Has anyone else noticed the higher price of professional instruments.

[diverse379]

It must be inflation because
I am looking at the yamaha Cp1 Stage piano and it costs 3,000
it is not a work station just a stage piano
does it sound great yes
is it worth 3,000 I dont know

and what about the motif xs6
still 2,300 new?
you would be hard pressed to find one for less than 1,600 used.
what is going on this board is 3 years old
why hasnt it gone down in price.

bass guitars the really good ones a s high as 5,000
compaies like kensmith and warwick producing cheap lines which really dont sound that great for the money.

it must be inflation or maybe we musicians have been irresponsibly buying the latest thing the marketers ram down our throats.

I dont know but I cant believe that i have to shell out 3,000 dollars for a keyboard that came out 4 years ago.
(motif xs8)

[docjohn]

sales /pricing-what the market will bear.I think the XS has held it's value because I think this is about the end of what a workstation can do;at this price point.Maybe a few more bells and whistles;but it looks to me like the computtr is going to replace the workstation model.

Workstations will be around,just think computers will be bigger thing.

[Mysteryman]

Prices on instruments started increasing a few years ago. Where you been at?  lol

[under13]

Yeah, Hammond Clones have gone up quite a bit as well. I only buy used gear.

[diverse379]

Prices on instruments started increasing a few years ago. Where you been at?  lol

well not in the music stores that is for sure.
I sold my phantom x8
and now I want a work station and
am saying to myself
what am I going to do.?

the motif xs seems like the only option
but so pricey

[Steelpulz]

I paid $1,399 for my bass, new, about 4 years ago. Today they go for 1,869-1,959 new. I could probably get my money back if I wanted to sell it.

[Mysteryman]

After Katrina things went up big time.

[under13]

After Katrina things went up big time.

how did Katrina affect instrument prices?

[diverse379]

After Katrina things went up big time.

what does Katrina have to do with things.

hmmm
maybe it was all those musicians looking for new gear

[Mysteryman]

Trucking industry for one. Many jobs were affected. Demand went down on many goods so some manufacturers had to raise prices in order to sustain profitability.

[berbie]

A lot of new and used instruments were destroyed in the storms in several states.  That had an effect on the industry.

[diverse379]

Trucking industry for one. Many jobs were affected. Demand went down on many goods so some manufacturers had to raise prices in order to sustain profitability.

you are really right gas prices went up really high a couple of years ago and a lot of industries were affected.

I didnt think about the trucking connection.
but take an instrument like the CP1
5,000 dollars for a keyboard?
and all it does is play piano?

[docjohn]

Look at Roland "virtual grand",which came out about 2-3 years ago.Their vids sound and look great!!! On an item like that,and your Yamaha;it's a niche' piece.The manufacturer has a higher per unit cost/profit;simply because you won't sell as many of those as 200 psr seris /starters etc..

At the pro-level XS,Fantom,Triton-they have to meet a features/benefits to cost ratio;since they expect to sell more;they can spread their costs around.

Like autos;it's cheaper PER UNIT to sell ONLY vehicles with an automatic trans,than to stock/supply so many 3,4,5 ,6 speeds;clutches etc.So a auto tranny that would cost 500 and be a 700 ad-on now costs the company 300 per unit,is std. equipment and results in a higher profit margin.

[ferrente]

Yes, I have notice!  Gone Up Big-Time!

[Miffy]

There are still some good quality instruments available at affordable prices.  I think Martin guitars are among the best quality you can get and here is a great example of a really beautiful guitar that isn't overpriced - Martin D15 Acoustic Guitar

[diverse379]

There are still some good quality instruments available at affordable prices.  I think Martin guitars are among the best quality you can get and here is a great example of a really beautiful guitar that isn't overpriced - Martin D15 Acoustic Guitar

I really was referring to keyboards not guitars and basses

but since you bring it up.

guitars are coming down
at least the big names like prs washburn etc
have introduced inexpensive versions for the everyman or everywoman to play


but keyboards have not really done this well

sure the big names have introduced cheaper versions
and they really are cheaper in every sense of the word..

I bought a prs for 500 I am sure it is not the same quality as the 3000 dollar prs
but it sounds pretty good plays really well
and when it comes to guitars it is all about the hands
I am sure if I wanted to upgrade a notch or two I could change the pick ups and I would be good

the best sounding guitar I ever heard was  mexican tele with a seth lover humbucker in the neck position and a dimarzio split rail in the bridge

the guitar probably cost around 400 dollars and add about 300 for picks ups

but keyboards are not like that
keyboards are computers and unless you can significantly upgrade the memory or motherboard
you are stuck with what you have
the only upgrading you can do in terms of sound quality is to buy a brain