I was just checking out the new arrivals at Sweetwater and I noticed the Standard Strat going for $550.97.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratSTMCAR/

Strange the other colors that it shows you can choice from are 449.99 and the Sunburst is 474.99. Could it be because its a Candy Apple Red I thought someone else posted they saw a Candy Apple Red for that price somewhere else and thought it was for the color.

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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

It's possible. I noticed the Lake Placid Blue was also 550. I may have to call and find out what the deal is.

At musicians friend the new standard strats in Lake Placid Blue and Candy Red are at 550 but the other colors are 450, also I saw the Standard Floyd Rose strats in Lake placid Blue and apple Red ar at 700 bucks all because of the color they DO look really nice though

Maybe the 449.99 are the interm prices from when they were all 399.99 to the new 550.00 price. Either way 150.00 more is crazy increase for them I could see 449 lets hope thats it and that it is a color thing..
Heck I would buy a PRS SE Custom or a Single Cut for that 550.

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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

I called Sweetwater and they confirmed that it was indeed the new price for the standard Strat. All the new shipments will have the new price.

Sam Ash has the 2009s for $449 (Lake Placid Blue, Candy Apple Red). Guitar Center has them for $450. Seems like the 2008s are $399 at most places (ie.-Chrome Red instead of Candy Apple Red).

From what the guy at Sweetwater said all Fenders are going up about 30%. While they still have standards for 399 all their new ones will be $550.00. That will be the new price. As for other retailers I would imagine they will probable be about the same it just depends on when they get new shipments in.

Get ready. This will be an across the board price increase. Not just on MIM but on all Fender products.

It's probably long overdue. Fender guitars have been significantly underpriced for years.

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Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

The new MIA went from 1000 to 1200, their all going up in price.

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I'm just going to drop my $.02 worth in here for what it's worth...

I think that the greater majority of folks around here knew the price increase was coming...there's been chatter around here on it for a couple of weeks now. Personally I don't think it's -that- big a deal, particularly when you compare prices with Gibson for example. Even at $550, the Standards are great instruments and the Am Std's at $1200 are certainly worth it to many folks too (not me personally...I'd rather get an MIM and build it up the way -I- want it).

I've been playing for over 25 years now and compared with a great many other things over those 25 years, the cost of decent guitars hasn't really gone up that much at all. In my opinion, you actually get a lot more for that money now a days than you used to...better instruments, better quality control, more options, etc.. Also as a person who has built a few of my own (as in cut the wood) when you work in the cost of parts and labor (especially all that sanding to get a great finish!), it's hard to build an instrument as good as the Standard Strat for the same $550.

I think that part of the problem is perhaps simply that many of us are "working musicians" and a lot of us, particularly on the lower end of the scale don't always have a lot of money to toss around (particularly with the economy being in the shambles that it is). I know that I can look at that $150 price difference and easily see 3 weeks of groceries there! LOL!!! Again though, when you compare this with other things (such as the price of a new car for example) which in some cases the prices have increased exponentially over the last 25 years, $550 for a decent, professional quality instrument really isn't that bad at all.

Anyways, just a few thoughts to consider,
Jim

Not true.
Over the past year, the US Dollar has risen against the major foreign currencies (accept the yen). I deal with Euro all of the time. Last March, it took @ $ 1.62 to buy one Euro, as of this AM it takes $ 1.29; that is a 25% improvement on the dollar.

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AmDlx HSS
62 Hot Rod
Luke w/Piezo
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