NAMM update from Chris (Embassy and Tbird content)

[veebass]

 I ordered a white Bird from Sweetwater today   

Which model, Mark?

[Basvarken]

I wonder if there were ever Embassy basses - like there were Newports -that did not have the batwing headstock, but the then more trad. Epi 2+2 one

FrankieTbird has one. :-)

[veebass]

If the pups are indeed Chinese, I'm afraid prices will go up until summer, with the new tariffs and all. 

Well, at least they actually did pay for their wall. 

Yes, I was wondering about things along those lines.
Not that anyone knows precisely what he is going to do, but if the Prezelect unleashes his pet Tariffosaurus on stuff coming into the States, you would expect the price of Epis, Squiers, MIM Fenders etc etc to rise there.
I was wondering whether it would directly impact the prices here in OZ. Do Epis on their way to the Australian, Asian or European markets even go through the States, or do they ship direct to Australia/ European importers? Anyone know?
To further complicate matters we (Oz) have free trade deals with both USA, South Korea and China.

[dadagoboi]

Those tariffs will kick in right after Mexico pays for the wall that's never going to be built.

[Dave W]

If the wall is built, I'm going into the tall ladder business.

The 2015 TBird might have sold better if Gibson hadn't jacked up the price by 60%.

[uwe]

True - that was hefty.

[copacetic]

Yes heftier price. All around the pickups, electronics, Babicz bridge and thicker Rosewood fingerboard added up but not to the 60%. I like the '15 enough to have let go of 2 of my other Gibson TBIV's and a Very nice Precision. The '15 covered a lot of tonal areas enough to prompt this lessening of my collizione. Yes Chinese made anything is on a steep surge and Epiphone will have to eventually end up being made in Africa. I manufacture in Japan for the most part and some of the resources are sourced from China, however in the last few years because of the cost increases in China the equivalent cost wise are reverted back to Japan and Thailand (for fabrics). China is not in the mix any more from where we are concerned and a lot of others as we are seeing.

[66Atlas]

FrankieTbird has one. :-)

It has chinabuckers too, almost like its the protoype of the modern day version.

[Pilgrim]

 I ordered a white Bird from Sweetwater today   

I'd say you need a white Subaru to go with it, but then you'd need a stack of Subarus to color match your bass-o-the-day.

[Dave W]

Yes heftier price. All around the pickups, electronics, Babicz bridge and thicker Rosewood fingerboard added up but not to the 60%. I like the '15 enough to have let go of 2 of my other Gibson TBIV's and a Very nice Precision. The '15 covered a lot of tonal areas enough to prompt this lessening of my collizione. Yes Chinese made anything is on a steep surge and Epiphone will have to eventually end up being made in Africa. I manufacture in Japan for the most part and some of the resources are sourced from China, however in the last few years because of the cost increases in China the equivalent cost wise are reverted back to Japan and Thailand (for fabrics). China is not in the mix any more from where we are concerned and a lot of others as we are seeing.

The same pickups and electronics were in the 2013-14 EB Bass which was priced at $1089 in 2014.

The Thunderbird was $1499 in 2013 and jacked up to $2179 in 2014 despite no changes. How can that be justified? Then to $2599 with the 2015 changes. No surprise that sales fell.

[gearHed289]

To me, the best, most refined TBird ever built in series is/was the 2015 TB with the DeCola pups, plek'ed frets and the Babicz bridge. It also epitomizes to me how you can gently modernize something, yet still stay true to the original spirit. But of course not with you reactionary lot, you TBird Amish! 

Us car guys call that a "restomod". 

[FrankieTbird]

Us car guys call that a "restomod". 

Nope, for a "restomod", you have to start with something old.  The '15 T-bird is more like a new Camaro or Challenger.

[Dave W]

I thought a restomod had to be not in working order. You know, like a three-point bridge. 

[clankenstein]

A 3 point bridge is not working as soon as you take the strings because you will be looking around the floor for the saddles.

[Highlander]

Nothing a bit of araldite won't sort...