What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Thanks to everyone who has contributed. These are great comments and I hope more are forthcoming from forum members who haven’t weighed in yet.

Keep in mind the reason we’re asking your opinion is that this is a subject we’ll be discussing at our Business Planning Session week after next. As an American manufacture involved in long term planning, it’s important to solicit opinions from our valuable customers on subjects such as this. We’re a data-driven company and we like to get input, feedback or numbers prior to starting a discussion.

Some of the comments seem to imply that Seymour Duncan is in the throes of financial disaster or that we’re making a desperate profit grab. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We’re about to engage in medium and long term planning on a variety of topics. Five years ago we discussed this topic. We’re going to discuss it again this month. And I’m sure we’ll discuss it again in another five years.

So while we very much appreciate your input, please don’t be jumping to conclusions. That’s how false Internet rumors get started.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

I believe that offshore production could be a real good thing on an international level,
IF, and a real big IF, it means that all the SD products we love and know are STILL
manufactured in the US and that Globalization takes in quality local partnerships and markets.

Remember what Fender did in the 80's, tackle the "copiers" on their own turf!
Gibson soon followed with Orville and in both cases they dealt with the highest
quality manufacturers and marketeers available to produce product that is
coveted all over the world.

I really think the way foward for SD is expansion, seek new products and markets,
ABSOLUTELY maintain the range of MIA pickups, no qustion and seek partnerships
that will endear the SD brand to the local market.

For instance, we have many great pickup and guitar makers here in Australia, as in
many other first wold countries. What if SD collaborated with these companies and
locally produced for argument's sake "Mike Brierley" custom pickups for Orsmby
or Crossley, or even Maton guitars? ( Biggest guitar manufacturer in AUS BTW )

Firstly, aknowledgement by a respected player in the guitar parts world goes a long way,
but more importantly WE can have our own SD product locally made with all the benefits
for SD, the local market and indeed you guys in the States. You really need to hear
some of the boutique pickups that are being made OTHER than in the US.

The SD brand name is synonomous with the highest quality in aftermarket pickups and
a large part of that is that they are made where they are by the people that make them.
Do not diminish that perception in the market but do enhance the end user to manufacturer
relationship in your future dealings.

Lastly, we in AUS and Europe are paying WAY, WAY too much for your retail product.
It really is a joke when i can get the same pickup delivered to my door directly from
a US supplier at a third of the local retail price. This Evan is costing you sales and it's
only a tiny part of our market that is buying across the counter, the rest of the real
guitar nerds are importing directly from US suppliers.

Cheers, Will
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Made in the USA is extremely important. Right now in the news Gibson is almost being pushed to outsource the production of fretboards. This would lead to roughly 40 Americans losing their jobs if it happens. The integrity of the pickups being American is extremely important. Guitarist pay a great deal of money to have an American made guitar due to the craftsmanship. I could see the pickup being affected the same way. It seems the quality leaves once the product is outsourced. Seymour Duncan has been an excellent company with a great reputation. If everyone was able to attend the user day event they would see why I only choose SD pickups for my guitars. The ability to have a connection with all involved is priceless
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

"Made in USA" is a promise. A promise by the "Seymour Duncan" brand that one is buying pickups of the highest quality.

Honestly I think I'd still buy Seymour Duncan pickups if they were made in China -- I'm still cool with Celestions, for example -- although I could see the potential of losing out to rival brands like DiMarzio (who I think does NOT make any crappy pickup, but rather more of a different flavor). Not making the pickups in the USA could mean that I might not get the same quality.

That said, not making it in the USA could work (I keep getting back to Celestions) and might be worth the risk. I think the older pickups don't necessarily have the "Made in USA" stamp and that Seymour Duncan doesn't really market the "Made in USA" that aggressively? So not making it in the USA probably won't do as much damage.

If it lowers cost (which is important to me) and the quality is assured (ala Celestions), then I can support it. And if you decide to go this route, I would suggest to do the OEMs first. I don't think someone who buys say a Jackson will pull out the pickup and check the backplate of the pickup before pluging in. For as long as the guy sees "Seymour Duncan" in the pickup bobbins, I think the guy will be happy.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

When you stop making them here, I'll stop buying them. Period.

