Where guitars are made- does it matter?
Discussion
I'm thinking I need another guitar and I'm wondering what to get. I'm thinking Strat or Tele, probably. So next question is which version and what country of origin? There's something about the Made in USA thing which makes it feel right, and that everything else is a copy but I should know as well as anyone that it's what the guitar is that matters, not where it was made. And yet, there's still that nagging feeling...
Your thoughts on the matter will be read with interest.
Your thoughts on the matter will be read with interest.
Interesting Question. I occasionally play a Classical Spanish guitar I bought over 40 year ago ago in Alhambra,all solid wood. Means something to me, but it is no better than it should be and many eastern copies play just as well. My steel string Gibson plays very well but again many copies are as good. I really think nowadays your ears and eyes and fingers are the best judges. If it looks right, sounds right, plays right and is made of decent stable woods that guitar is the one. Best of luck in the search.
Steffan said:
If it looks right, sounds right, plays right and is made of decent stable woods that guitar is the one.
Indeed. Attaching importance to the Made in USA label is more of a, dare I say it, emotional thing than a logical one. But that emotional thing is an important one, and I should think with most of the guitars that people buy there is a large element of emotion in the choice process.Can't beat going out and playing a few different types, though beware of trying any out of budget. 
I've only got budget models myself (or they were when new) such as 1990s Epiphone LP (made in Korea I think), Squier '57 Strat (made in Japan in '82) and a Chinese Squier Affinity Telecaster from about 2002.
The Strat and Tele are quite different to play; my Strat has been stripped down for about 6 years and currently being restored so it's a long time since I've played it. However, I do think you'd need to decide which you're going to look for (then buy both ).
My Strat was made in Japan, but from what I've read the people who worked in the USA factory at the time thought that the Japanese factory did a really good job of those guitars. While it was a budget model at the time, it seems well regarded, even collectable these days. I couldn't sell mine anyway since I've had it since I was 17...
My Chinese Squier Telecaster is a simple device and I love that it's just a straight forward tool (bit like me
). Initially I bought it to take with me when travelling around with work since I'd rather a £100 guitar got stolen than my Strat or Epiphone. Luckily that never happened and I don't travel like that these days so I added Fender Original Vintage pick ups to it a few years ago. I recently spent time setting it up properly, shimming the neck, setting intonation and action and replacing the basic electrics. So it plays really well, but it's possibly just good luck that the neck suits me (and after 12 years it's well 'played in').
I suppose I've spent maybe £250 on the parts and buying it over the years, so less than a MIM Tele would cost new these days. While I wouldn't pretend it's as nicely made as my cousin's son's USA made Custom shop '52 RI they do sound remarkably similar (depending on the player of course and his has different pick ups anyway let alone the body and other hardware). Plus his paintwork has cracked and rubbed away on some edges. Of course his is likely to appreciate and mine would be worth £100 tops maybe. The difference being his is more a work of art and mine is just a tool.
I certainly can't blame my guitar for holding me back in any way though; while I could afford to buy one like my cousin's lad he can really play it and I'd feel it would be a bit wasted on me (even after 40 years playing I should be much better than I am).
I've only got budget models myself (or they were when new) such as 1990s Epiphone LP (made in Korea I think), Squier '57 Strat (made in Japan in '82) and a Chinese Squier Affinity Telecaster from about 2002.The Strat and Tele are quite different to play; my Strat has been stripped down for about 6 years and currently being restored so it's a long time since I've played it. However, I do think you'd need to decide which you're going to look for (then buy both
). My Strat was made in Japan, but from what I've read the people who worked in the USA factory at the time thought that the Japanese factory did a really good job of those guitars. While it was a budget model at the time, it seems well regarded, even collectable these days. I couldn't sell mine anyway since I've had it since I was 17...
My Chinese Squier Telecaster is a simple device and I love that it's just a straight forward tool (bit like me
). Initially I bought it to take with me when travelling around with work since I'd rather a £100 guitar got stolen than my Strat or Epiphone. Luckily that never happened and I don't travel like that these days so I added Fender Original Vintage pick ups to it a few years ago. I recently spent time setting it up properly, shimming the neck, setting intonation and action and replacing the basic electrics. So it plays really well, but it's possibly just good luck that the neck suits me (and after 12 years it's well 'played in').I suppose I've spent maybe £250 on the parts and buying it over the years, so less than a MIM Tele would cost new these days. While I wouldn't pretend it's as nicely made as my cousin's son's USA made Custom shop '52 RI they do sound remarkably similar (depending on the player of course and his has different pick ups anyway let alone the body and other hardware). Plus his paintwork has cracked and rubbed away on some edges.
