Music gear prices are skyrocketing as a result of the Trump administration’s new tariffs, and this is going to significantly impact US musicians’ instrument purchase plans for the foreseeable future.
Electronic music gear buyers are likely to experience sticker shock in the next few months, as prices for gear manufactured in China more than double, and prices for US-made products rise because of dependencies on Chinese-made components.
Some manufacturers and retailers are reacting to this by trying to be transparent about the impact of the new tariffs on gear pricing.
For example, electronic music gear maker Sonicware – maker of the Liven line of synths, CyDrums and other instruments – has updated its site to show the impact of the Trump administration’s new tariffs on pricing.
Their listing for the CyDrums includes this warning for US buyers:
“Important Notice for USA Customers
Due to new U.S. customs regulations, a 145% duty will apply to China-made products, including this item.
This $399 item will incur over $578 in additional import charges starting next month. We recommend ordering within this month to avoid the new duties.”
We’ve seen similar messages via email from other manufacturers.
For US gear makers, it may be more challenging to show the exact impact of the new tariffs, because the manufacturers have to deal with the prices of Chinese-made components more than doubling. In addition to creating supply-chain nightmares for manufacturers, this could create accounting challenges for companies that want to be transparent about how the new taxes impact pricing.
When it comes to US-based music retailers, they are warning about the tariff-driven price increases. Sweetwater earlier this year warned, “We anticipate that many manufacturers could increase their prices from as little as 5% to 40% or more in the coming months,” and this was prior to the administration’s most recent tariff increases.
We have not seen retailers trying to directly show the impact of tariffs, yet, whether it’s because of accounting challenges or politics.
The administration positions the tariffs as necessary, as part of its strategies for fighting Fentanyl abuse and trade deficits in goods. The tariffs are seen as self-destructive by most US economists and CEOs, though, because tariffs have historically contributed to inflation, increased unemployment and economic depression.
Unfortunately, the bottom line for musicians that live in the US is that gear prices are going way up. And, for US-based gear makers, it will be harder to compete internationally, as tariffs on imported components drive up manufacturing costs.
Should US music gear manufacturers and retailers be transparent about the impact of new US tariffs on prices? Leave a comment and let us know what you’d like to see when you’re making buying decisions.
Just like the medical services in the US. Its going to be cheaper to travel, buy what you need and come back. Specially for smaller items like this.
In the past I traveled overseas, got surgery done (with no insurance), stayed on a private room recovering for a week and travel back to the US for less than the co-payment of my health insurance.
It’s crazy how Americans now pay more for everything and get less than other countries, and yet most Americans don’t even realize it.
I’m going to put my gear purchases on hold until these tariffs get rolled back.
What a nonsense comment.
That tactic only works when your currency is valued far higher than the country hosting you as a medical tourist. It will be interesting to see if that’s still possible in a few years.
Not true, it isn’t just about the value of the currency.
For instance, the sort of dental work I need in Canada would cost me about 20k CAD, where if I flew down to Mexico (like many people I know have) I would be looking at 7k.
Why?
The cost of canadian standards, high overhead costs for rental space in the building, of employee wages, and of course dealing with insurance companies.
There’s a lot of things that stack up and add to the cost, hell even just the student loans the dentist is still paying off is often factored.
The quality of the work done in Mexico is very similar and good, but there’s a lot less red tape, lower cost of living and lower cost of rentals, etc.
Cheaper to fly down to Mexico and get the work done. Lots of people do this.
Dude. Firstly, hope the work was done well & that you’re all sorted now. Secondly, thanks for reinforcing my point despite leading with ‘you’re wrong’.
Consider this:
Canadians have an average of US$66k GDP per capita (nominal), Mexicans have an average of US$25k each, which is just about the global average. Your Canadian dollar therefore buys more in Mexico. The push factor to spending it there is that your health care system is comparatively expensive against the average wage.
Search for ‘countries by GDP (nominal) per capita’ for stats rather than anecdotes.
There’s more stuff contributing to the low cost of medical treatments in Mexico like less regulation setting a lower bar for entry but I’ll leave it here.
Dude why do you always have to be so disrespectful towards us little people here in europe?
How do you get non-emergency medical service in another country without being a taxpayer there? It makes no sense that you would not have to pay for it out of pocket. Surely they would not be stupid enough to let their system be taken advantage of by foreigners. Co payment for surgery would probably be $500 to $2000. I have trouble accepting your claim.
Here in the Netherlands we call it hospitality and humanity to make sure our guest don’t occur stupid costs. I myself pay €200 a month max for everything healthcare related. The USA system is stealing from its citizens
I’m in the US and I pay $150 four times a year to cover myself, my wife and my kid, but then I’m in a Hollywood trade union. There are plenty of horror stories about American health care, but if you have the right employer or work in the right industry, it’s pretty much free. Over 90 percent of Americans have health insurance and of that 90 percent, 81 percent rate it good or excellent. But I can see how if you get your info from the failures who spend all day bitching on Reddit you might get a different impression
The idea that it’s “pretty much free” is not true. Your health insurance is never going to cover 100% of your needed medical treatment in any given year.
36% of the the 90 percent of americans with health insurance you mentioned have it through the ACA and the average premium is $600 a month.
I would also have to assume that the majority of the 81 percent who rate it good or excellent have never experienced health care outside of the US.
you do pay for it. it’s just cheaper than 10s of thousands for a bandaid and an aspirin. way way cheaper.
Hello Gridsleep
What I meant to say was that the entire cost of the trip and medical services was below what I must pay for my co-payment in the US, not to mention the quality and speed of the service.
My medical services are through Kaiser. My wife and I went to see the doctor in November. We were told they would schedule the procedure in a couple of weeks.
I was February and nothing (doctor made a mistake, he is on vacation, etc) . My co-payment at the time was $7500 dlls.
Breakdown:
Taiwan Airplane tickets roundtrip 2800 dlls for 2 people.
Medical payment for the operation without having insurance in Taiwan $2800.00 dlls.
(This included 5 days in a private room for recovery.)
If we were to have medical insurance in Taiwan it would have been a fraction of that cost.
Additional hotel and meals $1500.00
My total expenses for the trip were around 7000.00
Additionally, it took me 1 day to schedule an appointment with the doctor. We arrived over the weekend and by the following Friday the procedure was completed.
You could argue that saving 500 dlls is not much, but the medical problem got solved immediately, which is what really matters. Instead of becoming a much bigger problem as they drag their feet here.
What’s worse is it has happened more than once in my family.
I am not saying everything is bad in the US, far from it. Just some things are clearly broken.
Regarding synths, I was just thinking that If you were planning to buy 4 or 5 eurorack modules in a single purchase and the tariffs stick, you might be able to plan a small vacation instead of paying them in taxes.
But isn`t there a limit to what you can bring back with you through customs?
In germany i believe you can officially only bring back something costing not more than 400 euros or something around there.
Meaning, you cannot fly somewhere and come back with an extra bag worth of 3000 euros in devices that save you 2000 compared to buying in germany (random numbers).
So it his different in the states?
Even paying as a foreigner it’s often WAY cheaper than paying with insurance in the states.
Eh, what…? Please do a web search on “medical tourism”. It’s been a thing for a long, long, time. And it’s not going to change anytime in the near future.
Back in the early 00’s, before we left the US, my wife needed an elective procedure not covered by our medical insurance. We were able to get excellent care at a rate (travel included) far cheaper than anything available in the States by taking a short vacation to Thailand.
