Made in the USA

[Spidey2112]

I'm a little behind on my reading, but the Popular Mechanics issue of June '18 focused on 'Made In The USA' companies, big and small, and their products...

... 11 questions were asked of 26 companies, 2 answered/published by the Fender Corporation (Founded 1946, with about 500 manufacturing jobs), their US factory in of course, Corona, California...

Question #8: "How many people's hands go into making the product from start to finish?

Answer: One hundred seventy."

I would have never guessed this high.

Question #10: "How many robots does a factory worker interact with on a shift?

Answer: A very small part of the process is automated with robots, and it's only in paint. We do it in undercoat and for our topcoat, to minimize variation."

I think it would have been cool to see Fender's answers to all 11 questions, instead of just 2.

Really good article, if anyone was interested.

 

[higain617]

I think most high-end Japanese stuff is as good or better. But you have to pay for it now. If you're into hi-fi at all, you know that much Japanese equipment was the gold standard (UK produced the best speakers IMO).

 

[swink]

Does it mean that as a European member, I shouldn't buy American, and buy local?
I buy what feels best for me in whatever country it's made.

 

[walking Bass]

I like to buy as locally as possible. My most recent purchase was a Fender American Performer Mustang. I also tried the MIM Mustang and while it was certainly a playable bass, I preferred the switching, bridge, tuners, pups, neck finish and sunburst color. The only change I made was TI flats. The MIM could come close, but at what cost?

 

[_Some Dude]

Toyota Camry sedans are manufactured in Kentucky by American workers.

Chevrolet Equinox SUVs are manufactured in Ontario, Canada by Canadian workers.

Both companies are publicly traded; safely assume shareholders of each are scattered across the globe.

From a "Buy USA" perspective, which is the American car?

Toyota Camry sedans are assembled in Kentucky by American workers.

Chevrolet Equinox SUVs are assembled in Ontario, Canada by Canadian workers.

I know what I’m saying is just semantics, but it’s worth pointing out that both plants use parts that are produced in various countries, including each other’s.

 

[FunkHead]

Look what those poor slavewerkers in Poland made for me. Even the little babies helped make this one. I think they get 17 cents per hour for the whole team. But that's the Master Builder team not the standard workers.

 

[FunkHead]

Does it mean that as a European member, I shouldn't buy American, and buy local?
I buy what feels best for me in whatever country it's made.

I think the OP thought this was the AWW not WWW.

 

[edbass]

I'm genuinely curious. Why is the same thing worth a different amount to you according to where it's made?

One primary concept; cost of ownership/return on investment. The true "cost" of an item to the end user is what you sell it for vs what you paid/spent on ownership, amortized over the period of ownership and factoring in inflation.
With the gear being discussed here US made product wins, by a more appreciable margin on gear purchased new, but in used gear as well.
Not the case will all products across the board (cars for example), but definitely true for basses.
I bought a new MIA Jazz for $880 in '04 and a new MIA P for $900 in '08. If I needed to dump them today they were essentially "free".

 

[Element Zero]

Nope.

 

[Altitude]

Toyota Camry sedans are assembled in Kentucky by American workers.

Chevrolet Equinox SUVs are assembled in Ontario, Canada by Canadian workers.

I know what I’m saying is just semantics, but it’s worth pointing out that both plants use parts that are produced in various countries, including each other’s.

Fair point. I think it underscores my thesis.

 

[JRA]

Do you ever feel any pangs of guilt when you buy a bass (or amp) that was not made in the United States?

As the OP I should have asked "Made in the country of your origin." My bad, I didn't by any means want this to be a political thread. I recently bought a bass amp made overseas and after taking it to practice last night was told by a band mate that he only buys American. Believe me, most of my equipment is built/assembled/made in places other than the USA.

no: i've never given it a thought...except the giggles i've had reading threads on TB where USA citizens comport 'pride' buying instruments they think are "made in america."

years ago i made a decision to make music my life...to be a musician. i think that anyone, anywhere, could make the same decision for themselves (not saying it isn't difficult in other places). for me: i'm a musician first. as a musician: 'patriotism' and 'patriotic pride' is not a thing.*

6 instruments: one is verifiably "made in america." it is the most expensive instrument. it's wonderful but it's not the 'best' of my axes. as a musician = i want the best instrument for me. as a citizen of the USA i have to accept that americans do not make the best instruments for me. in 2019 it is easy for me to accept that and it's an easy 'dilemma' for me to resolve: don't buy american!

so: instruments made in america? = big whup!




