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NEW 2010 Fender Jazz!
- Thread starter blueacid4l
- Start date
Excellent point.
I'm not sure why there seems to be so much "Sour Grapes" posting on talkbass whenever a higher priced piece of gear comes out. Almost like a manufacturer is "ripping you off" if a bass isn't <$800, or an amp isn't <$1000.
If you can't or won't step up to the plate, don't buy it, no one can gouge you if you keep your wallet in your pocket.
If a piece of gear is actually too expensive for it's value, the price will drop or it will just go away. Whining about it just seems petty.
Is a bass player thing?
Assuming that it plays at least as well as the current MIA J Bass, I don't think the c. $2000 price on this limited issue Anniverary is out of line.
Flagship Fenders have always been expensive. When I played semi-pro back in 1964 - 1967, most bass players could not afford a new J Bass ($350?) or even a new P bass ($275). Most of us were playing used P Basses (like I bought my 1958 P for $200 @ Sam Ash in 1964). Back in '64 a White Castle hamburger cost 5 cents, a Wetsons burger cost 15 cents, a MIG VW Bug cost $1,750. I'm guessing now, but I think the average American anual income for a family of 4was like $8000. $350 was a lot of money for a guitar. And back then, at least in the New York City area, the mind set was,"If you're not playing a Fender, you're not playing a bass."
And then 1979 rolls around and I find myself playing semi-pro again in an all attorney band in Miami. Okay, now I can afford any bass I want except an Alembic. I bought a new MIA J bass for $600.
To summarize, retail price for new J Bass:
1964 - $350
1979 - $600
2010 - $2000 (the 50th Anniversary)
I'm not an economist, but it appears that Fender's price increases over the years have been in line with inflation.
Of course this does not address the question of whether or not Fender quality has remained the same.
Flagship Fenders have always been expensive. When I played semi-pro back in 1964 - 1967, most bass players could not afford a new J Bass ($350?) or even a new P bass ($275). Most of us were playing used P Basses (like I bought my 1958 P for $200 @ Sam Ash in 1964). Back in '64 a White Castle hamburger cost 5 cents, a Wetsons burger cost 15 cents, a MIG VW Bug cost $1,750. I'm guessing now, but I think the average American anual income for a family of 4was like $8000. $350 was a lot of money for a guitar. And back then, at least in the New York City area, the mind set was,"If you're not playing a Fender, you're not playing a bass."
And then 1979 rolls around and I find myself playing semi-pro again in an all attorney band in Miami. Okay, now I can afford any bass I want except an Alembic. I bought a new MIA J bass for $600.
To summarize, retail price for new J Bass:
1964 - $350
1979 - $600
2010 - $2000 (the 50th Anniversary)
I'm not an economist, but it appears that Fender's price increases over the years have been in line with inflation.
Of course this does not address the question of whether or not Fender quality has remained the same.
I'm laughing at all of the trash talk. MIM bodies? Jag Bass necks? Where do people come up with this nonsense? It looks like a nice vintage vibed, all American, special edition Jazz Bass to me. If it comes in at custom shop quality, then it looks to be priced about right. I'd take fender's website pricing with a grain of salt, as it doesn't list the street price once these bad boys hit the dealers with their m.a.p.s pricing. Nice J-Bass for the 50th anniversary model imo.
I for one am considering buying it. I don't expect an exact period replica, just a well built modern bass with a vintage wibe and uncommon features.
As for the binding it seems a CS trend not to couple it with black blocks anymore. Maybe for easier maintenance of the neck (fret replacement, radius changing etc.).
Just have a look at something very similar produced in 2010 by the CS for Guitarhotline:
Invalid Link Removed
http://www.guitarhotline.com/c-62-fe...stom-shop.aspx
- What I like about the bass:
The color! I think it was also the one Leo liked best.
The 70's pickup placement: very useful for slap but tamed by the rosewood neck.
