You guitar was made where ?
- Thread starter SirJackdeFuzz
- Start date
JeffB
Let it B
Re: You guitar was made where ?
Country of origin matters to me, but sometimes other factors trump country of origin..These days I really try to shy away from guitars made in China/Indonesia. Cheap hardware, electronics, thick plastic finishes. I have an epiphone 335Pro sitting around that needs a complete refret ( that will cost 75% of what the guitar did) because of its cheapass soft fret material. 8 months and it was toast. Factor in pickups, a rewire,a.decent nut, etc. Not worth it to me anymore.
That said I have owned a bunch of MIJ guitars new and old, they are almost always a huge step up from other Far East or Mexican Fender quality (and I currently own a MIM Fender too, so neeahhh)
Country of origin matters to me, but sometimes other factors trump country of origin..These days I really try to shy away from guitars made in China/Indonesia. Cheap hardware, electronics, thick plastic finishes. I have an epiphone 335Pro sitting around that needs a complete refret ( that will cost 75% of what the guitar did) because of its cheapass soft fret material. 8 months and it was toast. Factor in pickups, a rewire,a.decent nut, etc. Not worth it to me anymore.
That said I have owned a bunch of MIJ guitars new and old, they are almost always a huge step up from other Far East or Mexican Fender quality (and I currently own a MIM Fender too, so neeahhh)
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
9unslin9er
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
Every country can have issues with quality control.
MIM Fenders today are incredible. With a good setup and electronics, they would stand side by side with the US ones, sometimes even above them.
The last Japanese Fender I played was an EVH Wolfgang Special. The neck wood shrunk on display and the stainless steel frets shredded up my palm and fingers.
I have no qualms buying from any country provided the instrument is maintained correctly.
Every country can have issues with quality control.
MIM Fenders today are incredible. With a good setup and electronics, they would stand side by side with the US ones, sometimes even above them.
The last Japanese Fender I played was an EVH Wolfgang Special. The neck wood shrunk on display and the stainless steel frets shredded up my palm and fingers.
I have no qualms buying from any country provided the instrument is maintained correctly.
Johtosotku
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
MIJ. About all of the MIJ guitars I've tried have been at least good if not great. I can't say that about any other country.
MIJ. About all of the MIJ guitars I've tried have been at least good if not great. I can't say that about any other country.
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
To be fair, I'd attribute this to quality slippage.
To be fair, I'd attribute this to quality slippage.
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
Why the **** would I buy a guitar that was already around long before I could tell my dick from a whammy bar? MIM all the way! I have an MIM Strat made in 2011 and the build quality is superb! I can't find any flaw except an 'imperfection' (which is only noticeable under a close inspection with a flash light held an inch away) on the upper side of the fretboard but even this is just a variation of the wood, so it is not really an imperfection.
I hate old guitars, so my answer applies to other guitars made somewhere else.
Why the **** would I buy a guitar that was already around long before I could tell my dick from a whammy bar? MIM all the way! I have an MIM Strat made in 2011 and the build quality is superb! I can't find any flaw except an 'imperfection' (which is only noticeable under a close inspection with a flash light held an inch away) on the upper side of the fretboard but even this is just a variation of the wood, so it is not really an imperfection.
I hate old guitars, so my answer applies to other guitars made somewhere else.
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I assume you haven't tried Ibanez Premium and the rest of the RGs (including GIOs).
I assume you haven't tried Ibanez Premium and the rest of the RGs (including GIOs).
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
Yeah. Believe it or not, my GIO has better fret ends than a MIM San Dimas for sale at an authorized dealer. The quality of the neck,body, and parts themselves, however, is admittedly ****ty. My Premium needed a short trip to the tech, but when all was sorted out (leveling frets and changing PUs) I'm not putting it down for anything less than a J-Custom, a custom-made Carvin, or a Suhr/Tom Anderson.
Yeah. Believe it or not, my GIO has better fret ends than a MIM San Dimas for sale at an authorized dealer. The quality of the neck,body, and parts themselves, however, is admittedly ****ty. My Premium needed a short trip to the tech, but when all was sorted out (leveling frets and changing PUs) I'm not putting it down for anything less than a J-Custom, a custom-made Carvin, or a Suhr/Tom Anderson.
