3rd Batch colours/colors

[Rich#6]

USA > Japan is all hype.. I'd rather see them move this line to Japan, keep the same price, and watch the wood quality & QC improve

I woudn't mind this but the price a little cheaper.

[joelayres]

The SoCal I had sounded great and I liked the guitar and all but it had a warped neck. When I bought it, the only other one left was the no pickguard strat model... when I returned it, all of the other ones were back and were being sold as used.
$50 would be nowhere near enough cash to fix that thing... more like $300, for a new neck.

A warped neck would have been covered under the warranty - why did you not have it returned to the factory for a new neck? I've played 20 or more of these, and none had serious issues - only minor setup stuff.

[Newc]

The SoCal I had sounded great and I liked the guitar and all but it had a warped neck. When I bought it, the only other one left was the no pickguard strat model... when I returned it, all of the other ones were back and were being sold as used.

First I've heard of that.

[JHo66]

This is the kind of bullshit that pisses me off.
They play fuggin games with this price and that price and try to convince you that you are getting a good deal.

I don't even mind this too much as long as I know the rules of the game. I look at it like buying a car; you start with the asking/sticker price and negotiate downward from there.

Thing I don't like about this particular scenario is not know whether the $999 (or $1099) is MAP or MSRP.

If it is MSRP then MAP should be around $700-800 and I'd negotiate from there, if it is MAP then negotiate from there... The pricing at sweetwater.com that I mentioned before led me to believe MSRP is $1199 and MAP is $999, but it seems like that may or may not be correct.

It is a great $700-800 guitar. More than that then I think you are not getting a good value for what you are paying considering the specs...

[Newc]

I'd be inclined to agree since for $1000-$1100 you can get a neckthrough Import, however, you have to weigh whether the USA production, Strathead, and limited color is enough of a difference to warrant the price. If you're just looking at it as wood and wire, then a neckthrough (more expensive to construction) might be a better price vs product comparison.

[Flatpicker]

It is a great $700-800 guitar. More than that then I think you are not getting a good value for what you are paying considering the specs...

I don't think I agree about that price.
Try pricing out the same guitar using Warmoth parts:

Estimates obviously, you could go cheaper or more expensive depending on your specs.

Body 350
Neck 300
Hardware (incl chrome floyd and SD pups) 300

Now add in some cost for your time and you would be over the 1100 mark.
Fender may get the parts cheaper considering the volume, but, it's not as if we could so it any cheaper ourselves. Esp if you place any value on your time.

[DHardmanJr]

I don't think I agree about that price.
Try pricing out the same guitar using Warmoth parts:

I agree ... I tried to price out doing a Warmoth and once you add everything up it's over what Charvel is asking for these. Plus the Warmoth neck is just not the same as the Charvel. To me, the real value of the Charvel is in the neck. The body, floyd, pickups, etc ... you can get that stuff anywhere ... the mojo/feel is in the neck ... and the way they make their necks seems pretty unique.

Let's face it ... no one likes for prices to be higher ... especially when we actually see price deflation elsewhere due to the current economic crapola. If Charvel is raising prices I'd guess it is because either one or both of the following are true: 1) these sold beyond expectations and they realized they could get more value out of these guitars or 2) the cost if the inputs went up and they weren't making enough money without a price hike for it to make business sense to continue.

[Rich#6]

I think the price hike was figured in from the start. No company would only have a 6 month plan.

don't think I agree about that price.
Try pricing out the same guitar using Warmoth parts:

Estimates obviously, you could go cheaper or more expensive depending on your specs.

Body 350
Neck 300
Hardware (incl chrome floyd and SD pups) 300

Now add in some cost for your time and you would be over the 1100 mark.
Fender may get the parts cheaper considering the volume, but, it's not as if we could so it any cheaper ourselves. Esp if you place any value on your time.

The price mark up on parts is more then just the guitar as a whole.

[shreddermon]

Like any other product being sold, this is all about supply and demand, folks. It's as simple as that. Absolutely voice your opinions. But, unless demand drops off significantly, you're probably just going to have to get over it. That may sound harsh, but that's just how markets work.

[Flatpicker]

I think the price hike was figured in from the start. No company would only have a 6 month plan.
The price mark up on parts is more then just the guitar as a whole.

You are right, but, unless you make parts from scratch you have to pay the mark up.
We get screwed either way, but at least the FMIC Charvel's screw us less.

[joelayres]

I agree ... I tried to price out doing a Warmoth and once you add everything up it's over what Charvel is asking for these.

This is true, but try the same thing with a car - buy the individual parts and assemble it yourself. It would cost you 2 to 3 times the cost of a built car.

[JHo66]

As others have pointed out, the Warmoth comparison isn't really valid given the higher prices of individual components vs a whole guitar.

I'd say a more accurate comparison would be something like a Carvin Bolt with a Floyd. I haven't looked at Carvins in years, but I'm guessing the Bolt would be around $700-800, and you would have more finish and hardware options. I'm not a Carvin fan by any stretch, but for comparison sake I think this is more applicable.

[Rich#6]

I'd say a more accurate comparison would be something like a Carvin Bolt with a Floyd. I haven't looked at Carvins in years, but I'm guessing the Bolt would be around $700-800, and you would have more finish and hardware options. I'm not a Carvin fan by any stretch, but for comparison sake I think this is more applicable.

Not really since they are carvins are all custom and not line guitars but $879(plus shipping) is the price for the bolt plus with floyd, locking nut and jumbo frets.

[DHardmanJr]

Regarding comparison to Carvin ... if a guitar is just a bunch of parts put together then you can compare them ... but in my thinking ...

Charvel mojo >> Carvin mojo (do Carvin's even have mojo?)


So, of course, Charvels cost more than a Carvin.

[Newc]

It still makes no sense to raise prices on popular items, because you will invariably lose customers who either cannot afford or cannot find material (physical) justification for the higher price (i.e. hardshell case, better Floyd, etc).

You can sell more of any item for a low price than you will of the same item at a higher price. Had the price dropped $100, I think you'd see more sales than the first 2 batches, even in this tough climate.

Selling 10,000 items for $900 each gets you $90,000. Selling 8,000 items for $1100 each only gets you $88,000.

Of course those figures are generated to favor my philosophy - I have no idea how many they will make or how many will actually sell. Maybe they're not selling well enough and the price increase is an attempt to cover the losses from the first 2 batches and projected losses from the 3rd batch. Only Charvel knows.