The matching headstock. I think I shouldn't explain this.
The posiflex reinforcement, lightweight tuning machines, new high mass bridge, strings through body, never available on a vintage looking Fender.
- What I don't like:
Pickup covers mounted at the factory. I would have preferred to let the choice to the owner of the bass to mount them or not, which is more usual. It really is true especially for the bridge cover. But covers were always mounted at the factory back then in the "vintage" 60's and 70's era.
Probably the body will be routed like the modern production, but this one can only be verified after the bass will be available for checking out (read ripping apart!!!).
Single coil pickups. I always prefer noiseless ones, but that's just me. Maybe I would make an exception for REAL vintage pickups, Aero or SD Antiquity II.
Probably no shielding. This one also must be checked after the bass will come available.
Thumbrest installed. I never cared for thumbrests anyway... It is only helpful in 60's placement position when You have flats installed. It helps preventing the player from slapping...
All considered it is still an interesting bass to own. Just not for everybody but You have plenty of choice around.
As for the binding it seems a CS trend not to couple it with black blocks anymore. Maybe for easier maintenance of the neck (fret replacement, radius changing etc.).
Just have a look at something very similar produced in 2010 by the CS for Guitarhotline:
Invalid Link Removed
http://www.guitarhotline.com/c-62-fe...stom-shop.aspx
- What I like about the bass:
The color! I think it was also the one Leo liked best.
The 70's pickup placement: very useful for slap but tamed by the rosewood neck.
The matching headstock. I think I shouldn't explain this.
The posiflex reinforcement, lightweight tuning machines, new high mass bridge, strings through body, never available on a vintage looking Fender.
- What I don't like:
Pickup covers mounted at the factory. I would have preferred to let the choice to the owner of the bass to mount them or not, which is more usual. It really is true especially for the bridge cover. But covers were always mounted at the factory back then in the "vintage" 60's and 70's era.
Probably the body will be routed like the modern production, but this one can only be verified after the bass will be available for checking out (read ripping apart!!!).
Single coil pickups. I always prefer noiseless ones, but that's just me. Maybe I would make an exception for REAL vintage pickups, Aero or SD Antiquity II.
Probably no shielding. This one also must be checked after the bass will come available.
Thumbrest installed. I never cared for thumbrests anyway... It is only helpful in 60's placement position when You have flats installed. It helps preventing the player from slapping...
All considered it is still an interesting bass to own. Just not for everybody but You have plenty of choice around.
bamba22
Commercial User
Its a very nice looking Jazz bass, I'd love to own one, but in todays economy I'm afraid I look for more inexpensive alternatives and rely on my many years of experience to tweak an OK bass into a great one. It gives you a better feeling in the end anyway.
It is a nice looking Jazz though......................
It is a nice looking Jazz though......................
nobody did an inflation calculator on this?
i popped the numbers in and got this:
What cost $2000 in 1968 would cost $12246.48 in 2008.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2008 and 1968,
they would cost you $2000 and $325.37 respectively.
according to Invalid Link Removed
so it about lines up with what everyone says--i did 1968 because the most recent time was 2008 and figured i'd go with an even 40 years...
that being said, I like the bass--i do get a little upset with fender releasing essentially the same bass over and over and calling it new every time...I guess that's where the prices don't make sense to me...it seems like they are showing the same product just from another angle in an effort to keep prices above 1000 dollars...i think all that money they save on R+D should be passed onto the customer haha!
i popped the numbers in and got this:
What cost $2000 in 1968 would cost $12246.48 in 2008.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2008 and 1968,
they would cost you $2000 and $325.37 respectively.
according to Invalid Link Removed
so it about lines up with what everyone says--i did 1968 because the most recent time was 2008 and figured i'd go with an even 40 years...
that being said, I like the bass--i do get a little upset with fender releasing essentially the same bass over and over and calling it new every time...I guess that's where the prices don't make sense to me...it seems like they are showing the same product just from another angle in an effort to keep prices above 1000 dollars...i think all that money they save on R+D should be passed onto the customer haha!
