I thought the factory he showed was in Indonesia...? Am I just remembering wrongly?
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Basses still made in Korea?
- Thread starter Machiavelli
- Start date
I thought the factory he showed was in Indonesia...? Am I just remembering wrongly?
Tune Guitar Technology are still building in Korea. The factory there provided the necks and bodies for the Tune when they were in Japan. When Tune hit the skids Korea took over full production.
Just to confuse things there's a small company in Japan called Tune Guitar Maniac,when they're not doing refrets or refins on Fenders or Gibsons they build the same basses as Tune Korea
Just to confuse things there's a small company in Japan called Tune Guitar Maniac,when they're not doing refrets or refins on Fenders or Gibsons they build the same basses as Tune Korea
- Dec 28, 2009
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- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
One of the guitar companies that I work for, Zane Guitars, is an All American made guitar company out of Antigo, WI. We have production models but are mainly a custom shop. When we started out, we were the only guitar company selling an 100% American made guitar for under $1,000.00 and most of our production models selling anywhere from $1,500.00 to $3,000.00.
With our 3 production models that sell for under 1k, they have been a very hot seller but because the profit margins are so small for us, we are now considering having those 3 models and now 1 production bass made overseas and then assembled in our Antigo, WI. shop. We are right now in talks with the production factories in China, Indonesia and Korea. I'm actually hoping if we do go this route, we go with the Korean factory. I think Korea makes the best quality between them, Indonesia and China. Indonesia is my second choice followed last, by China.
My reasons for the order of my preference is that my 2 Ibanez SR 500 Soundgear basses that were made in 1994 and 1995, were both made in Korea and to this day, have never given me an ounce of trouble. I have also owned and played other Korean made guitars and basses and the quality has actually been pretty good.
With Indonesia, I have also owned I think 2 or the guitars made from there and at least 2 basses. There quality is close to the quality of the Korean instruments I have either owned or played but it seems that the finishes from anything made in Indonesia aren't that great. I guess if you like the road worn look, that may not bother you when the finish starts to come off but if you're like me and do your best to keep your instruments in as good of shape as possible, then having the finish start coming off your guitar or bass for no reason, will probably bug you.
Now with China, almost every instrument I have ever played that come from there is just absolute garbage. Horrible fret work, noisy pickups, bridges that break super easy once tension is applied from the strings, necks twist and warp very frequently, intonation constantly going out, terrible finish work and tuning keys that have lots of play in them when tightening or loosening strings thus making it almost impossible to tune your guitar and/or bass.
With our 3 production models that sell for under 1k, they have been a very hot seller but because the profit margins are so small for us, we are now considering having those 3 models and now 1 production bass made overseas and then assembled in our Antigo, WI. shop. We are right now in talks with the production factories in China, Indonesia and Korea. I'm actually hoping if we do go this route, we go with the Korean factory. I think Korea makes the best quality between them, Indonesia and China. Indonesia is my second choice followed last, by China.
My reasons for the order of my preference is that my 2 Ibanez SR 500 Soundgear basses that were made in 1994 and 1995, were both made in Korea and to this day, have never given me an ounce of trouble. I have also owned and played other Korean made guitars and basses and the quality has actually been pretty good.
With Indonesia, I have also owned I think 2 or the guitars made from there and at least 2 basses. There quality is close to the quality of the Korean instruments I have either owned or played but it seems that the finishes from anything made in Indonesia aren't that great. I guess if you like the road worn look, that may not bother you when the finish starts to come off but if you're like me and do your best to keep your instruments in as good of shape as possible, then having the finish start coming off your guitar or bass for no reason, will probably bug you.
Now with China, almost every instrument I have ever played that come from there is just absolute garbage. Horrible fret work, noisy pickups, bridges that break super easy once tension is applied from the strings, necks twist and warp very frequently, intonation constantly going out, terrible finish work and tuning keys that have lots of play in them when tightening or loosening strings thus making it almost impossible to tune your guitar and/or bass.
Australia builder Ormsby sends his lower priced models to Korea to be built. All his custom builds are done in Australia though.
My Guild Starfire is made in Korea, it is a superb bass.
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I remember all the beautiful Lakland Skyline 5501 and 5502 and Joe Osborne 5vers I bought were all made in Korea....Then some factory/workers dispute over working issues caused all Lakland production to move to Indonesia....I have to say I felt sorry for all those highly skilled craftsmen/women
CORT...I believe was the factory producing basses for Lakland/Ibanez/ G&L etc back then
CORT...I believe was the factory producing basses for Lakland/Ibanez/ G&L etc back then
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
New Schecters are now made in both Korea and Indonesia, depending on the models. Their website details where each instrument is crafted. Their quality control is scary good, as I've owned several throughout the years and have seen and felt the progression of quality in their instruments. My German made Warwick $$ wasn't any nicer constructed than my Hellraiser C5. Where I think Schecter lacks, is in their inlay work. If they have a cracked inlay, they'd still push the instrument out. A boutique company would just craft a new one. Sub- $1k I couldn't care less about that, but I do think it's important to note.
Not many anymore...most of it is MIC.I believe that Epiphone has some of their models made in Korea.
My korean made Warwick Pro Series Star Bass is as good as is goes when it comes to build quality. When they started to shift production to China at least some users reported a lot of problems with them. Others say now they have managed to hugely improve the build quality in China. Those hollow body instruments with arched bodies etc. are harder to build than your average Precision or Jazz:
The Korean bands that I saw over there were all using Korean branded and made basses that I don't see over here. I was surprised of this switch from years ago where most of the named brand made overseas was Korean.
PRS are made in Korea.
Sterlings are made in Korea.
Wolf is made in Korea.
Schechters are made in Korea.
Sterlings are made in Korea.
Wolf is made in Korea.
Schechters are made in Korea.
Ever heard of Lakland? Dan Lakin co-founded that company.
