Fender Classic Player Strat Prices WTF ???

mark123

Kittyfrisk said:

Anyone remember new guitar prices from the 'majors' going down? 

2015 gibsons

Kittyfrisk

mark123 said:

Kittyfrisk said:

Anyone remember new guitar prices from the 'majors' going down? 

2015 gibsons

Oh yes, 2015. Henry J’s finest hour.

Shredder necks, unreliable robot tuners, ugly Les Paul headstock sigs., hologram, zero fret, oh and a twenty-nine per cent price increase. 

The only reason for a price 'fall' was that they had to be discounted to hell, in order to move any of them. So I'll stick by my assertion 

Bigsby

Kittyfrisk said:

mark123 said:

Kittyfrisk said:

Anyone remember new guitar prices from the 'majors' going down? 

2015 gibsons

Oh yes, 2015. Henry J’s finest hour.

Shredder necks, unreliable robot tuners, ugly Les Paul headstock sigs., hologram, zero fret, oh and a twenty-nine per cent price increase. 

The only reason for a price 'fall' was that they had to be discounted to hell, in order to move any of them. So I'll stick by my assertion 

Actually, that's no the whole picture. Taking the SG Standard as an example, and using $ prices to avoid exchange rate fluctuations:

2013 - $1,299 (with a Tronical tuner as a paid upgrade)
2014 - $1,299 (including a Tronical tuner in the price)
2015 - $1,879 (including a Tronical tuner in the price)
2016 - $1,199 (no Tronical tuner, no hard case)
2017 - $1,399 (no Tronical tuner, but with hard case)

So there was a price drop, not just from 2015 to 2016, but also from 2013 to 2016, and the overall price increase from 2013 to 2017 is only $100 - much less than most people seem to think, and the specs from 2013 & 2017 are pretty close.

Of course, this is also not the whole picture... Other specs changed too, but 2014 represented a price drop, as the $100 tuner upgrade was now included (even if it wasn't wanted!). 2016 was a price drop over the previous three years, not just 2015's price hike.

Kittyfrisk

Dollar prices don't reflect the UK pricing experience, but I take what you say on board, thanks for the information.
BTW, was it a Gibson SG Standard 2016 HP or Gibson SG Standard 2016 T   

Probably like with @gringopig' s recent pickup test, the 'perception' that prices just go up is generally true, if not universally   

Moltisanti

i get that prices will naturally go up over time, but Fenders are way above any previous growth, there's no way i'd pay £800 for a Mexican strat or Tele

meltedbuzzbox

Moltisanti said:

i get that prices will naturally go up over time, but Fenders are way above any previous growth, there's no way i'd pay £800 for a Mexican strat or Tele

In ten years you will probably be changing that to 1500

kt66

Rickenbacker and Gretsch prices have rocketed up in past 3 years too.

Weak £,  increased US costs, Mexico and Far East getting more expensive to make in.

munckee

Moltisanti said:

i get that prices will naturally go up over time, but Fenders are way above any previous growth, there's no way i'd pay £800 for a Mexican strat or Tele

I think that sort of makes sense, but then classic players and roadworns are at least as good as US specials and standards and they cost more.  I'm more interested in what I get for the money.  

darthed1981

mudslide73 said:

There are so many s/h minters around why would you buy new anyway? Nearly AVRI money on the used market that is (in Yoda voice) .

I have literally never seen a second hand bargain on a guitar I want, I think I have terrible luck.

When I do see something interesting, it's usually "collection only from Lands End" or "collection preferred, will meet anywhere between Kyle of Localsh and Fort William"

thegummy

Moltisanti said:

i get that prices will naturally go up over time, but Fenders are way above any previous growth, there's no way i'd pay £800 for a Mexican strat or Tele

What do the American ones have over the Mexicans that make them worth 1500 but the Mexicans not worth 800?

munckee

darthed1981 said:

mudslide73 said:

There are so many s/h minters around why would you buy new anyway? Nearly AVRI money on the used market that is (in Yoda voice) .

I have literally never seen a second hand bargain on a guitar I want, I think I have terrible luck.

When I do see something interesting, it's usually "collection only from Lands End" or "collection preferred, will meet anywhere between Kyle of Localsh and Fort William"

It always seems weird that about 80% of UK guitarists seem to live in Scotland!

Modellista

munckee said:

darthed1981 said:

mudslide73 said:

There are so many s/h minters around why would you buy new anyway? Nearly AVRI money on the used market that is (in Yoda voice) .

I have literally never seen a second hand bargain on a guitar I want, I think I have terrible luck.

When I do see something interesting, it's usually "collection only from Lands End" or "collection preferred, will meet anywhere between Kyle of Localsh and Fort William"

It always seems weird that about 80% of UK guitarists seem to live in Scotland!

Or rather 80% of guitar bargains on the market are collection only from Scotland!

Kittyfrisk

darthed1981 said:

mudslide73 said:

There are so many s/h minters around why would you buy new anyway? Nearly AVRI money on the used market that is (in Yoda voice) .

I have literally never seen a second hand bargain on a guitar I want, I think I have terrible luck.

When I do see something interesting, it's usually "collection only from Lands End" or "collection preferred, will meet anywhere between Kyle of Localsh and Fort William"

I think that I must have got your guitar luck allowance. Every guitar I own has been a bargain or it simply wouldn't be bought.
Also being in the North East & having relatives in Scotland helps 
Hope things change soon for you.
Also, might you not be able to hook up with another fretboarder in an area close to 'the bargain' & work out a shipping deal?
Too optimistic...

munckee

Hey there needs to be players like @darthed1981 and I buying high and selling low to keep the guitar community in bargains  : )

Kittyfrisk

Guitarnomics 101 

darthed1981

Kittyfrisk said:

darthed1981 said:

mudslide73 said:

There are so many s/h minters around why would you buy new anyway? Nearly AVRI money on the used market that is (in Yoda voice) .

I have literally never seen a second hand bargain on a guitar I want, I think I have terrible luck.

When I do see something interesting, it's usually "collection only from Lands End" or "collection preferred, will meet anywhere between Kyle of Localsh and Fort William"

I think that I must have got your guitar luck allowance. Every guitar I own has been a bargain or it simply wouldn't be bought.
Also being in the North East & having relatives in Scotland helps 
Hope things change soon for you.
Also, might you not be able to hook up with another fretboarder in an area close to 'the bargain' & work out a shipping deal?
Too optimistic...

All good points...

Kittyfrisk

Monumental (or mostly mental) mis-post.
Apologies to all.

Th4fonz

Now go back 5+ years ago, customshop relic strats could be bought brand new for 2k in the major stores.  Now the same models are 3.5k.............................

chrisj1602

I still think they are good value for money. Mexican Fenders are great and the Classic Players are really well spec’d.

Nikc

I only seem to buy new but always get a decent price - I think the key is to have an idea of what you want and take advantage of a price reduction (usually on the model year change) and be very happy