It is so cool people can be upset at price increases on truly luxury items. Thanks for the post.

'Means the Lounge economy is still alive and well. Best wishes to all for successfully and prosperously weathering this sucky recession.

This just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

I paid a little over $600 for my MIA when it was new in 98.

If I were going to get a strat today, I think I'd just get a good used MIA off ebay or craigslist or something.

Regarding the price hike - yeah it sucks. Prices normally raise a little every year but this one was a big jump. I'm guessing people aren't buying as many guitars with the economy, so Fender probably had to raise the prices to say in business. I don't like the jump but I can understand why, and I'd hate to see them start to go out of business...

I think it's why Squiers are becoming more and more popular. Especially the high end Squiers. You can still get a high quality guitar for a reasonable amount of money if you're not concerned about the name.

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

Thanks for that update Chase!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson