does it matter where (bass) guitars are made?

[fretno]

then why does it matter to you? just wondering...

For me it's not just about quality which often is assumed that MIA is better but we all probably know by now it's not always the case . However it's pretty much safe to assume the U.S. worker ( and some other countries we can safely name ) was at least treated fairly for the most part and was allowed all the rights of s U.S. worker , breaks , lunch , fair hours , wages and safety etc etc .

 

[bigtone23]

I tend to pick my basses with performance in mind. If it does the job to my liking, it's fine, no matter where it's from. I love my Chinese and Indonesian Squiers as much as my USA basses. The only caveat to nicer basses from world powerhouse countries is that they usually have better stock componentry and/or come with a nicely fit case. My Squiers have all had better pots and jacks installed, a couple have had extensive rewiring, hardware and and pickup swaps, too. I'm a tinkerer at heart, so some of the rewiring was to make the bass conform to my needs.

Of course, value comes to mind, my 80s USA Peaveys were purchased (used) for less $ than any mid level or above import basses, even at used prices. Same goes for my early to mid 80s Japanese Ibanez. I got them when the getting was good, tremendous value.

 

[JakobT]

It matters to those to whom it matters. For me, all basses are made overseas anyway.

 

[Fat Freddy]

It matters to those to whom it matters. For me, all basses are made overseas anyway.

Good point.....

 

[Marikk]

A good bass is a good bass. My cheapest is a Squier Bronco and my most expensive a German Warwick and there's 17 more between those. I love them all

Feel and sound determine if my wallet gets a little lighter

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I know I've mentioned this before, but my experience has been it's all about evaluating each instrument individually, not based on where it's made.

I sold a Fender '52 AVRI Telecaster and kept a MIM Classic 50's Tele. I put brass saddles and the same pickups in the MIM Classic 50's that were in the '52AVRI and it actually sounded better than the '52AVRI. Sure, it's poly instead of nitro finished, but I could give a crap about the finish if the poly guitar sounds better. They have the same neck shape and profile and were virtually identical in specs, both weighed 7.5lbs, just differed in country of origin and the MIM probably had the lower end vintage style tuners. Both bodies and necks were made in the USA> One stayed in the USA and was finished and assembled there, while the other neck and body was shipped to the Ensenada plant and assembled and finished down there. Plus, if we're being real here, both guitars were most likely made my Mexicans. The '52AVRI cost $1,999 new with a hardshell case and all that sweet case candy, while the Classic 50's Tele (non-lacquer) comes with a gig bag and no real case candy. I don't care where the person who made it is from, or where it is made/assembled. I do have some issue though if it was made by cheap labor where the employees aren't treated properly or paid a fair wage and are taken advantage of.

I also have an MIM Classic 50's Precision I just bought last week and a CIJ 70's Precision that are KILLER basses in both sound and fit and finish, and would put both up on par with an American Standard Precision all day long. That's not to say that the American Standards suck, it's just saying that there are great examples regardless of country of origin. And as mentioned there are also MIM dogs and MIA dogs out there. When you compare the higher end MIM offerings the lines between MIM quality and MIA quality start blurring considerably. The MIM Standard line is simply a good quality instrument that gets the job done, no frills to keep the cost down. It's not going to be given the detail and attention that the higher priced offerings have, but are still great for the money. More often they may need a little more attention from a competent tech to dial them in and get them feeling great, but that doesn't mean they are junk.

 

[StayLow]

For practical matters - quality of instruments and such - I'd say no.

For moral comfort and self-preservation though I've come to the decision that I'll do my very best to avoid funding people/countries with a certain predominant "belief" or "culture".

 

[Mr.Ace]

USA or Germany for me

 

[Mastermold]

The premise of this thread is a bit flawed. Country of origin is not the issue. The issue is whether the instrument is being built as high end or as a budget instrument. The high end guitars tend to be made in America, Germany, Japan and to some extent Korea while the budget instruments tend to be made in Mexico, China and Indonesia. Country of origin may indicate to some that an instrument is lower quality but that's because budget instruments are typically made there. It's not to say that country can't make high end instruments. Of course they can. Korea is a good example of that.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'll do my very best to avoid funding people/countries with a certain predominant "belief" or "culture".