Ten years later, in Japan, we didn’t want to suffer through the Japanese birthing system to have our second son. At the time, birth costs were not covered by national health insurance (one of the few uncovered, open areas) but Japan would give a stipend for any new baby of ~USD$10,000, which was intended to be applied to pay for any sort of hospital or birthing you preferred. Using only that stipend, we were able to get flights to/from Thailand, 2 months in a serviced apartment for my wife and my other son (I had to fly back to Japan and work until returning for the new baby’s due date), and a full birthing package at one of Bangkok’s top-3 hospitals. The care was great and the whole experience was absolutely worth it. And, as I said, completely paid for out-of-pocket with that government stipend.
Assuming that you’re responding from the US, I don’t think you have any idea about the healthcare systems offered by the rest of the world. Nobody is “letting their system be taken advantage of by foreigners”. This is all due to the fact that 1.) the US healthcare system is one of the most expensive in the world, and 2.) the currency exchange difference is really large between the USD (or most first-world currencies) and the local currency in many other countries. As a result, it’s possible in some nations — like Thailand or Korea here in Asia, for example — to pay solely by cash out-of-pocket and get excellent medical treatment from some of that country’s top-tier healthcare institutions.
There’s no scam and nobody’s being taken advantage of. It’s simply looking beyond your own nose to see what the possibilities are across the entire world.
I took ill in on tour in Paris,went to the hospital,only paid for medication.
When you come back with that gear, you have to pay the tariff personally on entrance
I am wondering how preordered stuff will be impacted by this, guess we’re gonna find out (gulp)
i just checked the site, gotta buy it before the end of April to avoid the markup..
Sweetwater will honor the price you pre order at…not sure about others.
Pre tariff price would only apply to units imported before the tariff effect.
That isn’t correct. The tariffs do not apply to anything that was already in transit
To fight the import of Fentynyl is a crazy thing to justify tarrifs over considering we are the #2 exporter of acetic anhydride in the world and you can’t manufacture Fentynyl without it.
Tariff is applied after shipment on arrival at the shore of destination, not during initial purchase. The seller has nothing to do with the tariff, only the importer. Perhaps if something is purchased directly from another country for retail and shipped directly to the buyer, it won’t go through an importer. Tariff may not be applied. I am trying to find out the process now.
Customs calculates tariff eligibility based on when the goods were withdrawn from the foreign warehouse for consumption. This could change, but that’s how they currently do it.
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3daf1b6?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
Thanks for the link.
Nice try but you’re a little off the mark. That’s OK, this stuff is abstract if you’ve never worked in international supply chains.
The correct chapter in the Harmonised System (HS) for synths is chapter 92. The HS is set by the World Customs Organisation, of which the USA is a member. So a synth gets code 9207.10. It’s always best to find the governmen’s tariff list because they’re the source of truth.
Here’s in Australia:
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/tariff-classification/current-tariff/schedule-3/section-xviii/chapter-92#Synt
In the USA:
https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9207
Once gods are imported, they’re held under customs’ control in the buyer’s country until all duties (taxes) are paid, including tariffs. You’ll often pay the freighter for duties & shipping in one go. It’s done this way to make transshipments easier (where an item crosses more than 1 border before reaching its destination).
My post isn’t about which category the goods are in, but the date from which tariffs are calculated. It’s the 3rd & 4th paragraphs under the Guidance heading, which then goes on to list ad valorem taxes for different countries.
Chapters 98 & 99 of the HTS code are about special provision and temporary legislation. If you read the article I linked again, you may notice that it’s specifically about the ‘reciprocal’ tariffs that were imposed earlier this month.
Yeah I didn’t read the page in depth because what you wrote there first time was a little inaccurate. Like I said, that’s OK
Chapter 99 of the HS is intended for catching goods not clearly applicable to other chapters. I emphasised chapter 92 because we’re here for synths & related synth stuff, right? If anyone in the US uses chapter 99 the way you say, they’re opening themselves up for a world of litigation as soon as chapter 99 contradicts other chapters.
The catch is your reply is changing the goal posts, you posted about the release of goods to the importer not about reciprocal tariffs. They’re different, even if they’re part of the same procedure.
The entire discussion is about reciprocal tariffs, and the top level question was about how pre-ordered stuff would be affected by them. I provided the current guidance. You seem to be mixing up chapter 98 and 99. https://hts.usitc.gov
I am not interested in playing your one-upmanship game, the link you provided earlier didn’t include anything relevant to the question that was asked in the first place.
preorders usually have the prices locked. For example I pre ordered the Roli piano and they sent out a thing that said that preorders were locked at the price but now due to the tariffs they have an additional 8-12 weeks before they can be shipped, I also got the behringer JT mini preordered and they honored the preorder price even though all the prices got bumped due to tariffs
Tariffs affect the (lower) price paid by wholesalers (dealers), not retail prices. So why is the retail price going up by 145%?
Is this really the result of tariffs … or opportunistic price gouging?
Oh, and isn’t the author of the article also assuming that the tariffs will stay high, and the CCP will never talk to Trump to negotiate lower tariffs, or do anything about the fentanyl crisis? If they don’t, China is going back to the status of a third world country really fast. I think they will work something out pretty soon.
In the meantime, I am happy to temporarily stop buying cheap junk from China.
Trump has no leverage over China. He thinks they will bend the knee, while they control US debt, and will have no qualms about screwing up the US supply chain.
Europe is rushing in to take over the manufacturing that Trump is giving up.
And China has nothing to do with the Fentanyl ‘crisis’ in the US. It’s the Sackler family. Look it up and don’t be a patsy for billionaires.
So, we just sit back and do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with owing more and more money to China as part of our national debt, with China as our largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA?
“And China has nothing to do with the Fentanyl ‘crisis’ in the US.”
Yes, China does, and it’s been going on for a long time:
https://www.uscc.gov/research/fentanyl-chinas-deadly-export-united-states#:~:text=The%20rise%20of%20fentanyl%20in,hemisphere%20with%20little%20regulatory%20oversight.
I asked you this in another thread, but you neglected to answer.
What is it you have (apart from music, movies and financial services) that China want off you?
I’ll answer for you as you probably won’t yourself. Nothing. Big fat nothing.
That the problem with the USA’s trade deficit.
That’s not going to be fixed with tariffs.
Why do you keep pushing this false narrative? The USA exported $143.5 billion in goods to China in 2024.
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china
Much of our exports to China is petroleum, raw materials and farm products, not “goods” in the common sense.
LOL. Have to rely on semantics to try to make $143.5 billion in exports to China seem like it’s not substantial. Certainly not the, “Nothing. Big fat nothing.” purported by Dongleboob.
And yes, the US does export goods to China:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-imports-from-the-us-oilseeds-grains-oil-gas/
MAGA’s the one with the fake narratives.
A) I’m not MAGA, whatever that entails. I’m a US citizen like you.
B) Fake? What exactly is fake? I’ll wait for your reply.
why? you don’t listen.
in case you d here you go, americas future: https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=RigdJknxuTg
Which they can get from other countries. Duh. They have the option to just not do business with the US. The US, on the other hand, is dependent on China for manufacturing infrastructure that would take many years for the US to develop on its own. The US has traded all of its soft power through Trump’s gambits while China has expanded its sphere of influence all over the world through buying debt and infrastructure projects. China is well-equipped to go to other countries/vendors while the US is not.
And you are displaying the same total ignorance of trade that Donald Trump displays. Items are paid for. No one is being ripped off. Deficit and surplus are only ways of measuring accumulated amount of resource that is moving around the globe. It doesn’t mean the items haven’t been paid for. Only an idiot thinks that a trade deficit means anything but logistics. Donald Trump is an idiot. Are you?
