• 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.

Who buys all the new basses?

DLEE

DLEE

May 24, 2006
624
176
Mableton ,Ga.
#1
I searched a bit but didn't find anything..My question is,Fender runs full production as well as Gibson and other manufacturers.Where do all these instruments go?How many are they selling? I can't remember the last new bass I bought,is there really enough demand to warrant big numbers? I'm having a hard time seeing how an instrument manufacturer stays in business. Business people please chime in.
 
#2
DLEE said:
I searched a bit but didn't find anything..My question is,Fender runs full production as well as Gibson and other manufacturers.Where do all these instruments go?How many are they selling? I can't remember the last new bass I bought,is there really enough demand to warrant big numbers? I'm having a hard time seeing how an instrument manufacturer stays in business. Business people please chime in.
Click to expand...

There's people learning to play everyday and they need a bass, simple as that.
 
#3
6.940.000.000 people on the planet.

1% want to learn an instrument = 69.400.000

1% want to play bass = 694.000

30% buy new = 208.200

10% buy Fender = 20.820

At an average of 800$ each = 16.656.000 $

Thats a few years income!!!
 
#5
Fender is beating the crap out of new instruments so they look old? Maybe they're not selling ANY, and just off-loading them to the Kingsford Charcoal company :)
They sell alot of product world-wide because there's a demand for it. Were I in the market for a Fender, I would prefer new, because at least I'd know what I got. So many older instruments have been modded, swapped and "improved" that you have to have NCIS run a background check to know what you've bought. I'd rather start new.
 
#7
6.940.000.000 people on the planet. But of this number how many could actually afford one? I'm not being a D*ck and I realize that's a broad stroke. I'm just saying whenever I'm at a music store national chain or mom & pop unless it's Christmas I don't see instruments flying out of there.
 
#11
look at how fast your local GC's inventory moves. those are atleast 80% new basses.

some people dont know where to buy used, or dont know enough to be able to know what they're looking at. going into GC and saying you've got $400 and want to sound like so-and-so is much easier for the noobs.
 
#12
Let’s see.....
Ibanez SR500
Ibanez EWB10
Ashbory
Yamaha tenor recorder
Olds cornet
Olds Trumpet
Back cornet
BSA bugle
Conn Flue
Sothern Strings fiddle
Conn trombone
Alesis drum machine
Jew harp
And that’s what I have in my shop

The rest of the family has their stuff too
 
#14
At my local Toronto area music store, there are likely 20-25 Fender basses on the wall at any given time and approx 10 Warwicks, 10 Gibson/Epis, 10 EBMMs, 10 Ibanez, etc. 60+ new basses on the wall. Don't kid yourself.... the big guitar makers make a mindboggling number of guitars annually.

Many people still buy new. They like the warranty, the smell, etc!

AND many retail stores offer quick and easy financing and/or 0% financing. There are a lot of folks out there that can't afford to buy a used MIA Fender for $1000 cash up front, but are more than willing to finance $1299+tax for the same bass over 24 easy payments.
 
#15
Like any other manufacturing company their business is to build "X" number of units, per model, per year. No different really than the auto, computer, consumer electronics, cell phone industries, etc; they all build based on sales forecasts and adjust production up or down to avoid having excessive inventories.

The really large companies have a multi-tier distribution model and their direct customers are MusiciansFriend, American Music Supply and similar retailers, and regional distributors who sell to retail stores.
 
#17
Do forget...Talkbass is its own little universe...

Sure there are folks that buy used basses that are not on here...but more people buy new then not.
 
#18
DLEE said:
I searched a bit but didn't find anything..My question is,Fender runs full production as well as Gibson and other manufacturers.Where do all these instruments go?How many are they selling? I can't remember the last new bass I bought,is there really enough demand to warrant big numbers? I'm having a hard time seeing how an instrument manufacturer stays in business. Business people please chime in.
Click to expand...

>>I don't buy new basses, so that must mean no one else does :rollno:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back