I'd be very interested to know, too. And yes, you can buy US Fenders, EBMMs, G&Ls, Carvins, assemble a Warmoth to your own specs, etc., etc. all day long, with very nice cases for similar money. Heck, recently you could buy a USA Fender nitro satin Precision with a gig bag for $800! That hits a nerve with me, and obviously a lot of others.
I realize that not everyone needs/wants/can afford an instrument costing in excess of $1000, which seems to be the usual price floor of USA made basses. Companies compete at price points, and if a J bass has to be made of agathis and "crafted in Indonesia" in order to sell it at $299, or assembled in Mexico to sell it at $699, then so be it. But when the tag says $1300, the headstock says Made in Korea, the kid at GC says "Do you wanna buy a case or bag to put it in?" - and it's hanging next to a Fender, same price, same or better quality, made by American workers, comes in a heavy-duty case. . . ??? To me that's a business model that says one of two things: They think I'm a sucker and they're about to rip me off; or they have put together a wasteful and extremely inefficient supply/assembly/shipping chain in which a bunch of middle men between here and Korea (and back again) are driving up the price. Or both. Probably both.
I listened to the previews and yep, they sound like a P and a J. I have an '08 American Standard Jazz that sounds just as good as the JO Signature. $1050 new, with case. I have a '12 American Standard Precision that sounds a lot like the BG Signature. $1200 new, with case. The headstocks aren't matching (and I do like matching headstocks), but they are top quality, sound and play beautifully, and the serial numbers start with "US." Thanks Lakland and Mr. Lakin, but I'll pass.
