tegs07

let the wolves howl at the moon - super furry animals

The warehouses won’t be full of complete and ready to go instruments though. The supply chain is still in a mess so likely to be in various states of build but not ready for shipping. Fenders business model is bizarre anyway. As has been mentioned already the Japanese made instruments and many of the Mexican made ones are now premium instruments around the £1000+ mark. Custom made US build would make more business sense. The USA is also in recession by standard economic definition so Fender may be planning ahead, however in a country as large and diverse as the US recession is hard to quantify.

i see a darkness/ bonnie prince billy (or mr cash)

well you wait for ages and then 3 turn up at once…

talkin’ bout a revolution - tracy chapman

phalarn dawn - ozric tentacles

night nurse - gregory isaacs

Yep raising a family is an expensive business. It does however provide a lot of joy and add meaning to life. It won’t suit everyone but it’s not something I would have wanted to miss out on.

I think about it as I spent nearly 20 years cycling to work having ditched a second car so I could put the money saved into a savings account for the kids uni fees. That’s nearly 20 years of wringing my soaking pants and socks out in the work bathroom sink and trying not to freeze in January and February! I really don’t want all of that effort to be eroded away. Your correct it is difficult to make a decent return on any investment and making a lot of money out of instruments is tricky. That said I bought a couple of instruments alongside some other things rather than let the cash sit in a 0.5% account whilst inflation runs many multiples ahead. If I can just only lose 5% of the savings over the next couple of years its a result.

30K at 13% inflation indeed goodbye to over 3K in a year…

That’s a healthy point of view. I would add is it ever really a loss? Once the time, enjoyment and frustration are factored in during ownership there are not many hobbies or pass times that are as cost effective!

I’ve found I reach for some and don’t play others so sell them on. There is no magic formula that can be predicted on price or materials. My most expensive bass rarely gets played and I really like a far cheaper bitsa I bodged together.

If it’s a keeper a luthier made instrument makes sense. When you go to sell it however you will lose far more than on a known brand.

As above. Inflation can be seen as a rise in prices or a devaluation in the money supply. When comparing different currency rates this erosion of purchasing power becomes even worse. The pound is weak against the dollar. It’s not a great situation for manufacturers, shops or consumers. I doubt Fender are particularly pleased that their costs are going up and their customers are going broke.

i’ve been converted - kelly joe phelps

a town called …. - The Jam

I use the same Hercules ones. I have used them for years. Only had a problem once when using the supplied plugs (supplied plug > brick wall) when the whole hanger bass and plugs came away and hit the ground. Lucky no real damage done. I had never used the supplied plugs before and never will again! They are well designed and well made hangers but the plugs that come with them are pants.

warm beer and cold women - tom waits

Exactly this. After Covid I tried to get hold of a roasted maple neck for a Vintera P. Could not source one anywhere and had to wait for months for one to be shipped from the USA. The demand is there but the supply chain is knackered. This is not just a Fender issue: https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/acoustic-soundboard/supply-chain-issues

news of the world - the jam

english rose - the jam

don’t take my sunshine away - sparklehorse

gold day - sparklehorse

diamond dogs - bowie too late a day in the life - the beatles

the ghosts of saturday night - mr waits