Of course his is likely to appreciate and mine would be worth £100 tops maybe. The difference being his is more a work of art and mine is just a tool.I certainly can't blame my guitar for holding me back in any way though; while I could afford to buy one like my cousin's lad he can really play it and I'd feel it would be a bit wasted on me (even after 40 years playing I should be much better than I am).
I think it varies between brands, but generally the components will be higher quality in a USA guitar. That said, the jack socket on my Clapton Strat is knackered and it's only just over a year old. With Gibson/Epiphone it can be more obvious, the USA made Gibsons use generally better wood, and the cheaper end of the Epi range used to be bolt on necks.
I had a cheap Epiphone SG with the bolt on neck. it was awful. I've played Tokai Love Rock which are supposed to be fantastic, and they are certainly nice enough guitars in terms of build quality playability and sound, but when I ordered a genuine Gibson Les Paul, made in Nashville, it arrived, by post, in tune!
It is a fantastic guitar, worlds apart from even the best copies.
On the other hand I have played all manner of Fender and Squier Strats and have found all but one of the Fenders to be no better than the Squiers. I have two squier Jazz basses which are both brilliant to play. I did upgrade one with Fender electronics though.
It is a fantastic guitar, worlds apart from even the best copies.
On the other hand I have played all manner of Fender and Squier Strats and have found all but one of the Fenders to be no better than the Squiers. I have two squier Jazz basses which are both brilliant to play. I did upgrade one with Fender electronics though.
Edited by londonbabe on Monday 23 June 21:13
Edited by londonbabe on Monday 23 June 21:14
Depends on the brand, and the budget. Once you spend over a certain amount, you're generally ok, no matter where it's made. American made, usually excellent (unless we're talking about Deans, and Gibson definitely have half days on a Friday), Japanese made, generally flawless. Korea is a big contributor now, with many major brands have manufacturing taking place there. Some Korean guitars I've played have been excellent, such as BC Rich and Ibanez, but some have been crap, like ESP LTD. However, as I say once you pay over a certain amount you should expect a guitar of good quality and playability, regardless of country of origin, after that you're talking about ever-diminishing, but still recognisable increments of quality. Personally, these days I wouldn't buy anything less than American, Japanese if I can get it, but that's just me.
To balance out my earlier comments, I have just traded my unloved USA Tele for an Ibanez JS100. Which is made in Indonesia. The finish on the body is stunning, the electronics sound great, and the low pro term is nicer to use than a straight FR copy. Finish isn't perfect though as it had to go back to have the 22nd fret refitted as the 1st string was catching under it.
Interesting question, I think it is best to go and play as many as you can and make your own mind up. Guitar choice is a highly subjective thing, some people love the Japanese Fenders and modified Epiphones.
I played an Epiphone LP Custom for years and years, upgraded it with Gibson pickups and everything. I sold it in December and bought a Gibson, the two are worlds apart in terms of feel, playability, and sound. They are simply not comparable in my mind and I haven't missed my old Epiphone once since selling it.
I am fortunate enough to have a USA Strat and Tele as well, they are beautiful guitars and I am yet to play a non USA one that plays as well or sounds as good as my ones - and believe me I played a few when purchasing mine! Having said that a good friend of mine has a Japanese Telecaster which he swears by, so that just goes back to what I was saying about it being subjective.
If nothing else, the American Standard Fenders are the ones used by the majority of artists that play Fenders if that is important to you, and they will hold their value better. You could also see it as being all the guitar you would ever need to own, I can certainly never see myself selling mine.
If buying used, try to avoid the period (early 2000s I think) when they put lacquer on the back of the neck as it can get sticky if you play them for a while.
Go and play a few and make your own mind up, and let us know your thoughts!
I played an Epiphone LP Custom for years and years, upgraded it with Gibson pickups and everything. I sold it in December and bought a Gibson, the two are worlds apart in terms of feel, playability, and sound. They are simply not comparable in my mind and I haven't missed my old Epiphone once since selling it.
I am fortunate enough to have a USA Strat and Tele as well, they are beautiful guitars and I am yet to play a non USA one that plays as well or sounds as good as my ones - and believe me I played a few when purchasing mine! Having said that a good friend of mine has a Japanese Telecaster which he swears by, so that just goes back to what I was saying about it being subjective.
