Fakes maybe sold there, but I don't see how fakes would get into Ibanez’s inventory and shipped here, assuming they are made in a different factory.
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Made in Indonesia
- Thread starter safikex
- Start date
Fakes maybe sold there, but I don't see how fakes would get into Ibanez’s inventory and shipped here, assuming they are made in a different factory.
A ton of this depends on the company and if they really do quality control.
I commonly will encoruage folks to seek Indonesian (when they won't pay for european or USA quality)
I'm not sure if it's the factories or labor... I've had better luck.
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When gear is SOOOOO cheap right now, it would be slightly misleading not to point out some good old USA or EU gear is a bargain --- I'm not confident we'll see values like this again in the near future.
I've been snapping up USA basses just because of the deals.
I commonly will encoruage folks to seek Indonesian (when they won't pay for european or USA quality)
I'm not sure if it's the factories or labor... I've had better luck.
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When gear is SOOOOO cheap right now, it would be slightly misleading not to point out some good old USA or EU gear is a bargain --- I'm not confident we'll see values like this again in the near future.
I've been snapping up USA basses just because of the deals.
It's all down to guitar stores. There are some that will lie about the source of their supply or that can sell fakes over the Internet. There are many ways for counterfeit products to hit the market. Of course the official dealers will get their instruments from Ibanez, but there will always be some folks willing to sell fakes too...and when you happen to enter in such a store or get an instrument from them you might get the wrong impression, when in fact that bass has nothing to do with Ibanez. It might also be how this brand got a lot of negative feedback regarding their cheaper instruments.
G&L Tributes are made in Indonesia. They are quite nice for the money and feature USA electronics. There certainly is a diff between them and their US counterparts but they are still excellent.
With exception to SX which have amazing price-points, the chinese stuff to me isn't there. I had a Hagstrom Beluga II which Hagstrom claimed had great hardware on it, their h-expander reinforced neck, "resinator" fingerboard and active eq with MM style p/u's.
The Hagstrom was far from desirable: weighed a TON, what looked like lower-grade woods, fret protrusions (with a composite f/b ?!?!), cheapy die-cast tuners with sharp fragments on the keys, lousy setup, non-working and totally oddball preamp, etc. No wonder resellers are blowing them out ! Atrocious !!
With exception to SX which have amazing price-points, the chinese stuff to me isn't there. I had a Hagstrom Beluga II which Hagstrom claimed had great hardware on it, their h-expander reinforced neck, "resinator" fingerboard and active eq with MM style p/u's.
The Hagstrom was far from desirable: weighed a TON, what looked like lower-grade woods, fret protrusions (with a composite f/b ?!?!), cheapy die-cast tuners with sharp fragments on the keys, lousy setup, non-working and totally oddball preamp, etc. No wonder resellers are blowing them out ! Atrocious !!
helo
I'm from indonesia
& think I understand the situation already ^,^
squire are produced in indonesia with design/look like a fender
I once try a squire jazz bazz made in indonesia
and I compare it to a fender jazz bass made in mexico
I think Indonesian squire sounds better
but yet you CAN'T compare it with USA or JAPAN FENDER one
it's tottaly in diferent LEVEL
The price also like heaven and earth
USA/JAPAN fender are sold above $1.200 in indonesia
squire are sold under $400 in indonesia
I wonder how much yu pay for a squire in your country???
the problem is my country doesn't take "perfection" problem to serious
at least not as serious as JAPANese people
so the quality control is compromized
I don't know how the quality of indoesian squier sent overseas
but here, in indonesia squire is everybody bass can buy, despite it's quality
FYI
there are other international brand now made in indonesia
YAMAHA, CORT, IBANEZ are some of them
I've tried indonesian YAMAHA B414 & CORT GB75
sounds better than any squier I've played
but yet you can't compare it with USA/JAPAN FENDER or musicman
to far ^,^
there are also original Indonesian brand like RADIX
If you want a best sound at range under $400
you should try some indonesian brand (exept IBANEZ, there to many fraud in indonesian ibanez)
the rest are not bad at all ^,^
Indonesian Squiers are 299 dollars in the US retail new price. Technically 299.99 so call it 300 unless that penny really bothers you.
So, I think you answered your own question. You like Squiers best, so why not just buy one???
Reviving a two year old thread .
So, now it's 2013 and I am seriously considering an Indonesian made Ibanez Premium bass.
