tegs07

I would add the Nate Mendel P bass to this list of relatively low cost, good quality instruments that would serve the needs of a bedroom player right up to a headline stadium band. The biggest factor being labour costs and volume of production.

Basschat sometimes cracks me up. Generally folks aren’t interested in the cause of inflation but are very concerned about prices. Generally people want higher wages and better living conditions and environmental standards but are shocked when there are annual price increases, whether this is the price of a pint or a bass. We want jobs but when even relatively benign companies like EBMM position themselves in a market place to make sure that they turn a profit and keep their staff in work we shout corporate shills and greedy capitalists. FWIW yes MusicMan basses are expensive but for relatively low production run, quality instruments made in the USA IMO the price point is what I would expect.

Thanks. Having watched this it looks like a considerable amount of time and attention to detail went into this bass. Is it worth the price tag? I guess the people who buy it will think so.

I don’t think it’s possible to rationalise the collectibles or memorabilia market. It’s certainly not logical for grown men to get excited about train sets or wearing football shirts! It’s the eccentricity that makes the world a less dull place IMO so if you get your kicks from a pino replica bass or Hornby dining car (if that’s a thing) good on you. Keep the world weird.

There is a local luthier I have used on occasion that fits this description. He used to have a bigger shop and employ people. Now retired and working out of his garage. Very reasonable and working as a hobby really.

OK so 10x6K. £60,000. And that’s not profit. It hardly seems like a cynical attempt at world domination and exploitation. Just a bit of a gimmick and marketing ploy. If it keeps some guys in a job then I am all for it. I am sure that there are 10 guys out there on this planet who can afford 6K in the same way I can treat myself to a cold cider after a hot day at work.

For one of ten signed exact replicas for context.

I don’t think any of those guys employ 200 plus people with all the associated marketing, shipping, infrastructure costs. Their exposure to import costs, supply chains and currency fluctuations will also be less severe. ( US importers will be dealing with the 10% plus import tariffs as well as 10% decline in the value of the $). This has to hurt. I dont know the breakdown of Ernie Ball profits but I suspect strings (most likely made in the far east) are the most profitable items. I agree that US made instruments like Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Martin, MusicMan are expensive (there seems to be a thread a week pointing this out) but they have a long history of producing iconic and some really good instruments. I think it’s a challenging time and if price point is the main motivator then their future may be uncertain. Personally I think that it’s a great looking bass and I would love to try one but it’s out of my price range.

I think we can agree that over the last 25 years prices of accommodation, transport, food and energy in western countries in particular have increased. I think we generally agree that people need more money to cover the costs of the increases. If we agree so far then prices of products made have to increase and retailers need to charge more to survive. The issue is if all the other increases are normal but the price of goods increasing isn’t then we have a problem. One that is only going to get worse when high tech manufacturing, the financial sector and services industry is also cheaper in the global south. I guess we either change our definition of normal or move to Brasil, China or Indonesia in search of employment. 3.4K is really expensive but it probably is “normal” for a limited edition, USA produced instrument.

I agree. It will be interesting to see how consumers react to the rising costs of USA produced instruments. At what price point do people vote with their wallets. My cut off is £1000. Plenty of Mexican made Fenders exceed that now.

We are not. We are talking about labour costs, energy costs, global supply chains and money supply as well as a whole heap of other complex issues.

Who would have thunk it. Another Basschat mad price thread. Let’s await the next round of ZIRP and QE and see what happens. I think there is a clear pattern for manufacturing outside of the global south and particularly in the USA. Stuff is getting more expensive. Either that or FIAT is losing purchasing power.

I suspect the band will be middle aged men grifting off the chance for a very comfortable retirement FTFY

I suspect the audience will be mostly middle aged men reliving their youth.

If it’s online rather than bricks and mortar it may well just be located in a distribution centre staffed by by 3rd party employees who have nothing to do with the online store. Their job is to take stuff off shelves and get it on vans for delivery. Online sales are cheaper for a reason. If you want the personal touch buy in store, preferably from an independent retailer.