“The country a guitar is made in does not matter much”

[PeteR]

“The country a guitar is made in does not matter much”: Paul Reed Smith thinks people should stop obsessing about guitars being made in America​

“It’s always been about the skill level of the guitar makers.”

“The country a guitar is made in does not matter much”: Paul Reed Smith thinks people should stop obsessing about guitars being made in America

Paul Reed Smith – head honcho at PRS – has given fuel to the side of the debate that believes no, it doesn’t matter where a guitar is made.

guitar.com

 

[PeteR]

It sure depends on 'who' builds the guitars....
a team of employees with some decades of experiences, or some guys who works in the business for a few months.....
And it always depends on how well a guitar is allowed to be built - and how much profit the company want to make from it

 

[soulman]

And it needs to be repeated over and over again. I will say this however.

There seems to be far less put downs and objections to import lines than was the case a decade ago. The I always buy "Murican" crews have either given up or they now own import models of their own but seldom admit it. It should be noted that Asians were building string instruments long before we heisted the US from our Native American brethren.

Let's take Epiphone as an example. The Stathopuolos Family were making stringed instruments in Turkey before immigrating to the US in the late 1800s. The Japanese and Chinese have been building stringed instruments for centuries. Once someone has the design and specs for a guitar or bass teaching folks to build them just isn't that hard. Leo Fender proved that back in the 1950s.

For the most part every imported instrument is now built by companies with significant experience doing so. American companies like PRS, Fender, Gibson, and others wouldn't associate their name and reputation with junk. David Grissom himself has said the SE version of his Core model PRS is so close to his own that in playing one he could barely tell any difference.

My G&L Tribute versions of Leo's designs sound and play the same as far more costly US builds. There are a few differences but as with most imports vs US built versions it's mostly cosmetic or a few unique features that are reserved for US models if only to still create a stronger market for them. Squier CV models can very easily be upgraded to MIM or even US level versions.

Yesterday I was comparing my Epi LP Special to the Gibson version. The only thing that looks different is the headstock and I won't pay $1300 more for that and the Gibson name on it. I seriously doubt that if I performed or recorded with it anyone would say oh boy I can tell it apart from a Gibson just by how much different it sounds. Pfttttt.

But what we might start asking ourselves is if our fearful leader starts slapping even higher tariffs on Asian produced products what impact will that have on their prices? Have US companies already begun increasing the prices of their import lines in advance of this? I know G&L has boosted the prices of it's Tribute Series significantly.

 

[PeteR]

starts slapping even higher tariffs on Asian produced products what impact will that have on their prices?

the prices will go up, probably even more than the tariffs....
the 'poor' musician who can't afford an US made guitar will pay for the decision made by some rich guys

 

[GrooVey]

My Japanese Gretch gits are top notch. So have been some of the Korean made guitars I’ve had.

 

[3bolt79]

I am going to get a Tele next year. It will probably be a CV 50’s. I just did a setup on one for a forum member, and I was impressed with it over all after polishing the frets and setting it up.

It had the sound and playability that I am wanting, has the look of the AVII 51 with bigger frets, which is a plus for me.

And, at one fifth of the price. I wouldn’t use it enough to justify spending $2500.00 on a Tele.

 

[rolandson]

where it's made...meh
how well it's made...bingo.
who made it...? see above.

funny thing...
Mexico, which has a substantially longer history of guitar making than the states, is also part of North America.

So when one steadfastly insists that "American Made is better," when they are really advocating US made, is merely doubling down on their own ignorance. Mexican made instruments are, in fact, really 'well', and American, made.

And, truth is fender was, at first embarassed, and then very angry when the guitars that they had sought out for manufacturing in Japan as their "budget line"...
turned out to be better made instruments than what was coming out of California.

 

[soulman]

the prices will go up, probably even more than the tariffs....
the 'poor' musician who can't afford an US made guitar will pay for the decision made by some rich guys

Yeah well we tried to keep the "rich guys" from doing that but failed because for whatever reason too many of us have either lost their minds or their memories. Not sure which. But that's as far as I'm going down that path.

 

[soulman]

I am going to get a Tele next year. It will probably be a CV 50’s. I just did a setup on one for a forum member, and I was impressed with it over all after polishing the frets and setting it up.

It had the sound and playability that I am wanting, has the look of the AVII 51 with bigger frets, which is a plus for me.

