majority of guitars. We would be surprised to see the brands and models being made side by side. Some people would really have their feelings hurt. I once serviced some equipment at a mattress manufacturing plant. I watched as they made mattresses, they had a large box with all different mattress manufacturers patches. Same guys made the expensive mattresses next to the cheap ones. Well known ones to off-brand. Same tools, same effort, some of the same contents, just a different mattress and a different patch,,,
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Where each of the various models of most popular basses is fairly well known. There are extensive threads about this very subject already. Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia all participate, and contract manufacturing is understood to be the norm.
 
#147
A few notable examples of the challenges of the business model...

LAKLAND. Their business plan had something like a 14 year profitability plan, according to the Forbes or Fortune article that came out awhile back. And that was working out of Dan Lakland's father's tire recycling plant. What gave them momentum was the creation of the Asian-made Skylines, and I think the ratio of offshore to US-made instruments is something like 10:1.

PEDULLA. Higher volumes a few years ago, a few employees, lots of instruments built for Guitar Center orders. Lots of headaches associated with instruments being beaten up on the Guitar Center wall, and then the Pedulla shop having to deal with associated QC issues, to the point where they had to put up a disclaimer on the Website. Now it's just Mike building at a much smaller volume (I think it's like one a week) but he doesn't have to deal with HR issues, training, etc.

DINGWALL. The entire shop burned to the ground a few years back. Cannot even imagine.
 
#151
A smart shopper can always get what they want for significantly less by looking for a quality instrument on the used market. You just need to know what you want and have some patience and negotiating skills. I would never buy a new bass for what they're getting for them these days. I understand the economics of it, but there are some instruments that I feel are absolutely over-priced. Rickenbackers come to mind. Still, you can probably find a used Rick in good shape for just over a grand if you scour the internet and aren't in a rush. Personally, I am too paranoid to own a boutique bass costing several thousand dollars. I'd be afraid to take it out of the case and would never play it live...which I think defeats the purpose of owning it in the first place. It's like buying a Ferrari and keeping it in the garage for fear that someone is going to ram you at a stop sign.
 
#154
Mike Sorr said:
Personally, I am too paranoid to own a boutique bass costing several thousand dollars. I'd be afraid to take it out of the case and would never play it live...which I think defeats the purpose of owning it in the first place. It's like buying a Ferrari and keeping it in the garage for fear that someone is going to ram you at a stop sign.
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I feel the same ! My luck, we would have a break & some weirdo would act like its open mic & start trying to play it & dace around with it & ding it on a cymbal
 
#155
I've seen really cheap basses that I wouldn't accept, even as a gift. The workmanship, but even more, the play-ability are horrible. Having said that, you can take a cheaper bass and customize it with better components and make it sounds better and play better. But usually the great sound comes from the wood itself. The cheaper basses usually use cheaper wood. If you want to upgrade the body or the neck, you might as well get a more expensive bass to start with.
 
#156
el_Bajo_Verde said:
I'm not talking about how much people believe they're worth, I mean if you take into account the wood, cutting the wood, the routing, paint job, electronics, and everything else that goes into making the bass, how much is it truly worth?

I just don't understand why some basses are listed as $1000 more than other basses that seem very similar
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You left out the two most important factors in determining the price of a bass (or any other item) - supply and demand. Those are the factors which dictate why similar instruments can be priced quite differently.
 
#157
Supply and demand. If you want to sell a bass these days..take note that it's a buyers market from now on out. So recovering anything near the price you paid when it comes time to sell..well you will most likely lose. Feel lucky to sell for half, and cut losses as movement towards purchasing something you'll never want to part with. :-) I'm actaully pleased that prices are falling on upright basses, because for awhile the prices were being pushed up for medium grade vintage instruments, due to scarcity. The market flooded with people dumping their beaters...same with vintage electric basses.
 
#158
I was in a wedding Band. It was an OK enough band, lots of fun and good money. We kept raising our price, and people kept on liking us.
Would I have paid that much for a band of that caliber? NO, but then I am not the parents of a bride going for the wedding of the century either.
Supply, demand and the market.
 

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