What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

[marty_the_westie]

I have 2 guitars. 1 Japanese made prestige, 1 Korean. After spending another 300 on mods for the Korean, it sounds just as good as the Prestige. It has a slightly different feel to it, mainly due to a different neck and slightly smaller frets, but still is a real player. But the thing is, it still has that stigma of being a Korean guitar, while my other is considered a "true" Ibanez, because it's Japanese made. I honestly don't know what to think about imports. One day I think, who cares, it sounds and plays as good as my prestige. Another day I think it will always be the step child so to speak of the prestige. I've played Mexican Strats ( Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan) that rival any American made Strat, yet some people still consider them to be a "second" to an American made one. What does everybody think. Is a fully modded Korean guitar worth it, or would most of you prefer just to have the higher end? I'm thinking about buying another Ibanez, but the one I want (SZ320) is Korean, and I'm having my doubts whether I should just look around for something else.

 

[big_black]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

I am unreasonably biased. I usually only buy American made guitars (not a fan of current Ibanez or sherdders). I guess I just like the peace of mind in knowing there was some care in the making of them, even if it is only in my own mind. This is not to bash them, I just probably wouldn't buy one.

 

[nahfuten]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

all i know is i'm completely happy with my mexican strat

 

[willy2763]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

Quality aside, one thing to consider is resale value. You can mod all you want but if you decide to sell or trade it, you will never get your money back. The seller doesn't see 300 in upgrades, all they see is Made in Korea. Then they offer you 100 bucks and you get angry. I learned that the hard way. If it is a guitar you think you will keep for a long time then that obviously doesn't matter that much. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

Find the one that feels the best and sounds the best unplugged. Who cares what it says on the headstock.

 

[frankencat]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

+1

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

I love Korean guitars. Mexican stuff kicks ass, too. Honestly, I don't give a f*ck where it was made. If it plays well, it plays well, and Koreans are just as capable of making a kick-ass instrument as Americans.

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

IMO if a foriegn guitar plays as well as an American made guitar who cares. Use the money you save and make some extra mods. to it.

 

[Ironjose]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

i would have to agree with "woodcutter" buy the cheap with great tone and you´ll save money and that money use on mods...
JJ

 

[Surgeon]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

Well, I'm really really satisfied with my LTD Ec-1000 so I'll have to say that Koreans can build good guitars for sure....

 

[Mincer]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

I play it first. I don't care where it is made- and I don't buy gear to resell it, even if I end up doing just that. Yeah, I may lose money on it, but I enjoyed the time I had with it. I can't see why an American would put more care into a guitar than a Korean. They are people. One gets paid more. In many cases, the other makes a better guitar.

 

[nahfuten]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

Aren't most LTD's made in Indonesia?

 

[Xeromus]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

Aren't most LTD's made in Indonesia?

All are made in Korea. My ESP LTD EC-1000 is higher quality than most american guitars.

BUT, I've noticed some minor slips in quality among korean guitars, incorrect routing, some little mistakes. If they aren't major issues they are shipped and sold anyway with the notion (correctly) that most people that buy those axes won't know the difference.

In the future I'm going to try to just spend the extra bucks for well made american and japanese guitars.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

All are made in Korea.

The 50, 100, and 200 series are Indonesian.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

The 50, 100, and 200 series are Indonesian.

holy crap I didn't know that. How about that.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

^^^ You wouldn't know by playing them, either They all used to be Korean, and the quality didn't change a bit. The 200s are even set or neck thrus!

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

IMO most of those little mistakes can be fixed bytaking it to a quilified tech. But you definitly want to check any guitar before you buy it for series problems, even one thats american made.

 

[KoreanGuitarMan]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

They're absolutely horrid, if you ask me.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

I play it first. I don't care where it is made- and I don't buy gear to resell it, even if I end up doing just that. Yeah, I may lose money on it, but I enjoyed the time I had with it. I can't see why an American would put more care into a guitar than a Korean. They are people. One gets paid more. In many cases, the other makes a better guitar.

True, expecially considering most of the guitars from both continents are made on CNC machines, so there isn't much of a human element anyway. For the part that is done by humans, you're probably right. A lot of people outside the US take more pride in everything they do (including their job) than many Americans. Also, considering how close Fender's factory is to Mexico, I doubt they have any more US workers than their Mexico factory.

The American factories usually use better wood and electronics, though. You can easily change out the pups and switches, but it's a little harder to change the wood. Before you buy either, see how easy it is to play and how it sounds (tone, sustain, etc.) compared to other guitars, including those of the same model. I've just found that the MIA guitars tend to be better than the others (Godin guitars - made in Canada - are very well made, too). Although, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a foreign made guitar if it was well made and cheap enough.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: What's your thoughts on Korean guitars?

True, expecially considering most of the guitars from both continents are made on CNC machines, so there isn't much of a human element anyway. For the part that is done by humans, you're probably right.....QUOTE]

I agree with the point you are making about the pride in craftsmanship, but you couldn't be farther from the truth in regards to CNC machinery. I am a CNC machinist who builds hydraulic cylinders for Caterpillar, Bush Hog, and many others with tolerances measured in 1/1000 of an inch. When a groove diameter has to be 2 1/2 inches, that is 2.500. Most tolerances I work with allow for a deviant tolerance of +/- .003, so that would be between 2.497 and 2.503. By manually making the machine using a lathe or a mill, it can be more time-consuming, but the person is in control. True the computer can execute more precise movements, but the computer can not measure. The operator measures the produced part, and computes the offset in the program so the NEXT part is within tolerance, or to specs.

That being said, the same lack of pride is displayed when the operator doesnt really care if that groove measures 2.485. Heck that is only 15/1000 of an inch. Who cares? The CONSUMER!! In my case, Caterpillar would be pissed when the bulldoser cant raise the blades because the internal pressure is too high due to excess friction caused by undersized cylinders.

In the case of the guitar, a majority of the players out there dont even play in tune relative to the guitar, much less do they properly intonate their guitar. Who is gonna notice that the 10th-15th frets are .010" lower that the rest?

Moral of the story..... Dont put faith in something simply because a machine recalls the same pattern of executable tasks over and again. There is still a human that interfaces the finished part with the program. That level of craftsmanship is either there, or not.... The quality of the product is the only proof of that...... Unless you have a stringent Quality Assurance Program as we do......


Allen