Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

[Uk Ant]

Obviously us in the UK think we're hard done by on the price of gear, especially American stuff.

But what is the real difference?
Lets pick five amps, from assorted makers and countries of origin and compare. These are new prices, possibly not the lowest but what you can easily get them for on the net pretty much all over Western Europe.

Marshall MG100HFX head - £299 (about $480)
BOGNER ALCHEMIST 112 COMBO - £630 ($1,010)
Engl Screamer Head - £800 ($1,290)
Fender 65 Twin reverb - £1400 ($2,250)
Mesa Mark V 112 combo - £2590 ($4,160)

So how much would you expect to pay in the states... or any other country come to think of it

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Obviously us in the UK think we're hard done by on the price of gear, especially American stuff.

But what is the real difference?
Lets pick five amps, from assorted makers and countries of origin and compare. These are new prices, possibly not the lowest but what you can easily get them for on the net pretty much all over Western Europe.

Marshall MG100HFX head - £299 (about $480)
BOGNER ALCHEMIST 112 COMBO - £630 ($1,010)
Engl Screamer Head - £800 ($1,290)
Fender 65 Twin reverb - £1400 ($2,250)
Mesa Mark V 112 combo - £2590 ($4,160)

So how much would you expect to pay in the states... or any other country come to think of it

Canadian prices seem a bit better (our dollar is about parity with the US dollar at the moment):

Marshall MG100HFX head - 360$
BOGNER ALCHEMIST 112 COMBO - ?
Engl Screamer Head - ?
Fender 65 Twin reverb - 1449$
Mesa Mark V 112 combo - 2,350$

We tend to get shafted on specialty items, pedals, and pickups though.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Marshall $360
Bogner $900
Engl $1,300
Fender $1,400
Mesa $2,249

all US sweetwater prices save the Engl

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Lawks, I knew there was a difference, but you can buy the twin and the mesa for the price of just the Mesa over here. Yikes.
Even taking in account shipping, import duty etc that's a massive difference.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

I'm no good in this thread because I buy most of my gear used, in great condition, at rock-bottom prices from Ebay.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Good thread Ant. I knew there would be some shockers, especially the Mesa price.

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

No way I would ever even consider a Mesa at the prices we have to pay. I don't care how good it sounds.

I think we get lucky on Laney. Their prices are usually pretty decent, especially used. Orange stuff is expensive as well, but I think we still get a decent price compared to how it is over the pond.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

What we need is a money value indicator to put things in perspective. For example, the cost of a pint at the local bar. Around here it's 4-5 USD, so the Mark V combo would cost me about 500 beers.

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

£3.60 (minimum) for a pint here. Which is $5.80 according to xe.com.

Although, I can see different factors affecting beer prices, such as different amounts of tax or whatever.

It might be easier to compare based on the standard basic cost of living in each country. Based on legal minimum wage or something like that.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Shouldn't England get better deals on Marshall?

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Shouldn't England get better deals on Marshall?

I guess it costs about the same to import them from Indonesia or wherever the **** those MGs are put together.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

LOL, let's price Orange and Hiwatt now (I'm too lazy).

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

£3.60 minimum for a pint... eeps.
Beer on the old mainland will start at about £2 a pint (more in London). I think my local we're on £2.50-£3, which is $4-$5, so the mesa would cost the best part of a thousand beers.

How about guitars, a fender USA standard strat is roughly £1000, about $1600

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

£3.60 minimum for a pint... eeps.

Yeah, it's steep, though I could be a little off. I know it's £3.60 in the bar I always end up in, around the same in a couple of other places and quite a bit more in others but all these bars are around city centre so they might be a bit more pricey anyway.

This is where the importance of pre-swall comes in. :alcoholic

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

LOL, let's price Orange and Hiwatt now (I'm too lazy).

orange tiny terror is bout £350, $560

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Orange Rockerverb 100 head=

£1,255.15 (from dolphinmusic.co.uk) which is 2,020.84 USD.

It's currently marked at $1,999.00 on Musician's Friend, though apparently it's a sale item. It seems to be marked down from $2,299.00.

 

[Kam]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

So basically we're paying around the same or slightly less for British brands and much, much more for American brands.

How 'bout you jackasses stop ripping us off, huh?

 

[Tor]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

I haven't thought thoroughly through the real differences, but I'd assume that I can get gear for 50-75% of the price here in Norway. Needless to say, I have bought a lot from the US.

Price check:

Marshall MG100HFX head - $520
BOGNER ALCHEMIST 112 COMBO - $1370
Engl Screamer Head - $1890
Fender 65 Twin reverb - $2805
Mesa Mark V 112 combo - $4865

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

It might be easier to compare based on the standard basic cost of living in each country. Based on legal minimum wage or something like that.

That's what I was shooting for. Minimum wage might be a better indicator.

So basically we're paying around the same or slightly less for British brands and much, much more for American brands.

How 'bout you jackasses stop ripping us off, huh?

Unfortunately I believe it's your own country's import tariffs. Kind of a no-lose deal, really - it either encourages local industry or fills the coffers. What's not to like about that?

 

[Stratman]

Re: Cost of Gear - USA v Europe

Take a TRIP to Holland, they are cheaper there!