Made in the USA

[Eilif]

Having recently received my third instrument made locally in Chicago I'm revisiting this topic.

I'm even more sure that it's less about "MIA" and more about proximity and need. For myself -with my particular preferences and desire to easily access the luthier if necessary- buying local or at least in country is vastly preferable.

However if I moved to another country for a long time and wanted an instrument I'd likely try and purchase a local instrument there. Additionally, if advising a new player, I'd certainly direct them to an import instrument as that's what's in their price range and of high quality and they have no need for anything MIA.

 

[wishforbass]

Well Actually i put american guitar and basses at the last option .
So if I do not have choice I buy them although not happily .
With my label ,I do not use american instruments at all.
So the product must offer somethi

Is that because of politics?

Actually not fan of politics but a lot of Us brands not only count it hardly but are super disrespectful when no one even touch them.
Like a lot of them ban their website even for visit .To be honest I am not trust such a dealer and as soon as possible replace them.
when there are trustable brands why should a person wanna work with this kind of brand that act like this.

 

[Gothic]

Some ten or even better (worse?) twenty years ago, MIA instruments were quite the pinnacle of what anyone could buy over here, and anyone who actually did, was probably "loaded", especially if it was actually bought -from- the US, what with customs beefing up the price paid.
This is obviously not the case, anymore, you can buy most MIA instruments in Europe without getting skinned by taxation but I don't think their allure has declined much, to be honest. They're still held in high esteem, despite the fact that you can get exceptionally good instruments made in other countries as well, probably for less money, in some cases. Even more so when the Asian made instruments really stepped up their game, both in QC and in vfm.

In any case, I don't think non-Americans see things quite as Americans do on the subject, so it's really, well... foreign. To me, at least. Greece doesn't really have the industrial or economic history the US do, so I can't really compare. Still, even if there were local manufacturers offering similar instruments, judging this from a consumer's perspective, I don't think the country of origin would outweigh the vfm factor. For me, at least.

If I could get X bass for 1500 euros made in Greece, and a similar quality Y instrument for 1200 euros made in the Maldives, I'd gladly get the latter and spend the rest on (probably not local) beer and (definitely local) sandwiches!

 

[gcb]

67 YO. Non pro non American living outside the US. I always bought without guilt what IMHO made me sound best, happy, and could afford. Throughout my life it was nearly always US made Fenders. Now scaled down to 2 American Ps (one amstd and 1 amspecial) and 1 J (amspecial). Still happy.

 

[nostatic]

I currently subscribe to the MINA buying philosophy.

 

[B-Mac]

Well Actually i put american guitar and basses at the last option .
So if I do not have choice I buy them although not happily .
With my label ,I do not use american instruments at all.
So the product must offer somethi

Actually not fan of politics but a lot of Us brands not only count it hardly but are super disrespectful when no one even touch them.
Like a lot of them ban their website even for visit .To be honest I am not trust such a dealer and as soon as possible replace them.
when there are trustable brands why should a person wanna work with this kind of brand that act like this.

That’s cause you’re in Iran. They don’t have a choice.

 

[Slaphound]

Ask me after you check the labels on your clothes, shoes, appliances, tv...why would basses or amps be different?

I gave this some thought and this is what I think. As an American, it's good to try to support American workers. I think buying American products is important to us only. In other words I wouldn't do it to get superior products because the stuff we get from Asia is some good stuff. As long as the manufacturers choose to use good material. I do it simply to keep us working. So, because to many of us, not all of us of course, this is a luxury or a hobby or an indulgence, the feeling I get is 'because its such a pleasure for me to have, somehow I want to keep my money here because why be greedy and not share my good fortune with my countrymen.

Does it make sense?

 

[FunkHead]

This a strange question to ask on an international forum on the WWW.

 

[LowRick]

Nein!

 

[JakobT]

I gave this some thought and this is what I think. As an American, it's good to try to support American workers. I think buying American products is important to us only. In other words I wouldn't do it to get superior products because the stuff we get from Asia is some good stuff. As long as the manufacturers choose to use good material. I do it simply to keep us working. So, because to many of us, not all of us of course, this is a luxury or a hobby or an indulgence, the feeling I get is 'because its such a pleasure for me to have, somehow I want to keep my money here because why be greedy and not share my good fortune with my countrymen.

Does it make sense?

Water the plants you want to thrive. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Slaphound]

Water the plants you want to thrive. It’s as simple as that.

Thats about the best way to put it. For sure.

 

[stuntbass77]

Last motorcycle I owned I highly modified it myself and had lots of interest in it and compliments. Everyone thought I built it myself but showed them the name on the tank and said “no just made it the way I liked it”. Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows that people who ride a Harley Davidson will stick out there two fingers when they pass another one riding a Harley. Had that happen to me all the time as people thought my bike was an American made bike. Funny thing is they never want you to park next to them. It’s like they are jaded. Maybe because it took him so long to save up for the bike or just watched it happen with others and decided to join in. I swore off Harleys after that and said the only American bike I would on would be an Indian. I mean seriously !!! They wear head to toe Harley clothes as well, laughable. Owning one while having a house full of stuff made in China doesn’t make you a patriot. I use to drive past them while it was raining and they were under an overpass because they didn’t want to get wet, weekend warriors I say a label only means something if you make mean something. No shame in buying USA products but don’t shame someone who doesn’t or cannot as someday you could find yourself in financial difficulty and playing a Chinese bass. I’m living proof and glad I was never stuck up beforehand. I could have owned a better bike but chose not to go into debt and live more within my means as I was looking towards the future and a down payment on a house perhaps.

 

[Buster Brown]

For years I believed that "Made in America" was the pinnacle and ALL my gear was made here in the states. Then, around 2012? 2013? I purchased a 62RI Precision that was "crafted in Japan". Absolutely a wonderful instrument. I have it to this day and will not part with it

Fast forward to about 3 weeks ago. I purchased a Lakland 55-02 (Indonesia) and aside from the weight, I couldn't be happier. The workmanship and the quality are second to none.

Now, compare that to the 3 Times I have had to send American basses (won't name them) for bad workmanship or this was wrong or that was wrong. Go Figure. Still, I wouldn't part with them.

Moral of the story. There's good and there's bad with ANY instrument regardless of where it is built. Some are great - others you have to "fiddle" with. It's all part of the journey.......Just an. old man's $.02