What to do? Either don't buy it, buy it used buy Mexican, save more money or go buy from another manufacturer. Simple isn't it?

i sent fender an email, and they said 'twas because of the rising cost of materials, and that the material costs had been rising, but they hadn't compensated. load of bs if you ask me

and 63supro, you probably have the money to use, being the "professional musician"

MusicMat dont take too much notice of that title under the username. I'm certainly no rockstar. Its to do with how many posts you've made rather than records sold.

Its a sad fact of life that things go up in price. Timber has been subject to some quite drastic jumps in price, mostly due to climate change and the diminishing rainforests. I'm not going indepth nor am I going to research the increase of every single component. Its a simple fact that workers need money. Suppliers hike prices, especialy commercial industry suppliers that dont sell to the public much. That way they can hide behind manufacturers instead of taking the brunt of public indignation. Prices rise, especially in a reccesion when nobody really knows if they've still got a business to go to next week.

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No no and no

The horse is dead, confirmed by the vet. Please step away from the dead horse...now you really must stop kicking the poor thing!


Let's talk about something fresh and exciting...

Which is better, MIM or MIA?

Seems to me that after the big increase at the beginning of the year that many prices have gone back down some. Not to the earlier levels but lower and you be out of your mind to pay 1600. for a Amer.Standard Strat when if you take the time to look around you can pick them up for 999. at places.

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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

You're asking why a manufacturing company would periodically raise its prices, and you have the balls to call the rest of us "idiots?"

He sounds young, dumb and straight off HC! Does not know how to have a conversation with adults.

i really don't notice any difference in mim or mia except for finish and the pickups. and also, that few extra hundred dollars. they play about the same

Only the finish and the pickups???? Add tuners to that and the neck and truss rod type. Thats the ovious differences how about whats under the finish????

_________________
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

The forum gave me the title. I started out as a roadie or whatever you get on your first post. No need for the sarcasm. So lighten up Francis.

I haven't bought a new electric guitar in 30 years LOL. My Strat cost $280 in 1972. I'm too cheap and don't need any more guitars. I did make a living at it in the 70's and 80's though. I play for fun now.

If you can't afford the price hike, just play what you have. If you don't make a living as a musician, why have so many guitars? For bragging rights? It's like the people who list all their equipment in every post. Who cares? Doesn't impress me one bit, Unless a musician makes the serious big time, they don't buy tons of guitars, It's just a waste, you can't play them all. I don't have 5 Strats just one. I don't have multiples of any model guitar.

When Fenders sales slump, the price will come down. It's just a game. Supply and demand will determine price. It's simple economics.

Having been an observer of the guitar biz for over forty years I am continually amazed at how inexpensive electric guitars are. And the quality per dollar in Fenders is just astonishing. In the 1960's you would have paid about $550 for an American Stratocaster. Now they're what? About a thousand?

Buncha whining.

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

actually, i wasn't sure if that was sarcastic or not. professional can have a lot of different meanings

You got that right. Go out and price saxophones or oboes if you want an eye opener. See what a keyboard player has to lay out for a decent rig, or how many bucks a drummer spends just on decent cymbals. With what I've got in synths and comnputer interfaces in my studio, I could own 40 Custom Shops guitars, or 3 real '56 Strats.

Guitar players are the luckiest. It's because there are so many people buying guitars.

It is a bunch of whining. In the 60's and 70's they were ALL American Stratocasters. Like I said, my 72 was $285 new. That was with a, cord, polishing cloth, extra set of strings, a handful of picks and a nice setup. The case was something like $30.

There are so many more choices now too in every price range.