And, at one fifth of the price. I wouldn’t use it enough to justify spending $2500.00 on a Tele.

They are an excellent value as are the G&L Tribute ASAT Classic models.

 

[PeteR]

where it's made...meh
how well it's made...bingo.
who made it...? see above.

funny thing...
Mexico, which has a substantially longer history of guitar making than the states, is also part of North America.

So when one steadfastly insists that "American Made is better," when they are really advocating US made, is merely doubling down on their own ignorance. Mexican made instruments are, in fact, really 'well', and American, made.

And, truth is fender was, at first embarassed, and then very angry when the guitars that they had sought out for manufacturing in Japan as their "budget line"...
turned out to be better made instruments than what was coming out of California.

 

[RustyChops]

I was American blue collar my whole working life, so it’s a factor for me to consider.
However a good guitar is a good guitar, no matter who made it, where, or when.
Same-same a lousy guitar.
My Tele is MIM and is great.

 

[Mouse]

For me it’s less about where it’s made and more about what it’s made of. Import models are often made with lesser quality components than their American counterparts but even that gap is closing.

 

[soulman]

For me it’s less about where it’s made and more about what it’s made of. Import models are often made with lesser quality components than their American counterparts but even that gap is closing.

In some cases yes but in others no. For instance the MFD pickups in G&L Tributes are made in the US and shipped to Cortek. Cortek does make the Saddle Lock Bridge for them but it's identical in all respects to those G&L makes in Fullerton with the exception of the saddles. The US made ones are chromed brass. But those same saddles can be bought from G&L making it pretty easy to simply upgrade an import bridge. The same with their tuners.

I think you're definitely correct about the gap closing. IME Epiphone has been upping their game for a very long time upgrading their MIC guitars to compare more with Gibson quality. The newer IBG models all have upgraded electronics and I have no gripe at all with their tuners and other hardware. Schecter is another company building some incredible import guitars and basses and none of this stuff is thought of as being "cheaper" any longer. Not at their current prices.

 

[Mouse]

In some cases yes but in others no. For instance the MFD pickups in G&L Tributes are made in the US and shipped to Cortek. Cortek does make the Saddle Lock Bridge for them but it's identical in all respects to those G&L makes in Fullerton with the exception of the saddles. The US made ones are chromed brass. But those same saddles can be bought from G&L making it pretty easy to simply upgrade an import bridge. The same with their tuners.

I think you're definitely correct about the gap closing. IME Epiphone has been upping their game for a very long time upgrading their MIC guitars to compare more with Gibson quality. The newer IBG models all have upgraded electronics and I have no gripe at all with their tuners and other hardware. Schecter is another company building some incredible import guitars and basses and none of this stuff is thought of as being "cheaper" any longer. Not at their current prices.

The Epi’s have been grabbing my attention lately. I owned a mid 90s LP model (I forget the year but it was when they started making them again) which was MIK and it was decent but lacking in areas (pickups, pots, tuners). The Epi Adam Jones LP has really grabbed my attention and it looks like it’s got some nice upgrades. Reviews compare it as good or even better than the Gibson model. They’re definitely not “cheap” anymore as I think they’re around $1,200 or so.

 

[rolandson]

View attachment 1738

got a link to the entire interview? would make interesting reading.
so would, btw, fender's comments about the circumstances surrounding their decision to enlist Japanese manufacturing capabilities in the production of fender branded instruments.

over here, there are d(s)ome very entertaining recollections of used guitar shop owners in the lead-up to fenders budget line release. stories of "van" or "bus" loads of "tourists" piling into shops and leaving with used strats and teles "by the arm load."

probably a little embellished ...

Still, it was not uncommon to find an old strat or tele hanging on a wall in the home of friends in Tokyo. I've a rather nice JDP at my home in Saitama that plays nicer than my for-real old strat ever did.

The fellow that made it shares that he reverse engineered a dozen 50's and early 60's instruments to get "it" just right. Those subjects of engineering often found their way to walls as Objet d'Art.

eta:
damn, gots to make a concerted effort to proof read myself...my spelling is atrocious. (having hand surgery on Tuesday so... it's gonna get worse before it gets better... I'm using a poke stick to type and miss a lot)

 

[PeteR]

got a link to the entire interview? would make interesting reading.

I've read it on another forum, will ask/search for it

so would, btw, fender's comments about the circumstances surrounding their decision to enlist Japanese manufacturing capabilities in the production of fender branded instruments.

