It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:45 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Made In ???
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:39 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
This topic has been bugging me for some years. I'd like to see all the manufacturers and online retailers start to finally disclose the country where their products are manufactured. A ton of junk is coming out of China, Indonesia, and other countries these days -- like flutes painted with lead paint! And a lot of it is selling at HUGE markups! I'm at the point where I think a law should be passed requiring disclosure of country of manufacture and assembly.

Yeah, I know that most of the stuff is cheaper (though not all), but really, too much of it is completely useless because of terrible sound and awful playability. A useless musical instrument is just junk at any cost (I learned that buying cheap guitars and amplifiers).


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:58 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:38 am
Posts: 3959
Location: Rochdale UK
Yes, I agree it should be stated from where the instrument was manufactured, by law if necessary. I have been caught out myself in the past with this. Now I always research and check everything before I buy, and that should not be the way we have to function.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:09 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 7714
Location: Planet Earth
More like buyer beware :!: Just because something is made in another Country does not make it junk. So knowing what Country it comes from is meaningless because you can not put the junk label on all products coming from any one place . If you do you will loose out on some nice products. Before I buy anything with high cost I educate myself on it even if it is U.S. made which in itself does not make it better.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:28 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
cvilleira wrote:
More like buyer beware :!: Just because something is made in another Country does not make it junk. So knowing what Country it comes from is meaningless because you can not put the junk label on all products coming from any one place . If you do you will loose out on some nice products. Before I buy anything with high cost I educate myself on it even if it is U.S. made which in itself does not make it better.


+1

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:50 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
cvilleira wrote:
More like buyer beware :!: Just because something is made in another Country does not make it junk. So knowing what Country it comes from is meaningless because you can not put the junk label on all products coming from any one place . If you do you will loose out on some nice products. Before I buy anything with high cost I educate myself on it even if it is U.S. made which in itself does not make it better.


If you support "buyer awareness," why do you have a problem with customers being allowed to know where an item is manufactured and assembled? How can a buyer beware without full information on a product? This is especially true for internet purchases. By leaving out that important information, it appears to me and many others that manufacturers and retailers are attempting to con some consumers. Note that most guitars made in the USA often have that information disclosed.

I didn't say that every item made in another country is junk -- but when it comes to guitars, a lot of it is. This is one more bit of information that consumers should have at their disposal to make "educated" choices.

Clearly, most guitars made in the USA, Germany and Japan are far superior to most guitars made in China and Indonesia.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:05 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:38 am
Posts: 3959
Location: Rochdale UK
I wasn't trying to alude to stuff from other countries being junk, just clarity for the purchaser.
I have two Burns guitars, Bison and Marquee. I know the Marquee was always made in Korea. The Bison is a 63 re-issue and although it's got Burns of London written on the scratchplate, these are also made in Korea.They are good guitars but if not researched things can get mis-leading. I have a very nice Gretsch, made in Korea. I have no issue with country just clarity for the buyer.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:12 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
Rhumba wrote:
I wasn't trying to alude to stuff from other countries being junk, just clarity for the purchaser.
I have two Burns guitars, Bison and Marquee. I know the Marquee was always made in Korea. The Bison is a 63 re-issue and although it's got Burns of London written on the scratchplate, these are also made in Korea.They are good guitars but if not researched things can get mis-leading. I have a very nice Gretsch, made in Korea. I have no issue with country just clarity for the buyer.


If you want clarity for the buyer, then support full disclosure of all relevant information. There's no such thing as a consumer having too much information. I doubt that most consumers make their purchasing decisions based on the country of origin alone. But it's an important indicator of quality. The rest of the decision can be based on the quality of the components and buyer reviews.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:13 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
cryingstrat wrote:
+1


-2 :P


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:25 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:38 am
Posts: 3959
Location: Rochdale UK
I support full disclosure of all relevant information.
I couldn't have put it better.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:50 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
Rhumba wrote:
I support full disclosure of all relevant information.
I couldn't have put it better.


Right on. Let's encourage all manufacturers and retailers to commit to full disclosure and post all information about their products that is helpful to consumers. Overwhelm them with emails asking them to reveal the country of manufacture for a product you're considering when they don't post it.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:35 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 7714
Location: Planet Earth
As good as this may sound it would do nothing but raise prices on products by trying to make other countries abide by that. If a product is bad in will not sell sadly that is what happened to American made cars long ago and you saw the imports become more popular now today the number one is Toyota I beleive I read recently even though many are asembled here there parts are from several countries overseas as well as US.. Cars do put a percentage number on their info as to where the parts come from and it does add to the cost to track those parts for regulation reasons. On my job we require product info such as were items are made and where the parts come from to make them for many jobs (Goverment) you no how it is. Some places have a hard time tracking where the parts come from to make things because they change by contract. Thats doing rigging work and equipment setups for the Armed Forces and other Goverment entities here and overseas (to many times).

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:14 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 pm
Posts: 117
Location: LA, CA, USA
cvilleira wrote:
As good as this may sound it would do nothing but raise prices on products by trying to make other countries abide by that. If a product is bad in will not sell sadly that is what happened to American made cars long ago and you saw the imports become more popular now today the number one is Toyota I beleive I read recently even though many are asembled here there parts are from several countries overseas as well as US.. Cars do put a percentage number on their info as to where the parts come from and it does add to the cost to track those parts for regulation reasons. On my job we require product info such as were items are made and where the parts come from to make them for many jobs (Goverment) you no how it is. Some places have a hard time tracking where the parts come from to make things because they change by contract. Thats doing rigging work and equipment setups for the Armed Forces and other Goverment entities here and overseas (to many times).


If a product is bad it won't sell? That's news to me. As far as I know, many thousands of bad products are being sold every minute. I'm sure that bad guitar products are being purchased right at this moment because I've purchased more than one in the past. Some guitars are so bad that their intonation can't be repaired and they'll never play in tune. Many can't play without the action raised so high to avoid fret buzz that they become practically unplayable.

Disclosing the country(ies) of manufacture and assembly shouldn't raise costs. The disclosure can be made on websites and on product manuals. That doesn't cost the manufacturers and retailers much at all.

I will continue to urge manufacturers and retailers to reveal this important information to consumers.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:47 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 2:41 pm
Posts: 456
Location: Basingstoke, UK
jeffo46 wrote:
Personally, as a American, I won't play anything that's made in China. All of my equipment is either American or Mexican made.


I have a 'Crafted in China' Classic vibe bass, and I wish the neck on my 'Made in Mexico' 50's strat was as well crafted.

The Chinese instrument is fantastic quality. (And it says 'Crafted in China' on the headstock - so where's the problem?)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:03 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:00 pm
Posts: 281
Location: PDX
ian sheridan wrote:
I have a 'Crafted in China' Classic vibe bass, and I wish the neck on my 'Made in Mexico' 50's strat was as well crafted.

The Chinese instrument is fantastic quality. (And it says 'Crafted in China' on the headstock - so where's the problem?)

I agree. On a lot of the instruments, the big corner cutting is on the quality control. So, if you try the instrument out before you buy it, then you can often find a great deal.

_________________
If TERROR is the enemy,
LOVE is the hero.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:19 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 2:41 pm
Posts: 456
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Thanks fot the vote of support bluesgrass!

I think Fender/squier have it right here.....the guitar gets made very well at an affordable price in China or Indianesia or whatever, they cut costs by whacking some cheap nasty pots and knobs and strings on it, we buy it, play it, eventually upgrade the electrics and own a really high quality guitar.

Works well for me.....


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: