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Can anyone comment on instruments made in Indonesia?

#161
These basses are all made in Indonesia which I'm having a blast playing any of them:

DSC_0075_zpsxiudxepm.jpg


I still have one more not shown... and also there were two others which I had sold.
 
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#162
phillybass101 said:
I have two basses made there and would Gig either Bass anywhere, anyday.
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I have three basses made in Indonesia and gig them all several times a week. They haven't fallen apart, they haven't produced sounds so awful that patrons ran screaming to the exits. But they have shocked some obvious gear snobs/rig rundown guys when they saw and heard them.
 
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#164
alienstarguest said:
For me the "Made in Indonesia" stamp on an instrument foretells of the world's possibly lowest quality. This is a generalization, and I'm sure is not universally applicable to every single thing made there, yet IMO, there is some truth to it. Even surpassing China as a kind of "be careful of what you are getting" type of warning.

Just in case anyone might be thinking that I'm personally ragging on Indonesia or its populous, don't.
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Well, I've realized recently that I like cheap Indonesian instruments, and don't like cheap Chinese instruments, so that's all I know. I think that Squier has moved some Indonesian production to China, and I think that that's bad news.

As for someone going all girly on you for some prissy social issue, what do you think this is, TalkBass?
 
#165
I have two. A Schecter C4 Custom, which is as well made as any non-custom shop bass, and a Squier Jag SS. Maybe I just got lucky, but I have had no issues with either. Necks are fine, they hold tune well, okay, I did change out most of the electronics components on the Jag, but for $180(Cdn) new it was just a stupid good deal. Only thing I have changed on the Schecter are the strings, everything else is fine.
 
#166
NoBlackTShirts said:
Well, I've realized recently that I like cheap Indonesian instruments, and don't like cheap Chinese instruments, so that's all I know. I think that Squier has moved some Indonesian production to China, and I think that that's bad news
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So you've never tried a Classic Vibe 60's P which have been made in China all along, then.

Frikken sweet basses.
 
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#167
Aidil said:
These basses are all made in Indonesia which I'm having a blast playing any of them:

DSC_0075_zpsxiudxepm.jpg


I still have one more not shown... and also there were two others which I had sold.
Click to expand...
I should post my Sire collection too. And my Ibby's also, actually have more of them (though most are older MIJ).
 
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#168
Anyway, I disagree with the position that you can generalize about the quality of products by country, or even by country and price level. It depends on the quality of the people you're dealing with, not where they live. All countries that produce great quality items also produce low quality crap. No country has ever had a lock on quality craftsmanship. And great CNCs are everywhere anymore.
 
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#169
I own several fine Indonesian instruments. Cort's facility comes to mind as an example of one turning out high quality basses and guitars under several different brands. Most if not all of the VM Squiers including the Deluxe Active Jazz are built by Cort in Indonesia.
 
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#172
20160924_160047.jpg
I have a pretty large collection of vintage USA stuff that I love. My rules for collecting are USA or vintage. I have been know to break that rule from time to time. I have a Squier MII VM 77 Jazz bass that I keep at work awesome bass point of manufacture and price point aside. I also have two Epiphone Classic Pro Thunderbirds, both made in Indonesia, I like these better than my 2001 Gibson Thunderbird. Back when I started you got a Fender of some unplayable POS from Japan. These days there is great playable gear at even the lowest price point. Don't be afraid of something made in Indonesia or other countries. Pictured my Chromed out Epiphone Classic Pro Thunderbird IV.
 
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#173
I bought an Indonesian made Squier Strat a few years ago---used, for $80. I thought that I'd clean it up and hang it on the wall as a conversation piece. But I was surprised to find out that it sounded decent and played well too. I now have it set up for slide guitar work. :cool:
 
#174
As others have stated, it comes down to what level of quality the company wants - not the piece of ground the factory is sitting upon. Said company will either implement their own factory or use a hired gun (contracted company). I'm sure in some cases if a company can't find a factory to meet the desired level of quality, then perhaps they move production to another country entirely.

I have owned several basses (Cort, Sire, Ibanez) made in Indonesia - from my experience, there are indeed factories in Indonesia that can turn out outstanding levels of quality.

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#176
GK Growl said:
I have three basses made in Indonesia and gig them all several times a week. They haven't fallen apart, they haven't produced sounds so awful that patrons ran screaming to the exits. But they have shocked some obvious gear snobs/rig rundown guys when they saw and heard them.
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Sorry to bump this back to life, but this is funny !!! LOVE IT !!
 
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#177
I once worked on equipment in a mattress manufacturing company. They were making small, large, inexpensive & expensive mattresses side by side. Same people, same tools, some of the same supplies. At the end a guy had a box of iron-on labels he was placing on the mattresses. So your beloved $1000+Indo made bass may have Squier parts in it !!
 

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