• 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.

The Reverend Club (Part 2)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#126
Those are a tad low, but about what they ought to be going for, really.
The used market ought to be at about 50-75% of what retail was, IMO, YMMV, etc.
They're great basses and all, and I love mine, but the used market being higher than retail was just two years ago is just silly.

Reverend needs to build new ones off-shore, ala Lakland Skyline/G&L Tribute. It's a proven high quality low cost route.
New Tributes are going for $499, with gig bag.
I understand the Rev concept is more parts/labor intensive, but you get my drift.

chef
 
#128
Chef said:
Those are a tad low, but about what they ought to be going for, really.
The used market ought to be at about 50-75% of what retail was, IMO, YMMV, etc.
They're great basses and all, and I love mine, but the used market being higher than retail was just two years ago is just silly.


chef
Click to expand...

It's supply, demand and a great bass. How often do you see a manufacturer just STOP building a popular bass?? Great basses go up in value, Reverends are just doing it faster because of the demand. Maybe they weren't cost effective to build in the US but for whatever reason, limited supply is what's causing the prices to rise. Even if they were to start building them overseas, the value of the US made ones would still be strong. Maybe even stronger. Consider all those buying a good imported version, being impressed and wanting an original?? With all the money I've spent and lost over the years buying and selling basses, I like to to see the Reverends value rise. Considering what it would take to buy a bass that sounds and plays as well, they are still a bargain.
 
#129
Chef said:
Those are a tad low, but about what they ought to be going for, really.
The used market ought to be at about 50-75% of what retail was, IMO, YMMV, etc.
They're great basses and all, and I love mine, but the used market being higher than retail was just two years ago is just silly.

Reverend needs to build new ones off-shore, ala Lakland Skyline/G&L Tribute. It's a proven high quality low cost route.
New Tributes are going for $499, with gig bag.
I understand the Rev concept is more parts/labor intensive, but you get my drift.

chef
Click to expand...

True dat.

OTOH, I have NEVER seen a Reverend bass for sale on my local craigslist, and unlike many other basses, there aren't really any other basses that are quite the same as Reverends in terms of construction, aesthetics, etc. That's not to say Reverends are the best basses, or are head and shoulders above other basses, but just that there aren't really any other basses on the market that are made and sound like a 'fish.

I agree that the used market would likely become a lot more reasonable if they started making the basses overseas as well, but considering I put my Reverends right up there with my Sadowskys in my collection, I'd say they're still a good deal even in the inflated used market we're seeing now. I'd sooner spend $800 on a used Reverend than on a Stingray, Skyline, or Fender irrespective of original selling price, for example.

Bottom line -- I expect used prices (for sellers who have a clue, and aren't just torturing me by selling their bass for a stupid low price) to stay pretty stable. An economist would say: restricted supply + no real substitute = rising prices. I don't think prices will go up much more very soon, but I'm quite frankly astonished that people would sell theirs for $400 when they could fetch $800 on ebay.
 
#130
Rev stopped building these because they weren't selling them.
They were never popular in part because of their "wierdness" and in part due to price point, and I doubt the small ''seasonally inflated'' used market will convince anyone to build new ones.

But I hope they do, and do it offshore. That would rectify one of the two problems they had. Some more strategic marketing would help the other problem. Of all my musician friends, sound techs and bass players, I've never met one who didn't love what they heard/felt after laying hands on one/playing one/mixing one/hearing one.
 
#131
I think the low sales were mainly a marketing problem.

I've played bass since 1986, and I hadn't even heard of Reverend (for basses -- I'd seen some guitars) until they were building the last ones. Admittedly, I wasn't actively looking for new basses until late 2004, but still . . .

I have NEVER seen a 'fish in a store. Used or new.
 
#133
They advertised, and were reviewed in, all the major mags...


BartmanPDX said:
I think the low sales were mainly a marketing problem.

I've played bass since 1986, and I hadn't even heard of Reverend (for basses -- I'd seen some guitars) until they were building the last ones. Admittedly, I wasn't actively looking for new basses until late 2004, but still . . .

I have NEVER seen a 'fish in a store. Used or new.
Click to expand...
 
#134
Chef said:
They advertised, and were reviewed in, all the major mags...
Click to expand...

I rarely read the mags because the reviews are worthless -- they're afraid of ticking off advertisers. I think the biggest problem for me around here is that my local Reverend dealer never carried the basses and is kind of a small shop. I think they could have done better with a better dealer network (at least here in the NW). Every time I've been to a GTG my Revs have had great reviews from people -- better than my Sadowskys. Somehow, Reverend never managed to get them in the hands of the right people (me! :p ) in my neck of the woods until it was too late (for me). It's one of those basses that you really have to play in person to fully get "hooked on." (couldn't resist the pun, fellas).
 
#135
See inserts...


BartmanPDX said:
I rarely read the mags because the reviews are worthless -- they're afraid of ticking off advertisers.

Yeah...


I think the biggest problem for me around here is that my local Reverend dealer never carried the basses and is kind of a small shop.

I didn't have a dealer in Columbia, and hadda drive to KC to check 'em out. They did have a good selection there, tho it was "a bluegrass store," and carried mainly mandolins and such. Wierd place to electric bass shop...


I think they could have done better with a better dealer network (at least here in the NW).

Maybe, tho web sales are ok too, given you know what you want...which was hard in this case in terms of being able to try one.

Every time I've been to a GTG my Revs have had great reviews from people -- better than my Sadowskys. Somehow, Reverend never managed to get them in the hands of the right people (me! :p ) in my neck of the woods until it was too late (for me). It's one of those basses that you really have to play in person to fully get "hooked on." (couldn't resist the pun, fellas).
Click to expand...

werd.
 
#136
Oddly enough, IIRC at the time they wouldn't sell over the web to people who had a dealer near them, so I wasn't able to order one of the last ones over the web. Never mind that my local "dealer" didn't actually stock, carry, sell or otherwise "deal" their basses, and they had stopped taking orders from dealers as they ran out the rest of their stock. :spit:

I'm just glad I finally sucked it up and took the plunge and bought a used one sight unseen (not something I like to do at all). 30 minutes after it arrived I began thinking about getting my second one. :p
 
#137
I have had two occasions where I played a Reverend Rumblefish and I fell in love both times....But they were not mine and I would love to find one. I am a Fender Jazz guy but could easily "convert".

I have been looking for a few months and my search led me to this site....now where do I look?
 
#139
Pennydreadful said:
I don't care why they didn't sell in the first place, or if they just werent' cost-effective to make. Whatever. I demand a Club King bass. DEMAND!
Click to expand...

Best post in a while! I'm right there with you. Where do I grab my torch and pitchfork?

Mooncusser, you'll have to troll all the usual spots used basses turn up with the rest of us. They haven't been made in two years, so the only way to get one is used.
 
#140
BartmanPDX said:
Oddly enough, IIRC at the time they wouldn't sell over the web to people who had a dealer near them, so I wasn't able to order one of the last ones over the web. Never mind that my local "dealer" didn't actually stock, carry, sell or otherwise "deal" their basses, and they had stopped taking orders from dealers as they ran out the rest of their stock. :spit:

I'm just glad I finally sucked it up and took the plunge and bought a used one sight unseen (not something I like to do at all). 30 minutes after it arrived I began thinking about getting my second one. :p
Click to expand...

Looks like they were trying to protect their distributors.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back