Is Fender overpriced?

[Yahboy]

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.

There are still different , the roadworn has nice relic job (especially the earlier batch with relic hardware )and custom shop like crack/wear nitro paint, the wood has drying process. Those nice work only a bit price different than classic, but not that custom shop price high.
Even they made from mexico, they has great custom shop like job on it by Mexican .

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've owned my two primary basses for 15 and 35 years, I've owned my acoustic guitar for 44. I wouldn't buy cheap. It's a very fair price. If your bass is just a fashion accessory, buy something cheap.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Adjusted for inflation, Fender USA basses are the same price they have always been.

In 1952 they cost $200 ($1,979 in 2020 dollars)


So if anything, they are slightly less expensive today....

lol

And consist of probably a sixteenth the hours of labor...

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I consider Mexican Fenders to be pretty thoroughly overpriced. For what most of them cost, you can get a LOT of better instruments or a perfect-shape used US Fender, and that (to me) is unacceptable. I think US Fenders are prices roughly where they should be. Most US Fenders I've played or worked on have been of excellent quality and do exactly what they're supposed to do pretty well. There's the occasional dud, and that's a bummer at their price, but by and large they're just as nice as anything else at their price point.

I hear there are now Chinese Fenders, but have never been near one that I can recall, but I don't think I've ever played a far-east Squier that was worth what they cost, so I doubt seriously that a Fender would be any different. The old Japanese Fenders and Squiers, however, were as well-made as all but standout American ones, and can be had for ridiculously good prices more often than not. The electronics can be kinda so-so, but that's easily and affordably rectified and not always the case, so it's a non-issue to me.

 

[bmusic]

Everybody needs to decide that for themselves. I’ve never bought any instrument that was over-priced.

(I should note that I’ve bought around 20 Fenders over the years, at least one of which most would agree was over-priced. But to me, it was worth it.)

 

[pcake]

i don't find fender basses to be overpriced.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Hey guys, just wanted to hear your opinion, is Fender overpriced when it comes to basses? With overpriced is, can you get the same specs and playability or whatever you may call it for less money from a different brand?
...

Is Fender overpriced? I can't afford a new one, just like any other "high end professional" bass. Fender is no more overpriced than Ricks, Gibsons, Ibanez, G&L, Musicman, etc. But it's still more than I can pay at this point of my life.

Can I get more bang for my buck elsewhere? Obviously. Which is what I do.

Also, if the sky fell, we'd all be wearing blue hats.

 

[Garret Wheeler]

Hey guys, just wanted to hear your opinion, is Fender overpriced when it comes to basses? With overpriced is, can you get the same specs and playability or whatever you may call it for less money from a different brand?

Most if my life I've been a guitar player, and I stopped buying fender after I owned a MIM strat. Years after I tried some Fender guitars, they have decent and really good instruments, but the price always seemed way off. How is it for basses?

Cheers

Fender basses are really solid for the price. They're the industry standard for a reason. I guess I'd say they're a little bit overpriced right now since they just bumped up the prices on the American and Mexican lines. The MIM basses are probably a better deal dollar for dollar, but the American instruments are usually better. Whether or not they're worth the price difference is debatable. You can find comparable import basses for a fraction of that price but often times their quality control isn't as consistent.

 

[SgtHulka]

Hey guys, just wanted to hear your opinion, is Fender overpriced when it comes to basses? With overpriced is, can you get the same specs and playability or whatever you may call it for less money from a different brand?

Most if my life I've been a guitar player, and I stopped buying fender after I owned a MIM strat. Years after I tried some Fender guitars, they have decent and really good instruments, but the price always seemed way off. How is it for basses?

Cheers

Thomas and anyone here. Fender has become way overpriced while at the same time their quality has dropped tremendously. Last bass I would buy right now is a Fender.

 

[nilorius]

I think if Fender will overpice, it will stay bought as always.

 

[Hardbassjunkie]

My suggestion would be to buy used. But in general you are going to get more value from brands like Yamaha and Ibanez. But with Fender you get the interchangeable parts because they are so popular they have an endless selection of after market parts you can choose from. They hold their value much better. I never have a problem selling a fender for true street value and they leave the shelf very quickly.

 

[Andy Daventry]

I've always found Fenders worth the money, so I guess they aren't. I do think there are some instruments out there which are underpriced, which means I think someone somewhere is not getting paid the value of their work.

 

[minimalist freedom]

I've always found Fenders worth the money, so I guess they aren't. I do think there are some instruments out there which are underpriced, which means I think someone somewhere is not getting paid the value of their work.

For me personally YES, in the market what I see YES, if I could afford I would maybe, maybe buy. I have found some good instruments used and new that look good sound good and are not expensive. When I pick up a fender P and play it , it feels good in my hands and It makes me want to lay a deep groove. It fits ME. I think the name carries a lot of extra baggage that transfer to the price. They’ve probably always been overpriced. Haven’t found a J Bass I’ve like.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

For a yes or no question, some of these philosophical responses are amazing. LOL

 

[brianrost]

Simple answer:

1. If you can afford it: NO

2. If you can't afford it: YES

 

[InternetAlias]

If you are not from USA, it will sound insane to pay USA labor prices. You know, California is one of the most most expensive places to live on earth, so the prices can be justified that way (salaries have to be high so that people who work on instruments can afford to live).

But that's California.

Where I live, an average salary is about 300-400 Euros. It would be an insane idea to purchase a $2000 instrument just because it was assembled in USA.

The reality is, for any $1500 Fender you name, there will be a plethora of Korean, Indonesian and Japanese instruments that beat it for $1000 or less. Just because of the labor costs. Or because those companies will pay less for advertising than the likes of Fender, Gibson, etc.

In Serbia, $1500 can buy you a top notch handmade instrument that will compete with boutique brands, not those $1500 Fenders. Just due to labor costs.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Hey guys, just wanted to hear your opinion, is Fender overpriced when it comes to basses? With overpriced is, can you get the same specs and playability or whatever you may call it for less money from a different brand?

Most if my life I've been a guitar player, and I stopped buying fender after I owned a MIM strat. Years after I tried some Fender guitars, they have decent and really good instruments, but the price always seemed way off. How is it for basses?

Cheers

Homey don't play this.

 

[Plectrum72]

For some, yes. For others, no.

 

[RickyRocknRoll]

Buy used. The entire world is flooded with Fender instruments.

Is it overpriced? For some yes, for some no.

 

[sxaxsx]

It's kind or like asking: Do Fender factory workers deserve to eat?
Because that is what you are paying for, wood and glue isn't that expensive. Wages and environmental restrictions are the main reason for the Squire/MIM/MIJ/MIA hierarchy that Fender has.
But paying factory wages aren't the main reason that guitarists and bassists lose so much of their own hard earned cash and fret about the cost of Fenders. The real culprit is the constantly selling, trading, chasing the next big thing. If you want a Fender bass, buy one hold on to it and you'll never have to pay for another. I have a friend who bought four Playstation 4 video game consoles. Because every time he needed some quick cash he would sell it but then as soon as he had some extra money in his pocket he went out and bought another. A lot of us do that with basses, and then there are members who own more basses than James Jamerson, Joe Osborn, and Paul McCartney ever did combined. Like I said, if you want a bass buy it, but hold on to it, it's only when you sell it that you start to feel like you got ripped off.