kraigg007 said:
I heard the reason they stop making them is because it became too expensive, but Ken Smith doesn't have a problem with selling $6000 basses. The market for a $6000+ bass is not a huge one although Fodera seems to be doing quite fine. I also heard that there is not a major difference between 5 and 7 piece neck and bodies.
Maybe Ken will chime in on this one and answer the riddle.
I think it is quite irronic that the 25th Anniversary model looks like a BMT. It is a georgeous bass, but it has a price tag of 6400 -8000 makes it a dream bass for most.
Here are a couple of basses to add to the photo post. The Tiger maple BMT is in Japan and the other claro walnut bass is an anniversary model. Notice the insane walnut top (you get what you pay for).
kraigg007
Ok, whats the Riddle then? Is there a specific question here or just a few similar ones in question? I'll give it a shot..
From the BMT model (inspired by Melvin Davis) came a hybrid bewteen the BMT and the BT known as the BSR models (inspired by Al Turner). Recently we made the 25th Anniversary with a similar shape as the BMT but the width of the BSR. This coveres about everything I have done worth keeping up to this point, I think!..lol
Price has never been an issue for us. We charge what we think we need to make for the Bass, what the Bass is worth and try not adding any Sports car or Yacht profit into the Basses thus inflating a can of Coke from $1.00 to $4.00 like you pay at the Hilton Bar. A Coke is a Coke and an Ebony FB or Gold Hardware or High Figured Tops is only worth so much in my book. Can we charge more? Yes, we can. Will we? No, we don't need to. In 1999-2000 we were making 400-500 Basses a year at most and all fully handmade with much of this growth in the Bolt-ons. Soon after, I decided to focus on our upper end Basses and gradually got back down to about 200 Basses a year or so.
Unlike many of the other Bass companies I got into the Lumber Business and Bought the Building we are in. This helps control the cost of our general lumber and helps to control the rent because I am the Landlord! Who saves this way? You do. We pass on this savings of cost of business in our products. Last May, we raised our String prices for the first time in about 10 years with an average increase of less than 1.5% per year for the 10 years we held prices. This is just one example of how we pass savings on to the consumers.
On the Bass models, we make what people request and can make more or less of what any model then becomes in demand. Flexibility is a major factor in a small business with not only your customers as far as product needs go but also in the economics in running a business and staying afloat.
If I had stayed in NY after 1985, my prices would seem way inflated as if each Bass comes with a $600-$1000 a month parking space and a studio apartment in NY for 2-3k a month.
Heck, my 15 year mortgage was less than that monthly and I own a 3 bedroom colonial house (built in 1994) and land to boot.
How could I pass up the fresh air, good food and a brand new house for less that the cost of rent in NY, huh? Also, parking is free unless I go into Philly for a concert or something. I was paying over $300. a month for parking on 14th street in NYC back in 1990. My electric bill today in Pa for my entire house is less than my ConEd Electric bill 15 years ago in NY. NY is just too expensive to do business in and keep the prices real for what you get. In my Non-Humble Opinion that is. I been there and done that so I am 'shooting from the hip'!
Yesterday I was invited to see Tim Smith, Nashville session Bassist perform with Boots Randolf just 75 miles away in Lancaster, Amish country. I stopped off for some great Amish local food and then saw the concert. Most people in there were old enough to be my father. Boots' is 79 now and still can play his butt off. If it were straight Jazz he would still hold his own. He did an acoustic solo with piano, no mics playing Stardust.. Sounded like Coleman Hawkins or Ben Webster.. easily..
So, if I move back to NY, expect the prices to go up 50-100% just so YOU can pay MY rent and City Living Style!.. OR, accept the fact that my prices reflect the savings I get the way I run my business and PASS them on to YOU, the consumer..
I will be glad to answer any questions you have as always as long as we can keep it friendly. Oh and I DON'T love NY. I was born there, went to school there and live & worked there. NOW, I am OUT OF JAIL living in AMERICA enjoying some fresh air and quiet nights.... Just ask those that have visited us out here in Perkasie. The first question you ask is, 'Where's Andy Griffith?, isn't this Mayberry?".. lol (all those over 40, please explain that last one to the younger crowd..). I once asked the Sargent of the Perkasie PD (now he's the Cheif) when was the last time a round was fired in the line of duty in Perkasie. He answered, "Including animals?" No, I replied.. "Oh, about 10 years ago a husband was trying to take is kid in a custody case and someone fired a warning shot!".
In NY, I always had to plan parking, loading & unloading and look over my shoulder constantly for safety. In this town, "I" am the one to watch out for...
