What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

[StrangeSound]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

But look at Ibanez and ESP ,they are not made in U.S.A even the high-end products ,and still are really expensive and popular.

"Made in Japan" and "Made in USA" stands for quality for me at least. And yes, I'd be willing to spend some bucks more, cause you know what you've got in the end.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

Well excuse me, but there's a toyota truck plant a few miles from my house. American workers are making money working there. I don't care if the fenders are made in japan, almost all chevies are completely made in canada.

Thanks, didn't know that.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

To me it means that they are from the "same" place as when I started using Duncans in my youth.
It has history and a line to follow, most of the time Made in US means very little to me, as it usually indicates less than good workmanship(sorry guys but we have seen quite a few horrors overhere from the States) but in Duncans case it means firstclass products to me.
You guys are actually my first real positive US buy, and I have not looked back since
Niels

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

It looks like everybody's opinions are more or less the same on this issue. To me, it's "Made in Japan" or "Made in USA" or nothing at all (well, I support Canadian products too, but they're neighbors of the US anyways, so I lump them in with the US crowd). Most things I see coming out of China are pure junk and I'm pretty sure SD doesn't want people equating poor production to the SD name. When you're buying an American product, you feel warm inside (if you're living in the US or have in the past) because you're buying something that's supporting your own folks. Outsourcing to places like China just seems like a cheap way to get a few extra bucks and it puts a bad taste in many people's mouths.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

^Except that all your inards of most electronics stuff is from the East.
And just how many productionlines have you seen in China??

 

[Voxman]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

Almost 90% of all toyotas are made in america by americans.

Moreso than any GM or ford product.



And in the heat of this discussion, I have to say that MIA means quality, PERIOD.

A product made in china or korea makes me look the other way. As soon as I see the MIA sticker, I know it's a serious product that someone probably gave a damn about when they made it.

Maby toyotas made for the american marked are prodused in the states,that doesn`t count for rest of the world. Toyota is indeed a japanees company

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

With regards to Seymour Duncan, I think that you know you're getting a product that's not only well made in a small "family" type factory, but that is steeped in rock 'n' roll history. I think it might be tha branding, but knowing that Seymour is still active in the santa Barbara factory helps.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

it means that i buy them. ive been on a kick for a few years trying to buy things only made in this country which is tough but especially when it comes to non-essentials ive been very successful. many of my old stand bys are gone, no more levis jeans for me

i know the whole business world is farming things out overseas but the world is also going to hell. the business machine has taken over the human experience

 

[SFW]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

I means a lot to me. If Duncan moves the manufacturing to another country, I will move my business. Period. I love my Duncans, but I'm sure that there are other good US pickup manufacturers. Please keep Duncan a USA company. Outsourcing sucks!

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

I try to buy American whenever posibble, with the exeption of stuff that isn't readily available U.S. made.........DVD players and such.

I have used Duncans for over 20 years and it is like an institution for me, like Coke or Wonderbread.....I would be disappointed to say the least to see the product that Seymour makes, be produced in a 3rd world country. I might still buy them if they were made somewhere else, but I might not have the warm fuzzy feeling that I have now.

I would have to say that when I hear "Seymour Duncan" I think of a good American made quality product at a fair price and that is where the strength of your success lies.

 

[esandes]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

food for thought: note that i put good american made pickups into a pretty crap made-in-taiwan guitar to make it sound better. i'm sure a majority of aftermarket pickup consumers do the same for the same reason. not all of us can afford a high quality (american made) PRS, LP or Strat. but we're all looking for good tone. a good aftermarket pickup is something virtually all guitarists can afford that can allow for them to get decent sounds from a sub-par guitar. when i see the price sticker on a SD pickup, i sure don't cringe. the shareholders should look at the big picture.

 

[RickyduRock]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

I'm Brazilian and I've been a happy Duncan user for years.
If production moves to asia or mexico I will stop using them.
I hate dimarzios but if it happen I'll move to.
Quality and care on the first place. I've been spending all my money in USA pots, USA switches, USA guitars, USA effects, always thinking in quality trying to have the best tone my money let me have. I would hate putting a "Made in Mexico" or "Made in China" pickup in my USA guitar with USA pots, USA tuners, USA switches, USA Strings, ect.

Guys!
You have quality in almost every single thing you made. Don't loose it.
I born and live in a 3rd world country. I would say 70% of the things we use are Made in Asia, 10% is made here and the rest 20% are all other countries.
I know what I'm saying 'cause I live the situation. It's a shame using Made in China products when you have all the pottential to do it way better in your OWN country.

Does anyone remember Gibson's "Norlin-era", Fender "CBS-era"?
I hope Seymour Duncan don't split itself in a Before/After company like these above.

Cheers

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

I live in Southern Africa....

To answer the two questions posed:

*** Made in USA, in general, makes me think of quality, yet not absolute guaanteed "value for money". (this i guess, has alot to do with a culmination of factors) We pay big here for USA products... (far away, highish initial cost, import taxes, low volume etc)

*** Specific to SD stuff... I percieve the USA wound pickups and such to be the finest available, worldwide. A made elsewhere product wont carry that mojo.