TimS – you’ve been copy and pasting the same talking points every time you comment.
And you’ve fallen into the Republican crutch of blaming all your problems on somebody else – whether it’s the Chinese, Mexicans or ‘the libs’. Most of America’s major problems are a result of Republicans refusing to take responsibility for anything.
Fentanyl abuse is caused by people in red states using drugs illegally.
The trade imbalance is caused by corporations moving their manufacturing overseas to maximize profits.
Illegal immigration is a result of US employers replacing millions of American workers to maximize profits.
Republicans like to blame all these things on somebody else, because it means the problems will never go away and they can continue using them as political talking points.
Don’t expect an intelligent, semi coherent, factual, or even grammatically correct sentence for a reply from the likes of “TimS” and his ilk. They have an ever growing grievance list, so much for pulling themselves up from the…..wonder what they will do when they are shoe-less.
Dump will inevitably play America’s last leverage point, its purchasing power until that is exhausted and spent as well. This moron has run everything into the ground. And Americans saw him fit to do it not just once, but twice. Yes, American Democrats have failed to fundamentally bring about meaningful change, yet Americans cannot complain when they are afraid of meaningful change. Now they are about to experience devastating change.
I hope TimS speaks Spanish, he may become a migrant soon….or would he prefer illegal alien…..
Sarah, with all due respect, your comment is ad hominem.
You’re commenting with automatically applied hate.
“Don’t expect an intelligent, semi coherent, factual, or even grammatically correct sentence for a reply from the likes of “TimS” and his ilk. ”
Which of my comments have not been supported by information? Which of my comments have been grammatically incorrect?
The hate has automatically skewed your perception of me. I’m just another guy who has loved synths since I was a teenager, a US citizen who for many years hasn’t liked what China has been doing to the USA, and someone who is happy that something is finally being done to stand up to China.
You lose all credibility when you believe this moron is standing up to China! This is a diversion at best and at worst, it is elementary economics when China has been shoving a masterclass down your throats for decades! You didn’t seem to mind when “low wages” benefitted America and you happily exerted your “superiority” complex all around the globe! Well little lump, what goes around eventually comes around! China played the long game whilst you and your ilk only looked at short term gains! And again, you lose all credibility if you think for even a moment Dump gives a f*ck about America and Americans! He would sell his own inbred children if there was some scam in it, except he has! He has sold entire rubbish to you and your like, and you cannot get enough! The ‘Chips’ act which the Biden Administration passed and Dump tries to take credit for (talk about stealing) was the first step in taking back control over your own destiny. Mandating electrification should have been next, yet you all…this is exhausting. Here is my advice to you as this debate will not be settled until you and your family are seeking references to emigrate! Good luck!
Synthhead, if you ever wish to leave America, you have my email. My dad is an Immigration barrister and there would be no charge. I am dead bloody serious! I know you are fighting the good fight, yet this one is better left to the brain dead.
Wow, hate much? I don’t even know where to begin with your diatribe.
“You lose all credibility when you believe this moron is standing up to China! This is a diversion at best and at worst, it is elementary economics when China has been shoving a masterclass down your throats for decades! ”
You tell me exactly where Nancy Pelosi was wrong in 1996. What Nancy Pelosi advocated in 1996 is even more true today. But when Trump responds this way, he’s a moron huh? The TDS meter is going to 11 with you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyMyyenz4gg
You tell me where PBS/Frontline got it wrong regarding China’s impact on the USA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n224P8snMkA
If by “masterclass” you mean that China has been manipulating trade for decades in their favor, then yes, I agree. They’ve been masters at it.
What is the best way forward for the USA? So, we just sit back and do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue on with funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with a huge trade imbalance that works in China’s favor? We continue on with growing China’s wealth while simultaneously owing more and more money to China as part of our ever-growing national debt, with China as our largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA? Kowtowing to China is the best path forward for the USA?
“And again, you lose all credibility if you think for even a moment Dump gives a f*ck about America and Americans! He would sell his own inbred children if there was some scam in it, except he has! He has sold entire rubbish to you and your like, and you cannot get enough!”
Lose all credibility? Subjective much? I could say the same thing to you, and it would have just as much subjective meaning:
You lose all credibility if you think that Biden and the Democrats gave a f*ck about US citizens and legal immigrants. All they did was march to the order of the Globalists pulling the strings from behind the curtain, intentionally opening the floodgates to tens of millions of illegal immigrants and making US citizens and legal immigrants pay for freebies for illegal aliens.
“The ‘Chips’ act which the Biden Administration passed and Dump tries to take credit for (talk about stealing) was the first step in taking back control over your own destiny. Mandating electrification should have been next, yet you all…this is exhausting. Here is my advice to you as this debate will not be settled until you and your family are seeking references to emigrate! Good luck!”
Again, hate much? You act as if taking credit for others never happens except with Trump.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/13/politics/fact-check-white-house-no-vaccine-available-tweet/index.html
https://www.factcheck.org/2021/02/bidens-misleading-vaccine-boasts/
When in reality it was this:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/16/politics/kathleen-sebelius-operation-warp-speed-success-cnntv/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/17/politics/trump-vaccines-coronavirus/index.html
But yeah. Trump hates America and Americans. The make America great again slogan is all a lie because he hates Americans and America. LOL. It sure sounds like it’s more that you hate Trump.
Barrister? Are you from the UK? Now, there’s a country that is sticking it to its own people and heritage.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/03/12/i-know-why-britain-is-so-miserable-lost-minority-nonsense/
https://www.policycircle.org/economy/uk-economy-structural-problems/
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48451384
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/free-speech-wobbles-uk
“TimS – you’ve been copy and pasting the same talking points every time you comment.
And you’ve fallen into the Republican crutch of blaming all your problems on somebody else – whether it’s the Chinese, Mexicans or ‘the libs’. Most of America’s major problems are a result of Republicans refusing to take responsibility for anything.”
With all due respect, you should stop putting everything through your I hate Republicans filter. Republican crutch? Most of America’s major problems are a result of Republicans refusing to take responsibility for anything? That is a blanket statement and is simply not true and certainly not comprehensive. The “major problems” are not all due to Republicans. This isn’t just about Republicans, Democrats / Conservatives, Liberals. We US citizens and legal immigrants are all in this together.
Republicans blame the Chinese? Here I go again, copying and pasting this excellent Democrat presentation from Nancy Pelosi given on the House floor in 1996:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyMyyenz4gg
“Fentanyl abuse is caused by people in red states using drugs illegally.”
This simply isn’t true. It’s not all about red states:
https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-opioid-crisis/
https://www.oregonlive.com/data/2024/02/oregon-sees-highest-fentanyl-overdose-death-increase-in-us-since-2019.html
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/fentanyl.page#:~:text=The%20presence%20of%20non%2Dpharmaceutical,from%20a%20fentanyl%2Dinvolved%20overdose.
“The trade imbalance is caused by corporations moving their manufacturing overseas to maximize profits.”
That is not true across the board. At the risk of being accused of copying and pasting the same message, this excellent PBS/Frontline documentary will explain the effect China has had on US manufacturing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n224P8snMkA
“Illegal immigration is a result of US employers replacing millions of American workers to maximize profits.”
Illegal immigration is the result of previous administrations turning a blind eye to the laws in place regarding illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is the result of free hand-outs being given to illegal aliens crossing the border. Illegal immigration is the result of ideology that promotes illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is the result of…..
Illegal immigration isn’t just due to one thing, one factor. It is, however, still illegal.
https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/illegal-immigration-remains-at-record-high-under-biden-harris-administrations-failed-policies
“Republicans like to blame all these things on somebody else, because it means the problems will never go away and they can continue using them as political talking points.”
