tegs07

let the wolves howl at the moon - super furry animals 

11 minutes ago, Velarian said:

I just had a quick look at Fender basses listed on Thomann’s website and of the 169 advertised, only 23 are in stock and they all seem to be Mexican player series instruments. The availability of the American ones is quoted as “several months”. That doesn’t suggest there are warehouses are full of them.  Perhaps it supports the theory that they’re moving to a more custom/built to order model?

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)

10 minutes ago, Velarian said:

I’m still waiting for a veritable plethora to come along. 🤠

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

7 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

I've found the simplest way to avoid having too many money worries was not to own a car and not to have kids.

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.

19 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I'd never really given much thought to the actual value of money if you factor in inflation, something else to keep me awake at night I suppose.

 

Thing is, unless you took the risk and either invested in* something that is now magically worth a fortune, you're always sliding in the wrong direction.  (*Didn't someone sell his 10% in Apple for $800 about 30 years ago?). Fender Precision basses aren't the way to make a fortune.

 

The only way to make a decent investment return is to go into retail, but you're reliant on there being a ready market for what you're selling   I'm sure the more specialist guitar retailers would says it's hard work and a struggle.

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.

2 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

What’s the Cary Grant quote? “They say money talks. All it’s ever said to me is goodbye”

 

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

51 minutes ago, neepheid said:

I've always looked at losses made on selling basses as rent.  In much the same way as I look back on the places I stayed before I got on the property ladder as simply places I stayed, basses I no longer own are just basses I got to play.

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!

13 minutes ago, Boodang said:

I agree, but unless you're a collector surely you buy a bass to play rather than look at! 

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.

7 minutes ago, Boodang said:

Actually, I'm going to revise my statement... it's not so much that Fender are taking the p*ss as it's not such good value for money as, say, a locally made custom. 

As has been pointed out, a local luthier isn't going to have the transport cost, import duties, staff and other overheads. 

Given the value for money I think a local luthier gives, I'm surprised it's not a more popular option. A lot of bassists just seem to think in terms of what they can get off the shelf. Or maybe I'm wrong and it is popular, or not value for money... what do others think. I can feel a new thread coming on!

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.

6 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

Import duties, raw material costs, wage increases, transport costs, lower production volumes…

 

Anyone involved in selling stuff can tell you how costs have increased across the board.

 

Moaning about how much a Fender costs is the same as my dad complaining that a Mars bar cost 9p in 1965.

 

So what?

 

Given Fender has laid off 300 people they’re hardly making a mint from building basses and guitars.

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 

8 minutes ago, TimR said:

There's a warehouse full of unsold Fenders. 

 

The whole supply chain problem and looming recession following Covid is really weird. Some companies have excess stock, some can't get parts and so can't produce stock. In both situations you won't be making new stock so the employees are doing nothing.

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