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Now, this is what I call a real custom shop!

#41
Smooth_bass88 said:
You'd have to go by memory. Like, for example, I bought a brand new StingRay 5 from basscentral.com in the early 2000s for a little over a grand.
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Memory is tricky. Also, sales prices tend to be a lot more random than MSRP -- somebody always got a whateveritis brand-new for $200 rather than $1000 because the store (had a sale|was going out of business|marked it down for trivial damage|was clearing out dead stock)... There are also regional differences in pricing -- when a store doesn't have much competition they aren't going to mark things down as much, or they can't because it's harder for them to meet the sales minimums required to be an authorized reseller in a small town.

MSRP is at least a reliable value to track from a consistent single source.
 
#42
ardgedee said:
Memory is tricky. Also, sales prices tend to be a lot more random than MSRP -- somebody always got a whateveritis brand-new for $200 rather than $1000 because the store (had a sale|was going out of business|marked it down for trivial damage|was clearing out dead stock)... There are also regional differences in pricing -- when a store doesn't have much competition they aren't going to mark things down as much, or they can't because it's harder for them to meet the sales minimums required to be an authorized reseller in a small town.

MSRP is at least a reliable value to track from a consistent single source.
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either way you look at it, EBMM's prices have risen at a higher rate than inflation. Good for EBMM I suppose. $749 was no problem for me when I was in my late teens. I can't imagine a kid in high school or college ponying up $2500 for a brand new StingRay today.
 
#43
Smooth_bass88 said:
either way you look at it, EBMM's prices have risen at a higher rate than inflation. Good for EBMM I suppose. $749 was no problem for me when I was in my late teens. I can't imagine a kid in high school or college ponying up $2500 for a brand new StingRay today.
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One possible reason would be that they're relying on Sterling to carry the low/medium quality lines and repurposed EBMM as their high-end line. Somewhat analogous to how Fender uses Squier. Thirty years ago they would have been trying to reach as many markets as they could solely through EBMM, but now they can double down on being the one with nicer/fancier wood, electronics and finishes.
 
#46
songwriter21 said:
It's neat, but not a real custom shop. You want options? Marusyczyk's configurator is very impressive, and has waaaaay more flexibility. I've killed LOTS of time creating on there.

Want full/real custom? ESP Japan or Schecter USA will build anything, not just a pre-fab models.
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However those 'anything goes' bass companies have no identifiable voice, no one can pick anything out about em.
That why all the big name companies keep things within a range of options.
 

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