Significant Fender price increases coming next month

[JazznFunk]

You do not need new basses every year. My first bass which was the only one I had for many years served me well. It's not food but that is probably going to increase too. That is something to worry about. I'll show myself out.

And yet no one said they were planning on buying one, so the scolding is unnecessary. How people choose to spend their money is their business, and not really the point of the discussion. It's a general discussion about pricing policy influenced by current external economic factors, which very well will be echoed in other gear we purchase too. It goes beyond Fender.

 

[InhumanResource]

And that's the unfortunate truth, a lot of US companies may use a Trade War as an excuse to price-gouge, sounds like maybe Fender is jumping on that bandwagon. Curious to see if the other Majors follow suit. It's not much skin off my back either way (yet), since I build my own instruments.... until a similar level of inflation hits the price of rough lumber (which is already insanely expensive) and guitar parts, of which virtually all are imported. Up is Down, Night is Day. Interesting times we live in.

I don’t buy brand new often, but unfortunately it is good timing for opportunists to raise prices across the board. Basses are the least of my concern, perhaps sadly.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Now he whiplashed and said no tariffs for at least another month, at least on Mexican imports. People are getting tired of this back and forth real fast at all levels. It's not good business practice or policy, but hey... it's not unexpected. I wonder if this will still affect their pricing short term, or if they'll just raise prices and say 'it is what it is... deal with it', like what Lakland and others did at the start of the year for their imported lines.

Who's "he" in this?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

And yet no one said they were planning on buying one, so the scolding is unnecessary. How people choose to spend their money is their business, and not really the point of the discussion. It's a general discussion about pricing policy influenced by current external economic factors, which very well will be echoed in other gear we purchase too. It goes beyond Fender.

Yep and at any given moment someone is starting to play bass or guitar for the first time. So, they need an instrument.

 

[Chrisk-K]

They are probably going up because of the "new" standard line.

No. Every price is going up due to what enlightened people know.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I don't have to buy basses from Mexico, or China. Lots of borderline anti current events opinions here.

 

[JazznFunk]

I don't have to buy basses from Mexico, or China. Lots of borderline anti current events opinions here.

No you don't. But from materials to point of origin, everything that goes into building basses is affected by the currently fluctuating dictums regarding how much we'll end up paying for basses in general.

 

[nonohmic]

So much winning.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I don't have to buy basses from Mexico, or China. Lots of borderline anti current events opinions here.

But American-made often has components made elsewhere, which are increasing in price.

 

[friskinator]

I'm more concerned with the prices of stuff we actually need to live, not basses.

 

[Sean150]

They are probably going up because of the "new" standard line. I love love my 2014 fender standard stratocaster. This separates the Player II from the pack, but $1k is too much.

I also have all the fender basses I want or need.

It clearly states that the prices are going up because of the tariffs. The increased cost is being passed on to the end user as is the nature of business. It’ll only be malicious if they don’t lower the price when the costs go reliably down.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Saw this coming. Bought stuff last year. All of my purchases this year have been on accessories and upgrades so I can sit out the price increases for a few years.

 

[Just Wrong]

It seems like many of you haven't actually read the email... Prices on US Fenders are also increasing:

Further, given that FMIC sources high-quality maple from Canadian forests for the necks on its Corona-made guitars, we also will be instituting price increases on certain Corona-made models at the same time. We will communicate specifics on these price increases as soon as possible, but you should anticipate increases in the range of 10-25%.

You’ve got to love how all the blame is being placed on Fender in this thread, as if the orange guy most of you voted for had nothing to do with it. Did any of you actually really think Canada, Mexico and/or companies would pay for these tariffs and not consumers?

 

[Crusher47]

In....

 

[75Ric]

If Fender raises prices because costs suddenly increased, everyone else will, too. New and used will see price increases. Everything will be affected. And, Canada and Mexico are not paying this tax despite the bs we hear otherwise. When you cut away the claptrap, it's a new tax on everyday people, and a hefty one at that with no added benefit.

 

[nonohmic]

I'm more concerned with the prices of stuff we actually need to live, not basses.

Yep.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Should I expect my gig pay to increase by 25%?????

 

[CoughSyrup]

I've been looking for a hardtail HSS strat and an ad for the new "Player II Advanced" Stratocaster showed up on my screen this morning. Imagine my excitement: hardtail, Seymour Duncan pickups, cool color... then I saw the price. $1200 for a MIM Strat, I nearly spat out my coffee!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Are there ANY US manufacturers left making misc. guitar parts like bridges, strap pins, trussrods, chrome plated parts, etc, or is it all imported? At least the US is well supplied with most of the domestic hardwoods like Ash and Eastern Rock Maple, which makes up the majority US built necks. Of course, that won't matter if, as is true for most auto parts, those raw materials travel back and forth across either the US or Canadian border multiple times, with a tariff slapped on at each crossing. Is this this Winning part yet? Prediction: this thread will be locked momentarily.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Should I expect my gig pay to increase by 25%?????

Of Course! Otherwise you might get tired of Winning.