Pelham Blue '86 Thunderbird II

[veebass]

Going on how very simple and quick Fender basses are to make I would say that Fenders are less value for money than a Thunderbird, or to rephrase that, I imagine Fender probably make more profit per bass than Gibson do with the Tbird

Higher labour costs and more desirable headstock stickers have to be a big factors.
See how low US Gibsons have been blown out.
The Epi VP is essentially made the same way as a Gibson TBird except the finish.
Can't fault my Epi, but I can usually find a fault somewhere in my US Gibsons.
Just saying.

[Dave W]

I sincerely doubt that Fender makes more profit per unit than Gibson.

Value is in the eyes of the buyer, of course, but I can buy a new neck through Rickenbacker for less than a TBird, and it's far less likely to have workmanship problems.

[Christine]

From Thomman in Germany a US made Fender Jazz AM pro in GB Sterling is £1362.67, a 2018 Thunderbird is £1757.41, less that £400 difference. Given the ease of manufacture of the Fender against the Gibson I would be very surprised if Gibson make more profit. Their quality control issues are another issue and there is no excuse for those although I have never actually seen any.

[planetgaffnet]

Irrespective of Thomann's pricing, it still astounds me that mass (cough) production instruments sell new for so much.  Give it a year, these very same models will be available used for half this or less.

[Christine]

Irrespective of Thomann's pricing, it still astounds me that mass (cough) production instruments sell new for so much.  Give it a year, these very same models will be available used for half this or less.

That I agree with 

[slinkp]

Somebody has to buy new basses so the rest of us can buy from them 😀 .... But not me.

[Dave W]

From Thomman in Germany a US made Fender Jazz AM pro in GB Sterling is £1362.67, a 2018 Thunderbird is £1757.41, less that £400 difference. Given the ease of manufacture of the Fender against the Gibson I would be very surprised if Gibson make more profit. Their quality control issues are another issue and there is no excuse for those although I have never actually seen any.

Less than £400 difference is still a lot. The TBird is 29% more expensive, and that's a European distributor's price. Here, MAP is $2199 for the TBird vs. $1549 for the Jazz, which makes the TBird 42% more expensive.

Rickenbacker doesn't have MAP pricing, but MSRP is $1949 for a 4003S (unbound, dot inlays, like the TBird) and just about any dealer will give you at least 15% off that. 20-25% is more common. Even at 15% off, the TBird is 33% more expensive than a neck-through 4003S.

Plus, Fender and Rickenbacker are in California, where labor, insurance, utilities, and environmental costs are a good bit higher than in Tennessee, or in Montana where Gibson acoustics are made.

Irrespective of Thomann's pricing, it still astounds me that mass (cough) production instruments sell new for so much.  Give it a year, these very same models will be available used for half this or less.

Maybe where you are, but not here. One-third off would be about right. Except at forum marketplaces like Gearpage or Talkbass, where some members think they can sell their year-old guitars or basses for 90% of what they paid.

[Nocturnal]

Saw this on Facebook 





Pretty cool! Only ten made?! Wow...

Beautiful!!!

[FrankieTbird]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1925076994190672&set=gm.1357682427697769&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Which group is this in?  I can't see it.

[Dave W]

Which group is this in?  I can't see it.

It's in Gibson Bass Guitars - Vintage and Modern. Posted June 21 by Frank Stapleton.