If nothing else, the American Standard Fenders are the ones used by the majority of artists that play Fenders if that is important to you, and they will hold their value better. You could also see it as being all the guitar you would ever need to own, I can certainly never see myself selling mine.
If buying used, try to avoid the period (early 2000s I think) when they put lacquer on the back of the neck as it can get sticky if you play them for a while.
Go and play a few and make your own mind up, and let us know your thoughts!
BorkFactor said:
Go and play a few and make your own mind up, and let us know your thoughts!
It's evident from some of the replies that I haven't quite made myself clear I like to think I'm as well able to judge as the next guy the quality of any particular guitar no matter where it's made.
But that wasn't what I was getting at. What I meant was the emotional aspect, if I can call it that, the sense of rightness that the 'real thing' has over identical (or even superior) items that are made in a different place (or time).
Take for instance antiques and art. It's perfectly possible for a piece of antique furniture or a painting to be so perfectly copied that no-one can tell. Does it matter to the purchaser if his Chippendale or Canaletto were produced in the 21st century? I expect it does, and it's that kind of feeling that I was trying to get at.
How else can one explain the massive price differentials that the USA made stuff is able to command?
I don't think it matters where it is made. I think who makes it and out of what matters more.
Alfie's prs se from korea is great value. I've played Chinese fender tele's that were much better than I thought they would be and are certainly better value than the American tele we've got.
A lot of it comes down to setup, which of course you can sort.
D
Alfie's prs se from korea is great value. I've played Chinese fender tele's that were much better than I thought they would be and are certainly better value than the American tele we've got.
A lot of it comes down to setup, which of course you can sort.
D
SC. With you all the way - it's got to be right, got to have integrity. For me if something isn't right I would rather go without so no short-term fix or compromise. For a Fender Strat/Tele it should be a USA made one and it doesn't matter if the Jap Mex is as good by most measures.
Having said that, when I wanted a single coil guitar I bought an early Tokai Silver Star but I was buying a Tokai not a Fender.
But what about something a bit different like a Yamaha SG series with switchable pots? Always wanted one. Some Gordon Smith guitars have switchable pots as well.
L.F.
Having said that, when I wanted a single coil guitar I bought an early Tokai Silver Star but I was buying a Tokai not a Fender.
But what about something a bit different like a Yamaha SG series with switchable pots? Always wanted one. Some Gordon Smith guitars have switchable pots as well.
L.F.
Apropos of this, I was having a minor repair done on my 1960 all American strat & got chatting with the guy who owns the music shop. He made a forceful assertion that USA branded Gretsch guitars are largely contract manufactured in China & assembled in the USA in order to comply with the trading standards stuff that comes with the stars & stripes sticker on the box.
No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
Justin Cyder said:
Apropos of this, I was having a minor repair done on my 1960 all American strat & got chatting with the guy who owns the music shop. He made a forceful assertion that USA branded Gretsch guitars are largely contract manufactured in China & assembled in the USA in order to comply with the trading standards stuff that comes with the stars & stripes sticker on the box.
No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
Have you tried one of the Chinese Gretsch range? I had a quick go a few months ago and really thought they were good at the price (about £500 IIRC).No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
Justin Cyder said:
Apropos of this, I was having a minor repair done on my 1960 all American strat & got chatting with the guy who owns the music shop. He made a forceful assertion that USA branded Gretsch guitars are largely contract manufactured in China & assembled in the USA in order to comply with the trading standards stuff that comes with the stars & stripes sticker on the box.
No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
I don't know if it's true either, but if asked whether I thought it was likely or not, then that would be an emphatic yes. Especially with something as labour intensive as a semi-acoustic.No idea if that's true or not, but that was his strong view.
londonbabe said:
...but when I orderd a genuine Gibson Les Paul, made in Nashville, it arrived, by post, in tune!
It is a fantastic guitar, worlds apart from even the best
That is surprising because from all accounts that I have heard, the quality control at Gibson is appalling. Still, I suppose some good instruments get through.It is a fantastic guitar, worlds apart from even the best
Galsia said:
That is surprising because from all accounts that I have heard, the quality control at Gibson is appalling. Still, I suppose some good instruments get through.
I played dozens of Les Pauls this year, all 2013 or 2014 and all pretty much spot on. Clearly I did not examine them all in the finest detail but they all played very well and had no noticeable issues, sharp frets, crap binding etc, etc.D
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