Frankly, it’s humorous when someone who dislikes Republicans writes as if Democrats never blame others. The blame game is common on both sides of the political aisle.
I want to apologize Tim, i now see you’re absolutely correct and i wish you peacefull and blessed day.
China didnt steal your jobs and manufacturing base from you – capitalists moved it all offshore because they made a bigger profit exploiting the cheaper labour and tax breaks that South Asia countries provided with their ‘free trade zones’.
Neoliberals sold you on the idea that you’ll all just become computer programmers and you bought into it hard. You didnt care nor think about the long term consequences because at the time you had it good.
Now China is an economic powerhouse that lifted huge swathes of their population out of poverty, now 96% of them are homeowners and they have a decent healthcare system that doesnt bankrupt them if they get ill.
You sat back when the US was taking advantage of every other country and still continues to exploit the global south so why you bleating now?
Best thing you can do now: get your kids to learn Mandarin!
Dear Tim,
Why not come to China and see for yourself? Experience it with your own eyes, engage with your mind, and feel it through your being. This is my sincere invitation – come to document, to film, even to criticize if you must. Just don’t limit yourself to living through news reports and political narratives.
— SunSg from China?A mucis Practice App Developer?
Jay – are you betting on Trump to flip flop again?
Do you not understand the correlation between wholesale and retail prices?
Do you really think that if the cost of goods goes up by 145% that the dealer eats that and sells the product at a loss rather than passing the cost increase onto the customers?
It is truly wild that people in a capitalist country don’t understand how these things work.
“Do you really think that if the cost of goods goes up by 145%”
Its not even the cost of the goods is going up as the price remains the same for other countries, its that the US govt is imposing a huge import tax.
Its astounding how people do not understand this basic principle, and that they even think the country they impose the tariff against is the one who pays it!!!!
Because Sonicware sells direct to consumer on their website, which I think was obvious from the article.
But retail prices in stores will go up a lot anyway, because retail prices are calculated as a percentage markup of the wholesale price. The retailer takes the risk of buying wholesale and perhaps getting stuck with stock they can’t sell, and if they significantly drop the margin on one set of products, other manufacturers will try to push their MSRPs down to match.
>If they don’t, China is going back to the status of a third world country really fast.
You know other countries in the world doesn’t have crazy high tariffs on China (or each other) and they will continue to do business, right? The US is a big market, but it is smaller than the EU and smaller again than Asian consumer markets. I think you’re overestimating the degree to which the world economy revolves around the USA. No other countries are lining up to join the US in this, perhaps because the administration has offended a great many countries that used to be considered allies, and those other countries have no desire to wreck their own economies.
A very wise comment indeed!
Only about 14% of the Chinese export goes to the US, which means about 2 to 3 % of their GDP will be impacted which is, let’s be honest, nothing. Looks like the US overplayed their hand, so far for “the Art of the deal”.
The USA is by far the largest importer of made in China products.
https://www.worldstopexports.com/chinas-top-import-partners/
If the USA doesn’t stand up to China’s trade practices, what is the best way forward for the USA? So, we just sit back and do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue on with funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with a huge trade imbalance that works in China’s favor? We continue on with growing China’s wealth while simultaneously owing more and more money to China as part of our growing national debt, with China as our largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA? Kowtowing to China is the best path forward for the USA?
China did not force the US to dismantle its domestic manufacturing capacity and outsource everything in the name of economic efficiency. But for years people who suggested the US should have an industrial policy and a less antagonistic relationship between capital and labor were derided as socialists. The current policy is not ‘standing up to China’, it’s blaming China for the US’ unforced errors.
Rebuilding US manufacturing capacity is a 15-20 year project that will cost trillions, and also require the US to have strong trade relationships. The current administration’s policy of levying tariffs on everybody while alienating long-time allies like Canada and NATO members is reducing rather than growing demand for American goods. The collapse of inbound tourism is likely to be mirrored in other industrial sectors if the US continues on its current path.
Nancy Pelosi disagreed with your assessment in this excellent presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyMyyenz4gg
“China did not force the US to dismantle its domestic manufacturing capacity and outsource everything in the name of economic efficiency.”
This excellent PBS/Frontline documentary explains exactly why much US manufacturing has been dismantled. I’ve posted this a number of times here; for those who haven’t yet watched it, this is an eye-opening documentary in which Frontline sounded the China alarm long ago. No, China did not force the US at gunpoint per se, but with their lopsided trade practices that stick it to the USA along with companies in the USA that work with China and sell China made products to US consumers, the loss of manufacturing in the USA and moving manufacturing overseas has been for many companies a matter of survival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n224P8snMkA
None of this is responsive, and I have low tolerance for spam posting. Nor do I intend to spend time deconstructing someone else’s argument since you’re unable to formulate your own..
Translation: You don’t like to be shown that you’re wrong.
I get it. Most people are that way.
Hi – because retail price is generally a % markup on the “wholesale” price. So if you apply the same markup % to the new wholesale price (which includes that tariff), the result is the same as applying the tariff % to the old retail price. That’s how multiplication works – basic maths.
Of course, if you’re buying direct and there’s no distributor, you’re paying a tariff on the full retail price anyway.
I think China will do just fine. And as for “cheap junk from China” – every piece of audio gear you own has components made in China. How long are you going to keep telling yourself these bedtime stories?
tbf, there are good parts and bad parts from china. and by bad, i only mean parts that normal folks can’t tell are low quality because their performance is ‘good enough’ for everyday use. there are plenty of high quality parts coming from china. Soundwell is a ‘good enough’ manufacturer.
Why should dealers pay the tariff when you buy a synth? Of course they pass the increased cost of your purchase on to you. That’s not price-gauging at all, they don’t make a dime more than before. Also, the majority of American companies produce in China, so if you want to avoid „cheap junk“, you better be buying European synths with a hefty tariff on top.
every price is calculated in percentages, not absolute numbers. you need a margin of a certain percentage to make a sale worth while. this is why a tariff directly affects retail price. fun fact: it also drives up VAT and other sale taxes.
and yes, we all should abstain from buying cheap china crap like iphones, DJI drones or computers.
I think sonicware sell direct to consumer, so there is no ‘dealer price’.
Does this apply to inflation as well? In other words, do you think inflation is caused by prices of goods and services on the supply chain going up or corporate greed increasing prices?
If a product is sold direct to the customer, the customer pays tariffs on the full purchase price. If a product is imported by a distributor and then resold to a dealer, there will be markup on the tariff-inclusive price.
I’ll leave the math to you.
Genuine question – without looking it up, what proportion of China’s GDP comes from exports to the US?
I’ll save you the googling. It’s 5%.
China has the largest domestic market in the world. They’ll be fine with 95% of their current GDP. But I hope you enjoy paying $5k for an iPhone and watching your agriculture industry collapse.
The aggravating thing about all this is that Trump and his cult think that ‘trade wars are easy to win’ and tariffs are great.
Trump has already tanked the stock market, erased trillions of dollars of US wealth, triggered inflation and destroyed trust in America. The bigger problem, though, is that the tariffs are going to screw up the US supply chain again.
But unlike during the pandemic, the supply chain problems are only going to affect US manufacturers. So American companies are hosed, in addition to American consumers.
“The aggravating thing about all this is that Trump and his cult think that ‘trade wars are easy to win’ and tariffs are great.”
Is your hate blinding you to reality? Where/when did Trump and “his cult” say that trade wars are easy to win? President Trump said just the opposite:
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/04/05/trump-tells-americans-to-hang-tough-trade-war-won-t-be-easy_6739869_4.html#
Trump famously said this in 2018.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/trump-trade-wars-are-good-and-easy-to-win.html
Famously? Seven years ago?
