Suprisingly? Not to me. Talkbass has become the chief anti-fender and anti-american made and anti-expensive bass forum around!
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Is Fender a scam?
- Thread starter widdelywaahhkid
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Suprisingly? Not to me. Talkbass has become the chief anti-fender and anti-american made and anti-expensive bass forum around!
My friend, the talkbassers will NEVER be tired of celebrating mediocrity! SX is sooooooo last year! Now it is all about Squire and the millions of pro musicians who allegedly and mysteriously use them...despite the fact that there is scant evidence that they really do...talkbass says it, that means it is a fact!
It's all the same woods, same hardware, different electronics and slightly better pickups. Basicly you are paying for the fender name and the made in USA. Totalled up, those basses shouldn't cost more than 500-600 bucks. But because it's made in America, cost of labor is higher, hence the higher price. Your paying for the labor costs when u buy USA made anything.
I think I've seen those threads, or something to that same effect.
Anyway, good answer, and very much to the point. I can't really dispute it, since I don't know enough about USA wages relative to prices. In DK, minimum wages are a good deal higher than in the USA, while prices on musical instruments are much higher, so any comparison might be flawed.
It is interesting that you compare the three Leo Fender brands, since one might theorize that these companies can't very well set their price point very much lower than the others without losing some of their status. If I know TB, someone might very well chime in with a Peavey comparison soon. I still think that Fender - along with G&L and EBMM for that matter - have the reputation and history to slightly up their prices at little risk of losing customers, but again, I have nothing to back that up except my personal version of common sense.
Cheers, Martin
Faderoktopus said:
Well... cost of labor is more than enough to justfy the differences. I have lived in the UK, Mexico and now on the Philippines, and yes, the differences in wages are that big, if not more... I would not be surprised if Fender actually made more money out of a $200 Squier than from a $1,000 MIA.
Also, A good chunk of the money does go towards the brand name... Branding, Marketing and upkeep cost of such a well know brand with such a "mistique" as Fender does cost quite a bit of money and one pays for it when we buy the instruments.
Wow. This is no way of talking to anyone in any situation. If you can't express yourself in a reasonable manner you will pull this thread down the drain in a matter of minutes.
Martin
Fender (Squier) makes a great low price point bass.
They make a great high end bass.
If you prefer the low price point offerings, go for it.
Terms like "good" "better" and "best" are completely subjective. Play what you like and maybe try not to stomp on other people's tastes and preferences in the process.
They make a great high end bass.
If you prefer the low price point offerings, go for it.
Terms like "good" "better" and "best" are completely subjective. Play what you like and maybe try not to stomp on other people's tastes and preferences in the process.
* It's the law of diminishing returns at its' finest.
I doubt that many would feel that an AC bass is 20 times better than a Squire
* As previously stated they are all made from trees by humans, there will always be subtle differences between exact models.
* I have a number of 70's Fenders; the new American Fenders are better players than all but 1 and that would be a tie
* IMO, the American basses are more consistent and I predict will wear better over time especially with the graphite rods and my theory that the fret alloy is better (just an opinion; have no tech data to back this up)
* You can cut a top 10 hit record on any of them
I doubt that many would feel that an AC bass is 20 times better than a Squire
* As previously stated they are all made from trees by humans, there will always be subtle differences between exact models.
* I have a number of 70's Fenders; the new American Fenders are better players than all but 1 and that would be a tie
* IMO, the American basses are more consistent and I predict will wear better over time especially with the graphite rods and my theory that the fret alloy is better (just an opinion; have no tech data to back this up)
* You can cut a top 10 hit record on any of them
Wow. This is no way of talking to anyone in any situation. If you can't express yourself in a reasonable manner you will pull this thread down the drain in a matter of minutes.
Martin
Now now, don't you mean that unless I agree with everyone that Squire rocks and that Fender sux, this thread will go down the drain?
I know. We cannot allow any opinions that go against the established flow here.
lucas vigor said:
ALL fender jazzes and Ps that I've seen have the exact same bridge, folded steel plate with saddles. Reguardless of squier or not. Every fender I've seen has the exact same tuners except for a stamp of the name on the plate. Every fender has the same neck plate, flat alloy with a fender F. Every fender has the pop on knobs (that I've seen). They all use the same woods for their necks and fretboards. Hard rock maple and Indian rosewood. The bodies, they have different types of wood for each bass but they have the same ash for squier and fender. Same basswood. Etc. the only real differences are. A. Graphite rods in full on fenders (still not expensive enough to jack the price up too 1500) B. nicer finish (usually more glassy on fenders than on squiers) C. The electronics are slightly upgraded but once again, not enough to make a 300 dollar bass 1500 bucks.
I must add, the woods used are the exact same and I can't imagine a company ordering the same wood from two different suppliers. While yes the woods vary in densities, it is most likely from the same location.
So, Fender expert: Where does the wood come from? What country? Is it shipped from where to where?
One Drop said:
Bingo! Further...
I can't help but wonder how many of those custom basses are genuinely original and how many the average onlooker would have to walk 6 steps closer to so as to be able to tell that they aren't Fenders. I tried to search for a "Lower Groove" bass but couldn't find a reference.
One of my pet peeves about "custom" guitar builders who hang a shingle as such is that what they offer and build as their original work so often are nothing more than fake Fenders. This is particularly so when they advertise their work with pictures of their Fender copies. In light of that comment I would find it particularly galling if those Lower Groove basses referenced in his signature were Fender look-alikes.
In fairness of my criticism I will say I'm building a romance parts project that is a Jazz copy, but I'm not holding myself forth, and never will, as a guitar builder. Other than the final setup the work I need done by someone else is good cabinetry and not much more. My guitar will generally not be original, but simply unique to my personal taste.
As to the Rick hating, well, why would someone want to own something that looks like that? In order to appreciate any good aural qualities or characteristics of great feel I'd have to hold it in my hands and based on their looks I simply can't bring myself to do that. I get the shivers just thinking about it.
iJazz - Me? Strongly opinionated?
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