Re: Gibson Trademarks 335 Shape
You really don't speak for the industry or users at large.
Where did I claim that I do? Why would you assume that?
On point one, I work with overseas workers and they are judged by how well they followed instructions, not by quality of the resulting work, and it creates a massive headache trying to get quality out of a team when that is not their objective.
It's not a myth that some American made music products, maybe even most of them, are more durable than cheap Chinese made equivalents, but I see people on the internet, even here, just assume out of hand that a thing is better for no other reason than it being made in the USA. That is difference between merit based evaluation, and anecdotal evidence and broad generalizations. If you ask someone "why should I pay more for a Seymour Duncan and not less for a Duncan Designed?" some here would answer that the former is made in the USA, with the assertion that this is why you can trust that it's better, no further explanation necessary.
Your other points are just made up.
A lot of boutique makers are actively involved in online forums, and it's easy to see first hand what this does for their reputation. It is very good. People feel like they personally know them, they refer to them on a first name basis. It the ultimate word-of-mouth promotion.
And "sense of patrionism" is not only not "made up", but is directly cited as a reason for buying domestic within this thread.
Experience with the differences in product, service and personal treatment during remediation of problems is the missing bullet point that keeps people buying American, if they do. And there are plenty of times when people whose purchases frequently lean US are perfectly willing to purchase from anyone outside US if the quality is there and the personal treatment is there.
That doesn't hold up. A lot of foreign made components have US based service centers. You don't have to speak Japanese if you have a problem with your Boss pedal. You'll probably be referred to an authorized service center near you, and not even required to ship the item back to the manufacturer for service.
Truth be told, my guitar related products very rarely fail due to manufacture defect, domestic or foreign made. I'm shocked to see as much made about customer services as it is, and when I do have to return something, I'm dealing with Musicians Friends, or an Amazon related retailer, not the manufacturer. If you fell it beneficial to pay $200 instead of $40 (for the sake of argument) on account of customer service alone, I have to wonder how you treat your things.
If boutique makers are friendlier, it's because they have to be for the prices they charge and the small volumes they push, and is covered in this bullet point "our ability to relate to the proprietors on a cultural and/or personal level".
And I have been treated poorly at times by domestic guitar accessory makers as well, though I won't name names.
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