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"Made In USA" Trustability Label

P

Pickinator

Dec 28, 2011
93
34
Eagle River WI
#1
I am interested in picking up a USA made guitar to goof around with and am interested in a Fender Strat and/or Gibson Les Paul or SG.

I am wondering if the "Made in the USA" on the neck of a Fender Strat is trustworthy considering that necks or plates can easily be swapped for a considerable boost in price. Are there other ways to know what to look for and trust. I don't know what to believe as Fender is made in The US, Mexico, Japan, Indonesia... I want the real deal or do I look to Carvin. I have a Carvin LB70p bass that I realy like and I have heard good things about their guitars as well.

A guy willing to part with $1200 should be able to find a USA made guitar and trust it was made here. A basic US made guitar is all that I'm looking for. I'd like it to be a Strat but will look elsewhere if trustworthiness can't be affirmed.

Thanks for the opinions.:hmm:
 
#2
I would seriously consider Godin: Invalid Link Removed

Their guitars are all North American made. Some are 100% Canadian, some are assembled in New Hampshire from Canadian parts.

High quality and great prices. I used to own and Exit 22. I really regret selling that guitar!

I think about this one all the time -- the Radiator:

godinperfradiatorrn.jpg

I've heard you can get pretty close to a Ric sound with this...
 
#4
I am thinking no to Godin and definitely no to MIJ Strats.
I gather the modern day "Made in America" stickers slapped on the neck of an expensive Strat may not be that trustworthy.

I'd consider a used Strat, SG, or Les Paul but again, trustworthiness.

Looks like Carvin. -Kind of a shame that a new Strat can't be bought with confidence.
 
#7
No different than US Fender basses. Take a look under the pickguard to make sure the correct electronics are in there, and body and neck heel/pockets for the telltales as well.

IME, US Standard Strats are very consistent, more so than the basses I've played. This is may very well be due to the fact that I'm primarily a bass player and am more picky with them.

Worst case, pick up a '11 on blowout at guitar center. I think they're going for $950, which is well within your budget. I just got an '08 and it's magnificent!
 
#12
I neither trust nor distrust Fender. I've just heard that a "Made in the USA" neck has found it's way onto an import on occasion and I don't want to get stuck that way. Hence: my question of what to look for with a fraud as the imports can look very good. I just want to get what I'm paying for.

There was a time when all Fenders were real American Fenders. I miss those days.:rollno:
 
#14
Pickinator said:
I neither trust nor distrust Fender. I've just heard that a "Made in the USA" neck has found it's way onto an import on occasion and I don't want to get stuck that way. Hence: my question of what to look for with a fraud as the imports can look very good. I just want to get what I'm paying for.

There was a time when all Fenders were real American Fenders. I miss those days.:rollno:
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. Well, I've always heard good things about the Carvin Bolt. Actually, I've heard nothing but good things for all Carvin instruments. I would probably go with Carvin if I didn't want a Fender Strat. You may luck out and find the Bolt you want in stock on Carvin's website.

I'm sure there are plenty of other good USA-made Strat-like guitars but I don't know much about them.
 
#15
Pickinator said:
I neither trust nor distrust Fender. I've just heard that a "Made in the USA" neck has found it's way onto an import on occasion and I don't want to get stuck that way. Hence: my question of what to look for with a fraud as the imports can look very good. I just want to get what I'm paying for.
Click to expand...

Buy from a reputable shop that you trust. Problem solved.

As for what to look for. It completely depends on exactly what model you're looking at. Visually, for an Am Std Strat, you're usually looking at a 2 post tremolo as opposed to a 6 screw (which can be found on AVRI's, or any other "vintage" type of model...as well as on the MIM stuff). I beleive there are exceptions to that as well, so that's why I say it depends on exactly what you are looking at.

As for a Gibson, they're all set necks so you're not going to find a Gibby neck on a Epiphone body. All of their pickups are labeled on the bottom, so that's easy enough. Headstock shapes, binding, and bridges are also tell tale signs.
 
#17
The only thing I do not like about my Carvin bass (circa 2000, LB75) are the tuners. Cast aluminum or pot metal--not adequate for torquing a medium gauge B-string IME. With their guitars you have some choices in tuners such as Sperzels. I would buy another Carvin in a heartbeat. That being said, I want a Ric 4001 or 4003 so bad it hurts!
 
#20
I don't think you could go wrong ordering a Carvin guitar! You will get a US made guitar with what you want for options for less than a US Fender or Gibson. I just went to the Carvin site and did the specs for a TLB60 guitar with several upgrade options. It came to $926 with a hard case and strap! Hard to beat that for a new custom built guitar IMO.
 

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