For the most part, countries want to make deals with the USA. Many are coming to the table to talk trade. China is playing “chicken” with the USA because they think (perhaps correctly) that US citizens are too used to / reliant on cheap Made in China stuff that the US will eventually cave and continue to kowtow to China.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/here-every-country-working-trade-deals-us
> Famously? Seven years ago?
You asked where/when Trump said that ‘trade wars are easy to win’ and I gave you the exact information you asked for. You have been reaching 4 times farther into the past the last few days, demanding everyone watch a Congressional speech from 1996, so your complaint here is silly.
As for your claim that ‘for the most part, countries want to make deals with the USA’, the first sentence of your linked article reads:
“President Donald Trump’s administration says more than 50 countries have reached out for economic negotiations in the wake of his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, but only a few have publicly confirmed any talks.”
Countries certainly want to have trade deals with the US in the normal way of things, but nobody is enthusiastic about dealing with a bully who attacks first and then deflects criticism by saying it’s a ‘negotiation strategy’. I do not consider the administration’s claims credible.
So, we just sit back and do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with owing more and more money to China as part of our national debt, with China as our largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA? Apparently, you think kowtowing to China is the best way forward for the USA.
The USA is by far the largest importer of China made products. Continuing on with the status quo and the trade imbalance with China is what’s best for the USA huh?
https://www.worldstopexports.com/chinas-top-import-partners/
It’s super weird that folks like you are not only convinced distributors and retailers will just eat the tariff cost themselve, but that they’ll be able to somehow magically afford that and stay in business.
You clearly don’t understand how economics works. Like, not even a little bit.
Tariffs. Are. Paid. By. The. Consumer. That’s how it works, no matter what abject bullshit comes out of that orange turd’s mouth.
@Jay, those numbers from Sonicware add up.
399 * 1.45 =578.55 that’s the additional tax on the stated price.
578.55 + 399 =977.55. Not price gouging, just maths.
The US did already cave in and started to exclude goods from tariffs, I think the US vastly overestimated its economic leverage and will get the tally for that. 13% of all your consumed stuff just got a few times more expensive, I really hope the actual people wont suffer too much from that.
Its called margin preservation, the retail price may actually go up more than the tariff rate.
Future generations will refer to this era as the second dark ages and wonder why the people allowed the least qualified to lead them into decline.
It took 40 years of planning by Republicans and Putin to send America into decline. Trump is just the ugly face of it.
Enjoy all the winning, everybody!
Putin was only around for the last 25 years. conservatives have been trying to fleece the country since the early 1900’s for their pet god delusion.
John, Putin is an ex KGB agent. He’s been all for the decline of the USA his entire working life.
he only came to real power in 1999.
Cast your mind back to the end of the Cold War & what came next in the Russian Federation. Yes Putin came into power 25 years ago, but he came into power in a country sinking into corruption and with a deeply conservative population & a will to reinvent past glories. 25 years is an eternity in politics too.
He has very successfully leveraged his training in intelligence analysis, spycraft & propaganda to manipulate his society. Then he turned those techniques against the west.
Nothing happens in isolation, this stuff is complex.. America’s navel gazing & selfish domestic politics have allowed their rivals to outmanoeuvre them. Don’t just blame your domestic conservatives. It becomes even more sad considering the USA set a high standard for soft power (like sending foreign aid to those in need, a fantastic way to earn goodwill & support).
To paraphrase Gloria ‘40 years of Republicans *and* Putin.’ That doesn’t mean ‘Putin = 40 years’.
You’ve got to laugh. Reap what you sow
That’s music to my ears.
hahahaha
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
(aka Make America Trump’s Bitch Again)
“Great money scheme by the billionaires — they win, we lose. Trump is their friend. Democracy is for sale.”
I love partisan synth news. Fight!
Tariffs are every musician’s problem. Tariffs originate from politics.
Learning about the impact isn’t political. It’s just facts.
who voted for these dumb tariff’s again?
that’s a nice stainless steel beaut!
Sure glad I bought tons of gear these last 2 years.
Most people in the US are just going to hold off on purchases for now. We all know that we can just wait a few years and prices will be half of what they are now.
It’s terrible timing for the music gear industry, because it’s only been in the last year that it’s recovered from the supply chain clusterfuck Trump created in his first administration.
Great japanese gear. Other than that remember to Boycott US goods
agtreed. further, boycott everything american. there’s only one thing that matters to these nutjobs, and it’s their money. don’t give them yours.
I’m about to make my last purchase for awhile and I’m saving $50 off the Sweetwater price. I wonder if eBay prices will reflect this tariff idiocy? I hope Americans get another vote someday but I don’t have a lot of faith that we won’t make the wrong decision again.
Hire a clown as president and you will get a circus!
Unless he is John Wayne Gacy. But even he had fewer felony convictions than Donald Trump.
It is with a tad of schadenfreude that I observe this thread from Europe. Even hoping that China desperately will lower their prices to increase their turnover in this region.
On the other hand, I’m not on this web site to witness political fights, or get involved in that.
Don’t you guys have your X and other socials for that?
first they came for us, then there’s no one left when they come for you.
Buy it from Perfect Circuit, perhaps?
Assuming PC pays 50% of retail – $200 before your fearless leader. Now their wholesale is… $490.
Which makes it a $980 device from a US retailer.
Click bait. But I must not understand today’s people. I’m reading “don’t buy American goods”
To each their own. My opinion, perfect time to start manufacturing in America again. But I’ve never minded earning my money, but that’s just me. Regardless of which figurehead is in office, U.S. companies have outsourced for way to long to avoid paying fair wages, fair taxes, and so on. So here we are
These MAGA simpletons are huffing unprecedented levels of copium because they are unable to comprehend how terribly incompetent the leadership of their cult is. The sad thing is, when they finally realize they’ve been conned, they won’t apologize or remove themselves from the voter pool. For now, I can only hope their naivete has caused them to not prepare for the inevitable future hardships so they are absolutely economically destroyed by Trump’s policies.
Nice 100% ad hominem comment with no substance.
Do yourself and your family and friends a favor, let go of the hate.
I will never stop hating stupidity!!
Problem is that the American workforce isn’t into working in factories the way they were in the 60s & 70s. By kicking out migrants, there’s even fewer people prepared to work in American factories.
Of course moving manufacturing into the USA means higher costs than 3rd world countries. But are Americans ready to pay higher prices for everything?
Remember inMusic’s choice to move Moog’s manufacturing from the USA to Taiwan was to make their synths cheaper to manufacture. The way this is being handled is a no-win gamble.
You clearly don’t understand business. Most US companies will do nothing. Trump will lose all his power in the next midterm and congress will take back managing tariffs that trump is imposing illegally. Very few companies will spends tens or hundreds of millions for tariffs that may or may not be in effect for 21 months.
The reality is you just have to pay higher prices because of the maga morons.
The mental gymnastics on here are crazy, even for the synth community. The same people who whined about Behringer stealing IP are now the same ones complaining about Trumps tariffs. Which BTW are a direct response to the fact china steal IP. Also Trump’s tariffs are bad but the Chinese ones aren’t? China is the worst offender globally and it’s why nobody is rushing to their aid, as China have been ripping off everyone and using threats if challenged. Like it or lump it Trump is supported by the majority even if music people who are a tiny minority vote left. The idea China is somehow winning is laughable. I’ve seen their factories shut down and the unsold inventory which can’t be sold elsewhere, not even to their own market. The fact is China has tried to make the west dependent on it but now wars a possibility that can’t be allowed to happen. There’s bigger issues at stake than your need for more gear you don’t need. There’s a global reset happening so suck it up. You want cheap stuff at the expense of global security? The adults without TDS won’t let it happen.