Frankly I'm pretty disgusted (and no, "disgusted" is not too strong a word to use) that you guys have even entertained this idea in the past, and now you are revisiting it? Spare me the "economic realities" argument, too...the ONLY economic realities that MATTER are 1: Keeping your USA workforce working 2: Building a quality American-made product. It's shameful that you're considering this. Absolutely shameful. What the H*** are you guys in management thinking? I'm very disappointed in you.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

ErikH said:
I have to echo this statement.

When I hear "Seymour Duncan", not only do I hear SWD's name, but also American Quality Pickups. I can't image it being anything else but that.
Click to expand...

Amen, my brother!
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Thank you everyone so much for your input. Clearly, this is a very important point for many of you. Brian our CEO, has just come over and assured me that we remain committed to producing our current USA pickups here in Santa Barbara.

As Evan has pointed out, we aren't in the midst of any sort of disaster, far from it! Nor should asking for input, be construed as planning being taken in any particular direction. The fact of the matter is, we just really value your input. So, just to repeat, we remain committed to producing hand-made pickups with a focus on you, the player. I commend Evan for giving everyone the oppurtunity to chime in - it really makes a difference, so thank you all for your voice!
 
Last edited:
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Someone called our CEO today frantic that the Seymour Duncan company is pulling out of Santa Barbara and moving the entire operation to a suburb of Shanghai. Only one problem: there's absolutely no truth to that whatsoever.

C'mon guys!

The sheer amount of baseless assumptions I've read in these posts is incredible. The simple question is: what is the value of Made in USA to you in general and for Seymour Duncan? That's it.

I could easily go through numerous posts in this thread and point out baseless conjecture that has nothing whatsoever to do with reality. I'm not going to because I don't want to embarrass particular members, especially after I asked for their opinion. We didn't have this problem when I posed this question five years ago. I don't know what's changed. Maybe the economy has made people fearful. Maybe the 24 hour cable news cycle has made every story fantastic and emotional. Maybe it's the fact that this is the second time we've asked this question. Maybe, for some of you, you've never had a company solicit your opinion on a question like that and you're freaking out about it. I don't know.

But I have to say, the amount of rumor-mongering, leaping to conclusions, and baseless assumptions this thread has generated really surprises me.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

America taught the world about mass production. We took all the lessons from the Eurpoean craft system, and brought them to a global scale.

Of course, other nations learned from us. In succession, the Pacific Rim countries came across the same information, and each put their own stamp on it.

There's no shame in my economic reality, in buying a well-designed, well-made product built in another country. I have no qualms about making sure my money is well-spent. And there's the issue: How do I make sure my money is well-spent?

Is it fair to expect a higher level of quality from my 'country of origin' than from anywhere else? Perhaps it is. We showed everyone how to make the factory system work, but some of us forgot those lessons along the way.

Would it be a letdown to see another American company falling to the inertial market momentum of chasing costs down, while maintaining retail price levels? Yes. It's not all about profit. Yes, business is business, but a very smart guy once said, "what does it profit a man if he gains the world, but loses his soul?"

My pride is always wounded when I have to "settle for a bargain", because I know there's the best, and then there's the rest.

I have to know that the people making the things I use actually care about the things they make, and in some roundabout way about the people who use them. A factory is machines and computers, a company is spreadsheets, plans and budgets (and even more computers), but people with hearts and souls are the ones who make sure the products are good.

I've gor a pair of pickups in my MIM Jazz Bass that are more than just plastic, metal and copper; they've got soul. I put my soul into them when I play, and the soul that went into making them allows me to sound better.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

