Just why are basses like Wals and Foderas etc so blooming expensive?

[Bthebassplayer]

This is an interesting story about fodera. notice victor says his first fodera cost $900 in the early 80s . A lot of it is actually inflation. Just like I remember when Mexican fenders were like $300-$350 and musicman SR5s and american fenders were all $999 or less. I'm sure since they have a great reputation some of it is also paying for the name.

I find Victor Wooten one off few musicians that is sincere! What he says almost always resonates with me. A while ago I noticed that he uses DR pure blues strings so I bought a set too. There sounding nice but I also know that the people behind DR strings are genuine people. I want to do that with a Fodera bass too but my wallet says "No way man....."

 

[HeavyJazz]

When it comes to my NYC Sadowsky, I figure a good 20% of the cost is to cover the insane taxes of that state. Which is why I moved.

 

[nilorius]

Because they are all hand made and the whole quality is far much better, the money they cost are worth it.

 

[basslicks]

Just to play devil's advocate, what's wrong with automating some of the processes?

It seems to me like machine made things like necks, body routes, are a good thing because precision is important with string alignment, fret placement, etc.

As long as the QC is there why not leave precise things to a machine?

There's nothing wrong with automating some of the processes, as you said it's good for precision and for bringing costs down for the masses, but there's something more "human" about a hand made instruments that some people enjoy, so they'll pay the high price for it.

It's a bit like this - imagine a highly skilled artists painting every brush stroke for their work. Even if they are making the same painting multiple times there's going to be a bit of variance. Not every single stroke between these paintings is going to be exactly the same, the colors aren't going to be exactly the same in the same places, etc. All of these paintings are beautiful but they're not the same. Now imagine a machine that can replicate the artist's painting over and over again, right down to the very precise brush strokes, colors, etc. These painting will still be beautiful so there's nothing wrong with them, but a certain human element has been stripped away. These machine created paintings will be significantly cheaper to purchase, and while the artist's version will cost more you know that they put hard work into each individual painting so each one has a more human character to it.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

The neck on my Wal is far nicer to play than the neck on my Warwick (both are fretless). The '85 Wal has a hand-made vibe to it that the '08 Warwick doesn't, although in some ways the Warwick might have a more precise look to the build. I like both basses, but by far prefer the Wal. However I was lucky enough to get the Wal at a very good price a few years back... not sure I could justify the cost of a new one, even if they made the Pro 1 these days...

Anyway the reason they are so expensive is because of small volume hand made production.

 

[mesaplayer83]

I find Victor Wooten one off few musicians that is sincere! What he says almost always resonates with me. A while ago I noticed that he uses DR pure blues strings so I bought a set too. There sounding nice but I also know that the people behind DR strings are genuine people. I want to do that with a Fodera bass too but my wallet says "No way man....."

Vic is a great player, no doubt - but considering that he has shilled for a ridiculously over-priced IEC cable in the past, I'd take his endorsements with a grain of salt... YMMV, but that's how I see it...

 

[lfmn16]

Ever play a Wal??
Then A/B that with your typical Squier VM Jazz Bass and tell me.

What? Speak from a position of knowledge instead of ignorance?????

 

[tycobb73]

Law of Supply and Demand: Basic Economics

 

[rmayer]

This is an interesting story about fodera. notice victor says his first fodera cost $900 in the early 80s . A lot of it is actually inflation. Just like I remember when Mexican fenders were like $300-$350 and musicman SR5s and american fenders were all $999 or less. I'm sure since they have a great reputation some of it is also paying for the name.

Great story. I remember when American Fenders were $300 new. It's stretching it when a new P or Jazz is $1500. Or more like $2000 for the American Original. That, to me, is out of hand for an assembly line bass, especially a passive no frills model.
The Fodera is hand carved from blocks of wood, and you have unlimited customizing available. You can't compare that to a mass produced bass, and you will pay a premium for it.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Did we ACTUALLY read the OP, folks?

 

[JRA]

Just to play devil's advocate, what's wrong with automating some of the processes?

nothing. some folks just prefer 'handmade'.


(i used to prefer handmade...now i could care less: if it feels right and can make a sound = i'm there!)

 

[Mister Boh]

Did we ACTUALLY read the OP, folks?

Hey, if we can beat the dead horse a little longer without foaming at the mouth despite the /s tag in the OP that's sort of a victory?

 

[fhm555]

If i had a bass infused (at great expense) with tone enhancing Elven tears, my skill level would not increase a bit.
Please understand, i am in no way slagging boutique bass builders, i just discovered long ago that the skill of the build means little when compared with the skill of the player. The average $500 bass today is more capable than most of the players who pick it up. You could spend more but you won't play better just by doing so.
If you've got the bones and you want the bass, buy it.
If on the other hand you are saving for a Butterfly because you want the bass that will finally bring your game up to where it should be, save yourself the disappointment and find a really good teacher to spend that money on.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Hey, if we can beat the dead horse a little longer without foaming at the mouth despite the /s tag in the OP that's sort of a victory?

Is it dead, yet?

 

[Liam Wald]

I totally understand why all of the instruments that the OP mentioned are relatively expensive. What I don't get is why Fenders sell for as much as they do?

 

[Mister Boh]

And we have reached the final stage of the troll post thread life cycle, critical mass.

 

[Gizmot]

Vic is a great player, no doubt - but considering that he has shilled for a ridiculously over-priced IEC cable in the past, I'd take his endorsements with a grain of salt... YMMV, but that's how I see it...

I've written about this several times here. Do you know why Victor endorses and uses those Essential Sound power cords? Because he can HEAR the difference - and so can I (I was using those before he was). Of all the stuff you buy to make yourself sound better those cords are a pretty good value.

 

[REV]

If ya can't tell the difference, stop spending money.

 

[Whippet]

tax and human cost.

if you knew what I know about....... never mind..... just take it from a guy that comes from 4 generation of business owners. government and tax sucks. and don't reply to this because i'll get banned.

 

[InhumanResource]

All I know is that I want one. They're beautiful, unique, worth every penny.

But I just can't spend 7 large on a bass. There's too much mileage to be gotten out of that kind of money vs. one more bass in the collection.

Maybe one day I'll do it.