My understanding of the world is this: USA nurtures the thinking and development of things/innovations etc. Others labour to make them. The US attracts the finest thinkers in the world, and gives them a very very very good offer/reward. University professors, software developers, etc. That's the big drive. Almost appears to be a gov initiative.

Manufacturing in USA is expensive, when compared to the developing world. Our factories here have no worker's parking lots, if they work in a factory, they have no car. Letalone dental. They're exploited miserable workers. USA factories have lots full of fairly decent "everyman" cars. Nice. These people have dental and work under better conditions, and so make better products.

USA manufacturing is on the decline, as companies cannot ignore the savings of doing it in the east.

In the UK, when you call up your local bank, you get routed to some outsourced call centre in India! "Is this the Bank of England?" "Yes Sir!" "this is mr Smith.." "err, can you spell that sir?"

Having said that, i have many well built chinese products, where value for money was high. What are we going to do without them, now that we are so accustomed to them?

This is too long, and scattered...

 

[MikeS]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

Evan,
To me, it means most importantly that you value quality above profit, and that you value your employees as a real asset.

All I can add to that piece of wisdom by Curly is that I think it brings, at least for those of us in the USA, an assurance of the quality and consistency in your product. Many of you brothers are arguing that quality control know no nationality. While you may possibly be right, you cannot change the fact that many still believe in what the words “Made in USA” stand for: pride in one’s ability to produce a consistently quality product. Arguing the validity of that belief doesn’t change the fact that the belief still exists.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

It matters as much in terms of perception as it does build quality.

Can a pickup be made as well in Korea or China as it can be made here? Probably. Are the decades of experience that you have in California going to move there to make sure it has those build qualities? Pissing away vast amount of experience to save a few pennies is the most common mistake made by companies. If you are making plastic toys where no one cares OK. Pickups are something where details count in the end result. As do materials used in the process.

Now in terms of perception I think it matters even more. I pay the price for Duncans cause I know if there is a problem I can talk to a tech and even to the guy who built it if were needed. I'm willing to pay the premium for that. I'm not willing to pay that premium for something brought in on a boat. In fact I would likely go elsewhere for my pup needs. I don't buy the foreign made pickups now and I can't imagine I ever would even it were the flagship line.

I understand why this topic would come up from a business perspective. I'm not sure it would really make sense for SD. You may be a large player in a niche market but in the bigger picture it is still a niche market. You live and die on your reputation and your products living up to the reputation. Making the product abroad would create a real disconnect in that regard IMO.

In short, I view building your product abroad as a bad choice.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

No hint intended. All we're doing is gathering your thoughts for a discussion we're going to have at Business Planning. It's just a discussion. But your thoughts will help us be better informed for our discussion.

These are great comments, guys. Keep 'em comin!

As I said earlier, I think it would be a mistake.

Seriously though Evan, some of us have been to these types of of meetings and had these discussions. The fact that this is on the agenda "strongly suggests" there is consideration/discussion regarding the idea from some faction of the organization. Its prudent to always review possibilities. No question of it. But in this case you need to tell the bean counters to go back to the kid's table and speak only when spoken to.

You guys don't make mass produced product. You make a lot of niche market product. Not the same thing by a long shot. A purely financial decision to move manufacturing over seas tells the market that your product is a commodity of no greater or lesser value than any other pickup on the market thus pissing away 30 years spent building your reputation. You didn't get here by working from that philosophy and you won't survive if you adopt it now.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

It really doesn't mean anything to me. Pickups are not rocket science, the R+D costs are minimal and the material costs are more minimal. If it brings down the (comparitively high) costs of SD pickups I think it would be a wise move on your part.

Also, if pickups are not a mass-produced object I don't know what is.

 

[RW James]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

Value is an important part of this whole argument - at least for me. Value is "bang for buck" - that is, two factors - quality and cost.

Value is always important - but often the cost side of that equation carries more weight. For instance, with me, I can buy a cheaper guitar, because I know I can fix it up and improve the quality - and for me, that is fun.

With a pickup, the quality side of the equation is more important, because installing pickups is a lot of work, and not something I want to do over and over. And of course, I'm not going to rewind my pickups to make them better.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

If I have a choice, I support goods manufactured in the US. Duncan pickups. Eminence speakers. Boogie amps. I’m willing to pay more for this. In return, I expect excellent craftsmanship.

 

[Lu_B]

Re: What is the Value of "Made In USA" for SD Pickups?

Made in the USA is an integral part of Seymour Duncan and I don't think the brand would have the same kudos if they were manufactured oversees.

All too often in the UK companies that proport to make high quality products ship their manufacturing overseas but continue to charge premium pricing. The only people this benefits are the shareholders and institutional investers in the form of dividend.

In the UK Marks & Spencers switched much of their textile production from the UK to Morocco and India causing their subcontractors to lay off 4000 people. This was from a company that used to be proud trade on the fact that 90% of their goods are made in the UK. Have their prices come down, no they are still at the premium end. Initially it damaged their reputation but 6 yrs on no one can remember appart from the people that got laid off!

Heinz today made 125 people redundant and moved the production of HP sauce an archtypal British product to Holland.

I think people should value to livelyhoods of either fellow countryman more than a cheap product. After all next time it might be your job that a company moves oversees