Who REALLY makes your bass?

[wintremute]

Companies actually used to build things. Now, they just outsource everything and are just meaningless brand names that go on headstocks to allow them to charge a premium.

If they designed it, decided all the specs, materials, colors, etc, and back it up with a warranty and their brand reputation, how is that meaningless?

Most people assume when they buy a Squier or an Ibanez or an Epiphone, that those companies actually made the guitar, not the same company (Cort) making all 3 on the same cookie cutter assembly line.

It's made at a plant with machines. How much difference does it make where the plant is, who owns the plant, or what people are operating the machines. It's mainly machines making the instruments. As long as they come out the way they're supposed to, why would it matter? If it does, perhaps you should look into handmade instruments.

Also...cookie cutter? You keep using that false premise of identical instruments. There are differences based on the specs the companies provide. The factory isn't deciding what to make.

This video is a great endorsement for buying US made instruments.

For you.

 

[mbell75]

It's made at a plant with machines. How much difference does it make where the plant is, who owns the plant, or what people are operating the machines. It's mainly machines making the instruments. As long as they come out the way they're supposed to, why would it matter?

Let me pose that question right back to you. Why does a US made Fender cost $2k while the same Chinese made Squier cost $200? Its made in a plant with machines right? How much difference does it make where the plant is, who owns the plant, or what people are operating the machines right? Its mainly machines making the instruments right? As long as they come out the way they're supposed to, why would it matter?

 

[Raw N Low]

It's silly when you think about it. The majority of companies manufacture instruments where production is going to have the highest cost and quality yield. In fact, they need outside factories to help them keep the doors open. For example, it's not cost effective to keep production strictly in the U.S. (or most other countries), and still reach consumers at all price levels.

If the company is proud enough to put their name on it, then that's what you playing. Peavey tried to reach consumers at all price levels while keeping production mainland. They still couldn't shake the "cheap" stigma that was slapped on their back.

If it plays nice and the price is right -- why look a gift horse in the mouth???

 

[JimmyM]

Let me pose that question right back to you. Why does a US made Fender cost $2k while the same Chinese made Squier cost $200? Its made in a plant with machines right? How much difference does it make where the plant is, who owns the plant, or what people are operating the machines right? Its mainly machines making the instruments right? As long as they come out the way they're supposed to, why would it matter?

Because the US instrument is clearly a better instrument.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I haven't bought a new instrument in years. Really takes the edge off of how important I think these issues are.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I have no clue where any of my bought basses (Except DDR/Soviet Bloc stuff) were made, nor do I care.

I know where the basses I "build" myself are made, but not the parts I use. Again, except for exceptional circumstances, don't really care.

I care about quality, not origin, not name.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Don’t care. Unless the instrument is built with actual, literal slave labor, all I care about is the instrument itself. If it sounds great, plays well, looks at least reasonably good and isn’t mindbogglingly expensive, I probably dig it. Doesn’t matter if the headstock says Fender, Gibson, Sadowsky or Joe’s BBQ Shack and Guitar Emporium.

 

[cnltb]

Doesn't make any difference to me who made mine, only who plays them.
Same thing with strings.

what do you mean...?

 

[cnltb]

I know exactly who made all but one of my instruments.

 

[neddyrow]

Tom Clement.

Right now.

Can’t wait

 

[Kerplunk]

Seems like alot of argie bargie, which I think leads onto the Chinese "counterfeit" guitar argument. I see many people not caring, but might suddenly start caring when someone buys a Fodera ying yang copy for $300. Who cares? It's not the instrument but who plays it that makes the difference.

 

[40Hz]

Couldn't care less, quite actually.

Makes two of us. If it sounds good and plays well that’s about the limit of my concern when it comes to a bass guitar.

 

[40Hz]

Seems it's always a letdown for people to learn that Ibanez isn't per se a manufacturer, but only a brand name owned by the Hoshino corporation, and doesn't operate any dedicated plants.

And what an odd thing a letdown like that is when you consider how remarkably good a deal for a well built and good sounding bass an Ibanez is.

 

[Dabndug]

All my basses are made by deep-elves under moonlight in the mystic woods. Their warranty and customer service leaves a bit to be desired, but oh, the tone....

 

[micguy]

I didn't set out to have basses built in the USA, but that's where I ended up for most of the content. The wood parts for my basses come from Washington (Warmoth). Hardware is mostly Hipshot (New York). A couple of bridges from Gotoh (probably Japan). Neck plates from Rock Rabbit (Indiana). Pickups from Nordstrand, DiMarzio, and Lace (New York, California).

Knobs and electrical parts - most likely Asia. $ content there is pretty minimal

The finishing and assembly is local - in my basement. And none of them were built completely on a Monday or Friday - it takes a few weeks to do a good finish and assembly job, so while there is undoubtedly some Friday and Monday work, most of it is other days. Plus, as I don't drink, I'm never hungover. So I trust the work was done right.

 

[fhm555]

...Tuesday to Thursday they were stoned!

greetings

Wise

I once worked in a flatbed (18 wheeler) trailer manufacturing plant. South American Apatong was used for planking and was held in place with large self drilling screws shot through the wood and steel crossmembers on which the wood rested. Chalk lines were popped as guides and self feeding air drills with long T handles that allowed operators to stand up and move quickly from board to board were used to install the screws. There was a running joke that sloppy deck installs with meandering screw lines were done after lunch because there was a baseball field complex down the road with a big parking lot shaded by trees on islands throughout the lot, a very popular spot for plant employees to go sit in the shade and eat their lunch, then wheeze up before returning to work. It began with a clueless management type at a schedule meeting noting that most decks requiring rework were screwed down after lunch. From there it morphed into a running joke that anything flagged by QA for rework, happened “after lunch”.

 

[Jose Kafka]

Six of my guitars and basses are Martins, built in a factory in PA by a company that's been 100% owned by the same family since it was founded in 1833. One is a Tacoma, built in their factory in Tacoma before Fender bought and closed it. My Mota was built by a guy named Jose Mota in his basement in Rhode Island. No mysteries here.

Hello Mikeoso! is that Jose Mota Portuguese or descendant?

In my case i´ve been improve my knowledge about all parts of bass and I do choose my self the best parts to assemble my machines and believe me it works, normally I buy does parts in second hand market and its possible to build a nice bass for about $400 dollars
example :

Body and neck origin unknown (neck straight and ok) - $250
Pu´s: Seymour Ducan Vintage model + Bridge Schaller - $100
Tuners : Schaller - $50

 

[petrus61]

Phil McKnight...the same guy who put the head of Fender Custom shop on the spot by asking him to review and pick a favorite from three different Squier guitars. Naturally, he found all three flawless (personal spec preference notwithstanding). Maybe try asking someone whose job doesn’t depend on a glowing review next time...

 

[Leo Thunder]

Another discussion to keep prejudiced morons busy? The kind who look at "made in somewhere" because they're too ignorant to tell quality of anything, or even read a review with more than three words and understand it?

 

[fhm555]

And what an odd thing a letdown like that is when you consider how remarkably good a deal for a well built and good sounding bass an Ibanez is.

We had this same conundrum (to me) in the world of r/c race cars. There was a company that was found to be buying designs then contracting the manufacture of kits sold under their logo. When this was revealed so many drivers jumped ship they started selling race kits under the name of the company doing their injection moulding. Nothing actually changed but the name on the box but most racers who abandoned them over their “deception” returned to the fold once the name change occurred.