There is no true majority support for this, nor was there a majority response in terms of the election, as only ~59% of the voting population turned out, and of them only ~31.59% voted for the “winner”.
Nice try. Only ~59%? You write as if presidential election voter turnout is typically higher.
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections
Winning the popular vote, the Electoral College points, and all seven swing states IS a mandate from US citizens.
Approximately 30% of voting age citizens voted for Trump. A man, who in any sane country, would be in prison.
TimS, of the approximately 245 million registered voters in the USA 161 million eligible voters. Trump got 77 million. That’s about 31% of the population’s support (Harris wasn’t far behind on 75 million).
The sad stories here are:
– the average US voter is highly disengaged.
– you can win a popularity contest without actually being popular. Just be less unpopular.
Again, you’re another one acting like the November 2024 election wasn’t a typical level of voter turnout.
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections
And exactly how do you know if US citizens who didn’t vote are supportive or not?
“-The average US voter is highly disengaged.”
When in US history was that any different?
“–you can win a popularity contest without actually being popular. Just be less unpopular.”
LOL. Winning the popular vote, the Electoral College points, and all seven swing states was a clear indication that Kamala Harris was less popular. Kamala Harris was the WORST candidate for the presidency in our lifetime. Next time, maybe the side that hates President Trump will run a candidate who can answer questions and do press conferences.
TimS, your imagination is fascinating. Where did I say that turnout wasn’t normal? Where did I say anything positive about Harris? We all know she lost the popular vote and have accepted the loss. Gerrymandering couldn’t help her in this case.
Also I’m not American, just some foreign random who’s been watching American politics casually for the past 20 years. TBH I wanted John Kasich to win the 2016 Republican nomination. Would’ve been a boring campaign but at least your side would’ve had a civil, stable, consistent, experienced & competent leader.
“TimS, of the approximately 245 million registered voters in the USA 161 million eligible voters. Trump got 77 million. That’s about 31% of the population’s support (Harris wasn’t far behind on 75 million).”
Just as with oblong’s comment above, you wrote as if this isn’t the typical type of turnout in EVERY presidential election in the USA to try to convey the idea that a large majority of Americans don’t support our President.
“That’s about 31% of the population support”
How do you know the support or lack thereof from US citizens who decided not to vote in the November 2024 election? You don’t. But that turned into 31% support for Trump. Oh, yeah, CNN and MSNBC and ABC, and Fox, and… polls tell us. LOL
My point about Harris was/is, for those who hate and are constantly crybabying about President Trump, he was elected to the highest office in the country by US citizens. That’s our democratic republic, our constitutional federal republic system. The Democrats should have run a better candidate. Is hating on our President and supporting China in this game of “chicken” with China helping the USA? Of course not, but some people are so infected with TDS that they don’t mind if the USA continues to kowtow to China.
“…at least your side…”
Side? I have posted numerous comments here with information that reflects perspectives coming from both “sides.” We US citizens and legal immigrants are all in this together. It’s not about Liberal, Conservative / Republican, Democrat. It’s about Americans standing up to a country (China) that has been sticking it to the USA for decades (see Nancy Pelosi’s excellent 1996 presentation on the House floor, and the situation has only gotten worse since).
If the USA doesn’t stand up to China’s trade practices at some point, what is the best way forward for the USA? Do we just sit back and do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue on with funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with a huge trade imbalance that works in China’s favor? We continue on with growing China’s wealth while simultaneously owing more and more money to China as part of our ever-growing national debt, with China as our largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA? Kowtowing to China is the best path forward for the USA?
China is standing their ground because they believe (perhaps sadly but correctly) that US consumers are so used to and reliant upon cheap Made In China stuff that the US will eventually cave and continue to kowtow to China.
###############################
Personal attack deleted (name-calling).
Keep your comments on topic and constructive.
If you continue to post hateful attacks on other readers, you’ll have to be banned.
@Yesreally. Bingo! Thank you! I couldn’t have said it better myself (and I didn’t say it better myself in my previous comments).
This thing costs 477 euros within the eu now. Which is around 510 dollars but no one is upset about it. It is a form of taxation. If its price escalates at 700 dollars, no one would buy it. It is not worth that. So the company/distributor will have to make a choice. It is not as if these people are sellng on cost. On the other hand, your moogs, oberheims, Rossum electronics, etc won’t get more expensive and if the dollar falls further , probably they will be more alluring to the rest of the world. People are acting like imposing tarrifs and taxes on imported goods is some sort of 10 commandment vioation. Germany and Holland have been using the euro trick as a vehicle to keep the currency low, in order to have more exports to the rest of the world. Also Switcherland has been artificially tying thei currency to the european one, for similar reasons. This is an economic move, not an ethical one. I don’t know if it will work, but people should relax about it. The bigger picture is having an economy that doesn’t produce the deficits the US economy does.
None of my products will be going up, but I build them here in the U.S. I get parts from all over, and will just source less Chinese parts because most of what I use is also made in other countries as well. My cases, the most expensive component, are not made in China in the first place…so I wont feel the tarrifs much at all. I do feel bad for those who will though, but it is a necessary evil to work out a better deal for the USA with China.
hope you can afford to keep doing that, since your household bill are will likely to go up like the rest of us.
What’s your company called?
Who says trade deficits are always bad? Not economists. Especially not in the case of the richest country in the world.
Some people ought to learn about a thing before making silly posts that expose their ignorance and herd mentality (/belief in Fox Entertainment ‘News’).
Economy is far from a provable science.. Anyway, us has a 36 trillion dept, which divided by the population is around 100000 per person. At some point you need to have this sink in. They’ll either have to default or have an internal bankruptcy. In any case the trade deficit is an economic and political problem in those situations. The fact that you consider this a fox issue just speaks volumes about the other side’s propaganda…
“Who says trade deficits are always bad?”
So, a $1.2 trillion dollar trade deficit is good for the USA?
https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/us-trade-import-export-deficit-charts-490a7bce
So, we just do nothing and let China continue to take advantage of the USA and continue on with funneling billions of US consumer dollars annually to China? We continue on with owing more and more money to China as part of our growing national debt, with China as the USA’s largest creditor? Is that what is best for the USA? Apparently, you think kowtowing to China is the best way forward for the USA.
“Some people ought to learn about a thing before making silly posts that expose their ignorance and herd mentality (/belief in Fox Entertainment ‘News’).”
Do you always talk down to others who disagree with you? Do you always believe everything the media tells you to believe? The irony here is that you’re the one exhibiting the media’s TDS based her mentality.
can’t hear you over the cries of HUNTER BIDENS LAPTOP! and rojo’s 9/11 clown car!
TimS, there’s more ways to make a dollar than building stuff. This trade deficit thing is based on prosecution of tangible goods only.
Companies can make money selling VSTs. Sales of those don’t contribute to a trade deficit. But they do contribute to GDP, which is a far more important metric.
Plus, if you’re gonna take the high road & call out ad hominem arguments, don’t use them against other commenters (your last sentence aimed at Xrx).
“TimS, there’s more ways to make a dollar than building stuff. This trade deficit thing is based on prosecution of tangible goods only.”
What does this mean? Prosecution of tangible goods? Can you please explain further.
“Companies can make money selling VSTs. Sales of those don’t contribute to a trade deficit. But they do contribute to GDP, which is a far more important metric.”