So, you'd rather none of your money get into the hands of people who don't share the same culture that you do?

 

[SturmUndDrang]

I like to support the homeland economy. If it didn't matter, why would there be country of origin designations on the instruments to begin with? All my instruments were made in the U.S.A.

 

[StayLow]

So, you'd rather none your money get into the hands of people who don't share the same culture that you do?

Don't play dumb.

 

[gelinas666]

If they are built well and there is minimal setup on my end then no it doesn't matter..

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Don't play dumb.

OK, I'll take a guess. Are you talking about counterfeiting?
Otherwise, I don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Runnerman]

I only have one oversea's made bass which is a MIJ. This is the cheap bass that I take where I don't want to take the expensive USA basses. Such as raining weather, tight stage, suspect security, etc.

The rest are all made in California although I did not plan it that way. It just worked out so. I was aiming for USA manufactured basses.

Quality of the product in my hands is not the reason why I don't buy products from low cost countries in AsiaPac. It's the things I cannot see or determine.... source of wood, pollution control, abusive labor practices, etc.

We all are very aware of the pollution issue in China. Why would I want to participate in that? Many of those countries have very abusive labor practices that control the labor force... forced housing, forced stores. We've moved past that more than a century ago.

The only abusive labor practice here that I am aware of is EBMM use of H-1B visas. For a guitar manufacturer? Something hi-tech there that cannot be found in the regular labor market in California?

Sterling, if you are listening, my money last went to Kiesel because of that.

Sorry but you don't understand H1-B visa's very well. They are for professionals....not laborers. It requires a specialized occupation with a minimum bachelors degree. I'm Canadian and entered the US as a Professional Engineer with a specific specialty that the company recruiting me needed and couldn't find locally. An H1-B visa requires the job to be advertised for a period of time and if anybody is found to be more qualified than that H1-B applicant they are denied. Plus it is extremely expensive and time consuming to get an H1-B visa which is the final step before a Green Card application which takes an additional period of time. My company spent $30k and 7 years of legal gyrations on me and my family to "import" me to the US. They don't hand these things out like candy.

 

[JRA]

The premise of this thread is a bit flawed.

 

[Jeff Scott]

It matters to those to whom it matters. For me, all basses are made overseas anyway.

But, which overseas country's products do you prefer over others?

 

[bholder]

But, which overseas country's products do you prefer over others?

Reminds me of a thread a few months back where one of the "USA only" types was warning the original poster about the quality of "overseas imports" - OP was in Iran.

 

[sotua]

I don't think it does anymore for a few reasons.

1. All the parts are machine milled these days. A factory in the US, Japan, German, and the Philippians can all have the same mill running the same program.
2. The rest of the world has caught up to the US. There is little training differences in an assembly line here in the US or in Asia. They read at the same level and have the same technical skills as we do here.
3. The only thing it really indicates is that there are probably some differences in the equipment use. A Korean or Mexican built bass is almost never 100% identical to the US version as far as specs. They will use cheaper hardware, pickups, woods, paint, etc.

QFT - one of the greatest advancements of music in the past 20 years is the advent of consistent, cheap mass instrument production. Newbies these days have access to cheap instruments of a quality that was unthinkable in the past without disbursing a serious amount of cash.

/now off to keep GASing about a particular indonesian instrument that's been whispering "buuuuuuy me" these days.

 

[fghtffyrdmns]

Not necessarily, but build location can be a good indicator of general quality. For example, a company cutting costs would likely opt to build a bass in China or Indonesia due to cheap labour, and it's likely they'll opt to cut costs elsewhere too, on things like quality control or the components they're using. That said, I've played some amazing cheap basses, and some American made basses that should have never gotten through quality control.

It's something to take into account, but it's hardly the biggest factor.