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American made basses

#21
progrmr said:
Anyway I'm not saying I'll choose a fender for sure, but I guess I'd like to go "anything NOT made in China, Korea, Mexico, or Inonesia". Every bass I've owned over the last year and half (~10 basses) have come from one of these countries - time to step it up a notch as I'm tired of dealing with inconsistencies these basses come with. I just want one sweet bass that is complete and polished.
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Have you considered how this may sound to someone from those countries? It might better just to list the specific brands you are unhappy with.

If I said I wouldn't buy a bass from a Christian would that anger you? Please consider how your post appears to me. Matthew 7:12

By the way, the American company Fender contracts with all those countries.
 
#23
Zebco said:
Have you considered how this may sound to someone from those countries? It might better just to list the specific brands you are unhappy with.

If I said I wouldn't buy a bass from a Christian would that anger you? Please consider how your post appears to me. Matthew 7:12

By the way, the American company Fender contracts with all those countries.
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Let's not have this thread closed too. I'm Chinese too, but I would really like for this thread to stay open.
 
#24
Zebco said:
Have you considered how this may sound to someone from those countries? It might better just to list the specific brands you are unhappy with.

If I said I wouldn't buy a bass from a Christian would that anger you? Please consider how your post appears to me. Matthew 7:12

By the way, the American company Fender contracts with all those countries.
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How does Matthew 7:12 relate to anything? He's not talking down about any of the people in those countries at all, so please stop making huge issues out of a person's preferences. If he wants to support his countrymen in their manufacturing endeavors and has pride in their work, let him.
 
#25
michael_atw said:
How does Matthew 7:12 relate to anything? He's not talking down about any of the people in those countries at all, so please stop making huge issues out of a person's preferences. If he wants to support his countrymen in their manufacturing endeavors and has pride in their work, let him.
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I didn't make a huge issue, I just asked a few questions. He did say he does not want to buy from any of these people based on their country, I simply wanted to know if he was OK if that was reciprocal and let him know that even "American" companies will buy from these people. These questions should not cause such fear in anyone with a clear conscious.

Since you asked Matthew 7:12 deals directly with treating others as you wish to be treated.
 
#26
J-Building said:
Let's not have this thread closed too. I'm Chinese too, but I would really like for this thread to stay open.
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I don't see how suggesting not using race as a purchasing decision would get a thread closed unless it was from someone who wants to promote those decisions. I'm not calling anyone names or telling them what to do. Just suggesting there are better ways to look at things than the race of who makes the bass.

For example if he decides he would be willing to buy from Indonesians he now has the choice of Lakland and Sterling by Musicman in his price range. 2 great choices that would have been excluded by race alone.

These are just my opinions, no one needs to share them.
 
#30
Zebco said:
I don't see how suggesting not using race as a purchasing decision would get a thread closed unless it was from someone who wants to promote those decisions. I'm not calling anyone names or telling them what to do. Just suggesting there are better ways to look at things than the race of who makes the bass.

For example if he decides he would be willing to buy from Indonesians he now has the choice of Lakland and Sterling by Musicman in his price range. 2 great choices that would have been excluded by race alone.

These are just my opinions, no one needs to share them.
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I might be wrong, but I don't think this has anything at all to do with race or the actual citizens of any of the countries he has mentioned. I think this thread is the product of a very effective marketing campaign by Fender and a few other brands to "tier" their products by quality/country of origin.

To the OP, if you're strictly interested in the highest quality bass in that price range and are looking for one that fits you, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out some basses from the list of excluded countries.

Mike
 
#31
Zebco said:
Have you considered how this may sound to someone from those countries? It might better just to list the specific brands you are unhappy with.

If I said I wouldn't buy a bass from a Christian would that anger you? Please consider how your post appears to me. Matthew 7:12

By the way, the American company Fender contracts with all those countries.
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Hey man - don't jack up my thread! As I posted, I have had about 10 basses from China, Mexico, Indonesia and Korea - so I'm not being "racist" at all. You need to check that at the door pal.

Facts are facts - manufacturing in the US and some other countries costs more and therefore the quality controls are higher 99 times out of 100. So that's what I 'm getting at - I want a quality instrument and I"m ready to pay for it.

Now - back on topic.