A 1.2 trillion-dollar trade deficit isn’t an important, revealing metric?
https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/us-trade-import-export-deficit-charts-490a7bce
A $295 billion dollar trade deficit/imbalance isn’t an important, eye-opening metric. if you Google, “What is the trade imbalance with China,” this is what appears:
The United States has a significant trade imbalance with China, meaning the value of goods and services the U.S. imports from China exceeds the value of goods and services it exports to China. In 2024, the U.S. trade deficit with China was $295.4 billion. This imbalance has been a source of tension between the two countries, with the U.S. government citing it as a reason for imposing tariffs on Chinese goods.
So, what’s the solution? Your solution is that China should continue on with sticking it the USA with significantly higher tariff percentages on US goods than the tariffs we had on goods manufactured in China? The solution is to continue having a massively lopsided trade imbalance in China’s favor? We need even more billions from US consumers funneling over to China?
“Plus, if you’re gonna take the high road & call out ad hominem arguments, don’t use them against other commenters (your last sentence aimed at Xrx).”
It isn’t calling out the use of ad hominem comments per se; it’s calling out those whose comments are ONLY ad hominem. A number of comments here are solely diatribes, invective with no wording discussing the trade/tariff topic.
What’s your company called?
Dud post, ignore that. I couldn’t edit it for some reason.
One question though- for all that extra tax collected per item, how will those funds be spent by the US government?
Asking because governments don’t function like business. While they need cash in hand they also need to stimulate their economy. Sending prices on consumer electronics sky high isn’t a good way to encourage consumption. Alternatives like increasing domestic production require government cash to encourage manufacturers. Can’t say I’ve about either strategy being planned for.
The Trump administration’s goal is not to manage the economy effectively – it’s to reduce Trump’s personal taxes and taxes for billionaires.
If you view what he’s doing through any other lens, his decisions look completely insane. If you look at it through the lens of what’s good for Trump, it’s much more logical.
If the first Trump administration is anything to go by, much of that tariff money will be spent on subsidies to people who lost out. For example, soybean farmers got hit hard by the loss of exports in 2018/9 so the federal government gave them big subsidies to make up.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/american-farmers-got-a-tariff-bailout-in-trumps-first-term-this-time-the-money-might-not-come-434cfa89
Ah, thanks for that sobering read. Good to know the administration stepped in last time (for a self inflicted injury). Fingers crossed the Secretary of Agriculture’s able to step in again if needed & maintain the country’s food security. That’s more important than a trade war.
The last time Trump destroyed the economy, he threw Big Ag a $23 billion bone, to shut them up.
$23 billion sounds like a lot of money, but the tariffs are a $2.2 billion tax increase for all Americans, and $23 billion is a rounding error on that.
Do you think Trump will send us all a personally-signed DJT check for $1,200, like the last time he tanked the economy, to make up for the fact that he raised our taxes by $5,000/year?
If so, MAGA cult members won’t believe how much they’re winning!
I’m not American & not pro-MAGA, but I’d still take that hypothetical cheque & cash it before it turns to rubber.
I know they’ll never hand out stimulus like that, but I live an economy where that stimulus technique was used & it worked. My real world GFC Rudd money was much appreciated & it helped avoid a recession.
I guess Gen Z will enjoy the soft synth selection this year.
Sad but true, I didn’t expect to be a millennial with boomer level entitlement so soon (owning a Sequential synth).
Not a flex, just a twist of fate young folk shouldn’t be locked out of.
Here’s a reminder: politics is the air you breath, the water you drink, the food you eat, the home you buy, the apartment you rent, the car you drive, the street you drive it on, the person you’re allowed to love, and the price of the synthesizer you buy. No such thing as apolitical.
The “everything is political” mantra is a core belief of the woke left and woke right, and it’s what has been a key driving force in increasingly partisan and vicious politics over the last 2 decades, pushing a lot of us 90s and 00s liberals away from the insane woke left. It doesn’t even work as a worldview because reality itself primarily dictates how and why we do things, not amorphous cultural systems of power that are captured by some magical elite.
At the base of this wholly negative ideology that everything is political lays the ridiculous notion that the world exists through the conscious interpretation and web of social conventions rather than an empirical assessment of the reality we exist within – this is why woke’s formal name is Critical Constructivism following the structuralists and post moderns. People who try to remind you that everything you do, consume or produce is downstream from politics are operating on intellectual brainrot, and the sad part is people like Jim here probably don’t even realize it.
it’s the end to slave labour; it’s a good thing in the long run.
Incredible, is there anything Trump can’t do?
i haven’t heard him put an intelligible sentence together yet.
This is not going to be good news for the poors.
Enlighten me. How does taxing synths end save labour?
Can tariffs end that clause in the 13th amendment of the US constitution that allows slavery as punishment for a crime?
Be cheerful and festive. Child labor is returning to our shores, starting in Florida. Also, there was never a guarantee that the new factories would not be staffed entirely by robots. Remember, Donald works for corporations, not people.
Anything is necessary if it means getting those damn kids off my lawn.
Maybe they could be trained to enjoy the taste of grass. Then they could be hired out as sheep.
America: We eated the purple berries! …aaah *regret*, they taste like burning.
trump tariff’s are the ‘fart of the incompetent’.
Art of the Deal LMAO
Art of the Deal
Enjoy what you voted.
Latest news: Donald caved to Xi. Chinese tariff is coming down.
of course he did. he’s an idiot.
I fell asleep watching “Andor” a couple of months ago. Anything new been happening in the world?
well, let’s see… there’s probably a couple more droids and helmets, another obscure backstory only starwars addicts can relate to. makes you wonder why SpaceBalls wasn’t more popular.
Amazing how many Leftists are in the music business and how few of them understand how negotiations work. Our world is run by people… self-interested people. China will come around and negotiate a new trade deal with the US because they won’t be able to avoid it.
Also, relax with the personal attacks against each other here. There’s no reason for them.
It’s sad to see how you blame problems on ‘leftists’, because that’s what Trump and corporate media tells you to do. That attitude COMPLETELY short circuits thinking rationally about the world.
People with that attitude are doing the work of Putin, China and the oligarchs – by viewing the world through the lens that your fellow Americans are the enemy, rather than our real enemies.
China IS run by self-interested people, and they are smart enough to see the US shooting itself in the foot, over and over and over.
China is great at long-term thinking. And China knows that they have a TON of power over us, because Republican leaders have been prioritizing greed over long-term security for decades.
US greed has given China control over our supply chain. We moved manufacturing to China and use Chinese parts because it increases corporate profits. Nobody’s twisting our arm, it’s unfettered greed!
And US greed has led the government to mortgage our future – borrowing trillions of dollars from China – to give tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. Again – nobody’s twisting our arm, it’s greed at work. The US has made a devil’s bargain, because China is now quietly selling US Treasury Securities, which means the US has to raise interest rates to make investing in America more attractive. This drives inflation in the US and forces companies to lay off workers.
Anybody that thinks Republicans are going to fix this with tariffs and tax cuts for billionaires is part of the problem, unfortunately, because these are the type of economic policies that led us here.
Also – if you really think that this trade war is an important fight to fight right now, wouldn’t you agree that it would have made sense for Trump to build a stockpile of the components that are critical to our national security, before he started pretending that he holds all the cards?
Now China has Trump by the balls and he’s talking about flip-flopping, WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT EXCEPT FOR DAMAGE TO THE US.
Regarding “relaxing with the personal attacks” – I agree with the sentiment, but what do you think you’re doing when you dismiss fellow readers and people in the music industry as a bunch of ‘leftists’?