I hear nothing but good things, and the wood combo is what I really like. I like the titanium neck support. I would go with a 1980's MIJ, but honestly the technology has come so far that things like graphite and titanium reinforced necks are deal MAKERS for me.
Yes, the Ibanez SR655 on page 3 of this thread is downright purdy.
Opinions please based on experience (ownership). Thanks.
So, now it's 2013 and I am seriously considering an Indonesian made Ibanez Premium bass.
I hear nothing but good things, and the wood combo is what I really like. I like the titanium neck support. I would go with a 1980's MIJ, but honestly the technology has come so far that things like graphite and titanium reinforced necks are deal MAKERS for me.
Yes, the Ibanez SR655 on page 3 of this thread is downright purdy.
Opinions please based on experience (ownership). Thanks.
Maybe it's my imagination, But I feel that the "typical" indonesia quality is above "typical" China quality.
It's been my experience that several indonesia mades that I have played/ owned were just plain better made instruments than the china ones. Yes..a million other variables.
lest we forget there are also crappy US/Japan and any other that you can think of.
It is also my opinion that [these days] Japanese product are superior to US products as well.
Let's face it though, these days it doesnt matter as much about where it came from as much as the company that builds it, trying to cut corners to feed the bottom line (sometimes things escape) and also the amount of care that each person has about/toward their job/craft(as it were).
YMMV..
Glad I could help.
edit: INDONESIA made is fine, just try before you buy.
I have had three Squier basses from Indonesia and all have been just fine. They all had smooth, satin necks which play nicely. Expect cheap (but not bad) body wood, and not-so-great tuners and pickups. They're good basses. You can mod them if you want but chances are they will be pretty decent if you leave them stock.
Just try before buying indonesian. My indonesian SBMM Ray35 is awesome, almost as good as my USA jazz deluxe at twice the price.
Like anything else, you could get a dud. There are a couple of American Fenders in one of my local music stores that have been hanging there for years and have just awful finish quality.
I have a Korean Ibanez SR400 that is nice and have an older Indonesian Cort Artisan C5Z that is amazing as well. The Cort easily has the build quality of anything I've had including MIM Fenders and Warmoth parts. I also had an Indonesian Cort Action V bass (entry level) that was as nice as any Korean Ibanez I've played but wasn't as nice as the Artisan. I think the "level" of the model has quite a bit to do with it as well.
I played an Ibanez Premium that was made in Japan recently that was really, really nice. Seemed just a bit heavy, but nice. Had the Nord Big Singles. Didn't care for the gold hardware though. I think that if Ibanez is going to put "Premium" on the trussrod cover, it's going to be a pretty great bass
Do you have to buy it sight unseen or have you had a chance to get your hands on one?
Indonesia is the new Korea,
China is the new China...
I have a Korean Ibanez SR400 that is nice and have an older Indonesian Cort Artisan C5Z that is amazing as well. The Cort easily has the build quality of anything I've had including MIM Fenders and Warmoth parts. I also had an Indonesian Cort Action V bass (entry level) that was as nice as any Korean Ibanez I've played but wasn't as nice as the Artisan. I think the "level" of the model has quite a bit to do with it as well.
I played an Ibanez Premium that was made in Japan recently that was really, really nice. Seemed just a bit heavy, but nice. Had the Nord Big Singles. Didn't care for the gold hardware though. I think that if Ibanez is going to put "Premium" on the trussrod cover, it's going to be a pretty great bass
Do you have to buy it sight unseen or have you had a chance to get your hands on one?Indonesia is the new Korea,
China is the new China...
The Premium I am looking at would be sight unseen but with a return policy...
That being said my roommate's sr300 plays great for $275 so I can only imagine a top shelf version ...
That being said my roommate's sr300 plays great for $275 so I can only imagine a top shelf version ...
That's why you must try it before buying.
Anyway, even for boutique basses, it's better to try and see. If you don't know what I'm talking about, do a search : 'alleva-coppolo horrible experience' ...
How much would you be out in shipping $$ if you had to return it?
I have had luck both ways on getting things online etc. Last two turned out great - older Ibanez SR400 unlined fretless and a well cared for early model MTD Kingston Heir. But I've also had some losers over the years.
I owned a Lakland 55-02 built in Indonesia, besides the different Hipshot “designed gears” , Delrin nut, and flat swan neck. It’s virtually the same bass with the same sounds and feel