I think as a brand, people perceive that replacing the cheaper import pickups in their guitars with something that is USA made by a company who makes all of their pickups here is really what SD has worked so hard over the years to achieve. Being made in the USA means better right? Maybe or maybe not, but much of the world thinks that way about lots of things. Imagine if Gibson made LP Customs in Indonesia- Gibson headstock and logo and all. The LP people would freak out. Gibson makes it very clear that if it says 'Gibson' on it, it better come from the USA.
I play some guitars made overseas. Fairly expensive ones. I replaced the cheaper pickups with SDs. The perception that they are better, more boutique, and make you sound better by someone who, if you wanted to call up directly and ask questions in a language we understand. I am probably not alone, and that is worth something in a brand.
I know SD isn't going to move or outsource (they have, and it is called Duncan Designed and their pedal line), but what built the company is the SD pickup line.
Now if we can get people scared of soldering into replacement pickups, we'd have something. A side note: As someone who installs lots of pickups for people, no matter how easy you make it (the Liberator is a good start), there are many guitarists who are just...afraid. It would be cool if SD offered a completely solderless solution for the people that want it. Many guitarists I have met *know* the SD pickups are a boutique alternative to stock pickups (being made in the USA helps build that perception), but are afraid of screwing up the wiring themselves...and paying for someone else to do it.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Evan Skopp said:
what is the value of Made in USA to you in general and for Seymour Duncan?
Click to expand...

In general I like it, however I have purchased high quality products, of all types, made on many parts of the Globe.

For Duncan, it used to mean a lot, however the last few Duncan Designed pickups I've had the pleasure play on have put me in line to purchase the import models from now on if I want a popular Duncan model. To me they are the "better" sounding pickup compared the "top shelf" version of the similar product.

So to me, Duncan Designed means "incredible value".
 
Last edited:
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Evan Skopp said:
Someone called our CEO today frantic that the Seymour Duncan company is pulling out of Santa Barbara and moving the entire operation to a suburb of Shanghai. Only one problem: there's absolutely no truth to that whatsoever.

C'mon guys!
Click to expand...

Don't look at me. I'm pretty confident that the only baseless conjecture in my post was the bit about the floor-shop customs. (But would that really work overseas?)
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Evan Skopp said:
Someone called our CEO today frantic that the Seymour Duncan company is pulling out of Santa Barbara and moving the entire operation to a suburb of Shanghai. Only one problem: there's absolutely no truth to that whatsoever.

C'mon guys!

The sheer amount of baseless assumptions I've read in these posts is incredible. The simple question is: what is the value of Made in USA to you in general and for Seymour Duncan? That's it.

I could easily go through numerous posts in this thread and point out baseless conjecture that has nothing whatsoever to do with reality. I'm not going to because I don't want to embarrass particular members, especially after I asked for their opinion. We didn't have this problem when I posed this question five years ago. I don't know what's changed. Maybe the economy has made people fearful. Maybe the 24 hour cable news cycle has made every story fantastic and emotional. Maybe it's the fact that this is the second time we've asked this question. Maybe, for some of you, you've never had a company solicit your opinion on a question like that and you're freaking out about it. I don't know.

But I have to say, the amount of rumor-mongering, leaping to conclusions, and baseless assumptions this thread has generated really surprises me.
Click to expand...

Hey, you started it!!!
 
Last edited:
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Evan, i am glad to hear that you guys are staying in the U.S., but in times like these, you can't blame us for imagining the worst.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

Evan Skopp said:
....We didn't have this problem when I posed this question five years ago. I don't know what's changed. Maybe the economy has made people fearful. Maybe the 24 hour cable news cycle has made every story fantastic and emotional. Maybe it's the fact that this is the second time we've asked this question. Maybe, for some of you, you've never had a company solicit your opinion on a question like that and you're freaking out about it. I don't know.
Click to expand...

Evan, I love it here but maybe you haven't noticed...this is not the same forum it was 5 years ago.
 
Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups? (Part II)

SD,

Perhaps the best way for many of us to explain the value of "Made in the U.S.A." is to explain our harsh feelings toward companies that outsource. The word "if" must be expected to come up when you ask such a question. It does not amount to Internet rumor. People not being able to comprehend what they read usually leads to that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

uOpt
What made you switch out pickups in the first place?
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
Mincer
Mincer
Mincer
  • Featured
Seymour Duncan Announces The 50th Anniversary Limited Edition JB / Jazz Humbucker Set!
Replies
19
Views
1K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
K
Can you share any info about the SD Black Backs?
Replies
11
Views
374
Sam SG
S
P
Technical specifications for the Seymour Duncan DA-59 humbuckers used in D’Angelico guitars
Replies
7
Views
728
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
Mincer
  • Featured
Seymour Duncan Announces ‘59 Model Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Custom Shop Set!
2
Replies
22
Views
819
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
Back
Top