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Brian Griffin
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I think we should differentiate between craftsmanship and material. We are not living in 1987. It is the 21st century, the skill of the people in Asia has greatly improved and so has the craftsmanship. Many of the Asian models score poor not in the craftsmanship but in the components. A guitar built in Gibson factory using piece of **** components with superb craftsmanship would sound like ****, most probably.
I think we should differentiate between craftsmanship and material. We are not living in 1987. It is the 21st century, the skill of the people in Asia has greatly improved and so has the craftsmanship. Many of the Asian models score poor not in the craftsmanship but in the components. A guitar built in Gibson factory using piece of **** components with superb craftsmanship would sound like ****, most probably.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
The skill has not improved what has improved are cnc machines that dont require skilled labor.
The skill has not improved what has improved are cnc machines that dont require skilled labor.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: You guitar was made where ?
RGs do nothing for me these days so I have no desire to check them out. I have checked out the recent premium series as153. Cheap parts, thick finish, same soft fret material as the as53. Thin ebony laminate posing as a fretboard. Nice fret ends, pretty wood. Not impressed. Especially considering the old MIJ RGs, S series, Destroyers and JEM I used to own.
But if you like them, that is great. I have owned enough guitars In my life to know what I like and do not like.
RGs do nothing for me these days so I have no desire to check them out. I have checked out the recent premium series as153. Cheap parts, thick finish, same soft fret material as the as53. Thin ebony laminate posing as a fretboard. Nice fret ends, pretty wood. Not impressed. Especially considering the old MIJ RGs, S series, Destroyers and JEM I used to own.
But if you like them, that is great. I have owned enough guitars In my life to know what I like and do not like.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: You guitar was made where ?
The country of manufacture plays the least role here.
The country of manufacture plays the least role here.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
BUGGER . . . never mind.
Guitar is SOLD
BUGGER . . . never mind.
Guitar is SOLD
Drewsky7170
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I usually go for feel and tone when I'm choosing a guitar. I've played a few Gibsons in stores that never felt right in my hands when compared to my Epi LP. I also have an LTD PB that plays and sounds absolutely amazing.
I usually go for feel and tone when I'm choosing a guitar. I've played a few Gibsons in stores that never felt right in my hands when compared to my Epi LP. I also have an LTD PB that plays and sounds absolutely amazing.
bladefrenzy
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I judge the instrument itself. That being said to answer your question Japan typically beats mim.
I judge the instrument itself. That being said to answer your question Japan typically beats mim.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I've got one Japanese, one UK, and one American built, with another American built coming in soon. I don't care where it's from as long as it's quality.
I've got one Japanese, one UK, and one American built, with another American built coming in soon. I don't care where it's from as long as it's quality.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: You guitar was made where ?
I've bought, sold, and inherited various guitars for probably about 22 to 24 years now. Over that time, I've had ones that were made all over the place. I have never had anything particularly against import guitars, or anything particularly for domestic ones. But I will say that in recent years, I have bought and sold in such a way that I am to a point where the only things left are pretty much "keeper" quality instruments, or at least ones that I really love. Of those instruments, three are Japanese, two are Mexican, two are Indonesian, and nearly 20 were made in the U.S.A. This isn't to say that U.S.A. instruments are definitely better...it's just to say that this is how the dust has settled in my particular life after that much time guitar collecting, with me judging based solely on quality, not on country of manufacture.
I've bought, sold, and inherited various guitars for probably about 22 to 24 years now. Over that time, I've had ones that were made all over the place. I have never had anything particularly against import guitars, or anything particularly for domestic ones. But I will say that in recent years, I have bought and sold in such a way that I am to a point where the only things left are pretty much "keeper" quality instruments, or at least ones that I really love. Of those instruments, three are Japanese, two are Mexican, two are Indonesian, and nearly 20 were made in the U.S.A. This isn't to say that U.S.A. instruments are definitely better...it's just to say that this is how the dust has settled in my particular life after that much time guitar collecting, with me judging based solely on quality, not on country of manufacture.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: You guitar was made where ?
My woodshop class & garage.
My woodshop class & garage.