I dig the Carvin's but I am hesitant to purchase something I can't play first. I did see that the Carvin's have a 10 day return policy so that's good but not sure if that's enough to sell me.

Same with the various custom shops - I'm sure they're great but I'd hate to have one built on the hopes it will be great and then arrive and not be what I like. That would suck.

I'm checked out the Sterling by Music Man review by "the" man Ed Friedland. But I'm a bit put off by "Sterling By Music Man" - sounds like "Squire by Fender" :) Again, I've had 2 squires in the last year so I'm not knocking them but I am saying I wouldn't pay big $$$ for them either.

Granted the SB14 and Ray 34 are <$800 - so I'm going to look into these basses as a serious contender to the Fender's I've been considering.

I think I love the anticipation of buying a new axe more than actually getting it - I'm going to enjoy the next month rocking all types of basses and finding one that suits me just right.
 
#35
EB music Man!! No equal IMO as far as build quality/sound quality & longevity for a mass produced bass. The EBMM Sterling- w/ the 3 way switch & 3 Band EQ-as does the Singray 5, or the HS models!! Superb basses.

Otherwise I'd recommend a Warwick $$ they have SO many switching options & ALL of 'em sound great.
My Corvette $$ can get active/passive, single coil/humbucker, series/Parallel & with pup blend- it can give U Jazz sounds(single coil mode- either pup on/off or blended. P-bass sounds- front HB solo in parallel. Stingray-bridge HB solo, etc.... AND they all sound superb in active OR passive mode, passive just sounds a bit more 'vintage'.
 
#37
Zebco said:
The only Laklands in his price range come from countries he will not buy from.
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He could buy a used US-made Lakland and come in at the top of his price range.

Also +1 to Carvin and Music Man.

If you want to go handmade boutique, also check out Tom Clement basses. All handmade in Florida by the man himself-great quality, outstanding value for the price and a Tom's a prince of a guy to work with.
 
#38
progrmr said:
Hey man - don't jack up my thread! As I posted, I have had about 10 basses from China, Mexico, Indonesia and Korea - so I'm not being "racist" at all. You need to check that at the door pal.

Facts are facts - manufacturing in the US and some other countries costs more and therefore the quality controls are higher 99 times out of 100. So that's what I 'm getting at - I want a quality instrument and I"m ready to pay for it.
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I REALLY take offense to that. Just because something is made overseas does not mean the quality is subpar.

For instance: I A/B'd a Fender MIA '62 RI J and a Squier CV J. Ok, the '62 sounded better, but the Squier far outstripped it in terms of playability, and I thought it was better put together than the '62 J, which I felt played like total ass.

And who's to say that MTD Kingstons, Lakland Skylines, and other instruments are crap? I understand you want to own something American, but leave the country of origin behind and pick a bass that's right for you. If it's another Korean instrument, so be it.
 
#39
I have had a Geddy and a Deluxe Active Jazz, both foreign made, and IMO the Geddy felt just as nice as my MIA P. The Active Jazz.. not so much.

Things vary though, and Im happy with my MIA. Plus, IMO, it gives me a feelin of patriotism.. Maybe thats just me.
 
#40
Dan B said:
I REALLY take offense to that. Just because something is made overseas does not mean the quality is subpar.

....

And who's to say that MTD Kingstons, Lakland Skylines, and other instruments are crap? I understand you want to own something American, but leave the country of origin behind and pick a bass that's right for you. If it's another Korean instrument, so be it.
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Never said any instrument was "crap" - you did. And how could you take offense to the fact that quality control is higher where manufacturing costs are higher..?? DUH - there's a reason the bass costs more - higher costs!

I've had 10 basses that were from the countries in question - I have never owned a USA (or bass made in a country outside of China, Korea, Indonesia,Mexico) made bass because of cost. Now I'm ready to pay for the increase finish and polish.

Some of you people act like it's crime to call a spade a spade - there IS a reason the MIA fenders cost more than MIM fenders. Doesn't mean there's never been a crap MIA fender and doesn't mean there haven't been great MIM fenders...I've had 3 MIM P-basses all of which have been good - good, not GREAT. I want GREAT, and I believe that will be found in paying more for an instrument manufactured in countries where manufacturing costs (and therefore quality control IMO) are higher.

Jeez.
 

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