+1
And what's up with the severely limited color pallette? Does the whole world only love and deserve CAR? What's wrong with a few more options? Fender has always been bad about this. Also, why not offer two fingerboards (rosewood and maple)? I mean, come on, if you're going to gouge people for top dollar, give us some choices.
If that bass came in alternate colors, and not just sunburst, black, and some permutation of white, I think Fender would be onto something and prove that they're not just interested in cleaning up with a one-color collector anniversary novelty.
A couple of greens (aqua, surf, teal, etc.), and maybe one other hue, and the standard burst, black, white, and red, and a choice of fretboard, and I'd start to believe that Fender actually listens to customers.
This is like a $20.00 hamburger, and you don't get to decide what's on it or how it's cooked.
I did realize.
I knew and know that there is a difference between MSRP and MAP. I didn't gloss over those differences. My core point still stands: It's still an expensive bass, for what it is, MSRP, MAP, or otherwise. I think the real question is whether you think that you're going to get a real "deal" on an Anniversary/Special Edition bass. Maybe you can. While nobody will likely pay MSRP, I would be surprised to see these below $2K.
To add $50-$100 (in Fender cost) of "improvement" to a Jazz bass and then to charge an extra grand for that (or to give sellers license to potentially add that surcharge), is, IMO, regrettable at the least, and dubious at the most.
Well, Fender will continue doing this kind of thing, and we'll be having the same discussion about the newest, latest, greatest "collector focused" instruments, 2, 5 and 10 years from now... Aren't you happy?
Compared to the Vintage '62, it's an extra $500. What do you get?
- Painted headstock
- Blocks
- Graphite in neck
- Upgraded bridge
- Engraved neck plate
- More detailed work on nut and frets
- Special edition model
- Covers are mounted
- Thumbrest above E string
Worth it? It's the buyers choice. Nobody is forcing you to buy. Why all the angst? Compare the price of a bass to what we pay for cable TV, Internet, IPhones or taking the family to a baseball game. I won't even mention the tab for that shiny new car and the insurance to cover it. Basses are dirt cheap. Get a new one every year.
It looks darn good and I bet it plays like hot butta. But I just can't imagine ever paying that much for a Fender. IMHO Fender is king of the low to medium priced bass market, but once they move into the high price range they drop off the radar completely (at least for me)
If you can't or won't step up to the plate, don't buy it, no one can gouge you if you keep your wallet in your pocket.
If a piece of gear is actually too expensive for it's value, the price will drop or it will just go away. Whining about it just seems petty.
This is a good (even if obvious) point.
I think the frustration, for some of us, is it's another example of Fender failing to live up to its potential. That they can make a bass like this shows they're on the right track, but that they demand top dollar and offer no options is almost negligent.
I'm a traditionalist, and I value the Fender brand. I own several genuine Fender products. I'd love to buy another. But it is frustrating when they tempt again and again, year after year, with near misses when they could do so much more.
And I think some people -- who wouldn't buy this bass if it was $1000.00 cheaper -- just like to whine!
White Pearloid Block Position Inlays, Matching Painted Headstock, but no pickup switching, which is something that I need in my band. The price tag seems a little crazy. Especially when you can get so much more for so much less.
Plus the Fender ashtray just looks out of place, imo.
Plus the Fender ashtray just looks out of place, imo.
Maybe It's just me but I don't like those bridge covers.
But the bass looks nice.
I know, how's a guy suppose to palm mute?
I'm not sure if people are seriously or jokingly complaining about the pickup cover, but just in case:
Two tiny screws later, the pickup cover is no more.
It is a vintage feature that Fender probably thought gave the bass a little retro-class. Comes off real easy.
Interesting to note they put the tug bar on top. Doesn't exactly go with the vintage vibe.