* am i proud to be an american citizen? = yes, mostly. -or- sometimes, but not always.

 

[TolerancEJ]

First and foremost is quality to me. I am Canadian and I feel a sense of pride to know companies such as FBass, Dingwall & Kinal have earned a reputation for high quality and respect.

Of my current basses:
3 USA built: Fodera Emperor Standard 6, Greg Curbow Petite 6, EBMM Bongo HS 6
2 Canadian built: FBass BN6, FBass VF6-PJ Fretless
2 German built: Warwick Thumb BO 6, Hofner 182 Shortscale
1 Japanese built Ibanez
I also have a number of import China basses

I currently have 2 builds underway in US: Spector NS 6H2 and a Carl Thompson Fretless 6.

My remaining wishlist spans through North America, Europe, Australia & Asia. I'm cannot readily come up with bass luthiers in South America or Africa.

 

[Herrick]

Do you ever feel any pangs of guilt when you buy a bass (or amp) that was not made in the United States?

No.

 

[Matt R.]

Hell no. Why should anyone feel guilty for such a thing?

 

[fhm555]

There's one country that has zero respect for our patents and trademarks, a practice which amounts to downright theft. I won't buy instruments made in that country until and unless that changes.

So are you talking about Japan since WWII or the Chinese since they opened up their manufacturing capabilities to the world, Vietnam maybe, or any one of several former communist bloc countries?
There is also the fact that a lot of our technology gets sold, but then gets characterized as stolen, or rights signed away in licensing agreements and again, characterized as stolen. Not to mention little stuff like the (Honda patented) hyvo chain, that gets “borrowed” by manufacturers both here and abroad.

 

[Andy Daventry]

Now there's a question. One Canadian acoustic - a beautiful Larrivee. Fretless is Indonesian body with a MIM neck. One Chinese electric - Epiphone Casino. Or is it? Not designed in China. One strat-like thing with a german neck, Japanese body, German tuners, American pickups (Dimarzio and SD) and a German bridge. And my pride and joy, a five string with a body carved from a US StewMac body blank by a Turk. Turkish neck (3 piece maple and purple heart) with a StewMac ebony fingerboard, US pickups (Sadowsky) and tuners (hipshot), German bridge.

Both my basses have Austrian strings.

Nothing British. Oh, except my digital interface for recording was designed here.

Would I like a MIA American Professional Precision? You're darn right I would!

 

[jonnybass1]

Nope. I have 2 German and 1 Mexican bass(s) at the moment. And my amp and cabs are made in China (I think). Besides that im Canadian.

 

[MobileHolmes]

I do generally buy American stuff where I can. I think in many cases (thought certainly not all) it has a quality edge, or at least did when I was acquiring most of my gear. At this point, I've got a stable of good instruments, and really the only things I would be interested in buying are higher end, which is mostly still MIA, with a little Europe and Japan in the mix. That said, I take it instrument by instrument, and the last thing I bought was an Indonesian Ibanez guitar, which is fantastic.

I also have concerns about labor an environmental practices in many of the places that produce large quantities of instruments (not that the US is as good as they should be on this front).

 

[Bass Viking]

I general I try to give my money to items made in the U.S.

One reason is I like the idea of supporting the U.S. manufacturing bass.

Another reason is I have a very hard time justifying the prices of some foreign made basses.

I was looking at a 2k Dingwall recently. Nice bass...was expecting it to be made in the U.S. but flipped it over and nope...made overseas somewhere. Not paying that much for an asian made bass.

It's worth noting that the Chinese Dingwall's are sent back to the Dingwall shop for a quality check, fret levelling, and setup. That adds to the cost.

 

[Plectrum72]

Overseas to me means Asia unless otherwise specified.

$500 jazz bass made over there? Sure.

2k mass production instruments where the workers are treated poorly and making low wages? No way.

Not trying to put words in your mouth, but seeking clarification. Are you saying it's ok to spend $500 on a mass production instrument made by workers who are poorly treated and making low wages, but it is not ok to spend $2000? Because if that's what you are saying, I believe your logic is flawed.