Info from 'inside' Fujigen^^

 

[3bolt79]

In some cases yes but in others no. For instance the MFD pickups in G&L Tributes are made in the US and shipped to Cortek. Cortek does make the Saddle Lock Bridge for them but it's identical in all respects to those G&L makes in Fullerton with the exception of the saddles. The US made ones are chromed brass. But those same saddles can be bought from G&L making it pretty easy to simply upgrade an import bridge. The same with their tuners.

I think you're definitely correct about the gap closing. IME Epiphone has been upping their game for a very long time upgrading their MIC guitars to compare more with Gibson quality. The newer IBG models all have upgraded electronics and I have no gripe at all with their tuners and other hardware. Schecter is another company building some incredible import guitars and basses and none of this stuff is thought of as being "cheaper" any longer. Not at their current prices.

Well the one thing I’ve noticed with the new Epi’s is that they do have lesser quality metals on their bridges. I’ve had 2 failures on the IBG’s. But I did get prompt replacements from customer service. The plating seems to be better on Gibson’s US offerings, and the fretwork usually needs attention on the Epi’s. But hey, what do you want for 1/5 to 1/4 of the price of a USA model. It can all be sorted during the setup.

The only thing I’ve really noticed on the Squier CV guitars is that the plating of the metal parts is better on the US and most MIM guitars. But it’s not bad enough to me to justify spending so much more on a US guitar.

 

[soulman]

Well the one thing I’ve noticed with the new Epi’s is that they do have lesser quality metals on their bridges. I’ve had 2 failures on the IBG’s. But I did get prompt replacements from customer service. The plating seems to be better on Gibson’s US offerings, and the fretwork usually needs attention on the Epi’s. But hey, what do you want for 1/5 to 1/4 of the price of a USA model. It can all be sorted during the setup.

The only thing I’ve really noticed on the Squier CV guitars is that the plating of the metal parts is better on the US and most MIM guitars. But it’s not bad enough to me to justify spending so much more on a US guitar.

The greatest benefit to the imports when it comes to stuff like that is virtually all of the hardware can be replaced with something better and you're still far under the cost of a Gibson or a Fender branded model. I've only found one Squier I bought that needed more significant fret work done than a simple polish or maybe the need to tap a high fret down or knock off a high spot. However I have found some nuts that were not correctly cut.

If someone is good at fixing that stuff like you are it's a quick fix. Otherwise you spend another $100 or so and have a tech or luthier do it. Anyway you look at it even if they need an upgrade or two or some fretwork or a new nut you're still out of pocket hundreds or even thousands less. The biggest caution to me is the neck especially on set neck models. Those should be rejected or bought only at a very steep discount. But with a bolt on you can just replace the neck.

 

[Too Many Notes]

The funny thing is that what Made in the USA guarantees lately is it will be made with quality parts made to last that don't need to be upgraded. I've got guitars from Korea, China, Indonesia, and Mexico that have construction quality equal to what you'd expect from the US, but they cut corners on hardware, pickups, and electronics.

 

[soulman]

The funny thing is that what Made in the USA guarantees lately is it will be made with quality parts made to last that don't need to be upgraded. I've got guitars from Korea, China, Indonesia, and Mexico that have construction quality equal to what you'd expect from the US, but they cut corners on hardware, pickups, and electronics.

My point though was that even if I choose to upgrade most of what can be I'd still have hundreds of dollars less into that import than I would it's US equivalent. For instance; An American Pro II Tele sells for $1700 whereas a Squier CV 50s Tele sells for $430. With the $1270 saved I can buy what I need to bring that Squier pretty damn close to the equivalent of the American Pro II and still have saved hundreds.

Or, I can choose to do nothing at all and the CV will still be a very good sounding and playing Tele. I'm not implying there are no differences. We all know there are. The question is do they justify the $1270 difference in cost? For some buyers it will but for many who are able to do their own upgrades and mods it may not be. I'm one of the latter whose modified a half dozen CV guitars and basses.

I've spent as much as $200-$250 to upgrade one but also got back $100 or more selling the stock parts I no longer cared to keep around. I also bought the CVs for far less than their current prices. So I may have as little as $500 into a guitar or bass that's comparable to a Fender that sells for $1500-$1700. But none of those CVs actually needed to be upgraded. I did because I wanted to and because I could.