Not allowed to discuss it, buddy.
It's obvious anyway, geez.....figure it out, others here have.
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Is Fender serious?
- Thread starter thorstiborsti
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It's obvious anyway, geez.....figure it out, others here have.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,644
- 2
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- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I'm just curious... is there a consensus about what a new Fender bass should cost?
Personally, and I don't have one, don't need one, don't even want one, but provided there aren't the QC issues often posted about, I don't think $1800-$2000 is an outrage for a quality product with their brand on the headstock. I'm not saying it's cheap either... but should it be just less expensive? For the same thing? I'm only passively curious. I don't see them getting any cheaper.
Also asking because I don't know; what do the US models go for?
Personally, and I don't have one, don't need one, don't even want one, but provided there aren't the QC issues often posted about, I don't think $1800-$2000 is an outrage for a quality product with their brand on the headstock. I'm not saying it's cheap either... but should it be just less expensive? For the same thing? I'm only passively curious. I don't see them getting any cheaper.
Also asking because I don't know; what do the US models go for?
Yeah, agreed. These Fender bash thread starters...
Didn't you know? Fender is the only company to raise it's prices, passing on added costs to consumers.Yeah, agreed. These Fender bash thread starters...
Just finding out with my morning coffee. 
Sad day, should we lay roses somewhere?
Sad day, should we lay roses somewhere?
No wonder there are so few P basses in the classifieds nowdays. This is only gonna make it worse.
There’s another factor… over the last year, the Mexican peso has appreciated about 15% vs the US dollar. The Indonesian rupiah has been roughly flat. That difference is passed on to consumers.
And yet, the advertised price this morning for a Player II P bass, before taxes, is $850 in the US and $925 in Mexico, and VAT is 16%!
And yet, the advertised price this morning for a Player II P bass, before taxes, is $850 in the US and $925 in Mexico, and VAT is 16%!
Yep, and you could get those same percentage discounts when fenders were $600 less three years ago too
I got burned by that recently when I bought a bass from Europe. The weaker dollar made it ~7% more expensive than in recent years.
Over the past 40 years I’ve played Fenders made in several different countries. Some were fantastic and some stank on ice. I’ve also played FSOs that didn’t say Fender on the headstock. Some were wonderful and some were abysmal. I can’t - and won’t - say that Fender has ever cornered the market on poor quality control. Every major guitar brand I can think of has had periods where their output was worse than during other periods. Fender has had multiple periods of sketchy QC, mainly because they have a long history. Yet, they remain.
I have read so many threads on so many fora that read “Brand X’s pricing is out of control” but it doesn’t seem to affect whether or not those companies survive. Gibson has had as many, if not more, periods of crap QC as any company around and have raised their prices every year, without fail, for as long as I can remember.
Some people really want a certain name on the headstock. The heart wants what the heart wants. I’m not about to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t want or pay for.
If Fender’s price increases are alarming, I encourage anyone to compare the price of any consumer goods with those of one or two years ago in the US, especially if that product involves labor or materials across a border. Anyone price a sheet of plywood lately? Or an appliance?
Inflation affects manufacturers just as much as it affects consumers. Fender may, in fact, be poorly managed (I don’t know) and there may be corporate greed involved, too, but in the end companies will charge what they can get away with and it seems Fender feels they can get away with this pricing for now.
Is it sustainable? I don’t know. Ask Gibson.
I have read so many threads on so many fora that read “Brand X’s pricing is out of control” but it doesn’t seem to affect whether or not those companies survive. Gibson has had as many, if not more, periods of crap QC as any company around and have raised their prices every year, without fail, for as long as I can remember.
Some people really want a certain name on the headstock. The heart wants what the heart wants. I’m not about to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t want or pay for.
If Fender’s price increases are alarming, I encourage anyone to compare the price of any consumer goods with those of one or two years ago in the US, especially if that product involves labor or materials across a border. Anyone price a sheet of plywood lately? Or an appliance?
Inflation affects manufacturers just as much as it affects consumers. Fender may, in fact, be poorly managed (I don’t know) and there may be corporate greed involved, too, but in the end companies will charge what they can get away with and it seems Fender feels they can get away with this pricing for now.
Is it sustainable? I don’t know. Ask Gibson.
Nope. Quality is not good. I’ve had experience with three or four Mexican fenders brand new from Sweetwater over the last two or three years. One of them, a player, jazzmaster, was perfect. The others had issues which made them returnable. I bought a few American Fenders some Sweetwater in that period too and none of them were worth keeping either. But they weren’t too bad. But no Fing way at these prices today. In my mind, they’re like 30 or 40% overpriced at this point and the QC seems to be worse than ever.