‘Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad!’
It’s always pretty obvious when MAGA types repeat government propaganda that they weren’t paying attention in junior high, when we all read Animal Farm and 1984.
That’s “baaaaaaahhhd”!
The US is no longer the king of the world. No one is begging to negotiate. The world laughs at Trump and shakes their heads at a country that would elect such a clown to be President. The China tariffs are coming down. Trump declares victory which is the only way he can say that he gives up in defeat. Some fools believe him. Most do not. Eventually he will dry up and blow away and some new mediocrity will become the new normal. Those who were hurt will grumble and get over it. Everyone will work for a better tomorrow which won’t look anything like what anyone is imagining.
I hope you’re not a US citizen making these anti-USA comments.
“The US is no longer the king of the world.”
The USA is the largest economy in the world, significantly higher than any other country:
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/worlds-largest-economies-1694256013-1
“No one is begging to negotiate.”
A number of countries have already worked out trade deals with the USA. The latest country in trade discussions with the USA is India:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/very-close-india-may-be-first-to-sign-trade-pact-says-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent/articleshow/120586331.cms
If you don’t love the USA, go ahead and give your money to other countries.
Noooo!! What will we do without the chinese slave labor?? I need my overpriced drum machine!!
Wire some pencils to an electric egg beater and clamp it to a drum.
i wanna try this! i hate drum machines. lol
Isn’t that a bit of a clickbait-y graphic?
…just asking…
Isn’t it a 100% accurate graphic?
And about a subject that Synthtopia readers are obviously really interested in?
…just saying….
I will add that ‘clickbait’ is when sites use teaser headlines or graphics that misrepresent the article, or create phony controversies to get you riled up. I hate clickbait. It tricks you, it diminishes your experience on the web, and it ultimately makes you mistrust what you see.
There are a lot of legitimate news stories, though, that are naturally controversial and about subjects that readers are really passionate about. These are some of the most newsworthy topics to cover.
A good headline or teaser graphic should help readers understand this, and help you understand why you might want to read more.
So when we use a headline like “Price Before Tariffs: $399, After Tariffs: $977”, that’s not misrepresenting the story or creating a phony controversy – it’s cutting to the essence of the story. It’s taking the abstract idea of tariffs and covering them in a manner that is relevant to musicians.
For better or worse, these tariffs are really going to impact what many Synthtopia readers in the US can afford to buy.
TimS has a really strange and contradictory history of comments.
He’ll post a dozen comments on an article, saying the same thing over and over. But he only comments on two things: how much he loves Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports and – wait for it – how much he loves Behringer’s cheap Chinese synth knockoffs.
Anybody else see a massive contradiction in his trolling?
“Anybody else see a massive contradiction in his trolling?”
I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right. His comments over the last couple of years are even deeper bullshit than I realized.
Well played, TimS. But your game has been revealed!
“I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right. His comments over the last couple of years are even deeper bullshit than I realized.”
Oooh….. You hurt my feelings. Take the knife out of my back.
Where do your loyalties lie?
“Where do your loyalties lie?”
Reality. You should check it out sometime.
LOL. That crossed my mind too, LOL.
He’ll post a dozen comments on an article, saying the same thing over and over. But he only comments on two things: how much he loves Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports\
I have believed for decades that China and many companies in the USA that work with China have been sticking it to the USA with their trade practices, and I have steadily seen this increasing over the years:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyMyyenz4gg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n224P8snMkA
“and – wait for it – how much he loves Behringer’s cheap Chinese synth knockoffs”
My previous arguments in support of Behringer synths were largely directed at the idea that Behringer is immoral for making versions of synths that were manufactured by other companies. Many guitar manufacturers make a “strat” or a “Les Paul,” but it is immoral for Behringer to do a similar thing with synths. That type of sentiment.
It’s not so much the Made in China aspect, it’s the leveling the trade playing field aspect. But you’re right in the sense that, like many many other companies that manufacture in China, Behringer takes advantage of China’s uneven trade playing field. Would I prefer that Behringer and other companies producing in China make products elsewhere, sure? Do I like to see the cost of Behringer products (and other products as well) go up due to tariffs / more fair trade practices? The musician who doesn’t care where the musical tools come from side of me (which was more of a sentiment in my younger days) would say no. But the side of me that likes and wants to see more trade equity with China is happy that tariffs are being put on companies that manufacture in China. If I want to buy one, I can afford a Behringer synth that doubles or triples in price as a result of tariffs. But yeah, I understand that this not the case with many of my fellow Americans. Synth prices going up are a First World problem.
Looks like the majority of synth-heads are definitely not Red/orange. That’s good to know. There is still hope, America.
conservative music is mostly repetitive bleating about how unfair it all is to them; i.e. country western. EM is too progressive for them.
I mean the majority of Americans in general aren’t. Trump won the majority of those that voted which was 40% of eligible voters, and that was less than half of them (47% of 40%) and a fair number of them voted for him based on a lack of information. his real support in the country is ~ 20-30% of the population but they are really loud. With his approval dropping to around 40% he is probably going to settle at some point back where he was the first time in the 30-35% in pretty short order
I find Synthtopia useful and often amusing. The trolling is part of the price you pay to go online anywhere, even though it often sucks like a quartet of black holes.
I lasted a month on Twatter and deleted it as being a spaghetti fight between toddlers. It got only slightly worse when Leon Munch bought it back. I can enjoy a bit of adult crazy, but when they go toddler crazy, my boot-tip itches to be planted in some crotches.
I spell it “Leon” because a butt-munch who would name his kid a mathematical formula is asking for that boot-tip with a bullhorn. Wait, come back, don’t you want to hear about my Chroma?
same here. i don’t use social media, reddit, youtube, instrgram, or any of it. when social media first started, all the marketing types at work went crazy for the unstructured data mining for trend analysis. that was enough for me to see what it was all about, and to stay away from it.
Synthtopia still has the best news for a blog. it’s the only place i look for new products. it’s predictable and mostly harmless. just wish there was less white space, nonproportional fonts so editting is easier, and bigger text size so i see what i’m typing.
i believe articles like this serve no independent purpose though. synth buyers have no magic buying patterns that are any different than any other ‘nice to have’ product. trump couldn’t tariff his way out of a paper bag. he’s a demented old cult leader.
This is doing me a favor. Certainly stopping my GAS rofl
Xi’s laughing at trump bigely https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/26/2318894/-For-100-days-the-World-has-Watched-Trump-Now-it-Laughs
“You have been reaching 4 times farther into the past the last few days, demanding everyone watch a Congressional speech from 1996, so your complaint here is silly.”
Demanding? Complaint?
The points with the excellent 1996 Democrat Nancy Pelosi presentation:
1) China sticking it to the USA has been going on for a long time, and it has gotten much worse since 1996.
2) When President Trump enacts what Democrats advocated long ago, Democrats hate on the President. What has changed? Oh yeah, President Trump is doing it instead of Democrats. Talk has been going on for many years. The time for just talk is over.
President Trump’s comments this month regarding what is happening NOW in 2025
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/04/05/trump-tells-americans-to-hang-tough-trade-war-won-t-be-easy_6739869_4.html#
Serious question: Do you have TDS?
well, that was quick. from tariff’s to arresting judges, and now going directly after jouralists.. but yeah, let’s talk about how bad tariff”s are while the western world burns. wtf are you MAGA?
Every factory on earth, except those located in the United States, can get the inputs they need from China, without paying an additional 145 percent markup. This will be a boom time for everyone, except the USA…
The cognitive dissonance for Trump voters must be profound, but if their ego can’t admit it, their wallet soon will…