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Is Fender overpriced?
- Thread starter Malva kid
- Start date
Depends. I feel prices go up and down when where the overall market is at - both new and used in their own respects. To me I could say Gibson's or even Rickenbacker's are overpriced, but some of it is opinion and subjective. All comes down to what you want and how much you want to/will pay. My answer regarding Fender overall is no.
It depends on what you want out of a bass, and how you set it up after purchase. In my book a bass isn't finshed until it's set up to one's standards. My 2009 MIM tele with noiseless and 4 way switch upgrades and a fret level, is the best electric I've owned. I like it better than the PRS standard 24 I used to have.
They cost what they always cost.
I'd take ibanez heels, necks, weights, woods, designs and price over fender, any day.
I'd take ibanez heels, necks, weights, woods, designs and price over fender, any day.
And again.. many thanks for not saying "price point." Sincerely, thank you.
Price is set by demand. So as long as people buy Fenders and more Fenders they are priced at market value.
BUT
If you ask is Fender always the best value that is subjective. I love Fenders. But I also know going in that I’ll upgrade the bridge before I play it. So I’d prefer they be reduced by the cost of a proper bridge. But that is subjective.
Does a Ray do everything that a P bass does? Depends. For some it does and for others it does not. I think used Fenders can be overpriced but that is also subjective because they are selling.
BUT
If you ask is Fender always the best value that is subjective. I love Fenders. But I also know going in that I’ll upgrade the bridge before I play it. So I’d prefer they be reduced by the cost of a proper bridge. But that is subjective.
Does a Ray do everything that a P bass does? Depends. For some it does and for others it does not. I think used Fenders can be overpriced but that is also subjective because they are selling.
As far as I can remember, my '78 jazz bass was about $750 brand new back in '78. here it is:
I often drool over sweet vintage fenders, but with my P, and my Tele, I'm set. They make some beautiful bases, but if/when I buy another it will be a Mike Lull M4V. 3 bases is enough for me currently!
I bought my first brand new Precision bass in 1970 for 250.00 with case, that equates to $1,651.99 today, so they're actually a little cheaper now. There was only one Fender Precision made in 1970, made in America. Rickenbackers are actually a little cheaper now than in 1977 too. Bought my first one in 1977 for $429.00 and that equates to $1815.00
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No way Fender are great value almost entirely across the board
Some models are a bit overpriced. I solve that by buying used. I have been fortunate to get some very nice deals that way.
A lot of people give Fender a hard time here at TB, complaining of sharp frets, wonky necks, and slipshod paint jobs but Fender started it all and some of the designs are simply too classic not to carry a certain appeal.
A lot of people give Fender a hard time here at TB, complaining of sharp frets, wonky necks, and slipshod paint jobs but Fender started it all and some of the designs are simply too classic not to carry a certain appeal.
Are you sure? I bought a new Ric in 1977 for 429.00 and they were more expensive than Fenders back then. Also bought a new P bass in 1970 for 250.00.
The best value of money fender bass goes to Roadworn series (exclude flea SIG jazz).
There are Classic Series models that are identical to the Roadworn minus the relic effect that would have to also be considered to be of similar value for the money.
Yup, just as free as I am to point that this horse has been beaten so many times that there is no longer a horse to beat.
Is a Fodera over priced? Is Rickenbacker over priced? Is a Sadowsky over priced? Is a Warwick over priced? Is a...
If you're talking the list price perhaps they are a little on the highs side but the street price can be radically different. Here in Australia I picked up a new MIA Jazz V brand new for about 2/3 of the list price.
FMIC is a large company, large companies have higher expenses and more invested in tooling, staff, real estate, marketing etc. and these need to be covered by selling instruments. People often complain about the price but in all honesty if I compare it relative to my income it's about the same as it was 40 years ago.
What I do like about Fender is that the entry level Squier models are actually very good value, then MIM and MIA instruments go up the price scale according to where they are made and features they have and this is true of lots of the major companies. It's the same as buying a car; the base model is plain vanilla but as you go up the range features are added and the price also goes north.
Now there are some people that can't live without leather seats, they go for the more premium model that includes these but don't complain about the extra cost, with a bass it's not so evident where the extra money goes but having compared each end of the Fender range I can attest to the difference, does it matter to you? only you can answer that question.
FMIC is a large company, large companies have higher expenses and more invested in tooling, staff, real estate, marketing etc. and these need to be covered by selling instruments. People often complain about the price but in all honesty if I compare it relative to my income it's about the same as it was 40 years ago.
What I do like about Fender is that the entry level Squier models are actually very good value, then MIM and MIA instruments go up the price scale according to where they are made and features they have and this is true of lots of the major companies. It's the same as buying a car; the base model is plain vanilla but as you go up the range features are added and the price also goes north.
Now there are some people that can't live without leather seats, they go for the more premium model that includes these but don't complain about the extra cost, with a bass it's not so evident where the extra money goes but having compared each end of the Fender range I can attest to the difference, does it matter to you? only you can answer that question.