Do yourselves a favor and become familiar with a way to buy Japanese Fenders. They are better than all Mexican fenders, and most American fenders. They are basic and simple and just made right, every time, often with better colors than the offerings from America and Mexico. They keep the lines fresh and exciting, and have lots of different cool FSR models out there.
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In your humble opinion, which I disagree with.
I’ve a Nate Mendel and it’s great, I also have a Player II P neck purchased from a TB’r and it’s one of my favorites now. I also have a few MIA Fenders from 2008 to compare to.
Nothing wrong with MiM Fenders, just cause a few squeaky wheels want to spread BS.
lumping all of their basses into categories based on the factory or country of origin is not a good metric for quality IMO , maybe in the 80s there was one line coming from mexico now there are so many series' coming from mexico there is no magic based on 100 miles separating different factories , I happen to not like player , am std, mod shop, mexi std etc just based on parts and feel and what im used to , mexican fenders include vintage reissue type of artist series or road worn basses with things like nitro finishes , relicing I assume done with a stencil , rolled fingerboard edges , labor intensive things, its labor arbitrage to get the price down , there is a difference to me in the mexican basses I like ,and the american vintage stuff
american vintage feels better . I assume looser tolerances , fit and finish differences but people complain about US quality also , ive always loved classic /vintera / artist/ roadworn series from mexico , love the neck specs specifically , it was a Great value proposition years ago , Japanese stuff has a great rep Ive never owned one , they use different hardware on some ive noticed im not familiar with the different models or specs on the japanese stuff , alot of mexican stuff is great if not too expensive now , but everything is expensive the nate mendel is one of the best p necks they offer , the flea is one of the best jazz necks ,I had a dirnt 10-15 years ago or so the pickup and neck were great body shape not the most comfortable
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MSRP
Fender AM Pro II Precision $1889
Rickenbacker 4003 $2499
Music Man Stingray Special $2699 (lowest price)
Lakland Classic $3230
Fender AM Pro II Precision $1889
Rickenbacker 4003 $2499
Music Man Stingray Special $2699 (lowest price)
Lakland Classic $3230
Here's something interesting from a play I did of their new Jazz ... it has a third, unmarked knob on it which I cannot figure out. It does literally nothing. I played with the thing in all the ways that I could think of to get a different response out of the knob, and couldn't.
Either there's a problem with this guitar (with its fresh-out-of-box stickers on it and all) or they've provided a pot that doesn't do anything. I have to think it's #1.
I also played their new FOB Player II P-bass and the used "regular" PB sitting under it in the rack both played and sounded better, for a $1700 (CAN) discount in price. No marks on the used one anywhere, I can't think of a reason why I wouldn't prefer it.
I wasn't in the buying process, just trying out various basses as I do every few months, just to see if there was something I couldn't live without. I tried a very expensive 5-string Dingwall and besides looking amazing, didn't feel it. You really need to take advantage of the shop's indulgence before buying.
My MIM 2018 Player P was and is the only bass I bought for full price in 2019...when MIMs were still in the $800 CAD range. All other instruments I had bought, owned, and eventually sold since then were from Craigslist, Reverb, FB Marketplace, or the used section at Long & McQuade.
I have no intention of buying anything else full price anymore. Insane price.
I have no intention of buying anything else full price anymore. Insane price.
Agreed. My Squier Debut Series P-Bass for less than $200 is awesome, fully functional and gig worthy. No way I'll ever pay over $1k for any Fender. My Cort Jazz kicks any Fender in it's @$$!! Was $499 new! Not to mention my Lakland Skylines. Boo Fender!! Charging boutique prices for basses likely made for a couple hundred dollars......SMDH!
Something about the Am. Stds from that era just screamed peak Fender. For some reason, to me, it felt like their 2014 run was the best; people were raving and raving about that year's run a long time ago.
Another sinister viewpoint from, well . . . consider the source.Well...
Honestly? Since I'm one of those left handed players - you, the ones all the bass makers never make anything but starter basses for, 'cause they think we're broke; and don't know how to play, anyhow? I decided a long time ago to just... ignore them right back. Since I'd bet a dollar to a donut that neither of those basses come as a lefty? The price; the quality; and where they're made, are things I could give a tinker's damn about. Now, excuse me; time to give my Alembic a little exercise...
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