• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

"Limited Edition"??!!?! Really?!? Slight Squier Rant upcoming.....

#81
DirkP said:
Fender sometimes offers limited editions without even labelling them as such like the LPB 64 Jazz with matching headstock from the AVS series introduced in 2013 and only made during the first year. Or their limited editions are really limited like the 150 Daphne Blue 64 Jazz with matching headstock from 2014.
They were not more expensive than the non-limited ones, despite the effort for the headstocks.
I fell for both!
The other two I own are the MIJ Duck Dunn and the MIJ Noel Redding. Both had the numbers made advertised and were numbered.
I bought not a single one BECAUSE it was limited. I only was mad about the Jazz in nitro Daphne Blue, because this was and is my dream bass. Was so happy to find one in Germany in 2014, still my favourite!
Click to expand...

If there are Ltd Editions with different finishes and a matching headstock, and you want that, then it's worth a premium to get it. If Fender offers the same features ten years later, and calls it something else...who cares?

IME, when Fender does a batch of their MIM FSR's, they seem to put some extra effort into them. A few examples come to mind, like the MIM 2002 FSR Burgundy Mist Jazz, which as far as I can tell is a replica of an original '64 Custom Color Jazz in every way, except the FSR has a slab rosewood board, and not Brazilian rosewood. I had a couple originals back in the day, my FSR is a nicer playing bass than the originals were. The fit and finish on this FSR is remarkable.

Next up, the MIM Ltd Ed Antigua P bass. Got one brand new from Wilcutt Guitars. As nice a P bass as I've ever had, just amazing really. All I did was replace the bridge with a threaded saddle one, just for kicks. I'd still have it if a buddy hadn't bugged me for two years to sell it to him.

A few years ago I took a chance on a used MIJ Duck Dunn sig. All I'll say about that bass is....it ain't goin' nowhere. Not ever. Same goes for the MIM Burgundy Jazz. If I have to have a Fender P and J for life, it's those two.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DirkP, MattZilla, StayLow and 2 others
#83
Jim C said:
It was never intended as investment piece so why make stuff up?
I just wanted a Fender bass that had not been made 10,000 times before even if it was only paint color.
Click to expand...
The OP literally said that in the original post. I’m not making anything up. How would I even make that up?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: covermego, Bassdirty, MattZilla and 1 other person
#85
CuiFoo said:
OP miscalculated their chances of "playing the market" almost as badly as they miscalculated how much sympathy they'd get on this thread.
Click to expand...
Well, this here OP didn't expect anything LESS than these responses/remarks from the melting pot of TB humanoids. I'm sure most of you folks have been on here a long time - me included(well, except you, but time will change all that). We all know how one thing gets posted and there's multiple reactions. I TOTALLY expected this and I truly appreciate everybody's responses. I also see where a LOT of the folks didn't read the entire post and that's ok by me! Gotta keep it interesting. Thanks to all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HP Hovercraft, Spectrum, yodedude2 and 1 other person
#88
From a buyer's perspective: I would never buy a Squier used unless it came crazy cheap.

New Squier instruments aren't expensive, so there is never a lot of money that I could save buying used in the first place. But, buying used, I can't return it if there is something wrong with it, and, although Squier makes very solid guitars these days, there is a fair chance that a cheaper instrument has some kind of fault. AND there is a fair chance that this is exactly the reason why this specific instrument is being sold. So, I'd rather pay a few bucks extra for the option to return it if it isn't up to standard.

I would only willing to pay a higher price if the instrument offered was in some way special. Squiers are not special. Again, solid guitars, good players, but ultimately they are just more of the same FSOs. They may sound good and play well, but other guitars do, too. And paint it however you want, they look like any other FSOs as well. Unless they have little Mona Lisas as fretboard dots, I won't be paying premium because the body is yellow instead of red.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Billbye10 and covermego
#91
DirkP said:
My rant:)
What else should Fender do against evil people like you, who buy “limited” instruments to make money with them instead of playing them and stealing them away from real players or in hope to make them pay more.
It’s a nice strategy to label them as “limited” to fool greedy people like you and sell them to musicians for a decent price and make you loose money by selling yours to musicians for an even lower price. I am all for it, go Fender go!
Click to expand...
You must really hate people that buy stocks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: covermego
#95
I know a guy who does a lot of solo work. A few years ago he recorded some originals and had a nice professional looking CD made up. He sells these CD’s when he plays out and his pitch is along the lines of…
“I’ve got a limited supply of discs for sale featuring some of my original music. If I sell out before you get one, I can run out to my car and get another limited supply.”
I also got an FSR blacked out Mustang from MF, and also got offered a grand for it by a guy who styles himself as a collector, but he has no actual investment grade instruments. I declined his offer because I needed a short scale to relearn how to fret with only 3 fingers after losing use of my left pinky, and have finally started feeling comfortable with the Mustang after most of my bass playing life having been spent on various Jazz basses.
Either way, if you are looking for short term gains on basses, look in to investment grade instruments. While nothing is guaranteed in the collector market, investment grade stuff is very consistent when it comes to appreciating in value as time goes by. Everything else is subject to the whims of your typical consumer, something that is almost an assurance of failure if you are relying on anything but pure chance when purchasing random instruments with intent of turning a short term profit on your purchase. Outside of investment grade instruments, the most reliable way to assure success is looking for deals where you can get current examples for far below the average current retail price of the instrument you are looking at. In short, quit relying on marketing gimmicks and start relying on how what you can get something for compares to current average retail price for that item.
In simpler terms, buy low and sell high. It’s the most reliable assurance you have of turning a short term profit, no matter how limited an edition some marketing copy claims something is. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueTalon and covermego
#98
I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who said: The Ford LTD stands for limited, what did they sell 50 million of those, yeah it's limited to how many we can sell.
As far as you lamenting that you can't turn a profit on something you bought a year and a half ago, maybe next time go to your bank and get some cds instead if you want your investment to mature that quickly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PBandJazzBass, covermego and Dasgre0g
#99
I have bought (and sold) basses...not as a "for profit flipping" experience. Some I made money on, some I broke even and one that I lost $100 on. I bought them on my journey to finding what I really bonded with.

I now have 3 basses: G&L Fallout Tribute (30" scale), Fender Coronado II (30" scale) and a Dave Pushic Custom (32" scale...which is my main gigging bass). I have a Carvin SB4000 (34" scale) on the way....but each bass is different and used in different manners.

The G&L at our vacation place (for practice away from home), the Fender for practice at home, the Pushic for rehearsal and gigging and, finally, the Carvin because I sold one years ago when I needed money (and regretted it ever since).
 
  • Like
Reactions: covermego

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back